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takariweek · 2 years

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a hint of lavender rose (one-shot)

pairing: takeru-hikari summary: There was no doubt about it. Takeru Takaishi was in love with someone. And Hikari was going to find out who. [ao3, ffnet] note: this was supposed to be for the takari week prompts letters and first date, but i finished late. anyway here's some fluff with barely any plot for you ^__^ it's lowkey a prequel for shimane in spring too for how they get together genre: fluff words: 3667

There was no doubt about it. Takeru Takaishi was in love with someone. And Hikari was going to find out who.

Until last week, she had never really thought about Takeru being interested in anyone. He just couldn’t have had the time. Since middle school they’d been almost inseparable — in every possible world — and even when they were apart, each knew precisely where the other was and why.

Rain or shine, Takeru’s day would begin with a good morning from Hikari. Though they both knew these functioned more as wake-up calls than actual well-wishing.

Both could identify the precise day this habit started. It was that day in high school when Takeru slept through all his alarms and missed first period. This would not have been an issue if he hadn’t borrowed Hikari’s notebook the night before to study for their math test set for second period. (Not that Hikari needed the notes to cram any studying that morning — she knew every equation by heart from having tried to tutor Takeru on the subject the weekend prior — but it was the principle of it.)

Since then, she never let him hear the end of it, but this censure ended better than either of them could have expected. A conversation opened that day and never closed.

Simple ‘good mornings’ led to ‘see you soons’, that eventually evolved to the more provocative ‘race you to class’ (which Hikari, as a Yagami, took so seriously that she tripped enough times running across the school yard for Takeru to add the obligatory ‘Take care,’ or more jeering, ‘Don’t hurt yourself’ to their daily ritual. When the competition was close enough, Takeru also made the additional habit of reaching for Hikari’s hand as she rushed to beat him. She always accused him of playing dirty for these, but he’d saved her from face planting across the school steps enough times — pulling her up just in time — so she never passionately pressed the argument.)

Class would put a pause to this daily banter but they would pick up right back where they left off during breaks and at dismissal. Hikari might come over to Takeru to share some of her bento, from a recipe he had shared with her last night, while Takeru would walk her home as she briefed him on any homework he missed out on while daydreaming during class.

That’s where it started, those carefree days in middle school when the setting sun painted their youth in its golden glow. They found themselves caught in a conversation with no conclusion. Even on their busier days — buried in books as they struggled to get to university — they somehow found the time to stay connected, studying together, or calling the other for a break in between more stressful study sessions.

Going to different universities did pull their academic lives a few wards apart, but though they spent school days away from each other, their routine remained, albeit adjusted slightly.

They endured as each other’s first greeting in the morning, though the frequency of banter did die down as the two tried to manage the additional academic load of being university students.

Besides academics, Hikari got a bit busier than Takeru when she started taking part-time jobs to support herself, as her brother had previously.

First she tried working at the local pachinko parlor her brother part-timed when he was a student, against Taichi’s own advice. He had warned her about all the sleazy creeps she’d encounter if she dared to work at that place, but if anything she took this more as a challenge than as a deterrent (the only thing keeping Taichi from arguing about this was the acknowledgement that she probably got this adamancy from him.)

The older Yagami then tried to ask his former workmates to watch out his sister for him, but the night she got wind of this, he found his sister at his doorstep, brimming with irritation (I am not a baby and I don’t need a babysitter, nii-san!) She then let herself in and served the home-cooked meal she prepared for him that night (which both made no sense, and absolute sense to Taichi.)

Hikari constantly reassured her brother that she was perfectly fine at work. In fact, she was enjoying the unique new characters and challenges she faced at the job. To prove a point, she even sent him selfies daily of how happy she and her co-workers were in the staff room, which concerned him only more, firstly, because he knew of her tendency to mask her struggles with a smile, and secondly, because he himself had had more than a few burnt out breakdowns in that same room.

Taichi just couldn't shake his worry for his sister, but he had to be less conspicuous. So he sought a more subtle accomplice: Takeru. This made more sense anyway as they already spent most of their off hours together anyway. It felt only natural that he might check up on her at work too.

That’s what Takeru was doing at the pachinko the day Hikari got fired.

It wasn’t that she had done anything wrong. Takeru even could see that she was one of the most attentive staff at the parlor, kindness shining through over the cold incandescent lights. If anything, the problem was that she was too kind, and too attentive.

Hikari had somehow befriended a few of the regulars and gotten them to open up about their home and personal lives. She even took to counseling some of the more aloof customers, convincing them to try and get out and reconnect with their friends and families. That touch of care and random kindness was precisely the push they needed to lead them to seeking their dopamine fix elsewhere, in the comfort of real connections, rather than in synthetic wins at the pachinko parlor.

Needless to say this was not good for business, and her manager was obliged to fire her (though not without contention from the rest of the staff and some of the regulars who were still in the process of kicking the habit. Takeru had never seen so many grown Japanese men cry, and he found himself needing more to comfort them than Hikari herself.)

Though slightly saddened at the loss, Hikari was generally unfazed. A job was a job, and she could keep the friends she made along the way anyway. (“Don’t worry, Ojii-san! I’ll still help you win back your wife!”)

More pressing for her was that she had to find another part-time job.

She was hoping to apply for teaching aide positions at a nearby preschool, but it was early summer, and those wouldn’t start hiring until the next month. The school year was fast approaching and she had tuition and school fees that needed saving up for.

It was Takeru who found her next job, at a flower shop near her university (he internally debated whether to finally admit the source of the flowers he had been getting for her regularly since they started uni — daisies for winning scholarships, sunflowers for surviving sad days — but the owner was kind and he knew she’d be in good hands.)

Once she started working at the shop, Takeru continued his commitment to Taichi to check on his sister at work, perhaps with some added accountability, as it was the younger boy who had recommended the place to her in the first place.

This was their second summer at university: ‘Good mornings’ turned to ‘see you laters’, and spending days together at the boutique, perhaps the most time they’d spent together in person since starting university. (Takeru had his own summer job at the time, editing papers for STEM graduate students, but whether he worked cloistered by dusty old books at the library or surrounded by sage buds with Hikari, the grad students were none the wiser.)

It helped that the Takeru and the shop owner seemed to already be good friends by the time Hikari started at the shop, so him hanging around all day did not face much administrative objection. He’d sit next to her by the counter working on his laptop, sometimes helping her clean up or keep stock, and often chatting with the shop owner. If anything, Hikari felt she was the one who was tagging along, when the two would whisper in the back room, thinking she was out of earshot.

That was how Hikari figured out something was up with Takeru.

“So when are you going to ‘fess up?” her boss whispered.

‘fess up? Had Takeru done something wrong? But what was with the whispering?

“Eh,” Takeru sighed. “I’m not sure I can right now.”

Her boss stifled a chuckle. “You’re young. You might feel like you’ve got all the time in the world, but if you truly love this woman you’ve got to tell her. Tell her with your whole heart.”

“I’m just not sure how. I can’t seem to find the words.”

“Don’t need no words. Tell her with flowers.”

“I’m not sure if she understands flowers.”

“Guess you gotta give her better hints then.” her boss said, before returning from the back room with the bouquet he had just finished arranging for the customer Hikari had been attending to.

That’s how she knew. Takeru was in love.

Now that she thought about it, she noticed the obvious symptoms, the tell-tale signs they show in all the rom-com montages. There was a sparkle in his eyes, the skip in his step, and if she truly listened she could hear the song in his voice when he talked to her.

But wasn’t he always this way? When could he have fallen in love?

He wasn't the type to get flirty with schoolmates. She knew this from having been in his class all the way up to senior high, where she watched countless classmates confess their affections for the boy, consistently to no avail. She always thought he was too serious about his studies — as she was — to entertain such a silly thing, and she respected him for that.

Outside school, they still spent most of their available time together — him cramming papers, and her poring over course material. When they weren’t studying they were both working, and when they weren’t working they were catching a quick bite to eat, at either of their homes, or at a local convenience store if they were really busy.

Sure they had other friends, but she also knew all his social groups, and was certain all of these were platonic. (She’d actually even helped some of his friends courting the objects of their affection by providing them with the nicest, freshest flowers from the shop.)

Hikari had absolutely no idea who Takeru could have been interested in, but she was going to find out. What were friends for if you couldn’t tell them things? What kind of friend was she if she couldn’t even help her best friend with something so dear to him? And why was he keeping these from her?

She couldn't keep ruminating about it though. She had to act. She spent most of last week waiting for her chance to bring it up.

This afternoon she finally got the chance. Her boss was out of town for the week, so it was only the two of them at the shop. Takeru had uncharacteristically stood from his laptop to inspect the carnations display.

“Looking for something?” she asks, disguising her personal curiosity as professional duty.

He nods casually, not even meeting her eyes.

This was her chance.

“Is it for someone special?”

Another nonchalant nod, as he checks every color of carnation.

“A girl?”

“Well, aren’t you interested?” he chuckles, finally meeting her eyes.

“Am not!” she huffs. “It’s literally my job.”

“Alright, then I could use some of your professional advice,” he teases.

“At your service,” she bows with mock professionalism. “What do you need?”

“Some flowers, for tonight.”

“Got a date?” Hikari tries to hide her eagerness.

Takeru laughs. “Today? Don't you remember?”

Remember what? She tries to recall if he’s told her of any date he was planning, or if he’d mentioned asking anyone out. Unless he was the one asked out?

“What’s up with today?” she asks, at a complete loss.

He clicks his tongue, annoying her only more. “What kind of best friend forgets such an important day?”

“What kind of best friend keeps secrets about their dates!”

“Who told you I had a date tonight?” he asks.

“Not you! I had to figure it out from all your whispering in the backroom!” she counters, crossing her arms.

Takeru’s instant blush is all the confirmation she needs. Caught red handed.

“I know you’re keeping secrets, Takeru Takaishi. How could you keep something so important from your best friend?” she pouts, sincerely hurt.

At this he walks over to her at the counter to hold both her hands in his. “I’m sorry, Hikari,” he says, caressing her hands with his thumb. “I’m sorry I’ve been keeping things from you.”

Her eyes light up. “So you’ll tell me who you like now?”

She feels the pulse in his palms speed up, all color abandoning his face.

“Eh— um—”

Beads of sweat build up on his forehead.

“Takeru?”

“Um—” He clears his throat. “I’ll tell you in a bit. Could you help me pick out flowers first?”

“Fine, but—” she says, pulling her hands from his hold and lifting her pinky at him. “Promise?”

Hikari could see the boy stop breathing for a second, like his soul left his body as they spoke.

“Promise?” she repeats, soft eyes piercing his soul like hooks, reeling it back into the conversation.

A minute passes. Hikari could imagine the internal debate playing out in his mind, as she had helped him process countless times for other concerns great and small before.

Finally, he takes a breath and sighs, lifting his own pinky with hesitation. As he brings his pinky to lock with hers, he pauses to say, “As long as you promise it won’t change anything between us.”

Why would anything change? she wonders. She thinks about this herself a moment, then finally resolves, “As long as you do too.”

The caveat surprises Takeru for a second, but he soon nods once in solemn agreement.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

They lock pinkies, press hands, then perform an intricate seven step secret handshake that involves complex hand signs, knuckle bumping, and some spit-infused, slapping conclusion.

“We really should update that handshake,” Takeru comments.

"Hey, 'if it aint broke, don’t fix it,'" Hikari replies, Yagami ease shining through.

Takeru nods.

“Okay, so what do we need?” Hikari asks, with newfound focus.

“Flowers.”

“Guessed so far.”

“—for tonight.”

“For your date?”

“I guess you could say so,” Takeru laughs lightly.

“Okay, what do you want to say?”

“Um, ‘I got you some flowers’?”

Hikari fights the urge to smack the boy, but the future educator in her overpowers this. “No, no. I mean, what do you want the flowers to say?”

Takeru stares at her in surprise.

“Like, ‘I appreciate you’, ‘I’m grateful’, or if you’re a bit bolder, even ‘I love you’.”

The boy blushes.

“Something like that.”

From under the front desk, she pulls out a thick catalogue filled with photos of flowers in every color, each annotated with various symbolisms and implications. Hikari herself wasn’t yet so well-versed in flower language, but she imagined Takeru should have at least encountered this reference in the store before (though perhaps he never truly needed its insights until this moment.)

Opening the compendium to its table of contents, she asks, “So what do you want to say?”

He settles next to her, huddling shoulder to shoulder over the large book. He ponders this question for a bit. “I guess something along the lines of, ‘I’m thankful for you and all that you do.’”

How cute. how coy, Hikari thinks as she flips through the pages to find the section on gratitude. “Hydrangeas are in season, I think. We got some fresh ones this morning.”

“Those feel a bit too apologetic. I was thinking of more carnations or something. I think she’d like pink.”

Aha! So it was a she, Hikari notes. Carnations though. “What is she, your mom? If we’re going for pink anyway, I’d recommend pink roses.”

“So you like pink roses?”

“That’s my professional opinion, based on the official guidelines, of course,” she says, pointing out a section of text on every color of rose. “Our display is over there by the window.”

He knew every inch of the store just as well as she did though, and he had already stood to inspect the selection of roses before she even finished directing him to it.

After some deliberation, he chooses a humble bundle of pink roses, precisely as she had advised. As he turns to ask her to check them out, he pauses at the roses section once again.

“What do you think of lavender roses?” he asks, toying with the tempting purple petals of a single rose on display.

“Hmm,” she sounds, looking for that item in the catalogue. Not finding it in the ‘Rose’ section, she flips through both the table of contents and the index, but fails to find any notes on that specific color of rose. “I guess they’re kind of pretty.”

“So you don’t know what they mean?”

“Well it’s not in the catalogue,” she concedes.

“Tsk, tsk. I should bring this up with your manager,” he jests.

“Fine. If you’re so smart what do they mean then?” Honestly, this was more frustrating than the pachinko clients, she decides as she gives up on the catalogue. When she looks up from the text though, he surprises her by having already made his way to the counter, a bouquet of pink roses in one hand, and a single lavender rose in the other.

“Could you ring these up for me, please?”

She nods, remembering she was on the clock. “Do you want me to arrange the lavender one in the bouquet for you?”

“No need, I’ll be giving them separately,” he smiles.

He then picks two gift cards from the display by the counter. Could it be Takeru had not one but two dates tonight? This boy had some explaining to do.

She sets aside her suspicions just long enough to account for the sales and wrap the two purchases separately. By the time she’s finished, Takeru has already written on both cards, folded them tight, and was prepared to promptly secure them into their respective bundles, before Hikari could even take a peek at who they were addressed to.

“Thanks for all your help today,” he says, as he picks up the pink bouquet and casually makes his way out the store.

“Hey! ” Hikari calls out. ”Aren’t you forgetting something!”

“Yeah, look at the time! Got to go or I’ll be late for dinner.”

“You promised!”

“I’ll talk to you later then,” he bids with a salute. She meant to push the argument, but a couple of customers entered exactly as he was leaving, so she had to set aside her annoyance for the meantime.

The rest of the afternoon is so unusually busy — with more customers filing in today than the entire week prior — that it isn’t until the end of the day, as she was cleaning up to close shop, that she finds the single stem Takeru had purchased earlier, on the counter precisely where she had left it.

Or at least she suspects it’s his. With the traffic they got today she can’t be sure, or this is how she justifies peeking into its gift card, folded tight and snug its crisp paper wrapping.

To her surprise, it was addressed to her. It reads:

Dearest Hikari-chan, Thanks for all your help today ♡ about the bouquet, you were right. They’re for mom. It’s her birthday (You greeted her this morning, remember? ;) ) This one’s for you. Would you know what it means? If you don’t, you could google it haha or would you be up for dinner tomorrow? My treat. Sorry I was so wishy washy. I’ll explain everything tomorrow, for real, promise. (Here was a rough doodle of what Hikari could only guess were two locked pinkies, with sausage fingers so chunky that she had to laugh. Takeru was a writer after all, not an artist.) Sorry I couldn’t commute with you home today too, but please let me know when you head out so I could tell you to take care. And don’t hurt yourself ;p Talk to you later! See you tomorrow (?) — takeru

Hikari sighs. Help a boy out and he gives you homework. Somehow she isn't even annoyed though. For some reason she couldn’t identify, she is even relieved to learn the only object of his affections today was his mother. Maybe he and her boss were talking about his mom all along. It didn’t make as much sense, but it was definitely a possibility.

In any case, she would appreciate the free meal. They’d been surviving on home cooking and convenience stores for a while, so this occasional treat would be nice.

She thought of googling ‘lavender rose’ on the train home, but decided against it on principle. He’d already made her think too much today. She’d let him walk her through this one tomorrow. She had no idea what Takeru had to explain, but she could at least rest in the assurance that whatever it was, nothing would change. All that they had cultivated since childhood would remain. At least in that much, she could trust.

In the meantime, the flower was a pleasant companion on her commute home. She was surprised to find that it smelled ever so slightly like the flower of whose namesake it got its color, as the hint of lavender rose to envelope her in its soothing scent, enkindling in her a sense of excitement for what was to come.

______________________________________________________________

a/n: if hikari did google what the flower meant, she might have found this:

as usual this came about cause I needed to get this out of my brain to function T_____T its also midkey 'Fluff without plot' (no plot in this house we go on vibes)

this was also lowkey takari week 2022 for the prompts 'first date' and 'letters' but I'm not gonna push it because it so lowkey and also so late oops it's also remotely monster at the end of this book, if any of you grew up with that

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #ri ships takari #fanfic

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takariweek · 2 years

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Foreboding

Day 4: Sick Day

@takariweek

Kari had been laid in a nest of feathers, ushered there by a pair of concerned Swanmon as soon as she admitted to feeling unwell. At first, it has been swarmed by their friends, from Joe taking Kari’s pulse and temperature to Davis hovering helplessly. It hadn’t taken long for Yolei to marshal everyone into order, commanding that they all take it in shifts to watch over Kari, to give her space and quiet to rest. Even Tai had submitted to this plan.

And now it was T.K.’s turn. He sat beside the nest, watching Kari toss and turn in her sleep, remembering the times he’d done this before. It always seemed to come back to this: Kari hurting and him feeling helpless to reach out to her. He always wanted to protect Kari but how could he protect her from this?

There was a whisper of wings. T.K. turned, reassurances on the tip of his tongue: he could stay a little longer, no need to change shifts just yet. He stopped.

It was not one of their friends but Chronomon who had arrived. She floated to Kari’s side, her wings casting fluttering shade over them.

“Shhhh…rest, child,” she murmured. Her voice tinkled like silver bells. Kari seemed to settle a little at the gentle sound.

T.K. felt relief trickle through him. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“No thanks are necessary.” Chronomon turned her luminous eyes on him. “This mountain is meant as a sanctuary for the darkness consuming our world. Whatever I can do for her, I will.”

“But…if this mountain is safe from darkness, why is this happening to her?” T.K. burst out, unable to restrain his frustration.

Chronomon looked at him sadly. “This one of Light is connected to the life of the Digital World. Its suffering is her suffering.”

T.K. clenched his fists and bowed his head. Helpless…He couldn’t save Patamon from the darkness…or his brother. And now it was hurting Kari, too. The feathers of his own wings rustled with his agitation.

“Peace,” Chronomon urged him, her silvery voice trembling a little. “This is no place for rage.”

With a start, T.K. realized that she sounded…fearful. He looked up and found that the mega Digimon had drawn away from him.

His anger left him in a rush. He shivered. Kari had never been so sensitive to the darkness and the life of the Digital World before, especially in a sanctuary of light. What had they all become, that powerful Digimon watched them warily?

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #digimon-adventure-nightmare #fanfic

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takariweek · 2 years

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@takariweek

Day 7: Post-Series

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #fanart #digimon-adventure-nightmare

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takariweek · 2 years

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@takariweek

Day 6: shopping date - the watercolor edition of this aesthetic

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #fanart #digimon-adventure-nightmare

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takariweek · 2 years

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That's a Wrap!

Three days later

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2022 iteration of Takari Week! As always, if you were unable to complete the prompts all time, that's okay--so long as you mention this blog and tag the post accordingly, I will eventually find it! <3

Special thanks to @patamon who was so kind to help me keep up with all the posts while I was getting settled into my classes!! I couldn't have done this nearly so well without you, so thank you for being, as you put it, my intern of sorts <3 <3 <3

I hope to see you all again in 2023! Keep a look out for my usual survey ;)

Love,

Mod Gen (with her lovely assistant, Patamon)

(not Takeru's Patamon)

#announcement #takari week 2022 #thank you!! <3

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takariweek · 2 years

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The School-wide Love Letter Challenge

Part Two: The Inquisition

***

Takeru sighed, burying his head in his arms at a desk. “This is just not working guys,” he groaned.

“Cheer up Takeru,” Hikari smiled like rays of sunshine to him. “I’m sure one of these days your charms will work on a nice, kind girl. Then you’ll find out it was all worth you struggling like this,” she grinned.

“Ouch, thanks Hikari,” he chuckled. “Let’s face it. The girl I like will never know I like her.”

“Then just tell her silly,” she quipped. “You don’t have to keep going out on dates to see if she’ll be jealous or notice you.”

“You make it sound so easy Hikari,” he breathed out into the desk.

“Because it is, right?”

“Wrong!” Miyako said making an x with her arms. “Absolutely one hundred percent wrong!” she shouted.

“But,” she said looking at her curiously, “Isn’t that what happened between you and Ken? You’re talking about experience right?”

Ken suddenly coughed in his fist and cleared his throat. “Well, it was more one day Miyako pulling my arm and dragging me wherever she wanted to go. It took me awhile to realize it was fun and it’s been an adventure ever since,” he said looking at his hand.

“That's right,” Miyako grinned. “You just go with it until it works!”

“I...don’t think that’s how it quite works,” Iori replied confused.

“Well, Ken has always been an exception to the rules,” Hikari agreed. “So I’m sure he’ll be ok. Moving back to the TOPIC at hand,” Hikari emphasized, “We really do need to help Takeru here. He’s making things needlessly complicated.”

“Ha!” Daisuke sneered. “Isn’t that what he always does? I guess that’s why he wants to be a writer. He’s always good at thinking, but when it comes to action-”

Takeru lifted himself and walked over to Daisuke cracking a fist.

“Umm, Why are you doing that?” he asked.

“Just stretching my muscles,” Takeru said grinning through his sinister reaction.

“Liar, you just want to lay it on me!” he growled. “I beat you in soccer. What makes you think I can’t beat you fist fighting?”

“Please,” Hikari said, “Both of you don’t fight. Friends don’t fight each other.”

“Hikari makes a good point,” Iori agreed. “Friends don’t fight each other...but BEST friends do,” he said seriously.

“Iori, you’re really not helping,” Ken observed.

“No, I’m speaking from being a witness,” he replied. “Just look at Taichi and Yamato. I think the evidence stands on it’s own,” he said returning to his original seat.

“Oh, so you’re saying Daisuke and Takeru want to be best friends?” Miyako grinned cheekily.

“No,” Takeru groaned. “The problem with him is he doesn’t like hats.”

“What, you’re saying if I liked your hats we would be better friends?”

“More like...rivals,” Hikari said, Takeru noticing she watched her word choice.

“Rivals at what?” they both said point blankly.

She turned her head, suddenly looking at her phone. “Oh no, it looks like Miko got into the catnip again and Tailmon let her,” she sighed. “I’ll have to get back with you all later. Takeru, you can text me later to let me know the details.”

With that, she got up slinging her school bag over one arm and leaving.

The whole room fell silent for a minute.

“That escalated….quickly,” Ken noticed.

“Did I do something wrong?” Takeru asked. ”Maybe she’s just tired of me and this guy arguing.”

“I wouldn’t say...that,” Miyako said eyeing Takeru strangely.

“I think it means she’s so overcome with affection for me she had to excuse herself,” Daisuke grinned. “Man, what a sweet girl.”

Takeru’s eyes dimmed a little bit and started knocking on the table. “Yes...she is,” he said stopping.

He wondered if by chance he had said or done anything, but Hikari’s comment made him wonder. Yes, him and Daisuke were rivals. Sports, arguments, even...her, but, did she know that?

Miyako tilted her glasses on her face and crossed her arms. “Ok, that does it!” she exclaimed. “Real talk?” she gestured her arm open to comment.

They all nodded their heads.

“You, Me, and every other Digidestined knows you like Hikari. Like, a lot. Even if you don’t see it you give yourself away every day.”

Takeru felt the curves around his face increase as he tried to feign innocence. “What, come on Miyako,” he said laughing. “Just because you say so, doesn’t mean-”

“_Iori, who does Takeru like?”

“Hikari, of course,” he reacted.

“Daisuke?” she said next.

“My girl.”

“In your dreams,” she said gesturing towards Ken. “What about you Ken?”

“If I had to guess based off of interactions, behavior, and compare it to other girls then-”

“-The short version,” she scowled rolling her eyes.

“Then definitely Hikari,” he replied plainly.

Takeru looked at them glancing this way and that. “You really think so,” he smirked. “Well, you haven’t known us as long as me and the others have, so I can see why you would think that,” he said as if trying to convince himself. “We’ve been just childhood friends for a long time. I think it would be apparent by now if otherwise. I’m sure the others would tell you that we’re just really good friends.”

Miyako nodded her head as if trying to avoid bursting a blood vessel.

“Iori!” she shouted.

“I’m on it.”

With that he whipped out his phone and put it on video chat.

Takeru looked at them strangely a bit perplexed. Just what in the world was she doing?

Just then his brother picked up on the other line.

“Hey, is their an emergency? I’m kind of busy,” he said glancing to the side, a familiar voice talking with him.

“Wait, is that Sora?” Daisuke inquired as if trying to look into the phone.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Sora said turning the phone towards her.

“Wow, you look all dressed up,” Ken said. “I hope you two are having fun.”

“Enjoy your date!” Miyako giggled

Yamato glanced to the left, handing the phone to Sora.

“Was that why you called?” she asked.

“No,” Miyako grinned. “I don’t mean to interrupt you, but the Takeru of a million faces here is in denial mode right now. We’re trying to tell him who is crush is, but either he’s ignorant, or he’s just playing with us.”

“Crush?” Sora said. “Oh, you must mean Hikari!”

“Sora!” Yamato scowled. “I told him I wouldn’t blab it to anyone.”

“Well, they all know anyway,” Sora said. “It’s not like it’s a big secret. Everyone knows.”

“Everyone huh?” Miyako sneered glancing back at him.

“Anyways, yes, it’s Hikari,” he said a bit aloof. “We got to go,” he said grabbing the phone.

“Bye everyone!” Sora smiled.

They hung up the phone, all eyes on him as if they were cornering him.

“And THAT’S YOUR BROTHER,” Miyako said accusingly.

“And you said it was a secret?” Iori wondered. “Why? Is it that embarrassing?”

“N-no,” Takeru sighed. “I only said that because he kept pestering me about if I had a girlfriend because I kept buying all those tickets to his concert. I finally got tired of him asking so I told him I had a crush on Hikari just so he would stop bothering me.”

Miyako squinted at him.

“Is that the honest truth?” Ken asked.

“Yes.”

“You DO know I intend to become a private eye. Lying won’t do you any good when you’re in my jurisdiction.”

“Oh my god, Ken!” Miyako squealed hugging him “I just love you! You get me all hot when you talk like an actor from those detective shows we watch!”

Takeru took one step back and turned around.

“I’m happy for the two of you,” he smiled, a bit envious of them.

“Why don’t we check with Jou next? You guys aren’t really close, so I think he would be a key witness,” Iori said determined.

“Iori,” Ken chuckled.

“One of these days I’ll have to deal with clients in denial or lying like Takeru here. This is good practice.”

Takeru sighed. “You can do what you want, but it doesn’t mean anything.”

“Hello Jou?” he heard Iori speaking frankly.

“Yes, what is it?” he asked. “I’ve got less than two minutes before the doctor begins his operation. Real quick now.”

“Sorry, we knew you were busy,” Miyako said limiting the easily damaged Jou. “We just had one quick question. Takeru has a crush. Do you know who it is?”

“What?” he gestured inquisitively. “A crush? It’s Hikari right? Oh, I have to go, they’re beginning the operation,” he said turning off the phone.

“Everyone’s against you,” Daisuke said a bit anxiously. “I’m so obvious about it, but you’re not man. What’s the deal?”

“It’s still not evidence,” Takeru said. “Look, we know Hikari is my childhood friend, but, you know that can get kind of messy if feelings start getting involved. One thing could lead to another, and you could damage a relationship like that beyond all measure of repair,” he said taking off his hat.

“Are you worried...that might happen?” Ken asked.

“I’m just discussing hypotheticals,” Takeru smirked. “But this charade has gone on enough, don’t you think? We all should head-”

“-oh no you don’t,” Miyako growled like a bear. “We’re getting to the bottom of this NOW! I’ve had to put up with this for years! It’s the last year of high school. Don’t you just want to get it off your chest?! You’re a man aren’t you? Man up!”

Takeru smiled demurely, his eyes focusing. “If you’re so sure you know me,” he said confidently. “Then give it your best shot.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Miyako said confidently.

“Whose the next person?”

“Mimi,” Ken replied.

They immediately rang for her and she picked up.

“Mimi hey girl!” Miyako said enamored by her. Takeru knew she always had been. She seemed twice as energetic after speaking with her usually.

“Hey Miya, how’s it going with you guys? Are you and Ken still going on strong?” she grinned.

“Of course,” Miyako grinned, Ken trying to interject, but Miyako grinning. “Ken, if you go along with this I’ll give you a reward later ok?” she smiled seductively flirting with him.

His cheeks turned rosy and cleared his throat. “It’s good to hear from you again Mimi,” he said calmly.

Mimi only laughed.

“Mimi,” a voice said nearby, “What are you doing?”

“I’m on the phone,” she said turning it towards the voice so the others could see.

“We’re right in the middle of important business with the possibility of your fashion line starting to be added on as client and-”

“Koushiro!” they all exclaimed, noticing him in an Hawaiian shirt.

“That doesn’t seem business casual,” Miyako said suspiciously.

“Really?” Daisuke groaned. “Why is it everyone are out on dates except me? I try way too hard to come up empty handed. I just need to try harder!”

He still does not get it,” Iori said shaking his head. “Daisuke you need to be a man of principles. If anything, a girl respects a guy who stands up for what he believes in no matter the temptations or pressures that come their way.”

Sometimes despite his youth, Iori sounded older than all of them as if he belonged in a few generations earlier.

“This is why Hikari respects you,” Miyako said. “And she still wants to meet with your grandfather again.”

“Tea and wafers it is then,” he said nodding his head.”Then, I can contact my grandfather to make all the arrangements.”

Takeru gripped his fist frustrated with himself. Daisuke could just be so open about it. Iori and Hikari were swimmingly good friends and her and Miyako were DNA digivolving partners and girlfriends. But, him? Yes, they were close, but, nothing had ever changed. After the dark ocean incident, they were very close as friends in time of danger, but nothing else after.

He took off his hat and set it down. “It’s starting to get warm in here,” he murmured.

“Miya, hey, why were you calling anyway?” Mimi asked.

“I’m curious now too,” Koushiro said coming over. “Is it something serious? Is their trouble with the Digital World?”

“The only problem,” Miyako grinned, “is that lover boy Takeru won’t be honest to himself about who his crush is. Mimi, you know don’t you?”

“Well,” she said scrunching her eyes as if thinking about it

“How about you Koushiro?” Ken also asked.

“Well, if we consider the length of time, compare his relationships with other girls, and then isolate that in increments of five eventually we’ll come out to the result, but if I had a hunch, or just a strong inclination, I would say it’s

“Hikari!” Both of them said at the same time.

They looked at each other, both a little surprised they came up with the same answer.

“Talk about being on the same page,” Iori said.

“Something tells me there is more going on here, isn’t that right Koushiro?” Miyako smiled sinisterly. “I bet your romance is better than even romance manga,” she said, her eyes starting to thicken up with steam.

“Miyako, we’ve talked about this,” Ken sighed closing his eyes. “You’re doing it again.”

“Fine,” she huffed. “Have fun on your date you two!” she waved.

“Mimi, Koushiro said inquisitively. “I don’t recall us going out on a-”

“-Ok, Koushiro don’t worry about it. We can go over some of these details later at my place,” she winked to the phone.

The line disconnected.

“Something tells me that girl is up to something truly nefarious,” Iori shuddered. “I almost want to get out my kendo stick and give her a good whacking.”

Daisuke grinned cheekily. “Ah, you know how it is. That Koushiro guy is dense, but man is he lucky. Good for him!”

Miyako held up her fingers. “I can’t believe Sora and Mimi were on dates. And now Koushiro and Mimi. I’m starting to notice a pattern here,” she said. “But you aren’t quite fitting the bill there. You and Hikari should have gone out by now. What’s your deal?”

“It’s not the same,” he said sincerely. “They just fit together better. They complement each other. Me and Hikari seem to only complement each other during the difficult times. But, during the calm normal times we’re just really friendly.”

“Sounds like someone Is jealous of the others,” Miyako noticed. “But hey, before me and Ken started going out I felt the same way...just, you know, louder.”

“Oh man, tell me about it,” Daisuke grinned. “Every day you were moaning about how it wasn’t fair all the cute guys were taken.”

“What was that Daisuke?” she groaned putting him in a headlock.

“All right, I give! I give!” he squirmed wriggling away.

“Is there anyone that’s left?” Ken asked. “Let’ see...Yamato and Sora, Koushiro and Mimi, Jou, and-Wait that just leaves Taichi.”

“Ah,” Takeru said confidently. “Hikari’s brother. He knows her better than anyone. I highly doubt he would say anything about that.”

“Well, it’s the only unknown so far,” Ken said. “But, if he does say it, Takeru, you’re out of options,” he smirked.

“You’re cornered now, “Iori said. “This better be a good defense.”

“Then just ask him,” Takeru swallowed. “Ask him who I have a crush on. He won’t know.”

“Well, you’re going to have to confess if otherwise,” Ken said dialing.

“Hello? Yes Taichi?”

They placed him on video chat.

“Hey everyone,” he said a bit on edge. “Sorry, but I had to come home today from work. I would have usually gone back to my apartment, but there’s a situation at home.”

“A situation?” Miyako inquired.

“What’s going on?” Takeru asked. “Is everything all right? Is she safe?”

His ‘Hikari is In trouble’ senses were going off the radar.

“Of course you would get it,” Taichi sighed. “You do like her after all. But-”

“-Taichi?” A familiar voice called out, Taichi turning the phone unintentionally towards her.

“Oh, hi Sis,” he said. ‘I was just on the phone with the others and-”

“-Are you face timing?!” she shouted, her face turning pale. “You didn’t say anything to him did you?”

“Say what?” he wondered. “Is there something you want to say to him?”

Hikari looked this way and that and backed up a bit smiling. “No, just I hope everyone is well. Miko’s doing better. And,” she swallowed, “Takeru, I hope that...you can confess to the girl you like how you feel,” she said.

“Hikari?” Taichi said. “What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean, Taichi?”

“You're crying?”

“I-what?”

She put her hand to her eyes, her face turning red.

“Brother, turn off the camera!”

With that the camera flipped a few times before somehow they could tell Hikari had been successful in shutting it off.

It went quiet as all eyes turned towards him.

“This has gotten...a lot deeper than I thought it would,” Ken said crossing his arms.

“I’ll say,” Miyako said repeatedly closing her eyes. “We knew you liked her, but…”

“...Somehow, in some way,” Iori said, “...the opposite might be true as well,” Iori finished.

“...Dammit,” Daisuke scowled putting one hand over his face. “What do you have that I don’t?!” he growled grabbing Takeru by the collar.

“I love her ten, no one hundred, no a thousand times more than you ever could!” he snapped. “Why does it have to be you? Why you?”

“Iori, can you please put this one back on a leash,” Miyako sighed. “Go take him on a walk or something.”

“Don’t worry, I know just what to do,” he said. “Daisuke, remember that year you won the high school soccer competition? I want to hear all about it.”

Instantly Daisuke’s face perked up. “Of course!” he grinned. “It was just last year,” he said psyching himself up and walking with him. There I was, in the last five minutes of the game and…

…Their faces trailed off as they both left the room.

“Daisuke does have a point,” Miyako said. “He truly likes her. But so do you. We all see it. All the other Digidestined, but Hikari...she just doesn’t,” she said to herself. “Why?”

“They both don’t see it Miya,” Ken said using her nickname. “And Hikari just kind of gave herself away today. She can’t keep it in much longer.”

“Hikari’s upset at me,” Takeru said, “because of what I have been going through. She’s upset that there is no answer she can give because she knows our friendship will have changed drastically if I do end up dating another girl. I wouldn’t want to put her through that either,” he swallowed.

“So, is this a confession then?” Ken asked.

“Are you finally admitting it?” Miyako pressed.

Takeru nodded his head opening himself up to them.. “It’s hard to believe,” he said gripping his fist, “But yes it’s true. I’m in love with my best friend. With...Hikari Yagami and, everyone knows it...but her.”

“Did you get that Ken?” Miyako asked.

“I am a witness,” he said.

Just then the door opened up, Iori walking back in with a pacified Daisuke.

“The court finds you Takeru Takaishi hopelessly in love with Hikari Yagami. You are sentenced to telling her how you feel or this confession will be posted online. You have two weeks.”

Takeru stared over at everyone who did not seem like they were berating him, but were smiling. Even though this inquiry seemed harsh, deep down, he realized his friends were trying to help him. He never would have asked their help for this before, and, he secretly wanted to. But now that they knew, no, now that everyone knew he felt hope starting to return for a resolution to the conflict.

And then, a stroke of inspiration hit him. “Everyone,” he said putting his hat on his head. “I know it’s sudden, but I’ve come up with a plan to get her to tell me how she feels,” he said. “And if this does not work out then I will confess to her of my own will. I just want to know more about how she thinks of me before I do. Will you help me?” he asked.

They all stared at him, smiling and having a good time, Daisuke taking his hat.

“I’ll help you, but only if I get to incinerate this hat!”

“Oh no you don’t!” he groaned chasing after him to get it back darting between desks. “If you want one that badly I’ll give you one of Yamato’s old ones!”

“So anyways,” Ken said haphazardly snatching his hat and giving it back to Takeru, Daisuke not realizing yelling out ‘hey’ long after it had been given back to him, “How do you plan on finding out how she feels?”

“I’m curious to,” Iori said. “Hikari is a sweet and kind girl, but getting to the bottom of how she feels is like swimming to the bottom of the deepest ocean and hoping you don’t drown along the way.”

“Very poetic Iori,” Miyako agreed, “But your right about that.”

She turned seriously towards Takeru, all of the others looking towards him for instruction.

“So, how do you plan on finally bridging this gap between you two?”

Takeru raised his eye brow, a curt cunning smile crossing his face. “Don’t you worry about a thing,” he said sure of himself. "I have it all figured out. This is the plan…”

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #atsoraasayoma #fanfic

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takariweek · 2 years

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Takari Week 2022 Series by Patamon

And that’s all we wrote! Another Takari week is now in the books! Thank you to everyone who have read and left kudos and reviews for my story this year. I’m forever grateful for your kind words and support. I hope to have another opportunity next year to write more Takari fic but in the meantime, I’ll be furiously working towards my contribution for Takeru week in December! See you then!

Day 1: Tomorrow’s Blue (Tumblr link | AO3 link) Day 2: F is for Firsts (Tumblr link | AO3 link) Day 3: Our Unedited Stories (Tumblr link | AO3 link) Day 4: Coco-V (Tumblr link | AO3 link) Day 5: Slide…into their DMs (Tumblr link) Day 6: Thrifty First Date (Tumblr link | AO3 link) Day 7: Takeru + Hikari (Tumblr link | AO3 link)

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #patamon #fanfic

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takariweek · 2 years

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Preamble

-Is takari week ever really over?

-This was supposed to be only one entry but this may be multiple entries based off the ‘Letter’ Day.

***

Takeru walked blissfully onward, savoring each and every moment he could spend with her. Hikari Yagami, the angel of his heart, and his childhood friend...he had a crush on her more than anything. And yet, for all his efforts to make her jealous, to see if she cared for him, she seemed separated from him as far as the heavens were from the earth. He yearned to reach out to her, but, since he had fallen for her so hard, he wondered, if she rejected him would he ever be able to recover?

He closed his eyes closing out that unpleasant thought, only to be reminded by Hikari of another one.

***

“So, how did your date go?” Hikari asked. “Are you going to keep going out with her? She’s really nice, and pretty, and she’s smart,” Hikari said her amber eyes staring down as she walked as if she was talking with her own shadow.

“Oh, it went about the same as always,” Takeru snickered. “Me and Reina went to the arcade, played some games, and I walked out while she was having the time of her life and headed back home.”

“What?” You left her there?” Hikari said starting to chuckle. “Why would you do a thing like that? I thought you liked her.”

Mmm,” Takeru said scratching the side of his cheek. “In truth I like all girls and give them all a chance,” he smiled, “But I date them to find out if I want them as friends. I haven’t seen anyone I’ve dated more than that though,” he smiled.

Hikari stared at him a bit oddly. “Sounds like you could really lead a girl on,” she said warily.

“Yamato says it’s because I have a terrible personality,” he said unable to stop smiling. “He might be right.” He kept smiling, walking and talking with her from school.

“People like what they see, but a lot of them don’t look more than that,” he said. “People try to fit themselves with another person almost forcefully even giving up the things they enjoy to do it,” he said shaking his head. “It’s best if I just let them go before they ruin their lives because of me.”

Hikari stopped, holding her bag with both of her hands and staring at him questionably. “I can’t tell if you’re trying to be considerate or narcissistic,” she marveled.

Takeru glanced at her with a confident grin. “I always leave you guessing don’t I?”

“You’re only ‘guessing’ how long you can keep it up,” she replied solemnly. “I know you don’t like to feel pinned down, but, eventually you have to stop somewhere,” she said staring at him. “And when you do,” she said, a wry grin on her face, “I’ll be able to nail you to my dartboard,” she said pretending to throw one over at his heart, Takeru’s face brightening up and turning red.

He seemed at a loss for words and wouldn’t look at her directly.

She tried to walk with him, but he just kept looking down.

The last thing she wanted to do was offend him. She only wanted to tease him a little.

“You know,” Hikari said walking forward, a smile plastered on her face. “You said you would give any girl a chance,” she said, noticing Takeru particularly swallow.

“So if I asked Miyako to ask you on a date would you go?”

Takeru’s eyes lit open and then scrunched his teeth, tension on his face, but quickly covering it up with a smile. Takeru zeroed in, daring to walk forward closer to her. “Hikari,” he said, Hikari able to see coldness in his eyes, melting, and then freezing all over again. “Any girl,” he said staring at her warmly as if he had pinpointed her directly.

She felt heat rush to her face, but closed her eyes and snapped out of his spell. There was no way he was talking about her right? The boy crush of every girl’s dreams actually dating her? No, that was impossible. Takeru would never see her more than that.

Hikari sighed out clutching her bag. “Takeru,” she swallowed. “I think you’re just scared to trust people.”

“I trust you though.”

Hikari turned her back to him. “I want...to believe that,” she said, her voice a bit shaky. “But as your friend Takeru, I’ve noticed a change in you. It’s like you’re afraid to let go of something, but I don’t know what,” she mused. “I won’t press any more than that, but, I am worried about you.”

Takeru stopped walking with her and pushed his hat over his eyes covering his head. “So you think...I should stop?” he asked.

“No,” Hikari sighed. “It’s not...that. It’s your life Takeru. You have to decide what to do with it. But if you’ll let me, I want to help you,” she smiled. “Maybe I can help you find the right one,” she said, her eyes starting to tear up unexpectedly.

“Is everything ok?” Takeru asked a bit taken aback with no warning.

“Everything’s fine,” Hikari smiled wiping her eyes. “I think my allergies just kicked in. I’m no good like that,” she chuckled lightly.

“Just remember,” she said wiping her eyes, “Whoever you choose to date Takeru, make sure they are the right one for you,” she said as if unable to get a bad taste out of her mouth. “Because if you keep treating girls like that, you’ll be sad and lonely. And...I couldn’t bear to see that.”

With that Hikari walked away, heavy-hearted, but also a bit whimsical even running to the doors of the school. Perhaps Takeru would change his ways. Maybe he would be more willing to be open up with other girls. Maybe even...with her? Hikari stopped at the revelation wondering why she would think that.

“My forehead is warm, and I feel like I'm burning up,” she said feeling it. “Why is it whenever it comes to him I feel like I’m coming down with something?

***

That evening Takeru could not get Hikari’s worried look off of his face. He tried to concentrate writing, Patamon munching on some potato chips in the background making large crunching noises.

“She cares about me so much,” he said regretting his carefree attitude earlier that day. He covered his hands on his head, wanting to bang his head against his desk.

“It’s always...the same result,” he said depression hanging in the air. “No matter what I do.”

***

That night he decided to put on his kicks and go visit his brother. Yes, he lived about a hr. away from him by walking, but even still he couldn’t just stay still feeling sorry for himself like this. Yamato taught him better than that.

He showed up at his door, Yamato just putting the final touches on his dinner. Takeru felt his stomach groan. It really looked like Yamato had practiced his cooking.

“Takeru, you’re here awfully late,” he said. “Mom is going to be angry with you if you don’t go home.”

“Sorry bro,” he smiled taking off his hat. “I was having trouble again trying to talk with the girl I like.”

“You mean, you still like this one?” Yamato said a bit incredulous. “For all your smiling you sure are cold-hearted letting other girls hang like that.”

Takeru grinned walking over to him.

I’m going to stop that...hopefully soon,” he said, Yamato's sardonic stare not at all convinced. “But for now, I need the favor of all favors.”

“The biggest favor?” he wondered. “What for?”

“...To create the biggest stage...for the girl I adore more than anything. And to finally show her I care for her.”

Yamato stared at him incredulously. “You know, you could just, I don’t know TELL her. Why do you have to create some huge charade to get your point across?”

“Because I have a way of manipulating others,” he replied cheerfully. “And if I don’t do it this way I’m worried even if somehow in the 1/1000th chance we do end up dating it would not last us and break off or collapse in a million pieces.”

“You should know her better than that,” he scolded.

“Maybe,” Takeru agreed, “But, I want to have some kind evidence she does like me. Because nothing else has been working. And if I don’t play my cards right, I’m going to lose her eventually to some other guy.”

“But what if you’re right?” Yamato asked, “And all of your fears are realized? Would you be able to let go of her with that closure?”

“I will have to,” he admitted. “If it’s what she wants then I have to respect it.”

Yamato walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You do realize once you start doing whatever it is your doing their will be no going back, right? You’ll have to commit to your choices of action.”

Takeru didn’t want to admit it, but Yamato was right. This is not something he could just joke about or make. He would need to have...the others to assist him.

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #atsoraasayoma #fanfic

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takariweek · 2 years

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Guardian

A/N: Several days late (because my life is a tangled mess) but this is my submission for @takariweek Day 4: Sick Day. Please enjoy! Synopsis: Takeru takes care of Hikari in between Digimon Adventure episodes 48 and 49 (canon compliant). Characters: Takeru Takaishi, Hikari Yagami, Patamon, Tailmon | Relationships: Hikari/Takeru (platonic), | Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Some Fluff | Warnings: Near drowning | Word Count: 2,310

The ground ruptured with a deafening crack beneath Takeru’s feet and splintered open like the jaw of a hungry beast, swallowing him whole. His screams mingled with the others’, and he flapped his arms in wild desperation as he fell, reaching and stretching for something, anything to grab onto. The ground above caved in on itself, and the last thing he saw before the last flickers of daylight were completely snuffed out was the towering outline of Mugendramon and the twin embers of his fiery eyes. They seared into Takeru’s own sight, and even after the world went black around him, he continued to see them burning in the back of his head.

Seconds dragged on for eternities, and still he was falling down, down, down. An ear-splitting rush filled his ears, and just as he wondered if it would ever end, his back struck something with a shrill slap that wrapped around him like a brisk blanket. Suddenly, his entire body was weightless, and a frenzied fear struck him that perhaps he was dead. A nagging force tugged at him, piercing his skin with icy jolts, and he realized that he was very much alive.

And wet.

The current he’d fallen into was powerful enough to drag him along, but the notion of not dying spurred Takeru into a fierce resistance that was stronger. He flutter-kicked his legs and waved his arms in the wide, circular strokes that Sora had taught him while they’d ridden on Whamon’s back. He breached the surface with heaving gasps, still crawling with his arms upon the water until he reached a ledge. The water continued to flow against him as he hung on with a strained grasp, but it was shallow there, reaching just above his shoulders. Placing his feet firmly on the floor, he could brace and support himself without falling over.

“Hello?” he called out, but with his burning throat and lungs, the single, hoarse word died in the dank air as a feeble whisper.

He inhaled deeply, hoping to settle his racing heart, but the breath gagged him, a putrid smell of rotting garbage that filled his nose, mouth, and finally settled into his stomach with a pungent nausea. His face crunched in disgust, and though his vision was blurred from a combination of disorientation and goopy, brown water trickling down from his hair and pooling around his eyelids, Takeru discovered that he’d landed smack dab in the center of large sewer facility, right in a vast drainage canal of sorts. Because of course he did.

The only light came from dimly illuminated lamps dotting the ceiling that cast a bleak luster. He craned his head in a circle, taking in the labyrinth of tunnels that zig-zagged this way and that, echoing with the ripple of water and plunging into sheer darkness. Before he could think about what might have happened if his trajectory had veered off-course, he heard two small plunks directly in front of him.

“Patamon!”

Sewage or not, he shimmied along the ledge, pulling his partner into a tight embrace before the canal could sweep him away. Tailmon wasn’t far behind, paddling pathetically in a battle against her sopping wet fur. Takeru grabbed her paw, and the feline Digimon wasted no time in scrambling up to the concrete landing.

“I couldn’t hang onto Hikari,” Tailmon said in between hacking pants.

But Hikari wasn’t far away. Her screams resounded in the sewers like clanging bells, and they watched her descend like an angel from the heavens. She hit the canal with a sharp splash a long way in front of them, and agonizing moments passed before she emerged, coughing and flailing her limbs like a fish out of water. Takeru shook off the irony of that comparison, yelling “Swim to the edge!” but his call was drowned by a thundering boom further upstream. Hikari briefly made eye contact with him before turning towards the sound. Fear seemed to strike them both paralyzed as the gentle, humming ripple billowed into a mighty burble, and the canal surged forward, galloping with the rage of wild Monochromon. It flooded over Hikari, tossing her under like a rag doll.

“Hikari!” Tailmon cried.

“Takeru, get out of the water,” Patamon said, tugging at his shirt sleeve.

“I’ll catch her,” he said.

It came out as more of a hesitant question as doubts creeped into his mind, taunting his bravery and strength; but he shook them off. There was no time to ponder what was possible, no trying against the impossible. He would simply have to do it.

“I’ll catch her,” he repeated, and there was an iron assurance in his voice. “Hang onto me.”

Patamon and Tailmon clenched his left hand, and he waded out as far as they could reach. The water thrashed and crashed, and more than once, he teetered backwards and tottered forwards, but he held steady like a reed in the wind. For a terrifying moment, Takeru envisioned that Hikari would be swept away to some unknown crevice in the muddled maze of sewers; that he would miss her, their fingers brushing against each other and his hold breaking against the water’s fury. Her hand splashed and reached out as she was propelled towards him, and he strained an inch further, wrapping his fingers around her wrist.

“Gotcha.”

Takeru yanked, forgoing gentleness, and Patamon and Tailmon pulled. Their combined momentum swung Hikari to the ledge. She hoisted herself up, collapsing to her knees with violent coughs that dribbled water from her mouth. Takeru wasn’t far behind, rolling onto the landing on his back gracelessly. Black shapes blotted his sight. How long had it been since he’d slept properly? His limbs felt battered and bruised, pounding with an ache that splintered his skull. He was suddenly aware of the reeking stench that permeated the air and clung coldly like a thick syrup to his clothes, and he idly wondered if the smell would ever wash out before they made it home.

“You okay?” he asked, lolling his head around to Hikari.

She nodded, still catching her breath, and said, “You saved me. Thank you.”

“You would have done the same for me.”

At least, he assumed as such. It had dawned on him in the once-safe house while watching over her that he hardly knew anything about Hikari. One misadventure after another had befallen the Chosen Children since they discovered the eighth child’s identity in Odaiba, and there simply hadn’t been time to say anything more than a brief hello and introduction. The only thing Takeru was sure of was her selfless grit. There was something magical or mythical or divine – perhaps all three – about her that seemed to draw his gaze towards her unconsciously and awaken a vigilant safeguarding in his chest.

“Where are the others?” she asked.

Her question stirred him back to the reality at hand, and Takeru swallowed thick pangs of guilt that knotted his stomach like a tangled mess of yarn. One by one, Taichi, Koushiro, and Sora flashed in his thoughts, which then wandered to Jou and Mimi, and lastly, landed on Yamato. He had forgotten them, and he shivered with shame. But he forced that down too, and although he felt small and longed for Yamato to sweep them both into a protective embrace, he painted a confident mask for Hikari.

“I don’t know, maybe they fell to a different part of the sewers?”

Somehow, the curl of her trembling lower lip into a frown was worse than being alone and lost in this gigantic maze of sewers.

“We’ll find them,” he quickly added. “We’ve been through worse. But even I’ll admit, this is the worst we’ve smelled.”

Her shoulders slumped, and not even a hint of a smile cracked on her lips. Takeru resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands. How could he think that making a joke was a good idea? He leaned back against the concrete, and the agitated huff that escaped his lips prolonged into a defeated groan. He decided he didn’t care if legions of tidal waves were unleashed by Mugendramon himself, there was nothing in the Digital World that could entice him to move.

Then Hikari began to walk away.

He floundered to his feet, stammering a string of nonsensical exclamations before his brain could string coherent phrases together. He scrambled in front of her and held her by the shoulders. This close, he could trace the lingering pink streaks that colored her cheeks. Her eyes blazed like cinnamon stars, but not with anger, only a brazen boldness that reminded him of Taichi so badly it startled him.

“I have to find my brother,” she said.

“We will,” Takeru urged, “but we have no idea where these tunnels lead or what else might have fallen down with us. The Digimon need to rest and regain their energy.” That was an understatement – Patamon and Tailmon were on the brink of exhaustion, though he knew that Tailmon would force herself to follow Hikari wherever she went. “So do we,” he continued. “You’re still recovering.”

“Where’s Taichi?” she sniffled. “Where are you, big brother?”

Tears welled under her lashes, and he hopped back to give her space, but instead of letting them fall, she hardened them back and held her temple with her hand. He was at a loss for what to do, but he remembered the way Yamato consoled him when they were little and lived in the same home, a time when he conflated safety with nothing more than his brother’s watchful gaze. The same must have been true for Hikari, and he understood her defiance. He’d been in the same place before.

Crystal clear memories, as though they had occurred yesterday and not months that seemed like a lifetime ago, passed through his mind like glassy raindrops. He recalled waking up, alone (except Patamon, of course) on the splintered fragment of File Island, wandering aimlessly without any purpose before stumbling upon Primary Village. There was also the time Taichi disappeared and the group fractured, and he’d been abandoned by DemiDevimon’s callous manipulations. He was about to tell her these stories, to show her that he shared her loneliness, but that the Digital World had a conscious will of its own too that pulled the Chosen Children back together each and every time they split in different directions.

At the same time as Takeru opened his mouth, Hikari swayed a step to the side, knees buckling out from underneath her, and he closed the gap between them in an instant, catching her between the armpits before she collapsed. She staggered into him, folding like a bird whose wing had been clipped. It was awkward to support her frame since – to his unacknowledged embarrassment – she was a good two inches taller than him, but he eased her to the ground with Tailmon’s help. He propped his soggy backpack underneath her neck and placed the back of his hand against her forehead. It was warm but not burning like it had before. Deep creases were etched into her face, making her look old and weary, and she twitched fitfully in an uneasy sleep.

“She’ll be okay,” he said. “I think she pushed herself too far.”

Tailmon curled up against her partner’s shoulder, nodding but otherwise not appearing convinced.

“What should we do?” Patamon asked, nestling on top of Takeru’s hat.

He pursed his lips. Takeru was certainly no Taichi, but it was up to him to cobble together a plan of action. They couldn’t stay there forever, waiting for someone – or something, he thought grimly – to happen to find them; but they couldn’t move while Hikari was passed out. He didn’t dare wake her up, knowing how critical it was for her to regain her strength and health, and he couldn’t carry her through the tunnels. Though there was a significant part of him that wished he could, to be able to whisk her far away from this dreadful place and shield her from danger.

But that was wishful thinking, and he was no closer to figuring out an answer to the question.

Unless they could do both.

“Patamon, I want you to go and search for the others,” he said.

The little Digimon slid down and into his hands, looking up at him with round, hesitant eyes, and as he peered into them, he was greeted by his own mucky reflection.

“I…I can’t leave you,” Patamon sputtered.

“It’s the only move that makes sense,” Takeru answered. “We can’t just sit around and do nothing. I won’t ask Tailmon to leave Hikari, and if something happens, she’s more suited to fight than you without evolving, which, no offense, I don’t think either of you can do right now. Besides, you’re more likely to blend in if you run into trouble since you won’t have any pesky humans with you.”

He smirked, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was a risky plan, but he thought he made a strong case for it. He hoped Taichi would approve.

Patamon peered over at Hikari, then locked gazes with Tailmon. There was some type of mental communication between them that Takeru wasn’t privy to hearing, but finally, he flapped his wings and hovered in the air.

“I’ll go,” he said.

Takeru smiled, wider this time, and rubbed the top of his partner’s head. He soared off, down the nearest tunnel, and was swallowed by darkness. The beat of his wings slowly dwindled into silence.

Takeru felt alone again, but this time, it was different.

“Don’t worry Hikari,” he began, his brow chiseled in fierce determination. “I’ll look after you. I’ll keep you safe.”

As if in response to his whispered promise, the worried crinkles melted from Hikari’s expression with a spark of light, until she settled into serene rest.

#takari #takari week #takari week 2022 #stoppingtosmelltheflowers #fanfic

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