Chapter Four: The Haunting Guide of Nagamo Tunnel
A funeral could never be held for Chizuru. After all, no one would believe it. A girl willfully falling to her death off a high fence on a roof top? And then disappearing mid fall? It was baffling. Even the other students couldn't believe it, some of them recording videos of the incident.
In a matter of minutes the Principal of the school summoned any homeroom teachers available. The female teachers gathered the students together while the male teachers went around asking questions to anyone who witnessed the event.
Hikari glanced at them all, Takeru by her side as they watched it all unfold below. She hadn't moved from that spot, still in shock by what happened. A chill had swept across her body, her head and shoulders starting to shiver.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Takeru breathing out unevenly, as if he himself could not believe what he saw. "Hikarichan," he swallowed, his hand gripping the fence so tightly she could see his hand turning red. "She's there, isn't she?" he asked. "Just like you were all those years ago," he said bitterly. "In the Dark Ocean."
Hikari nodded her head, closing her eyes. She had to regain her composure. Takeru was right of course, but she knew she had to stay calm and collected for him. After all that talk about holding Takeru back and being a burden for him, now was not the time for her to lose it now.
"Hikarichan!" her teacher called out, her eyes glancing over at her concerned teacher standing in the doorway. "And you, young man," she said, "come with me to the conference room right now," she demanded, a grave look on her face.
She felt Takeru's hand on her shoulder as they walked forward little by little.
"It will be all right Hikarichan," he said, his lip cracked barely able to smile. "I've got you."
Hikari and Takeru met with the others briefly in passing before they were escorted to the conference room. It was an awkward time, but Takeru and her managed to fake a cheerfulness telling them they'll keep them updated and message them after, Takeru reminding them not to walk home alone.
Eventually they reached the conference room, a student aide opening the door for the three of them to go inside. In the conference room were a row of desks all lined up; just enough space for a table for the two of them to share, a hoard of concerned and wrinkled faces expecting them. In the corner she noticed weeping parents and her home room teacher walking over to them supporting her.
"Please, have a seat," the principal said, a man with a bit of a clefted chin, thick glasses and thinned bald parting hair.
They glanced at each other and nodded, Hikari knowing this would be so much easier with Takeru there.
The principal bent his knuckles, shaking slightly and put them together.
"Hikari Yagamisan, Takeru Takaishisan, thank you for meeting with us on such short notice," he said his mannerisms seemingly pleasant, but as if hiding an urgent rigidness to them. "I can only imagine what you're thinking right now. Nevertheless, we need to ask you some questions."
"We'll do the best we can," Hikari replied politely.
"Very well," he said clearing his throat. "We've viewed the video already uploaded on social media and frankly, we're disturbed by it. This in conjunction with the ones on the Thrill Seekers profiles made it seem Chizuru Inomi was a kidnapper, but now, we don't know what to think."
"My daughter would never do something like that!" the woman in the corner shouted, her makeup and lipstick running. "She was a proper moral child! She would never- "
"-Dear," the man next to her with curly hair and glasses said comforting her as she wept in his arms her body heaving.
The principal closed his eyes and sighed. "I think so as well Ms. Inomisan," he said with a lighter almost empathetic tone. "I've reviewed her records. Up until recently Chizuru Inomi had perfect attendance and straight As. She was a model student and a gifted artist. It's a shame it turned out this way."
The mother blew her nose, some of the teachers looking down with downcast eyes.
"Takerusan, Hikarisan," he said leaning forward, his body creaking, "Is there anything you can tell us about what happened up there? And why you were there to begin with?"
Hikari glanced over at Takeru and nodded her head as if encouraged by him. "Chizurusan asked me to meet her on the roof after school sir," she said. "She said she wanted to give me an idea about where the missing students went."
"Hmm," he said glancing over to the door slightly. "And she was going to tell you where they went, but fell off the fence before she could tell you?"
"No," she did tell us," Takeru intervened. "She told us they were invited to the Nightmare Masquerade."
The principal winced; his eyebrows furrowed.
"Nightmare Masquerade?" one of the teachers said strangely. "What is that, like an online chat group for wayward youth or something?"
"No sir," Takeru replied. "But she did say that eventually all the students would be going there. I think…she was warning us," he said glancing down, a grimace on his face.
The principal swallowed, reaching to his side, and grabbing a bottle of water having a sip of it.
"I see," he said. "That is most distressing indeed. He glanced at a tall man to the right standing by the door whom he had been looking at before.
The man had bristled chin hair, his face stubby, but looked just professional enough to make it through a workday at an office. His hair stuck out forward like a curved ski ramp. He had dark gray hair, and fair skin and wore a suit just a little bit darker than his gray hair with a dark green undershirt. He walked forward slowly, his tongue clicking as he glanced at everyone, his demeanor anything but smiling.
"Well," he said, his voice deep, his sharp black eyes studying the two of them, "Nothing more you can do grilling these kids," he concluded reaching into his pocket and placing a toothpick in his mouth. "We'll let you know if anything comes up faculty and parents," he said glancing at them all. "Now get out of here."
As the parents left, Hikari glanced at Takeru, the man making her feel uneasy the way he seemed to be glaring at the two of them as if for some reason they were responsible. Takeru got up, Hikari also rising from her seat.
"Let us know if we can do anything else," Takeru said as he directed his body to move away from him, the man puffing his chest out and standing in their way.
"Whoa there," he said dropping the toothpick in his mouth and then stomping on it. "Who said you could leave?"
They turned to the principal who nodded his head as he walked to the door and locked it, the four of them the only ones remaining in the room.
The man stood over them, his clefted chin practically shadowing the two of them. "If you think this is over," his voice homed in deeply, "then you've got another thing coming…Digidestined," he said in practically a growling voice.
Instantly Takeru raised his arm as if shielding Hikari like he had done so many times before.
"Just what are you after?" he questioned with a dangerous glint in his eye as if daring him to touch Hikari. "And just who are you?"
"This is detective Kyoshima Nagezura," the principal said, "a famous one at that who is known all throughout Japan, particularly Hikarigaoka."
"Detective?" Hikari said a bit surprised.
"Nice to meet ya," he said sitting down at the table next to the principal and propping his feet up on it. "You may not know me, but I definitely know the two of you. And I'm keeping track of all the first couple of generations of Digidestined," he said, "And all their 'checkered' colored history."
Takeru clenched his fist, Hikari placing hers uncomfortably in her lap noticing Takeru glance at her. She still had not told him about what happened back in Middle School before he returned and could tell it was eating away at him. But, even if she did tell him, he would be so distracted by her he wouldn't think of anything else- not even himself.
"I started around the time when that Vampire Freak captured everyone in Hikarigaoka," he said. "I was just a lowly police officer back then. Yet when I came face to face with a Digimon my bullets did nothing,' he said clenching his teeth, half a toothpick falling from his mouth. He picked the other half out of his mouth flicking it away and set a fresh one in there from his pocket. "Although I learned a bunch of kids and their monstrous pets did more damage than I ever could," he snickered, Hikari still wary of him.
"Anyways after the incident I changed my career path and became a private eye. I opened my own practice and everything. My main interests were about cold cases or unexplained missing people," he said. "It was tough starting out but eventually this all led me to Oikawa," he said. "And because of him I saw in the sky that vampire menace again," he said not too fondly. "I was surprised he came back."
"As were we," Hikari agreed, finding some common ground with him. "But he's gone for sure this time."
"Well, that's a relief," he said. "I'm sure you thought afterwards after beating the bad guy things would be all nice and rosy from now on, eh?" he grinned.
Takeru leaned forward. "As of right now," he said, "The Digital World has been quiet. I don't know what you're expecting from us," he reasoned warily. "Even if you asked the others, they would tell you the same thing."
"Well," Kyoshima winced taking his feet off the desk and leaning closer to them- his upper frame stretching over it. "Here's the thing about that. Aside from you Digidestined," he said, "and your brothers and the generation before, we've run into an issue," he said. "It's the same issue that's happening now," he explained eyeing them dangerously.
Hikari looked down at her hands shaking. "Even more people…are going missing?" she wondered aloud, afraid to answer.
"Bingo," he said snapping his fingers. "Newer generations of Digimon and partners were going missing before. And now normal humans are going missing. I bet my badge they're connected somehow," he contemplated aloud. "In fact, I'm sure of it. And I bet since you guys are still here that you know what's going on. Where are they?" he asked. "You know, don't you?" he pressed keenly.
Takeru stood up, the imposing man still in Hikari's shadow.
"Even if we knew," he said, "You couldn't do anything about it. Whether it was the Digital World or something else it's out of our hands," he said. "And" he added gripping his fist, "Unfortunately it's spiraling out of control. More kids are going missing," he said darkly. "And we only know they're probably not even in this dimension anymore."
The man cracked his knuckles standing up over Takeru, a look of malice on his face. "Well then," he said, Hikari horrified as he grabbed Takeru's head and smashed it into the desk, Takeru wincing and groaning.
"You've got some nerve brat," he said coolly taking his fist and punching the side of his head a few times. "You may be a Digidestined, but that doesn't mean you're a righteous savior!" he scolded still punching, Hikari rushing over grabbing his forearm.
"Leave Takerukun alone!" she snapped. "He hasn't done anything!"
"But he acts like he has!" Kyoshima clicked his tongue throwing her down to the floor with his other forearm, Hikari wincing as she scraped her leg. "I can't stand self-righteous punks like you. Or you either," he winced glaring at her.
"Principal, are you just going to let him treat Takerukun this way?" she asked. "Why?"
The principal turned his head to the side staring down as if into himself.
Takeru raised his head gritting his teeth reaching up and grabbing the man's forearm. "Don't you dare touch her!" he barked. "You want to beat the stuffing out of someone? Then go ahead!" he growled. "I can take it!"
"Don't get full of yourself!" he countered knocking both Takeru and the table over with his foot with ease, Takeru struggling to get up from the ground.
They both leered at each other, Takeru barely able to stand up, his face bruised and beaten.
Finally, the principal coughed in his fist tilting his glasses on his face.
"Kyoshimasan," he said in a light somber voice. "I would appreciate it if you did not place your hands on my students," he said. "Anyways, show them."
Kyoshima clicked his tongue as he reached down and grabbed a laptop that somehow fit in his pocket. "The situation is urgent," he said matter-of-factly setting it on the table opening it. "And, if I have to knock you down a peg or two for you to get it so be it. It's not in my nature to beat up on snobby know-it-alls."
Takeru winced, holding his arm, Hikari realizing he may have landed on it a bit awkwardly.
"Here's the thing," he said typing, and turning the laptop around so both Takeru and Hikari could see the screen, Hikari closing the distance between them not trusting him. On the screen they saw a link to a private account, both of them staring intently.
"What is it?" Hikari asked wary of him.
The principal took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his brow with it. "The Thrill Seekers…" he said, his voice grave and hollow, "…they all didn't go out that night. There were a number of them, mostly newer members who decided not to risk going out because of all of the missing students," he swallowed.
"Detective," he motioned with a nod, as Detective Kyoshima played the video.
Takeru and Hikari watched a student streaming, recording himself talking about what was happening while playing a game, describing how the whole thing had freaked him out and he regretted joining the thrill seekers. But he then said, 'it wasn't so bad' and that things would get 'better' somehow with a strange smile on his face.
His behavior seemed off, Hikari pressing her fingers around her other hand.
"Pay attention to what happens next," The principal said firmly, little by little as the student's screen brightened just a little bit more, Hikari's eyes widening noticing a slight shadow standing diagonal to him. She saw a strange figure in bare feet, looking like the outline of a middle school girl, but hideous eyes barely visible staring through the darkness with a grin on her face.
In just a matter of minutes, the boy turned around curiously, walking closer to the strange apparition and then crying out as he vanished in the darkness, the computer still streaming, but the apparition having vanished.
"That's horrible," Takeru said wincing leaning his head down staring at the screen. "That thing…whatever she is," he swallowed, "It's nothing like anything I've ever seen before."
Hikari reached over placing her arm on his shoulder, her hand shaking, Takeru's back firm and rigid b but unresponsive to her touch.
"The fact of the matter is," the principal said, "We've informed the school that all of the remaining 'Thrill Seekers' are sick," he said, "But really they were kidnapped the same night," he said, his complexion turning pale. "No matter if the kids stay in school or stay at home they're still being targeted."
The Detective shut the video down closing the laptop. "Funny thing is," he said, "The kids weren't the ones who loaded the videos of the other thrill seekers going missing to stream. Which makes me think maybe something from the Digital World or somewhere like it had done it," he said. "I mean come on, if I believe in Digital Monsters I should believe in the supernatural right?" he suggested a bit nervously but also trying to make light of the situation. He failed miserably.
Takeru clenched his fist glancing at Hikari nodding his head. They both knew they had to do something but if they told the man about how Hikari went missing and what he went through they would never let her leave.
"I want you to understand something, Digidestined," he said taking a deep breath, leaning forward, and crossing his arms. "You may deal with data and making it disappear. Aside from you all, no one gives a crap about that," he exhaled breathing through his nostrils.
"In the real world, the adults have to deal with flesh and blood," he explained. "Missing people. Dismembered bodies… The kind of stuff most kids should just stay out of," he said biting down on the toothpick. "But you're not like most kids," he added taking out a couple of papers, each of them with rows and images of missing people.
"You see these ones?" he questioned slamming his hand down on the pictures watching their reactions. "They're all missing. Normal flesh and blood people. And these," he said reaching into his coat pocket and flinging down a hand full of pictures, "Are their grieving families," he said sighing. "All of these kids vanished without a trace. Some of them went to your school," he noticed placing his arms down over them, the weight of his gaze pressing Hikari down.
"So, get it through your heads, any information you have, and you listening and obeying what I say might just save their lives."
Hikari nodded her head, her lips quivering. "But you didn't have to hit him," she said trembling. "Takerukun did nothing wrong to you."
"Still don't get it huh?" he said with a twisted scowl on his face. "The pain I want you to know is but a taste of what these children's family have gone through. Maybe now you'll see the seriousness of the situati- "
"-We'll cooperate," Takeru interrupted, still bearing his injuries understanding the escalated situation.
"Good to hear," Kyoshima said snapping the toothpick in half hanging out of his mouth. "Then, accordingly I can fill you in on a new detail in this case. It's something we haven't released to the public."
"New information?" Hikari said keenly interested.
"Tell us," Takeru added insistently.
Kyoshima sighed out again. "That girl," he said. "Chizuru, right? The girl that went missing earlier today? The one the school is going crazy about?"
"What about her?" Hikari asked.
"There's rumors going around," he said scratching the back of his head, "That she's been sighted."
Hikari felt her stomach lurch, the thought of Chizuru missing and then appearing too much for her constitution. She placed a hand over her mouth wondering if she would vomit.
"So soon?" Takeru questioned. "That's too suspicious."
"It's been popping up in chats," he explained "Someone's been spreading a rumor that Chizuru will show up Thursday in the Hikarigaoka subway after midnight, And then there are these pictures going around of her there, all of them in the Nagamo Tunnel," he said spreading out some security footage cameras, Hikari instantly recognizing her, a far off look in her eye.
"Chizuruchan," she swallowed, not having a good feeling at all about this.
"I think it's suspicious too," he said. "Frankly I think the perpetrator may have tricked us into thinking she had disappeared when really she had been using her to lure other kids to be the next victims," he reasoned, "But it's happening too fast," he said scrunching his face. "And the fact other kids are 'excited' about this is just so unsettling. Don't they realize just how dangerous this is?"
Hikari glanced at Takeru, both of them determined to get to the bottom of this no matter how awkward things were between them right now.
"Can I ask you Digidestined to gather all of your forces?" he asked. "I don't like this one bit, but it's the only lead we got. Just maybe," he said glancing at the principal who seemed to be doing his best to keep it together, "We can save those poor kids."
That evening, Hikari told Taichi everything, who informed Koushirou who set up everyone who.
could make it on a conference video call. She sat on her bed double checking her outfit to make sure it was suitable enough for the call and not showing anything. A loose-fitting t shirt and sweats were appropriate, right?
She brushed her hair to the side of her head making sure her clip was in place and sat on her knees joining the video chat room and seeing the familiar faces of the Digidestined.
"Hey everyone!" Daisuke called out, him adjusting his camera from a blurred focus. "I'm here!"
"Present!" Sora added, joining on, one by one each of the Digidestined appearing on screen despite their busy schedules, Jou still in a medical outfit.
Koushirou appeared in a proper suit and tie, the view of his flat in his condo befitting of a host.
"Hey everyone," he said pleasantly with a serious smile. "It's good to see you all. I think we're just missing Taichi and Mimi, right?" he questioned.
"I'll message them right now," Iori said, well, part of Iori that is.
"Iori, you're kind of not in the picture," Miyako noticed.
"You can't see me?"
"We can only see the top of your head," Ken noticed with a smile.
Iori sighed. "This is what I get for my strong moral fiber. My seriousness is causing a growth stunt."
"We still like ya," Daisuke grinned.
In a moment Iori came back with a tall chair sitting on it.
"Better now?"
"Much better," Koushirou said nodding his head.
"Anyways, what about Taichi?" Iori asked.
"I'm here I'm here!" Taichi said flashing across the screen in a loose-fitting tie and slacks and white shirt. "Sorry I'm late. Class took a lot longer than I thought it would. Political studies, you know?"
"Save it. "You're always late," a familiar voice said as Mimi joined in, her flamboyant and beautiful self.
"Look whose talking," he grinned, Hikari managing a small smile.
"By the way," Yamato said, "I thought I saw Takeru for a minute," he said, his eyes kind of darting around as if sniffing out trouble, "Where is he?"
Hikari chuckled nervously. "Yeah, good question," she said, Taichi and Miyako locking in on her.
"You're so obvious," Miyako grinned.
"I…don't know what you're talking about," she said staring a bit away, avoiding their prying eyes.
Just then Takeru accessed the computer, his face all swollen, but holding an icepack on his cheek.
"Sorry, had some technical difficulties," he grinned, everyone gasping upon seeing him.
"What in the?!" Daisuke exclaimed.
"Geez," Yamato said slightly taken aback gripping his fist. "Takeru, you look really banged up."
"Nah," he grinned wincing slightly, "It's not so bad. Just had a little disagreement with a detective."
"Huh," Ken said, tapping his forearm with his finger. "I've heard about Detectives having creative disagreements Takeru, but this? I don't want to ever become a Detective like that."
"Once I get my degree," Iori said calmly, "You will get me all of his information and I will see justice is done in the court of law."
"We're quite aways from that though," Miyako grinned. "You'll get there one day."
"Not unless I beat the stuffing out of him first," Yamato said. "I mean it."
"You could go to jail," Mimi smirked.
"I think we're losing track on the topic at hand," Koushirou said coughing in his fist. "Before we go any further, Takeru, Hikarichan, could you go over with us what exactly has been happening?"
All eyes stared at Hikari, Takeru giving a small nod of confidence.
"All right," she said seriously. "This is everything that's happened from the beginning till now…"
…After about twenty minutes Hikari had finished explaining everything, Takeru chiming in about any details she had missed.
The newer Digidestined were a bit stunned.
"Seriously?" Daisuke said a bit surprised, his mouth agape. "Kids are going missing even more and it even isn't happening at school?"
Hikari nodded her head.
"And to think this has been happening this whole time," Ken said, his eyes staring down narrowly, "How is it that I have never noticed it?"
"I wouldn't beat yourself up over it," Koushirou said. "I've been secretly in touch with the government bureau of Japan regarding missing persons. It collects information from around the world and I've been verifying if those people are Digidestined. Many are. But many aren't."
"Then just why are people getting kidnapped?" Miyako asked. "What did they ever do?"
"I don't think it's about that Miyakochan," Hikari said glancing away. She knew, but to expect them all to understand, it didn't seem possible.
"If you know anything Hikarichan tell us," Sora encouraged. "Even if it's just a little bit maybe it can help us."
With all eyes staring at her, Hikari froze for a split second as if having seen a ghost. She could have sworn in the background of each monitor she saw the outline of a girl. Instantly her mind went back to the time before her disappearance, and all of the subsequent events that happened, including being assaulted by bullies, shunned by students, and then being taken away to see Homeostasis.
But her lip trembled. Takeru said that wasn't Homeostasis. It wasn't like her. And if it wasn't her just who was she? What was her name? Who was-
"-Hikari!" her mother shouted sharply next to her shaking her, everyone on screen staring at her anxiously. "Taichi just called me. She said that you weren't looking well. What's wrong?"
Hikari stared up at her, then at the others, her face blank as if she wasn't there or didn't understand. But she did understand. The haunting memory of eating sand and tormented by voices and the shredding of wind and dashing of the ocean filling her vision.
She barely heard the rest of the conversation, each of the Digidestined talking amongst themselves, coming to some sort of conclusion. Yet Hikari remained there paralyzed in the bosom of her mother, terrified, knowing that in the coming days she would return, the outline of the girl lingering in her mind haunting her.
The next day all of the Zero Two Digidestined met Hikari at her house. She smiled pretending to be better having gotten little sleep from the rest of the night. She could hear their voices, but they went in and out like a muffled frequency, Hikari hardly understanding anything they said.
All throughout the day she learned by bits and pieces the plan for action. How they would all meet up at the subway station hopefully with their Digimon and walk till reaching Nagamo Tunnel where she had been sighted.
Hikari hadn't seen Tailmon in such a long time it seemed. With no threat to the earth in place they were all on the other side just a Digital Portal away from them. Yet, with all of the missing people, and the students at the school, she didn't know why they could not access their partners.
When school had ended, she started to head over to the computer lab, her mind hazy- Probably from the terror and the lack of sleep. That was how it seemed until a girl ran over to her grabbing her by the shoulders, her arms shaking.
"Wh-what did I do?" she asked tearing, staring at Hikari freaking out. "What did I ever do to you?" she questioned, all eyes staring at her, Hikari unable to turn away from the student having a panic attack. "I don't want to go!" she snapped. "Don't make her take me!" she pleaded, her arms sliding down to her ankle, just staring up at her with endless tears. "I can't- "
-She stared up at Hikari, Hikari staring back down into her, the girl's eyes calming, standing up almost robotically. She walked away, as if she had breathed out her soul, her body mimicking life, but seemingly almost having given up.
In a way Hikari recognized her. She would normally be empathetic towards people and yet, she couldn't escape this emptiness in her heart, this coldness numb to most emotions today.
"It's like…I'm still there," she said looking up, the murmurs of other students around her, Hikari indifferent to them all. "What's the difference between this world right now…and that one?"
Despite all that happened, eventually Thursday night came, each Digidestined ready to go except Mimi all the way across the world still in America. They had all decided to meet up at the school carpooling in Yamato's Dad's van, each of them sober, determined, and bundled up from sweaters to scarves.
Takeru had not messaged her either and seemed strangely absent physically. She knew she could always count on him to lift her spirits, but right now, she realized she might have been taking advantage of his kindness. He didn't have to watch out for her or spend so much time with her. He was free to do whatever he wanted. Still, she could not deny the sharp pain in her chest yearning for him to address her.
Soon they arrived at the access point, a walkie talkie motioning as Koushirou spoke into it in the front passenger seat.
"We're here Kyoshimasan," he said, the car approaching a parking space nearby the subway, the eyes of a black car beaming head beams off and on to greet them.
"Roger that," he replied gruffly loud for everyone to hear. The car stopped; the ruffling of their seatbelts rummaged through the vehicle finding the door. One by one they got out, Hikari wearing a white scarf breathing in slightly cool air.
"Another misty night," Ken noticed holding his hand out in the air, his fingers tingling.
A car door slammed as Kyoshima approached them in his same attire with an overcoat on.
"Glad to see the gang's all here," he grinned, spitting out the toothpick in his mouth.
"That's so disgusting," Iori scowled. "Why do you do that?"
"It beats cigarettes kid," he said glancing at him and staring away. "Used to smoke a pack a day whenever I got stressed out about stuff like this. It's a lot healthier."
"All that aside," Yamato said cracking his fist, "I'm surprised you showed up after what you did to my brother."
"If you want to have a go wait till after we've found the missing students," he grinned. "I can take punks on like you anytime."
"Let's not fight now," Sora said holding up her hands. "It never does anyone any good."
"We don't have time for it," Taichi said crossing his arms. "Speaking of which Koushirou what time is it?"
"You could always I don't know, just look at your cell phone, but if you're too lazy to do that it's Five till," he said. "Just to remind everyone, we haven't been able to get access to our Digimon, so if we split up do NOT go alone."
"Then let's decide now who goes with who," Daisuke suggested. "I'll go with Hikarichan," he said, Takeru staring down, Hikari glancing his way not expecting anything.
Takeru looked far away his eyes somber and distant He glanced at her briefly and then turned away.
"Not going to happen," Miyako said. "We'll go together Hikarichan," she smiled, Hikari nodding her head grateful for this new arrangement.
She glanced over at Takeru who seemed even more distant, his head down as if trying to avoid her.
"Good idea," Koushirou said. "For you two it's best to have your DNA Digivolving partner with you. Who knows? Maybe if one of you gets in trouble your bond can bring over your Digimon."
"But I don't know if we can say that for the rest of you," Jou said. "Their bond helped them in the Dark Ocean, right? That wouldn't do anything for either of you."
"That's ok," Iori said. "If you don't mind Kensan, I'll go with you. We can sharpen our minds if we find anything leading us in our career choices."
"Ever the diligent academic," Ken said nodding his head. "I agree."
"Yeah, good for you guys," Daisuke said placing one hand on Takeru's shoulder. "I guess I'll go with this guy."
"And I'll stay behind monitoring the situation," Koushirou said. "I'm tracking all of your Digivices. If something comes up, I'll send you all a message."
"I'll do you one better," Kyoshima said opening his trunk and grabbing what appeared to be a box of handheld communication devices. "Each of you take one. Adjust your frequency to LF," he said, turning his, each of them grabbing one and doing so, Hikari grabbing one, the frequency staticky until she reached the correct frequency.
"If anyone runs into trouble give us the coordinates," Kyoshima informed. "I would have had a government agent run it, but from what I've gathered about you you're even better than they are," he said taking out another toothpick and placing it in his mouth.
"Sounds like a plan," Taichi agreed. "Then Sora, you should stay behind with Jou," he recommended. "If anyone gets hurt, he might need your help."
"Good thinking," she said.
His head snapped Yamato's way. "That ok?"
"Sounds good," he said with an uplifting slight smirk. "That means we're butting heads again. Takes me back to the days of Omegamon."
"Just try to keep up," Taichi grinned pounding his fist against his.
When the deadline had arrived each of them stayed together walking through the subway until Detective Kyoshima waved his flashlight on the Nagamo Tunnel Sign hanging ominously overhead as if waiting to swallow them whole, it's empty gaping maw yearning for them to descend the steps of its throat. The Nagamo Tunnel was strangely quiet as they walked down the stairs, no trains in sight, only the static of dying lights making an unsettling droning noise as if unable to decide to turn off or stay on. The flicker of their Digivices and flashlights scanned around, everyone on edge.
"I don't quite understand," Hikari said while walking listening to her own footsteps. "Why would they think Chizuruchan would be here if no students are here? It almost sounds like someone is leading us into a trap."
The Detective grunted spitting out a toothpick. "I'm sure other kids will show up out of curiosity," he said. "Even with all this going on, a bit of social media fame will get to their heads."
They each kept going forward, ducking under a toll gate for further entry.
"You know, I did some research about this place," Miyako said. "It's called 'Nagamo' because it was said that if you walked through it when it's completely dark you would never reach the end. The Kanji is for 'Limitless' 'Far' 'Eternal' 'Permanent. – Pretty interesting stuff," Miyako said.
"Gee, that makes me feel all the more relaxed," Daisuke winced sarcastically.
"It falls right in line with the urban myth about it though," Ken agreed. "Someone dear to you will guide you to the 'other' side, meaning death," he said seriously. "Let's keep our wits about us. We have to make sure we all get out of here."
Hikari nodded her head, everyone in agreement as they trudged their way through the darkness.
There was not a soul in sight. Benches were empty. Dimly lit lights flickered on and off as they approached walking to the right. Other passages led their way down to the lower subterranean levels, and two stairwells led trails into the deeper darkness with barely any overhead light to guide them.
"Stay vigilant," Kyoshima warned. "It's been a quarter past. You never know when something will- "
-Before he could say anything the sound of running feet started echoing out as if from all directions followed by laughter, everyone shining their lights trying to find it.
"I hear something!" Taichi said in a hushed voice.
"Me to!" Daisuke said. "But it's everywhere!"
"Look! I think that's her!" Takeru called out, noticing the sound of footsteps running to the left. A cloak hung in the air as his eyes seemed to follow it.
"That's got to be her! Let's go!" Daisuke yelled as they both chased after it.
"Let's go too!" Iori said. "It's got to be- "
"-Iorisan, look!" Ken said noticing a hooded figure above them going towards the upper levels. "They're going back up to the surface!"
With that they gave chase, the adrenaline in Hikari's veins trying to keep up with everyone, noticing they were all separating apart.
"Everyone!" she cried. "This can't be right! We have to stick together!" she shouted, Taichi and Yamato glancing around. The pittering of footsteps went to the left side as they looked at each other and nodded.
"LEFT," they said in unison taking off.
"Taichi!" Hikari called out.
"Don't worry Hikari!" he yelled. "With all of us going after them one of us will find the real one! Stay safe!" he encouraged as he disappeared in the darkness with Yamato.
Hikari had no time to consider her options when the flash of a hooded figure scanned her periphery, Miyako trying to shine a light on it to the right but coming up short. "Look!" Miyako yelled pointing to a hooded figure, barely visible in the light. "Is that her?"
The figure dashed away, Miyako giving chase. "Get back here!"
"Miyakochan, wait!" Hikari cried, breathing out heavily as she raced after her.
Takeru ran with Daisuke who started to slow down, the footsteps having faded away. Daisuke rubbed his head clenching his teeth clicking his tongue. "Shoot, looks like they got away."
Daisuke's back seemed to slow down and then stop, turning his way.
"Not like we'll catch them now," Takeru said glancing away. "We're probably on a wild goose chase. We're not going to get anywhere like this," he said gripping his fist tightly.
For whatever reason, Daisuke's face scrunched up as he turned back pushing him away by his shoulder.
"What's up with you lately?" he asked, as if almost offended by him. "When I said I would be there for Hikarichan you didn't say anything," he noticed. "That's not like you. What the Hell man?"
Takeru glanced at him and turned his head downward not wanting to look him in the eye.
"Hikarichan…doesn't want to rely on me. She wants…to be able to do it herself," he said, his eyes clouded remembering when she had pushed him away. If he protected her too much, then, that would just strain their friendship…or whatever their relationship was.
"Say what now?" Daisuke said incredulously, his eye twitching. "You think by giving her space you're protecting her? With how she is right now?" he said loudly, his voice practically echoing throughout the area.
Takeru nodded his head. "That's…what she wants," he sighed. "And I have no right to tell her any different."
"Gah, you're driving me crazy!" he snapped reaching forward, grabbing Takeru by his jacket collar. "You listen here! I may not know Hikarichan as well as you do, but even I can tell when she needs someone to support her!" he jabbed, Takeru grabbing his hands to get him off him, but Daisuke firming his grip bringing him close.
"You just don't get it," Takeru sighed, wondering how he could even explain to Daisuke about just went Hikari went through. In that moment, he remembered what Hikari said, about what Hikari had gone through before.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself!" Daisuke growled raising his fist and giving it to him across his face. "I don't give a dam how injured you are. Someone needs to beat some sense into you!"
"Beat some sense into me?" Takeru growled rushing over to him socking him back. "What do you know? You think I'm so close to Hikarichan? How can I be close to her when she hides the truth from me? How can I protect her when she hides herself like that?!"
"You're not making sense!" Daisuke said angrily rushing forward and tackling Takeru knocking him to the ground, his head in a daze. "What are you going on about?!"
"I know you know about what happened to her BEFORE I came back!" he shouted, his veins burning in rage as he grabbed Daisuke's coat making sure he couldn't move. "I thought I was close to her. I thought she could tell me everything. I thought I understood her!" he shouted, his fists shaking.
"But I don't! She's kept this part of herself hidden from me. She's so…distant from me," he winced, his eyes flickering back and forth through his memories. "It's like she doesn't trust me at all. After all we've been through. After all- "
"-Get over yourself!" Daisuke roared, socking his already damaged cheek still punching him. "You're the one that's separated yourself!" he shouted. "While you were being friendly with everyone, especially with all the girls flirting with you YOU left her behind! You made her start to doubt!" he raged, the pain of his words more painful than the blows on his body and face.
"What was I supposed to do?!" Takeru cried blocking Daisuke's latest punch and then throwing him off of him. "It's not like when we were in Middle School! If other people see us together so often like that then they might think me and her are in a relationship."
"That's not what's important!" Daisuke snapped back hitting harder than before, Takeru's arms taking the brunt of his flurry of punches. "I would protect Hikarichan way better than you ever could! That's why I'm the leader here! I can make the hard decisions first and worry about the consequences later!"
"You think it's so simple, don't you? You think you won't have to pay for those consequences later and watch as those as you care for fall apart?"
"If that did happen, I would be there to help her," Daisuke explained. "Just as you had done all those years. And I've seen the way you look at her. You want her as much as I do."
"I wouldn't…put it like that," Takeru said thinking about it trying to separate himself from Daisuke's suggestive implication.
"You want to be in a relationship with her," Daisuke said, dusting himself off. "Don't deny it."
"Even if I did," Takeru groaned laying his head back, "Hikari wants to be independent. She doesn't want to lean on me forever no matter how much I'm there for her," he said starting to think calmly. "When I found out that she was hiding her past from me, I just didn't know what to do."
"Yeah?" Daisuke said, a trickle of blood coming down his lip. He reached over to Takeru and grabbed his arm.
"To tell you the truth, I felt like a hypocrite," he grinned. "I was so jealous of you and didn't even really know it until it dawned on me," he said.
"We all have secrets we don't tell others, right? Have I told you about some of the dreams I've had about Hikari?" he chided. "I can go into some real detail about those," Daisuke said suggestively. "Like, what she was wearing or- "
"-No thanks," Takeru said starting to laugh. Daisuke was the epitome of ridiculousness, but he was so honest and forthright about it Takeru had a hard time about giving him a hard time about it.
"Did you know I've even had a wet dream about her a few times?" he said, Takeru placing his hand on his shoulder not knowing if he would continue chuckling or strangle him.
"Don't even think about acting your fantasies," he laughed with a slight warning in his voice.
"Nah, I won't," he said as they gave each other mutual respect dusting themselves off. For all the flack they gave him, Daisuke had really matured more than he gave him credit for.
They both started walking again, Takeru a bit relieved, as if a weight had suddenly dropped from his chest.
"By the way," Daisuke said, "Do you want me to tell you what happened?"
"No," Takeru said coming to terms with himself. "And I'm sorry for acting…the way I did. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
"Eh, I'm sure I deserved it for something," he smirked. "But you better watch your back. I'm coming after Hikarichan you know."
Takeru grinned lifting up his head and sighing out gleefully. "That's up to her Daisuke. May the best man win," he grinned both of them gripping their hands together with mutual respect for their rivalry.
Hikari followed Miyakochan, and lost her along the way, her voice disappearing into the darkness somewhere. She didn't know how it happened, but she thought they were chasing the same hooded figure but were separated actually chasing two separate ones.
Koushirou's voice blazed in and out on the communication device, but the static kept going in and out. It was useless trying to hear anything.
"Miyakochan!" Hikari shouted, her voice echoing away from her. She ran forward a few steps, her flashlight shining around. "Miyakochan where are you?!" she shouted, only the silence answering.
She ran forward seeing her breath in front of her, her palms sweaty and anxious. She caught from the corner of her eye a cloak and a girl's long hair bobbing up and down as she ran by. It had the slight nearly white tint of Chizuru's. There was no mistaking it. It had to be her!
"Wait!" Hikari cried racing forward, her feet pressing onto a platform, her steps echoing off of it like scratching against metal. "Chizuruchan!" she cried out, her voice getting hoarse from yelling so much. "Chizuruchan! Stop!" she pleaded.
She raced forward even faster, her mind going in and out, memories from the past seeping in when she had followed after someone similar before, a sandy beach and an ocean with dark currents flooding across her periphery.
She raced forward, the hooded figure having slowed down. With her hand outstretched she desperately tried to catch her.
"Chizuruchan!" she pleaded desperately, ripping off the cloak from her head.
The girl walked forward a few steps, Hikari recognizing the crown of hair on her head. She breathed out heavily as the girl stopped, Hikari's voice inhaling and freezing in place as the girl turned around, much shorter than she thought she was- wearing a black gothic dress and for some reason with short ashen gray hair.
She snickered, her eerie voice trembling with giddiness, her fierce dangerous magenta eyes zeroing in on her making her blood run cold.
"I found you…Hikarichan."