In the Dark

Part Eight : Hikari's Fight

***

Standard Disclaimer Thingy: Digimon is mine…Just Kidding! Heh. Had you there, didn't I? Anyway, the story is mine, although this part in particular borrows heavily from Zero Two. If you've seen any of it, you'll know why. I get no money from the creation of this, and any and all characters in this are the property of whatever owns Digimon – not me!

***

It was nearly noon before the group stopped to rest and eat. Having reached the edge of the desert, they rested by a stream in the thinner sections of the forest and ate the meal they'd taken from the Geckomon.

"There's still a long way to go," Iori noted, eating some of the fish leftover from the feast the night before. "I hope our luck holds out."

"Luck?" Armadimon echoed blankly.

"We crossed the entire desert yesterday and weren't attacked," Patamon explained. "I'd call that good luck."
"Especially because the other times we entered this territory we didn't travel as far and yet were attacked," Takeru nodded.

Daisuke was frowning. "He's busy elsewhere perhaps…" he said, looking at the sky. "We were easy targets, and we weren't attacked."

"There were a lot of us," V-mon pointed out. "Could that be why?"

"Doubtful," Takeru disagreed. "The Kaiser didn't have a problem capturing the Geckomon the first time around. I don't think we would be much of a discouragement."

There was silence for a moment as everyone thought about and perhaps thanked some deity for the luck. "Takeru…" Patamon whispered softly, ears raised, listening to some sound.

"You hear something?" his partner questioned. Immediately the boy was on his feet, blue eyes scanning the scene. The others were on the alert a split second later.

"Footsteps…," the big-eared digimon answered.

***

Hikari knew instantly that she was no longer near the Primary Village, and the eerie silence wasn't her only clue. A chill breeze blew through her skirts, and she shivered, wishing suddenly that she'd brought at least a shawl with her. In the distance she could hear the strange sound of lapping water.

It had been early morning in the Village, but now the darkness seemed to be more like that of midnight. There was no noise, except for the water lapping on the shore…

And those distant voices…

'Help… Help us…'

***

"Intruders detected. Intruders detected. Orders to destroy. Destroy. Destroy," a monotone voice was announcing, and the sound of mechanical feet clomping through the woods destroyed the temporary peacefulness of the noon meal.

Takeru sighed knowingly. "I should have known our luck was only temporary," he sighed, glancing at the rest of the group. "Shall we fight or flee?"
"Destroy!" another monotone voice announced, and a Guardromon appeared behind Iori. Reacting instinctively, the boy raised his digivice.

"Digimental up!"

"Armadimon armor evolve! Digmon!"

"Fight it is," Daisuke agreed as another of the dark-colored mechanized creatures surfaced behind him. "Digimental up!"

"V-mon armor evolve! Fladramon!"

"Destroy!" announced a larger creature, and all six turned then to see the leader of their current enemies.

"Andromon…" Patamon noted in a low voice. "He's perfection level!"

"Digimental up!" Takeru called without wasting a moment with speculation.

"Attack!" shouted the Guardromon in unison. "Destruction Grenade!" Immediately, the three boys dived to the ground to avoid the flying missiles.

"Fire Rocket!" Fladramon shouted, destroying one of the missiles. Then he swung his flaming fist and connected easily with the nearest of the mechanized digimon.

"Malfunction…destroy…malfunction. Error. Processing…error…" groaned the Guardromon as it crashed to the ground, sparks flying from the ring about its neck. "Error…"

Digmon was busied with the other of the two Mechanorimon. "Big Crack!" he announced, pointing his drills to the ground. The thin soil easily split open, causing the mechanical digimon to loose its footing.

"Error…" it announced, groaning slightly as it crashed to the ground. Sparks flew, and the dark ring snapped. "Ugh…" it groaned.

"Yes! Got him!" Daisuke cheered, spirits lifted.

"Look out!" Takeru shouted suddenly, interrupting him from the sky where he was avoiding Andromon's flying fists.

"Gatling Missile!" Andromon had announced, and the metallic objects, thrown off course, were flying full speed in Daisuke's direction. Quickly, the boy dived out of the way, and a cloud of dust appeared where they connected with the ground.

"That was close," he observed, wiping the sweat from his brow.

***

"Gone?" Koushiro repeated, throwing his robe about him. "That's bad. That's very bad."

"I didn't see any magic in the tent," Miyako continued, paying no attention to his assessment. "But it feels very strange – almost as if there was magic there before, but it left. Is it possible whatever took her could have come in and then left quickly?"

"Possible," Koushiro nodded, following her out of the tent. Tentomon buzzed hurriedly behind his partner. "We'll have to hurry."

Hawkmon had been waiting just outside the girls' tent, waiting for his partner to arrive with help, and trying to comfort Tailmon, who was rather upset.

"Did you see anything?" Koushiro wondered of the feline.

"She was here and then she wasn't," Tailmon replied simply, almost disconnected from the situation, dazed. "Just – disappeared…"

***

'Where did those voices come from?' Hikari wondered, slowly walking closer to the ocean and further and further from wherever it was she'd come from. For some reason, she was having trouble remembering where that was…

"Help, help!" the voices called again, interrupting her thoughts. "Please! Help!"

And so Hikari turned in the direction of the voices. The ocean, off to her right, lapped its waves on the sand, as if to say, simply, that it was waiting…

***

Koushiro had shut his eyes and was concentrating deeply. "She was here," he nodded. "And so was magic. Dark magic."

Jyou, who'd been aroused by the commotion, groaned. "You don't suppose the Kaiser came here while we were sleeping?"

Miyako shuddered at the thought. "I suppose if he wanted to, he could…," she agreed, slowly.

Koushiro shook his head. "Doubtful. From what we've seen of this enemy, he's interested in protecting his territory. He hasn't shown much interest in offensive attacks. The only time he's been a threat is when we enter his territory."

"Still, what if it's revenge of some sort?" Tailmon wondered. "Hikari did enter his territory."

Again the wizard disagreed. "Miyako's been in that territory as well, and she's still here." He frowned and opened his eyes, turning to the girl in question. "You've sensed his magic. Is this the same?"

Miyako frowned. "I – don't think so," she said, after a moment. "It's dark…but it feels a little different…"

"Each person has a unique blend of magic and their personality," Koushiro informed her. "Try to recall when you saw the Kaiser. You saw his magic, you felt it. Does this feel the same?"

There was a long moment as Miyako tried to recall. "No," she replied finally. "That magic was thick, well developed, but I think, as you said, mostly for protection. His aura was highly concentrated, like a shield. This is less concentrated…but stronger. More far-reaching."

***

"Shooting star!" Pegasmon shouted, firing his attack at the enemy.

"Gold Rush!" Digmon called, firing drills in an attempt to dent the mechanical digimon's armor.

"Fire Rocket!" Fladramon added, shooting the fireball directly into Andromon's chest.

A moment later the smoke cleared. Daisuke blinked, astonished. "How is that possible!" he shouted, more out of frustration than seeking an answer.

"He's too strong for us!" Iori realized with a frown.

"He's perfection level," Takeru noted with a sigh from where he was, circling around on his partner's back. "We're only three at armor-level. Maybe we should retreat."

"Retreat to where?" Daisuke demanded.

"Gatling missile!" Andromon called then, ending all conversation for the moment. Quickly, Pegasmon pumped his wings into action and was able to dash out of the way in plenty of time.

"It would be best to retreat instead of possibly suffering serious harm," Iori noted, agreeing with the older boy.

"No!" Daisuke shouted, disagreeing. "We're not giving up!"

"But if hitting him full strength didn't work, what will?" Takeru protested. "We're not strong enough to beat him, Daisuke!"

"We can't give up!" he insisted. "Keep trying! He has to have a weak spot!"
"Fire Rocket!" Fladramon called obediently, firing his attack again, this time directly for the enemy's head. A large cloud of smoke appeared, and now it was possible to see that the armor was slightly dented.

"Gatling missile!" Andromon called, not one to let a good opportunity go to waste.

"Look out!" Fladramon shouted to his partner, diving out of the way quickly. Without hesitation, Daisuke and Iori managed to quickly move out of the way of the missiles, but not out of the way of the dust cloud.

"You all right?" Daisuke questioned of the younger boy, who was wiping the dust from his eyes. Iori nodded.

"I think the head may possibly be the weak point," he stated. "Digmon! Aim for the head!"

"Right!" Digmon nodded. "Gold Rush!"

"Allow us to offer assistance," a voice from behind Iori suddenly spoke up.

***

Not far from the ocean was a dark cave. Somehow, Hikari found herself drawn to the darkness within it, even though it filled her with a dread and fear. "Hello?" she called cautiously into the lightless cavern.

"Help us…" a hundred tired voices seemed to call in response. "Help us…"

***

"Do you have any idea where she might have gone?" Hawkmon wondered.

Koushiro shook his head. "It was magic that brought her there, that's for sure. There's traces of it here. But I've no way of knowing where she was taken."

Miyako peered at the dim digivice. There was no sign of Hikari, and no sign of the others still within the Kaiser's territory. Again she felt frustrated at the uselessness of the device. With a sigh, she pocketed the silent device.

***

"Destruction Grenade!" the Guardromon shouted in unison. Having been freed from the Kaiser's grasp, they were eager to free their former commander as well.

"Malfunction. Damage heavy," Andromon's mechanical voice stated. "Must…destroy…intruders… Damage reported. Damage. Error. Processing error. Enemies not sighted. Must. Destroy. Destroy. Destroy."

"Look!" Iori called suddenly, pointing. Smoke was beginning to pour from the digimon's neck, and sparks flew. "I think that's the dark ring!"

"I hope so," Takeru commented, climbing from Pegasmon to the ground. "Otherwise he's sustained some very bad injuries."

"Damage. Damage. Destroy. De…stroy…malfunction. Error discovered. Removal in process." Andromon lifted both arms and grasped the ring inside the armor about his neck. It snapped quickly in two, landing on the ground and disintegrating.

Cheering filled the area.

***

"We need your help, child of light," a single voice said, standing alone from the hundreds with it.

Hikari startled as two glowing eyes appeared within the cave. "My help?" she wondered, fearful of the whispering, raspy voice, the darkness, and the eyes which did not appear to be friendly. She wouldn't show her fear, though. If nothing else, she would be strong.

"Yes," the voice replied, a hissing whisper. "You alone can save us from the dark master…"

"The…dark…what?" Hikari echoed. "I don't understand."

Another pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared, and a different voice replied. "We are digimon," it spoke slowly. "We were brought here by the master of the dark ocean and forced to do his bidding."

"We have been weakened, being away from our home and the other digimon," the first voice continued. "We wish to break free of our master and return to our home. That is why we brought you here."

"You brought me here?" she questioned. "But – why? I don't understand. How can I possibly save you?"

"You are the child of light," the second voice replied. "And what better way to banish the darkness than with light?"

***

"Thank you so much for your help," Iori thanked the Guardromon. "We never would have been able to free Andromon without you."

"It was our pleasure," the first Guardromon replied. "It was the best way to say thank you for freeing us."

"But now we have another favor to ask of you," the second interjected. "We cannot stay here. Our homes and villages were destroyed. We must find a new place to go."

"If we could return to the Primary Village with you, it would be much help to us. We perhaps could assist in guarding the Village from any further attacks."

"It is important to keep the Village safe," the other agreed.
"I don't see why not," Armadimon nodded, glancing at his partner for approval.

"That would be a good plan," Iori agreed. He glanced towards the other two boys, who were saying their goodbyes to Andromon. "Daisuke, Takeru!" he called.

***

"Banish the darkness…with light," Hikari repeated. Somehow, the idea didn't seem as farfetched now as it had a moment ago. She felt weak, disoriented. Fighting the urge to sit down, she leaned an arm against the wall.

"You must. Help us!" the voices were nearly shouting now, their raspy tones droning loudly enough to fill her ears. Dizziness grew stronger.

"I don't…" she began slowly, wanting to say that she didn't have a clue how to make light. She didn't know how to build a fire, and she knew no other way of bringing light to this damp, dark, cave. "Help…"

"You have to help us!" the creatures repeated, filling her mind.

"I can't!" she whispered softly. "I don't know how…" She looked at her hands. Her vision was cloudy, her head dizzy. For a moment it had appeared that she was glowing. 'I've got to get out of here,' she thought suddenly, and she took a step back.

"Please!" the creatures were saying, crowding about her. "Help us! You must help us!" Their voices were hissing, raspy whispers now, and they'd surrounded her, blocking the exit. "Create the light!"

"I…can't," she mumbled…

Everything was suddenly blurry…

She felt so tired…

'Help!'

***

Koushiro had busied himself trying to find more magical clues. Though he could sense magic, he lacked the sight that Miyako possessed, and so enlisted her aid to speed the process. Though eager to help her magical mentor, especially in magical tasks, Miyako found the task rather slow-moving and somewhat boring. She was willing to find clues to finding her friend, but her mind was tired and the search slow-going.

Jyou, in the meantime, was concerning himself with how to explain this latest event to Taichi. "He's going to have my head chopped off," the doctor was wailing. Judging by the boy-King's reaction to Hikari's slight injury due to the Geckomon, Jyou imagined a million and one different torturous things that could be put on him as a result.

"I doubt it will be as bad as that," Koushiro stated distractedly, busy making marks on a sheet of paper.

"Indeed, Jyou," Gomamon agreed. "Surely your post as doctor will save you from his wrath? If not, remind him you are Chosen as well, and needed."

His partner's assurance, strangely enough, did not comfort Jyou in the least.

Miyako, who had paid little heed to the conversation, spoke up now. "Did you hear that?" she wondered.

"Hear what?" Hawkmon questioned.

***

"I know it's not been very long, but it feels as though we've been out here for ages," V-mon commented as they walked.

"It was a long walk," Armadimon agreed. "And much longer of a trip than we'd thought it would be."

"Are you sure you'll be able to make it the rest of the way home?" Iori questioned of Daisuke, who was limping slightly, the wound in his leg not completely healed as of yet.

"I'm not spending another night out here," the boy replied with a somewhat false grin. "I'll have to make it back."

"There's no hurry," Takeru assured him. "If you need to rest, I'm sure it can be arranged."

"Resting is an acceptable activity," one of the Guardromon stated.

"If you need to rest, that could be accomplished," the other agreed with a nod.

"No, I'll be all right," Daisuke assured them. "It's not as bad as it seems, really."

"Is it worse?" Takeru wondered dryly. Daisuke frowned at him and stuck out his tongue. The blond boy only laughed.

"How much farther is it, anyway?" Patamon questioned from his luxurious post atop his partner's head.

"Not too much farther, I hope," the boy replied. "I believe another hour or two's walk. It's mid afternoon now."

"Longer than that," Iori disagreed.

Armadimon groaned. "If only we had a cart or something," he sighed. "Or a boat." He glanced longingly at the river beside their path.

"We could build a raft, but I'm not sure where the river goes," Takeru stated. "Do you, Daisuke? Daisuke?"

The group stopped in their tracks to note they'd left him a few paces back. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" V-mon questioned.

***

Miyako shook her head slightly. "It was probably just my imagination. It was so faint…" She forced her mind back to the task at hand. Koushiro was examining a tree.

"Considering Taichi was never fond of executions, especially of his friends, I doubt he will have you beheaded," Koushiro was trying to reassure Jyou at the same time.

"Yes, but you never know. Some people act rather vengeful when their family is in serious danger."

***

"I thought I heard…" Daisuke said slowly… He paused, listening intently. "Takeru…"

"What? What do you hear?" the boy wondered, confused.

"How long to fly to camp?"

Takeru glanced toward his partner, who'd left his perch atop his head and was now hovering beside his head. "Not long, I'd expect."

"How long?"

"A half-hour?"

Patamon nodded. "About that, yes. Why?"

"You have to go."

"What?"

"Why?" Iori put in, confused and curious.

"Hikari. She needs help."

***

Hikari shook her head, clearing it of the fog. "No!" she shouted suddenly. "I won't!" The chorus of voices ceased then, the blurriness left her vision. Fearful of what would happen now that she'd offered resistance to the strange creatures, she ran as fast as she could, leaving the creatures and the cave behind.

Once she'd escaped into the darkened outside world, she paused to take a breath, leaning against the edge of the cavern.

'Help us. Why won't you help us?' the voices were calling again from the cave.

"No!" she shouted forcefully, feeling the inside of her throat burn. She ran a few steps more. "Where am I? How did I get here? And how do I get back?" she wondered, gasping. Her head felt clearer. Suddenly, she could remember everything. Her life, her brother, her parents, the camp at the Primary Village, the others at the camp. As though a spark had been lit, her mind had blown away the fog. "Help!" she shouted then, unaware of what else to do.

***

Miyako had been closely examining a tree, when suddenly she saw, from the corner of her vision, a flash of light. She turned her head, startling Koushiro who had been pointing out the spot he wanted her to observe, and saw that the light had come from what now appeared to be a barely visible rip in the air.

"Koushiro… I think I see something," she said then, slowly. Koushiro abandoned the intriguing tree and turned to her.

"I sense something," he agreed. "What do you see?"

"It's hard to explain," Miyako confessed. "There's the air, and there's a – a line? In the air? Almost like a tear in a piece of fabric. And through the space there's darkness…"

"A tear? In the air?" Jyou repeated, confused.

Strangely enough, the wizard appeared to understand. He nodded. "Tentomon," he said then, speaking to his partner. "You know the book I want. Retrieve it for me, please?"

"Certainly," the bug-like digimon replied without question and buzzed off to the tent.

"You know what I'm talking about?" Miyako asked in disbelief.

"It's a strange theory," he replied. "But I believe you may possibly have discovered a portal to another world, and it was that world which the princess was taken to."

"Another world?" Jyou echoed, completely lost.

"What do you mean, another world?" Miyako wondered, equally lost.

"It's a very old, and yet very new theory," Koushiro elaborated. "Rather obscure, really. Some believe that there are other dimensions, or worlds that border on ours. It's believed that certain mystical or magical creatures come from different worlds that actually overlap our own."

"Like – faeries?" Hawkmon wondered, recalling some of the stories Miyako and her siblings had read as children.

"Precisely," Koushiro nodded, pleased someone had comprehended. "However I doubt Hikari was pulled out of this world by something as benevolent as faeries."

"There could be evil faeries," Gomamon spoke up.

"Indeed, there are," Koushiro agreed. "But they are rare and they don't live in the same realm as the more compassionate creatures."

"Wait a moment," Miyako interrupted. "Are you telling me that faeries are real?"

"I thought they were story creatures," Jyou agreed, equally disbelieving.

"As one possessing of magic, Miyako, you need to understand that many things are possible," Koushiro said, gently chiding in his tone. "Faeries live in a realm near ours that isn't visible to most humans. Since you possess the magic sight, it's possible that you might one day see one for yourself." He grinned impishly then.

"This is the book you wanted, right?" Tentomon spoke then, having returned with a rather large volume.

"This is it," he nodded, setting the book on the ground and immediately beginning to flip through the pages with the practiced ease of one who as often read a book.

"If faeries aren't responsible for Hikari's departure, than what is?" Jyou wondered.

"Most likely someone – or something – from the shadow world," Koushiro answered. Before anyone could ask, he continued: "Less benevolent or evil creatures come from the shadow world. It also borders our own. Aha!"

Miyako peered over his shoulder at the book. A rather ugly looking creature was drawn in ink on the page, taking up the entire paper. "Ech," she noted, shuddering slightly. "Is that what took Hikari?"

"It's entirely possible," he replied with a grave tone. "This is Dagomon. He is Lord of the shadow world, and most likely connected with another digimon we've come into contact with." He flipped the page, and Miyako recognized the creature on that page.

"Demon," she spoke. "Could he be from the shadow world?"

"It's entirely possible. Very little information is known about Demon. He rarely makes contact with humans."

"Well whoever took her, how do we get her back?" Tailmon interrupted, speaking for the first time and startling all those who had forgotten she was there.

"Most likely we'll have to enter that shadow world," Tentomon stated.

***

There was something that once appeared to be a building. It was dark, rather broken down, and tall. Hikari thought she'd heard about one in a far off land that emitted a bright light so that ships wouldn't crash into the rocks bordering along the sea. She recalled Koushiro telling her about it when she'd been younger. He'd called it a light-house.

This light-house was not emitting a light. It was rather emitting darkness. The candle or fire in the top of it was burning, but instead of bright, warm light extending towards the ground to warn ships, a darkness extended from the light. Hikari at once felt drawn to and repelled from the building. She dared not go near it though, because the fearful ocean was between her and that dark-house.

The waves lapped softly upon the shore. You'll be ours soon enough, it seemed to be saying. Hikari shuddered and turned away. But to where? There was the beach, and the ocean, and the rocks, with more caves holding those fearful creatures.

'Where am I? How do I get home? How did I get here?' she wondered.

As if in response, the waves in the ocean grew more forceful. They crashed against the shore, splashing near the edge of her toes before receding again, only to return, angrier than before.

'We will not be denied,' the waves said now. Angry. Impatient waves.

***

Before anyone could volunteer or decline to pass through the rip between worlds, Tailmon spotted a flying creature above them. "Takeru!" she shouted with relief, and Miyako, too, felt some relief. In the commotion, she'd completely forgotten about the departed travelers.

"Where's Hikari?" he questioned the moment he had landed, not bothering to dismount.

"In there," Miyako replied, forgetting that he couldn't see the rip.

"The shadow world," Hawkmon clarified.

"Then she's in danger?" Pegasmon questioned. Wordlessly, the group nodded.

"How-?" Takeru wondered, but shook his head. "I'm going after her," he announced simply. Obediently, his partner spread his wings and took flight, and Tailmon, with the feline grace she possessed, jumped aboard as well. Before anyone could question how he planned to accomplish this feat, he was gone. Disappeared the same way Hikari had.

***

The waves were angrier now, and the wind appeared to agree with the anger. Dark clouds were forming in the gray-black sky now and the air grew colder. Hikari peered at the rocks behind her. There was no way she could possibly climb them. The only way to escape the ocean would be to enter the caves higher in the cliff. But she could not. And yet, she could not enter the water to escape the creatures, with their dark, glowing eyes and pleading and cajoling raspy whispers.

Which fate is worse, the waves seemed to be daring. You will be ours either way.

"Hikari!"

She peered at the water. It was cold, she knew that much from how it leapt at her bare feet and the chill in the air. It would not be pleasant to simply drown within its black waters.

"Hikari!"

Yet would it be more pleasant to easily cease breathing and succumb to the forces of nature or to submit to the horrors within the cave? She knew not how to help those strange creatures, but she knew what they wanted from her she was to weak to give. She was not sure she was capable of giving what they wanted.

"Hikari?"

Was there a chance of survival in either situation? She had never longed so sincerely for a warm blanket and a cup of tea. To sit beside a warm fire and see nothing of this fearful ocean or the rocky cliffs behind it. If only to be home again…

"Hikari?" Takeru's voice questioned, and she turned to see that he was hovering beside her, astride Pegasmon.

"You?" she wondered, dazedly. Not the image she'd been expecting before her demise. "Why?"

"I'm going to take you home," he said, with complete assurance.

"I-," she began weakly. "I don't know how." Home?

"I do," he replied confidently, and held out his hand.

"I can't," she said, pointing uselessly at the dark-house.

"Hikari!" another voice broke through, and Tailmon leapt from her place on Pegasmon to the ground beside her partner. "Let's go."

"The light," Takeru noted. "Or rather – the dark."

"You see that shape, don't you?" Pegasmon questioned, as though sensing the direction his partner's mind was about to take.

"Like a dark tower," he agreed. "Shall we…?"

Pegasmon needed no further conversation or debate. He spread his wings and they were soaring towards the building. "Shooting Star!" he called, and the dark emitting from the tower cracked.

"A tower!" Hikari and Tailmon noted in unison.

"That explains it," Tailmon nodded. She looked at her partner. "Shall I?"

"I don't know if I can," Hikari replied hesitantly. Child of light, they had called her, and she possessed the digimental of light… And yet when she had been called upon to use that light…

There was no time for debate. 'I'll be useless if I can't use my digimental,' she reminded herself. 'I must do this!'

"Digimental up!"

Without difficulty, Tailmon complied. "Tailmon armor evolve! Nefertimon!"

Hikari breathed a sigh of relief. The tower was easily destroyed.

***

There now, that didn't take too long, did it? I think this chapter was even longer than usual…

I hope this was good enough to make up for the suspense started by the last chapter. There's not a whole lot of action here, either, but I did throw in a battle to make up for the not-happenings of the last one. I'm actually really proud of the way Hikari turned out in this.  

A few people asked if Daisuke would get to rescue Hikari, and I'm sure that, being that there are large amounts of Daikari hints in this, I'll get some flack from people for sticking to having Takeru as the rescuer. Keep in mind however, that Takeru is the only one who could have possibly gotten to Hikari in time to save her. Daisuke, some distance from the Village and their camp, would never have made it. Therefore, he did the mature thing and told Takeru she was in danger because he knew Takeru would have a chance of making it.

Why were Miyako and Daisuke able to sense Hikari's cry of help? That will become more apparent later in this series. To explain for now, both heard because Hikari was reaching out for them. She was surprised by Takeru's arrival because her mind searched for those she was closest to.

This entire incident will have consequences for the relationship between Hikari and Daisuke. Keep in mind that it is imperfect and a work in progress.

That being said, I hope I've answered whatever questions you had about this chapter. Any more questions, comments, complaints, or rave reviews, feel free to leave a review or email me and I'll definitely reply. Thanks for all the nice comments I've gotten. ^_^

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my showers have all been blissfully uninterrupted. ^_~ ^_^