Day 5 - Protective: The Accident
Jou went through his bag for the fifth time in a row. He knew he was running late to meet the rest of the Chosen Children. They were going on a small trip to celebrate another anniversary. It was also the first trip they were talking with all their respective girlfriends and boyfriends.
"Jou, what are you doing?" Gomamon walked into his room. "If we take any longer, they are going to leave without us."
"I know. I know." He said a little frustrated. "I have checked this bag several times and I still feel like I'm forgetting something."
"What?"
"I have no idea. It's probably nothing." He shook his head and closed his bag after putting the last item in. Then he stood up and passed its strap over his shoulder. "Let's go."
"What did you have in there, by the way?"
"First aid kits and other things I might need if something happens."
"But, Jou, we're just going to the beach. Do you really think an accident can happen?"
"If there's anything I'm sure of, is that something can always happen when you least expect. You wouldn't believe some of the stories that brought patients to the hospital. Besides, when Leomon got injured by MetalEtemon back in 1999, I blamed myself for days for not having anything useful to help him. I only had toilet paper."
"I remember that. It was a heartbreaking moment. Him dying, not you not having proper emergency supplies."
"Yeah, but we were lucky he died in the Digital World and could be reborn. And ever since then, I promised myself I would walk around carrying everything I could, no matter if my bag got heavy or not."
"I wouldn't expect anything less coming from you." Gomamon smiled. "Now we really have to go. I'm surprised none of them had called you yet."
"Me too. Did you get everything you need?"
"I did. Don't forget your bags."
"I couldn't do that even if I tried." Jou couldn't help but laugh before the closed the door from his apartment.
"That's true. So are we going to pick Himawari up before going to Taichi's house, right?"
"That's right. And also Mimi and Hideaki. Everyone is sharing cars, except Takeru. He and Kimi are going straight from Kyoto."
"I see."
Jou shoved his hand into his pocket when he heard his phone ringing. He took it out and looked at the screen. "It's Mimi. Hello?"
"Hey, where are you?"
"Sorry, I'm a little late because I was having trouble checking something. I should be arriving at your place in fifteen minutes."
"Okay, great. I'll see you soon."
"Sure."
"Jou?"
"Yeah?"
"Were you checking your first-aid kit?"
"No." He replied in an awkward tone and swallowed hard. "Maybe."
"I knew it." She giggled. "I'll see you very soon."
.
Jou stared at the front of the house with his mouth open. He couldn't believe how pretty it was.
"If you don't shut your mouth, you'll end up drooling." Gomamon joked when he stopped beside his partner.
"You have a really good point." The man laughed with embarrassment and rubbed the back of his neck.
On his right, Himawari was also looking at the house across them. She reached for his hand. "You're not the only one surprised with it. Come on, let's go in. Everyone else is there already."
"Let's go."
Jou couldn't help but smile hearing the noise inside the house when he opened the door. It immediately brought him to his childhood days, when he and the rest of the Chosen Children were in the Digital World. He realized they would remain friends, no matter happened. And that feeling made his heart feel warm.
"Finally." Mimi said as she joined them. "We were thinking you three had changed your mind and gone back to Odaiba."
"No, we were just taking a look at the exterior of the house."
"I wouldn't let them go back, even if they wanted to."
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Gomamon." She winked with a smile. "Come on, I'll show you your room."
"Thanks, Mimi." Jou let Himawari walk in front of him and followed her closely.
"This house is so beautiful, isn't it?" Mimi asked over her shoulder. "I'm not surprised you took a while to get inside."
"It really is." Himawari nodded. "Its inside is no different, though."
"I know!" She exclaimed, pressing her hands together. "And the best thing is that every room has its own bathroom. What's it called again? Koushiro told me, but I can't seem to remember."
"Suite."
"That's right! Thank you, Jou."
"You're welcome."
"So this is your room." She stopped in front of a door on the right side of the hall. "I'll be staying in the next room in case you need something."
"Great. Thank you."
"Oh and also, we're having a night barbecue outside. The boys are getting everything ready."
"Sounds like everything is already settled here, huh?"
Jou used a light tone, but Mimi knew him well enough to know that he was upset deep down.
"Not exactly. It came up not too long ago and everyone just jumped in. It seemed the easiest idea, I guess." She shrugged. "Anyway, I should go and help Sora out with the food. We'll be at the barbecue area, in case you want to join us. Take your time though. We'll be there for a few hours."
"Alright. We will be there soon."
"Awesome." She said cheerfully and turned to leave. "Oh, and you might want to turn on the faucet in the shower just a little, or the water will be too hot. Hideaki almost got burned because of it."
"Thanks for the warning." Jou smiled kindly.
"Sure. So I'll see you soon."
"She's great, isn't she?" Himawari said as she watched her leave.
"She really is. Come on, let's get everything inside your bedroom."
.
The Chosen Children were having a lot of fun that night. Taichi proved himself to be a great barbecue man. Some of the other adults were either playing cards or chatting by the pool. Jou was feeling a little tired, so he excused himself and went to bed. About an hour later, Himawari joined him.
Jou couldn't tell what had exactly happened or if he was dreaming, but he heard voices in the hall near his door. He was in complete silence as he tried to figure out what was going on outside. So when he did, he grabbed his glasses on the bedside table near him and put them on. Then he stood up and headed outside.
"What's going on?"
"Oh Jou, thank God you're here." Taichi said with relief and stood up. "We weren't sure if we could call you."
"It's okay, I'm up now." He closed the door behind quietly, so he wouldn't wake his girlfriend up. "What happened?"
"Hikari twisted her ankle just now."
"Did she trip or something?" He knelt down next to her.
"No." She placed her hand near it. "I lost my balance because I'm not used to these shoes yet."
"Does you feel any pain here?" He put on some pressure over her ankle with his fingers and she winced in pain.
"Yes."
"Can you move your feet?"
"I think so." Hikari tried to stretch her leg. "But it hurts a little."
"It doesn't seem to be broken." Jou looked at Taichi over his shoulder. "Can you help me put her up?"
"Sure." He knelt on his sister's left side and placed her arm around his shoulders. "Ready? Let's go."
"Let's sit her on a chair."
"Alright."
Jou quickly grabbed a chair for Hikari to keep her leg stretched. "It doesn't look swollen, but it's better to immobilize it. Luckily, I brought some first aid items. I'm going to pick them up, I'll be right back."
"Should we take her to the hospital?" Katsuo asked with concern.
"It's not necessary." Hikari said.
"I would get an X-Ray just to make sure you didn't break your ankle." The med student returned with his bag and sat down on the floor, beside her ankle. "But I still think it's just a twist."
"Did you really bring a whole bag with first aid stuff?"
"It's always good to be safe." He said simply and went through his bag. "And I was right."
"Thank you, Jou." Hikari smiled kindly. "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't so cautious."
"You don't have to thank me." He stood up and offered her his hand. "Can you stand up?"
"I think so." She grabbed it and placed her foot on the floor.
"It's definitely not broken, but I'd still go to the hospital and get an X-Ray."
"Great." Katsuo said. "Let's go, Hikari."
"Are you going too, Jou?"
"Uh, sure. Maybe I can get it faster. Let's go."
.
"It's definitely not broken." Jou looked up at the X-Ray he was holding. "Which is a good thing."
"I won't have to get it cast then?"
"No, you don't." He looked at Hikari with a warm smile. "The bandages should be fine. And an orthopedic boot."
"That's good."
"Yeah, I was already thinking how I would be able to go to college with a cast. My class is on the second floor, so… it will be much easier with the boot."
"Does that mean she will be discharged soon?"
"It does. We just have to wait for the doctor to come see her and give her the orthopedic boot."
"I thought that would be on us." Taichi said.
"No, it's part of the treatment."
"I see."
"How long until the doctor comes?"
"I don't know, but I'll find out. I'll be right back."
Jou returned about ten minutes later with the doctor on call. He took a look on Hikari and on her exams and then said she was ready to go. Taichi carried her purse and a bag with one of her shoes while Katsuo helped her get to the elevator.
"It's so strange to walk with this slight difference in heights."
"You've never broken anything before?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Hikari has always been a very nice child. She may have never broken any bone in her life, but she surely got sick easily."
"Really?"
"Taichi!" She quickly turned to her boyfriend. "Don't listen to him."
"Are you having trouble stepping on your hurt foot?"
"No, everything's good, Jou. I meant to thank you though. If it wasn't for you, things would have been worse, probably."
"You're welcome, Hikari. I know it can be a little uncomfortable, but the cast would be a little more, trust me."
"I can imagine. I need to confess I feel a little disappointed because I was excited with the idea of having people signing on it and having a colored cast."
"I'm sorry to ruin your expectations."
"Oh, no. It wasn't your fault. It may seem like I wanted my ankle to be broken, but I really didn't."
"Trust me, it's better this way. You wouldn't want to have anything broken, believe me."
"Have you ever broken anything before?"
"A finger, once. It was an accident, actually. My uncle didn't see me lying on the floor and stepped on my hand."
"That must have hurt."
"A lot. I had to have a cast on my finger for a couple of weeks. I was annoyed with it, but at least it wasn't on my hand."
"That's a really good point."
"When you think about it, you were very luck."
"I really was."
.
The group returned about an hour and a half later and everyone at the house was worried and anxious they were taking really long to come back.
"Finally!" Mimi exclaimed as she stood up from the couch and looked over her shoulder, shouting towards the hall. "They're here! How did it go?"
"Pretty good, actually. I mean, it's bad that Hikari has an injured ankle, but it's not broken."
"That's a relief." Sora joined them, and the rest of the people in the house appeared little by little. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I am." Hikari nodded with a smile. "It doesn't hurt as much anymore to walk."
"It will only get easier for you as the hours go by. It will barely hurt by tomorrow morning, but you'll have to wear this boot for a few days."
"I'll make sure she follows it through." Katsuo said.
"Like I wouldn't on my own." She rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's statement and giggled.
"I'm with my future brother-in-law."
"Great." She pretended to be annoyed. "I'm tired, I need to sleep."
"Me too." Katsuo placed his hand in the middle of her back. "Come on, I'll help you get to our bedroom."
"Just a minute." Hikari turned to Jou. "Thank you so much for helping me tonight, Jou. I don't know what would have helped if you didn't have your emergency bag with you."
"You don't have to thank me, Hikari. It was the least I could do. I'm glad nothing more serious happened."
"So am I." She smiled kindly. "I'm really tired, so I'm going to bed. I'll see you all tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow. And remember to sleep with your belly up, so you won't move your feet that much."
"Alright, I won't."
Jou walked into his room not too long after everyone started doing the same. Himawari was sitting on the bed, while Gomamon was sitting on his blanket, below the window.
"What a night." He sighed after placing his glasses on the bedside table and lying on the bed. "I'm really tired."
"I can imagine, you spent almost all night out."
"Yeah, but it was for a good reason. I'm used to having a doctor's life."
"Welcome to the club." She smiled. "Though you already know what it's like, with so many doctors in your family."
"Exactly."
"I take it back."
"What?" Jou looked at Gomamon confused when he spoke.
"You did an amazing job tonight. Your bag was really useful. I'm sorry for not believing otherwise."
"That's okay, buddy. There was a big chance it wouldn't, but it's always good to be safe. Life is too unpredictable sometimes."
"It really is." He yawned. "Now it's time for you to take some rest. You'll have a very deserved fun day tomorrow."
"You will too." Jou rolled to his right to turn the lamp off. "Good night, Gomamon."
"Good night, Jou."
