Blah blah blah, I don't own Digimon or their characters. No suing.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

That was all Ken could hear. Outside, it was raining quite harshly. He sat and stared, stared at the rain, droning on endlessly, all exactly the same. Each drop landed softly on the earth as though the skies were only weeping. Each one Ken felt pity for. If only it were snow rather then the warm rain. Each individual snowflake was unique, special, different, yet all perfect in their own way. But it wasn't snow. It was rain, every drop the same. Every one full of sorrow and remorse.

He turned to see his room darker than it usually was. Was it actually brighter outside? Had his environment become darker then the dreariness he saw through the pane of the window? He feared to think so. He wasn't even sure if the other digidestined trusted him. Not one. All he had ever had was Wormmon. It just felt so awful to be hated, he now realized. He didn't even like himself. It...just felt as though he were dying. If he wasn't, maybe he should be.

I was never anyone. He told himself. Only a replica of Osamu, Sam. God, what was I thinking? Why did this all start? He breathed a grieving sigh. Then another thought occurred to him; wasn't it selfish to feel this way? If it were not he, it would only be someone else, and he would not wish his pain on any other. Who cared for him now? Did his parents really love him, or just the memory of his brother? He couldn't be sure.

He could never join the others when they did not love him. They loved each other, but they did not love him, thus he must not be one of them. He had only Wormmon. But he had no right to Wormmon, he could be taken away. Ken did not deserve him, after all. Then what would he do? He should only suffer in the turmoil he created.

"What are you thinking about, Ken?" asked Wormmon from the top bunk.

"Nothing, friend." He forced a slight smile for him.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his large blue eyes filled with concern for his partner.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Okay." Wormmon lazily flopped onto his stomach.

Ken closed his eyes when he heard a voice call his name. Wormmon and he shared a nervous glance as Ken sat up straight in his chair. "Ken? Are you here?" the equally nervous voice echoed once more. Ken remained silent as the door slowly opened, and to his surprise, Kari walked into his room.

"Kari?" he whispered questioningly. "Wh-how did you get in here?" he stood up, becoming aware of how odd this situation was.

"Hello Ken." She bowed. "No one was here and no one answered the door...so I came in. I'm sorry, I could leave if-"

"It's...okay." he said. "Why are you here?"

"To talk." She answered calmly. He watched her carefully, a hint of distrust behind his eyes.

Ken sat back down, turning once more to the window. "I'm sorry, I just don't think you could understand."

"You don't know that." She insisted. "There's more to us then you think."

"By us you mean the digidestined?" he more stated then asked.

Kari sighed. She had only come here on an impulse. Was it right to do? She let a long while pass before she responded. "Why won't you join us, Ken?" she asked.

"I just...can't..." he said somberly.

"We need all of the digidestined to defeat what forces lie beyond us." Kari reasoned. She looked up at Wormmon who was clutching the bedpost with his small, purple, claws.

"Forgive me, I cannot." Ken said distantly, not wanting to face someone he knew to be so much better then he was.

Taking a chance, she placed her hand on his shoulder. He slightly jumped, startled. "Uh, Ken...I really want to talk."

He stared at her thoughtfully. "Very well." He agreed.

Kari sat on his bed, allowing Wormmon to crawl down into her arms. "Why can't you just join us? We need you."

"But you don't want me." He stated, almost interrupting her.

"I..." she looked down. Could that be true? Did Davis and T.K. only need him, not want him? The thought had not crossed her mind before. "Ken, we want to be your friend."

"Do you?" he asked dully. "You have a big heart, Kari. I'm sure you feel that way, but please believe me when I say that you do not want me as a friend."

"But you're the crest of kindness, there is good in you."

"Ha." He laughed. "Look at me, Kari. I've sickly abused my crest. I am nothing."

"You're a good person." She nodded as she stroked Wormmon's head. "I hope you can see that one day." She stood up and walked around the room.

Ken moved from the chair to his bed. "You should have my crest. You are very kind."

Kari furrowed her brow. "But I don't. You have it, now use it."

"I'm useless." He mumbled. "Not like you. Not like the others. T.K., Cody, Yolei, even Davis, the leader." He looked down.

Kari rolled her eyes. "Davis couldn't start a fire in hell." She muttered.

For the first time, Ken held a smirk on his face, which turned into a laugh. His smile caused Kari to laugh as well. Ken held his hand up to his face and stopped as if it were the wrong thing to be doing. "I-I'm sorry." He turned away.

"There's nothing wrong with laughing, Ken." She frowned and stood in front of him.

"There is when you're me." He lowered his head and sighed.

"I don't think you give yourself enough credit." She scolded.

"I think you give me too much." He gazed out the window once more, watching the rain gather in large lakes on the street. "Why would you want to be my friend?" he asked, a bit curious.

"Because you need us." She stated simply.

"I..." he pondered a moment. If he said no, it would sound too much like the old him. If he said yes...Kari would only take it as one more reason for him to join, which he knew he just could not.

"You? You what?" she pried, leaning forward as though expecting him to say that she was correct.

Ken did something unexpected, taking her hands in his. "Hikari, I beg of you to go now. I fear I simply cannot join your group."

Kari stared down into his dark eyes. "But...we...need you..." she pleaded, half shocked.

"You don't. You are strong enough to go on." He turned away painfully.

"K-Ken?" she reached her hand to him.

"Go, Kari!" he hissed as he swatted her hand away. "Please...leave me be..." his voice seemed to crackle. Was...was he crying?

Kari looked down at Wormmon who was sadly scuffling across the floor. "Ken...we...love you...all of us...we're a family...that's what the digidestined...are." Kari tried. She shook her head and turned, walking out the door and shutting it behind her.

"Ken..." Wormmon tugged at his pant leg. "She's right...I miss Armadillomon. He's my...friend."

Ken looked down with tears streaming down his face. "Wormmon, I'm sorry!"

"Um..."

"I've never had a family..." His eyes widened. "Kari..." he grabbed Wormmon off the floor and headed out the door.

Kari shivered in the cold rain that hit her body. "Why won't he change, Gatomon?" she asked miserably. "I know he wants to. I can feel it."

"I don't know, but this rain is matting my fur! Let's go home."

Why does he have to be so stubborn? She thought disappointedly. Ken seemed like such a nice person. Hot tears of anger gathered up in her eyes. Why do I have to care? Why did I go there in the first place?

"Kari!" she heard a yell behind her.

She whipped around to see a familiar boy. "Ken!" she said happily.

He ran over and stopped five feet in front of her, rain drenching his form as he panted heavily.

To be continued! Muahahahahahahaha!!! Whatcha think? Kenari? Eh? Sequel? Hmmmmmm?

By Dobokoyuramon