Digits :: Chapter One

The Crossing Wires

A/N: Tis just the first part. Its Digimon(bien sur!)and its rather an AU thing. Just the same lovely characters in a rather…different situation. Watch out for random couplings, flying yaoi (daiiikeru!), and other things that might not strike your fancy. Features mainly the 02 cast. Uses Japanese names sans honorifics. Enjoy!

.::.

Yagami Hikari whirled around, hoisting her sack up higher on her shoulder and beginning to press through the crowd once again. The sky had darkened a little, and tiny drops of water began to fall on the passerbys. Desperation grew.

"Sasami! Sasamiiii!" she called out futily, shoving her way past a man in a business suit. She didn't see anyone from her class. So much for the buddy system. She should have known from expierience that whatever buddy she got stuck with would wind up leaving before the first day was over. She had thought Sasami was buying something in the gift shop but when she turned around to find her so called 'buddy', the other girl had vanished. So now she was lost in the middle of Kyoto. Things were going. Just. Ducky.

"Sasami?" she tried again, more of a whimper than a holler. There was no denying the rain now. Umbrellas were opening and Hikari found herself dissapearing amongst the masses. She blinked some water off her eyelashes. Maybe I should go back to the shop? If I go back, someone will probably find me. Maybe Sasami's still in the shop…

Or maybe not.

While the rational part of her brain displayed optimistic ideas, the rest was screaming one thing.

Panic.

So Hikari did a little of both. Turned against the crowd, a fish swimming upstream, back toward the gift shop. Blindly.

"Sasa-" she began, but found her face pressed up against…someone else. She tried to draw back, but whoever it was had a grip on her shoulders, and pulled her that direction instead. She opened her eyes to look up into a set of light blue ones and blinked.

"Hey, you're from my class, right?" The boy with the blue eyes asked. She glanced up at him in surprise. He was quite a bit taller than her, but he looked about her age, and sort of familiar. His blonde hair had gotten damp, and was hanging down in his face. She resisted the urge to push it away.

"Er…Odaiba High?" She finally replied, blinking and shaking her own hair out of her face.

"That's right!" he said, releasing her shoulders. He had a great smile, "Well I'd go for introductions, but what do you say we get out of the rain first?"

"Oh…uhhuh, sure," Kari nodded, still struck with what was probably a deer-in-the-headlights expression. Such a flattering look.

"Great! Let's take refuge in this restaurant…we're not due back on the bus for oh, a half hour or so."

"Sure," she said, following him through the crowd and into the restaurant. Which was equally packed. There were some more high school kids by the counter trying to order. Hikari felt a little relief. She didn't notice her companion talking until he grabbed her arm.

"…and sit with him? Come on!" he motioned towards something and pulled her along with him. It was impossible to tell what he was pointing to until they reached their destination.

"Hey Takeru!" another boy, most likely from their class called out, waving his arms and almost tipping over in his chair. He had raspberry colored hair that stuck out in all directions, tan skin, and a huge smile. His green sweatshirt said something in English.

"Daisuke!" the dubbed Takeru waved back, steering Hikari over to the table and pulling a chair out for her. The other boy pouted, chopsticks between his lips, and leaned on his elbows.

"Being a gentleman I see?"

"Whatever, Daisuke" Takeru said. He sat down and pulled the chopsticks out of his friends mouth, "What did you get us?"

"Us?" Daisuke teased, "I thought I was just buying for me! …Nah, Takeru, I'm kidding, I got udon bowls."

"Are we sharing or did you get two?"

"Um…" Hikari cleared her throat, a timid interuption.

"Oh I'm sorry!" Takeru exclaimed, "Introductions, right? I'm Takaishi Takeru, and this is—"

"Motomiya Daisuke!" The other boy interupted, offering a hand.

"Yagami Hikari," she responded, taking the others hand in her smaller delicate one and shaking. Daisuke gave her another grin.

"She got seperated from the group," Takeru explained, taking the second noodle bowl and a pair of chopsticks.

"Hm," Daisuke said, seizing the moment to get a good look at Hikari. She was a pretty girl, tiny and fair skinned. She sported a pleated skirt and a white blouse, rather preppy, he noted. Her eyes were lovely and large.

"Is something the matter?" Hikari asked, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze, her hand coming up towards her throat in a modest action. Takeru looked over expectantly at Daisuke, who didn't deter his stare. Hikari looked towards Takeru. He met her eyes. And grinned again.

"Oh don't mind him," he stated, "He's gay." Hikari's eyebrows rose while Daisuke snapped around to Takeru.

"Hey!" he exclaimed indignantly.

"Oh come on, Dai," Takeru said, mocking sarcasm, "No one really believes that bisexual crap…"

"And after I bought you noodles too!" Daisuke exclaimed tearfully, acting of course. Hikari watched with amusement as they carried on, a smile tugged at her lips. They weren't shunning her, or trying to get rid of her, or even ignoring her, although they did seem a little wrapped up in their conversation. Maybe she had finally found some friends…?

"Hikariiii," Daisuke waved a hand in front on her face, "Earth to Kari! I asked if you wanted some udon."

"Oh! Sorry," she pushed a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Well…do you?" Takeru asked, swallowing and offering her both the bowl and the chopsticks.

"Really? I mean…really? You'd…?" She was really grinning now, maybe even blushing a little. Why are they being so nice to me?

"And we lose her again…come in Hikari! Don't worry, Takeru doesn't have THAT many germs…"

"Yeah, Daisuke would have contracted them by now, the way he clings to me…" The taller boy added.

"I do not CLING…er, anyway, noodles?" Daisuke offered, "Last chance! Going once, going twice-"

"That's alright, I'm not hungry," Kari responded with a small smile, "But thank you for asking."

"Sure, that's what friends are for," Takeru said, taking the bowl back.

"Friends," Hikari repeated, as if absorbing the meaning of the word.

"Dude this is one SPACY chick you picked up," Daisuke said, pulling a pair of goggles out of his sweatshirt pocket and snapping them onto his head. Takeru ignored him.

"So Hikari, noticed you were by youself. Did you lose your…er, buddy?"

"I…ah, I think that…no…"

"Say what?" Daisuke pushed his chair away from the table, leaning forward in hopes of an answer.

"I don't think that…she wanted me around," Hikari said carefully flicking her glance towards Daisuke.

"Oh…" he said, looking from her to Takeru. Then he smiled, "Well you can hang with us then!"

"Sure, why not? Be the extra buddy," Takeru agreed, "If you want."

"Okay!" Hikari said, her eyes lighting up. Its not like Sasami would care ANYWAY…

"Of course you'll be on your own when its dorm time-"

"I ran out of soda!" Daisuke interupted with a frown, "I'm going to go get some more…want anything, Takeru?" He shot him a quick glance, light on expression, but it was enough.

"Um yeah…I'll come with you…I don't know what I want yet," Takeru got up, glancing back at Hikari, "Are you okay with saving the table? We'll make it quick."

"Uh, sure," she answered.

"Want anything?" Daisuke asked over his shoulder.

"No, I'm fine," she called back, relaxing in her chair and watching them walk off towards the counter, talking. She wondered(in a form of paranoia) if they were talking about her.

"You KNOW we were trying to avoid this!" Daisuke hissed, while they waited in line at the counter, "What if she…ya know, finds out?"

"Well I'm not the one who offered!" Takeru shot back.

"You COULD have objected, you know! Mr. 'sure why not?'"

"You're the one who brought it up the first place…"

"You're the one who brought HER here in the first place!" The two glared at each other then looked away.

"We're being stupid," Takeru finally said.

"I guess…Two of those, please," Daisuke said, pointing. They payed for the sodas.

"Well, so much for that," the blonde said sheepishly, popping the top off his soda can.

"Right," Daisuke sighed, then looked up hopefully, "Does that mean we can kiss and make up now?" Takeru rolled his eyes.

"Maybe later," he said, sticking out his tongue.

"Don't stick it out unless you're going to use it."

"Oh shut up," Takeru muttered. He had located the table again where Hikari was sitting with her timid nature, her back to them, "Wait…" Daisuke glanced at the arm that was held in front of him.

"Hm?"

"Do you really…do you really think she's a threat?"

"Not her personally…I like Hikari. But…you know…she tells, we're toast. All of us." They looked again. Perhaps hearing their voices, or feeling their stare, the brunette turned around in her chair and waved when she saw them. Daisuke waved back, glancing at his blonde companion, and they started back over to the table.

"We should probably get going," Daisuke said, looking at his blue digital watch and adjusting his goggles, "The bus is probably loading up."

"Good idea," Takeru agreed, looking back over at Hikari, "Hey! We should inroduce you to Miyako!"

"Miyako?" Hikari inquired, standing up.

"Inoue Miyako…ring a bell?"

"Inoue Miyako!" Hikari exclaimed, slinging her bag over her shoulder, "Wasn't she the…"

"Yeah, yeah," Daisuke waved it away, "The hacker chick, right? Well she had a good reason for getting those files. Don't worry, she's nice."

"Uhhuh," Hikari responded, unconvinced. She followed the others to the door, pushing past a few late diners, "Oh look! There's the bus!"

"I claim the back!" Daisuke called, tapping his taller friend's arm and taking off.

"Don't mind him," Takeru said, giving Hikari a lopsided grin, "He's a little weird."

"Oh," she said, watching the boy with the burgandy hair run up towards the tour bus, "I think he's sweet," Takeru smiled and shrugged.

"At least I'm never bored," he replied, "Come on, lets follow them. If we get the back, we can all sit together," He flinched inwardly. This IS what we were avoiding…

By the time the other two got on the bus, Daisuke had already claimed the back of the bus, stretching out across three of the four seats with a bored expression, headphones on, and his back against the wall. The other seat was occupied by a girl with long purple hair hanging in her face, who was on her knees, leaning over the seat in front of her. She appeared to be talking to(or most likely, bothering)a raven haired boy seated in front of her. He was bent over a sketchbook, and he only nodded to acknowledge her chatter. He was wearing all black.

"Saved us seats, Dai?" Takeru asked, as Daisuke moved to make room for Takeru and Hikari. They settled into a half conversation, and Hikari looked over to find the purple haired girl staring at her through a pair of large glasses.

"Hi," she said carefully as the other pushed up her glasses and extended a hand.

"Inoue Miyako," she said.

"Y-Yagami Hikari," Hikari replied, grasping the hand. Miyako was certainly an interesting sight, wearing what appreared to be a pair of baggy jeans and swimsuit under a short tank. She had a couple of necklaces on and a bandanna tied over her hair. Her hand was cold.

"Hanging out with Takeru and Dai?"

"Um, yeah, I guess…"

"Cool," she said simply, flipping her hair back and returning to her kneeling position, back to bother the boy in front of her. Hikari blinked thoughtfully at Miyako. Then she realized that the teacher was talking and the bus was moving. Takeru and Daisuke were both listening to the shorter boy's headphones(with much difficulty)and Miyako seemed absorbed her black clad victim. Hikari sighed. It was going to be a long ride back afterall. Not that she wasn't used to it. With a sigh she leaned back in her seat, clutching her bag against her chest.

~

After the first half hour had passed, everyone in the back but Hikari had fallen asleep. To her right, Miyako slept upright, her arm twisted behind her head, bookbag under her feet. To her left Daisuke and Takeru were both out, leaning against eachother in a sound sleep. Cute, Hikari thought. Takeru had protested mildly when Daisuke first fell asleep against his shoulder, but with the boring tour guide droning on, he too yawned and eventually joined his friend in his slumber. Hikari leaned forward, bookbag still against her body to get a better look at the boy Miyako was harrasing earlier. He was pale, as she had noticed before, and he scribbled away at a drawing. His shirt said something that started with a "Ra", but she couldn't read the rest of it. His eyes slanted sharply, but he looked strangly calm. Hikari raised an eyebrow as he took an eraser to his paper. How can he draw in a moving bus anyway?

"Checking out Goth Boy?" asked a voice from beside her. Hikari jumped to see Miyako watching her with one eye open. She stretched out her arms then leaned back against the seat.

"Is that what you call him?" Hikari responded, afraid at first that he would hear their discussion, then realizing he was too wrapped up in his art.

"Well, his real name is Ken, but yeah, that's what we call him," Miyako shrugged, "I don't know him all that well. No one does."

"I see…"

"He's cute though, huh?" she said with a smirk, lowering her voice.

"Well I didn't…"

"Uhhuh," the taller girl smiled, unconvinced. "He's got a lot of fangirls."

"Oh really?"

"Yup," she lowered her voice again and talked behind her hand, "Even Daisuke was chasing him for a while. But he's too quiet for my tastes."

"Quiet, huh?" Hikari blinked, watching Ken again. His expression hadn't changed.

"Yup, that's Goth Boy," Miyako looked up, then back at Hikari, "Well if you plan to get to know him, good luck. He doesn't open up much."

"I wasn't really planning anything," Hikari answered. Miyako leaned back and closed her eyes again.

"Well, maybe you should," she replied.

~

A/N 2: Part one of…oh I don't know how many yet ^^; Perhaps a little Kenari in the near future. And just what are Dai and Takeru hiding? Review and Levii will like you lots =)