Chapter Text
I will probably never forgive you.
Clock ticking at 4 AM. Taichi turns in his bed after finally ending Ordinemon… no, Meicoomon a few hours ago.
Yesterday was a total wreck.
It was early in the morning when Meicrackmon attacked. He has been dead to his friends for more than half a day, Yamato makes sure he knows that along with a fist to his face. He doesn't know how many hours he fainted after… that. Glad that his phone still worked to call an emergency for Daisuke and the others.
Everyone is tired today, mentally and physically. So he called out a rest day for today and they will share whatever they have on the next day.
He rolled around in the unknown room. He tried to close his eyes again, only to see a bloodied hand behind the controls. He's tired but not feeling like sleeping at all. It has been hours since they were escorted out after the whole ordeal by the JSDF and placed in separate rooms.
Now I think about it again, we never got caught before and now we got caught twice just in the span of two days.
Taichi chuckled to himself, musing how everytime problem happens on this side they will always run away from the authorities. And he started at 7 apparently. Not a good social track record, as Joe suggested.
Now, amusement turns into irritation.
They have prevented the technology apocalypse, but they got trapped here instead. The reason?
It was the media. Reporters.
Those damn busybody, have a little bit of tact won't you?
The field guys and their higher ups are busy with the clean up and they can't spare the time to create a cover story yet. So, how to avoid conflicting stories? Hide the source it seems.
The Data Bureau or whatever it is cannot send a car to pick them up because mobs are blocking the military blockade even with the emergency evacuation order so they have to be escorted out with military helicopters to a nearby base and get their temporary lodging. And so they have to live in hiding under supervision until the government knows what to do with them.
It seems it was not a problem before because there was no physical evidence with Digimon’s messing with electronics and the internet wasn’t a big thing back then, only a few witnesses that were probably bribed into silence. And Yamato's dad practically exhausted his connections to make sure they remained anonymous in the media.
But it's now different with electronic devices having more capacity to function even in digimon’s vicinity and that they were caught in news footage being probably involved in recent incidents with videos probably already uploaded here and there.
Aren't we still entitled to child protection service?
Well, considering that they got the military to hide them, it seems yes, they're entitled, Taichi realized with a sigh.
It's just not as fun as he preferred.
5 AM. He tried to close his eyes again while focusing on Koromon's not so gentle snoring. Another blood, enclosed space, sound of beeping and scream, burning sensation in his eyes, deafening static noise from the communicator, and a feeling of frantic breathing. He just realized the last one is not from memories, he's actually hyperventilating now.
"Taichi, you okay?"
Taichi rolled around to face Koromon. The digimon's eyes softened as soon as their eyes met. He must be a mess.
Taichi reached out his hands, noting how numb his arms are, hugged Koromon and buried his face on top of Koromon's round body. He didn't even manage to say anything, not even to cry as Koromon's two ears softly stroked the back of his head.
It seems like he finally fell asleep sometime in that silence because the next time he realized, the sun was already poking from between the drawn curtains and Koromon was already snoring loudly despite being used as a pillow by him.
On his blurred sight he saw someone sitting at the corner of his makeshift room. On second look, it's Hikari, her face lacking any distinct expression as dark aura seems to surround her. Probably not so different from him.
"Hikari…?"
"You're awake."
Her voice is soft, almost disappearing.
He tried to rub his eyes but a sharp pain ran through his entire arm. It was so sudden that he accidentally let out a pained yelp. In the corner of his eyes he saw Hikari standing up, knocking her chair in the process.
“Taichi!”
She rushed to his size, but immediately froze. Her mind seems to shut down as her face frozen in panic, not really able to make a decision.
It seems the ruckus was louder than he expected because the next moment the door opened revealing a certain blonde.
"Hikari, is there something… TAICHI!"
Yamato quickly rushed to see him intuitively, but then rushed out again and later reappeared with a confused Joe in hand. Upon hearing Taichi's pained moan, Joe instantly pushed Yamato aside and checked on him.
"Yamato, ask someone to get the doctor!"
Yamato nodded and rushed out again. Joe gently pried the blanket and Koromon off him, and laid him on his back. Joe gently rubbed his arm and proceeded to unbutton his shirt before remembering about the other occupant.
"Hikari, can you please get out for now? I'll look at your brother so you don't have to worry."
Hikari snapped from her daze and slowly nodded. She silently walked outside, somewhat dejected, and closed the door. Joe then continued to undress him without hesitation. At that point the pain has been dulled and he's left cringing whenever Joe touches the place that hurts.
"Joe, how is Taichi?" Koromon awkwardly asked.
"Worse than I thought. He probably got all these wounds when falling off the fissureー"
Taichi cringedー
"ーAnd got worse when he pushed himself running around pulling all those acrobatic stunts."
ーand audibly groaned at this.
"How are you feeling?"
"As good as you described."
"Not good then."
Joe pulled some cotton and alcohol and began to clean his wounds.
"I can treat the smaller wounds, but you will need to go to hospital to get the worse treated. The swelling on your right hand and torso looks bad enough. And your legs doesn't looks any better if not downright worse."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, it seems like you're not going to play in this month's match. If it's even still held with all of this chaos."
Joe and Taichi laugh dryly at this, though he's kinda happy that Joe remembered despite never actually coming.
The door opened again and Joe panickedly threw the blanket over Taichi's mostly naked body only to realize it's just Yamato bringing in the emergency doctor and a male nurse holding a medical supply. The two of them talked at the other side of the room while Yamato strolled to his bed.
"How bad is it?"
"Seems pretty bad according to Joe. So, what's up?"
"A lot of things other than you."
"Very funny. Now would you kindly tell me, Mr. Knife of Udon?"
"I like ramen better, and it's Knife of the Day. Seems like we're moving again. Heard they have prepared a better accommodation for us."
"But you have to visit the hospital first."
Joe entered the room, trailed behind the doctor. Taichi made an annoyed groan which earned him a sharp glare from Yamato.
"And it seems the media found out about Daisuke and the others. They will probably make it to tomorrow's paper. The bureau arranged to get them moved with us along with the medical team so you're only in for the check up."
Taichi sighed in relief at Joe's explanation.
"I have heard the gist from him, but I'll check you again to be sure."
The doctor checked him again, and the result is not so different from Joe, only a bit worse. There's a chance that both of his legs are broken it seems. Though he would need an actual scan to be sure how bad is it.
He then soon left to arrange for the extra patient as the base was still very busy dealing with the collateral damage and wounded soldiers. Yamato followed him to fetch clean clothes for Taichi while Joe and the nurse continued to apply first aid to his wounds.
"So, how's Daisuke and the others?"
"Motomiya had it the worst, but he has woken up this morning even though he has since fallen asleep again after seeing his friends. The others are doing rather well, physically at least."
The nurse explained while dressing his wounds.
Yamato came back a bit later holding a spare hospital gown and underwear. Taichi cringed again at the idea of someone else having to help him change his underwear. In the end the nurse helped him after he drove both Joe and Yamato out of his room, along with the ever anxious Koromon.
No, not even Koromon got to see this.
When the nurse was done with him and left, the rest of the team flocked into the room.
"Taichi!" Meiko called out.
"I'm glad you're alive!" Mimi almost went for a hug, but refrained herself from worsening his wound.
"You idiot, pushing yourself to this extent!" Sora scolded him.
"But I'm amazed that you can move that much with these wounds," Takeru backed up after Sora turned her glare to him.
"Probably the adrenaline. Though I have to admit that was very reckless," Koushiro smiled despite his words.
"Right? I admire your courage but think about yourself too!" Joe finally lets out his frustration now they're done with the treatment.
"His idiocy won't be cured even in or after death. Just give up," Yamato sighed.
"Okay, okay, fine. Now just let me have a peace won't you?"
The reunion disturbed by a loud rumbling sound. The atmosphere turned dull in the instant as they simultaneously turned their head towards the source.
"Sorry, I'm hungry…"
"Koromon, you…"
Taichi is about to protest at his partner when his stomach lets itself known too. It's now Yamato's turn to look at their leader.
"Taichi, you…"
"Sorry. Now I'm calmed down, I just realized that I have not eaten anything since dinner two days ago."
Taichi laughed sheepishly, which in turn invited more laughter from his friends and a huff from Koromon.
Taichi noticed Hikari standing alone a bit further than the group and silently reclaimed her spot at the corner of the room. Yamato also noticed Taichi's line of sight and turned his head towards Hikari which in turn caught the attention of the rest of the group.
"Hikari, are you still feeling unwell? Maybe you should rest a bit more."
Takeru broke the awkward silence and approached Hikari. He knew how awful she felt when they lost Taichi for a moment, not that anyone would need to be told about that since they all, except Taichi, saw how the ever so sweet child of light made her partner dark digivolve. Takeru tried to escort her out, but Hikari gently pried his hands off her and rooted on her seat.
"I want to be here… if it's not a problem."
Again, with the almost disappearing voice, the last part was added like an afterthought. It reminded Takeru of the night Ordinemon broke loose.
I want to disappear too.
It was like she lost all the will to live, not even to save nor caring about anything, not even her friends and parents. It was clear to him how much her brother's existence means to her.
But when Taichi came back, the leader still held onto the decision to destroy Ordinemon and permanently kill Meicoomon along with it. Hikari stated how she probably will never forgive him with such conviction. It must be painful for both of them, but Takeru secretly glad that Hikari found her light back and managed to digivolve her partner to the correct evolution path. It seems he was hoping too much as the dark cloud surrounding Hikari is even thicker than before. He expectantly looked at Taichi. He knew that they had a fight, kinda. But he doesn't have any other ideas.
"Of course, you can stay here."
Taichi gave her a slight smile, maybe a bit forced.
"Thanks."
Hikari didn't even lift her face.
The others are taken aback by their stiff interaction. Hikari is rather obvious but Taichi is almost equally uncharacteristic when interacting with Hikari. Usually even when Taichi loses out to Hikari's whim he would add on something about not pushing it, especially when she looks unwell. She looks beyond unwell right now, she looks like the walking dead.
Taichi looks expectantly at Yamato, the said teen just sighed and clapped.
"Come on, we need to get our stuff before our ride comes."
"Our stuff? But we're..."
Mimi started complaining when Sora silenced her and pushed her towards the door.
"Yeah, let's just go. It's already past lunchtime anyway, let's just get something to eat. Our partners probably already fainted from hunger while waiting."
Sora terribly faked laughter as she and Mimi exited the door.
"That's right! Motimon!"
The others start to leave one by one, leaving Yamato as the last.
Meiko looked back at Taichi and Yamato, Tachi gave the latter a silent thanks before Yamato turned to leave the room too. Meiko quickly turns tail and chases after Mimi and Sora.
Once everyone leaves, Koromon looks left and right in confusion.
Taichi just lay back in his bed and Hikari kept looking down at her seat, none of them said anything or did anything in particular. He knows that Salamon sat in front of the door, probably waiting for Hikari to come out on her own.
Sometime later, Sora brought 3 sets of food to the room, Salamon peeking from outside the room. He's thinking of lightening the mood while eating, but it only earned him the usual grin from Taichi with the 'eat slower!' scolding. Fortunately, Yamato came in again a few moments later to inform them that the pick up had already come. At that point Koromon was already close to tears.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Yamato asked after looking at the distressed digimon.
"Nothing. Not that I can do anything."
Yamato raised an eyebrow. It's not like it could stop Taichi from annoying literally everyone endlessly. A moment later some medical staff came in and put Taichi on a stretcher. Hikari silently trailed behind until Taichi was about to enter the ambulance.
"Can I come too?" Hikari softly asked.
"You're Hikari Yagami, right?"
Hikari slowly nodded. The man looked at Taichi who also nodded.
"Of course, we already called your parents too…"
Yamato wasn't able to hear anything else as he headed to a different car.