Calmer of the Storm: Hello! I am back with yet another chapter dundunduuuuuun!
Cody: -sweat drop-
Calmer of the Storm: Hehe…I know it took a while…but I've been doing a lot, and I've been going through a lot. This will probably be my last story, except for maybe a one-shot or two.
Cody: …Let's just get on with it…
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Takeru had made his way around the castle, though he made sure to remain hidden in the bushes. The others had reluctantly made their way to the edge of the town where they would wait. They weren't sure what the boy was up to, but they had known that they had no other choice but to trust in him.
In truth, he himself really didn't know what he was going to do. He had said that he had a plan; he wasn't completely lying, but there wasn't enough of anything there to be really telling the truth, either. He just knew that there was something driving him on; he knew that he had to do this. Not only for Hikari, but for the others too. After Cody had spoken, the urgency of the matter laid heavily upon them. He was right; time was running out. None of them wanted to be stuck in this alternate reality for the rest of their lives. Especially TK, for it meant losing Hikari forever.
He noted the number of guards that were out there, and there were many. He sighed deeply as he found that there was no pattern to their watch, and there didn't seem to be any place that was not being watched.
After a few moments of searching, he found a ray of hope, even if it was very slight. There seemed to be a spot where the trees had grown more than usual. It was conveniently by a small window, but the chances that she would see him weren't very high. At least, that she would see him without anyone else.
Carefully, he made his way through the brush. He peered through the window, and saw that things hadn't really started yet, but there were still many people in the area. He scanned the room intently, looking for the girl. He finally spotted her; she seemed to be hiding. She was in the corner of the room, leaning against a pillar. He also spotted Sir Guy; He was talking to a group of people.
When he thought that she was looking his way, Takeru tried to get her attention. However, his efforts were futile. She just couldn't see him, and if he did anything more, she wouldn't be the only one.
"Maybe it's time for a more direct approach…" He said to himself.
---
Hikari stood and looked at herself in the mirror. She was stalling for time, though she knew that she did not have a lot of it left. She knew that if she kept him waiting for much longer, he would become angered and any plans or hopes of escape would be completely crushed. And that would be the end of it. Even though she wasn't exactly sure what was going on, she knew that there probably wasn't a lot of time. There was always a time limit on things…Doing things before the evil digimon got too powerful, before they multiplied, before the world fell apart…and whatever else could be thrown at them. With a deep sigh, she slowly exited her room.
She had no real problems finding her way down to the ballroom, though she had thought many times that she could easily get herself 'lost'. But, she figured that wouldn't help her case very much either.
Carefully, she peered through the massive double doors that led into the room. The room itself was very beautiful, and she had only seen such sights in pictures and paintings. But even they didn't compare. Were her circumstances different, Hikari would have loved to linger a little longer. But right now, the only thing on her mind was getting out single and alive.
Her gaze swept across the room, and it landed upon the man that had claimed her hand. She shot him a look of disgust; at this point she hated him more than anything. And that was saying a lot, for she wasn't the kind of person to be like that. But she could only shake her head and sigh. There was a slight bit of comfort in the fact that he seemed very busy talking to some of the guests, probably trying to impress them in some way shape or form. So, she took this time to make herself invisible. It was inevitable that she would not be alone for long, but at least she would have a few moments of peace.
Leaning against a pillar in the corner of the room, Hikari allowed herself to drift into thought. She was oblivious to all around her, especially the blonde boy in the window that was trying so desperately to get her attention.
---
Takeru sat back from the window, formulating a plan. He knew that there was no way she would see him if he sat there watching, and he was running out of time. While he was thinking, he subconsciously fiddled with something in his pocket. It was a white rag, probably from the bandages from the chapel. An idea then struck him. In an attempt to formulate his plan, he looked around the ground. A smile spread across his face as he found something that would work.
It was something like coal, for it left a black residue on his fingers. He wasn't certain as to just what it was, but it would serve for what he needed. Carefully, he scribbled a few letters onto the bandage. He pulled an arrow from the quiver that he had been carrying, and pushed the tip through. It ripped some, but the message would still get across.
Taking a deep breath, Takeru stood. This time, he climbed into the window. He notched the arrow, and aimed. No one had seemed to have noticed him yet. Closing his eyes, he muttered a quick prayer. Then, he let the arrow fly. It landed with a loud 'thunk' into the pillar by the girl.
---
Hikari just about had a heart attack as something pulled her from her thoughts. She heard a few screams from across the room. Recovering from the shock of it all, Hikari quickly looked to see what it was that had landed in the pillar. She noticed the arrow, and the white piece of cloth attached to it. Quickly, she ripped the piece from the wall. She opened it, and saw one word.
'Wait'.
She lifted her head and looked to the window, just in time to see the blonde-haired boy give her a quick nod, and then swiftly turn in retreat. It gave her slight hope, but she knew that she would not be getting out that night.
---
Takeru heard the scream, and knew that he didn't have a lot of time. Luckily, Hikari had the sense to pull the note from the arrow before anyone got too close. Her head lifted, and they made eye contact. It was enough, for he had to get out of there before it was too late. Giving a curt nod, he turned and fled.
It was not long before he could hear the sounds of his pursuers. But he was faster than they were, for he bore no armor, and he would be into the woods long before the others got their horses. He had never run so fast in his life, not even in all the basketball games he had played in. He had been chased those time too; but they weren't after him with swords and spears with the sole intent of killing him.
The others heard something coming up the path, and immediately stood.
"Hey, Takeru what's-" Matt started, but his brother cut him off.
"Run! And don't stop!" He shouted, zooming passed them without stopping.
The others needed no prodding; they were off after him in a flash. They tore through Sherwood forest like mad things, not bothering to look back. Chances were that they had lost most of the soldiers, but they didn't want to take the chance that they hadn't.
Reaching the old chapel, they crammed into the cellar, while Cody remained out. Not long after, the dogs began to bark and some soldiers came knocking at the door.
Calmly, the boy answered it. "Yes?" He asked, trying his best not to sound out of breath.
They looked at him suspiciously. "You wouldn't happen to have seen anyone come through here, would you?"
Cody thought a moment before speaking. "I did see someone running though here; actually, there were a few of them. It was dark, and they were moving very quickly. I would not have seen anything, but the dogs were barking at them. I cannot say which way they went; I wasn't really paying that close attention. I was just trying to make sure the dogs didn't go running after them.
If there was one thing the boy hated more than anything, it was lying. His Grandfather had impressed it strongly upon him that lying was the worst thing a person could do, and he had come to believe like that himself. But it had been Joe that told him that sometimes it was okay, if it was a situation where someone was in danger. In this case, his own life and the lives of his friends were at stake. But still…he couldn't help but feel a slight pang of guilt.
The soldiers were silent a moment, but eventually bought his story. "Alright, then. But if you do see something, you are obligated to inform Sir Guy immediately. There will be consequences if you are found to be hiding something." A smirk crossed his face. "But we all know that's not the case here."
With that, they turned and left. Cody watched them, Hunter growling lowly beside him. He placed a hand on the dog's head to calm him, but didn't hold him back further.
After they had gone, he let out a sigh. He head doors creaking, and didn't have to turn around to know that the others were emerging from their hiding spot.
"They're gone, but their suspicions are not swayed." He turned slowly. "We still do not have much time, and even less now, I gather."
There was a solemn silence that hung in the air, for they all knew this to be true.
A loud smack filled the room.
"Ow…" said Takeru, rubbing the back of his head.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" a fuming Yamato said.
"Look, there was no other way. She was on the other side of the room, and there was no way for me to get there without things being worse. I did what I had to. We're still alive, aren't we? And she got the message. Isn't that what we had set out to accomplish?" he replied back.
"There had to have been another way." His brother returned, his voice not calm.
"There was no other way." Takeru said, his voice rising in volume.
"Alright boys, I don't think we have time for this." It was Ken who spoke. The brothers sat quietly, but neither were very happy with the other.
"So now we need a real plan. Getting her out isn't going to be as easy as it was for Sora. It'll have to be something quick, and hopefully something that won't be noticed by too many. And after we get her back; we've got to find some way to get home. I don't think we've even considered that yet, and I think we should. Something tells me we won't have a lot of time between when we get her and when Sir Guy is on our tails in lust for our blood, even more than he is now." Tai said, taking charge.
The others agreed with him, though said nothing.
"We should do it tomorrow, perhaps even very early in the morning. They won't be expecting us then." Ken offered.
"That sounds like a good plan, now we just have to figure out a way to get to her."
---
Immediately, Sir Guy came running over to her. "Are you alright?" he asked, though she did not think any better of him for his concern, for it was clearly not genuine.
"I-I'm fine…just a little startled, that's all." she said. It wasn't really all that far from the truth.
He eyed her carefully. "Do you have any idea what that was about?" he asked.
Hikari promptly shook her head. "I don't have a clue. I was just standing here and…well, it came out of no where. I don't even know who it belongs to."
He didn't seem to be buying it. "You're hiding something."
She tried to look puzzled, and appalled. "I honestly don't know what you're talking about, and you're accusing me of lying?" she said.
He was silent a moment, then leaned in towards her. "If I find anything, it will be your life, as well as Robin's, that will be paid." He whispered into her ear. Before pulling away, he left a kiss on her cheek, as if it were some sort of taunt to her. "Be good, I've got a matter to deal with."
The girl glared daggers at his retreating form. She hated him more now than ever. Her body heaved with a great sigh. "Be careful Takeru…I'll wait…but I don't know how much time I have left…."
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Calmer of the Storm: Yep, so that's it for now. Hopefully it won't be so long next time…I'm kind of stuck here for ideas, so if anyone has any, I'd love to hear them! If not…I'll think of something.