Hikari no Koge
by Marduk
* * *
I would like to give you a heads-up before this begins. This story is going to be very dark. I don't want to give away the plot, but there will be death, insanity, and angst galore. And, no, it isn't a Daiken. It's mostly a Daikeru, however there's significant Taito. Anyway, I'd warn you that if you're looking for nice "I love you," "I love you too," romance, you might want to leave now. Now, the rest of you, continue.
* * *
~Man is not one man, but two.
He is evil, and good,
An' he walks the fine line
We'd all cross if we could!~
-Frank Wildhorn/Leslie Bricusse
"Ken-chan, what are you doing in here?" Daisuke ducked to avoid several shelves full of glass bottles, and stepped into the room proper. Ken carefully poured half of a small beaker of a light green liquid into a flask containing a clear one, and then sealed them quickly. Sliding up his safety goggles, he glanced at Daisuke.
"I'm working on a special science presentation I've been called to make. It's a...chemical presentation, so I was pulling in some extra time on it." Daisuke looked around at various equipment doubtfully.
"O...kay. You know, this place gets weirder every time I come over. I mean, if it isn't psychology or philosophy, or that time when you were studying animal anatomies and had dead lizards everywhere, it's some new presentation or another. I think you're forgetting about your best friend. Soon you'll have no time for me, and I'll have no friends." Ken placed his hand on Daisuke's chin and frowned.
"No, you know I love you, now and forever, you'll always be my best friend. It doesn't matter what happens, nothing will change that." He took Daisuke's hand and waved at the experiments. "This is just passing interest...you are my Jorgess partner. I have felt your heart beating in time with mine, Dai-chan. You don't forget that. We will be friends forever." Daisuke smiled at him, and reached up to wipe his eyes.
"Ken-chan, I'd kiss you if you wouldn't take it the wrong way." Ken smiled, and let go of Daisuke's hand.
"Yeah, besides, Daisuke, we both know that you don't like Ken; you-" Chibimon started, only to be silence by Daisuke's hand.
"Be quiet!" he hissed to the blue Digimon. "Ken doesn't want to hear about my lovelife; or lack thereof."
"'Lack thereof'?" Ken asked curiously. "What have you done with Daisuke? And besides, I wouldn't mind hearing who you like."
"Well, sorry, but I've got to go; homework to do, you know. Ja, Ken-chan!" Daisuke again ducked under the shelves, and dashed out of Ken's bedroom. Ken stared after him for a moment, and then shrugged.
"So, Ken-chan, who do you think he likes?" Ken smiled.
"If I had to guess, I'd say-" He turned suddenly as the computer began to glow. "What-?" He choked, and turned off the machine. "I have to get this working soon; I can't deal with this much longer." He turned from Minomon to continue working with the various chemicals.
* * *
//"Mr. Ichijouji, we cannot in good conscience allow you to make this presentation," the teacher said, adter a long pause. "This proposed project is immoral!" He sighed, and turned to the other five members of the board. Pushing his elliptical glasses further up on his nose, he continued. "This sort of chemical meddling might be sanctioned...if it didn't have to be tested on a human being. And so I move to vote. All in favor of allowing him to continue this project for his presentation, say 'aye'." He paused. No one spoke. "All opposed?"
"Nay," they replied as one. All were opposed save Erika Motimoya.
"I abstain," was all she said. Ken glared at the five who had denied him his triumph, and flew from the room.//
"Stupid Shiro-san," Ken muttered, thouroughly mixing his newest solution with a flick of his wrist. "He doesn't see, doesn't understand the possibilities this opens up for mankind. With it, I could change the world; but he sees it as some sort of blasphemy, an unnatural experiment warping the children of the school. Well, I'll show him. He'll see what I am able to do." Minomon watched his human fearfully. Ken was drawing away from everyone, obsessed with this strange new project. He wouldn't even discuss it with his partner!
"Ken-chan, please come back to me; try to remember those around you. You're pushing us away, Ken-chan, and we're growing apart as you do so. If you don't hold onto your friends, you'll soon find yourself alone again." Ken didn't hear him. He carefully placed the flask on his computer table.
"You say I can't work on this at the school, Dr. Kasshoku? Well, I'm progressing just fine at home. I'll show you all that I'm right!"
* * *
"A penny for your thoughts, ototou," Jun murmured, sliding into a chair next to her little brother. He glanced up at her, and tried to smile.
"Good thing I don't offer you the same deal, or I'd be left with nothing!" Jun laughed, and hit him lightly.
"Baka." She glanced over at his homework, and grinned. "Physics? I hated that. All math and angles. Say, why aren't you getting Ken to help you with this stuff?" Daisuke grimaced. Then he glanced up at her secretly.
"I, 'Neechan, he's been acting weird. Well, I mean, he's smart and everything, and likes doing stuff I find weird, but he's acting weird for himself. There's some project he's working on for school, and he's been avoiding us-all his friends. I normally see him a lot, but now..." Daisuke twirled his pen between his fingers. "He only pays attention to this project. He doesn't even have much time to even talk to me anymore."
"Well, Daisuke, you're both seniors now, and he might be concentrating on his schoolwork to look good for colleges. I mean, he *does* take a lot of advanced classes and everything. I can't even pronounce half of them!" She had hoped to at least get a smile from her brother, but he remained stone-faced.
"His mom says his grades have been slipping. He looks like a zombie when I see him in the halls. Jun, I think he might be doing something dangerous. I don't know what-but it's taking control of him." A tear rolled down Daisuke's cheek, and Jun hastily wiped it off.
"Dai-kun, you have to understand that sometimes friends grow apart. I-"
"No! It's different with us...there's something wrong with him if he starts ignoring me." Jun took a deep breath. The way he'd been acting-now was as good a time as ever.
"Daisuke, do you *like* him?" A bright red blush engulfed her little brother's cheeks.
"No!" he affirmed angrily. "I'm not g-" He broke off. "I don't like Ken-chan like that. He's my best friend, yes. I *do* love him, but...no. We're just...close, 'neechan. There's nothing going on." Jun nodded, but the way Daisuke had talked about Ken, it seemed something might be wrong. Maybe she should-no, the kid's probably suffering senior slumps. Everyone did at some point. She had. She shrugged it off. Ken was a good kid. He wouldn't get himself into trouble.
* * *
Yamato played a few notes on his guitar, but then dropped it. He couldn't concentrate on music, work; his mind kept going back to the other Digidestined, two in particular. One whose activities had all of the Chosen Children preoccupied, and the other...well, it was low on Yamato's priorities right now. He sighed. Reaching over to his couchside table, he picked up his mail. Hm, it looked like one of those American book-of-the-month clubs had gotten ahold of him. 'First book free, and buy 12 in the next six months for only $19.95!' He glanced at the book, and grimaced. He'd always hated these books, always some sort of ripoff.
"Stevenson? Hah! Like I don't know how *that* one ends." He dropped the book on his coffee table and relaxed on his couch. Well, the world could wait. Right now, he could relax. His brief respite from life was interrupted by the doorbell. He stood up, grumbling.
"Coming, coming!" He swung open the door, and froze. "Jun?" She smiled in what she must have thought was an alluring manner.
"Hi, Matt! You know, I was just going back home after a meeting, I work for Rising Star Advertising, you know, and I thought, 'Matt Ishida lives around here', so I thought to come by for a little visit. You're not busy, are you?" Yamato shook his head regretfully.
"No...no."
"Great!"
* * *
"Hey, Hikari-chan," Takeru chirped. She, having cracked the door open, swung it open.
"Welcome, Takeru, to my humble abode. Do you want anything?" He grinned before replying.
"You." She mock-glared at him.
"Takeru, I thought you had something important to discuss."
"It doesn't mean I can't joke a little," he protested. Hikari growled and dragged him to the kitchen table.
"Sit and talk. I'm not here for your weird little games."
"Aren't you here because you live here?" She groaned.
"Takeru, I have a review session for our exams with Miyako, and I'm going late so I can listen to you." Takeru stared piercingly at her.
"Sure. 'Review session'. Now, about me..." Hikari held up her hand.
"Wait a minute! What do you mean with that? I heard those quotation marks!" Takeru shrugged.
"I just think that it's rather obvious that you're not going over there just to study." Hikari flushed.
"I-I...fine. You got me." She sighed dramatically. "Yes, I do have...feelings for Miyako. But she doesn't know, and I swear, if you tell her, I will kill you!"
"You know, threats like that aren't that threatening coming from-" He was cut off when her hands wrapped around his neck and she tackled him to the ground. It was at this point that Mrs. Yagami walked through the door. She stared for a moment at the two teenagers, and simply rolled her eyes.
"You know, there's a reason you have a room with a lock, Hikari." The girl sat up, blushing.
"Okaasan, I-this isn't what it looks like!"
"Sure, Hikari. You're old enough to make your own decisions, but please, do anything you do behind closed doors, okay?"
"Hai, mama-san." Mrs. Yagami continued into the living room, leaving the two alone in the kitchen. "Gods, now Mama thinks I'm going at it with you."
"While you'd rather go at it with Miyako." Hikari responded with only a growl. "Yeah, well, it sort of brings me to why I came over here."
"Hm?" Hikari inquired. Takeru glanced around the kitchen, and then moved towards her.
"Hikari...I've got a problem." He sighed, folding his hands in front of him. "I think I'm in love."
"Please don't tell me it's Miyako," Hikari pleaded. Takeru shook his head.
"I-not exactly."
"Mimi?" A vehement shake of the head. "Not Sora? I think she's going out with Taichi."
"No; you need to think outside the box." Hikari smiled coyly.
"Is it my brother?"
"GOD, no! That's like me liking-you! Ew!" Hikari smiled.
"I have one other thought, but-nah, it's ridiculous. I mean, you hate him."
"No, I don't. I hated the way he treated me, just because you and I were close, but..." He trailed off. Hikari grinned smugly.
"I knew it," she said, smiling grimly. "I knew you didn't have it in you to hate him." Takeru grimaced.
"Listen, I want to keep this quiet, okay?" Hikari nodded.
"So you can keep living in your little fantasy that he feels the same way?" Takeru pointed an accusing finger at her.
"It's called hope, and yes, it's easier to hope when I'm not confronted with rejection." He crossed his arms, and glared at her. "But it's hard to hope that he feels that way about me...when he has Ken." Hikari rubbed his arm comfortingly.
"Oh, come on, Takeru. You've got the crest of Hope; use it. Don't give up on him, and if all else fails, just try being friends with him. He's a great guy, you know, and he'd take you as a friend if you reached out."
"Yes, but I want more than that..."
* * *
"Three moles of sodium borate in solution, stir until completely homogeneous, and...that should be it." Ken stared at a moment at the mixture, his mouth twitching as it shimmered and faded into a silvery-red color. Ken carefully sealed it, and placed the flask on a shelf overlooking his computer. The solution was complete, which now meant that all he had to do was work up the courage to use it.
/"It's a high school science presentation; we're not playing GOD!" Dr. Kiiro, a severe, black-haired woman from the board snapped. "Ichijouji-san, your proposal ranks on the completely insane! I cannot think of any situation where I would allow such a presentation to be put on in our school."/ Ken growled. Those bastards thought to contain, no-limit his theories, try to keep the good he could offer the world from ever being unveiled.
"Ken-chan?" Minomon hopped over so hie faced Ken. "Ken-chan, what *is* that stuff?" Ken rubbed the little Digimon's head absently, and picked up the flask.
"Minomon, it's a project in school, a big chemistry thing." Minomon nodded, pretending to understand. "Anyway, I said I'd meet Daisuke in the Digiworld today. Do you know where I left my Digivice?"
"You put it under your homework," Minomon responded. Ken flipped the papers to the side, but didn't find the device.
"I should have started looking for this earlier," he grumbled. Minomon nervously glanced around the room as Ken continued his search. He tried to keep his gaze from drifting to the bookcase, but knew it was a matter of time before Ken found it. Ken worried him with his new obsession. He hadn't been like this since...
* * *
"You know, Jun-kun, there's something I need to tell you before we actually get in the restaurant," Yamato said curtly.
"Good. I have something to say, too, Yamato. You see, I wasn't really in the area. I had an ulterior motive for dropping by." Yamato rolled his eyes.
"Okay." Jun smiled at him and held open the door to the diner.
"Yamato, I know that you're not interested in me, and I respect that. I've really always known, but I thought your image might benefit from the obsessive fangirls." She shrugged. But then she leaned to whisper in his ear, "But I know who you sang for." She pulled back, and her face became serious. "But...I came to talk to you about my brother, 'cause I know you know him. Actually, it's not just him. It's his friend Ken, too. I...there's something very odd going on, and I want to know what it is." Yamato had relaxed considerably when Jun revealed her loss of romantic interest, but was back in alert when she mentioned Ken. He, however, didn't respond, because he caught sight of a pink pendant.
"What is that?" She glanced down, and held it up.
"I-I found it in my purse a few weeks ago. I guess I noticed it after that freaky little green plush toy of Ken's knocked it off the table. For a genius, he doesn't really know how to put things away safely. Why? Want one for your boyfriend?" Yamato was convinced every ounce of blood was concentrated in his face.
"I'm-not-" he forced out. Jun giggled, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're blinking a lot, Yama-chan. Yes, table for two," she said matter-of-factly to Yamato and the hostess, respectively. Yamato took a few deep breaths, and calmed down.
"Well, Jun, it just looks like an interesting pendant, and I was wondering where you got it." Jun smiled and meaningfully tapped the space between the blond's eyes.
"Damn it!" Jun pointed to the woman who led them to their table, and led Yamato to it.
"Yamato, why do you feel the need to lie to me?" He sighed.
"It's very difficult to explain-"
"Is Daisuke a superhero?" she asked cheekily.
"Sort of."
* * *
~Daisuke, I'm sorry that Ken had to miss yur meeting today. I'm worried about him, and the way he's been acting, I don't want him any closer to the Dark Ocean than he has to be. Please don't tell him I've hidden his Digivice;
-Minomon~
"What do you make of it?" Daisuke asked, watching Hikari carefully. She put down the E-mail, frowning thoughtfully.
"I really don't know. It seems odd, though. Something definitely is wrong."
"And it has something to do with that project he's working on," Daisuke added. He began pacing, and after a few moments, Hikari spoke up.
"Dai-kun, do you think...do you think the Kaiser could be re-asserting himself?" Daisuke snapped around to face her.
"No! I mean-no...he couldn't." Daisuke sat down next to her on his couch, frowning. "He could just be absorbed in his project. Just because he's not the Kaiser anymore doesn't mean he's not smart. He can still get over-involved in something that interest him, right?" Hikari nodded uncertainly.
"Yeah..."
"Hey, brat, Okaasan wants to see you in the kitchen now!" Jun snapped, poking her head into the living room.
"Fine!" Daisuke snapped, growling as he stood up. "I'll be right back," he explained. Hikari nodded vaguely. She was worried about Ken, and talking to Daisuke didn't help. Something was seriously wroung, and it was going to end badly.
* * *
"Aha!" Ken pulled his Digivice from the bookshelf. "I knew I left it in here somewhere..." Minomon watched Ken carefully from his hiding place. Ken walked over to the computer, double-checked his pack, and then acted. "Digiport, open!"
* * *
Ichijouji Ken stopped in front of a deep canyon, and dropped his pack. He knelt down and removed several medical supplies, and a beaker filled with a blood-red liquid. He rolled up the long sleeve of his sweatshirt, and tied up his arm, flexing to make sure he'd cut off circulation. A cotton swab, a deep breath, and he filled a syringe with the solution.
"This is where it began, and where it will end." He stabbed his vein with the syringe, and gasped from the pain. He pressed downward, smiling as the sparkling red solution entered into his bloodstream. He untied his arm, and smiled. A quick swab, and a small bandage. "It is done. Soon...I will be free." Suddenly, a sharp pain echoed in his head, the pressure seemingly splitting his skull. He fell to the earth, clutching his head and screaming. And he didn't notice as the canyon before him faded away, replaced by the black waters of a deep ocean. However, a few moments later, his eyes opened. Gone were the soft violet eyes of Ichijouji Ken. Hard indigo glared out at the world. The boy dragged himself to the edge of the water, and looked in.
"At last...free!"
* * *
Yes, I know this was mainly hints and shenoun-ai, but I hope future chapters will have better stuff in it. I would like to emphasize that this is *not* a Kensuke. And also, an important note I failed to aknowledge up there...this fic is loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". I wanted to avoid mentioning it until at least the end of the first part. And I hope you enjoyed this and will enjoy later parts.
by Marduk
* * *
I would like to give you a heads-up before this begins. This story is going to be very dark. I don't want to give away the plot, but there will be death, insanity, and angst galore. And, no, it isn't a Daiken. It's mostly a Daikeru, however there's significant Taito. Anyway, I'd warn you that if you're looking for nice "I love you," "I love you too," romance, you might want to leave now. Now, the rest of you, continue.
* * *
~Man is not one man, but two.
He is evil, and good,
An' he walks the fine line
We'd all cross if we could!~
-Frank Wildhorn/Leslie Bricusse
"Ken-chan, what are you doing in here?" Daisuke ducked to avoid several shelves full of glass bottles, and stepped into the room proper. Ken carefully poured half of a small beaker of a light green liquid into a flask containing a clear one, and then sealed them quickly. Sliding up his safety goggles, he glanced at Daisuke.
"I'm working on a special science presentation I've been called to make. It's a...chemical presentation, so I was pulling in some extra time on it." Daisuke looked around at various equipment doubtfully.
"O...kay. You know, this place gets weirder every time I come over. I mean, if it isn't psychology or philosophy, or that time when you were studying animal anatomies and had dead lizards everywhere, it's some new presentation or another. I think you're forgetting about your best friend. Soon you'll have no time for me, and I'll have no friends." Ken placed his hand on Daisuke's chin and frowned.
"No, you know I love you, now and forever, you'll always be my best friend. It doesn't matter what happens, nothing will change that." He took Daisuke's hand and waved at the experiments. "This is just passing interest...you are my Jorgess partner. I have felt your heart beating in time with mine, Dai-chan. You don't forget that. We will be friends forever." Daisuke smiled at him, and reached up to wipe his eyes.
"Ken-chan, I'd kiss you if you wouldn't take it the wrong way." Ken smiled, and let go of Daisuke's hand.
"Yeah, besides, Daisuke, we both know that you don't like Ken; you-" Chibimon started, only to be silence by Daisuke's hand.
"Be quiet!" he hissed to the blue Digimon. "Ken doesn't want to hear about my lovelife; or lack thereof."
"'Lack thereof'?" Ken asked curiously. "What have you done with Daisuke? And besides, I wouldn't mind hearing who you like."
"Well, sorry, but I've got to go; homework to do, you know. Ja, Ken-chan!" Daisuke again ducked under the shelves, and dashed out of Ken's bedroom. Ken stared after him for a moment, and then shrugged.
"So, Ken-chan, who do you think he likes?" Ken smiled.
"If I had to guess, I'd say-" He turned suddenly as the computer began to glow. "What-?" He choked, and turned off the machine. "I have to get this working soon; I can't deal with this much longer." He turned from Minomon to continue working with the various chemicals.
* * *
//"Mr. Ichijouji, we cannot in good conscience allow you to make this presentation," the teacher said, adter a long pause. "This proposed project is immoral!" He sighed, and turned to the other five members of the board. Pushing his elliptical glasses further up on his nose, he continued. "This sort of chemical meddling might be sanctioned...if it didn't have to be tested on a human being. And so I move to vote. All in favor of allowing him to continue this project for his presentation, say 'aye'." He paused. No one spoke. "All opposed?"
"Nay," they replied as one. All were opposed save Erika Motimoya.
"I abstain," was all she said. Ken glared at the five who had denied him his triumph, and flew from the room.//
"Stupid Shiro-san," Ken muttered, thouroughly mixing his newest solution with a flick of his wrist. "He doesn't see, doesn't understand the possibilities this opens up for mankind. With it, I could change the world; but he sees it as some sort of blasphemy, an unnatural experiment warping the children of the school. Well, I'll show him. He'll see what I am able to do." Minomon watched his human fearfully. Ken was drawing away from everyone, obsessed with this strange new project. He wouldn't even discuss it with his partner!
"Ken-chan, please come back to me; try to remember those around you. You're pushing us away, Ken-chan, and we're growing apart as you do so. If you don't hold onto your friends, you'll soon find yourself alone again." Ken didn't hear him. He carefully placed the flask on his computer table.
"You say I can't work on this at the school, Dr. Kasshoku? Well, I'm progressing just fine at home. I'll show you all that I'm right!"
* * *
"A penny for your thoughts, ototou," Jun murmured, sliding into a chair next to her little brother. He glanced up at her, and tried to smile.
"Good thing I don't offer you the same deal, or I'd be left with nothing!" Jun laughed, and hit him lightly.
"Baka." She glanced over at his homework, and grinned. "Physics? I hated that. All math and angles. Say, why aren't you getting Ken to help you with this stuff?" Daisuke grimaced. Then he glanced up at her secretly.
"I, 'Neechan, he's been acting weird. Well, I mean, he's smart and everything, and likes doing stuff I find weird, but he's acting weird for himself. There's some project he's working on for school, and he's been avoiding us-all his friends. I normally see him a lot, but now..." Daisuke twirled his pen between his fingers. "He only pays attention to this project. He doesn't even have much time to even talk to me anymore."
"Well, Daisuke, you're both seniors now, and he might be concentrating on his schoolwork to look good for colleges. I mean, he *does* take a lot of advanced classes and everything. I can't even pronounce half of them!" She had hoped to at least get a smile from her brother, but he remained stone-faced.
"His mom says his grades have been slipping. He looks like a zombie when I see him in the halls. Jun, I think he might be doing something dangerous. I don't know what-but it's taking control of him." A tear rolled down Daisuke's cheek, and Jun hastily wiped it off.
"Dai-kun, you have to understand that sometimes friends grow apart. I-"
"No! It's different with us...there's something wrong with him if he starts ignoring me." Jun took a deep breath. The way he'd been acting-now was as good a time as ever.
"Daisuke, do you *like* him?" A bright red blush engulfed her little brother's cheeks.
"No!" he affirmed angrily. "I'm not g-" He broke off. "I don't like Ken-chan like that. He's my best friend, yes. I *do* love him, but...no. We're just...close, 'neechan. There's nothing going on." Jun nodded, but the way Daisuke had talked about Ken, it seemed something might be wrong. Maybe she should-no, the kid's probably suffering senior slumps. Everyone did at some point. She had. She shrugged it off. Ken was a good kid. He wouldn't get himself into trouble.
* * *
Yamato played a few notes on his guitar, but then dropped it. He couldn't concentrate on music, work; his mind kept going back to the other Digidestined, two in particular. One whose activities had all of the Chosen Children preoccupied, and the other...well, it was low on Yamato's priorities right now. He sighed. Reaching over to his couchside table, he picked up his mail. Hm, it looked like one of those American book-of-the-month clubs had gotten ahold of him. 'First book free, and buy 12 in the next six months for only $19.95!' He glanced at the book, and grimaced. He'd always hated these books, always some sort of ripoff.
"Stevenson? Hah! Like I don't know how *that* one ends." He dropped the book on his coffee table and relaxed on his couch. Well, the world could wait. Right now, he could relax. His brief respite from life was interrupted by the doorbell. He stood up, grumbling.
"Coming, coming!" He swung open the door, and froze. "Jun?" She smiled in what she must have thought was an alluring manner.
"Hi, Matt! You know, I was just going back home after a meeting, I work for Rising Star Advertising, you know, and I thought, 'Matt Ishida lives around here', so I thought to come by for a little visit. You're not busy, are you?" Yamato shook his head regretfully.
"No...no."
"Great!"
* * *
"Hey, Hikari-chan," Takeru chirped. She, having cracked the door open, swung it open.
"Welcome, Takeru, to my humble abode. Do you want anything?" He grinned before replying.
"You." She mock-glared at him.
"Takeru, I thought you had something important to discuss."
"It doesn't mean I can't joke a little," he protested. Hikari growled and dragged him to the kitchen table.
"Sit and talk. I'm not here for your weird little games."
"Aren't you here because you live here?" She groaned.
"Takeru, I have a review session for our exams with Miyako, and I'm going late so I can listen to you." Takeru stared piercingly at her.
"Sure. 'Review session'. Now, about me..." Hikari held up her hand.
"Wait a minute! What do you mean with that? I heard those quotation marks!" Takeru shrugged.
"I just think that it's rather obvious that you're not going over there just to study." Hikari flushed.
"I-I...fine. You got me." She sighed dramatically. "Yes, I do have...feelings for Miyako. But she doesn't know, and I swear, if you tell her, I will kill you!"
"You know, threats like that aren't that threatening coming from-" He was cut off when her hands wrapped around his neck and she tackled him to the ground. It was at this point that Mrs. Yagami walked through the door. She stared for a moment at the two teenagers, and simply rolled her eyes.
"You know, there's a reason you have a room with a lock, Hikari." The girl sat up, blushing.
"Okaasan, I-this isn't what it looks like!"
"Sure, Hikari. You're old enough to make your own decisions, but please, do anything you do behind closed doors, okay?"
"Hai, mama-san." Mrs. Yagami continued into the living room, leaving the two alone in the kitchen. "Gods, now Mama thinks I'm going at it with you."
"While you'd rather go at it with Miyako." Hikari responded with only a growl. "Yeah, well, it sort of brings me to why I came over here."
"Hm?" Hikari inquired. Takeru glanced around the kitchen, and then moved towards her.
"Hikari...I've got a problem." He sighed, folding his hands in front of him. "I think I'm in love."
"Please don't tell me it's Miyako," Hikari pleaded. Takeru shook his head.
"I-not exactly."
"Mimi?" A vehement shake of the head. "Not Sora? I think she's going out with Taichi."
"No; you need to think outside the box." Hikari smiled coyly.
"Is it my brother?"
"GOD, no! That's like me liking-you! Ew!" Hikari smiled.
"I have one other thought, but-nah, it's ridiculous. I mean, you hate him."
"No, I don't. I hated the way he treated me, just because you and I were close, but..." He trailed off. Hikari grinned smugly.
"I knew it," she said, smiling grimly. "I knew you didn't have it in you to hate him." Takeru grimaced.
"Listen, I want to keep this quiet, okay?" Hikari nodded.
"So you can keep living in your little fantasy that he feels the same way?" Takeru pointed an accusing finger at her.
"It's called hope, and yes, it's easier to hope when I'm not confronted with rejection." He crossed his arms, and glared at her. "But it's hard to hope that he feels that way about me...when he has Ken." Hikari rubbed his arm comfortingly.
"Oh, come on, Takeru. You've got the crest of Hope; use it. Don't give up on him, and if all else fails, just try being friends with him. He's a great guy, you know, and he'd take you as a friend if you reached out."
"Yes, but I want more than that..."
* * *
"Three moles of sodium borate in solution, stir until completely homogeneous, and...that should be it." Ken stared at a moment at the mixture, his mouth twitching as it shimmered and faded into a silvery-red color. Ken carefully sealed it, and placed the flask on a shelf overlooking his computer. The solution was complete, which now meant that all he had to do was work up the courage to use it.
/"It's a high school science presentation; we're not playing GOD!" Dr. Kiiro, a severe, black-haired woman from the board snapped. "Ichijouji-san, your proposal ranks on the completely insane! I cannot think of any situation where I would allow such a presentation to be put on in our school."/ Ken growled. Those bastards thought to contain, no-limit his theories, try to keep the good he could offer the world from ever being unveiled.
"Ken-chan?" Minomon hopped over so hie faced Ken. "Ken-chan, what *is* that stuff?" Ken rubbed the little Digimon's head absently, and picked up the flask.
"Minomon, it's a project in school, a big chemistry thing." Minomon nodded, pretending to understand. "Anyway, I said I'd meet Daisuke in the Digiworld today. Do you know where I left my Digivice?"
"You put it under your homework," Minomon responded. Ken flipped the papers to the side, but didn't find the device.
"I should have started looking for this earlier," he grumbled. Minomon nervously glanced around the room as Ken continued his search. He tried to keep his gaze from drifting to the bookcase, but knew it was a matter of time before Ken found it. Ken worried him with his new obsession. He hadn't been like this since...
* * *
"You know, Jun-kun, there's something I need to tell you before we actually get in the restaurant," Yamato said curtly.
"Good. I have something to say, too, Yamato. You see, I wasn't really in the area. I had an ulterior motive for dropping by." Yamato rolled his eyes.
"Okay." Jun smiled at him and held open the door to the diner.
"Yamato, I know that you're not interested in me, and I respect that. I've really always known, but I thought your image might benefit from the obsessive fangirls." She shrugged. But then she leaned to whisper in his ear, "But I know who you sang for." She pulled back, and her face became serious. "But...I came to talk to you about my brother, 'cause I know you know him. Actually, it's not just him. It's his friend Ken, too. I...there's something very odd going on, and I want to know what it is." Yamato had relaxed considerably when Jun revealed her loss of romantic interest, but was back in alert when she mentioned Ken. He, however, didn't respond, because he caught sight of a pink pendant.
"What is that?" She glanced down, and held it up.
"I-I found it in my purse a few weeks ago. I guess I noticed it after that freaky little green plush toy of Ken's knocked it off the table. For a genius, he doesn't really know how to put things away safely. Why? Want one for your boyfriend?" Yamato was convinced every ounce of blood was concentrated in his face.
"I'm-not-" he forced out. Jun giggled, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're blinking a lot, Yama-chan. Yes, table for two," she said matter-of-factly to Yamato and the hostess, respectively. Yamato took a few deep breaths, and calmed down.
"Well, Jun, it just looks like an interesting pendant, and I was wondering where you got it." Jun smiled and meaningfully tapped the space between the blond's eyes.
"Damn it!" Jun pointed to the woman who led them to their table, and led Yamato to it.
"Yamato, why do you feel the need to lie to me?" He sighed.
"It's very difficult to explain-"
"Is Daisuke a superhero?" she asked cheekily.
"Sort of."
* * *
~Daisuke, I'm sorry that Ken had to miss yur meeting today. I'm worried about him, and the way he's been acting, I don't want him any closer to the Dark Ocean than he has to be. Please don't tell him I've hidden his Digivice;
-Minomon~
"What do you make of it?" Daisuke asked, watching Hikari carefully. She put down the E-mail, frowning thoughtfully.
"I really don't know. It seems odd, though. Something definitely is wrong."
"And it has something to do with that project he's working on," Daisuke added. He began pacing, and after a few moments, Hikari spoke up.
"Dai-kun, do you think...do you think the Kaiser could be re-asserting himself?" Daisuke snapped around to face her.
"No! I mean-no...he couldn't." Daisuke sat down next to her on his couch, frowning. "He could just be absorbed in his project. Just because he's not the Kaiser anymore doesn't mean he's not smart. He can still get over-involved in something that interest him, right?" Hikari nodded uncertainly.
"Yeah..."
"Hey, brat, Okaasan wants to see you in the kitchen now!" Jun snapped, poking her head into the living room.
"Fine!" Daisuke snapped, growling as he stood up. "I'll be right back," he explained. Hikari nodded vaguely. She was worried about Ken, and talking to Daisuke didn't help. Something was seriously wroung, and it was going to end badly.
* * *
"Aha!" Ken pulled his Digivice from the bookshelf. "I knew I left it in here somewhere..." Minomon watched Ken carefully from his hiding place. Ken walked over to the computer, double-checked his pack, and then acted. "Digiport, open!"
* * *
Ichijouji Ken stopped in front of a deep canyon, and dropped his pack. He knelt down and removed several medical supplies, and a beaker filled with a blood-red liquid. He rolled up the long sleeve of his sweatshirt, and tied up his arm, flexing to make sure he'd cut off circulation. A cotton swab, a deep breath, and he filled a syringe with the solution.
"This is where it began, and where it will end." He stabbed his vein with the syringe, and gasped from the pain. He pressed downward, smiling as the sparkling red solution entered into his bloodstream. He untied his arm, and smiled. A quick swab, and a small bandage. "It is done. Soon...I will be free." Suddenly, a sharp pain echoed in his head, the pressure seemingly splitting his skull. He fell to the earth, clutching his head and screaming. And he didn't notice as the canyon before him faded away, replaced by the black waters of a deep ocean. However, a few moments later, his eyes opened. Gone were the soft violet eyes of Ichijouji Ken. Hard indigo glared out at the world. The boy dragged himself to the edge of the water, and looked in.
"At last...free!"
* * *
Yes, I know this was mainly hints and shenoun-ai, but I hope future chapters will have better stuff in it. I would like to emphasize that this is *not* a Kensuke. And also, an important note I failed to aknowledge up there...this fic is loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". I wanted to avoid mentioning it until at least the end of the first part. And I hope you enjoyed this and will enjoy later parts.