A/N: Happy Odaiba Day everyone! Let's kick things off with an 01 rewrite! Here goes nothing! Enjoy!

Chapter One: Somewhere In the Wave

There were three things that Ichijouji Ken had to do to get through this situation.

The first was to hold onto his camera. The second was to find Yagami Taichi. And the third was to not stop running.

"Ken-chan, hurry, hurry!"

Easy for you to say, you can float.

Ken did not say this aloud, choosing to focus on saving his breath and air. He couldn't fall over, cause if he did-

The loud shriek behind him was followed by the crash of a falling tree. He pushed his feet forward. Ken pumped his small legs, purple hair sticking to his face as he ducked his head. Hurry, hurry, he told himself as the little pinecone monster he had met at random appeared in his vision again, waving a green flipper.

"Dive, Ken-chan, dive!"

Ken dove straight towards a tree trunk. He expected to hit wood. Instead he rolled onto cool tile, landing somewhat on his feet. It stung, sending reverberations up his legs. He winced. "Ow…"

"You okay, Ken-chan?" The tiny voice came from atop his head and a tiny twig fell in his face. He felt the strange creature crawl forward.

Ken rolled back, once neatly combed hair now sticking up in every direction, getting a face full of mouth pod and seemingly cute. He traced his arm and found it bleeding. "Just a scratch... I think." It didn't hurt like it was deep, but it burned like his fall on rocks and woodchips from the swing set.

The creature, Minomon, he reminded himself, blinked its beady eyes and floated down to look at it. "It's trickling a lot... are you sure it's okay?"

Ken hesitated, pressing against the wound with a part of his sleeve. He tried not to flinch at the sight of the blood. "I-I think so… one of the others had a first aid kit."

Minomon clacked his mouth and nodded, determination setting in his small face and eyes. "i'll go look for them! Do they all look like you?" The energetic waving of Minomon's flippers caused Ken to fidget a little. Was this why his brother sometimes said to quiet down? He must be very loud.

"Um no... most of them are taller." Ken scratched his head, wishing he was better at describing lots of people. He paused a minute. There was one. If Minomon found him, then... "Oh, can you look for Taichi-san? He-He should be able to find everyone else. His hair is really big and messy and brown." He made a gesture with his good arm. "He also has these goggles and he's wearing blue! Look for him Minomon, okay?" Not to mention, Taichi-san knows who I am. So he'll believe you.

He hoped the older boy would anyway.

Minomon bobbed his head. "Okay! Stay here in the Hiding Tree and wait for me!"

Before Ken could say no, the pinecone disappeared through the wall with a schlooping sound. He stared for a moment, then slumped to the ground. It wasn't rough, but a little smooth. He drew up his knees and rested his head against them, trying not to tremble.

Nii-san, I wish you were here...

His brother was smart; he'd be able to get out of this.

Then again, he had gotten himself out of it already.

August first had dawned sunny and mostly cloudless, at least in Japan. Ichijouji Ken watched his father flick from news channel to news channel, dismay clouding his face more and more as things went on. "Floods, landslides, blizzards all over the place…" he muttered. "Thought global warming was considered a myth."

"I don't think global warming acts this erratic, Dad." Ichijouji Osamu shut his brother's door, heaving a small. bag over his lanky shoulder. "Kay, Ken, you're packed."

Ken perked at the sound of his brother's voice and only stayed on the stool by virtue of his mother's insistent comb. "Thanks, Nii-san!" He paused. "I could have packed it though."

Osamu grinned, reaching to clean his glasses. "I'm throwing you to the wolves. The least I can do is give you a sandwich."

Ken's eyes widened. "There- there are no wolves by the shrine!" He shifted nervously in his chair. to look at his father "R-right, Dad?" He winced at a tug in his hair as his mother let go, toying at his now shortened locks.

His father smiled and shook his head. "Of course not, he's just teasing again."

"Sure there are, Dad." Ken couldn't help giggling at the wide-eyed earnestness on his brother's face. "They're called kids."

"Osamu, stop discouraging him." Their mother sighed gently, nudging Ken from the stool. "They're not going to eat you, Ken, really. You'll be fine."

Ken hopped from the stool. "Mm... Thanks Mom!" He went to go check his bag, testing it in his hands. "I wish Nii-san could come too..." He knew he shouldn't say it again (he'd chanted it all week!) but he did. His brother could be kinda rough at times, and he was a little impatient but Ken would have had even more fun if he was there.

"I'd rather be there than exam tutoring." Osamu rolled his eyes. The day I need a tutor for anything other than computer hardware and economics is the day Ken's hair stays near his ears."

"Nii-san!" Ken brushed at his newly cut hair. He didn't like it short, what was wrong with that?

Osamu moved over to him and began to tickle his stomach. "What, what is it, Ken? Have I offended you?" Ken laughed and tried to scramble away, but he knew his brother would be relentless. He always was at tickle fights. And sports. And school. And protecting Ken. And…

Wow, when he put it like that, Osamu sounded pretty tough. Hehe. His brother was tough. He always said he had the strength of a wet noodle.

There was a knock at the door and Ken saw his mother rise. "Already? It's quite early, isn't it?"

"It's a good thing Nii-san packed me then." Ken swung his legs back and forth. He was trying not to just run out the door without saying goodbye, but it was summer camp! He'd never been before! Who wouldn't want to go? He could make friends and pen pals and show Osamu what he knew about the outdoors and get to be in photos and a lot of stuff. Everyone would be so proud. Those were things that Osamu couldn't do. Also... friends.

His mother opened the door and smiled. "Hello there." Her voice wavered a bit before she continued. "How can I help you?"

From where he was sitting, all Ken could see was a mass of brown hair. "Hello, this is the Ichijouji residence, right?" A pause, then the person must have grinned. "My name is Yagami Taichi, I'm supposed to pick up… Ken? For the summer trip? I'm getting that right, aren't I?"

Ken perked at the sound of his name, only to stop at the tight grip on his shoulder. Osamu's pale lips were set in a thin line. "Nii-san…"

Of course. His brother was worried. Ken tried to smile at him. He'd be all right. He was just gonna go to camp, draw some pictures, maybe make a couple friends (friends were hard when you had a super famous big brother!), fun things! Except for no toilets, but he could work around that.

Their mother smiled. "Yes, please come in. I'm sorry, it must have been a long journey." She stepped aside and he saw the rest of Yagami Taichi.

All Ken could think was that this guy was nothing like Osamu-nii-san.

(He would later remember the word he was thinking of was antithesis.)

His brother would forever be known to him as smart, quiet, somewhat thoughtful, clever, but muted. When parents weren't watching him, Ken always saw Osamu trying to blend in with the wall. All but around Ken, and sometimes, even him. Ken wished he knew why. Osamu was always pale, no matter how many times their parents said go outside, and the few times that he did. His brother always looked close to falling over.

This person though, they were stocky, small, wild. It wasn't that he wanted attention. As he walked in the room, he had it, right down to the sparkle in his eyes. He grinned at the pair of siblings. He looked from Osamu to Ken. Ken tensed before he could stop himself. Here it was: the inevitably fawning over his brother. Not that his brother didn't deserve it, but it would be nice to be-

Taichi marched over and knelt to Ken. "Well, I'm a bit disappointed," he said. For a moment, Ken thought his brother had grown claws, his hand was so tight, but then Taichi added. "I was expecting someone taller."

Ken couldn't help it; he puffed out his cheeks and tried to glare. "I'm not that short!"

Osamu, however, snickered. "Yeah, you are, Ken."

The boy's grin widened. "I came up here thinking "oh, we've got a tough kid ready to rough it," Taichi made an exaggerated wink in his general direction. "But nope, instead of that, we've got a male version of my sister! So now I don't have to be all smart and plan things and work around you. I just have to strap you to my back and run from any bears. You're light enough, right?"

Ken had to stop pouting to laugh. He didn't even think his dad could use him as a backpack.

Osamu moved his hand from Ken's shoulder and offered it to Taichi to shake. "Ichijouji Osamu. I'll count on you with Ken?" Clipped, no argument, like a business transaction.

Ken waited for the spark of recognition. It didn't come, but Taichi shook his hand anyway. "Done and done, buddy!"

The more Taichi talked, the more Osamu began to relax. Ken felt his cheeks stretching into a painful smile, he was so happy. This was perfect! Taichi-san was an older brother, he would be someone that Ken could stick by if he had no friends (not that he didn't think he couldn't make at least one) that wouldn't just dismiss him because he wasn't Osamu or anything special. Taichi-san would welcome him wherever.

And he promised to keep an eye on Ken. He had hit Osamu in the place his big brother always thought about, or at least he said he did.

Osamu's stoic face rippled in surprise and then he smiled. Ken almost sighed aloud. He thought his brother would never relax. "Good. Ken, get your stuff."

In other words, get your other bag from your bed while the parents be good parents for the first time in a while. Ken really didn't see why his brother was so angry at them. He only hoped it would stop while he was gone. His brother needed to relax. However, he went to obey, going to make sure everything was okay and say goodbye to the various stuffed animals. They were all probably very cross with him.

From the other side of the doorway, he heard his mother comment. "You're here awfully early."

Taichi laughed. It sounded sheepish. "Well, my sister has a doctor's appointment pretty soon so we figured we ought to get him then drop her off. She really wanted to meet him." He paused and Ken readjusted the caterpillar onto his pillow. He was always under the impression that this stuffed animal liked his pillow the best.

"She's not good with all of the rowdy kids at her school, so…" Another, tiny pause. "He seems quiet."

"They both are!" Ken winced. His mother was about to brag. Osamu would get mad if she did. He smoothed his blanket down and snatched his travel bag from the floor, hurrying out.

"Done, Nii-san!" he said a bit too loudly. His father shot him a look but Osamu smiled in relief.

Taichi seemed to be on the same lines as his brother. "All righty, hand me the bigger case and we can go!"

Ken nodded and, in a fit of sudden homesickness -but he wasn't even gone yet!- ran to his parents and hugged them, then his brother. Then, before they could see his pink-tinged face, he grabbed his backpack and hurried out the door.

When he reached the elevator, he heard Taichi say. "Your family's not all that good at the whole "sentimental" thing, huh?"

Ken flushed and he knew the older boy could see it reflected on the elevator. "Well…"

Taichi waved a free, gloved hand. "It's cool, it's cool. So, you ready?"

The elevator slid open and Ken smiled. "You bet!" He was, he was so ready to be away from his house, especially since there were still bathrooms, or… something like bathrooms.

Taichi laughed. "That's the spirit!"

Taichi-san's sister was kind of cute.

In a kid way! She wasn't like: she was a girl! She was cute! That was all!

The large van jolted over a pothole and Hikari let out a squeak, long hair flopping into her face. She lowered the camera in her tiny fingers. Taichi laughed from the seat over.

"Told you to give up on the pictures, Hikari." Hikari pouted and mimed throwing a cracker at him. Taichi ducked in mock horror. "Easy, I need my head for soccer!"

Ken muffled little laughs behind his hands. They looked like they had a lot of fun. Hikari rolled her eyes but she was biting her lip to contain her own giggles. She took a few deep breaths and put her hand over her heart, slowly calming down.

"Ichijouji-kun," she finally said when her face was a little less red. "Do you draw?" She was looking at his open backpack, which he had rummaged through when his mother had come out to hand him his allergy medicine. Embarrassing as it had been, Ken had taken it. No sneezing through the camping trip!

Ken shook his head and pulled the sketchbook onto his lap. "I'd like to because Osamu-nii-san can't but I don't think I'll be able to do very much. Not enough anyway…" He knew he could draw stick figures and shapes but that wasn't much and weren't camps really active?

Hikari nodded thoughtfully, her red eyes very steady on her lap. Then she nodded to herself and removed her camera from her neck. She held it out to Ken. "Would it be faster if you used this instead?"

Ken blinked, looked at the tiny thing with its yellow strap. "Your camera? But, but it's yours…" He didn't want to take things that weren't his.

"Yeah but you're going to camp!" Hikari smiled before she continued, like she had already thought this through. "You take pictures and then you can show me when you get back!"

Ken thought about this. He didn't want to just take the camera, but it would be easier than the sketchbook to get a bunch of pictures done. Still, Hikari-chan should get something too. It was only fair. He pulled out his sketchbook and the pencils. "Trade," he said as firmly as he could. This was weird, he had never really given big things to his classmates before, they were too busy asking if his brother helped him cheat on his homework.

Hikari blinked and Ken hesitated. He could feel Taichi keeping one eye on them and the Yagami's father watching from the rearview mirror. "Of-Of course, if it's too much trouble…"

Hikari dropped the camera in his lap with one hand and took the sketchbook with the other. He thought he could have been imagining it, but her eyes seemed a bit glassy. "No," she said, looking away with a flushed face. "Thank you." She shook her head and her bright little smile returned. "I'll be able to draw the doctor today."

"If she lets you," Susumu muttered with a good natured grin from the driver's seat.

Taichi leaned over. "You should draw me first, Hikari."

Ken let out a squeaking laugh at the look on Taichi's face and Hikari giggled, taking the pencils as well. "I don't think there's enough brown, Onii-chan!"

Taichi made an affronted noise as the van slowed to a stop. He unbuckled and hopped up. "Ken, can you lift your feet?"

Ken hurried to obey as Hikari easily undid the straps. She stretched her arms as her father opened the other car door. A plastic ramp unfolded to the ground and Taichi went outside. Hikari glanced over at Ken and smiled. "Nice meeting you, Ichijouji-kun."

Ken nodded, now feeling a little shy.

Hikari let out a tiny grunt and pushed her chair from where it had sat for so long. After a few careful turns, she had maneuvered it onto the ramp and out of the van. There was a short, hushed conversation, and Taichi went back into the car, watching his father walk Hikari to the doors of the clinic.

The van was quiet. It didn't feel right to ask, and Taichi-san wouldn't tell.

Moments later, Taichi-san's father returned, and they were off again.

Ken felt something jostling into his chest, pulling him from his trying to remember. He shivered on the cold ground and opened his eyes. Minomon was staring up at him. "Ken-chan?" His little green head tilted to the right and if it weren't for his position, Ken would want to take a picture. Hikari-san would think it was really cute.

Not that Ken wouldn't agree. Minomon was cute (Another thing that made him different, boys weren't supposed to think stuff was cute.), especially since he wouldn't stop staring at him. "Are you okay?"

Ken nodded. "The floor's a little cold, but… but I'm okay." It wasn't as rough as the dirt under the tents, lucky for him.

Minomon hopped up on his pinecone (Ken wondered how he didn't fall over) and made an awkward floating bob towards the wall of the tree. "I'll go get you some leaves. They're more comfy than this floor!"

Ken opened his mouth to protest but Minomon disappeared before he could. He let out a tiny sigh. Did he find Taichi-san? All this stuff had happened and all he had wanted to do was go to a summer camp and get pinecones and have fun…

Well, he had gotten a pinecone. Minomon was half-pinecone.

He felt his eyes water and gave them a stubborn rub. He was being stupid, dumb as the crowd of giggling classmates that followed his brother at his school. He couldn't have done a thing about this. He couldn't have known what the shiny lights were when one appeared, or where he was.

He wasn't at the campsite anymore, that much was clear.

Where were the other campers? Were they okay?

A rustling noise suddenly reverberated through the walls of his safe zone. Ken tensed and curled up as small as possible.

It's just Minomon with the leaves, it's just Minomon with the leaves….

Could he be that lucky?

A/N: Hey guys! Happy Odaiba Day once again! Took me a while to decide to do this story, but I'm happy with how it's going so far! Please leave your reviews and the like below, I always appreciate them. Thank you again!

Challenges: AU Diversity Boot Camp prompt "bubble", what if, character spin-off, season rewrite, headcanons, diversity writing (Digimon) prompt M10, and Advent Calendar challenge day 23. Yeesh, that's a lot. Anyway, just leaving that here.

Thanks so much for making it this far everybody!