"Come on, mom" Yamato growled, clearly irritated. Takeru risked a glance through the small crack in his bedroom door to watch the conversation between his mother and brother unfold.
Natsuko, 'tsked' loudly, popping her hip out as she crossed her arms, "so you think I can't take care of my own child?"
Takeru shuddered as he could feel the tension drifting through the air, "that's not what I-" Yamato's argument was cut off as Takeru leaned too far forward, causing the door to creak loudly, revealing his presence.
Both of their faces softened at the sight of him, and he had to resist the urge to scowl at the fact they were still treating him like a child, "anything I should know?"
"I was just leaving, wouldn't want to be late, call if anything happens," Yamato threw his bag over his shoulder and left the apartment faster than Takeru could even blink.
Turning to his mother for an explanation, the woman merely huffed and moved back into the kitchen, irritation emanating from her entire being. Takeru decided to leave it be for the time being, not wanting to be on the receiving end of his mom's rage with his brother, "what's for breakfast mom?" he smiled cautiously.
He easily heard her sigh of relief as she turned to him, "just eggs and toast, eat quickly, you're going to be late."
Takeru's head whipped to the clock, his eyes widening before he laughed, "as per usual." He sat down at the table and eagerly scarfed down the food, doing his best to not leave a mess for his mother. "I'll see you later mom," he called back to her before yanking his bag into his arms and running out the door.
"Wait for me!" Patamon squealed, following after him as quickly as he could.
"I'll sneak you inside to take you back to the digital world after school is over," Takeru explained, bouncing back and forth on his feet anxiously as he was extremely aware of how much of a time crunch, he was on. He had been so late not even Miyako was willing to wait around for him today. He frowned at the thought for a moment, not unnoticed by his partner, but Takeru shook his head subtly to clear his mind.
"Ok!" Patamon chirped, letting the boy run frantically inside, barely making it into his seat before the teacher entered the room.
Hikari gave Takeru a weird sideways glance, but turned away satisfied, although skeptical, after he gave her a sharp shrug and sheepish smile.
Class seemed to drag on, Takeru did his best to focus, but he quickly was unable to tell if the topic of the lecture was math or history. He internally groaned as his vision swam with the words that were completely missed by his ears. It didn't feel like long before the desks around him faded into rocky browns and greys. The kids around him and the teacher in front of him had gone still. Takeru sharply stood up, expecting to hear the screech of his chair as he pushed it backwards, but all he heard was the crash of rocks against the ground. Whipping his head around he saw his chair had become a mere pile of rocks.
Takeru could feel his breathing pick up as the panic set in. The bodies from the classroom were slowly becoming less opaque, he could practically see through everyone.
"Takeru!"
All of a sudden, the classroom returned to normal, and Takeru found himself sitting on the floor, rubbing his head in confusion. Hikari was standing next to him, a tight grip on his shoulder as if not only attempting to ground him but also herself. Hikari asked the teacher something, but Takeru had no idea what it was until suddenly they were in the hall walking towards the nurse's office.
"The Dark Ocean..." Hikari muttered, thinking back to her similar spell in the classroom three years prior.
Takeru stared at the ground, a little disappointed in himself for not consulting with her earlier, "I don't think so."
She turned to look up at him, "Then where..?"
Seeing the distressed look on her face, Takeru wished he had some kind of explanation or answer for her, but he had absolutely nothing. Hikari picked this up quickly from his lack of response.
"Who else knows?" She asked, chewing on her lip.
"Just Yamato, I..." Takeru paused for a moment, almost unwilling to say the words, "I disappeared the other day."
Hikari stopped them in the hall suddenly, forcing Takeru to stumble back towards her, "What do you mean you disappeared?"
"I was in the living room, then I wasn't, and then I was back," Takeru shrugged, attempting to brush off the severity.
"We need to talk to Koushiro," Hikari decided after a moment of thought, "then he can talk to Gennai."
"This might have nothing to do with the Digital World," Takeru argued, he could handle this.
Hikari stared up at him, her gaze making him shiver, "what if this has everything to do with the Digital World?"
Takeru sighed, relenting a bit, "let's at least wait until after we take the Digimon home, ok?"
Hikari nodded, leading him the rest of the way to the nurse's office in silent thought. She hesitated by the door, debating whether or not she should, or even could, stay. Just as she was about to open her mouth, the nurse decided for her, "you should get back to class." Hikari deflated a bit in disappointed, but she knew it was the right answer.
"Make sure you get lots of rest tonight, Takeru," the nurse scolded, eyeing the exhaustion in his face.
"Yes, ma'am," he gave her a reassuring smile. He felt bad making a promise he couldn't keep, but he knew there was nothing else to do.
Takeru made his way towards the computer lab, decided he would just meet Daisuke, Hikari, and Miyako there and not have to worry about going back to the classroom to curious stares. He was a little anxious about missing half a day of classes, but he knew he could count on the others to fill him in on what he missed. As soon as he entered the computer lab he quickly moved towards the window, thrusting it open.
Almost as fast as the fresh air from outside hit his face, Patamon was flying into his arms with an ecstatic greeting, the other Digimon making their way in as well.
"There you are," Hikari said as she entered the room, followed by Daisuke.
"She ran here when you weren't in the nurse's office," Daisuke's tone was annoyed, but there was easily identifiable mirth in his eyes.
Takeru laughed, "sorry, figured just coming here was more efficient."
Tailmon and Chibimon both greeted their partners affectionately, clearing away any tension that had begun to form in the air around the three chosen children. Poromon looked back and forth excitedly, "where's Miyako?"
"On her way, I'm sure," Hikari smiled, the girl in question entering just as she finished speaking.
"Miyako!" Poromon bounced into her arms and the two giggled.
"Let's take you guys home," Miyako announced, opening the gate on the computer closest to her.
As the four children and their partners entered the Digital World a look of confusion crossed Miyako's face as one of horror reflected on Takeru's.
Miyako spun in a circle to take in her surroundings, "this isn't where I put the gate?"
Hawkmon looked up at her, "maybe you mis-clicked." She shook her head adamantly, "I know I didn't."
"Takeru?" Daisuke asked, noticing the boy looked like he was going to be sick to his stomach.
Hikari turned to look at him nervously, "This is the place, isn't it?"
Nodding slowly, Takeru squeezed his fists shut, hoping no one would notice he was shaking. The scenery around them revealed a rocky beach at the bottom of a cliff.
"What place?" Daisuke's head whipped back and forth between Hikari and Takeru, trying to grasp onto their unspoken conversation.
"Takeru..." Patamon whimpered, he felt an intense dark presence surround them even though there was nothing in sight as far as the eye could see.
Takeru stared at his hands, eyes shaking in distress as he wasn't sure what to do or to say.
Miyako groaned, "come on, don't leave us hanging here, Hikari?"
The girl looked just as concerned and lost in thought as Takeru did, knowing they weren't going to get an answer for now, a tense silent fell over the group. Suddenly, a loud alert from Takeru's D-terminal forced everyone to stare at him as he slowly pulled it out.
"It's Gennai."
Sorry this one took so long, classes have started back up haha, but I hope u enjoyed. :)