Chapter Three: The Curious Case of Chizuru Inomi
They searched for the better part of an hour trying to find clues about the thrill seekers, but, aside from a shoe, a backpack, and a broken in two flashlight there was nothing. No DNA or a single drop of blood. Truly, it appeared as if the thrill seekers had all but vanished.
In the aftermath, even knowing she had her Digimon on standby, Hikari still didn't feel safe. They stood around everything back in the center of the park trying to gather themselves together.
"We're nowhere even close to finding out where they went," Daisuke said pounding his hand in his fist. "And now even more people are missing."
"I agree. This situation has gotten way out of hand," Iori concurred. "At first it was just one student. Then another. Then another, but now we're jumping to ten students? Why has it changed so much? And what could have taken them?"
"I can only assume it would be a Digimon now," Miyako groaned. "So much for a murder mystery."
Hikari took out her Dpad typing fervently. There's been nothing from Tailmon," she said. "The Digital World has been fine. She has not heard anything about a powerful viral Digimon or anything. But, still, something out there is taking children. If only we had some kind of clue."
"I think we do Hikarichan," Takeru said glancing at Chizuru. She seemed out of it, her lips cracked in a smile as if her mind had been fractured.
"What is it, Takerukun? Do you suspect it might be her? I haven't known Chizuruchan that long, but I don't think she would have anything to do with this."
"That's not it," he said shaking his head. "Hasn't Chizuruchan been acting strange since those kids disappeared?"
They all stared at her, Ken placing his forefinger just below his chin as if deep in thought.
"I mean if I wasn't a Digidestined and I went through something like that I might be too," Daisuke mused. "Of course, I'm athletic and I got the brawn," he grinned. "Nah, no way would I have gone missing."
Hikari lifted her eyes towards Takeru who seemed to be staring right at her. He nodded his head, Hikari nodding back.
"What, are you guys silently talking again?" Daisuke sighed. "Tsch, if only I could talk to you like that, Hikarichan," he grumbled placing his hands in his pockets.
Hikari ignored Daisuke's griping, knowing with Takeru's reassurance how they needed to move on.
"Chizuruchan had told me, "She said, "That if she ever started to act strange to try to get her to act normal again. Those students who went missing all acted strange before they did so."
"It's kind of weird anyway that a bunch of kids would want to get their kicks in when the schools been having disappearances," Iori noticed. "Do you think they are all connected?"
"Somehow, I think they are," Ken agreed. "And now we know Chizurusan is going to be her next target."
"So, in other words we need to protect her," Miyako said. "She's going to be the next one."
"But we can't just kidnap her ourselves under lock and key. We've got to do something," Daisuke sighed.
"I think the best thing we can do for her is walk her home," Takeru said on a lighter note.
Everyone agreed, Hikari knowing they all needed to wrap it up for the night.
"Good idea man," Daisuke grinned. "You walk her home and I'll walk Hikarichan back home," he grinned. "She'll be safe with me."
Takeru's eyebrow twitched, his hand a bit tense. But he lifted his hand up and placed it on his shoulder, squeezing it. "Then I'm counting on you," he said, Daisuke's eyes meeting his now serious.
"In that case," Miyako smiled practically wrapping her whole upper body around Ken's arm, "I got dibs on my Husbando!" she proclaimed, her glasses falling halfway down her face.
"Iori," Ken said, calmly freaking out.
"I guess I'll walk with you guys then," he said. "Just don't get all touchy feely when I'm around."
His lip twitched. "You're not helping."
That evening, Hikari returned home. Daisuke was nice and all cracking jokes and doing his best to make her smile, but Hikari couldn't stop thinking about Chizuru. The girl she had come to know just didn't really seem like herself. She knew she needed to recover from what happened, but it was like a part of Chizuru had left already.
Anxiously she took out her phone from her pajama pants pocket, Hikari having settled in bed already for the night. She started texting, hoping Takeru was awake.
He replied that he was and asked if she was ok.
Typical Takeru. Always so worried for her.
She cracked a smile, feeling a bit guilty she had enjoyed their back and forth just as much as the pressing matter.
She continued, the letters dancing on her screen asking about Chizuruchan.
He said that she was fine, but her parents were not as they grilled him angrily about taking their daughter out so late at night. Especially on a date on a school night."
Hikari smiled back, her hand holding the phone a bit tighter.
Your infamy is growing. At this rate, the whole school is going to think you're a delinquent.
Takeru started typing, stopped, and then, threw her off in his next message.
It would be better that way. It's nice being friendly and all but it's pretty exhausting Hikarichan. Especially knowing girls out there try to strong arm you into a relationship, or just, something physical or just want to use you. It's sickening.
Ok, now Hikari was up. Her alarm in her mind about Takeru would not let her sleep.
"Then why do you go with them?" She inquired. "You don't have to you know? You could always just hang out with me," she ended sending it, not realizing she had done so on autopilot mode.
-She stopped, her face growing red as she grabbed her cellphone, her hand shaking. A high pitch shriek escaped her throat as she realized Takeru could have taken this as a confession, something Hikari was unable to process.
She covered her blanket with her head and shut her eyes tight. There was no way Takeru would take it the wrong way, right?
Her screen lit up and checked her phone again, Takeru having only replied with a smiley face.
She buried her head in her pillow and kicked her feet up and down wanting to scream berating herself.
Walking with Takeru to school the next day was exhausting.
He had a cheerful grin on his face, Hikari feeling just the opposite. He even seemed to be humming to himself.
"How did you sleep Hikarichan?" he asked, his overly cheerful practically sarcastic voice exorcizing Hikari's soul.
Her lip twitched as she tried to smile and pretend that text never happened.
"I think you know the answer," she said, her eyebrow twitching. "I'm sure you got plenty of rest. You sure seem cheerful," she said hiding her own fatigue.
"Actually, I didn't' get a wink of sleep last night," he said, his face beaming. "I mean, I didn't realize how lonely I made you feel Hikarichan. We should spend a lot more time together," he grinned. "I felt really guilty about just abandoning you like that."
Hikari still could not tell if he was being serious or making fun of her.
"How can you have so much energy though?" she said, wanting to collapse.
He snickered back. "I borrowed Yamato's espresso coffee maker."
When they got to school, the other Digidestined were there at the stairsteps. Miyako ran out to them, the other Digidestined on her heels.
"Hey, you guys!" she shouted. "You won't believe it! A video came out about the incident! It's all over social media!"
"A video?"
"We all should watch it right away then," Daisuke said, the bell ringing.
"I guess we'll have to wait then," Ken said resigned. "You know where to go," he said, everyone going their separate ways.
In class, Chizuruchan seemed to be kept to herself. She kept humming, not paying attention to anything as if her mind wandered aimlessly from one thing to another.
Whispers echoed all around her; even her friends seemed distant from her as if scared about her. Hikari tried to tell them Chizuru would be ok, but they just kept looking more worried.
"Chizuruchan will be fine," Chizuru answered having overheard them. "No matter what anyone else says," she smiled staring back at them. "I was just a bit shaken up yesterday. You would be too, wouldn't you?"
Her friends nodded their heads rushing over to support her. They were just grateful she had not gone missing.
Hikari smiled, a bit relieved. With her friend's support it looked like maybe she would go back to normal. Though it was kind of odd she spoke in reference to herself as Chizuruchan. In fact, the way she said it seemed a bit…unsettling.
She kept staring at her, smiling and laughing with her friends, Hikari still not quite sure about her. Would someone like this just suddenly act normal with their friends? Was Chizuruchan…really back?
Hikari quickened her pace, a bit unnerved by Chizuru's behavior. She thought for sure she would take a few days off after what happened. And yesterday she seemed so out of it. But today? Was she supposed to just pretend things were back to normal?
As she walked by, voices whispered by her, all talking about the video, Hikari determined to see it herself.
She greeted the others in the computer lab, and they all went to the Thrill Seekers social media profile, the video already having over a thousand comments.
"You guys ready?" Miyako asked anxiously. "I was told it's pretty disturbing."
"We won't get anywhere with our investigation if we don't," Ken said. "Go ahead."
They all agreed, Miyako enlarging her screen so they all could watch it.
In the video, Naru seemed to be taking a video of himself, the camera shaking slightly as he held it to view himself.
"You don't hear it anymore, do you?" he asked towards the camera, his breathing shallow. "Their voices. Their screams. They're all gone, like they never existed in the first place."
The camera rustled as he breathed through his phone deeply. "But it's strange. I thought I would be panicking. I thought this situation would be dire. But the truth is, I'm envious. I never once met the Supernatural in all my searches. But now, things will finally be different. I may not be here to tell about it, but at least everyone can bear witness to my last moments. For those who follow after me, you will be the legacy that I leave behind."
His head twitched strangely, his eyes lighting up in a mix of happiness and sorrow. "Oh, it's my turn now, is it? Hold this for me," he said as if handing the phone over to someone, the phone still facing him, Naru smiling cheerfully.
A hand reached out holding what looked like a black card, Naru reading it.
"Ah. My invitation," he sniffed. "I hope it's truly a fantastic place. Will I see the others there?" he asked, the phone nodding.
"I can't wait to see them," he grinned, tears streaming down his face. He looked up, his eyes starting to fade out. "Maybe I'll see Chizurusan too. And especially Chiyatochan," he painfully smiled. "I hope…this doesn't hurt," he tensed up, closing his eyes, the camera zooming towards him and fading out.
After what seemed like a rushing wind Narusan was gone, only one of his shoes remaining. His phone turned to the right, zooming in the distance at Chizurusan who had fallen to her knees having witnessed the event.
"…Mitsuhachan," she whispered out in a cold breath, her face planting into the ground as if she had been overcome with grief.
The person holding Naru's phone hurried over and reached out her hand poking her head.
"You can't lose consciousness now Chizuruchan," the voice of a girl teased. "How can you be invited if you're not awake? That's not very niiiiice," her voice said sinisterly.
Hikari's throat tightened believing she recognized that voice, seemingly innocent, but indeed monstrous in deed and action.
"Oh well. I'll come get you when you're ready for me," the girl's voice said giggling freakishly. "I can't wait…to invite you to play."
With that the phone shut off, Hikari breathing heavily, her chest pounding so hard in her chest she thought she was having a heart attack.
"Just who is that?" Daisuke asked. "And what is she talking about being invited to play? I thought we were dealing with a Digimon."
"I agree," Iori said. "That girl is beyond disturbing. I can't believe she's the one responsible for all these disappearances!"
"But how is she doing it?" Miyako questioned. "And where is she taking them?"
Ken closed his eyes, and sighed, Hikari wondering if even HE knew.
"I don't think it's possible," he said. "But could she also be a Digidestined? That would explain how she's making them vanish like that."
"That would explain at least how she's making them vanish," Takeru said, his eyes glancing ever so slightly back at Hikari, immediate concern on his face.
"You know, this whole thing is pretty frightening," he grinned.
"Then why are you smiling?" Miyako frowned.
"No reason. I just think that I could sure go for a soda right now. Hikarichan?" he said, his head nodding ever so slightly."
She also nodded, feeling a bit relieved.
"We'll be right back," he said, Hikari managing a slight smile.
"All right, but bring back a grape soda for me," Miyako grinned.
"A ginger ale for me if you could," Iori agreed.
"And I'll take a lemon lime," Ken added, everyone noticing a pensive look on Daisuke's face.
"What about you, Daisuke?" he asked.
"I don't want no dam soda," he groaned. "I want to go- "
"-I think they have Melon Soda too," Takeru interrupted. "That sounds good right?" he said turning around, Hikari feeling his hand grab hers. "We'll be right back."
Hikari tried to quicken her pace with Takeru as they left the computer lab before anyone could say anything, Daisuke looking dejected.
Takeru slid the door open as they exited, Hikari trying to keep up with him as best as she could as he pulled her along.
Neither of them said anything; voices, and rumors whisking by them about the recent string of disappearances, some students on the verge of tears, others completely despondent, practically unresponsive with a glazed look on their faces. Hikari knew they had to figure out what happened, but, at the same time, she felt afraid that she already knew where they were.
When they reached the hallway with a soda vending machine Takeru stopped in front of it, holding her hand a bit tighter.
"Hikarichan," he said, his back tense, "I want to say it's going to be ok," he said, "But I can't," he said as if scolding himself. "It's the same vibes as before. The same hopelessness I feel," he admitted turning around looking at her in the face, a single tear falling down his face.
Hikari stared up at him, his face unflinching full of concern for her.
"I don't want you to go missing too," he uttered bitterly, turning his head to the ground, his eyes closed shut tight. "Because I know this isn't about the Digital World. It's about…THAT place, isn't it?"
Hikari nodded her head. She wanted to comfort him but knew she could not be too forceful about it. Like her, Takeru had a brittle heart. She gently moved her other hand over his and placed it palm first on top.
"It's the same," she said wanting to bury her head in his chest and have him wrap his arms around her, but there was no way she could do that, no matter how exhausted she felt. "That girl's voice? That same creepy giddiness? I've heard it before in my dreams."
"In your dreams?" he said his eyes opening a bit wide. "Hikarichan…"
She dared to smile sadly, not knowing what to do with herself when he was so overcome with concern for her.
"It's strange," she said, unable to stop a tear falling down her face as well. "I feel like I know that girl. But every time I try to pinpoint her my mind gets all hazy. I think she called herself Homeostasis one time, but- "
"-That didn't sound anything like Homeostasis Hikarichan," Takeru said. "When she controlled you before she seemed calm and composed and even respectful. This voice sounds just the opposite."
She bit down on her lip, vague images of a seaside elaborate cottage and a hill that leads down to the beach where dark murky water foamed upon the shore, the backside of a laughing girl in her memories filling her vision.
She felt something calling her, Hikari seeing this same girl with her at some kind of tea party…and then the girl got angry, her entire world starting to shake violently and-
"-Hikarichan!" a voice cried, her eyes snapping out of it, Takeru holding both of her shoulders, his lip trembling.
She glanced around at other people staring at her, and then as if she was out of it looking back at him.
"Takerukun," she swallowed wanting to get out of there. "We need…to talk."
She led him to an empty art room where she knew a class would not be held that day. "I think this will be a good space to tell you," she sighed shutting the door and locking it. "About her."
"Why couldn't we talk out there?" he asked, going over to a window and opening it, a light trail of dust lingering in the air.
"Because it felt like she was there," she said. "Whenever they talk about what's happened, it's like she's standing in the middle of all of it," she said. "I don't know how else to explain it."
"What's her name?" Takeru asked. "Just who is she?"
"She's many things," Hikari pondered thinking about him, taking a seat at a desk resting her hand on her cheek. "But…she's not human."
"But you said she called herself Homeostasis," Takeru said curiously. "Could it be she's a being like her? And if she is, can she control you?"
Hikari shook her head. "Homeostasis and I have a certain connection, but this girl and I- we also have a bond. "She came to me when I was feeling lonely and depressed Takerukun. It was before you came back," she revealed hesitantly.
Takeru grasped his fists together as if frustrated with himself. "And you never told me this Hikarichan?" he questioned a bit in a frustrated tone. "Why haven't I heard about this?"
Hikarichan glanced at him and looked down resting her hands in her lap. "It wasn't that I was trying to hide it. There was just a lot going on at that time. I'm surprised Daisuke never said anything."
Takeru swallowed. "So, it's something that he knew about, but I didn't? I would have convinced my parents to get me over there," Takeru said turning around. "What happened, Hikarichan? And why didn't you tell me- "
"-I can't rely on you forever Takerukun!" Hikari cried, sniffling.
"I have to be able to do this on my own. It's not fair for you!"
"Not fair for me?" he said a bit taken aback. "Who cares about that!" he growled aggressively slamming his hands on the desk in front of her staring at her. "I don't care if you think it's not fair! Did you think that I'm just burden to you Hikarichan?" he asked.
"No," she said wiping tears. "But I think it's just the opposite," she said firmly. "I think I'm a burden to you. I think you keep looking back at me but can't move on with what you want to do in your own life because you're so worried about me."
Takeru's brow twitched, his hands tense. "I've never thought once about moving on without you," he confessed. "I never knew you felt that way Hikarichan. I just…don't want to lose what we have. I'm not going to cast you aside for anyone."
Hikari started to open her lips to say something but kept her emotions in check. "I…don't want to lose it either," she confessed. "But, if I'm ever in the way, please tell me at least," she said.
Takeru nodded his head. "That day will never come Hikarichan," he said. "I know that- "
-Suddenly the door swung open, Chizuruchan glancing at them both. "My, what have we here?" she snickered. "Takerukun, you can't go around making crazy promises," she said sliding her hand alongside the door and walking in whimsically.
"Chizuruchan," Hikari said, puzzled at how strange she seemed. She was nothing like the calm and stoic Chizuruchan that she knew.
"And you, Hikarichan, shouldn't assume Takeru doesn't care or is holding himself back for your sake. Surely, he suffers because he wants to," she giggled.
Hikari touched Takeru's hand, nodding her head staring at him. Something did not seem right about Chizuruchan. She didn't know what, but just something seemed so off and-
"My, Hikarichan, so bold," she said having started whispering in her ear. "Here you are flirting with Takerukun when the school is practically falling apart," she said holding back a chuckle.
"I'm not flirting," she muttered, her face a bit red. "We were talking about something important Chizuruchan."
"You were, weren't you?" she said. "But while you do that, I'm sure another student is going to go missing very soon," she said, Hikari catching a strange glint in her eye. "Let's talk about it some more after school Hikarichan," she suggested. "I'm sure I'll have another idea for you by then about what's happening. I'll be up there, on the roof."
She walked towards the door, one hand sliding down Takeru's arm as she pushed off of him.
"Takerukun, make sure to take care of her," she cautioned glancing back, now unusually serious. "A girl's sanity is a very fleeting thing."
With that she went to the right, leaving nearly as quickly as she had entered.
Takeru and Hikari glanced at each other sheepishly and then stared away, Hikari wishing Chizuru did not expose her emotions so much.
"What was that?" Takeru said, his hand on his chest. "The way she touched me, it felt like she was squeezing my heart."
"Odd," Hikari said. "I'll talk to her after school. I'm sure she is just really stressed out about all that's happening. She still doesn't know what happened to Mitsuha san."
"Mhm," he said his face a bit red, Hikari knowing he must have heard everything.
"R-relax, T-Ta-Takerukun," she said not so relaxed herself. "Chizuruchan was only joking."
"I think you're the one that needs to relax," he replied as if he had seen through her. "You probably should sit down and rest Hikarichan."
She closed her eyes knowing he was right, but still, both Chizuru and Takeru had really agitated her.
"Have you ever skipped class before?" she asked.
Takeru immediately grinned back. "Nope. I did have a girl ask me out in detention though once."
"Oh really?" she grinned. "And how did you shoot her down?"
"Let's just say her sentence got worse, and I left her 'suspended.'
As soon as the last class had ended the two of them made their move. They continued talking, making their way up to the balcony blending into the crowd. She knew she couldn't tell the others she had skipped class with Takerukun, and who knows what kind of rumors would spread about them if his fans found out!
The plan was after they meet up with Chizuru to get with the other Digidestined and to put their heads together to see what they could do next. They walked separately, not wanting to attract suspicion, both of them heading up their way to the rooftop. Hikari opened the door reaching the staircase, her phone suddenly blaring.
In fact, it was not just her. But everyone within earshot got a message. Hikari opened her phone seeing a link- a familiar one that she could have sworn she saw with the others.
She clicked on it immediately, worried about what she would see. Immediately the Link to the Thrill Seekers profile page opened, Hikari watching a similar video. It played out with Narusan again, but wait, this seemed different.
Naru was holding the camera again, anxiously.
"She took them all didn't she?" he said, as if talking to himself. "That means, it's my turn soon, right? I can't outrun her." he said as if relieved, but tense. "Once she sets her eyes on you, you're a goner, right?"
Hikari stared at the screen thrown off by Naru. He was talking to himself but smiled as if resigned as if staring at someone.
"To think I fell for it," he said suddenly gritting his teeth, grasping his fist, tears in his eyes. He sniffled slightly, Hikari suddenly going cold.
A hand reached forward to him giving him a handkerchief.
He grabbed it, hesitantly but wiping his nose with his arm sleeve.
A slight chuckle echoed out away from him, Hikari realizing Narusan NEVER held his phone camera in the video.
"No," she said. "But what does this- "
"-You're invited, Narukun," a familiar voice said, "Hikari's veins freezing like ice, "To the Nightmare Masquerade.
He stared over at someone, his lip twitching as if he had given up.
"Cheer up," she said. "You'll all go there someday. And I'll be joining you soon after. Is there anything you would like to say?" she asked. "Your words will be the legacy you leave behind. You should be strong," her voice snickered, Naru closing his eyes as if knowing it would be over.
"Yeah, you're right. I…I will then," he agreed as if holding back lamenting leaving the world behind, his face distraught as if grieving himself. "You're going to film this, right…Chizurusan?"
"Of course!" she laughed. "Make it a good one!" she cackled, Hikari feeling heat rush through her body. She clamored up the stairs, tripping on herself once or twice until she bolted up on the roof.
Breathless, she stared over, looking for Chizurusan, but didn't see her.
"Look!" another student cried out! "The girl on the roof! It's Chizurusan! That's her! That's the girl who was with Narusan in the video! But why were there two girls?!"
She looked all around, not seeing anything.
"Hikarichan!" Takeru shouted behind her pointing up, Hikari looking up all the way on top of a chained fence.
Chizuru stood there looking up, her graceful light purple nearly white hair flowing in the wind. She clenched her cell phone at her side, a look of expectation on her face.
"Chizuruchan!" Hikari cried out rushing towards her by the fence. "Don't worry, we'll get you down!" she shouted, worried for her.
"You don't need to be worried at all about me, Hikarichan," she smiled warmly, but still looking up. "I'm going to be all right now."
"Don't talk like that!" Takeru said. "I don't know what exactly you did in that video, but we know you Chizurusan! You didn't make those people disappear!"
Chizuru's lip trembled, holding up her cell phone to them, a strange screenshot on her phone. Hikari could barely make out.
"No, I didn't," she agreed, "But it does not matter anymore," she said dropping her cell phone, her phone skittering down the chain link fence to the ground below.
"Don't jump!" Hikarichan cried. "Chizuruchan! You wanted to find Mitsuhachan didn't you? You wanted to save her! You wanted to make things right with her!"
Chizuru closed her eyes. "You don't understand yet, Hikarichan. But you will. Very soon, you'll realize the truth."
"Chizuruchan!" Hikari pleaded, her voice sharp and jagged, her throat aching.
"Eventually, everyone will be invited to the Nightmare Masquerade," she proclaimed, staring up, her eyes fascinated as if seeing something.
"And now, it's my turn," she smiled. "I've been invited," she said leaning over her back facing the backside of the building ledge.
"Don't do it!" Takeru shouted, the other students who saw her yelling from below. "You have so much more to live for!"
Chizuru lifted her lip, bending back. "Once you've been invited," she said cryptically staring up at the sky, "There's no going back. Not to your life. Not to yourself," she said giving way, Hikarichan rushing forward grabbing the rails.
She watched horrified as she fell, but then vanished midair, only the glimmer of her cracked cell phone at the bottom all that remained of her.
"Chizuruchan!" She lamented wanting to climb the fence herself, but Takeru's arms wrapped around her stomach holding her back from going up there.
"Let me go Takeru!" she screamed, her eyes tearing. "I have to save Chizuruchan! I have to- "
"-Hikarichan, she's gone!" Takeru shouted firmly, Hikari going limp, falling against the fence, barely catching herself.
"Chizuruchan," she winced, tears flowing down her face, falling through the cracks in the fence. "It can't be," she said as if unable to believe that she had vanished in front of her. "This can't…be happening..."