Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Tamers: Leaving The Past ❯ Choices? ( Chapter 3 )

Dialog key-
*mysterious voice*
"Everyone else"
::thinking::
-The Digimon talking-
/dreams and flashbacks/

/*Oh, Arima-chan. You're such a child. What are we going to do with you? Or with them.*
::Leave them alone.::
*But you are so attached to them!*
::No. I'm not.::
*Pway with me, Awima! Pway with me!*
::No, no. You will leave them alone.::
*And what are you going to do about it?*/
______
The next morning, when Henry and Arima got to school, they were confronted by Reika, Jeri, and Takato. Henry introduced Arima, who snorted and stood behind him. She and Reika glared at each other.
"Where are you from?" Reika asked.
"Why does it bother you?"
"..."
"..."
Takato and the others stood back while the two girls glared menacingly. Before either could say anything, and explosion went off in a room on the higher levels of the school.
"Oh, yeah! We're having fireworks in chemistry today!", Takato happily snatched Jeri and Reika by the arms and dragged them to class. Henry looked back at Arima, who smiled weakly at him and followed after Takato.
"About last night..." He started.
"What about last night?" she retorted.
"I just want you to know... that... I'll always be by your side to protect you." The statement must have struck a nerve in Arima, because just as he finished she halted and gnashed her teeth together, like something was clawing at her mind.
"I didn't need her... and I don't need you." was all that came out. The stubborn girl continued walking while Henry sighed.
::Arima-chan.::
______
After school, Henry, Takato, and the girls went out for ice cream, with the exception of Arima, who scraggled along behind them.
"Henry, she doesn't seem very social. I mean, even Reika is more talkative than Arima is."
"I heard the Takato."
"She's had a very rough childhood." Henry looked back again and called out for her to join them, but everytime he did she would slowed down even more. He hoped that she didn't feel outcasted from them, so he told the others to go on. Arima finally caught up and he caught her by the arm.
"Let me go, Henry."
"Arima, if you would let us help you-"
"Then you would all die."
"A-"
"I don't want to talk about it, Henry." She broke away from his grip and ran off. Henry watched her go and shook his head. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help her.
______
Henry opened his door to find Suzy sitting on the floor in front of Arima. She was watching her intensely; Arima had her hands held up, her index fingers and thumbs touching. The older girl was muttering under her breath. He recognized her mouthings almost immediately.
::A spell.:: But before he could do anything, a butterfly fluttered out from within the space between her fingers. Suzy gaped in awe of the butterfly, which landed on her nose and stayed until Henry came over and brushed it off. Much to his surprise, the butterfly vanished.
"Henwy!"
"Arima, you shouldn't be playing with the supernatural."
"You know what, Henry? You have this Mr. Know-it-all thing going on around you. It's sickening." She twiddled her fingers in front of his face and turned away.
"Well, maybe if you weren't so anti-social!"
"Well, what if I'm doing this against my will?"
"You don't act like it."
"You don't know anything about me."
"I want to know about you."
"..." He waited for her response, but after a few minutes had passed he placed a hand on her shoulder. She gently placed her own hand on top of his. Suddenly her nails clawed into his hand; he was shocked and horrified.
"Arima! Let go!" She did and he looked done at his hand. It was scarred and she had broken some of the skin. He was furious, "What's wrong with you?!" She spun around and literally snarled in his face.
"I left my family behind me in order to protect myself and others. Mark my words, Henry, I will leave you as well the moment trouble rears my father's head." There was silence as Arima registered her words. Suzie could be heard, sobbing.
"You're... you're going to leave us, Arima-san?"
"Suzie!" Arima dropped to her knees and hugged the little girl "I'd never leave you if I had the choice!"

Ah... if only you had the choice...