Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Harsh Memories ❯ Homecoming ( Chapter 15 )

A/N: Well the first chapter jumps in right after Harsh Memories. Also this story will feature character death (non-Digidestined but... well just read to find out whom) This chapter will be mostly Iori's reaction but as you know I don't usually sway away from third person view.

(Also if anyone knows Iori's mother's name please email it to me. You would receive something in recognition {a story in your honor Ect.})

Hida, Iori hefted the small bag that contained all of the things he had needed for his stay at the hospital. He dreaded returning home now... especially because of his new relationship with Takeru. During the night the two had discussed the feelings that they had hidden from each other until they could no-longer keep themselves awake. Iori smiled as he remembered their talk. He still couldn't believe that he had managed to reveal his feelings for Takeru. It had been one of the hardest things Iori had ever done. Checking his watch, Iori noticed that he still had a few minutes before his O-Kaa-san was supposed to pick him up. After confirming this Iori ran over to Takeru's side of the room and quickly gave the older boy a small kiss and hug before finally leaving their joint room.

Iori hefted his bag onto his shoulder as he walked down the brightly lit hallway. As he walked, Iori's mind began to wander. < I wonder why O-Kaa-san has been so preoccupied lately. It seems like she hasn't really left the hospital... but she still looks more and more tired each time I see her. I hope she hasn't been stressing over the accident too much, > as Iori thought this, he looked up just in time to see his slightly frazzled O-Kaa-san walking towards him. He gave a small wave hoping she would at least smile when she noticed he could now walk without too much pain. Instead she only waved back as she recognized the small child as her own.

Iori's fears only grew as he and his O-Kaa-san made their way home. Iori's O-Kaa-san managed to maintain a complete silence as she drove towards their apartment. <I still don't understand what's gotten into O--Kaa-san. She hasn't said a word since she picked me up and she looks like she's about two minutes away from a breakdown! I hope nothing happened at work. > Iori fidgeted softly as he tried to find some reason for his O-Kaa-san's silence (good lord someone give me her name! If I don't find it before the third chapter I will make something up).

---------(Several minutes later)---------

The first thing that Iori noticed as he entered the apartment was the "Condolences" gift basket. He shrugged it off however thinking that someone had given to his O-Kaa-san when he was injured. Iori reached out to read the small black card, but his O-Kaa-san caught him before hand and asked him to go to his room. < What's going on? Why isn't she talking to me... and why did she stop me from reading that card, > Iori's mind seemed to wander from question to question as he entered his room. He immediately went to his bed and found Upamon sleeping on his pillow. Iori picked the small fluff ball up and hugged the Digimon softly so as to keep from waking it.

To say that Iori was scarred would be an understatement. He had never seen his O-Kaa-san like this. The only other time that came close would have been when his O-Tou-san died. That's when it hit Iori. < I haven't seen O-Jii-chan! He couldn't have... > Iori went running out of his room as he thought this. Suddenly a thousand thoughts erupted into his brain. He began to go back over the last few weeks, trying to find any time in which his O-Jii-chan had come to see him. During his entire time in the hospital he had never thought of the possible effects his accident could have had.

Iori burst into the kitchen to find his O-Kaa-san standing at their phone crying. When she saw her son entire the room she again burst into tears. Iori could no longer register his environment. He simply ran forward into his O-Kaa-sans embrace.

A/N: I know this chapter is pretty short but... it's merely the set-up for the rest of the story. If anyone can find Hida O-Kaa-san's real name please email me and like I said I will reward you. Also I will be doing a small contest (really just to test my theory that their are still people who remember the show I will be taking the quote from) Check my bio page for the question. If you win I will write a fic that you request. I will accept two winners out of however many write in. I will only write fics from the following however: Digimon, Gravitation, Inu Yasha, Trigun and Slayers.

Yoshiki