Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Descent into Darkness ❯ CHAPTER FOUR ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I do not claim to own Digimon. Toei own Digimon and Sensation Animation (formally known as Saban) make the dub. This is for fun not profit.

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Descent into Darkness

Part Four

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{I wish I had some earplugs.} Hikari thought to herself. She was sitting on the Inoue's sofa with her legs tucked under her. She was desperately wishing that she didn't have to be here. When she'd suggested that they hold the sleepover at Miyako's place she hadn't realised that she would have to put up with her friend's two older sisters jabbering at her in an attempt to find out about their sister's friend. Sora was an acquaintance, albeit not a close one, of the middle sister, Chizru, so she hadn't been subjected to quite as many questions. She was trying to look interested in what they were saying but found it difficult when the conversation was so inane. Or was it? When she stopped to think about it she realised that less than a week ago she would have enjoyed a nice light conversation like this. This must be another symptom of the Dark's effect on her. {Damn, this really is insidious.}

"Are you feeling okay, Kamiya-san?" Miyako's sister Momoe asked suddenly. She frowned and looked concerned. "You seem a bit tense. Miya-chan said that you'd had a rough few days and were a bit depressed. I know how that can be. If we're getting on you nerves just say. Miyako wants to cheer you up so you can choose what we do tonight. Games, music or whatever."

"That's nice of you. Thank you." The older girl's concern and sincerity was so obvious that Hikari managed a genuine smile of gratitude. "I'm just on edge and it making me irritable."

"Girls!" Mrs Inoue called from the dining room. "Dinner's nearly ready! Don't forget to wash your hands."

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After dinner Miyako it was Miyako's turn to wash up so Hikari found herself helping the older girls go through Momoe's CD collection looking for some music that wouldn't irritate her. She was surprised to find that along side an extensive rock and pop collection that included some import only albums the girl owned a large collection of both traditional Japanese and western classical music. The only other person she knew who had such a wide-ranging collection was Yamato. Takeru said his brother listened to it for inspiration.

"This is quite a varied collection." She noted as she looked at a CD of Wagnar's Ring Cycle.

"My taste in music is pretty eclectic." The older girl conceded as she took the CD off Hikari. "Would you like to listen to this? I like Wagnar but it isn't exactly soothing music. Rather the opposite in fact."

"I know. I heard 'Ride of the Valkyries' from this on the radio once. It's very … lively. I'm not really familiar with western classical music."

"Not many people are." Momoe agreed. "Some of Chopin's stuff is quite soothing. Would you like to hear some?"

Hikari considered this and discovered that she was curious. "Yes, please." She said quietly.

Momoe flipped through her collection, grabbed a CD, popped it into her player and selected a track. Soft music filled her room.

"That's beautiful." Hikari leaned back into the cushions with a soft sigh and closed her eyes. "I don't think that I've ever heard anything quite like it."

"It's called a Nocturne. I believe that it's supposed to be night music so this is the right time to listen to it. This one's by Chopin. He wrote quite a few." Momoe told her. "Looks like you like it. Is it helping with your stress? I think music is one of the most powerful weapons that life gives us to combat the world."

Hikari opened her eyes and regarded Momoe thoughtfully. "That's an odd thing to say. What do you mean by it? How can music be a weapon?"

Momoe seemed to be lost in thought for a moment as she considered her reply. "What I mean is that sometimes life seems to be a constant battle between us and the world which tries to grind the life out of us. Music can have a profound effect on mood. It can fee us from the constraints that bind…" Momoe broke off. "Sorry you don't need a philosophy lecture. What I mean is if you're depressed and music helps snap you out of it then it's a weapon. Just like medicine is against disease."

"Oh." Hikari thought about it. It did make sense. Her mood was much improved and she could even tolerate people talking. Indeed she'd felt well enough to initiate this conversation. "I understand." She looked round and smiled as Miyako came in.

"Oh no!" The purple haired girl looked horrified. "Is my sister inflicting her weird taste in music on you?"

"It's not weird. A little unusual maybe but not weird. I was curious so I asked her to play it." Hikari frowned at Miyako. "And as it happens I like it - a lot. It's very soft and pleasant."

"Now I know that there really is something seriously wrong with you. How can anyone normal like something like that? It's so boring!"

"I find it relaxing!" Hikari countered. She hadn't realised Miyako could be so tiresome. "And goodness knows I need to relax."

"It's not really that bad, Miyako-san." Sora looked up from her homework. "Everyone has different tastes. Leave them alone."

"But I really hate this type of music." Miyako protested in a tone that made Hikari want to scream. "It's so booooooooring." She repeated her earlier comment in such a sharp tone that for a moment Hikari wondered if the dark was trying to corrupt her friend as well. Then Momoe laughed.

"Sorry, I should have warned you. This type of music is one of the few things that can actually make Miya-chan's hair fall out. Sometimes I play it just to annoy her."

"Turn it off, please." Miyako pleaded. "Play something else."

Sora closed her book and rose to her feet with a sigh. "Miyako-san, as I recall this entire evening is for Hikari's benefit. To help her get over her bad mood. If this music is helping her relax then the least you can do is put up with it. I think you're being very selfish."

Miyako opened her mouth to retort then paused and hung her head. "I'm sorry, Sora-san, you're right." She looked over as Hikari. "Listen to whatever you want."

Hikari stopped herself from saying that she intended to and tried to smile. It didn't work. Given the face she must be pulling she was glad Momoe was behind her. "Thank you." She said but that came out rather short and she winced. "I do mean that by the way."

"I know." Miyako said. "Can I get you anything?"

"No thank you." Hikari wasn't sure that the way everyone was jumping to her merest whim was a good thing. It felt far too good like something she deserved. That had to come from the Darkness. She wasn't sure what she could do though. She had encountered Miyako's taste in music before and listening to la-la pop music would probably drive her into a homicidal rage at the moment.

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Later that night Miyako watched the sleeping Hikari worriedly. "Did you notice her strange behaviour?"

"Hmmm. It was a bit bizarre at times but not something you'd notice if you didn't know her." Sora agreed. "Your little outburst about her musical tastes didn't help though. I really thought that she was going to strangle you when you started whinging."

"I'm sorry about that. Momoe wasn't joking when she said that she has this tendency to play that sort of music just to annoy me. I initially thought Hikari was just being polite about it."

"Couldn't you see how relaxed she was?" Sora frowned. "Well she was until you started… and after you shut up anyway."

"I'm not very good at all at reading people." Miyako admitted. "I never have been. That's why I prefer to chat on the Internet. It's more predictable and no one knows who you are if you do make an awful social gaffe."

"Oh dear." Sora seemed to be amused by this confession. "That explains a lot about you. You have to start interacting with people in order to start to understand them. If you avoid them out of fear you'll lack an important human skill."

"I know." Miyako said before deciding to change the subject. Hikari's problems came first at the moment and she did not want to be having this conversation anyway. "Who's taking first watch?" They both looked over to where Hikari lay. Gatomon was curled up on the pillow by her partner's head. She was purring softly in her sleep. Miyako laughed. "Well it's obvious who it isn't."

Sora smiled as well. "I'll do it. You get some sleep and I'll email a status report to the others. I'll wake you up in three hours if nothing happens sooner."

"At least she hasn't had any nightmares so far." Miyako noted before settling down and going to sleep.

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She was woken about two hours later by the sound of Hikari thrashing around. Sora was trying to hold the girl down by her shoulders. She also seemed to be trying, unsuccessfully, to wake the Child of Light up. Gatomon was also shaking the girl gently.

"What's happening?" Miyako asked as she disentangled herself from her bedding.

"She's having a nightmare and we can't wake her up." Sora said in a desperate tone.

"That's not all! Look!" Gatomon said. She sounded really panicked. Miyako did as the Digimon said and gasped. Hikari was still in near convulsions and her extremities looked sort of fuzzy at the edges as if she was turning into digital static. The fuzziness was gradually spreading as well.

"What can I do?" She asked, aware she also sounded a bit panicked. She couldn't call an ambulance, not with that to explain.

"Email the others." Sora told her. "Tell them what's happening."

Miyako nodded and began typing furiously. Trying to describe was she was seeing to the others as concisely and accurately as possible. When she finished she sent it and looked up. Hikari had stopped twitching but the static was still spreading. She about to say something when Hikari woke up with a start. She looked like she wanted to scream but couldn't.

"Kari-chan." Gatomon whispered. "What's happening to you?"

"I'm… I'm… being dragged to the Dark Ocean." Hikari's voice sounded like she was speaking from a long way away. "Help me, please. The room is fading and I can see it appearing. He's waiting for me. He won't let me go without a fight."

"Neither will we." Gatomon said in a determined tone. She turned to Sora. "Get her digivice and d-terminal from her bag for her. That way at least I can go with her and maybe they'll work there." She paused and then added. "Ken will have to open that gate now."

Miyako typed another email quickly as Sora complied. Hikari was more than half transformed but somehow managed to take the items. Gatomon leapt into her arms. Miyako bit her lip and looked back at the screen.

"Taichi, Ken and Daisuke have replied. The others must all be asleep."

"At 1 o'clock in the morning. Go figure!" Hikari's voice was barely audible now. "I'm really sorry but I can't resist this anymore…" She turned totally to static and then faded slowly taking Gatomon with her.

Miyako and Sora looked at each other helplessly and both heard the cold, mocking voice that sing-songed, "Mine now, all mine."

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At that very moment, elsewhere in the same building, Takeru woke with a start. The sudden movement woke Patamon as well.

"Takeru, what's wrong?" he asked.

"It's Kari-chan. She's gone! We've lost her."

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