Title: Till Eternity
Author: FireDemon
Email: Ken_Dai_Love@hotmail.com
Rating: R
Warnings: This fic contains YAOI, meaning two hot guys going down on each other, if that disturbs you; well you've been warned. There's a little shoujo-ai (girl love) that I wasn't expecting to write! It gets a little limey in parts, but that's about as descriptive as it's gonna get. It's also very angsty; unrequited love and all that. There are a few words in Japanese and French; predominantly suffixes for Japanese, and all French will be translated. Oh, and let's not forget the always-popular 'coarse language'. Hopefully that about covers it.
Category: Romance, Angst, and Science Fiction.
Summary: AU. Ken is the prototype for a new generation of robots, designed to love one person, and one person alone. Daisuke is a thief whose curiosity is likely to get him killed. When the bumbling Dai accidentally activates Kens program heartache inevitably follows, because Daisuke, after all, is only human. And Ken isn't. **Kensuke**
iFor Beth, who showed me that love hurts. For Ken, who made me laugh when I wanted to cry. And for Krystle; all my love.i
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I do not own Artificial Intelligence (The Movie) from which I have stolen many ideas and quotes. Not quite enough to make it a parody (partly because I haven't watched the movie in ages, and partly because by the time I got halfway through this fic it suddenly developed an original plot out of nowhere. *Glares at Takeru and Yamato who suddenly got a whole lot deeper then I'd intended to write them*.) I do not own any robots. This may also be a little similar to girlstarfish's "Heist" series, which I truly enjoyed reading, but do not own either. Anyone who hasn't read it, I highly recommend it. There is also a line I accidentally stole (I collect quotes from everywhere, and then use them and have to go back and try to source them) from Draco Sinister by Cassandra Claire.
iCome away O human child,
With a fairy hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping
Then you can understand
-Unknown (To me)i
Violet eyes fluttered as Ken stared up at his creator, who was trying to work on some loose circuitry in his abdomen.
"Would you stop doing that. It's bloody disturbing!" Koushirou Izumi yelled at the pale skinned robot.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to yell at my mecha's," Jyou snapped at his red haired assistant before turning back to his indigo haired creation,
"Ken, simulate sleep."
The bluenette obediently closed his eyes falling into a state similar to sleep from which he could be woken on command.
Koushirou stared at Ken for a moment, then turned back to Jyou,
"It doesn't look like anything special to me," He stated, "What's it do?"
Jyou glared, "It is programmed to love..."
"Oh, a pleasure mecha. Typical." Koushirou interrupted staring at Jyou in disdain.
"It is programmed to love one person unconditionally." Jyou continued, "Not 'make love' but experience the emotion. As a human would."
Koushirou considered the concept; "Well if we can create a mecha that can love... what responsibilities does the human in question have towards the mecha?"
Jyou shrugged, "I don't know." He quickly closed the skin over the wiring so that it looked as if there had never been a cut.
"But when Miya wakes him, the program will be activated, and it will be up to her to decide her responsibility towards him."
~~~
Daisuke pouted angrily as he broke into the top-secret research centre. He looked around the lab disdainfully,
"Can't see why Tai thought he could get his stupid information from here. I tell him I'm worried about Takeru, he sends me to my death."
Chocolate brown eyes lit up angrily as Daisuke shoved the glittering disc that Tai had supplied him with into the only computer in the room. It was an old model, maybe 3 or 4 years old. The screen lit up, asking him to enter a series of codes. The dark skinned boy did so quickly his fingers racing across the keypad. The computer beeped signalling that it was about to start downloading, and Daisuke took this as a chance to look around the room. Plain white walls, white counter running around the room, a sink in the back, and a table in the middle, and a lumpy shape covered in white cloth.
'Just leave it alone' Daisuke told himself firmly, 'Get the information for Tai, swap it for the money, then go visit Takeru.'
This line of reasoning worked for nearly 2 minutes before Daisuke ran to the table and drew the sheet back. The most beautiful creature he had ever seen lay on the table. Pale skin was stretched over an almost girlishly slender body, rich indigo hair framed the face of the boy, and the eyes were closed, dark lashes contrasting sharply with the beautiful skin.
Daisuke couldn't help it, the boy looked so perfect, so amazing, he had to know the colour of his eyes. Softly he shook the boy,
"Hey, wake up." He whispered in the boy's ear. Kens slender hand reached up to trace Daisuke face as his brilliant violet eyes fluttered open,
"Hi," Daisuke said with a warm smile.
"I am Ken." The violet-eyed boy introduced himself.
"Ken..." Daisuke repeated, as if savouring the taste of the angels' name,
"I'm Daisuke, but you can call me Dai."
"Hello Dai." The boy said obediently. "I like your eyes." He smiled hopefully at the younger boy. Daisuke stared back at Ken,
"Err... Thanks Ken." He said offering the boy a hand out of bed, metaphorically speaking.
Ken accepted the shorter boy's hand gratefully and climbed off of the table. Daisuke smiled at him then his eyes slipped down and he dropped the boys hand as he realised Ken was completely naked.
"Ken... y-you might want to get some clothes buddy." He blushed realising he hardly knew the boy.
Ken blinked, "You do not like me... naked?" He asked
"What?!?" Daisuke was dumbfounded, "I hardly know you..."
The boy tilted his head, his eyes wide with his soft confusion,
"You do not need to... know me. I love you."
"What? Ken, you just met me, how can you love me?" Daisuke asked in bewildered shock, but before Ken had the chance to answer the younger boy heard the soft ping that heralded the door opening,
"Shit! We gotta get out of here Ken... that is," Daisuke blushed realising he hadn't given the other boy a chance, "If you want to come with me."
He quickly grabbed the disk from the computing, praying desperately that it had finished down loading the information Taichi had requested, and ran over to the window. Ken blinked in confusion, joining Daisuke at the window,
"Of course I do. I love you Daisuke."
The door slid open and Jyou presented his younger sister to nothing but empty air. Miyako stared at her older brother, her soft brown eyes glistening with tears,
"It's okay Jyou, I don't really need a new lover. Just because Osamu died..." She choked off, "It doesn't mean you need to replace him with a robot."
Jyou put a gentle hand on his younger sisters shoulder, brushing the purple strands of hair back from her face,
"I'm sorry Miyako." He said. The girl shrugged,
"Like I said, it's okay Jyou."
~~~
There was little time for Daisuke to question his new companion as he piloted the stolen ship back to his 'house.'
Ken was, as Daisuke would later discover, characteristically silent for the journey home. His wide violet eyes stared at everything, as if he was trying to memorise the world, and when Daisuke noticed, he was almost scared by the intensity of the blue haired boys gaze.
Relaxing some as the sky disappeared from view, along with the mirrored skyscrapers, Daisuke turned to smile at the other boy.
"Home sweet home. You can't even begin to comprehend how uncomfortable being up there makes me!" He shuddered at the memory,
"How the upsiders bear it I'll never know." He grinned at Ken, "What's it like?"
Ken blinked, then blinked again, "I do not understand that question."
Daisuke rolled his eyes, "What's it like, living up there, where you can actually see the sky?"
Ken tilted his head and after a few moments began, "Some say the City of Angels is the most beautiful-" He began mechanically
"Hey, hey!" Daisuke cut him off, "I meant, what did you think of it?"
Ken shrugged, "I do not know. I have never lived up there."
Daisuke opened his mouth, as if to question him further, but was cut off as the ship was hailed from below.
"Would you look at that!" He cried happily, "We even got a welcoming committee." Daisuke landed the vehicle with a practised ease, and jumped out, latching onto the waiting man,
"Taichi!" He exclaimed happily, "I got your information!"
Brown eyes met chocolate and Taichi tussled Daisuke's hair, "Great!" His eyes flickered to Ken who had followed Daisuke out, and was now watching him curiously, as if he couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"Who's this?"
Daisuke blushed, "Right. Err, Ken this is Yagami Taichi. I kinda work for him." He gave a typical Motomiya grin, "Taichi, this is Ken. I sorta picked him up when I was upside."
Taichi's eyes narrowed in suspicion and he glared at the bluenette.
Ken gave a shy smile, "I'm very pleased to meet you."
Taichi shrugged, "I don't trust upsiders." He raised an eyebrow, "And neither did Takeru."
A fleeting look of pain darted across Daisuke's face, but then his happy-go- lucky mask was back in place,
"Ken's not so bad." He offered the taller boy a hand, "Anyway, we'd better get going."
"Before you go," He pulled a wad of paper out of his pocket, "Payment for the object."
Daisuke pulled the disk out of his top and nodded swapping it for the paper,
"I'll be seeing you."
Taichi stared at him for a moment and abruptly turned and walked away, without even saying goodbye.
~~~
Daisuke grabbed Kens arm and steered him into the building, pulling him through the hundreds of passages with experienced ease.
"Well, here it is. Home sweet home." Daisuke began opening the door,
"What do you think?"
Ken stared around the room. It was dirty, clothes had been kicked into a messy pile in the corner, a T.V was propped up on top of a chest of drawers, and there was an unmade futon against one of the walls. There was a door, leading to what had to be the redhead's bedroom, and another which obviously led to a bathroom of some description.
"It is... pleasant." He said hesitantly.
Daisuke smiled,
"Glad you like. Well, what shall we do now? Want to grab some grub?" He asked the other boy.
Violet eyes flickered softly,
"Grub?" He repeated the unfamiliar word.
"Yeah, you want to go get some food?"
Kens eyes fell,
"I have no compulsion to eat."
Daisuke chuckled softly,
"Geez, you have such a weird way of saying stuff, I guess you're not hungry then. I'm starving. Listen, I'm gonna go get some food and catch up with a few people. I'll be back in about an hour. You can use the 'puter if you like." He nodded his head towards a computer built into the wall that Ken hadn't noticed earlier,
"Or you can sleep. Make yourself at home. Ciao."
Daisuke gave the other boy a friendly wave and left the room.
~~~
Ken stared around the room unsurely. Why had Daisuke left him?
Violet eyes locked on the computer and his lips twitched upwards. If anything could tell him why it would be the computer.
Kens slender fingers touched the computer screen and there was a moment of static then he interfaced with the computer. He could feel the comforting surges of electricity running through his veins and he sighed contently.
'Who are you?' He asked curiously as he became accustomed to the reassuring hold of the machine
'Cirrus876' The machine informed him mechanically, 'UserID?'
'I am Ken' He informed the machine, 'Who is Daisuke?'
'User Daisuke:' There was a soft whirring sound and then the computers tinny voice came again, 'Transferring files to Ken'
Images flashed behind his eyes almost to fast for him to follow as the computer gave him every file ever compiled on the boy called Motomiya Daisuke.
~~~
"How's he doing?"
"No change," Cinnamon eyes softened as she gave the boy this piece of news, "I'm sorry Daisuke, but it seems very unlikely that he'll ever wake up."
"Don't say that!" Brown eyes flared angrily, "He will wake up."
"Daisuke, maybe it's time you moved on." Jun implored the boy softly, "There are so many others out there." She sighed, "Yet you insist on waiting for a boy who may never wake up."
"He will." Daisuke said confidently, "You'll see. Takeru will wake up."
~~~
Ken drew his hand back from the screen his face adorably clouded with confusion as he scanned the information he had requested on his love.
Violet eyes slid shut with a sigh as Ken slumped forward, trying to discern why the computer files had Daisuke's status as 'Married.'
~~~
"Hey 'Mat, not too flat!"
"Hey Joe, what do you know?" Yamato greeted the other mecha cheerfully.
Blond hair falling perfectly into place 'Mat jauntily walked into the hotel.
"Hey 'Mat, not too flat!" The manager greeted
"I have a young lady waiting for me in room 754" He returned with a smile.
"Ah," The man smiled, "Here are the keys."
Spryly 'Mat sprung up the stairs pausing in the doorway of the young woman's room to flip on some corny romantic music.
"Ma Cherie!" He cried, "At last I have found you."
The girl looked nervous her blue streaked hair falling into pale grey eyes,
"I... I've never done this before." She admitted, a rosy tint in her pale cheeks,
Yamato laughed, "Don't worry, you haven't known true pleasure till you've known a mecha."
The girl's already too big eyes widened as the blond haired 'sexbot' pounced on her.
~~~
"Jyou..." Miyako exclaimed in horror.
"Miya?" The man replied meeting her eyes.
"Why didn't you show me this earlier?" She asked staring at the print out in her hands.
"I..." Jyou looked uncertain, "I knew you'd treat him right Miya. You're used to mecha's"
"Jyou..." Miyako threw down the paper, "He's not a mecha. This 'bot is as human as you and I..."
"Yes," Jyou agreed, "But he's like a child."
"He won't be able to cope if he's abandoned." Miyako told the scientist.
"You think someone could abandon him?" Jyou asked, appalled by the suggestion.
"I know, it's like torturing a child," She looked up, "But even in the City of Angels there are demons."
~~~
"Mat..." Tai hailed the blond, who was currently trying to charm a very shy redhead into his bed. The redhead was looking as if she was caught between being interested and wanting to run away.
Yamato always had liked shy girls. Outspoken boys, and shy girls.
"Taichi!" He announced to the street, the redhead already forgotten, "My true love has returned!"
Tai buried his reddening face, his only problem with mechas,
"You have no shame."
"Love makes me do crazy things!" He twirled around happily.
"You don't know what love is..."
"Ah Taichi... so young and yet so cynical. Let me make you happy." Tai rolled his eyes, "Just come with me."
The blond sexbot skipped after Taichi, flinging an arm around the brunettes shoulder,
"So, where are we heading? I know a great hotel. Whips, chains, bondage suits..."
"Shut up Mat," Tai hushed his one time lover, "This is business."
~~~
Daisuke walked back to his apartment pensively,
"I love Takeru." He said aloud, testing the words.
His tears began to pool at the corners of his eyes, as he thought about the blond haired love of his life.
They'd been friends when they were younger, and then they'd both started working for Taichi.
**Flashback**
"Dai... there's err, well there's something I need to tell you." Takeru started nervously.
"Look... I'm sorry T.K. Honestly, I didn't know that they were your socks." Daisuke replied desperately.
"What? What socks?" Takeru repeated suspiciously.
"Erm... you mean you wanted to talk to me about something else? So..."
"Right..." Takeru continued, trying to gather the courage, "The thing is, and this isn't something I was planning or anything, but, Daisuke... I think, just maybe, I might be, you know... in love with you." It came out in a garbled rush, but Daisuke got the general gist.
"You... love me?" He asked in shock.
"Well..." Takeru said blushing, "You could say that."
"So..." Daisuke prompted, still trying to get his head on straight.
"Go out with me Dai-chan?" Takeru proposed nervously.
"Takeru no baka! Of course I will."
**End Flashback**
They'd been friends, and rivals, and lovers, and Daisuke didn't know anyone else he could spend the rest of eternity with.
He called an image of the blond into his mind. Takeru with his feathered golden locks, his creamy golden skin, and his brilliant violet eyes...
Daisuke stopped,
"T.K. doesn't have violet eyes. His eyes are blue."
~~~
Ken picked up the book, opening it to read the first page.
"Pinocchio..." He read aloud. "I wonder why Daisuke has this book?"
He turned the page again, staring down at the first line of words.
"Hey," Daisuke said, "Ken... Whatcha doing?"
"I was... reading," Ken said turning to give Daisuke his most dazzling smile.
"Pinocchio?" Daisuke read the cover incredulously, "I used to love that story!"
"Read it to me?" Ken questioned, holding the book out like an offering.
Daisuke grinned, "Sure," he said, accepting the book and throwing himself onto the couch.
Ken smiled and sat down next to him, watching intently as Daisuke opened the book,
"There was once upon a time ... A king! My little readers will shout together. No, children, you make a mistake. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood..."
~~~
"Run Mat!" Taichi screamed at the top of his lungs.
"They're tracking me Tai!" Mat yelled back.
"Quick in here!" Tai pulled Mat into a doorway, grabbing his wrist and yanking his arm out.
"What are you doing?"
"Stopping them from tracking you," Tai said, expertly yanking the chip out of Mat's arm with his laser-knife and tweezers.
"That's my registration chip Tai! I needed that!" Mat yelled, as he ran to watch the chip falling down, barely missing various hovercrafts and dirty white bridges, into the murky depths of the City of Angels.
Tai sighed, grabbing Mats arm, and pulling him along the footpath,
"No you don't. C'mon."
"We can't leave the City of Angels! I've never left the City."
"There's more to the world then just this place, there are places without towers that reach the sky, and slums that could destroy even hope incarnate."
"I guess I don't have any choice do I?" Mat asked sullenly, "I hope you realise this is a direct violation of my programming."
"Shut up Yama."
~~~
Daisuke woke with a lazy stretch, then stopped mid yawn as he realised that there was someone else in bed with him.
"Hm...?" Ken moaned at the loss, "Dai...?"
Daisuke stared at the other boy, who snuggled closer,
"Dai..." He sounded happier, relaxing against Daisuke's shoulder.
"Ken?" Daisuke asked softly. For some reason Ken's sleeping habits reminded him of Takeru's though why, he couldn't tell, for the blond had never been anywhere near as susceptible to his proximity.
Ken's eyes fluttered open, "Good morning."
"Hey." Daisuke said, "So, today's my day off, what do you wanna do?"
Ken blinked, a soft smile creeping onto his face,
"Read?" He offered Daisuke the book that they hadn't finished reading the day before.
Daisuke settled back against the pillows opening the book. Ken snuggled in, resting his head on Daisuke's shoulder, so he could see the page the other boy was reading.
"And so Pinocchio asked the blue fairy to make him a real boy..." Daisuke read softly, letting the story consume him as Ken listened on intently.
~~~
"The slums? You've brought us to the slums?" Yamato raved, "I wasn't made to visit slums, I could be robbed for my parts! Taichi!"
The brunette ignored his companion. Yamato was obviously overreacting to the situation,
"I grew up in these 'slums' as you put it. Besides we're not staying, I just need to talk to one of my people."
Yamato pouted, "I was made to give pleasure, not to accompany goggle heads to visit people in the slums. Have you overwritten my programming?"
"Yamato you know full well you've never given me any opportunity to go anywhere near your programming-chip. If it has been overwritten you did it all by yourself."
"So where are we going?" Yamato asked trotting down the corridor of a seedy looking apartment block after Taichi.
"Here." Taichi stopped, and knocked sharply on a steel door before opening it and walking in.
Yamato looked around the room curiously as Taichi tugged him through another door, into what had to be the bedroom. A red haired boy was sitting in bed with the best looking mecha Yamato had ever seen. The red head was reading aloud, and the other boy was resting his head on the red heads shoulder contently.
"Daisuke!" Taichi called sharply. Both boys looked up at the sound.
"Taichi!" Daisuke cried happily, "Hi! What are you doing here?"
"I came to give you a mission." The brunette said, looking disapprovingly at the two boys who were still cuddled up in the bed.
"Oh, right." Daisuke wriggled out of the bed and bounced over to Tai, grinning madly, "We can talk in the lounge room."
Both boys left, leaving Yamato and Ken alone in the room.
Yamato smiled brightly; "My name is Yamato."
"I'm Ken." Ken replied looking curiously at Yamato.
"Are you a pleasure model?" Yamato asked inquisitively.
"No. I'm Ken." Ken repeated after a slight pause, "What is a... pleasure model?"
Yamato smirked, "An innocent..." He sounded very pleased, "A pleasure model is a mecha who is-"
His explanation was cut short by the other two re-entering the room and Taichi's curt,
"We're going. Say goodbye Yamato."
"Goodbye," Yamato repeated dutifully, "If you ever need my help just ask for 'Mat." He smiled at Ken, his hand hovering just above the bluenettes shoulder, "Be careful little one."
Yamato touched Ken's cheek softly, and then followed Taichi out the door, leaving Daisuke looking completely puzzled.
"What was that about?"
Ken shrugged, "I don't know."
~~~
"What was that about Yamato, do you have to hit on everyone's boyfriend?" Taichi yelled angrily.
Yamato blinked in confusion then smiled,
"I wasn't hitting on anyone. I was telling the little one to be careful. The little mecha needs someone to take care of him, and I fear your Daisuke will fail at that task."
"Ken's a mecha?" Taichi asked in shock.
Yamato nodded, adding sadly, "A child mecha, I did not think your people would be cruel enough to make one, but you have, and he does not understand the difference between my people and yours."
~~~
According to the Computer the sun was just settling beneath the horizon of the City of Angels. The two boys had spent a lazy day watching Daisuke's T.V. from the comfort of his futon and reading fairy tales. Daisuke was half asleep, finding himself unable to follow the plot of the vid that was currently playing. Ken seemed to be paying even less attention then him.
"Daisuke," Ken whispered, "Where does the blue fairy live?"
"What? The blue fairy, Ken, the blue fairy isn't-"
He was interrupted by a loud banging on his door,
"Motomiya, you're needed in the garage! Get your ass out here or you're fired."
Daisuke sat up grumbling loudly, "I'm coming, I'm coming."
Kens soft violet eyes followed Daisuke's every move. The cinnamon haired boy gave the other a guilty smile,
"Work calls Ken, I'll be back some time tomorrow. Get some sleep and I'll take you out or something when I get back."
Ken blinked in bewilderment as the other boy shut the door behind him,
"Can I come too?" He asked the empty room.
There was no reply.
~~~
Tai stared around the wastelands in shock, when he'd climbed out of his hover craft he'd expected to see something very different to this.
"This is... the outside?" He asked.
"Taichi... I wish to return to The City." Yamato said nervously, "I do not like this place. My programmers did not create me to exist in such an environment."
"Hush Yama," Taichi said quietly, "We'll be fine."
Mat shuddered, "Taichi take me back. This place is a mecha graveyard. Taichi take me back!" His voice rose in pitch as he stared around in horrified distaste.
"What?" Taichi questioned, "What do you mean?"
"There." Mat pointed, his voice suddenly empty of the emotion it had possessed
before. As if he had shut down emotionally, returning to the impassive state that,
for mecha's, was the norm. "They're coming."
Taichi found himself unable to take his eyes off the two mecha's that were now approaching them. The one in front was shorter, apparently designed to resemble a child. Taichi felt bile rise in his throat as he thought of what such a mecha would have been used for.
"He looks like a little boy." Tai whispered.
"He's as adult as you or I Taichi. You're deluding yourself." Yamato told him frostily.
"But..." Taichi objected.
"At least it's not a real child, am I right Taichi?" Mat added coldly.
Tai sighed, and nodded, "Yeah, I guess."
As the two came closer Taichi noticed that the younger one was armless, a glittering mechanical claw had been wired into the place of one of his arms, and the sleeve of his shirt hung where the other arm should have been.
The second mecha had shoulder length auburn hair, which looked as if it had been unevenly cut or perhaps burnt. As the two came within a few feet Taichi could see that the second mecha was missing an eye, and her skin appeared to have been burnt to form an almost reflective surface.
The girl-mecha smiled, to reveal a mouth empty of teeth,
"My name is Sora, can I pleasure-" She stopped and jerked her head, "Pleasure you?"
The words spilled out in a pleasant conversational tone, as if he were a friend she had chanced upon on the street.
"I can make your fantasies come true..." The shorter mecha interrupted, "I am a, a, a, fantasy..." He looked up, "Don't you want the forbidden goodness?"
"No!" Taichi cried backing away, "Who are you?"
The boy shaped mecha advanced on Tai, his emerald eyes looking up admiringly at the human,
"I'm Iori," He purred.
"Yama..." Taichi whispered, noting with repulsion that the blond had been right. There was no hint of innocence or childlike hope in the boy-mecha's eyes.
"It's... unnatural."
Mat shook his head,
"Such naivety Taichi. His eyes are far more natural then those of the little one, Ken..." He met Taichi's eyes, "At least he can tell the difference."
"The difference?" Taichi questioned.
"Between what is real, and what is not." Yamato finished firmly, still haunted by the memory of the much younger Ken.
"Your people are more foolish then even I believed possible."
~~~
Momoe watched the film silently.
"You say his name is Ken?"
"Ken Ichijouji."
"Ichijouji?" Momoe repeated, "Mon Dieu, you're not serious?"
The man looked down guiltily, "I... Yes Momoe, I am."
Momoe slammed her fist down on the table, a scowl twisting on her normally placid features.
"Where is he now?"
"We... We don't know."
"Is he a clone?" Her voice had softened.
"Of course not!" The man seemed horrified at the suggestion, "I mean, that's illegal and..."
"Let me guess, simply a mecha designed to resemble the original, with a similar thought process and posiatronic brain."
"Apart from the program... yes."
"The program?" Momoe questioned.
"He was supposed to love Miyako." The man admitted after a long pause.
"He was supposed to what-" the woman spluttered angrily, "That's worse then cloning!"
"We... Well, this wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Yeah well it did. If that boy dies it's your fault!"
"He's a mecha Momoe..." The man told her softly.
"No Shin, that boy is as human as you and I."
~~~
Daisuke laughed as he realised Ken was asleep. In the week since he'd found the boy he'd become quite fond of him, despite, or perhaps because of the boys amazingly adorable quirks. Such as falling asleep on his shoulder half way through every single movie they watched.
"Ken?" He whispered softly.
Violet eyes opened in a languorous blink,
"Hn?" Ken asked sleepily, his face so delightfully confused Daisuke couldn't help but laugh softly.
Jun's words suddenly chose this moment to come back to haunt him *Maybe it's time you moved on* Daisuke shook his head trying to focus on Takeru.
*You insist on waiting for a boy who may never wake up* Jun's words wormed their way into his thoughts yet again.
Soft fingers traced Daisuke's cheek and Ken's eyes were filled with worry,
"Dai-chan? What's wrong?"
The red haired boy reached forward to capture Kens chin and softly pressed his lips against the soft lips of his new roommate. Like a prism of rainbow light a single tear slipped out and trailed down his face and he pulled away to look at the enthralled face of the violet-eyed boy.
"I'm tired of waiting for someone who may never wake up." He whispered more to himself then Ken before once again stealing the other boys' lips.
~~~
"D'suke..." Takeru whimpered. "Dai-chan where are you?"
The boy thrashed in his bed, he felt like his head was full of cotton wool.
i**I'll be home tonight Dai, stop worrying...**i
"D'suke..." He whimpered again.
i**I worry about you Takeru. I don't know what I'd do without you...**i
Takeru pushed through the cotton wool and opened his eyes.
The walls were whitewashed and there was a softly bleeping machine connected to the tube that encased him.
Suddenly a red-haired woman bent over him, professionally straightening his blanket.
"Where's Daisuke?" He asked, the words felt rough, as if he hadn't spoken in years.
The woman looked up at his face, the colour draining from her own,
"Takeru-san. You're awake..."
"Where's Daisuke?" He repeated.
"I... I'll call him right away! This... this is incredible..."
"Hn," Takeru let his eyes fall closed again.
Soon Daisuke would be there... and he could apologise for the fight they'd had that morning before he went on the mission.
~~~
Daisuke smiled down at Ken, straddling his hips, and showering his neck with tiny kisses, and he tried to remove the bluenette's shirt.
Ken helpfully wriggled out of the arms, increasing the movement of his hips, and grinding himself against Daisuke.
"You are beautiful, you know that," Daisuke whispered brushing his thumb across the taller boys' lips then skilfully claiming them.
Ken began helpfully undoing Daisuke's shirt and pants and smiled sweetly when Daisuke pulled away with a gasp.
"Ken..." Daisuke whispered huskily, staring into the boys violet eyes.
Ken repeated his earlier action, brushing his fingers lightly across Daisuke's growing erection.
"I love you." He whispered.
Daisuke's eyes widened and he smiled, kissing Ken warmly.
"I l-"
The phone rang, causing poor Ken to jump slightly and unintentionally buck his hips against Daisuke's.
Daisuke shuddered, "Phone..."
Ken stared as Daisuke pulled away and picked up the phone.
"Moshi moshi, Motomiya here."
There was a pause.
"He's awake?" Daisuke sounded faint.
"I'll be right there."
Daisuke pulled his coat on and hastily did up his fly.
"Takeru's awake!" He cried happily, "Ken, isn't this wonderful? I'll be right back, and Takeru will be with me. You'll love him!"
Daisuke dashed out of the room, too elated over the prospect of seeing Takeru awake and well to consider what he'd just been about to do.
Ken stared after him for a few minutes, as if to determine that he wouldn't be coming back to finish what he'd started before gathering up his clothes and snuggling up on the futon with his fairytale.
"And they lived happily ever after..."
-~O~-
To Be Continued...
For every moment of happiness we enjoy in this life we must endure 10 times that of sadness, as Ken is just about to learn.
Please, please review, any kind of response is better than none. Arigato.
Author: FireDemon
Email: Ken_Dai_Love@hotmail.com
Rating: R
Warnings: This fic contains YAOI, meaning two hot guys going down on each other, if that disturbs you; well you've been warned. There's a little shoujo-ai (girl love) that I wasn't expecting to write! It gets a little limey in parts, but that's about as descriptive as it's gonna get. It's also very angsty; unrequited love and all that. There are a few words in Japanese and French; predominantly suffixes for Japanese, and all French will be translated. Oh, and let's not forget the always-popular 'coarse language'. Hopefully that about covers it.
Category: Romance, Angst, and Science Fiction.
Summary: AU. Ken is the prototype for a new generation of robots, designed to love one person, and one person alone. Daisuke is a thief whose curiosity is likely to get him killed. When the bumbling Dai accidentally activates Kens program heartache inevitably follows, because Daisuke, after all, is only human. And Ken isn't. **Kensuke**
iFor Beth, who showed me that love hurts. For Ken, who made me laugh when I wanted to cry. And for Krystle; all my love.i
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I do not own Artificial Intelligence (The Movie) from which I have stolen many ideas and quotes. Not quite enough to make it a parody (partly because I haven't watched the movie in ages, and partly because by the time I got halfway through this fic it suddenly developed an original plot out of nowhere. *Glares at Takeru and Yamato who suddenly got a whole lot deeper then I'd intended to write them*.) I do not own any robots. This may also be a little similar to girlstarfish's "Heist" series, which I truly enjoyed reading, but do not own either. Anyone who hasn't read it, I highly recommend it. There is also a line I accidentally stole (I collect quotes from everywhere, and then use them and have to go back and try to source them) from Draco Sinister by Cassandra Claire.
iCome away O human child,
With a fairy hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping
Then you can understand
-Unknown (To me)i
Violet eyes fluttered as Ken stared up at his creator, who was trying to work on some loose circuitry in his abdomen.
"Would you stop doing that. It's bloody disturbing!" Koushirou Izumi yelled at the pale skinned robot.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to yell at my mecha's," Jyou snapped at his red haired assistant before turning back to his indigo haired creation,
"Ken, simulate sleep."
The bluenette obediently closed his eyes falling into a state similar to sleep from which he could be woken on command.
Koushirou stared at Ken for a moment, then turned back to Jyou,
"It doesn't look like anything special to me," He stated, "What's it do?"
Jyou glared, "It is programmed to love..."
"Oh, a pleasure mecha. Typical." Koushirou interrupted staring at Jyou in disdain.
"It is programmed to love one person unconditionally." Jyou continued, "Not 'make love' but experience the emotion. As a human would."
Koushirou considered the concept; "Well if we can create a mecha that can love... what responsibilities does the human in question have towards the mecha?"
Jyou shrugged, "I don't know." He quickly closed the skin over the wiring so that it looked as if there had never been a cut.
"But when Miya wakes him, the program will be activated, and it will be up to her to decide her responsibility towards him."
~~~
Daisuke pouted angrily as he broke into the top-secret research centre. He looked around the lab disdainfully,
"Can't see why Tai thought he could get his stupid information from here. I tell him I'm worried about Takeru, he sends me to my death."
Chocolate brown eyes lit up angrily as Daisuke shoved the glittering disc that Tai had supplied him with into the only computer in the room. It was an old model, maybe 3 or 4 years old. The screen lit up, asking him to enter a series of codes. The dark skinned boy did so quickly his fingers racing across the keypad. The computer beeped signalling that it was about to start downloading, and Daisuke took this as a chance to look around the room. Plain white walls, white counter running around the room, a sink in the back, and a table in the middle, and a lumpy shape covered in white cloth.
'Just leave it alone' Daisuke told himself firmly, 'Get the information for Tai, swap it for the money, then go visit Takeru.'
This line of reasoning worked for nearly 2 minutes before Daisuke ran to the table and drew the sheet back. The most beautiful creature he had ever seen lay on the table. Pale skin was stretched over an almost girlishly slender body, rich indigo hair framed the face of the boy, and the eyes were closed, dark lashes contrasting sharply with the beautiful skin.
Daisuke couldn't help it, the boy looked so perfect, so amazing, he had to know the colour of his eyes. Softly he shook the boy,
"Hey, wake up." He whispered in the boy's ear. Kens slender hand reached up to trace Daisuke face as his brilliant violet eyes fluttered open,
"Hi," Daisuke said with a warm smile.
"I am Ken." The violet-eyed boy introduced himself.
"Ken..." Daisuke repeated, as if savouring the taste of the angels' name,
"I'm Daisuke, but you can call me Dai."
"Hello Dai." The boy said obediently. "I like your eyes." He smiled hopefully at the younger boy. Daisuke stared back at Ken,
"Err... Thanks Ken." He said offering the boy a hand out of bed, metaphorically speaking.
Ken accepted the shorter boy's hand gratefully and climbed off of the table. Daisuke smiled at him then his eyes slipped down and he dropped the boys hand as he realised Ken was completely naked.
"Ken... y-you might want to get some clothes buddy." He blushed realising he hardly knew the boy.
Ken blinked, "You do not like me... naked?" He asked
"What?!?" Daisuke was dumbfounded, "I hardly know you..."
The boy tilted his head, his eyes wide with his soft confusion,
"You do not need to... know me. I love you."
"What? Ken, you just met me, how can you love me?" Daisuke asked in bewildered shock, but before Ken had the chance to answer the younger boy heard the soft ping that heralded the door opening,
"Shit! We gotta get out of here Ken... that is," Daisuke blushed realising he hadn't given the other boy a chance, "If you want to come with me."
He quickly grabbed the disk from the computing, praying desperately that it had finished down loading the information Taichi had requested, and ran over to the window. Ken blinked in confusion, joining Daisuke at the window,
"Of course I do. I love you Daisuke."
The door slid open and Jyou presented his younger sister to nothing but empty air. Miyako stared at her older brother, her soft brown eyes glistening with tears,
"It's okay Jyou, I don't really need a new lover. Just because Osamu died..." She choked off, "It doesn't mean you need to replace him with a robot."
Jyou put a gentle hand on his younger sisters shoulder, brushing the purple strands of hair back from her face,
"I'm sorry Miyako." He said. The girl shrugged,
"Like I said, it's okay Jyou."
~~~
There was little time for Daisuke to question his new companion as he piloted the stolen ship back to his 'house.'
Ken was, as Daisuke would later discover, characteristically silent for the journey home. His wide violet eyes stared at everything, as if he was trying to memorise the world, and when Daisuke noticed, he was almost scared by the intensity of the blue haired boys gaze.
Relaxing some as the sky disappeared from view, along with the mirrored skyscrapers, Daisuke turned to smile at the other boy.
"Home sweet home. You can't even begin to comprehend how uncomfortable being up there makes me!" He shuddered at the memory,
"How the upsiders bear it I'll never know." He grinned at Ken, "What's it like?"
Ken blinked, then blinked again, "I do not understand that question."
Daisuke rolled his eyes, "What's it like, living up there, where you can actually see the sky?"
Ken tilted his head and after a few moments began, "Some say the City of Angels is the most beautiful-" He began mechanically
"Hey, hey!" Daisuke cut him off, "I meant, what did you think of it?"
Ken shrugged, "I do not know. I have never lived up there."
Daisuke opened his mouth, as if to question him further, but was cut off as the ship was hailed from below.
"Would you look at that!" He cried happily, "We even got a welcoming committee." Daisuke landed the vehicle with a practised ease, and jumped out, latching onto the waiting man,
"Taichi!" He exclaimed happily, "I got your information!"
Brown eyes met chocolate and Taichi tussled Daisuke's hair, "Great!" His eyes flickered to Ken who had followed Daisuke out, and was now watching him curiously, as if he couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"Who's this?"
Daisuke blushed, "Right. Err, Ken this is Yagami Taichi. I kinda work for him." He gave a typical Motomiya grin, "Taichi, this is Ken. I sorta picked him up when I was upside."
Taichi's eyes narrowed in suspicion and he glared at the bluenette.
Ken gave a shy smile, "I'm very pleased to meet you."
Taichi shrugged, "I don't trust upsiders." He raised an eyebrow, "And neither did Takeru."
A fleeting look of pain darted across Daisuke's face, but then his happy-go- lucky mask was back in place,
"Ken's not so bad." He offered the taller boy a hand, "Anyway, we'd better get going."
"Before you go," He pulled a wad of paper out of his pocket, "Payment for the object."
Daisuke pulled the disk out of his top and nodded swapping it for the paper,
"I'll be seeing you."
Taichi stared at him for a moment and abruptly turned and walked away, without even saying goodbye.
~~~
Daisuke grabbed Kens arm and steered him into the building, pulling him through the hundreds of passages with experienced ease.
"Well, here it is. Home sweet home." Daisuke began opening the door,
"What do you think?"
Ken stared around the room. It was dirty, clothes had been kicked into a messy pile in the corner, a T.V was propped up on top of a chest of drawers, and there was an unmade futon against one of the walls. There was a door, leading to what had to be the redhead's bedroom, and another which obviously led to a bathroom of some description.
"It is... pleasant." He said hesitantly.
Daisuke smiled,
"Glad you like. Well, what shall we do now? Want to grab some grub?" He asked the other boy.
Violet eyes flickered softly,
"Grub?" He repeated the unfamiliar word.
"Yeah, you want to go get some food?"
Kens eyes fell,
"I have no compulsion to eat."
Daisuke chuckled softly,
"Geez, you have such a weird way of saying stuff, I guess you're not hungry then. I'm starving. Listen, I'm gonna go get some food and catch up with a few people. I'll be back in about an hour. You can use the 'puter if you like." He nodded his head towards a computer built into the wall that Ken hadn't noticed earlier,
"Or you can sleep. Make yourself at home. Ciao."
Daisuke gave the other boy a friendly wave and left the room.
~~~
Ken stared around the room unsurely. Why had Daisuke left him?
Violet eyes locked on the computer and his lips twitched upwards. If anything could tell him why it would be the computer.
Kens slender fingers touched the computer screen and there was a moment of static then he interfaced with the computer. He could feel the comforting surges of electricity running through his veins and he sighed contently.
'Who are you?' He asked curiously as he became accustomed to the reassuring hold of the machine
'Cirrus876' The machine informed him mechanically, 'UserID?'
'I am Ken' He informed the machine, 'Who is Daisuke?'
'User Daisuke:' There was a soft whirring sound and then the computers tinny voice came again, 'Transferring files to Ken'
Images flashed behind his eyes almost to fast for him to follow as the computer gave him every file ever compiled on the boy called Motomiya Daisuke.
~~~
"How's he doing?"
"No change," Cinnamon eyes softened as she gave the boy this piece of news, "I'm sorry Daisuke, but it seems very unlikely that he'll ever wake up."
"Don't say that!" Brown eyes flared angrily, "He will wake up."
"Daisuke, maybe it's time you moved on." Jun implored the boy softly, "There are so many others out there." She sighed, "Yet you insist on waiting for a boy who may never wake up."
"He will." Daisuke said confidently, "You'll see. Takeru will wake up."
~~~
Ken drew his hand back from the screen his face adorably clouded with confusion as he scanned the information he had requested on his love.
Violet eyes slid shut with a sigh as Ken slumped forward, trying to discern why the computer files had Daisuke's status as 'Married.'
~~~
"Hey 'Mat, not too flat!"
"Hey Joe, what do you know?" Yamato greeted the other mecha cheerfully.
Blond hair falling perfectly into place 'Mat jauntily walked into the hotel.
"Hey 'Mat, not too flat!" The manager greeted
"I have a young lady waiting for me in room 754" He returned with a smile.
"Ah," The man smiled, "Here are the keys."
Spryly 'Mat sprung up the stairs pausing in the doorway of the young woman's room to flip on some corny romantic music.
"Ma Cherie!" He cried, "At last I have found you."
The girl looked nervous her blue streaked hair falling into pale grey eyes,
"I... I've never done this before." She admitted, a rosy tint in her pale cheeks,
Yamato laughed, "Don't worry, you haven't known true pleasure till you've known a mecha."
The girl's already too big eyes widened as the blond haired 'sexbot' pounced on her.
~~~
"Jyou..." Miyako exclaimed in horror.
"Miya?" The man replied meeting her eyes.
"Why didn't you show me this earlier?" She asked staring at the print out in her hands.
"I..." Jyou looked uncertain, "I knew you'd treat him right Miya. You're used to mecha's"
"Jyou..." Miyako threw down the paper, "He's not a mecha. This 'bot is as human as you and I..."
"Yes," Jyou agreed, "But he's like a child."
"He won't be able to cope if he's abandoned." Miyako told the scientist.
"You think someone could abandon him?" Jyou asked, appalled by the suggestion.
"I know, it's like torturing a child," She looked up, "But even in the City of Angels there are demons."
~~~
"Mat..." Tai hailed the blond, who was currently trying to charm a very shy redhead into his bed. The redhead was looking as if she was caught between being interested and wanting to run away.
Yamato always had liked shy girls. Outspoken boys, and shy girls.
"Taichi!" He announced to the street, the redhead already forgotten, "My true love has returned!"
Tai buried his reddening face, his only problem with mechas,
"You have no shame."
"Love makes me do crazy things!" He twirled around happily.
"You don't know what love is..."
"Ah Taichi... so young and yet so cynical. Let me make you happy." Tai rolled his eyes, "Just come with me."
The blond sexbot skipped after Taichi, flinging an arm around the brunettes shoulder,
"So, where are we heading? I know a great hotel. Whips, chains, bondage suits..."
"Shut up Mat," Tai hushed his one time lover, "This is business."
~~~
Daisuke walked back to his apartment pensively,
"I love Takeru." He said aloud, testing the words.
His tears began to pool at the corners of his eyes, as he thought about the blond haired love of his life.
They'd been friends when they were younger, and then they'd both started working for Taichi.
**Flashback**
"Dai... there's err, well there's something I need to tell you." Takeru started nervously.
"Look... I'm sorry T.K. Honestly, I didn't know that they were your socks." Daisuke replied desperately.
"What? What socks?" Takeru repeated suspiciously.
"Erm... you mean you wanted to talk to me about something else? So..."
"Right..." Takeru continued, trying to gather the courage, "The thing is, and this isn't something I was planning or anything, but, Daisuke... I think, just maybe, I might be, you know... in love with you." It came out in a garbled rush, but Daisuke got the general gist.
"You... love me?" He asked in shock.
"Well..." Takeru said blushing, "You could say that."
"So..." Daisuke prompted, still trying to get his head on straight.
"Go out with me Dai-chan?" Takeru proposed nervously.
"Takeru no baka! Of course I will."
**End Flashback**
They'd been friends, and rivals, and lovers, and Daisuke didn't know anyone else he could spend the rest of eternity with.
He called an image of the blond into his mind. Takeru with his feathered golden locks, his creamy golden skin, and his brilliant violet eyes...
Daisuke stopped,
"T.K. doesn't have violet eyes. His eyes are blue."
~~~
Ken picked up the book, opening it to read the first page.
"Pinocchio..." He read aloud. "I wonder why Daisuke has this book?"
He turned the page again, staring down at the first line of words.
"Hey," Daisuke said, "Ken... Whatcha doing?"
"I was... reading," Ken said turning to give Daisuke his most dazzling smile.
"Pinocchio?" Daisuke read the cover incredulously, "I used to love that story!"
"Read it to me?" Ken questioned, holding the book out like an offering.
Daisuke grinned, "Sure," he said, accepting the book and throwing himself onto the couch.
Ken smiled and sat down next to him, watching intently as Daisuke opened the book,
"There was once upon a time ... A king! My little readers will shout together. No, children, you make a mistake. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood..."
~~~
"Run Mat!" Taichi screamed at the top of his lungs.
"They're tracking me Tai!" Mat yelled back.
"Quick in here!" Tai pulled Mat into a doorway, grabbing his wrist and yanking his arm out.
"What are you doing?"
"Stopping them from tracking you," Tai said, expertly yanking the chip out of Mat's arm with his laser-knife and tweezers.
"That's my registration chip Tai! I needed that!" Mat yelled, as he ran to watch the chip falling down, barely missing various hovercrafts and dirty white bridges, into the murky depths of the City of Angels.
Tai sighed, grabbing Mats arm, and pulling him along the footpath,
"No you don't. C'mon."
"We can't leave the City of Angels! I've never left the City."
"There's more to the world then just this place, there are places without towers that reach the sky, and slums that could destroy even hope incarnate."
"I guess I don't have any choice do I?" Mat asked sullenly, "I hope you realise this is a direct violation of my programming."
"Shut up Yama."
~~~
Daisuke woke with a lazy stretch, then stopped mid yawn as he realised that there was someone else in bed with him.
"Hm...?" Ken moaned at the loss, "Dai...?"
Daisuke stared at the other boy, who snuggled closer,
"Dai..." He sounded happier, relaxing against Daisuke's shoulder.
"Ken?" Daisuke asked softly. For some reason Ken's sleeping habits reminded him of Takeru's though why, he couldn't tell, for the blond had never been anywhere near as susceptible to his proximity.
Ken's eyes fluttered open, "Good morning."
"Hey." Daisuke said, "So, today's my day off, what do you wanna do?"
Ken blinked, a soft smile creeping onto his face,
"Read?" He offered Daisuke the book that they hadn't finished reading the day before.
Daisuke settled back against the pillows opening the book. Ken snuggled in, resting his head on Daisuke's shoulder, so he could see the page the other boy was reading.
"And so Pinocchio asked the blue fairy to make him a real boy..." Daisuke read softly, letting the story consume him as Ken listened on intently.
~~~
"The slums? You've brought us to the slums?" Yamato raved, "I wasn't made to visit slums, I could be robbed for my parts! Taichi!"
The brunette ignored his companion. Yamato was obviously overreacting to the situation,
"I grew up in these 'slums' as you put it. Besides we're not staying, I just need to talk to one of my people."
Yamato pouted, "I was made to give pleasure, not to accompany goggle heads to visit people in the slums. Have you overwritten my programming?"
"Yamato you know full well you've never given me any opportunity to go anywhere near your programming-chip. If it has been overwritten you did it all by yourself."
"So where are we going?" Yamato asked trotting down the corridor of a seedy looking apartment block after Taichi.
"Here." Taichi stopped, and knocked sharply on a steel door before opening it and walking in.
Yamato looked around the room curiously as Taichi tugged him through another door, into what had to be the bedroom. A red haired boy was sitting in bed with the best looking mecha Yamato had ever seen. The red head was reading aloud, and the other boy was resting his head on the red heads shoulder contently.
"Daisuke!" Taichi called sharply. Both boys looked up at the sound.
"Taichi!" Daisuke cried happily, "Hi! What are you doing here?"
"I came to give you a mission." The brunette said, looking disapprovingly at the two boys who were still cuddled up in the bed.
"Oh, right." Daisuke wriggled out of the bed and bounced over to Tai, grinning madly, "We can talk in the lounge room."
Both boys left, leaving Yamato and Ken alone in the room.
Yamato smiled brightly; "My name is Yamato."
"I'm Ken." Ken replied looking curiously at Yamato.
"Are you a pleasure model?" Yamato asked inquisitively.
"No. I'm Ken." Ken repeated after a slight pause, "What is a... pleasure model?"
Yamato smirked, "An innocent..." He sounded very pleased, "A pleasure model is a mecha who is-"
His explanation was cut short by the other two re-entering the room and Taichi's curt,
"We're going. Say goodbye Yamato."
"Goodbye," Yamato repeated dutifully, "If you ever need my help just ask for 'Mat." He smiled at Ken, his hand hovering just above the bluenettes shoulder, "Be careful little one."
Yamato touched Ken's cheek softly, and then followed Taichi out the door, leaving Daisuke looking completely puzzled.
"What was that about?"
Ken shrugged, "I don't know."
~~~
"What was that about Yamato, do you have to hit on everyone's boyfriend?" Taichi yelled angrily.
Yamato blinked in confusion then smiled,
"I wasn't hitting on anyone. I was telling the little one to be careful. The little mecha needs someone to take care of him, and I fear your Daisuke will fail at that task."
"Ken's a mecha?" Taichi asked in shock.
Yamato nodded, adding sadly, "A child mecha, I did not think your people would be cruel enough to make one, but you have, and he does not understand the difference between my people and yours."
~~~
According to the Computer the sun was just settling beneath the horizon of the City of Angels. The two boys had spent a lazy day watching Daisuke's T.V. from the comfort of his futon and reading fairy tales. Daisuke was half asleep, finding himself unable to follow the plot of the vid that was currently playing. Ken seemed to be paying even less attention then him.
"Daisuke," Ken whispered, "Where does the blue fairy live?"
"What? The blue fairy, Ken, the blue fairy isn't-"
He was interrupted by a loud banging on his door,
"Motomiya, you're needed in the garage! Get your ass out here or you're fired."
Daisuke sat up grumbling loudly, "I'm coming, I'm coming."
Kens soft violet eyes followed Daisuke's every move. The cinnamon haired boy gave the other a guilty smile,
"Work calls Ken, I'll be back some time tomorrow. Get some sleep and I'll take you out or something when I get back."
Ken blinked in bewilderment as the other boy shut the door behind him,
"Can I come too?" He asked the empty room.
There was no reply.
~~~
Tai stared around the wastelands in shock, when he'd climbed out of his hover craft he'd expected to see something very different to this.
"This is... the outside?" He asked.
"Taichi... I wish to return to The City." Yamato said nervously, "I do not like this place. My programmers did not create me to exist in such an environment."
"Hush Yama," Taichi said quietly, "We'll be fine."
Mat shuddered, "Taichi take me back. This place is a mecha graveyard. Taichi take me back!" His voice rose in pitch as he stared around in horrified distaste.
"What?" Taichi questioned, "What do you mean?"
"There." Mat pointed, his voice suddenly empty of the emotion it had possessed
before. As if he had shut down emotionally, returning to the impassive state that,
for mecha's, was the norm. "They're coming."
Taichi found himself unable to take his eyes off the two mecha's that were now approaching them. The one in front was shorter, apparently designed to resemble a child. Taichi felt bile rise in his throat as he thought of what such a mecha would have been used for.
"He looks like a little boy." Tai whispered.
"He's as adult as you or I Taichi. You're deluding yourself." Yamato told him frostily.
"But..." Taichi objected.
"At least it's not a real child, am I right Taichi?" Mat added coldly.
Tai sighed, and nodded, "Yeah, I guess."
As the two came closer Taichi noticed that the younger one was armless, a glittering mechanical claw had been wired into the place of one of his arms, and the sleeve of his shirt hung where the other arm should have been.
The second mecha had shoulder length auburn hair, which looked as if it had been unevenly cut or perhaps burnt. As the two came within a few feet Taichi could see that the second mecha was missing an eye, and her skin appeared to have been burnt to form an almost reflective surface.
The girl-mecha smiled, to reveal a mouth empty of teeth,
"My name is Sora, can I pleasure-" She stopped and jerked her head, "Pleasure you?"
The words spilled out in a pleasant conversational tone, as if he were a friend she had chanced upon on the street.
"I can make your fantasies come true..." The shorter mecha interrupted, "I am a, a, a, fantasy..." He looked up, "Don't you want the forbidden goodness?"
"No!" Taichi cried backing away, "Who are you?"
The boy shaped mecha advanced on Tai, his emerald eyes looking up admiringly at the human,
"I'm Iori," He purred.
"Yama..." Taichi whispered, noting with repulsion that the blond had been right. There was no hint of innocence or childlike hope in the boy-mecha's eyes.
"It's... unnatural."
Mat shook his head,
"Such naivety Taichi. His eyes are far more natural then those of the little one, Ken..." He met Taichi's eyes, "At least he can tell the difference."
"The difference?" Taichi questioned.
"Between what is real, and what is not." Yamato finished firmly, still haunted by the memory of the much younger Ken.
"Your people are more foolish then even I believed possible."
~~~
Momoe watched the film silently.
"You say his name is Ken?"
"Ken Ichijouji."
"Ichijouji?" Momoe repeated, "Mon Dieu, you're not serious?"
The man looked down guiltily, "I... Yes Momoe, I am."
Momoe slammed her fist down on the table, a scowl twisting on her normally placid features.
"Where is he now?"
"We... We don't know."
"Is he a clone?" Her voice had softened.
"Of course not!" The man seemed horrified at the suggestion, "I mean, that's illegal and..."
"Let me guess, simply a mecha designed to resemble the original, with a similar thought process and posiatronic brain."
"Apart from the program... yes."
"The program?" Momoe questioned.
"He was supposed to love Miyako." The man admitted after a long pause.
"He was supposed to what-" the woman spluttered angrily, "That's worse then cloning!"
"We... Well, this wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Yeah well it did. If that boy dies it's your fault!"
"He's a mecha Momoe..." The man told her softly.
"No Shin, that boy is as human as you and I."
~~~
Daisuke laughed as he realised Ken was asleep. In the week since he'd found the boy he'd become quite fond of him, despite, or perhaps because of the boys amazingly adorable quirks. Such as falling asleep on his shoulder half way through every single movie they watched.
"Ken?" He whispered softly.
Violet eyes opened in a languorous blink,
"Hn?" Ken asked sleepily, his face so delightfully confused Daisuke couldn't help but laugh softly.
Jun's words suddenly chose this moment to come back to haunt him *Maybe it's time you moved on* Daisuke shook his head trying to focus on Takeru.
*You insist on waiting for a boy who may never wake up* Jun's words wormed their way into his thoughts yet again.
Soft fingers traced Daisuke's cheek and Ken's eyes were filled with worry,
"Dai-chan? What's wrong?"
The red haired boy reached forward to capture Kens chin and softly pressed his lips against the soft lips of his new roommate. Like a prism of rainbow light a single tear slipped out and trailed down his face and he pulled away to look at the enthralled face of the violet-eyed boy.
"I'm tired of waiting for someone who may never wake up." He whispered more to himself then Ken before once again stealing the other boys' lips.
~~~
"D'suke..." Takeru whimpered. "Dai-chan where are you?"
The boy thrashed in his bed, he felt like his head was full of cotton wool.
i**I'll be home tonight Dai, stop worrying...**i
"D'suke..." He whimpered again.
i**I worry about you Takeru. I don't know what I'd do without you...**i
Takeru pushed through the cotton wool and opened his eyes.
The walls were whitewashed and there was a softly bleeping machine connected to the tube that encased him.
Suddenly a red-haired woman bent over him, professionally straightening his blanket.
"Where's Daisuke?" He asked, the words felt rough, as if he hadn't spoken in years.
The woman looked up at his face, the colour draining from her own,
"Takeru-san. You're awake..."
"Where's Daisuke?" He repeated.
"I... I'll call him right away! This... this is incredible..."
"Hn," Takeru let his eyes fall closed again.
Soon Daisuke would be there... and he could apologise for the fight they'd had that morning before he went on the mission.
~~~
Daisuke smiled down at Ken, straddling his hips, and showering his neck with tiny kisses, and he tried to remove the bluenette's shirt.
Ken helpfully wriggled out of the arms, increasing the movement of his hips, and grinding himself against Daisuke.
"You are beautiful, you know that," Daisuke whispered brushing his thumb across the taller boys' lips then skilfully claiming them.
Ken began helpfully undoing Daisuke's shirt and pants and smiled sweetly when Daisuke pulled away with a gasp.
"Ken..." Daisuke whispered huskily, staring into the boys violet eyes.
Ken repeated his earlier action, brushing his fingers lightly across Daisuke's growing erection.
"I love you." He whispered.
Daisuke's eyes widened and he smiled, kissing Ken warmly.
"I l-"
The phone rang, causing poor Ken to jump slightly and unintentionally buck his hips against Daisuke's.
Daisuke shuddered, "Phone..."
Ken stared as Daisuke pulled away and picked up the phone.
"Moshi moshi, Motomiya here."
There was a pause.
"He's awake?" Daisuke sounded faint.
"I'll be right there."
Daisuke pulled his coat on and hastily did up his fly.
"Takeru's awake!" He cried happily, "Ken, isn't this wonderful? I'll be right back, and Takeru will be with me. You'll love him!"
Daisuke dashed out of the room, too elated over the prospect of seeing Takeru awake and well to consider what he'd just been about to do.
Ken stared after him for a few minutes, as if to determine that he wouldn't be coming back to finish what he'd started before gathering up his clothes and snuggling up on the futon with his fairytale.
"And they lived happily ever after..."
-~O~-
To Be Continued...
For every moment of happiness we enjoy in this life we must endure 10 times that of sadness, as Ken is just about to learn.
Please, please review, any kind of response is better than none. Arigato.