Mira was at the house hanging out with Julie, Runo, and Baron, who despite his earlier tiredness was bustling with energy now. He peppered Julie and Runo with endless questions about how brawling in the old days and exchanging stories with Runo about Tigrerra. It had been raining outside for awhile, but it was slowly starting to stop. Dan had disappeared a few hours ago with Drago, not telling anyone where he was going, simply saying he would be back soon. He'd had a certain buzz around him, the kind he normally had before a battle.
Please don't let him have done anything stupid. Mira prayed.
Suddenly the front door opened and Dan came in, his clothes and hair still a little damp from the rain.
"Hey, you're back. Where have you-" Mira stopped, and then looked at Dan, really looked at him, and saw the haunted look in his eyes, how pale he ways, the slight shaking. And Drago was nowhere to be found. Mira stood up and started walking towards him.
Mrs. Kuso cam in then and saw her son. "Dan, what's wrong, honey? Where's Drago?"
At the mention of Drago's name, Dan flinched and whispered "He took him. I fought him, and he took him."
"Who Dan?" Mira asked, an icy feeling settling in her gut. She felt she already knew, but she had to be sure...
"Spectra." he whispered, then shuddered again and passed out. Mira barely caught him in time and struggled to keep him upright when Baron appeared on the other side of him and took some of his weight.
"Oh dear." Mrs. Kuso said. "Take him up to his room. He'll be okay there."
Mira and Baron half dragged, half carried Dan to his room, the others following. They laid him down on his bed and stood back as Mrs. Kuso came and pulled off his shoes and jacket, then tucked him under the covers.
"Will he be alright?" Mira asked, her chest tight with anxiety. She had never seen Dan like this.
"I don't know. I hope so." Dan's mother said worriedly. "He's been separated from Drago before, but not like this..."
They were all silent for a long while when Julie said "C'mon guys, this is Dan we're talking about. He'll be perfectly fine."
Baron chimed in "Julie's right. Master Dan will pull through."
Mrs. Kuso took a deep breath and smiled "Yes, I suppose you're right. We should let him rest now though."
Everyone turned to leave except Mira, who stayed and watched as Mrs. Kuso swept Dan's hair back from his forehead. She looked up. "He'll be okay Mira. You should sleep too, it's getting late."
Mira hesitated then nodded and left, going down the hall to her room. Wilda popped out and jumped on her shoulder. "It'll be alright Mira." he said soothingly.
Why was she even worried so much? she wondered to herself as she entered her room and closed the door behind her. She started to change her clothes and Wilda jumped onto the bed while she changed. Dan and her were just friends, right? Yes, of course, that was all it was Mira thought to herself as she got under the covers and Wilda moved to the nightstand. She was just looking out for Dan because they were friend, that was all.
Mira sighed. Part of her didn't wantto go to sleep, while he other part of her like it didn't get enough sleep. She yawned and said "Goodnight Wilda."
"Goodnight Mira." he replied.
The nest morning when Mira woke up, she lay there for several moments watching the sun's light change from silvery-gray, to rosy-tinged pink, to hazy purple, to fiery orange, and then finally to a bright yellow. She sat up and stretched and decided she was going to get a shower then check in on Dan afterwards to see if he was awake and okay. She picked out some clothes and glanced to the night stand where Wilda was still sleeping in his ball form. She went down the hall to the bathrrom, stripped, and got in the shower. The warm water woke her up further and felt good on her skin. When she got out, she wrapped herself in a towel and got out the blowdrier for her hair and a brush. After she did her hair, she got dressed and threw her old clothes in the hamper, then went down the hall to Dan's room and quietly opened the door. Dan was still sleeping, his face calm and peaceful. Mira's heart softened at the sight. She closed the door softly and went back to her room to retrieve Wilda, and went downstairs where Dan's mom and Baron were sitting at the kitchen table with Julie and Runo, who had evidently just showed up a little while ago.
"Hey guys." Mira said
"Glad to see you up dear. We were just about to wake Dan, but we wanted to make sure you were there." Dan's mother said.
"I just looked in on him a second ago. He's still fast asleep."
"We'll give him another minute then."
Just then, a shout came from upstairs. Mira whipped around and hurried up the stairs. The sound of chairs scraping echoed behind her, letting her know that the others were close behind. She got to Dan's room and pushed open the door to see Dan sitting bolt upright in bed, panting, his eyes wild. Everyone poured into the room, making it crowded.
"Dan, shhh, it's okay sweetie," Mrs. Kuso said from her place by Dan's side at the head of the bed. "everything's alright."
Dan looked up at her, then his eyes darted around the room, looking for something. Mira's heart clenched because she knew what and, sure enough, he whispered "Drago's not here it he?" he groaned, and put hisface in his hands. "I was hoping it was all just a bad dream."
"You'll get him back Dan. Please, you can't give up." Mira said pleadingly.
Dan was quiet for a moment then he looked up and put on a brave face. "Yeah, you're right Mira. I just need to keep training, that's all. I'll get Drago back." He grinned. Mira found herself smiling back.
Mrs. Kuso said "Well if you're going to get training, then I better get cooking." She smiled and ruffledDan's hair and went to leave. Mira and everyone else followed as Dan started to get up.
Maybe, Mira thought maybe it'll all be okay. Please, let it all work out.