Chapter 2: A call for help
Disclaimer: My fanfics alone are the only thing I own that is related to Digimon. I hope that someday I might own more stuff, like merchandise or something though.
LunaOpAznG3: It's been a very, very, very long time since I've updated, but here is another chapter of my latest fanfic. Since school is over now for me, I will have a lot of time to complete everything on my to-do list! Enjoy!
(Izumi's pov)
Within the dark corners of my room, I tried to define all the lines and colors with my half-closed eyes. I was too tired to do my homework this evening, but I dragged myself to the small desk near my bed anyway.
It sat there innocently. My poor desk didn't know how much I hated to sit in its unforgiving chair or how much it hurt to pull strands of blond hair when I couldn't figure out a math problem.
I thought about Kouichi and Kouji for a few seconds. They are so lucky to have each other as family. I often wish that I had a little sister or brother to care of me even though in the Digital world, I'd said that I could never handle younger siblings. It's still nice to have someone close to me that I can talk to.
These days, I find myself wishing for almost everything, for someone to care about me, for less work to do, for more time with my family. It seems like I have so little when I want so much. Oh, but I am still happy and I know that I should appreciate all that I have. This phase of my life should be nothing compared to the danger I've faced in the past and the loneliness that once cradled my heart.
"Izumi, can we talk for a second?" my mom asked me the next day. I was about to leave for school when she grabbed my arm and tugged me back into our house.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"Sit down. I wanted to wait for your father to come back so he could tell you this, but I …" she said. Her words came out ever so slowly.
I gave her a questioning look. Dad was out of town now on his usual business meetings and would be back within a few days. I wondered why she couldn't wait until he came home.
I watched my mother pick up a small tea spoon and tap it softly against the kitchen counter. She glanced at me and then walked closer to where I sat at the dining table. I clasped my hands in my lap and peered over her shoulder at the clock. There wasn't much time before I had to leave.
She followed my eyes and said, "Don't worry, honey. You won't be late." Mom sat down across from me and started.
"I know you've wanted a younger brother or sister for a while now…" she said.
"That's right. What about it? Are you, you know, pregnant?" I asked. I was impatient and I didn't like the way she was taking her time with this. The last thing I needed was detention for being tardy. Even though I loved my mom, I still was annoyed that she was dragging the conversation on and on.
"N-no! Of course not! You see your father and I thought about adopting a girl," she paused as she saw my expressionless face. I didn't know what to feel, happy or disappointed that my parents who were busy and had virtually no time for me would be even busier with another kid.
"We won't if you don't want us to. I'll give you today and the rest of the week to think about it, dear."
"I-I'll try to make up my mind, mom. But, why such short notice?" I blurted out. I felt the familiar feeling of a deadline pressing against me. Everything in my life had a deadline now.
"Sorry, honey. Apparently, a lot of families want the same girl that we want. The adoption agency says that the first to finish all the forms and be approved would be able to adopt her," my mom explained, "It's like a race. So we've got to hurry."
"Why? Why do you want this girl? You can't adopt someone else?" I asked just our of pure curiosity.
"Izumi, she's important to your father and me. See, this girl is the daughter of Mitsuki."
All of a sudden visions of a dying young woman swarmed into my head. I watched her small eyes close as she lay in the hospital bed surrounded by my mourning relatives. Her name was Mitsuki and she was my mom's cousin. The day of her death, she left a one year old child behind. A tiny pang tweaked at my heart for a moment.
"Our Mitsuki?"
She nodded. "I promised her that I would take care of her daughter when she died. I don't suppose you remember me saying that at the hospital, do you?"
"I was only eleven. I remember images of that day but no words." I replied with a hint of sorrow in my voice.
"I have to keep my promise, Izumi."
"What if I say no? How will you keep your promise then?" I asked suddenly again out of curiosity.
My mom looked surprised and hurt at the same time. She didn't respond for a while but then she said, "I'll have to support your decision then."
I looked at her sad face and I sighed. "Forget about it. I'm sorry that I said that. I just wanted to know what you'd do if I didn't agree with the adoption." There wasn't a sure chance that we'd get to adopt Mitsuki's daughter.
Her face lightened up. "Honestly, I don't really know. I will try my hardest to be apart of her life under any circumstances."
Then, I realized something. "I think that I've made up my mind already, mom, but can you give me some more time? I might have a change of thought."
"Izumi, promise me that you'll think about this really carefully," she said as I walked outside. I waved back to her and smiled.
"I promise! I love you!"
"I love you too!" she called out. Her tall figure shut the door behind me.
(Izumi's pov)
"Hey there cutie!"
"Shut up, Junpei!" I jabbed him with my elbow. The rest of the guys just gave a weird stare and laughed.
We walked slowly and let the morning sun rest its rays upon our heads.
"Guys! Wait up for me!" Tomoki shouted from a block back. I turned around to watch his small figure running toward us.
Oddly, I thought to take a small step back.
"Hi everyone, why'd you-" Tomoki suddenly tripped cleanly on a pale, gray rock. He fell downwards and almost hit Kouichi, who steered out of the way.
"Oh!" My balance got knocked off as Tomoki collapsed. I felt something on my shoulders just then.
"S-sorry, Izumi!" Right away, he got up and patted away a little dirt from his pants.
I smiled a little. That was not the best way to start school today. I still felt a little dizzy and thought I would fall any minute until I realized that there was still something on my shoulder.
Kouji looked down at me with his deep, blue eyes. I jumped slightly in surprise. He must've stopped me from falling down completely.
"Arigato." I backed out of his grip with my head bent over.
"It's alright Tomoki. I'm fine." I picked up my book bag and started to walk again ahead of everyone.
"Jeez, a little clumsy there." I heard Junpei say to him.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Kouji's eyes again gazing my way. I turned to meet his face and quickly turned back. Why was he still staring?
(Kouji's pov)
I saw her look my way, but I kept my gaze. Today, there was something about Izumi that caught my attention; something different that I couldn't figure out. Nothing about her appearance or anything like that either. I just stared at her even though I tried to stop.
"Hey. What's up?" Kouichi asked me. I broke out of my stare.
"Huh? I-I was thinking…"
"I saw what happened back there. You were such a hero!" He playfully patted me on the back.
I arched my brow and refrained from replying.
"Whatever. I was just wondering why you keep, you know, looking that way." He nodded in Izumi's direction.
After a long pause I finally spoke up. "Kouichi, there's something different about her. I sense it, but I don't know what," I tried to say in a serious manner.
"What? Does she look surprisingly prettier to you?" Takuya asked from an uncomfortably close stance.
"What the- Takuya! Don't do that!" I pushed him back a few feet. "I'm not in love in her, if that's what you're thinking."
"I wasn't thinking that, were you Kouichi?" Takuya said with a grin.
Kouichi ignored him and said, "I sense it too, Kouji. Don't know what either."
"Sense what? I don't sense anything about Izumi, other then the fact that she is totally exhausted from all this work lately."
I looked at her again. True, small bags were showing up under her eyes. I frowned. She didn't seem normal today.
"I'll see you guys later." I pushed my way past Takuya and Kouichi and ran up to Izumi. This time, I wasn't going to wait for some weird thing to happen to her. Last time I was a bystander, she almost got killed.
"Izumi," I called out.
LunaOpAznG3: Interesting that Kouji's so worried about you know who! No, he does not have a crush on her or anything like that. This is true concern that he has for Izumi. But, it still seems like the space between them is stirring. I'm so excited. I know exactly what to write next. Review please! I apologize for not updating in a while.