Author's Notes: I know, I know, there are no words that can even begin to tell you how sorry I am for taking so long for continuing this. I can give a variety of excuses like graduation, work, muses abandoning me, etc. But I said I would continue this story and far be it from me to break my word. So yeah, flashbacks are in italics, present scenes are from Hikari's POV.

Remember
By Melissa


I felt like I was reeling. Memories struck me with such force that it felt physical.

I never liked crying. Tears are like little bits of yourself that you can never get back once they have escaped. After seeing the ID bracelet I wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and weep. I couldn't though, not with Takeru there.

I clutched the bracelet in my fist as though it might disappear if I relinquished my hold even a bit. I stared straight ahead while the phone I held to my ear continued to ring.

"Hikari?" Takeru's voice had a nervous tremor to it. He didn't know what exactly had just transpired. Ken had come over, given me a terribly expensive gift along with the hospital ID bracelet, and now I was desperately trying to call him.

I slammed the phone back down on the cradle after the millionth ring with no one picking up at the other end.

I stared at the hospital ID bracelet resting in my hands. I could see creases in the paper that was plastic coated. It looked so fragile.

While staring at it, my eyes wandered to a slight patch of discolored skin on my wrist. I had cut it in a fall when I was younger and this scar was all I had left.

But it wasn't.

Something was familiar about the bracelet and the scar, something connecting them. Though I was positive that I hadn't received the scar until after the hospital visit all those years ago.

And suddenly I remembered. It wasn't the bracelet and the scar that shared a common bond; it was Ken and I.

Getting up, I began tearing apart my room. There was something else I needed to find.

***

The sun shown brightly outside the rays painting over everything, tinting all objects several shades lighter. It was about 70 degrees, with a slight breeze caressing everything is its path. All in all it was a beautiful day.

Inside a house a small brown haired girl about eight years old stared out a crystal clear window. She wanted so desperately to go outside, to be anywhere but enclosed in these four walls.

A woman walks into the room pausing briefly to contemplate the little girl. After a moment she spoke.

"I am so sorry, Hikari. I know how much you wanted to go to camp with your brother. But the doctor thinks it's best if you stay home and rest."

"I've been resting my whole life, Mom," Hikari said sadly, still keeping her attention on the outside.

Her mother turned and left the room for a moment, returning a moment later with a soccer ball in her arms.

"Tell you what, little girl. I'll let you out to play for a little while if you promise to come home afterwards and take it easy for the rest of the day."

Hikari perked up at this idea. "Really?"

"The park. Two hours. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Mom," Hikari replied, jumping up to hug her mother and to take the ball.

Mrs. Yagami watched her little girl sprint for the front door, not being able to remember the last time she had seen Hikari so happy.

Hikari made it to the park in record time, bouncing and dribbling the ball as she went. Just upon reaching the park, she gave the ball a good kick. The sphere flew off the side of her foot, hit the concrete sidewalk and bounced into the road.

Hikari raced towards the road, not even thinking about the danger. Her only concern was about the errant soccer ball that had escaped her possession.

A car traveling at a high rate of speed was racing right towards her. The driver didn't notice the small girl step out onto the road from between some parked cars on the side of the street.

A boy with midnight hair had been watching the girl with such intensity it took him a moment to realize how much danger she was in. He had been on his way home when he changed his direction had started walking quickly towards the girl. He wasn't far from her when he saw the car out of the corner of his eye. He broke into a run.

Hikari bent down and retrieved her ball. Turning back towards the park a flash of red distracted her. The red blur was the car speeding directly towards her. The driver saw the girl and in reaction slammed on his brakes. The wheels locked up and the car went into a skid.

Just as the car was about to hit the little girl a hand reached out and grabbed the collar of her shirt. She was yanked out of the way of almost certain death. The boy hand pulled so hard they both tumbled backwards in between the parked automobiles.

The driver yanked his steering wheel hard to the left to avoid the girl who was somehow no longer there. He released the break and swerved back to the right, the car losing momentum. He pressed the brakes again and came to a dead stop, knuckles white and heart racing. After taking several moments to compose himself he drove away, this time at a much slower rate.

The girl and boy both scrambled to their feet and onto the relative safety of the sidewalk. Both sat there, gasping for air.

"Are you okay?" The little boy asked around gulps of air.

She looked down at her knee, which was scraped due to falling on asphalt. It stung something fierce and was bleeding just a little.

"I'm better than the alternative," she replied, wincing slightly. "I can't believe I just ran out into the road without looking. I know better than that. And that one moment of stupidity almost got me killed."

"But it didn't," the boy said as he stood up and brushed himself off. He then offered his hand to the little girl.

She took it and stood up as well. Tucking the ball under her arm, the two began walking back towards the park.

"Your knee is hurt," the boy said, his eyebrows knit in an adorable display of concern.

"It's not so bad," she lied, as a thin crimson streak made it's way down her pale skin.

The two went over a picnic table. The boy helped the girl up on the top of the table while be sat on the bench. He pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and gently pressed it to the wound.

She hissed at the momentary discomfort.

"Sorry," the boy apologized.

The girl watched the boy attend to her. She couldn't shake this feeling that she knew him. Like they had met somewhere before. After many moments of silence, and being unable to recall where she knew him from, she decided to ask.

"Do I know you? You look very familiar."

"I don't think so," the boy replied, without lifting his head.

"Well, in that case, I believe introductions are in order. My name is Hikari."

"Hello, Hikari. My name is Ken."

Something tugged at Hikari's mind, something almost forgotten and trying to find it's way back into the here and now. While pondering that, Hikari noticed the handkerchief Ken was using was monogrammed. She suddenly felt horrible about ruining it.

As if knowing what she was feeling, Ken spoke. "Don't worry about the handkerchief. I've got many more at home."

The bleeding on her knee had stopped thanks to the pressure being applied. She smiled slightly. This beautiful stranger had saved her life and was now tending to her.

Hikari hopped off the picnic table and dropped the ball on the ground. In the process she noticed that red was staining the while patches of the soccer pattern. Confused, she glanced down and noticed her fingers were stained with the same red as the ball. Unbeknownst to her, she had cut up her palm of her hand in her fall, near to her wrist.

Ken gently took her hand and began to wrap his handkerchief around it.

"I'm all full of troubles," Hikari said sheepishly, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Maybe her mother had been right, maybe she should just stay indoors.

Ken gave her a small smile and continued his work. He tied a small knot in the fabric to secure it.

Hikari turned her wrist over and examined Ken's handiwork. "It's slightly bulky for a bracelet, but I suppose it will have due." A small chuckle escaped her lips.

Ken stared at her for a moment, wondering if she would remember…

"Want to kick the ball with me?" she asked, after the laughter had died away.

Ken's eyebrows knotted in slight confusion. "Kick the ball? For what reason?"

Hikari stared at him, dumbfounded. "Please tell me you are not serious."

His look told her that he was.

"You kick the ball because it is fun," she said at last, her tone making it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Okay…" Ken answered, still not sure what the true purpose behind kicking the patterned, spheroid object was.

Hikari walked several feet away and dropped the ball to the ground. Giving it a good, swift kick it shot across the grass and came to rest directly at Ken's feet.

Ken looked at the ball and then at Hikari. Shrugging, he mimicked her and kicked it back. It sailed slightly to her left, but she moved swiftly to avoid it escaping. She then kicked it back again.

This went on for some time, intermixing with laughter and conversation. It wasn't until much later that Hikari realized that her two hours had been well up.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. Mom is going to have my head for being late."

"I didn't mean to keep you here," Ken said softly. "I hope she won't be too angry with you."

"She'll get over it." Hikari walked towards Ken and gave him a hug.

"Thank you," Hikari whispered.

Ken didn't want this moment to end. He felt safe and warm in her arms. She pulled away all too quickly though.

"Don't worry about it. I actually had a really good time. I'd forgotten what having fun could be like," Ken said with an almost imperceptible smile.

Hikari squeezed his hand in hers. "No, I mean, thank you for saving my life," she said, releasing her hold on him. As she walked away, she bounced the ball and gave a small wave as she went.

"It's only fair," Ken said to no one but himself after she was gone. "You saved mine."

Ken had lied when he told Hikari they didn't know each other. They had met a few years ago in a hospital through fate or chance. Ken had just wanted to give up living then, because he had felt responsible for his brother's death. Hikari had helped him through a very difficult time in his life. And he had never forgotten that.

Though time had passed, Ken still kept an eye on the brown haired girl with the infectious smile. He always stayed in the shadows, afraid to come into the light. When she was around, he was never frightened.

***

I dug through my top dresser drawer, finally coming across what I had been searching for. A perfectly folded, white handkerchief with slightly fading stitching on the monogram. I had forgotten about it all these years.

I felt tears threaten once again as I gingerly touched the fabric. I had forgotten about the hospital, and the park, and it was killing me inside. Even after meeting Ken, when he had been the Digimon Emperor, and subsequently saving him from the dark spore, I didn't realize we had already been acquainted. We had become the best of friends after all that, or rather, I guess, renewed our best friend status in a way. But he had never said anything.

Tucking the handkerchief in my pocket, I left my room, grabbing my jacket in the process.

Takeru was seated on the couch, a dubious look crossing his features.

"Where are you going? What was that all about?"

I didn't answer. I slammed the door behind me and broke into a run. It wasn't far from my residence to Ken's.

I had to reach him.

TO BE CONTINUED…

More Author's Notes: Okay, I promise there will be another chapter,(maybe two, but I'll have to see) and I double promise it won't take a year to complete. Cross my heart and hope to cry.