[OPEN] These dreams go on when I close my eyes

[givesalittlewhistle]

Who: Hikari Yagami & OPEN
When: IC: (late July) /OOC: (early June)
Where: Gardens
What: As a Child of Light Water, Hikari's been having some...interesting Dreams the last few days. The kind that are keeping her up at night, leaving her exhausted during the day.
Rating/Warning: Some potentially Dark themes involving children. Mentioning of Death. Basically, if you've ever seen the season 02 episode, His Master's Voice, it's a little like that.

---

"Hikari? ...Hikari?"

The eight year old girl in question's eyelashes fluttered softly, face scrunching up as she was lightly shaken, before slowly opening. It took a few seconds for her vision to readjust before she sat up. Glancing around at her surroundings and...trying to remember where she was.

"Tailmon?" Voice heavy with sleep, she glanced down at her digimon companion, who was looking up at her in concern. "What...?"

"You fell asleep. Again."

There was little surprise at the news. Because she knew it was true. And why.

Straightening, Hikari glanced around at the park they were currently in. The ground was soft, a pleasant breeze blowing across her cheeks from beneath the shade of a large tree. Any other time, and it would have been no wonder she'd fallen asleep. The little sketchbook she'd purchased some time back was still in her lap. The camera she'd been using to take pictures for inspiration, at her side.

Except...the dark shadows beneath her eyes told of a slightly more troubling story.

"I'm sorry," she offered in the middle of stiffening a deep yawn. Rubbing at one eye that stung a little in the morning light.

Tailmon's ears dropped at the apology. Worried not only for Hikari's health, but saddened that she felt she needed to apologize at all. "...you had that dream again last night, didn't you?"

Not knowing what else to say, Hikari nodded. Her gaze drifted over to where there was a small pond. The waters still, save for the occasional little ripple. An increasingly familiar sight to her these days, though not for the reasons one might think.

Comments

[cresthopes]

As Takeru happened to be wandering around, Hikari wasn't the only who had seemed rather off these days. Ever since people started coming back, the blond was starting to see things. In the corner of his eyes, he could have sworn he saw someone but they always seem to disappear shortly afterwards.

Of course, Patamon was starting to wonder if Takeru was going to be okay. However, the boy could only give a pout in response. He wasn't sure if Cerealia was playing tricks on him again but if they were? It was a dirty trick to play on him. It wasn't fair, he just wanted to see his mother again.

Although, when he saw Hikari nearby, he just smiled as she ran over to her. "Hikari-chan? Hikari-chan, over here!"

[givesalittlewhistle]

She blinked twice. A tired, but honest smile appearing at the sight of her best friend approaching.

"Hello, Takeru-kun." She waved him over. "What are you doing here?"

[cresthopes]

What a loaded question indeed. Just what was he doing here. At first, he thought he saw his mother but now?

"Because I wanted a walk! I was feeling a little tired so I thought maybe this would wake me up!"

[givesalittlewhistle]

Him, too?

A thought that Tailmon seemed to share, because in the next moment, it was her voice that spoke up: "How come you're so tired? Did you not get enough sleep last night, either?"

...it was the 'either' that earned the feline digimon an unusually sharp (though tinged with uncertainty) look from her partner.

[cresthopes]

"Kind of. It was because I kept seeing someone and I wasn't sure if I was dreaming."

Whenever he woke up in the middle of the night, he could have sworn he saw his mom. But at the same time, whenever he did, he was always left disappointed. This was no different as a small pout entered his face.

[givesalittlewhistle]

She turned back to Takeru, mildly surprised to hear...but how had she not noticed? He was her best friend. She should have known that something was bothering him again.

"Who was it?"

[cresthopes]

There was a long pause on his end. While he knew that there was a chance this was Cerealia's doing, a part of him really wanted to believe she was here. What's wrong with wanting somebody he dearly missed to be here?

"...My mom. I wish she was here but I wonder if she really is."

[givesalittlewhistle]

Oh.

It was a feeling Hikari could understand. To a degree. She missed her mother, too. And her father. Having Taichi with her was a great comfort, though, because he had always been there for her whenever their parents weren't around. Because of work, mainly. Ever since she could remember.

But Takeru...he had Yamato, yes, but the brothers never seemed to share the same closeness as the Yagami siblings. On top of that, Takeru had lived with only his mom for a long time. Of course they would be closer, and of course he would miss her even more.

"Did you check on the communicator they gave us? I know there's a whole list of people who are here. If your mom really was here, then she would be on the list, right?"

[cresthopes]

It was kind of funny how Takeru was rather attached to his mom while his brother was the opposite. If anything, he often wondered why his brother was the one to decide which parent he should go with. At the same time, while he wanted to go ask, he wondered if he was a good thing.

Especially whenever he asked about his father, Natsuko didn't want to talk much about it. But Hiroaki didn't either.

As he looked up at Hikari, that's when his eyes widen. "Oh right, I forgot about that! Let me see, maybe she's somewhere around here..." He trailed off. However, it didn't take him that long before there was a small pout on his face.

[givesalittlewhistle]

The pout was enough to give it away; she didn't even need to ask.

"I'm sorry." She really had hoped his mom had shown up after all. Just think how happy it would have made him! And Yamato-san, too. Maybe...maybe they could have even stayed together as a family. Even if it meant they would have to move out of Han's apartment, they wouldn't be far. Hikari would still be able to see them every day. "It must have been a...dream."

[cresthopes]

Takeru didn't say anything in return. In fact, as he felt his bottom lip, it was clear to see that he was really frustrated. Whatever Cerealia was planning, it always seemed to push his limits. Right now, he really wanted to act like the 7 year old he was but...not in front of Hikari.

Definitely not in front of her.

"M-Maybe. But I wish it wasn't."

[givesalittlewhistle]

She watched him. His expression. Listened to the tone of his voice. And she understood, reaching out--tentative, at first, before firming her resolve--and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I miss my mom too. And my dad." Though she knew it would be of little comfort to him at this time. "...you can feel sad if you want to. It's okay, Takeru-kun."

[cresthopes]

He simply continued to keep that pout on his face. While he didn't have a problem expressing how he felt, he couldn't deny he was embarassed by the whole thing.

"...I know. I miss my dad too and I wonder if they're okay." He mumbled to himself. "But I really wish they were here."

He really just wanted his mom and dad to be here together.

[givesalittlewhistle]

"So do I."

Whether she meant her parents, or his (or both), she didn't clarify. Leaving him to speculate at will.

"But..." And here, the corners of her lips twitched upward into a sad, but hopeful smile. "I still have Oniichan with me. And you have Yamato-san. And...we have each other, too. And Patamon and Tailmon. So we're not--"

She paused just long enough to let out another yawn. Wiping at her eyes with notable lethargic movement.

"...sorry."

[cresthopes]

"No it's okay but...maybe we should go back home. If you're tired, I don't want your brother to worry about you."

He wasn't sure exactly how much sleep Hikari got but there was no way he was going to let her keep yawning. Instead, he gave his hand out to her in hopes of walking back home together.

However, there was something else that's been bothering him. Although, he was going to let that slide for now. Hikari was more important.

[givesalittlewhistle]

Maybe it was because she was so tired at the moment, but she completely missed out on that other thing in favor of...shaking her head, and looking away.

"N-no, I'm fine, Takeru-kun." It wasn't technically a lie. She was 'fine' as long as she was awake. Sleepy, but fine. "I can...wait until after dinner."

[cresthopes]

"Are you sure? You really look sleepy and I think it would be better if you taken a nap back home!"

At this point, he was ready to drag her back home if he has to! Despite her saying she was 'fine', he didn't think so. Not when she looked so tired.

[givesalittlewhistle]

She shook her head again, and this time, in a voice (small and weary) that might have given her away...

"Please don't make me."

[cresthopes]

Hear that? That is the sound of a 7 year old boy feeling guilty for being an 'adult' now.

"But we got to. I don't want you to fall asleep in the garden."

[givesalittlewhistle]

"I don't want to fall asleep at all."

At this point, there was no going back. He had to know. And...he was her best friend, so she had to trust him.

"Whenever I do, the...nightmares come back."

[cresthopes]

Now that alerted Takeru! As he stared at his best friend, all he could do was give a frown in return.

"...Is that why you haven't getting a lot of sleep? Because you see a lot of scary things in your dreams?"

[givesalittlewhistle]

She tried not to look at his face, but when she caught the frown out of the corner of her eye, she visibly winced. This was exactly what she'd hoped to avoid. Poor Takeru already had enough going on with missing his mom, and now he was going to end up worrying over her too.

"Not a lot. Just...the same things. Over and over again. I don't even remember most of it when I wake up, but I know it's something I never want to see happen again."

[cresthopes]

To be honest, Takeru would much rather worry about Hikari than worry about his mom. Now that he knew she wasn't here, he could focus all his attention on his best friend. It seemed better than just moping around and doing nothing.

"...It's not an evil Digimon is it? Because if it is, I promise that I won't let them scare you ever again! Especially not Vamdemon! I'll protect you from them!"

[givesalittlewhistle]

For a fleeting moment, she almost smiled. Almost. The corners of her lips notably twitched, but it was soon overshadowed by the shake of her head. Only it was a shake of...uncertainty.

"I don't know. I've never...I couldn't see his face. It was more like a shadow. And eyes. And..." Her gaze returned to the small body of water nearby. "...and water. I remember hearing water."

[cresthopes]

Now that made Takeru worried. If she was dreaming about water, does that mean there was something in there? Or if there was an enemy that was going to hurt Hikari?

"T-Then, that just means I'll need to keep my eyes open at all times around the water!" He suddenly shouted. "Especially if it's going to make you feel safer!"