The sound of the morning alarm blasted through my quiet room. I blindly reached to push the snooze button on that evil device, but to no avail. The alarm was not there. I sat up and looked around my room. Squinting my eyes in the dimly dark room; I could make out the evil device on my computer table saying 6:30 am. How on earth did it get there? It looked like I had to get up to turn the thing off. Wouldn't want Jun-zilla to barge in and start lecturing me about disturbing her beauty sleep.
Sighing in defeat, I left the comfort of my bed and walked towards my computer table. I slammed the waking device until it stopped. I sleepily walked towards my dresser to pick out a pair of white socks, a clean blue shirt with flames on them, and brown shorts. I slowly made my way to the bathroom to prepare myself for a very long and boring day.
School was never really my thing to begin with, but today was the worst. Today I was supposed to read a report in front of my whole class on what I did during the summer. I personally didn't want to read it. The students in my class were jerks, especially this one kid in my class. It was unfortunate really. This jerk was a big time genius and seemed to take great joy in making me seem stupid. I might like to goof around, but it hurts when people like that do that.
It was actually quite surprising that his little brother was the complete opposite of him. You see, his younger brother is the most kindest person I've ever met. I remember when I first met him, three years ago. He offered to spend time with me when no one wanted to. He was a genius like his brother, but never really bragged about it. When I asked him why he wanted to be with someone like me. He said that he liked me and wanted to my friend. He never criticized me like everyone else did. In fact, he defended me and helped me with my work, when I didn't understand it. He was the best! It was a shame that the jerk always managed to drag his little brother away when he saw us together at lunch. He didn't always succeed, though. All three of us had class together and I just so happened to sit next to his brother. So, ha! Take that jerk!
I entered my class and took my assigned seat, which was next to my best friend, toward the front of the classroom. My best friend was already there, taking out his report out of his purple backpack for class. I smiled widely at him when he looked up at me. "Hey, Ken!"
"Hi, Davis. How are you today?" I smiled at my best friend, the boy prodigy, Ken Ichijouji. Ken is a cute, polite, and a very quiet boy. He just so happened to be the same age as me. Although, he is older by a few months. We are both eleven and have been in at least three classes together, every year, within the last three years. Ken is the captain of the soccer team, while I'm his co-captain. He also has the prettiest violet eyes that I'd every laid eyes on. Well, come on, who would not like him? Violet eyes, chin-length hair that was a unique mixture of violets and blues, creamy-color skin, and a slim figure. I have to agree with his fan club. He is drop dead gorgeous. I would so ask him out on a date if it wasn't for the fact that I didn't know if he would return my feelings, and then there was his brother.
"Great!" I place my blue and red backpack on my desk and searched for my journal. "So, where is that brother of yours?" Please say he's sick or at an interview or something.
"A teacher pulled him over to ask a few things." Damn! "Why you ask?"
"No reason." Maybe I said that a little too quickly.
Ken tilted his head cutely, frowning slightly at me. "You sure? You're not still mad that he got you in detention for releasing all those frogs, for science class, in the girl's locker room, are you?" Yes, I was still mad. Tai was the one who did that, not me! I was at soccer practice. How dare they punish me for something I didn't do?
"Nope, I'm fine," I lied.
"Okkaaayyy, whatever you say, Davis," Ken's voice said in slight confusion and uncertainty. "Anyway, are you doing anything Friday?" I raised an eyebrow in thought.
"Not really, why?" I looked at my best friend/crush questioningly.
Ken's face lit up and he turned in his seat to face me as he answered, "Well, it's my birthday Friday and a good friend of mine bought me two tickets for the Battle of the Bands as a birthday present."
"What! No way! I thought those sold out months ago!" I couldn't believe it. My best friend actually got two tickets for the most popular event in teen pop history. I bet he wanted me to go with him.
"They did! My friend Ryo, who is a very good friend of mine, is actually one of the lead singers and wants me to go see his performance and support him. "
"Wow! That amazing! Of course, I like to-"
"Ken!" Damn, speak of the devil. I watched as my best friend turned away from me and looked at his brother.
"Hi, Sam." Sam Ichijouji is a piece of work. He is Ken's elder brother of five years. Unlike, Ken who loved to wear comfortable gray slacks and button dress shirts. Ichijouji preferred to wear black tight skinny jeans and striped, long sleeve shirts, with a brown hoodie sweater. His eyes, unlike Ken's, were a dark, flat purple. It must be that way to express how cold he really was. Why else would he wear glasses over them? His hair is a similar color as Ken's with the exception of it being spiky, instead of straight and long. Ichijouji is, unfortunately, very well known for being a genius. He is on the news all the time and is constantly interviewed for every achievement he had ever done. Everyone gushed over them and saw him as the perfect child, even his damn fan club and parents thought that. But I didn't. In my eyes, Ichijouji was just a cold and heartless jerk.
I've seen the way he treated his little brother. I've seen the bruises and the cover-ups. I've seen the sadness and fear in Ken's eyes when I asked about them, but always dropped it when Ken began to panic and becomes very quiet. It was heartbreaking.
I'm sure his parents never noticed. His parents never seemed to notice anything that wasn't about Sam. It was sad, considering, they never came to his soccer games. They never went to see Ken when he performed for the school's talent shows and musicals. Had I mentioned that Ken has a wonderful voice like an angel? Sometimes I wonder how Ken was able to tolerate being ignored for that long. I know I would curse up a storm if my parents constantly ignored me and if I had a brother who abused me.
Maybe that was why he was the first to approach me when no one wanted to be my friend. He saw someone just like him, someone to protect from the pain of others. He would do something like that. Ken had such a kind and pure heart. I just wish I could help him and shield him from the pain other beings inflicted upon him.
"Motomiya," the jerk greeted coldly.
"Ichijouji," I replied with narrowed eyes. I could be cold too.
Ichijouji faced his brother, completely ignoring me, acting like the all concern brother that I knew he wasn't. "What were you two talking about?"
I watched as Ken brightened again. I couldn't blame him. Ichijouji usually ignored his little brother when his parents were around or when other people were gushing over his achievements and what not. "We were taking about the Battle of the Bands. Ryo told me his band was battling this other band on Friday." Ichijouji's eyes hardened at the mention of Ryo.
"Akiyama, huh?" Was it just me or did it just get twenty degrees colder in here or something?
"Yup! Didn't he tell you?" Ken innocently asked. Damn, I really didn't like the look Ichijouji was giving his brother. If it wasn't for the fact that we were in a public place; I'm pretty sure he would have struck Ken by now.
"Me and Akiyama are not on speaking terms." Ken's eyes widened in confusion, oblivious to his brother's threatening tone.
"But why? You guys are best friends."
"We are not friends!" Ichijouji snapped back, stunning everyone who was already in the room. "He is nothing, but a bad distraction to me and to you! Don't talk to him, don't look at him, and don't even hang out with him! You are to sever all contact you have with him! And don't even think about going to that damn concert Friday! You are coming with me to my scientific achieve award ceremony Friday and that's that!" I watched as my best friend shrank away from his brother's outburst. I growled seeing those hurt violet eyes, glistening with unshed tears.
I slammed my hands hard on the desk as I stood up. I sent Ken's brother a fiery glare, filled with anger. Who did this guy think he is? My mom would have slapped me across the face and force soap down my mouth if I ever talked to Jun like that. He's not even Ken's mother or father! Who gave him the right to talk like that to his brother? He was acting like he controlled Ken's life! "WHAT THE HELL ICHIJOUJI?"
"What's going on here?" I grumbled under my breath. The jerk was lucky the teacher just came in. I would get him next time.
"Nothing Mr. Oikawa. Just a little disagreement that's all." Ichijouji made me sick. How dare he use the innocent card like that? He was acting as if he hadn't yelled and hurt his brother's feelings.
"Settle this matter on your own time. I want no fighting in my class," Mr. Oikawa said as he looked at me and the Ichijouji brothers.
"Understood." I forced myself not to turn around to glare at the jerk as he replied smoothly, walking towards his desk dismissively.
I forced myself not to fidget under Mr. Oikawa's stare. Mr. Oikawa was a man in his mid-thirties. He has pale skin, black eyes, and black shoulder length hair. He was wearing a black suit, purple dress shirt, and red necktie. Mr. Oikawa put his suitcase on the teacher's desk as his eyes landed on Ken. I turned to look at my friend and felt my heart fill with pain and sadness.
Ken's head was bowed slightly. A curtain of hair hid his beautiful violet eyes. His hands were folded together on his lap and his shoulders were shaking slightly. I placed a hand on his trembling shoulder, unsure what to do. "Ken? Are you okay?" Ken didn't reply, which concerned me.
"Mr. Ichijouji, are you alright?" I watched as Mr. Oikawa crouched in front of him, talking to him quietly.
"Yes, Mr. Oikawa…I'm fine…I didn't mean to disrupt the class…" Small droplets of tears landed on Ken's folded hands as he spoke. I knew Ken was not fine. Ichijouji hurt him emotionally again. There was only so much he could take. I wish he would let me in, to help him with his pain, instead of him taking in my pain and helping me with mine. It wasn't fair.
Mr. Oikawa looked at me with a concerned look on his face. Mr. Oikawa might be a strict and boring English teacher, but I knew he hated seeing children in pain, especially Ken. Funny thing about Mr. Oikawa was that he's a family friend of Ken's father. The two used to work together as a geneticist before Mr. Oikawa decided to pursue teaching. So I guess you can say that he had known the Ichijouji family for a long time and, in turn, had become very fond of Ken.
"Mr. Ichijouji, come to the hall with me." I watched sadly as Ken got up and walked with Mr. Oikawa out of the classroom and into the hall. I kept my eyes trained on the door as the rest of the class began to talk about what happened.
"What's wrong with Sam's brother?"
"I don't know. He seems really upset about something."
"I bet Motomiya said something to him."
"Yeah, that guy can be such a jerk!"
"Motomiya acts like he's some big shit! I don't know why Ken hangs out with him?"
"Ken's too kind. He doesn't like to see people isolated or in pain."
"Yeah right! If anyone is doing the hurting around here it would be Motomiya!"
"Poor Ken!"
I gritted my teeth at the conversations. Some continued their opinions and accusations of me, while others mentioned that Ichijouji was yelling because he was having an argument with me, and Ken ended up getting a little emotional because of it. It was frustrating to hear that most of the class thought I would hurt my friend on purpose. It was bad enough that they hated my guts and thought badly of me.
I only had one friend in this school and that would be Ken. He said nothing, but good things about me, even with my faults and cocky behavior. He saw through my mask of cheerfulness and saw the pain from what other people said about me. Ken wasn't fazed by it though. He continued to hang out with me and, at times, defended me on my behalf, even if it was just words.
"Okay class let's begin. Please take out your reports that I assigned you last week." The class quieted down as Mr. Oikawa reentered the room. I frowned when Ken didn't come with him. I raised my hand as Mr. Oikawa asked who wanted to go first. Mr. Oikawa looked surprised at me. "Mr. Motomiya, I'm surprised. You usually don't volunteer to go first." I cursed at my luck. That was a stupid move. "Very well. Come up and present your report to the class."
I groaned at my luck. I really didn't want to present. Ken was not here. I always felt better when he was here. I could look at him, instead of the rest of the class. I got up and walked to the front of the class, my back still facing the other students. "Mr. Oikawa, where's Ken?"
Mr. Oikawa placed his reading glasses on and began writing my name on one of those project grading sheets. Not even looking at me as he replied. "I sent Mr. Ichijouji to the restroom. He'll be back soon. Though, I would like to speak to you after class."
"Oh," I said disappointedly. I turned around to face the class. Every boy and girl were giving me looks. None of them were nice or encouraging. I glanced at Ken's empty desk and sighed. Well here goes nothing. "Takeru was not always the Warrior of Hope. He was the son of a powerful king, who ruled over the Holy Digitals. Takeru helped his father take care of them and train them. Takeru was often seen dining and training with the Holy Digitals, such as Tokomon, Patamon, Angemon, and MagnaAngemon. But one day, when he was training with Angemon, an Evil Digital named Devimon attacked.
When he woke up, he learned that Angemon saved him by taking him to the Kingdom in the Sky, home of the Three Celestial Digitals. One of the Celestial, Ophanimon, recognized him as the son of the Holy Digitals' King and gave him special powers that he would have to figure out on his own. He also received an orange striped egg, a portable computer, and a green oval like device with a white center from the other two Celestial Digitals.
He was raised by Angemon and the rest of the Holy Digitals. They taught him how to survive and how to use his new powers. Over time, the egg hatched and became a Patamon. Takeru helped his partner evolve to his Champion form. As he grew, Takeru received wings and was able to master his powers, giving him the title as the Warrior of Hope.
But that was years ago. I first met him when he saved me when I was skydiving during the summer. I took him home and he told me of his home, Planet Digital, and how he was searching for his father, who was rumored to be captured by the Kaiser. He said I could visit Plant Digital one day. Then one night, I was visited by a light, a beautiful girl with short brown hair and cherry-colored eyes. Her name was Hikari. She smiled at me and told me she came to bring Takeru home for a great evil was threatening Planet Digital. She asked if I could come with them, but I refused, saying that I had school tomorrow. I watched as they left and I haven't seen Takeru and Hikari since then. That's what I did this summer."
I looked up from my journal and saw Ken sitting in his seat. He had a soft smile on his face that could light up a room and his eyes were sparkling with interest and curiosity. The rest of the class, however, had looks of mockery and disbelief. Some students threw paper balls at me as they laughed, while others yelled insults at me and called me names.
"Stop!" Mr. Oikawa spoke up, looking disappointedly at the class. "I will not tolerate disrespect in my class. That includes those of you who threw paper balls at Mr. Motomiya. You will be picking those up at the end of class."
"You were supposed to tell a true story, Motomiya. Or are you just stupid?" the jerk said dryly.
"It is a true story!" I retorted back.
"Does Hikari have another name like Takeru does or have special powers too?" my best friend asked curiously.
"There is no such thing as Hikari," Mr. Oikawa told Ken. Ouch!
I turned a couple of pages until I found the page on Hikari. "Hikari lives with the Royal Knights and Angelic and Mystical Digitals. She is partnered with a Holy Digital named Gatomon and she can form energy arrows and summon energy balls from her hands."
"Interesting, " Ken breathed in awe. He believed me!
"You can't possibly be believing this loser's lies, Ken!" Ken's stiffened slightly at the sound of his brother's voice and his eyes downcast to his desk in shame. I shot a glare to the now renamed bastard, who was sitting at a desk near the window. That guy was no longer a jerk. He was a full fledge bastard. You hear me, world! Sam Ichijouji is a bastard!
"Mr. Ichijouji." Mr. Oikawa had seen the way Ken had reacted to his brother and was now glaring emotionlessly at the elder Ichijouji. "You will not talk that way towards your classmates, including Mr. Motomiya. If your comments are not positive and respectful, do not speak them. Is that clear?"
Sam Ichijouji had an unreadable expression on his face, as well, but I could tell he was very angry. "Crystal."
"Good," Mr. Oikawa said with a smile. "You're next by the way. Thank you Mr. Motomiya, that was a lovely presentation. Please take a seat." I watched as Ichijouji walked from his seat to the front of the class as I made my way to mine. Ichijouji sent a look of pure hatred at me as I took my seat next to Ken. I turned my body defiantly away from him and looked at my friend in concern.
"Ken, are you okay?" Ken lifted his gaze to me and tried to cover up the pain that Ichijouji's words caused. He didn't cover it fast enough, though. I saw the hurt and fear reflected in those violet orbs. Why won't he let me in? Was he afraid that I won't help him?
"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." He smiled, but I could tell it was fake. Why are you hiding you pain Ken? Please let me help you. "We'll talk later, okay? Sam's about to start," Ken added when I sent him a stubborn look that told him I knew he was lying.
I smiled in victory. "Sure." Maybe I could get him to open up today and tell me what was wrong. I'm telling you that kid was just as stubborn as me. The only difference was that he's a lot nicer and gentle about it, while I'm blunt and straightforward.
"During the summer, I got a letter to go to the Young Minds Scientific Award. It was the best day of my life! My invention was picked out of over five thousand contestants, worldwide, to receive this award and win the grand prize of three thousand dollars."
"Wooowww," the class echoed. I rolled my eyes. Show off!
"My family was coming with me to Shibuya. However, that was the same day my little brother was hanging out with a childhood friend of his and was not home at the time. My parents forgot that he was at his friends and asked me to go get him. When I got there, I was told that my younger brother was at this friend's band practice. Ken's friend is in a band and is trying to become famous. Though, they are not very good in my opinion. I don't know why Ken doesn't tell them that?" Ken looked away as his brother rambled on a little bit. I restrained myself from making a crude comment. I didn't want the teacher to go after me. I like him, but he could be scary at times.
"After I brought Ken back, we got our things together and left. The drive was long and boring, but it was worth it. My parents did stop a few times for food and other breaks. Though, it was really annoying when Ken got a call from some dog." Hey! Who was he calling a dog?
"I saw the look on my brother's face and immediately took the call for him. I gave the guy my opinion of him and told him to leave my brother alone, if he knew what's good for him. I know what your thinking. Why did I do that? Well you see, I had to protect my baby brother. You would do the same for yours, if you were in my shoes."
The class was looking at him in awe. They believed he was being the protective brother. What they didn't know was that I was on the other line, asking Ken if he wanted to come over and hang out with me. I toned out Ichijouji for the rest of the class and pretty much missed the glares he sent me when he finished. I didn't even notice some of the other kids going up and doing their reports, until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see it was Ken before the bell rang for the end of class.
I blinked realizing I pretty much went into la la land during class. Ken giggled at me when he saw the confused look on my face. "Come on Davis, lets go to lunch." I gave him a wounded look, but quickly let it go and laughed along with him.
"Sure let's go! I'm hungry!" I stuffed my things into my bag, grabbing Ken's hand as I run out the door, completely forgetting my talk with the teacher. Ken laughed the entire way as I dragged him down the hall and into the cafeteria. I really like it when he laughed. I could listen to it forever.
"How is it that you still have all that energy?" Ken asked as soon as we got on line. Actually, it was more like: I ran to the line, since I didn't stop running when we got into the cafeteria. "I don't know. I just do! I always tend to have a lot of energy, which really annoys Jun-zilla," I said as I grabbed a bowl of mash potato, chicken, corn, Jell-O, and a carton of juice for the both of us.
"You probably have high stamina or something," Ken said thoughtfully before giving me a disappointed look. "Davis don't say that about your sister. It isn't nice." I pouted at him.
"But Keeennn, she is," I whined playfully. Ken sighed at me and shook his head at my whining, while we walked to our table near the window.
Before we sat down, a thought came to my mind. Usually, when we ate at the cafeteria, Sam Ichijouji and his posse, usally, came to our table and drags Ken away to there's. Not today, though. "Hey Ken, let's eat somewhere else today." Ken blinked at me in a confused manner.
"Okay, where should we go then?" Great! He was all for it. I thought for a moment. Where should we go? We could always go outside, but where? I looked at the window and then it hit me.
"Why don't we go where we first met?" A look of surprise appeared on his face at my suggestion. After a few seconds, it turned into a soft smile.
"Sure, why not? We haven't been there in awhile." And with that, we walked outside and headed straight for a familiar tree in the distance.
I remembered when I first came to this school. No one wanted to be my friend and were very mean to me. I was sitting at the root of the beautiful tree. This tree was beautiful with its pink and white flowers, and was still standing tall for how old it was. That was the day Ken saw me and sat next to me. I thought he was going to be like everyone else and make fun of me, so I lifted my head to glare at him, to tell him to got away. But I stopped short when I got a good look at him.
Ken radiated with kindness and warmth. He gave me a sad, curious look as he asked if I was okay. Even his voice was filled with kindness. I never thought a person could be so nice and kind. He was sad when I told him and clearly thought the other children were wrong and that there was nothing wrong with being a dreamer. After that day, I found myself getting closer to the kind genius. I gained a best friend and a personal tutor at that, despite his brother's attempts to keep me away from him. Over the months of being friends with him, I got to know him better and began developing feelings for him, and it had been growing deeper over the years.
"This brings back memories, doesn't it Ken?" I asked as we sat down and began to eat our lunches.
"Yeah it does." For the rest of the period, we ate and made small talk. I did ask Ken about what happened in class, but he had gotten quiet when I asked. Ken looked so sad and I didn't like it.
"Ken, I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to." Ken shook his head sadly, never removing eyes contact with me.
"No, it's okay. I'm used to Sam's treatment by now. I should have known better. Ryo told me he had a falling out with my brother, but I didn't know it was this bad. I thought that Sam would get over the break up by now and move on, but I guess I was wrong," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
I tried to process what Ken told me. "Wait! They were a couple?" Obvious answer I know. My brain was shot. Sue me!
"Yeah." Ken blinked and gave me a look that said I should know this already.
"So…were you okay with this? I mean...them being ex-lovers and all." Would he be okay when I get the courage to ask him?
"Of course, I am!" he said defensively. "They're my brother and best friend. Why wouldn't I be? It's not like there's anything wrong with two guys dating or anything." Ken paused for a moment, before asking, "Why you ask?"
"No reason. Some people don't accept this type of coupling, that's all." Yes! So he was fine with it! I may still have a chance after all. Ken looked at his watch as I began to speak again. "So Ken do you…what's wrong?" He looked at me and grabbed his stuff.
"We should head back now. The bell is about to ring." Drat! Oh well, maybe tomorrow then. With that final thought, I quickly got my stuff together and followed Ken back to the school, where we attended the rest of our classes.
I sighed in relief as the bell to go home rang. I slowly exited the gym's locker room and proceeded to walk home. Usually, I enjoy gym class, you know, since I have all this high stamina and all. (Thank you Ken!) However, I was so distracted today that I ended up getting yelled at by the gym teacher and students. Worst. Day. Ever.
I exited the school and started to walk off the school grounds. As I walked, I got a bad felling that something was going to happen and I was right to. As soon as I passed the park near the edge of the school, I was ambushed by none other Sam Ichijouji and his genius posse. Ichijouji gave me a look as he took my bag, while the rest of his posse pushed me against the jungle gym and ganged up on me for several minutes. I managed to kick two of the four away from me begore I got hit in the face with my own bag.
The bag hurt a lot. I was in a daze for a few seconds, giving Ichijouji and his posse enough time to leave. I groaned as I got up and pulled my bag to my right shoulder again. "Damn, that hurt." I rubbed the right side of my face as it throbbed slightly. "What on earth just happened?" I asked to no one in particular as I continued to walk home.