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digitalworldbound · 2 years

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come home (hikari week, day one)

for hikari week, @sluggybasson107 and i decided to collaborate - for every entry i’ve written, she’s drawn an image. the picture inserted (below the cut) was created by sluggy, and with her permission, i’ve posted it along with a story.

characters: hikari and friends

summary: the voices call for hikari once again, only this time, she isn’t strong enough to resist. // also on AO3 .

Hikari had grown used to unidentifiable beings worming their way into her body, using her as a catalyst for something Greater, something Bigger than she would ever be.

She had grown used to the nightmares that followed, to the suspicion that her only purpose was to be used for the Greater Good.

At eight years old, stranded in the midst of a desert, Hikari knew the Digital World did not care for the Chosen. They were all means to an end; they were all pawns in a game.

Puppetmon exploited that fact beautifully, whipping them around as if they were mere playthings.

At eight years old, Hikari had watched Wizardmon sacrifice himself for her partner, had commanded Angewomon to send an arrow through her brother’s chest.

At eleven, they called for her again, the inky waters of a dark shore lapping at her sneakers. Voices whispered through her head, simultaneously everywhere and nowhere all at once.

Then, she’s fourteen, waking up in a hospital when she should have been in class. The woman from the government, Maki, had signed her release papers, whispering little encouragements in her ears. “You have a gift, Hikari. The Digital World must love you.”

The woman’s smile had sent shivers down her spine, but Hikari had learned not to ask questions.

Maki had not been there to listen to Meiko scream into the starry sky, her partner’s data floating on the wind. Maki had been mistaken, the Digital World loved no one.

Hikari had not been surprised when the Digital World wrapped her in its schemes once again, Homeostasis itself beckoning to her from the corners of her own mind.

At twenty, Hikari had grown numb.

“Thanks for meeting on such short notice,” Koushiro began. By then, they knew his thanks were a mere formality; they never had much choice when it came to saving the world.

Through the endless responsibilities of a Chosen, Hikari had learned to find comfort in the things that never changed.

Koushiro’s office was still cluttered, an outdated pair of goggles keeping Daisuke’s hair at bay.

Another Kuwagumon ravaged Odaiba Bay, surveillance footage playing through Koushiro’s computer, civilians fleeing the scene like ants running from their mound.

“It appears to be manageable,” he muttered under his breath. Despite his many promotions, Koushiro’s office nearly burst at the seams with full attendance. Childhood friends proved difficult to outgrow.

Wedged between Miyako and the arm of the sofa, Hikari watched the screen listlessly as the Kuwagumon flew overhead, the grainy footage obscuring the sharpness of the pinchers.

Pressure built behind her eyes, a dull thrum reverberating in her skull. From somewhere to her left, her brother formulated a game plan, dividing tasks and responsibilities as he always did.

As Hikari rummaged in her purse for ibuprofen, she allowed her mind to wander.

Taichi’s speech had been memorized long ago, Hikari’s battle tasks unchanging since childhood: stay close, attack only when necessary.

“Do you really need all of us there?” Mimi spoke up, a strand of hair twirling anxiously around her finger. “I mean,” she amended, “It seems a little overkill for just one Kuwagumon.”

Several heads whipped in Mimi’s direction, her face warming with the sudden attention.

“It’s our duty as Chosen to defend our world,” Taichi chastised, Iori nodding along empathetically. “Don’t you remember what happened the last time we were divided?”

A shiver involuntarily ran down Hikari’s spine. Broken memories flooded into her mind’s eye unbidden, out of focus. Only Taichi could recall the past so unflinchingly.

Her brother’s voice droned in the background, recycling words of encouragement from previous battles.

By now, they had heard it all before; Taichi’s words had little effect on Mimi’s somber mood, only irritating her further.

“Instead of arguing, maybe we should, I don’t know, go fight the giant monster terrorizing the city? Just a suggestion.” Miyako’s temper had reared an ugly head, Mimi’s inflamed cheeks spurring her into action.

Tension, wound tight like a rubber band, stretched across the room. Hikari closed her eyes, a vein throbbing at her temple.

Ignoring Miyako’s outburst, Taichi started speaking again, but his voice had faded into a faint buzz behind his sister’s eyelids.

Slowly, the medicine took effect, the sharp edges of Hikari’s headache softening.

She hadn’t realized her brother was still talking until Koushiro cleared his throat. Opening her eyes, Hikari squinted against the fluorescent lights.

“We should probably get going,” the red head suggested, annoyance prickling at his brow. Though he had grown in the years she had known him, Hikari doubted that Koushiro would be able to truly stand up to Taichi.

The others murmured their agreements, gathering their things and securing their partners in their grasps.

Hikari stood, frail frame swaying by the couch.

“Are you okay?” Miyako asked, worry pursing at her lips.

The fluorescent lights seemed brighter than usual, the corners of Hikari’s vision still blurry. Her fists rubbed against her eyelids, blinking rapidly to refocus her eyes.

Blearily, Hikari looked up at Miyako’s form, her lavender hair a mere smudge. “What’s happening?” Hikari asked.

Footsteps clamored down the hallway, small bits of conversation floating through the doorway.

Carefully, Hikari reached for her bag, shouldering it before giving Miyako what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

“I’m fine,” she said. “I just got a bit distracted, is all. Let’s catch up with the others before they leave us behind.”

She blinked a few more times, praying for the blurriness to fade away. Icy tendrils of dread snaked around her stomach; her eyes wouldn’t focus.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Hikari followed Miyako out of the room. With her heart pounding in her ears, it was difficult to hear the instructions her friend repeated, their battle plan suddenly forgotten.

Her shoes clicked against the linoleum tiles, click-clack, click-clack. They turned a corner, Hikari’s stomach rolling.

The girl next to her called out, urgency in her voice. Click-clack, click-clack. Sweat dripped down Hikari’s neck, her breath spilling from her lips in little pants.

“Hey, do we need to slow down? I’m sure the others wouldn’t mind if we were a little behind.” The lavender-haired girl said, her hand squeezing Hikari’s shoulders.

Chest heaving, Hikari yanked her arm out of the stranger’s grasp. “Who are you?” she asked.

The other girl’s eyebrows furrowed, eyes growing wide behind the lenses of her glasses. A sense of familiarity welled in the brunette’s chest, her body at ease despite her panic.

An apology bubbled at the tip of Hikari’s tongue, but she held it at bay; it wasn’t polite for strangers to grab you, no matter how friendly they look. The other girl’s breath was close enough to fan across her face, the slight breeze cooling Hikari down.

Placing a hand on her own forehead, Hikari’s bottom lip caught itself between her teeth. She was warm.

“Are you playing a joke on me? Hikari, I appreciate the effort, but now isn’t the time.” The slight twinge of annoyance dripped from the strange girl’s words, her hand reaching for Hikari once more.

The brunette flinched, backing herself against the wall. "How do you know my name?” Hikari’s voice sounded shrill to her own ears, echoing in the nondescript hallway.

A pair of footsteps grew closer, the older girl snapping her head in its direction.

Unruly, auburn hair poked around the corner, another stir of familiarity rising in Hikari’s mind. Goggles glinted under the too-bright lights, blinding Hikari further. His face was soft with mirth, a playful tint shimmering in his eyes.

“What’s taking you guys so long? This Kuwagumon isn’t going to beat itself.”

His form was too far away for Hikari to make out, melding into an indistinct blob of brown and blue. “Ku-wa-gu-mon?” she whispered to herself, testing the word on her lips. A new wave of panic numbed the tips of her fingers as the girl from before gripped her forearm.

“Daisuke,” the girl began, “I think we have an issue.”

Eyes bleary, Hikari was hardly able to discern the boy’s figure growing closer, the smell of his cologne permeating her senses. Waves of nausea rolled in her stomach.

“Hikari,” the boy - Daisuke, was it? - began, voice low and gentle. “Are you alright?”

His face leaned into her space, his palm pressing against the sheen of sweat that adorned her forehead. “Shit, she’s burning up.”

“Who’s Hikari?” she asked, struggling against the strange girl’s grip. “Please, let me go. I want to go home.”

The girl’s grip only grew tighter, holding Hikari in place.

“Hikari, you’re scaring us. What’s going on? Is it the ocean, again?”

Nails dug into the flesh of her upper arm, the boy whispering something unintelligible.

“Who’s Hikari?” she tried again, body too warm and loud in the unfamiliar hallway. Something buzzed just behind her ears, a voice murmuring indistinctly. “Take me home,” Hikari murmured.

The fluorescents of the hallway dimmed, Hikari knees buckling under the pressure. With her eyes fluttered shut, the voice in her head grew louder, more commanding. “Come home,” it said. “Come home, Child of Light.”

Something warm wrapped around her, cradling Hikari against the cool, tile floor.

“Come home.”

#hikariyagmiweek2022 #hikariweek2022 #hikari yagami #sluggybasson107

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atsoraasayoma · 2 years

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It’s hikari week and I have seen little takari new content for fics. Time to bust out a section from my long running fan fiction story.

Unfortunately since I can’t draw we’ll have to make due with the gold heart till I post it. Hikari necklace pic from Tri. A golden heart from her golden boy ha ha.

#hikari yagami #takeru takaishi #takari #hikariweek2022

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bokura-no-digital-world · 2 years

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Hikari Week - Day 1: Light/Dark

Days: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Title: Shadows Characters: Hikari, Tailmon, Taichi, Takeru and the rest of the Chosen Children in minor roles. Summary: Hikari deals with being taken to the Dark Ocean and being possessed by the Homeosthasis for the second time. Hikari woke up one more time that night. She had lost account of how many times she had woken and stared at the white ceiling above her. It had been one day since she had been taken to the dark ocean and was brought back by Tailmon and Takeru, but the nightmares didn't seem to stop and she had a feeling they wouldn't stop anytime soon. Curled up next to her belly, Tailmon slept peacefully. Hikari couldn't help but smile and very softly began to stroke her fur. The Digimon stirred but didn't wake up. She felt slightly jealous of her partner being a heavy sleeper. Hikari was glad Tailmon was properly sleeping for the first night since the dark ocean. In the other ones, she stayed up all night taking care of her in case she'd wake up after another nightmare, which happened pretty much all night long. "Having trouble sleeping?" Taichi's voice echoed in her room and Hikari looked down. He was sleeping on a slim mattress on the floor. "You didn't need to sleep here." She said as she rested her chin on the wood protection on the edge of her bed. "I know, but I'm worried about you." "I'm alright, Taichi." "I'm sure you are, but these nightmares aren't." "They will go away soon." She rolled over on her bed and went back to staring at the ceiling. "Mom is also worried about you." "I can tell." She sighed. "Like I said, they will go away soon." "But you don't know that, do you?" "No, but I can hope." "Hikari, you were transported to another world we don't know about. You got lucky Tailmon found you and told Takeru. Are you aware you got lucky?" "Yes, Taichi, I'm aware of that." Hikari said a little annoyed. "I didn't want things to be this way, but for some reason darkness chooses me. Maybe because I'm the bearer of the Crest of Light and they always go together." "Your Crest has nothing to do with it." Taichi said firmly. "It was the thing that possessed you three years ago and now you get taken away to a different place without wanting to. I don't know why these things happen to you, but I swear I won't let them happen again." "What are you going to do about it? You can't keep an eye on me 24/7 all the time and I don't want it." "I don't know, but I'll figure something out." He looked at her. "We need to wake up early in the morning to go to school. Do you think you can sleep until then?" "I will try." "Are you sure you are ready to go back to school?" "Yes. I'm alright." "I still think you shouldn't go tomorrow. Daisuke or Takeru can bring you the subjects later, so you can catch up." "I don't want to miss school because mom will check on me all day and not do anything else. I don't want her to worry about me. She already has too much to take care of." "Hikari." Tailmon said in a low tone as she looked at her partner. At some point she had woken up without Hikari having realized it. "Well, you know mom. You can't really blame her, can you?" "No." Hikari said eventually and rolled over to look at the white wall. "Good night, brother." "Good night, Hikari."

Keep reading on FF.net or AO3

#HikariYagamiWeek2022 #HikariWeek2022 #Digimon #Hikari Yagami #Tailmon #Taichi Yagami #Takeru Takaishi #Digimon Adventure 02 #Digimon Zero Two #Digimon 02 #Digimon Adventure Zero Two #Digimon Tri #Digimon Adventure Tri

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digitalworldss · 2 years

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Hikari Week Day 3: Career and/or Hobbies!

Decided I would participate as I’ve wanted to write more digimon things, and this is the perfect chance to do so! I wrote a short little fic for the day 3 prompt and you can find it

HERE

it’s only about 400 words, but enjoy nonetheless!

#hikari yagami week 2022 #hikari week 2022 #hikariyagamiweek2022 #hikariweek2022 #hikari yagami #tailmon #digimon #digimon adventure

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hikariyagamiweek · 2 years

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The Hikari Week is finally here! We can't wait to see all of our beautiful submissions! As stated in the rules banner, we'll be going through the #HikariYagamiWeek2022 and #HikariWeek2022 tags, so make sure you use either one or both of them on your posts. If we happen to miss your post, feel free to DM or tag us. If you can't post your submission on the right date, that's okay too! We'll be reblogging them later as well. So grab your cameras and let's have fun!

#HikariWeek2022 #HikariYagamiWeek2022 #Hikari Week 2022 #Hikari Yagami Week 2022

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stravanerry · 2 years

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🌸#𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2022 ♡𝐷𝑎𝑦 02: 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑒𝜈𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 ♡𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑒

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stravanerry · 2 years

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🌸#𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2022 ♡𝐷𝑎𝑦 04: 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 ♡𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑌𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑖 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇.𝛫. 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑒

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stravanerry · 2 years

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🌸#𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2022 ♡𝐷𝑎𝑦 06: 𝐿𝑜𝜈𝑒 ♡ 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑜, 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟. ♡ 𝐼 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒.

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stravanerry · 2 years

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🌸#𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2022 ♡𝐷𝑎𝑦 05: 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑑 ♡ 𝐼 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝜈𝑖𝑒. ♡𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝜈𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠.

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stravanerry · 2 years

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🌸#𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2022 ♡𝐷𝑎𝑦 03: 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝐻𝑜𝑏𝑏𝑖𝑒𝑠 ♡𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑒

𝐼'𝑚 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝐼 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝜈𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑟 ૮꒰/ฅ//ฅ//꒱ა ♡

#hikariyagamiweek2022 #hikariweek2022 #hikari yagami week 2022 #hikari week 2022 #digimon #digimon adventure 02 #digimon 02 #hikari yagami #kari kamiya #八神ヒカリ #デジモンアドベンチャー 02 #digimon fanart #kari kamiya fanart #fanart hikari yagami #hikari yagami fanart #𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚢 #stravanerry

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stravanerry · 2 years

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🌸#𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2022 ♡𝐷𝑎𝑦 07: 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑦 ♡𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑒 ♡𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝐻𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑌𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑖 𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡, 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡, 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝜈𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟♡♡♡ 𝛢𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝜈𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑, 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 ૮꒰/ฅ//ฅ//꒱ა ♡

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digitalworldbound · 2 years

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the wind is whispering (hikari week, day seven)

for hikari week, @sluggybasson107 and i decided to collaborate - for every entry i’ve written, she’s drawn an image. the picture above was created by sluggy, and with her permission, i’ve posted it along with a story.

characters: hikari and tailmon

summary: when hikari moves into her new house, it's as if she's stepped into a fairytale. however, her storybooks can't explain the weird scratch marks that appear on her walls every night, or the trees seem to call her name. // also on AO3

a/n: this story is dedicated to @patamon - thank you for your constant support, kind words, and friendship. im grateful for you

“Hold on tight!”

The moving van jostled its passengers over potholes and gravel, giggles spilling from Hikari’s lips.

All too soon, the vehicle jolted to a stop, Taichi releasing a breath of relief.

“See? It wasn’t so bad,” their father joked. In the front seat, their mother’s face was tinted green, knuckles white against the passenger handle.

Unbuckling her seatbelt, Hikari gazed out of the window, brown eyes aglow with curiosity.

“Can we get out now?” Taichi groaned. It had been six hours since he had last stretched his legs, irritation furrowing at his brow.

“On one condition: you carry at least one box inside. This van won’t unpack itself.”

Before Taichi could agree, his door slammed shut. Hikari followed soon after, anxious to catch a glimpse of their new house.

Rocks crunched underneath her sneakers once she stepped out, the sun shining brightly overhead. A light breeze toyed with the ends of her hair, whispering in her ear. ‘Welcome home,’ the wind seemed to say.

Her parents had told her that their new house would be bigger than their cramped Tokyo apartment, that the air would be fresher and that she would have more room to play. Hikari, for her part, never doubted them, but a shock of surprise rooted her in place as her eyes took in the sight before her.

Their home sat in the midst of an open field, an impressive acreage that begged to be explored. Wildflowers reached Hikari’s knees, the petals of a daisy tickling her thigh. The open expanse of sky was broken up by treetops circling the property, an alcove of lush greenery.

It was as if Hikari’s fairytale books had come to life; she had been transported into an entirely new world.

“C’mon, slow poke,” her father chided. He had been all smiles once the family decided to move; the moment his office job let him go without notice, he had been ready for a change.

Hikari’s mother, on the other hand, was still car-sick from the ride.

With a flourish, the moving van was opened. Boxes that were once stacked with great care now laid in a heap at the mouth of the door. “We hit nearly every pothole on the way here, Hikari. But don’t worry; I’m sure all your stuff is just fine.”

He reached in, grabbing the first parcel with his daughter’s chicken scratch scrawled on the side. “Oh, and guess what?” he asked, placing the box securely in his daughter’s grasp, “You get your own room.”

With a gasp, Hikari embraced her father with a free arm. “Thank you,” she whispered before pulling away. Hugging the package close to her chest, she darted through the yard, flowers whipping at her ankles.

“Hurry, Hikari, or I’m going to pick the biggest room!” Taichi’s head peeked around a doorframe before disappearing from view.

Kicking her shoes off on the veranda, Hikari set foot into what would be their family room. To the right stood the empty hallway her brother must have run down, his trail clear through the thin coating of dust.

Box in hand, Hikari made her way towards the first door. Before she managed to catch a glimpse of what lay inside, her brother urged her to “Stay out!”

The sounds of furniture being moved traveled down the hall; the moving men had arrived. She would need to find a room soon.

Curiously, the only other room off the hallway was a bathroom, the floorboards ending abruptly at the foot of an ornate, Western-style door. The knob shone in the mid-afternoon sunlight, the moisture in the air clinging to Hikari’s brow.

Wiping her sweaty palms on her shorts, she attempted to twist the doorknob, the lock remaining stubbornly shut. Setting her box down, Hikari used both hands to pull, the wood bowing against her efforts.

Out of breath, she leaned her forehead against the doorframe. Her parents chatted idly at the other end of the house, already arranging the furniture in their own room. Already, Hikari’s boxes had been stacked neatly at the mouth of the hallway, patiently awaiting her decision.

“Please,” she whispered, as if the door could hear her plea. And, perhaps, it did. Steadying herself, Hikari twisted the knob for a final time, nearly falling backwards once the door swung easily on its hinges.

Without having time to react, the dust seemed to move, scattering about the already dirty floor. A small, dark mass collided with the tip of her sneaker, slipping away just as Hikari tried to catch it.

Despite the dust mites, the room was charming. Though it was small, a window, directly across from the entryway, looked out into the forest. Summer’s sunshine illuminated the floor, casting cheerful shadows along the wall.

Hikari smiled; this would make a wonderful room. More specs of dust danced around her, flitting through the air with ease.

Once the moving van had been unloaded, and Hikari’s room nearly unpacked, the Yagami family sat down for take-out dinners, cartons scattered amongst the remainder of their boxes.

“So, how do you guys like it here so far?” their mother asked, looking significantly less green than before.

“Well,” Taichi tried, a few stray noodles dangling from his chin, “There’s nothing to do. Are you sure there isn’t a soccer club I can join?”

With a half-hearted smile of sympathy, their father shook his head. “Sorry, son. The school here just isn’t big enough. Luckily, summer break is almost over. I’m sure you can find something to do before the new term begins.”

If he noticed the way his son rolled his eyes, the older man didn’t comment on it. Instead, he turned his attention to his daughter.

“Hikari, what about you?”

Chopsticks hovering mid-air, Hikari took a moment to think. Silently, she chewed on a piece of onigiri.

“My room is nice, aside from the little dust bunnies. The window has a really pretty view. Do you think I could plant some flowers, Daddy?”

Wrapping more noodles around her chopsticks, Hikari looked up expectantly, patiently awaiting her father’s answer.

“Baby, what dust bunnies? I had a cleaning crew tidy up yesterday so that we wouldn’t have to do any chores once we got here.”

Taichi, having got over his initial disappointment, chimed in. “I don’t know what she’s talking about. My room was completely fine.”

Hikari’s eyes flitted between the two, confusion furrowing at her brow. “But I saw it,” she spoke up. “The dust bunnies ran away as soon as I opened the door at the end of the hall. One even crawled over my shoe!”

Her own confusion was mirrored in the eyes of her father, a finger tapping his chin in thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, a look of understanding softening his features.

“It’s been a long day, my love. This house is very old, and it’s easy to let your imagination run wild. Don’t worry, those dust bunnies will disappear as soon as you wake up in the morning.”

Satisfied with his own answer, her father continued his meal, steering the conversation towards his wife.

Taichi caught Hikari’s eyes across their make-shift table, sticking his tongue out.”I thought you had already grown out of your imaginary friends.”

A flush crawled up the back of her neck, cheeks tinged pink. Instead of responding, Hikari hunkered down, finishing the rest of her supper in silence.

Later that night, after her parents had tucked her in, Hikari laid wide awake, ears trained on the noises of the night.

From down the hall, her brother shifted in his bed, the floorboards creaking beneath him.

An owl called out,its eerie song sending a shiver down Hikari’s back. Deeper within the house, a pair of footsteps meandered about the kitchen.

This house was old, she reminded herself. A few strange noises were to be expected.

Hikari did not expect, however, to hear faint scratching against the thin walls of her closet. Tucked beneath the comforter, she froze in place.

Heart beating in her ears, her breath came in fast spurts. “Who’s there?” she whispered, the cry of the owl startling her once more.

With bated breath, Hikari waited for a response, flinching when the scratching continued.

As if the source of the noise could smell her fear, the sound of claws scraping against the door grew louder, almost insistent.

Mustering up her courage, Hikari crawled out from underneath her blanket, socks muffling the sounds of her footsteps.

Moonlight shone through the window, stronger than any nightlight.

With every footstep, the scratching grew louder, more urgent. Despite sweeping the floor thoroughly, dust had already accumulated around the edges of the doorframe, her socks stained gray.

Hikari shivered, wrapping her arms around her body.

Reaching out, her trembling hand stopped short of the doorknob, an audible thud resonating from within.

The knob rattled on its own, twisting, turning until the door swung ajar.

Hikari leaped back, a gasp of surprise rushing from her lungs.

“You know,” a strange, soft voice whispered, “You’re awfully small for a human.”

The little girl’s mouth ran dry, fear rooting her in place.

A white paw, no bigger than Hikari’s own hand, peeked from the crack in the door. Two cerulean eyes gazed up at her from the shadows, studying Hikari with a ferocity she had never known.

“Fear is not very becoming on you,” the voice stated. Creaking on its hinges, the closet door swung open wider, revealing Hikari’s late-night visitor.

Fur as white as the moon, a small cat sat perched on the threshold, disdain curling at the edges of its mouth.

Hikari could only stare, hair standing on end. “Who are you?” she asked once more, pretending not to notice the tremor in her voice.

The cat sat languidly, comfortable in the midst of Hikari’s fear. “I am called Tailmon. You must be the one they call Hikari.”

“They? Who are they?” Previous exhaustion forgotten, adrenaline pumped through Hikari’s veins. Stepping closer, she allowed herself to stare at her visitor openly.

Despite being on the smaller side, her feline friend appeared to be an average house cat. Tailmon’s eyes glittered in mirth, as if Hikari should have known the answer to her own questions.

“The soot sprites, of course. They’ve been keeping an eye on you. They wouldn’t allow just anyone into this room.”

Realization dawned on the young girl. “Do you mean the dust bunnies? Daddy told me I imagined them.”

Tailmon’s tail twitched back and forth, her hmmph hardly discernible. “Parents are often the most unimaginative creatures you will ever meet.”

Feline eyes stared up at her, as if daring her to disagree. Crouching down to Tailmon’s level, Hikari offered a small smile. Pairs of little eyes peeked around the corner, dissipating as Hikari’s eyes began to focus. They danced just beyond her peripherals, skirting around her vision.

“Why me?” Hikari asked, breaking the silence. “Why did the soot sprites let me in this room?”

“It wouldn’t be any fun if I told you all of the answers right away. Sometimes,” Tailmon paused, grooming the back of her paw, “You have to take things slow.”

Hikari nodded as if she understood, but it was as if Tailmon could see right through her.

“Would you like to go on an adventure?” the feline asked, tail flicking behind her. Opening her mouth to speak, Hikari’s reply was cut off. “It would help answer some of your questions.”

The moonlight projected long shadows onto the floor, Hikari’s finger tracing lightly over the outlines. “Mommy doesn’t like it if I go outside without telling her. Where would we go?” Her voice was hushed, lips pursed in worry.

Anxiety welled inside her stomach, Hikari’s late-night visitor eyeing her with indifference.

Gusts of wind rustled outside, the chirping of crickets growing louder.

“I can’t tell you where we would be going, only that you would be back before the sun peeked over the horizon.” Tailmon’s eyes darted to the window and back. “If everything goes smoothly, that is.”

Outside of her window, the moon seemed to glimmer, beckoning Hikari closer. Through the thin walls, she could barely make out the sound of her father snoring. If Tailmon could be trusted, her parents wouldn’t even notice she had been out of the house at all.

“Do you promise I’ll be back soon? I don’t want my parents to worry.” With as much courage as the eight-year-old could muster, Hikari’s eyes bore into Tailmon’s. The cat was unperturbed, silent under the little girl’s scrutiny. Outside, the wind rippled through the treetops, almost whispering.

‘Come.’

With a final flick of the tail, Tailmon rose on all fours. “I will not make any promises, Hikari. But if you wish to join me, we must be leaving soon. The trees are calling and they are most impatient.”

Tailmon’s lithe frame slipped through the bedroom door, paws silent against the floorboard.

Haphazardly throwing a jacket over her thin, cotton pajamas, Hikari padded after her, quietly shutting the veranda door behind her.

Once she was outside, the moon embraced her, lighting her path with a dim glow. Wildflowers hugged Hikari’s ankles, almost pulling her towards Tailmon.

An ear twitched, the cat’s head turning ever-so-slightly.

“The soot sprites were right about you, Hikari. Follow close behind me; I wouldn’t want you to get lost.”

#hikariyagamiweek2022 #hikariweek2022 #hikari yagami #sluggybasson107

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digitalworldbound · 2 years

Text

helpless (hikari week, day five)

for hikari week, @sluggybasson107 and i decided to collaborate - for every entry i’ve written, she’s drawn an image. the picture (below the cut) was created by sluggy, and with her permission, i’ve posted it along with a story.

characters: hikari and taichi

summary: when hikari is in the hospital with pneumonia, taichi goes back to visit her // also on AO3

a/n: the story is dedicated to @stoppingtosmelltheflowers - i love the way you characterize the yagami siblings :)

When Hikari woke before the sun was up, she could feel that something was wrong. Coughs wracked her small frame, chest burning with a fire that couldn’t be extinguished. Though she was on the bottom bunk, Hikari couldn’t muster the energy to wake her brother up.

Instead, she laid half-lidded, patiently waiting for her parents to come check on them before they left for work.

Just as the sun kissed the horizon, Hikari dozed off, only to be woken by a pair of worried hands. Their overhead light had been flicked on, the bright light pounding on the back of her eyelids.

“Hikari? I need you to open your eyes.” Her mother’s breath fanned across Hikari’s cheeks. Her pillow was damp with sweat, chest heaving.

Forcing her eyes open, she stared weakly at her mother’s furrowed eyebrows. “Mommy?” she croaked, wincing as her throat twitched in protest.

From the doorway, her father murmured something too low for Hikari to hear, her eyes fluttering shut. Pins and needles danced across her sensitive skin, the cotton of her pajamas almost overbearing.

Her mother’s fingers danced around her forehead, pushing back the hair that had plastered itself in place. “She definitely has a fever, but it’s too late to call out of work,” the woman mused.

Hikari leaned into the touch, her mother’s cool fingertips refreshing against her warm skin.

The bedframe creaked, Hikari’s older brother finally rousing from his slumber.

“Good morning, sleepy-head,” their father called, eliciting a whimper from his daughter.

A few tears sprung from her eyelids, a grimace distorting her fine features. “It hurts,” she whispered.

With Hikari’s eyes shut, she couldn’t see the way Taichi leaned over the railing, hair mussed from sleeping and eyes wide with worry.

“I can watch her when I get home from school today,” he offered, the bed frame groaning as he tumbled down the ladder.

“That’s sweet, but I’m not sure. You’re still a little boy.” His mother reminded him, taking the cool washrag her husband thrust in her direction.

Careful to avoid his sister’s form, Taichi crawled onto the bottom bunch next to his mother, brown eyes large. “But, mom,” he shouted, lowering his voice once Hikari flinched, “I’m eight years old, now. I can do it. I promise.”

Hikari’s eyes fluttered open once more, watching as her mother situated the wet rag onto her forehead. A miniscule sigh slipped through her dry lips, chest burning with every breath.

Her parents shared a look, uncertainty curling the corners of their mouths downwards. “Okay,” she relented, “But we’ll be a little late today; we’ve already planned to visit your grandparents.”

Taichi cheered, accidently jostling his sister. His mother only shook her head, repositioning her daughter until Hikari was more comfortable.

With a kiss to each forehead, their parents left for work, leaving their sick daughter in Taichi’s care.

The smell of antiseptic and hand sanitizer burned his nostrils, Taichi’s hand pulling his father closer. Beeping machines and the low murmur of conversation hummed in his ears, but his father pulled him along, grip tighter than necessary.

His cheek stung from where his mother had slapped him, tears dried to his cheeks. Flashing red lights followed behind his eyelids, the image of his sister motionless on the ground causing the acidic taste of bile to rise in his throat.

Taichi’s sneakers squeaked against the tile floors, heart thudding in his chest. The hallway was bustling with activity. Doctors scurried from room to room, the machines chiming out in harmony. Someone was crying behind a closed door; Taichi hoped it wasn’t his mother.

His father’s strides were long, his son’s small legs struggling to keep up.

At the end of the hallway, his father finally stopped. Taichi gingerly rubbed his wrist, skin pink from his father’s grip. “I need you to listen to me,” his father’s stern voice pulling his son from his thoughts. Crouching down, the older man’s eyes bore into Taichi’s, as if he could make him understand the gravity of the situation with a singular look.

“When we go inside, your sister is going to be on a hospital bed. There may be a lot of wires and tubes, but you cannot touch them. Hikari is very tired, so if she’s sleeping, you must be very, very quiet. Do you understand?”

His father’s hand gripped Taichi’s shoulders with a ferocity that he had never known. Silently, the young boy nodded, desperate to see his little sister. It was his fault, Taichi reminded himself. It was his fault she was here.

Knuckles rapping on the door, the pair waited patiently until Taichi’s mother peeked around the frames, dark circles underneath her eyes.

With a finger pressed to her lips, she ushered them in, shutting the door quietly. “She just fell asleep. The medicine the doctor gave her has kept her up all night.”

His mother sank into one of the hospital chairs, eyes never leaving her daughter’s face.

Taichi stood alone at the foot of the bed, knees trembling.

Dark hair stained the sterilized pillows, blankets swallowing her frail frame. Hikari’s cheeks were flushed, eyelids twitching restlessly. Wires curled around her wrists, disappearing into the folds of her hospital gown.

A tube, thin and translucent, wrapped around Hikari’s ears, the end trailing into her nose.

“C’mere, Taichi.” His mother beckoned. The glassy look in her eyes mirrored his own, previous anger wiped clean by exhaustion. With her arms outstretched, Taichi wanted nothing more than to be held.

Taichi hadn’t realized he had started crying until the tears dripped down his chin, dark spots blooming on his shirt. If only he had known how sick Hikari was; if only he had let her rest.

His mother squeezed his trembling frame, whispering soft assurances in his ears. “She’ll be okay, I promise. I know, it’s scary, but that’s why it’s important that you listen to mommy. The doctor gave Hikari medicine that will help her get better, she just needs to sleep, okay?”

Buried in the crook of his mother’s neck, Taichi nodded. He did his best to silence his sniffles, terrified of waking his little sister.

“I’m sorry, mommy.” he muttered, bringing his arms around her torso.

“I know, baby, “ she assured, petting his hair gently. She pressed a chaste kiss into his hair, giving her son a final hug before pulling away.

Still, his tears continued to fall, chest heaving with sobs. “I’m so sorry,” Taichi managed, unable to rip his gaze from the hospital bed.

The machines attached to his sister beeped and hummed, confirming that, at least for the moment, she was stable and alive and here. “Can I see her, mommy? Please?”

Aside from the medical equipment, the room fell silent, Taichi’s sniffles puttering to a stop.

“If we put you beside her, you have to be extra careful, and watch out for all of the wires. You can’t wake her up, do you understand?” His father stood, a singular eyebrow raised in question.

“Mmmhmm,” he nodded, arms outstretched. Effortlessly, Taichi’s father lifted him gingerly onto the bed.

Up close, he could see the dark circles under Hikari’s eyes, the flush that crawled down her neck. The back of his palm rested against her warm cheek, wishing more than anything that her eyes would flutter open, that she would smile and tell him that everything would be okay.

Her chest rose and fell with every breath, the puff of her cheeks being Taichi’s only reassurance.

Silently, he watched her sleep, the rattling in her lungs reverberating in the small room, guilt simmering in Taichi’s stomach. It was all too much, his sister swallowed up by the too-large cotton gown.

He held his sister’s small hand, marveling at just how tiny Hikari really was.

At the moment, Taichi knew that he would never let his little sister down again. There would never be a next time; instead, Taichi would be vigilant. Sitting next to Hikari on the hospital bed, Taichi swore that nothing else would harm her. He swore to protect her, no matter the cost.

#hikariyagamiweek2022 #hikariweek2022 #hikari yagami #sluggybasson107

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