estoria | [OPEN] There, by the Waterside

Entry tags:

[OPEN] There, by the Waterside

Who:

givesalittlewhistle & OPEN
When: Mid-June IC/Beginning of April OOC
Where: Around the City
What: Part One: Hikari has her new Camera and wants to try it out | Part Two: weapons training (sort of)
Rating/Warning: (possible talks of fighting involving children)

I.

[If there was one positive thing about that last ViViD game she'd entered...it was that, combined with her school allowance and other savings, it put her at more than enough credits to buy the camera she wanted.]

[It was small. Easy enough to hold in her young hands, and light enough to carry around her neck on a string. Right next to her whistle, and atop the crest of light she kept beneath her shirt. It was also stylish, with a silver casing and even a little view screen in the back so that she could see the image she'd just captured without having to print it out first. Even better, thanks to the small card she was able to insert to add memory, she could take hundreds of pictures before having to delete any and make room for new ones!]

[It also meant she had plenty of leeway to experiment! Which is precisely why, for most of that particular morning, anyone might come across the eight-year-old girl wandering aimlessly around the city looking for things to shoot. She took pictures of the trees. The school. The shrine. The shops.]

[But...what she found she enjoyed most were taking pictures of the people. Especially when they barely had time to pose.]

Smile!

[Click]

II.

[The camera wasn't her only purchase, though this one had been a little more...spontaneous.]

[A glimpse in a window that inspired something she'd been wondering in the back of her mind for some time. Ever since that awful fighting game. She had come away from it mostly unscathed, yes, in no small part due to the fact that she'd reached for a weapon. Not a sword or bow and arrow or anything she could have hurt herself with, though. No, Hikari had reached for a long staff. And wielded it quite well for a novice.]

[Which was to say, she didn't smack herself in the face with it once. Success?]

[So, when she found a rubber training version of the same weapon with foam ends, it was like a sign. It didn't cost much, and when she first held it in her hands, it was even lighter than she remembered the wooden version being.]

[She took it to the park. Tailmon hovered as always, although this time on the ground. More than once, she swatted a little at the staff edges as they came near her, and it was only because of how soft they felt compared to most weapons that she wasn't more concerned. In fact, if anything, the little digimon looked proud of her partner for wanting to better defend herself ~~though slight put out she hadn't opted for the bow and arrow~~.]

I just wish I knew more so that I could teach you myself.

[Hikari was currently practicing spinning it in her hands, getting used to the way the weight shifted and the center of balance followed its movement. She didn't dare turn her head until it stopped, and called out to Tailmon without taking her eyes away from her current task.]

It's okay. I can...probably...figure this out...by myself...

[Or until somebody else came along to help her.]

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[Tailmon would have offered more commentary, but she was looking to Hikari now. The injury...she should have seen it, but she had figured the weakness and subsequent since had come from a lack of experience. It took a lot of strength to hold a bow steady, after all.]

[But it seemed that her partner simply knew the boy better than she did, and could better recognize the signs.]

How did it happen? [His stubborn side, meet her stubborn side. She was clearly not about to let this go.] ...did you hurt it from practicing so much?

[It takes a stubborn person to know a stubborn person, indeed. Takeru cheeks started to swell up before giving a pout.]

Yeah but it's not as bad as it looks! I think if I sit for a few minutes, it should be okay!

[Although, he had a feeling Hikari already knew he was in pain. The problem was how long he can keep it up]

[Puffy cheeks aside, it was...actually the best answer he could have given right then. Because she would have suggested he rest anyway, and sitting for...even a few minutes might help, maybe?]

[She would keep a subtle eye on him in the meanwhile.]

Alright. I'm starting to get a little tired, so we can both take a break.

Okay then.

[Takeru wasn't going to argue with that. As he sat down under a tree somewhere, he gave a sigh. Trying his best to sooth the pain, he kept on rubbing his shoulders in hopes it would go away soon.

But he couldn't but feel rather awkward around her all of a sudden. Now he felt guilty that she knew he was in pain.]

[Hikari hadn't been lying when she said she was tired...although she might have insisted on the break a little later, if it hadn't been for him.]

[Still, she didn't mind the rest at all and went to sit beside him in the meantime. The staff was placed on the ground nearby. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin against them. Closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of the cool air against her face just long enough to take note of the subsequent silence.]

[She peeked one eye open again, and glanced over at Takeru. Curious, and a little concerned.]

...you look sad.

[At first, Takeru didn't seem to notice Hikari sitting next to him, there were too many things running through his mind. Should he apologise and tell her that he didn't mean to make her worry? Or should he just say something? But it didn't seem to let go of the weapon just yet.

As he hugged the both of his legs, he gave a sigh and let the silence before them do the talking. Or at least, that was before Hikari spoke up. When he looked at her, he gave her a blank stare before placing his chin on his knees]

...No, I'm not. I think...I'm just scared.

[Sad. Scared. Either way, his heart was hurting in some way. And--though it didn't immediately show in her face--Hikari's hurt a little as well.]

What are you scared of?

[Does Takeru want Hikari to know how he's been feeling as of late? With all those nightmares and seeing horrible things happening to his friends? He didn't say anything at first but when he did?]

A lot of things. I don't know what CERES is planning to do but it makes me scared they're going to hurt a lot of people here.

[She probably would have found out sooner or later, with a fear like that. In hindsight...it was pretty obvious. A fear of CERES that almost paralleled their fears of the Dark Masters. Those horrible digimon whose plans, for a while, were mysterious...and who could have (and tried to) hurt any of them at any time.]

[But...it was because she immediately thought of the Dark Master's that Hikari was able to smile. It wasn't bright or strong, but still certain in its gentleness.]

That's because you're such a good person, Takeru-kun. You worry about people.

But...I think we'll be okay. We can here for a reason, right? Just like how we went to the Digital World. That was scary too, but we won. You and me and Oniichan and everyone. We did it together.

[Takeru had to wonder if Hikari might have heard him when he had those nightmares. Sometimes, those dreams involved the Dark Masters and what would happen if HolyAngemon didn't arrived. Sometimes, he had dreams about CERES doing horrible things to his friends.

But in the end, it was the same time. Takeru couldn't do anything. As he heard her, he really wanted to believe everything was going to be okay.]

You really think so? I don't want to give up and I want to work even harder. And now that Oniichan, Taichi-san, you, and our Digimon partners are here too!

[A nod. Because she really did believe so. In the moment, she might have been just as scared as he...but, right then, knowing what she knew and remembering all they'd already accomplished, she wasn't scared at all.]

[Not even of the thought of having to fight again.]

Then we won't give up. And we'll work super hard.

Even though we don't have the same weapons right now...I'm sure we could find a way to still do it together.

[Tailmon chose that moment to clear her throat, though her eyes were closed and she seemed to be downplaying her words in an effort to appear cool and passive.]

...I might be able to help him with the archery, at least. It is my main weapon in my evolved form.

[It was funny, he hearing those words from someone else's mouth helped alleviate some of his anxieties. No, he didn't want to give up and he never will. If he had to, he will work harder.

But knowing that he was with her brought a smile to his face. It wasn't selfish that he didn't want to be alone, was it? Before he could say anything, he looked down at Tailmon.]

Oh, that's right! When you're Angewomon, you have a bow and arrow! I would love it if you can help me!

[And when Patamon spoke up?] And I can help Hikari with the staff! That's my main weapon when I'm Angemon!

[Hikari's eyes lit up, and it was clear from her expression that she hadn't even thought of that.]

That's right! It is!

[Tailmon could train Takeru, and Patamon could train her. In a way, it would be like trading partners...or borrowing each other's partners...but, at the same time, it meant they definitely could work together. Side-by-side.]

[And that thought alone fueled her desire to work hard and learn even more.]

That would be wonderful, Patamon. Thank you so much!

It's no problem! But you're going to have work really hard! Using the staff isn't as easy as it looks!

[It's all about technique and knowing exactly where to hit the enemy! But Takeru just smiled brightly at Tailmon before giving out a loud cheer!]

And thank you too, Tailmon! I promise that I'll work harder than before and make you really happy!

[Even if there was a slight wince once more. Looks like somebody forgot about how sore his arms were.] Well...as soon as get some rest...

I will! I'll do my absolute best. Just like--

[Speaking of Takeru...she caught that wince, and this time--since he brought up the resting part--there was no way she wouldn't be able to notice. Or say something in return.]

Maybe we should go back to Han-san's apartment for now.

We can always do more training tomorrow.

[While he opened his mouth, he quickly found himself shutting it. As much as Takeru wanted to protest and continue to say he was fine, he really couldn't. And especially when he felt flinching all the time too!

It was difficult but he eventually gave a small nod]

...You're right, maybe we should go back. I think Han-san might get worried if we're outside for too long.

[Although, there was a small smile that appeared!] But do you think we can get ice cream afterwards? It seems like a good way to end the day!

[Hikari had an even better idea.]

What if we get ice cream on the way back? We can eat it while we're walking, and this way, we'll be full and can rest better.

[It was perfect, in her mind. So much so that she was already moving to stand, shifting the weight of her bo to one side so she could reach down and pick up his bow. His arms were still hurt, after all, and neither weapon were all that heavy. It would be no trouble for her to carry them both.]

[Whoa, Hikari, wait up for him! As he quickly stood up and grabbed his arrows, he looked straight at her!]

I think that would be a good idea! We better hurry, we won't want the ice cream store to close on us!

[Although, that didn't stop him from looking at her other hand. She didn't have to go so much effort to him...]

[~~Hey, it's not her fault her legs are longer.~~ She paused to wait for him, until they were able to fall into step with one another, side-by-side.]

I don't think it will. I've gone there after dinner before, and it was still open.

[He can look all he wanted, but she wasn't giving it back. It really was a non-issue to carry; she barely noticed the extra weight, and only had to balance the slightly awkward size and shape with her walking.]

[~~One day he will grow taller than her, one day!!~~ But as Takeru caught up to her, he kept on chuckling]

Then that's good! I was wondering when it might. I've been there a lot of times before but...I don't think I ever seen it close before.

[Again, he kept eying the weapons but he wasn't going to argue with it. If that's what she wanted, there was nothing he could do was there?]

[~~Yes. Yes, he will. But today is not that day.~~]

There's a lot of places I don't think I've ever seen closed, actually.

I wonder if they're just open all the time.

I guess they just really want to make sure everyone is happy.

[He said before he pondered to himself a little]

I know that I wouldn't be if some stores were closed and I was really hungry!

That's true. Especially if we didn't have any food left at the apartment.

Or it was something we don't know how to make ourselves.

[It was a different challenge than the Digital World, where they had learned how to scavenge and prepare whatever they could find in the different areas.]

[Although, now that Hikari said it, he couldn't help but wonder.]

By the way, do we have anything in the apartment?

We didn't run out of food, did we?

[They didn't need to go out grocery shopping, did they?]

Umm...

[That was a good question, actually.]

I don't know. I don't...go food shopping much. Only if I know I'm going to be out for a while, and get a bowl of ramen or something for lunch.

Should we ask Han-san?

[OPEN] There, by the Waterside

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