Author's note: I'm really bad at sticking to my deadlines. Sorry! I don't know why this eluded my muse for so long, but a couple spectacular (and way supporting, thanks guys! ) reviews got me to dig up this file on my thumb disk. And dude, you have no idea how thrilled I was to see it was almost finished! Of course, that might also warrant me a couple slaps for making it so difficult, but shh! I hope it was worth the wait!! Chapter four will not have to wait three months, I promise. Thanks again for all the encouraging reviews that inspired me to actually think to go looking for this story again!
The rest of the car ride was sleepy, but tense. What usually would have been lightened by Taichi's supportive quips and mock arguments between he and Sora was instead weighed down by his ever-present anxiety, even in sleep. As he curled himself up against the car door, Yamato locked the doors, mumbling something about enough incidents for one day that Sora didn't entirely catch. She shot him a funny look, but otherwise pretended he hadn't spoken.
He had a feeling she intentionally ignored what he was saying. And he thought she had pretty good reason. He wasn't exactly saying anything helpful. He almost snorted. Some best friend he was, it was a wonder he hadn't earned himself another punch. He deserved it, from Taichi. He knew he was being petty. Jealous, and petty, and childish.
He bit his lip and tightened his grip on the steering wheel as the rain came down heavier. He almost considered pulling off to the shoulder till it let up, but knew Taichi would ream him out if they weren't at the hospital soon.
"Just a couple more exits, Yamato," Sora encouraged from behind him. He gave a little jump. They hadn't spoken much, since... well, since around the time the "petty, jealous little kid" blossomed from within.
"I hate this weather," he mumbled, twiddling the wheel slightly under his grip. She nodded. Stupid people decided to come onto the road at highly inconvenient times. "Why don't you take a rest, T.K," he said, this time to his little brother. He used the old nickname he hadn't really gone by since he entered high school, so he was a little surprised he didn't get a mocking glare. The only response he received was a head shake, and a sigh.
"Worry makes the wait longer," Sora reminded him, though it reminded Yamato of a fortune cookie. Good thing it wasn't directed towards him. He might have had to make an inappropriately amusing remark in reply. But the thought was shortly pushed out of his mind, for Takeru had shaken his head in vigorous refusal to both the teens' prompting, and Yamato found himself getting a little annoyed.
"Look, we won't be there for a while. You're not missing anything," he said a little snappily. Takeru's lips formed a thin, white line like their mother's did when she was angry, but he didn't make any vocal reply. Yamato swallowed, staring sourly out at the glistening road. It was a good thing he'd stopped himself before it was too late. If he'd said what he'd been about to, that there was no one to call him with news, he would've gotten out and walked. After punching him in the jaw, of course.
So he let the topic drop, reminding himself to take deep breaths and keep an eye on the road. That it wouldn't do to let his notorious short temper blow its fuse now, especially with Takeru. The kid had enough on his mind as it was, without his big bro losing his cool. Deep breaths, that was the key.
For a long time the only sound in the car was that of Yamato's soft mumble of a curse whenever some driver felt it necessary to cut him off or drive to slow, Takeru's heavy sighing at five minute intervals, Sora's uneasy fidgeting with her windbreaker or the seat belt, and Taichi's sleepy mumbles coming to them from whatever world he dreamed about. Sora sincerely hoped it wasn't another world where his sister and parents were in danger. Especially Hikari. Sora had a very older-sisterly bond with the younger Chosen. She felt a sharp pang somewhere near where her heart was supposed to be whenever she let herself think about it. So soon, she let her steady breathing fill the car as well.
"I think it's this turn," Takeru said, leaning over slightly to nudge Yamato's arm in order to get his attention so he could point at the exit. Yamato frowned, but eventually he nodded his agreement and cut into the lane that led to the exit ramp. Content with doing his part of the job as shotgun rider, Takeru sank back into the seat. But he was loathe to let himself be consumed by his thoughts again. He allowed himself a glance in the rear view mirror at Sora and Taichi, snoozing on opposite ends of the backseat, before he said, "Should I wake them up?"
"They've been stressed," was Yamato's reply. He sounded himself again, contained and almost relaxed. Maybe because he no longer had to convince Sora he wasn't worried as well. It was much easier to fool a little brother who wasn't looking for signs of distress, but rather signs of hope. "We still have ten minutes. Let 'em catch some shut eye."
Takeru nodded without an objection, and returned to gazing moodily out the window. His reflection, dark and water streaked from the nighttime storm that still raged unpleasantly around the car's sturdy frame, looked pale and nervous, like the closer they got to where he wanted to be, the more he wished they could turn around. But Yamato knew his brother, and knew that was an option he wouldn't take even if it were presented to him. Especially when Hikari was involved.
Funny, how they all dropped everything and rushed when it was Hikari in need. Yamato couldn't help but wonder if the same sized greeting committee would have formed had it been any other Chosen had been injured. He liked to think so, but he knew Hikari had managed to worm her way into a special place inside everyone without realizing it. It was her Light, which she sometimes referred to as a double-edged sword.
But if it can create friends like this, is it really such a bad thing, Yamato asked himself. One day, he would have to remember to ask her that. Knowing her, she would say that was the only good end of the bargain. A low chuckle escaped despite his best efforts to contain it. For such a usually cheerful girl, she was an awful cynic and way too insecure about her own capabilities.
Takeru was flipping his phone open, then closed again, and repeating the process. He seemed to be struggling with a decision, and- tired of his gaze unwillingly flickering back to the forlorn figure sitting beside him- Yamato asked him if something was bothering him. Besides the whole hospital thing, of course, but that clarification went unsaid and unneeded. Takeru knew what he meant.
"Should I call the others? Daisuke will be really mad if he doesn't hear, won't he?" Especially that Takeru was there before him, but Yamato didn't think he needed to voice that thought either. Brutally blunt he was good at, but it wasn't always a good thing.
"Nah. Wait till we have real information for him," Yamato advised, pausing at a red light. "You know he'll have a million and one questions. Might as well have some answers, right?" He could see Takeru struggling to find an argument– despite their frequent bickering, Yamato knew that the two boys had become pretty good friends since their digital adventure nearly 4 years ago– but, unable to find one, he nodded in defeat.
"I guess. You're right." And with that, the fidgeting and conversation came to a halt. Takeru put his phone away– for the moment, anyway– just as Yamato turned the corner and a large, multi-story building loomed overhead. Takeru stared for a moment in what Yamato knew was not awe. It was fear, terror of what news that building held for them, and for his best friend's predicament. Yamato forced a grim smile and let one hand man the steering wheel while the other patted his brother roughly on the head. "Is that the hospital?"
"Yessir," Yamato said in a would-be casual voice, to a question he thought didn't really need to be answered. But he knew Takeru wanted confirmation, and didn't want to voice his dread. Well, neither did Yamato, and he followed his little brother's lead readily.
"Should I wake them up now," Takeru asked. His voice sounded a bit higher than usual, but Yamato pretended not to notice that, too. A lot of pretending seemed to go into this 'comforting little brother' business he was running tonight.
"Yea, T.K.," Yamato said quietly, turning into the hospital parking lot. He drove straight into the parking garage, thinking his baby had gotten just enough rain for a while yet. Spare her a paint job, and him a soaking. "You do that."
And with that, he killed the engine. The radio was silenced mid-word, and it left an unpleasant atmosphere surrounding them. Yamato couldn't explain it, but the situation seemed much more serious to him now that the music wasn't playing. It was a sad, lonely, scary feeling...One he hadn't felt in a very long time, and had been certain he'd seen the last of.
Yamato stepped out of the car while Takeru twisted around in the passenger seat, nudging Sora (who was closest to him) awake. She blinked sleepily, looking a bit dazed as though she couldn't remember getting in a car. But she rubbed her eyes, and yawned, and when she blinked again it all seemed to come back to her. Amber eyes widened in understanding, and then she unbuckled herself with one hand while she gently shook Taichi awake. Mind you, that was very difficult to do politely. The boy would sleep on, and on, and on unless you didn't wake him up. Especially if he wasn't looking forward to a soccer game.
"Taichi-kun," she said in a quiet voice, not wanting to startle him awake. "Taichi, we're at the hospital."
At the word 'hospital', his entire body went rigid as though it were somehow tuned in to that word. His eyes fluttered open, and all at once he was struggling to unbuckle himself and open the door and sit up properly at the same time. Sora would have been amused to say he was failing horribly as a multi-tasker if it weren't for the situation. She leaned over to undo his buckle as Yamato took pity outside the car and pulled open the door. Unfortunately, Taichi nearly toppled out of the car due to their timing. Both cast him apologetic grins as Yamato helped his best friend to his feet and Sora and Takeru stepped out of the car. A gentle click told them Yamato had locked the doors via a small controller he had concealed in his khaki pockets.
"Let's go," he said quietly, and quite unnecessarily. Taichi was already a good length ahead of them, and the three he left behind exchanged grim looks before jogging after him, complaining for him to slow down and wait for them. And he did, briefly. The second they were on his heels, he set off at a sprint again, and as a result they were all breathing heavily by the time Taichi barged through the automatic doors and jogged his way to the secretary's desk. Sora, Yamato, and Takeru all hovered uncertainly a few feet behind him– just within listening distance, without feeling intrusive or uncomfortable.
"....Officer Mitsudai," Taichi was saying when they joined him. It must have been the end of the sentence, though, because the secretary was nodding and waving to someone across the lobby. Sora turned her head just in time to see a sturdily built man with a clean shave and short-cropped hair in a navy blue police uniform stand, stretch unobtrusively, and begin navigating his way way towards the desk.
"So you're the brother," the secretary asked, and they all saw Taichi nod mutely. It seemed a little too much for him to actually confirm it out loud. Yamato placed a hand on Takeru's shoulder, and he must've expected it to be shrugged off, for his eyebrows rose faintly in surprise when it wasn't.
"Poor Tai," Sora mumbled sympathetically, earning herself a nod from the brothers. They saw none of the courageous leader they'd come to think of him as. His shoulders, usually proud and determined, were slumped and his hands were gripping the desk edge almost as though it were an accident. He was speaking in a low, urgent hiss of a whisper that none of them could make out. He must have asked about his family's condition, though, because the secretary's expression turned sympathetic.... much more so than before, anyway. But before she could do much more than open her mouth to answer, the officer she'd summoned over had placed a hand on Taichi's shoulder, causing the teen to jump in surprise.
"You must be Taichi, then. We spoke on the phone," said a rich tenor voice. Taichi turned to face him, and finally his friends had a clear view of his face. It was guarded now, not like it had been in the car. They all knew he disliked hospitals. It really wasn't a secret– they reminded him too much of his childhood mistakes to ever make him feel at home. But he obviously didn't want this man to think he had fallen apart. No... that wasn't Taichi's way, anyways. Hold it together as long as possible, find out the details, and only surrender to the fear when you can't think of anything else to try. That was Taichi's code. They all knew how he operated, except this policeman.
"Are my parents okay," Taichi asked after a moment, during which he had been apparently inspecting the officer. His eyes had been narrowed, just enough for them to know he was calculating this man in his mind. Taichi wasn't a highly distrustful person, till it came to the well being of his loved ones. "And my sister. What about Hikari?" Questions, fired at the cop like bombs from a canon ball. At the mention of Hikari, Takeru automatically moved towards the huddle, leaving Yamato and Sora no choice but to follow.
"Er, I'd rather...." An uncertain look crossed over Mitsudai's features as they saw his dark brown eyes flicker over to the trio, who were conspicuously listening in now. Taichi shook his head, impatient.
"They're okay. They're with me. They're 'family' too," Taichi babbled. Family. A loose term, but still fairly accurate concerning the Chosen. They looked after each other, protected and defended each other, and never left another behind. That, thought Sora, was what family was about, wasn't it? Still, the cop looked uncertain.
Taichi didn't give him a chance to debate.
"You contacted Dr. Kido, didn't you?" How weird it sounded, to hear Jyou referred to as that after so long of him just being 'Jyou'. "You did promise," Taichi reminded him. There was an edge to his voice his friends had rarely heard, making them exchange quick, nervous glances.
A nod of confirmation, and Taichi's face relaxed ever so slightly. "I did. Your sister is fine. But I'll leave it to your friend, the doctor, to give you the specifics. I'm not qualified to do that. "
None of them missed the omission of news on his parents. Taichi tensed again, his hands in fists in his jacket pockets. Sora took a cautious step forward, but Yamato put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
Not yet, he seemed to be saying to her. Soon, but not yet. This was still Taichi's demon.
"And my parents?" His voice was tense, and it seemed to take every ounce of Taichi's control to keep it even.
Silence. "I don't know how to say this,..." Mitsudai looked extremely uncomfortable. He removed his uniform cap, and was fumbling with it distractedly in his hands. Sora saw Yamato and Takeru exchange nervous glances. But he was spared the trouble of replying, for a familiar voice said from behind them:
"I'll take care of that, Officer. Don't worry." As a unit, the four of them plus Mitsudai turned to see Jyou Kido striding towards them, looking prim and proper as ever in the gleaming white overcoat of a doctor. "C'mon, guys, I'll take you to Hikari-chan."
Taichi nodded slowly, looking slightly nauseous. Takeru looked eager, though it was a nervous anxiousness that caused him to hover just a few inches behind Jyou and Taichi. Yamato kept throwing out an arm to hold him back, reminding him on several occasions as they were guided down the winding corridors of the hospital that he'd go flying if Taichi stopped walking suddenly, and for goodness sake couldn't he give the guy some air?
It all seemed so normal. Except for Taichi. Although she wanted to, Sora was somewhat reluctant to let herself fall into step with Taichi. Jyou was the leader now. The weight had shifted. Her place was in the support crew, now. She let out a sigh and ran a hand through her hair. She felt as though it'd been hours, when it had maybe only been one or two since the fateful call had been made.
"Just in here guys. I'll... I'll, you know, tell you everything when we're alone." Taichi grimaced at Jyou's tone. Tension strained the casual tone of his voice. He'd never been as good of a liar as Yamato or even Taichi could sometimes be. It was a lot harder for him to keep things airy and light when there was cause for alarm; He always had been the first one prone to panic. Sora gently slid her arm through Taichi's as he fell behind Jyou so they could file into the room. Somehow, that felt right, although she carefully averted her eyes from Yamato's as she did so. She could support him like this, carry his weight if he stumbled...
"Taichi, there's no easy way to say this... but your parents... They didn't, you know. They didn't make it." Jyou swallowed as Taichi swayed dangerously on his feet. He didn't have a pretense to keep up without an audience. No one required his strength. Takeru sat down heavily on the empty hospital bed. Jyou had obviously decided to break the mystery one question at a time, knowing how Taichi would react to the news. Sora led Taichi to the bed with Yamato's help, though Taichi didn't seem to have noticed. His eyes were oddly bright, and a single tear burned a trail down his cheek. She almost never saw Taichi cry. It unnerved her, and she tightened her hold around him to comfort himself as much as her.
Like this, she could hold the pieces together as his world crumbled around him.