SUMMER. ETERNITY.
------------------
Yesterday
when you were walking
We talked about your mum and dad
What
they did that made you happy
What they did that made you sad
We
sat and watched the sun go down
Picked a star before we lost the
moon
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come and
gone toо
soon
------------------------------------------------
The sun was on the decline, coloring the sky gold and making the ocean surface play with miriads of multicolored sparks. There were not many people at the beach at that hour; those rare present were lounging on the sand, alone or in small groups, dozing, chatting, laughing. Some were swimming; and two were strolling leisurely down the shore line. One of them, a wild-haired, dark skinned boy about 15 years of age, was dressed in baggy shorts and a dark blue jersey; the other one, a girl around his age, was wearing a white T shirt and shin-long jeans. They were holding hands; each was holding a pair of light running shoes in his other hand, allowing the waves to caress their bare feet.
"A new principal? No kidding. What's he like?"
"His name is Kempachi-san. What's he like? Like all the principles are," the boy snorted. "Like a diaper."
"Like a diaper?"
"Yeah. Full of shit and getting on your ass."
The girl raised her eybrows for a second, then burst into laughter.
"Daisuke, you never change, do you? Still fighting the man?"
"Still fighting the man," he confirmed, smiling. "Other than that, nothing much going on. Been to the basketball game two weeks ago, our guys played against Hiroyoshi High's. Lost, but TJ scored all the goals for the team so they gave him a standing ovation on the way out. Сhicks especially. Yamato's getting jealous probably, seeing as his snotty little pup of a brother stealing all of his groupies."
"You sound like you're jealous too," she said playfuly. "And for one last time, it's TK! Tee Kay."
"Me? Jealous? When I got you? Please Kari. He has to be jealous, not me. As a matter of fact, all the guys in the world should!"
Daisuke wrapped his hands below the girl's knees and lifted her up. She let out a yelp, half-scared half-amused as he spun around a couple of times, holding her tight and secure.
"Heeey! Kaaaariii! You're the best!" he shoted happily.
"Put me down! You're crazy, Dai, put me down!" pretending to be angry, Hikari slapped him lightly on the arm. He obeyed, but not before planting a kiss on the girl's cheek.
-------------------
You
were there for summer dreaming
And you gave me what I need
And
I hope you find your freedom
For eternity
For eternity
------------------------
"Silly," she grinned, made a few steps, and then suddenly gasped, bringing a hand to her tample and clutching the boy by the shoulder to keep her balance.
"Kari!"
"L-let's sit down."
"Kari!"
Slowly, ever so gently and carefuly Daisuke helped the girl down on the warm sand.
"I'm sorry Kari, I'm sorry!" he pleaded.
"It's not your fault," Hikari replied weakly but calmly. "I felt it coming since morning. It's such a shame... I've only came to three days ago."
"I'll call Tai," Daisuke started ramaging in his pockets looking for a cell phone but Hikari stopped him and gestured him to sit down next to her.
"It's okay. There's still time."
The boy sat next to her and she put her head on his shoulder.
"I was hoping to spend more time with you," she whispered. Daisuke's heart ached.
"How do you feel? Maybe I should call Tai after all?"
"No, it's okay. I'm not in pain if that's what you mean. I'm a bit giddy and want to sleep, that's all."
They kept silent for a while. Hikari was looking sadly at the sun going down; Daisuke carefully put a hand around her shoulders, wishing with all of his heart he could somehow stop the girl from falling asleep, protect her from the blackness waiting for her on the other side.
----------------------
Close
your eyes so your don't hear then
They don't need to see you cry
I
can't promise I will heal you
But if you want to I will try
I'll
sing this somber serenade
The past is done
We've been
betrayed
It's true
Someone said the truth will out
I believe
without a doubt, in you
---------------------------
So it was not the flu. Actually none of the doctors Hikari's parents been to with their daughter could understand the nature of the sickness that struck the girl in the late winter of the year. None of many examinations, analysises and tests could determine the reason Hikari would sink into periods of sleep which lasted weeks first, then months. It was not the worst part though. This slumber,accompanied by nightmares, was literally draining the very life out of the girl as she was becoming thinner, paler, weaker as the time passed. And no matter what Hikari's parents, then doctors would try, no loud noises or bright light, no medications, not even electric discharges could wake the girl up.
"It's horrible," Taichi once confessed to Daisuke after making sure Hikari was not around. " Like living in one of those Freddy Krueger flicks. Number 10, man. The worst. Can you imagine, months, months of never-ending nightmares! And she can't wake up, not even for a second. Poor thing, you should have seen her, she cries and screams and thrashes around, calls us for help, and we can do nothing but fucking stand there and stare at her!"
Taichi was clenching his fists in helpless rage.
"Our folks, they're desperate. Mom's already heavy on tranqualizers, Dad's hanging on though... Damn, I would kill to be able to help her!"
"But..." Daisuke started.
"But there's nothing I can do. No one can. This thing..." the older boy swallowed hard and closed his eyes for a second. "It's killing her. It's fucking killing her. And she knows it. She told me. She even knows what it is."
Daisuke kept quiet and Taichi whispered bitterly, "It's the darkness. Remember, when we were in the Digital world, dark ocean and everything? It has finally gotten to her. After all those years, it did. And it's sucking the life out of Kari."
-------------
You
were there for summer dreaming
And you gave me what I need
And
I hope you find your freedom
For eternity
For eternity
--------------
"Don't let me go Dai," Hikari mumbled suddenly. The words were barely understandable. She was slowly falling asleep. "Please hold me. I feel... so... so secure with... you..."
"Sure honey," Daisuke cuddlеd her closer to him. "I'm with you. It's okay. It's gonna be okay."
"Daisuke, I-"
She didn't finish, going limp in the boy's arms. Panic-stroken, he was squeezing her even more tightly, waiting for the horrorful visions to take over her mind, forcing Hikari to cry, groan and scream.
But it did not happen. Hikari's body lay relaxed, her breathing deep and slow, and when Daisuke removed the hair from her face he saw a soft, calm smile.
Still securing Hikari with one hand he pulled a cell phone out of his shorts' pocket and dailed Taichi's number.
----------------
You were there for summer dreaming
And you were a friend indeed
And I hope you find your freedom
For eternity
For eternity
-----------------
To be continued.