A/N: Written for the digimon_100 challenge, for the pairing: Kouichi/Miyako and prompt #035 – mist.

These "parts" are actually all separate oneshots, so they don't flow like chapters would and are missing scenes in between. I just didn't want to do the whole "this is a sequel to that" thing with a string of oneshots.

Morning Mist
Part 1

She saw him again.

He was standing on the bridge as he always did, leaning against the flimsy rails. It was daring of him, really, considering the drop below, but she'd gone up to see the view for herself and it was definitely worth the risk.

Though Hawkmon could easily catch her if she fell; she wondered who would catch him.

She'd, in fact, thought he was a ghost the first few times; he always managed to disappear when she got close. But then she saw him earlier, more closely, and realised she actually knew him. Or recognised him anyway.

She didn't wonder how she'd mistaken him for a ghost; he was quiet and unassuming, unlike Ken who was quiet and yet still stood out in the crowd, and the early morning mist only served to add to that effect.

She didn't chase him; he looked peaceful on the bridge, relaxed. Sometimes she'd go there after the fleeting image of him was gone, sometimes she'd just return to their campsite and the site of Daisuke making pancakes for everyone. The sight baffled her still, but she supposed he must have some culinary skills if his dream to open a noodle cart still stood.

Then one day she was early, and he had turned to look at her. He didn't show any surprise, though she hadn't been particularly loud in her arrival.

'Was I disturbing you?' she asked.

He shook his head, moving over a little so they could stand in the middle of the bridge together. Hawkmon jumped onto the rail by his hand, then stretched his wings and flew into the green and blue below.

'Too bad the trails don't stretch that far,' Miyako mused out loud, forgetting her company differed from her usual friends. 'No doubt it's as gorgeous down there as up here.' She pulled a pout. 'Lucky Hawkmon, always going without me.'

'It's not as beautiful when the sun's up,' the other inputted, leaning his head on the opposite shoulder so he could see both the scene and his companion without turning his head.

'The mist then.' It was chilly, but not overtly so, but it added to the mysterious air of the valley below. 'It makes you wonder how dangerous it is.' But it really didn't seem dangerous, and if Aquilamon – or Holsmon – could handle Siberia's winter she had no doubt he could handle this.

'You're planning to go then?' the boy asked her.

'Ack, don't start sounding like Hawkmon – ' she began, quite forgetting her company, before blushing. 'Whoops, sorry. Totally forgot who I was talking to.'

She didn't expect a reply, and didn't get one either. The silence settled upon them, punctured only by the sounds of birds far below.

'Would you climb that?' the other said suddenly.

'Huh?' Miyako looked to where the other was gesturing, seeing the small crevices that rolled down the cliff face, teasingly hidden by the mist. 'Now what are the chances one of those would be a loose stone I grab, dropping me into some cold abyss?'

Her voice was light; it wasn't all that dangerous after all, if Hawkmon was there as well. Not that she should really rely on him so much. And somehow the heights always exhilarated her; her palms were already calloused by all the abseiling she had done since she had arrived.

'Not too high,' the boy replied, and Miyako looked at him curiously. 'The birds seem to scrape away most of the loose ones.'

'Never thought you were a bird-watcher,' she commented. 'You normally have your nose in a book.'

'I'm not that bad.'

'No…I guess you're not,' Miyako allowed. 'It's more your head's in the clouds – though it is cute.' She added the last part hurriedly when the other turned to face her directly. 'Like a cat cute, and – I'm not helping my case, am I?'

The other had a hard time stifling his laughter, but he managed it, hiding the smile behind a hand. 'The view's better from the top; shall I take you up?'

'Take me up how?' Miyako asked suspiciously. 'You're not exactly the sporty type, Kimura-kun.'

He smiled – this time not hiding it – but said nothing.

'I could fly up with Hawkmon.'

'You could.'

Miyako scowled, albeit amused. He was teasing her; he was definitely teasing her. 'You know, most people tend to avoid dangling carrots in front of my face.'

'I'm not most people.'

'I'll say.' She snorted to herself. 'I've never seen you fazed by anything.'

'Then you're not looking close enough.' The answer came out quick, automatic.

Miyako stared at that; she couldn't help it. 'You didn't mean to say that, did you?'

'No.' There was a light pink blush on his cheeks, barely noticeable. 'But would that qualify as me being fazed?'

'Nope,' Miyako said brightly, 'but that blush would.'

A hand automatically came up to his cheek, and Miyako laughed. It really did look cute.

'I think I'll take you up on that offer after all,' she said, 'just so long as I don't go up blindfolded.'

'Wouldn't dream of it,' the other said after a brief pause, stepping away. After a moment's hesitation, he added: 'Call me Kouichi.'

'Huh?' Miyako blinked.

'My first name,' Kouichi said, though Miyako might've known that. She wasn't sure; it had never really come up before. 'You know too much about me for me to think of you anymore as a school-mate.'

'And you don't offer any girl to climb up mountains with you?'

'The circumstance hasn't really arisen before,' the other shrugged. 'But climbing is a different experience to flying.'

'And how exactly do you intend to climb from here?' Miyako put her hands on her hips, mock-glaring. 'Not diving off the bridge are you?'

'Exactly that.' The other grinned suddenly, pulling out what looked to be a digivice. Miyako blinked, and a lion was standing in the boy's place.

'You're one of –?' She shook her head. 'Wasn't expecting that.'

The lion knelt down. 'Climb on,' he said, his voice deeper, more gravely.

'You're being a lot more forward now that we're out of school.' But she swung a leg over the other's back all the same. She didn't think she knew as much of Kimura-kun – Kouichi – as he claimed, but she certainly knew how he looked out for his friends. 'Mind explaining how I wound up in your friend's book?'

'At the top.' He sounded amused still; perhaps she was being dense about the whole issue.

It didn't matter though. She was comfortably perched on his back, knees locked into place behind shoulder blades and hands firmly gripping the pistons. The jewels on the lion mane sparkled in the little bit of sun the mist allowed through, and she had to wonder what sort of sight she was about to be treated to.

'Next time, we'll go down to the floor on Holsmon,' she said.