Note: I don't own digimon
A/N: Thank you for those of you who reviewed my first chapter. I'll try and make it longer, and I'm listening to you all.
Hikari sat stunned and stared at her older brother. 'It couldn't be, could it?' She thought. She knew that Takeru probably took the rejection hard and it made her guilty enough to see him hide away in a dark corner, but running away? Her head felt dizzy at the thought of never seeing him again. She had hoped to give him a week's time to settle down before she actually started talking to him again. She had really hoped that they would be able to hammer this problem out and remain good friends. But now, with him gone, how was that supposed to happen?
Hikari's insides churned like a blender as she asked, "Do they have any idea where he might have gone?"
"No, I'm sorry Hikari. We're all trying to keep strong for him and hope that he returns home," Taichi stared off into the overcast skies. "And soon." he added
"Well, we're going to find Takeru no matter what, right Hikari?" chimed in Daisuke.
"I don't know, I just don't know," replied Hikari.
Daisuke seemed surprised that Hikari hadn't been so enthusiastic about finding Takeru. It had seemed like it had just washed over her, and she simply did not care anymore.
Hikari's face was masked. Neither Daisuke nor Taichi had been able to figure out what was going on with Hikari.
'I hope this thing is just a phase Takeru has to get by first. Maybe he just needs some time along from everybody. At least, I hope so,' she thought.
Taichi decided that it might be a good idea to go over to Takeru's and support his brother, Yamato, and his mother. As they neared towards the door of the apartment, Hikari could hear the frantic sobs from within. Her heart started to sting with the feeling of guilt; she could barely go in. How would she be able to look Ms. Takaishi in the eyes and tell her that, 'I was the one who lost your son. It's because me of me'?
When they walked into the apartment, Hikari immediately felt a sense of mourning rather than hope. Her eyes fell on Yamato, who was busy comforting his mother. His electric blue eyes no longer held the spark that they had once had. Even Sora, his girlfriend, could not keep his spirits up. Takeru was like a little bother to Sora. After that ordeal with Piedmon when they were younger, Takeru had always looked to her for any sort of help.
When Yamato looked up and saw Hikari, his look of sorrow turned to a look of disdain and putrid hate. His electric blue eyes now lit up, but in anger and rage. Yamato quickly turned away, wiping his tears furiously. He was determined not to look at her. Hikari felt the deep sinking, rotting feeling of guilt, but was determined not to let it get to her. 'I'm sorry that Takeru was gone because of me, but I can't be blamed for everything that's caused Takeru to disappear!', she thought.
Hikari turned to her brother, to see what kind of reaction that got out of him. By now, the tension between her and Yamato was almost touchable. She knew he and Taichi had always had some dispute problems and this situation with Takeru may cause another. However, his response was stagnant, which surprised Hikari. Usually, Taichi would stick up for the honor of his sister, against anybody. Instead, it was Daisuke who was staring a hole right back at Yamato. It almost looked like they both ready to lunge at each other and rip each others' throats out.
"Dai, don't…." she pleaded.
"Don't worry, Hikari, Yama's just being incredibly big jerk," spat Daisuke.
"O yea!" screamed Yamato. "Maybe if she had shown a little compassion, then I wouldn't have to be in this situation!" His voice quivered with anger. He accusingly pointed at Hikari, which made Daisuke even madder.
Hikari was afraid. This was quickly escalating into a brawl, and it was all because of her……
"Ok, you know what stop it! Nobody's going to blame anybody. It's bad enough without our relationships getting hurt from this!" screamed Ms. Takaishi. "I think it would be best if everybody left for now. I need some time and the police will be by to ask some questions anyways."
As they were leaving, Hikari noticed Daisuke was confronting Taichi at the gate. She leaned from behind the corner of the building to have a better listen to what they were saying.
"Listen man. Why didn't you back up Hikari back in the apartment," Daisuke was evidently outraged that Taichi didn't back up Hikari. "I seems like I've been the only one to support her throughout this whole thing."
"Alright, I know she's my little sister, and I love her with all my heart-" started Taichi.
"Then why don't you prove it, Taichi!" yelled Davis.
Taichi responded with the same intensity. "I'm not going to protect someone who's actually guilty of forcing Takeru into hiding!"
That one did it. Hikari could not stand here and take anymore guilt. She felt her eyes start to grow hot with tears and simply could not hold them back. Tears fell freely from her face as she ran from her hiding place, for a place of protection, a place of solitude for her to think this through. It hurt so bad to hear those words come out of her own brother. Her feet pounded the pavement as she ran past Taichi and Daisuke.
"Hikari! Wait-"
But she no longer cared; she just needed to get away. As she heard the frantic cries in the background, she reminded herself, 'I have to fix this'.
It had started to rain. The raindrops had mingled with Hikari's tears. She tasted them flowing from her cheek as they fell towards her mouth. She turned into an alleyway behind a bread shop. No one was there to see her tears of guilt. Hikari noted that there was a fish skeleton lying out of the trash can, and reminded her of Gatomon. 'Wish I brought Gatomon with me,' she sadly thought to herself. Suddenly, it seemed like every nerve in her body contracted. Hikari's legs suddenly pumped as fast as they could back to Takeru's apartment. She had just realized why it seemed so strange that Takeru was gone without walking through the front door of his apartment. It had seemed so unreasonable that he would climb out his window. 'It was staring in everyone's face and no body got it…,' she thought.
When Hikari had finally gotten to Takeru's apartment, she was soaking wet. Her shoes squeaked as they made mud tracks all over the place. 'I hope Ms. Takaishi doesn't mind too much," she thought. However, as Hikari opened the unlocked door to Takeru's apartment, she found no body to be in sight. 'They must have taken her down for questioning,' concluded Hikari. She moved on through his apartment cautiously. It seemed so wrong, going through Takeru's apartment without anybody there. Almost made her feel like a robber.
At last, Hikari had reached Takeru's bedroom. It had always been tidy. The desk was always spotless, no hint of even any germs. His basketball had been put away in a special place in his closet, as with his other sports equipment. Takeru's books were also categorized neatly on his shelf, the same with all his DVDs. His bed was always made, and perfect distance from his TV. However, Hikari noted something strange on his desk. It seemed to not fit with the perfect world Takeru had created for himself. Takeru's computer was still on and it confirmed Hikari's suspicion. She knew it all along. It should have been her first guess as to his whereabouts.
The blue portal on the screen told the story.
The gate to the digital world was open.
A/N: Okay, I know it isn't as long as some of you would have liked it, but I'm trying to save the good stuff for the next chapter. Review!
