Disclaimer: je ne posesse pas Digimon
im not putting up any excuses for why this chapter took so long coz im sure you are all sick of hearing it. All ive gotta say is im so terribly sorry for taking so long, and I hope you likes this chapter and I hope I can get the next chapter done and posted by 2 weeks or less. Thanks for your encouraging words and reviews, and I will keep going until this is finished.
And btw, sorry if the chapters look dodgy, but half the time italics doesn't show up! *growls* must…get…revenge…
Thanx go to: Blackout12, Rocke and Roll (NOBODY CAN ESCAPE! MWAHAH!!!), Lethal Darkness (I think I was…but I don't remember…-.-;), Juliana Cleo, Psycho-Kitty-Purra (thank you so much *blush* and yeh…^^;; I did notice that…but I can't be bothered going over and re-writing all the chapters again, coz I'd end up changing the whole story too…), Bleh (*sneaky grin*) and Sara1664. thanx for reviewing! =)
ps. Onichan – older brother
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I knock on the door, every fibre of my being praying that no one would answer. I wait anxiously, almost hearing the seconds pass by.
No one answers.
I breathe a slight sigh of relief as I slowly open the door and peek into the room. Unlike Matt's room, this room is filled with a gentle sunlight streaming through the open window, illuminating the peaceful figure lying in the bed. I slip into the room and close the door behind me. T.K stir's slightly.
"Mum…I told you before, get some sleep," T.K mumbles, taking a rather ragged breath, "I'm fine." T.K's eyes roll over to me. He blinks dazedly.
"Takeru…" I whisper, my voice shaking as pure elation at seeing him finally awake, talking and breathing on his own, flows through me. I hurry to the side of his bed and throw my arms around him, tears of happiness leaking from my eyes and onto his shoulder.
"Oh T.K, you're alright!" I sob into his shoulder, clutching him closer. I feel his tube-ridden arms slowly wind their way round my trembling form, embracing me in a comforting hug.
"Kari…" he whispers, letting out a small laugh. "It's so nice to see you…after so long…"
I hold him closer. "Oh T.K, I've missed you so much…" A fresh wave of tears find their way down my cheeks and onto T.K's pillow.
"Oh Kari, don't cry," Takeru soothes, his voice a little more solid. I bury my face deeper into his shoulder, finding comfort there.
"Oh Takeru, you're finally better," I mumble, my voice muffled by T.K's clothing. "You're finally awake…you're finally here…" T.K traces circles on my back in a calming gesture, gently whispering comforting words as my tears subside. I gently pull away from his shoulder, letting out a small laugh at the damp patch I'd left behind. My eyes flicker up to meet his entrancing blue eyes in a soft gaze. A warm smile plays across his face, lighting up his pale features.
"Thank you for coming," he says, his arms falling slowly from around my back. "I thought you'd never come back after what my dad…" I put a finger to his lips, smiling gently, but inwardly wincing at the memory.
"Shhh…" I whisper, slowly withdrawing my finger from his colourless lips, "If you think that that would stop me from visiting, you have very little faith in me." I slowly intertwine our fingers, backing myself down into a nearby chair in the process. T.K's smile slowly fades and he blinks sadly. My smile falters, dreading that one question…
"How's Matt?"
Bingo.
"Um…" I mumble, my mind racing with a million different thoughts and words to say.
What do I say? Do I tell him the whole story? I mean, he already knows why Matt's in here, but do I tell him that his brother is sitting in a dark room, wallowing in depression?
"My parent's won't tell me…" T.K's voice penetrates my hurried thoughts. I look at his worried face, and my heart melts. Yamato and him are so close…even though they don't live together. I know I'd want to know if something happened to my Onichan and I couldn't find out myself. I sigh heavily, not wanting to tell him about Matt just when he's on the recovery track.
"Matt's getting better," I say, deciding not to tell the whole truth. Sure, he's physically getting better (minus the amount of food he's eating, which equals to zero), but mentally…I'm not exactly sure…
Takeru looks at me knowingly.
"And…?" he beckons, wanting me to continue.
"And what?" I ask, acting bewildered, hoping he wasn't going to ask about his psychological state.
T.K sighs. "How is he? I'm sure my dad went to pay him a little visit…" Takeru's voice clenches on the last word, a slight hint of bitterness in his weak voice, "and I'm sure he wasn't all chocolate and roses with him…" My heart clenches at T.K's words. He was right. I wince as memories of the traumatized Matt cowering in the corner of his dark room surface in my mind. I feel T.K's hand gently squeeze my own, and I look up.
"Please? I'm so scared for him…" T.K's raspy voice breaks my heart. He's so concerned…but how do I tell him?
"I-I-" I begin, but am interrupted by a knocking on the door. I spin around in my seat, my heart thumping wildly. I feel T.K tense.
Oh, please not let it be his parents…The door opens to reveal a doctor and a nurse. I breathe a sigh of relief, and T.K relaxes.
"Good afternoon Mr. Takashi," the doctor greets rather formally, lifting the chart off the bed and flicking through it. "Now I'm sorry that I have to interrupt your time with your visitor, but we must run some more tests." I look back to Takeru, and he stares back sadly. I rub his hand comfortingly.
"Don't worry, I'll come back later," I reassure, lifting his thin hand to plant a gentle kiss on the back of it. "Good luck." I smile weakly, hoping to alleviate the worried expression on his face. The nurse bustles around behind him, preparing him for his journey. T.K smiles half-heartedly, before leaning towards me and placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. I immediately feel my cheeks heat up as he lies back down on the pillow.
"Thank you," he whispers, a more truthful smile on his face. I smile, slightly embarrassed by the blush in my cheeks.
"Ready to go?" the doctor asks, breaking our gaze. T.K nods slightly and I stand, giving T.K's hand one last encouraging squeeze.
"I'll come back, I promise."
T.K smiles. "Me too." I manage a watery smile as the nurse and doctor begin to navigate T.K's bed out of the room. T.K sends me one last smile before he disappears down the halls, leaving me to the slightly billowing curtains and his empty room. Every tense emotion suddenly loses its grip and I fall into a chair, weak with relief. I sigh happily, the last of my uncried tears making its way freely down my face. I smile and close my eyes, letting the cool breeze from the window flow onto my face and send a further wave of relief over me.
"Everything's gonna be alright," I whisper elatedly, letting each syllable float in the air. "T.K's awake! And everything is going to be ok…" my voice trembles slightly, unable to hold back the emotion.
After all this time…after all this time things are finally going right…~~
"Tai! Ack! My hair!"I hear Tai and another recognisable voice snigger as I squeeze the water out of my hair.
"I'm gonna kill you Taichi!"
Tai's laughter rises as my threat reaches his ears.
"Yeh, right. Whatcha gonna do Kari? Gimme a makeover?" The other voice erupts into laughter.
"Matt! That wasn't funny!" T.K's voice joins the fray, he himself shaking his hair free of water.
"Oh c'mon, you can't deny me of any fun can you? You were just too busy ogling Hikari to see it coming!" T.K. immediately turns an interesting shade of red. I feel my cheeks beginning to flush.
"I was not!"
"Ooooh! T.K and Kari sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"SHUT UP TAI!"
"Aha-ACK!"
Tai fell from his position in the tree as my pencil case smacked him in the face.
"Nice aim Kari…"
~~
I smile as the memory replays itself, reminding me of the times before all this started, and how lucky we were.
"Yes, how lucky you were…"
I bolt upright in my chair, thoroughly startled by this voice. A cold breeze blows in the window and the curtains billow fiercely, sending an unknown fear through me.
Why am I fri-"Because I posses the one thing you hold dear," the voice continues, a vengeful tone in his voice. My eyes widen as the Venetian blinds fall from their position hoisted above the window and covered the sunlight, sending a shadow only broken by small slits of sunlight across the room. I suddenly feel the presence of cold water around my ankles. I look down to the floor and panic floods me. Dark, murky waters flood the room, a mist rising slowly from it. I look around anxiously, remembering the last time this happened and what it meant.
"T-Tai?" I stutter, my desperate plea barely sounding from my lips. "T.K? M-Matt? S-S-Sora?"
"Kari…"
I bolt out of my chair, scared at the response. I look around the room wildly, wondering where the voice came from. I swear it was…
"Tai?" I ask again, fear overtaking me.
"Kari…please…"
I stare into the corner, a dark outline suddenly visible through the grey mist. I slowly walk towards it, shivering at the icy touch of the water around my ankles. I stop a metre away from the figure, trying to peer closer.
"Tai? Is th-that you?" I ask uncertainly, praying it was.
"It is, yet, it isn't," came the reply. It wasn't Tai's voice.
"Dakedo…" I whisper fearfully.
"Bingo!" Dakedo chirps mockingly, his figure becoming clearer. But he was not alone. Sitting behind him, slumped against the wall, is another figure. My blood runs cold.
"T-Tai!" I cry, taking a step towards him. But Dakedo holds up his hand, shaking his head. I look desperately towards Tai's unmoving figure.
"You want him?" Dakedo asks simply. I turn my terrified eyes onto his gleeful ones, the answer deadly obvious. Dakedo smirks, before turning around and wrapping his hand around Tai's neck, pulling him into an upright position. Tai gasps for air.
"No!" I scream, tears running down my cheeks. "Let him go!"
Dakedo's smile widens. "If you want him to live, then you must do something for me in return." I stare, horrified, at Dakedo. His smile only widens as his grip around Tai's neck tightens. Tai cries out, desperately clawing at the hands around his neck to break free.
"No! Please! Let him go!" I cry helplessly, tears blurring my vision as utmost terror shoots through me.
Tai's lips are going blue…My stomach sinks as the only possibility rises in my mind.
"Go. Stay from the shadows…"Tai's cry pierces through my thoughts and I'm brought back to the icy but triumphant glare of Dakedo.
I'm sorry Matt…"Alright! I'll do anything! Please just let him go!" I cry, my face now burning from tears.
I'm sorry Tai…Dakedo's smile widens devilishly as he releases his death-grip on Taichi's neck. Tai falls to the floor, gasping for breath.
"Tai!" I cry, dropping to his side and cradling him in my arms. I wince at the bruises around his neck as he struggles to fill his lungs with air. I look up to Dakedo with pain-filled and slightly confused eyes.
"Why?" I choke out, my eyes stinging.
Dakedo kneels before me, smiling victoriously. "Don't worry. It's all gonna be alright." He leans forward slowly, his intent gaze boring into me, before his lips capture my own and a cold feeling washes over me, begging me to fall into the dark abyss.
One last tear streaks down my cheek before I fall into darkness.
I'm sorry T.K…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
long chapter! ^^ so, did u like? I hopes you did. And as I said before, im so sorry it took me so long to update, considering I said last chapter I'd have this up by the next week. So big apologies and constant bowing and begging for forgiveness! ^^ thank you for reading and please review! Thanks ya! =)