Disclaimer: I don't own digimon or anything in Pullman's series.
Author's Note: Well, sorry for the long wait. All the holiday stuff put off my writing for a while. I had to totally rework this chapter. I had written one out, but it really sucked, so I thought I'd rework the plot a little. This one is much better. It's pretty funny at times. The Final Law of Storytelling: "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."
Also, I'd like to say welcome to my new reviewers Riku's Only Girl and Isumo 1489. Hi guys!! Well, how you enjoy it. Review too. Thanx!
Eyes of a Ghost
They sat there on the couch for a while, not really saying anything. Davis didn't exactly know what to say, since she wasn't asking him any more questions. She seemed content just to sit next to him. Which wasn't exactly a bad thing. And he kind of felt the same way, so he stayed silent and watched the television. That was the really strange thing, to see himself up there, reliving slightly warped memories. The cartoon was accurate on some things, but was way off on others, and those were the things that creeped him out a little.
Rika fell asleep on his shoulder after a while. Smiling, he turned off the television and eased her down onto the sofa, throwing a blanket over her. Then he hit the lights and walked outside, looking around the expansive garden. Renamon popped in next to him.
"Thanks for sending her in." He whispered to her.
"That relationship will be a difficult one."
Davis frowned, looking up at the fox. "You listened in on us?"
"It is my job to make sure Rika is safe. Speaking to a ghost seems questionable, especially when it is one whose death she blames herself for."
"I'm not dead, Renamon." He said firmly.
She nodded. "I can see that, but how was I to know if you held a grudge for your injuries?"
The boy sighed and looked away. "You don't trust me."
She stepped into his line of sight again. "I'm not sure if I like you either."
"I saved your partner's life. How can you feel that way?"
"You will have to prove yourself in other ways before I will trust you. We'll see if I ever grow to like you." She warned, eyes narrowed, before vanishing into thin air.
Davis sighed again and kicked at the grass in frustration. "Whatever." He muttered.
He trudged over to Rika's door, hands shoved into his pockets. Sliding the door open, he stepped inside and looked around. The only thing different about the room was the bed pulled out into the middle the floor. He glanced at the alarm clock. It was eleven. Trying to do the calculation in his head, he traced out numbers on his pant leg with a finger. It was three in the afternoon in his world. Not exactly wanting to go back there right away, he laid down on her bed and soon fell asleep.
"Wake up, Davis." She whispered in his ear.
He groaned and opened his eyes a slit. Rika was kneeling down next to him, hands folded in her lap.
"What time is it?"
"Five thirty." She answered.
He stretched without getting up, wincing as the movement shot pain through his shoulder. "Subtract eight from that."
"What?" She asked, confused. "Negative two and a half."
He laughed. "No. In twenty-four hour time. That would be twenty one. It's nine thirty in my world."
"Oh." She said. "Do you have to leave?"
He shook his head and carefully sat up. The scabs on his back cracked and he whimpered at the pain.
"You okay?" Rika asked, touching his arm.
He nodded. "Yeah. It's just not used to me moving."
She chewed her lip for a moment. "Let me see."
Davis locked his eyes with her violet ones. He hesitated for a second. "No. I haven't seen it yet, but Veemon said it was bad."
"Please Davis."
His hands fidgeted. She stared at him as he tried to find an excuse to say no. "Fine." He finally said. "But you'll have to help he get my shirt off."
She nodded and sat still, waiting for him to ask for help. Davis sighed and scratched at his shoulder gently through his shirt. The burn there and on his back was itching. He carefully pulled his arm out of one sleeve, Rika holding the end for him. Then she helped him pull the rest of the shirt over his head. He tugged the other sleeve off his slightly burned arm. Rika crawled behind him and looked at the damage.
"How does it look?" He asked her.
The girl didn't say anything. He tried to strain his neck to see it for himself, but his skin painfully pulled taut.
"Don't do that." Rika whispered, grabbing his arm below the burns.
He exhaled loudly and sat still. There was the touch of cold fingers on the middle of his back. Davis was still as her fingertips slid over the teeth marks and back down to the bottom edge of the burns. Then she touched his opposite shoulder, the only part of his back that hadn't been burned. He looked down at his chest, where there was an identical ring of teeth marks, though much less burns.
"I can't believe you lived." She whispered from behind him.
"What does it look like, Rika?"
She stood. "Come on.
She helped him up and then led him outside to another door. Pushing him inside, she slid the door closed behind her. It was the bathroom, with a big shower and bathtub, two expansive sinks and a huge mirror covering the wall above them. Davis walked in and turned so he could see his back in the mirror. He sucked in a breath through clenched teeth at the sight of it. Almost his whole back was puckered with reddish brown burns, and there was a ring of purple teeth marks around his shoulder. The burns fell to just above his pants, and covered the lower back of his neck. Only his right shoulder was untouched, since Fauvmon had bit into the opposite shoulder. He turned away and moved backward to sit down on a hamper, staring at his reflection in the mirror. Rika went over and stood in front of him, blocking his view.
"Don't look." She whispered.
He swallowed hard, trying to push away bad thoughts. I really should have died after that bite.
Davis, you should just be thankful that you are alive. Roxelle said.
Yeah, I know.
"Davis, put your shirt back on." Rika whispered, putting it in his hands.
He stared at it for a moment, but then slipped the sleeves over his arms and gently pulled it over his head. He tried not to cry out too much as the skin on his back screamed at being stretched. Once he got it on, he looked up at Rika.
Her face was covered with worry. "You don't look good, Davis."
He took a moment to relax the pain still shooting through his body. When it had ebbed away a little, he stood up and walked over to the mirror again.
"You should be dead." He whispered to his reflection, pointing at it.
Then he turned to Rika. She stared at him, like she expected him to have a different reaction. Davis sighed and walked out of the bathroom, back into the early morning sunlight. He took a deep breath as the warm amber light shined on his face. Despite how much his body was hurting, it felt good to be alive. He pushed away all the dark feelings and let the sun cheer him up. Rika walked in front of him and looked at him.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
He smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I feel good. I'm alive."
"Okay." She said, giving him a confused look. "Well, I was thinking we could go find Takato and the others today. They should know that you didn't die."
He stretched carefully and looked down at himself. "I'll need another disguise, considering what happened to the last one."
She frowned and stood there for a while. "I'll go look for something. Go shower while I do." She said and walked back into her room.
Davis shrugged and went into the bathroom again. It took him a few minutes to get the water to a temperature that wouldn't hurt his burns. After he had gotten dressed again, he came out and found Rika sitting in the garden with some clothes in her lap.
"Here." She said, giving him another sweatshirt, this one black and not as small. "It was a gift. Doesn't fit, so I never wear it. But that doesn't mean you can burn this one up too."
He smiled and pulled it over his head, flipping up the hood. With the scabs on his back moist now, it didn't hurt quite as much. "I'm glad you aren't gonna make a big thing about this."
Rika stood and started walking toward the street. "You aren't, so I thought I'd follow suit."
Davis followed her, walking by her side after he caught up to her. He watched her while they passed by the big houses. Eventually she looked over at him and caught his gaze.
"What?" She asked, annoyed.
He shook his head and laughed lightly, turning to look strait ahead.
"Davis, don't stare at me and then tell me your not thinking about something."
He grinned. "Look, you said you didn't want me to treat you all girly. I'm trying, but it's hard."
She stopped, and he continued forward one pace before turning around to face her. She looked thoroughly annoyed now.
"What?" He asked, hands spread out in front of him.
"I never said that. I want to know what you're thinking, especially if it has to do with me."
Davis hesitated for a moment. "Okay. Well, I think you're beautiful."
Rika walked forward and shoved her face into his. "Don't say that you idiot. You have no idea how tired I am of hearing that from people."
He bit his lip as she rushed off, trying not to smile. He called after her as he hurried to catch up. "I told you."
When they came up on it, Rika led the way into the little bakery. Davis looked around as they entered. The shelves were packed with loaves, and the store permeated with the smell of rising and baking bread. His stomach rumbled quietly. The girl went up to the counter and talked to the woman behind it.
"Is Takato here?" She asked.
The woman nodded. "He's in his room with a bunch of his friends. Go on up."
Rika shot Davis a glance as she led the way up the stairs. He grinned at her, feeling mischievous. They were going to freak out when the saw him. She pushed open the door to Takato's room and walked in while Davis stayed outside. After a moment, she reached through the door and grabbed his arm, pulling him into the room. She didn't look amused by his trying to surprise them. Davis looked around at all their faces as they realized who he was and that he was real. He broke out laughing and instantly tried to stop at the pain it caused.
"Ow. Ow." He muttered around laughs.
"Davis stop it." Rika said, pushing him down on a chair.
Henry stood up and walked over to him. The dark haired boy stared him directly in the face. "What the heck?"
Still grinning, Davis retold his story. "Well, Veemon got me to a doctor in the digital world. We spent fifteen days there and they put medication or whatever on it. It hurt a lot at first, but eventually my back got better. Then they told me I could leave if I wanted, if as I was careful. So then I came back here to find you guys. Didn't want you thinking I was dead or anything."
Jeri came over and pushed Henry out of the way so she could stand in front of Davis. She leaned over and poked a finger at him. When it didn't pass through his body she stood up again and kicked his leg.
"Ow." He said, rubbing his shin. "What was that for?"
"For making us all sad for letting you die." She answered angrily. "You're Davis. The leader from the second season of digimon. How would you feel if it was your fault for the death of your hero?"
He blinked. "I'm your hero?"
"No!" She said, turning away and pointing at the leader of the tamers. "But you're one of Takato's. And we all look up to you."
Davis blushed, feeling guilty. She saw Rika watching him across the room. Now he understood why she hadn't found it funny.
"I'm sorry guys." He whispered.
Jeri sat back down next to Takato. Kazu and Kenta were both still staring at him, the bespectacled boy clutching his digimon and the other one openmouthed.
Suzie stood up on the bed. "Did it hurt?" She asked.
He nodded. "Yeah."
"Show them, Davis." Rika said quietly, her voice loud in the silent room.
Davis frowned and pulled at his sleeves. He sighed and then reluctantly agreed. "Fine."
Carefully he pulled the black sweatshirt over his head, wincing. Then he turned and let them see his back and shoulder. He ignored the gasps and counted out thirty seconds in his head before painfully sliding back into the clothing. Turning back around, he saw their slightly pale faces. Even Rika looked a little uncomfortable at seeing it again.
"Look, it's not that bad. I'll live and it'll all heal up eventually. Doesn't hurt that much." He lied.
You'll have a nasty scar once it does." Henry pointed out.
Takato nodded, not adding anything.
Davis shrugged, wincing as he had forgotten to be careful. They seemed to take his face as the real truth. "I'm fine."
Before they could speak up again, his phone rang, making him jump. "What the..." He reached into his pocket and stared at it for a moment. How was he being called in another world?
"Hello?"
"Hey, Davis." Sora's friendly voice answered. "I couldn't get a hold of you at home, so I came through to find you. What are you doing?"
"Um," he racked him brain for an excuse.
"Whatever." She cut in. "Look, I was thinking we could take these guys to Primary Village. So if you'll bring them to the rip soon, Jeri can get her digimon back tonight. Or I guess it's morning here."
"Uh, sure. That sounds like a good idea. We'll be there soon. Is it just you?"
"No. Ken and Kari came with too."
Ken? How did he get away? On a Sunday night? "Okay. I'll see you guys in a while."
Davis hung up and slipped the phone back into his pocket. He looked up at the others and smiled helplessly at their confused expressions. "Sora wants to go to Primary Village now. Wanna come?"
Jeri's eyes widened and she stood up. "Yes!"
Davis stood as well, and glanced around as the others slowly did the same. "But, could we please not mention the big fight and my injuries?"
Henry nodded, answering for all of them. Davis turned and led the way out of the room and down the stairs.
Post Script: Well there you go. Good stuff. Just for ApricotKisses, I worked Suzie into the next chapter. Yay! The next chapter will be fun.
I'm still waiting to see another Dairuki. You asked when my birthday is. It's in June, but if you're feeling in a writing mood, my half birthday is Christmas Eve. (wink wink)
neoKOS-MOS