Digimon Adventure Tri: Echo

63) To Dream or to Scream

For a short while, Takeru had thought that he would be able to resurface and push through the water that seemed to be constantly trying to smother him into the silt at the bottom of the ocean. When Poyomon hatched and evolved into Tokomon, it seemed as if he had a bit of hope, that he would be able to rise up and overcome the problems that had quickly become so present in his life. He felt like he might be alright for a few brief moments even though he knew nothing was ever that simple. It was a small step in the right direction, but it was still progress, and that meant more to him than he could ever hope to describe. 

Devimon's hand had pushed him right back under, and so, Takeru went back to isolating himself in his room. He and Patamon were doing what they could to help each other, but it was clear that Takeru was only barely managing to keep the threads from completely unraveling. He refused to let himself fall apart completely perhaps out of something that was somewhat similar but still detached from pride. He wasn't going to crumble. He still had work to do to help the Digital World, but he wouldn't be able to do that if he let himself break. He wouldn't be of much use to anyone if he let the pieces fall on the floor and shatter into even smaller fragments. That was the last thing any of them could afford in that moment. 

Knowing that he had to keep his composure hardly made it any easier though, and Takeru found himself curling up in his room more often than not, only ever remembering to eat or drink something when Patamon prodded him in the right direction. In the two days since Devimon's return, Takeru had mercifully been left alone, but he didn't suspect that was going to last much longer than it already had. The other members of the group weren't going to let him close himself off again, not when two of his triggers had been hit so firmly back to back. They were going to come and talk to him at some point or another. Takeru could only hope he was able to get a grip on his composure before they did inevitably come knocking at his door. 

Takeru had no idea how to describe the emotions coursing through his body when he heard a knock at the door that afternoon. He was only barely able to catch it thanks to his bedroom door being open. He hadn't told his mother the truth behind Devimon returning yet. He didn't know how to approach the subject, much less get into the intimate details. Natsuko liked hearing about the Digimon, but she hated the idea of either one of her children being in danger. If she had anything to say about it, Takeru would be staying in the Takaishi apartment until all of this blew over, but both of them knew she wasn't going to be able to enforce such a thing. So instead, Takeru did what he could to keep from worrying her even though it felt like a sting to the back of his neck when he thought about it too much. 

Takeru looked down to Patamon carefully, knowing that he was going to have to get the door. He didn't know who it was, but it couldn't have been Natsuko or Yamato. They already had keys to the apartment, so they would have come in by now. That meant Takeru was likely going to be faced with one of the other Chosen Children, and unfortunately, he couldn't prepare for what he was bound to be faced with when he had no idea who would be waiting for him. 

Takeru slid out of bed carefully and trudged through the darkened space, ultimately pulling open the curtains in the living room area to offer the building a bit more light. He didn't want them thinking he was feeling so awful that he refused to see natural light. That may have been true, but they didn't need to know about that. After all, Takeru had to be fine. They were counting on him to be fine to keep fighting the war against Devimon, the Emissaries of Chaos, and whatever dark powers were resting beyond them. 

Whatever dark powers had killed Seraphimon to begin with. 

Takeru opened the door after bracing himself for whatever he was bound to be faced with, and he was met with the faces of Iori, Ken, Armadimon, and Wormmon. Patamon flew in the air behind Takeru, peeking over his shoulder at their visitors. Takeru stared at them for a beat before he forced a smile onto his face. "It's nice to see you four," he greeted, doing his best to pretend that he wasn't falling apart on the inside, that he hadn't spent the last six hours crying on and off. He was just glad the redness had started to fade from his features when he hit the point of having no more tears to cry.