Well it's time for the next instalment. Also, I'm going to give you another clue on the mystical movie on which I have based this on, and "digimodified" to the story you are reading. Also, I plan on doing this for each instalment. This week's hint is: the movie's title is in another language, and its direct translation is "love". Oooooh, I wonder what it could be! ^_^ This is now where the real story begins. In this story Tai and Kari will retain the last name, Kamiya, for the sake of some consistency. As you can guess if you read the prologue, TK, Ken, and Izzy have just met for the first time. TK and Matt will not be related to each other. However, as you can probably guess, they will keep the same separate names that we all know. Lastly, ages will not be consistent to one another. All you need to know is that TK, Izzy, and Ken are 19 at the time, most people they meet are around the same age, unless otherwise stated. Now before I reveal too much, let's get the disclaimer done with.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Digimon. Why is this?! How come Toei gets all the good stuff?! Damn, rich, Japanese guys! Must I destroy them so I that may claim it for myself? *silence* Err......on with the fic!
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It was a cool autumn morning, with a light breeze in the air. The scene that the boys saw outside of the bus windows was just breathtaking. Several hills full of trees were plentiful amongst the countryside, and all the leaves on every tree had gone through their colourful metamorphosis. The breeze carried several of the leaves across the plains, and some got into the bus through the open windows. TK seemed particularly interested in the one that landed next to him. He quickly admired the brownish-red leaf and let it loose back outside to fly freely in the wind once more. The bus ride was taking a while, as Kyoto Academy was far out from the big city of the same name. It was in a secluded, little town that was rather simple, but had all the necessary requirements to live on, as well as to have good amounts of entertainment.
The bus entered the town after about two hours of driving from the station. The boys were quite impressed with the quantity of activity that was happening in the vicinity. There was a huge crowd around the whole area. There was a marketplace, some cafes, lots of houses along the outskirts, a hospital, and a central fountain. In the distance they saw two exceptionally large buildings, but they couldn't quite make out what they were. However they were nearing them. They soon realized that the buildings were distanced from the rest of the town, and saw that the lesser of the two buildings was an all-girl college. The other was the infamous Kyoto Academy. They had finally arrived.
"Secluded in a secluded area, how much quiet does one need?!" joked Ken.
"Well I guess this just helps in the studying process." responded Izzy.
The Academy was truly a sight to behold. After the bus had dropped them off and left, all three of them gazed in awe. In front of them was a giant, iron gate and fence, that made up the perimeter of the school. Behind the fence was a vast meadow and garden that had several gazebos scattered about, as well as a long, reflecting pool that stretched from the gate for about 60 feet or so until it reached a rather large, empty gazebo. Behind that was the majestic, five-story building of the college which was comprised of the classrooms, staff offices, and lodgings for all her students.
The guard opened the gate for them and allowed them in. The three then walked with their luggage very slowly to take in the unheard of beauty that was around them. To think that for the next phase of their lives, that this would be their new home. It was marvellous.
After getting some information from the help desk and receiving their uniforms, which consisted of grey slacks, a white shirt, a black tie, and a red blazer with the school insignia on the front; they found their room. It had a computer and desk at the side, a complete washroom, a bunk-bed on one half of the room and a single bed on the other.
"Well I call this bed!" Ken said in a hurry, pointing to the single. TK and Izzy just groaned. "These beds aren't that bad" Ken stated, after testing his out.
"Speak for yourself! Mine is totally stiff!" TK retorted. Izzy nodded in frustration after testing his upper bunk out. The boys then began to unpack their belongings so they could make the cold room more familiar. TK took a small photo out of his bag. that he was about to place on the nightstand next to him, but Ken tried to intercept it. TK recoiled his hand back to his chest to hide the picture.
"What's that TK?" Ken asked.
"It's just an old photo, Ken, don't worry about it." TK hesitantly said.
"Oh come on! Let's have a look!" Ken replied, unsatisfied with TK's response. TK reluctantly agreed and allowed Ken to see. In the photo stood two kids - a boy and a girl - who looked to be barely in their preteens. The boy had a fisherman's hat, and wore a green and yellow shirt with matching shorts. He had blonde hair poking out from under the hat, and bright, blue eyes. Ken believed it to be TK at a younger age. The girl sported a pink tank top with matching Capri's, mahogany hair that was somewhat short with a distinctive hairclip, and reddish-brown eyes which seemed close to the colour of autumn leaves. Both kids had big smiles on their faces and were holding hands. Ken smirked at this. "Is this your girlfriend, TK?" he teased.
"No she isn't!" TK said defensively, "She's just an old friend of mine, that's all."
"Of course she is." Ken said, not believing him for one second. "Tell me about this mysterious young lady."
TK then started his little anecdote and spoke in a sad, reflective tone. "There's not much to say, really. Her name is Kari, and ever since we were in diapers, we lived next door to each other and were naturally the best of friends. We did everything together. Then when we were eleven, her father got a new job offered to him, and they had to move. I was devastated. Her older brother, Tai, took that photo of us at the front of her house just four days before she moved. Unfortunately, I was unable to contact her, and the town she was moving to, as she said, 'was in the middle of nowhere'. I never saw her again. It's been eight years." He didn't notice until he was finished, that both Izzy and Ken were listening to him intently.
"And you never told her how you felt?" Ken asked.
"What are you talking about, Ken?" TK reciprocated.
"Well obviously you felt something there between the two of you that was more than friendship." Ken responded.
"I really have no clue as to what you are saying." TK said, innocently.
"You know you shouldn't be so shy, how else would she be able to recognize you as more than a friend?" Ken replied. TK simply blushed at the idea that he was considered shy, but also he felt something within him that found some truth within Ken's statement. Ken continued, "You know, I used to be shy, too. Especially after the death of my older brother. I never spoke to anyone, and I kept myself isolated from the rest of the world. Trust me, TK, it doesn't work. Being shy just worsens your life, you cannot live on the sidelines on the soccer game of life. Luckily I did something about it before it was too late. I started working out, playing soccer, and I even learned how to dance! Today I have become the confident, yet modest individual you see before you."
Now it was Izzy's turn to smirk. "Confident to the point of cockiness it seems, Ken!" Ken just made a face at him. Izzy was still studying the room, when he looked out the window, a lone figure caught his eye. Immediately he recognized who it was. "Hey guys, come here, I want to show you something." he stated to the two. They complied and made their way to the window. Izzy recommenced, "You see that man there in the black suit, walking by the reflecting pool?" Ken and TK nodded. "That's the dean of Kyoto Academy, Mr. Takenouchi, I hear that he's a very disciplined man who never smiles, he always has a serious tone about him. People say he runs the school like an army. He is a very highly respected individual to many" the other two just gulped. The dean indeed had a serious look on his face, and his eyes seemed so cold, yet so lonely. Izzy brought them back to reality. "Guys, we have a lot of unpacking to do, plus orientation is going on after lunch." They resumed the tasks they set out to do before their small chat.
Lunch was quite something for the three. The cafeteria was more like a formal dining hall. The sheer splendour of the decor, and the quality of food was gladly welcome. According to another student at the school who had been attending for a year - 18-year-old Cody Hida, a gifted student, as he had skipped two grades, and wound up at Kyoto Academy, well known in the town, since his mother ran the all-girls college next door - everyone had to wear the uniforms virtually everywhere in the school, with the exception of their respective private rooms. After lunch was over, the students then filed into the main hall.
The main hall's architecture was exquisite. Several marble columns lined the great room across the floor of the same material. At the front end of the room was a giant sized school insignia. At the centre of the room the new students formed organized rows that parted in the middle. There they waited in silence for orientation to begin. For some reason there was an ominous feeling about this room, or was it about what the orientation would be about...
Mr. Takenouchi calmly walked into the room and stood at the front of the mass of red jackets. He crossed his arms, licked his lips and began to speak. "Honour, Tradition, and Discipline - these are the three founding traits that best describe this institution. Many young men (A/N: this Academy is an all-boys school), like yourselves have come to this school with high expectations. They have left as famous writers, successful business men, and respected politicians. All of them have followed, and continue to follow the principles of this school. Now you come before Kyoto Academy with the same aspirations. Before we get to the curriculum, it is required that you are familiar with the rules of the Academy. We expect all of you to follow the rules at this school devoutly. These rules have been with this school ever since it was founded, and they will never change. So it is up to you to learn them. Understand that violation of rules will not be tolerated. Most importantly, you must recognize the severe repercussions of breaking the rules. There is a great possibility of expulsion, upon non-compliance, and I do not believe that you want to ruin your lives. For you see, if you leave this school expelled, the doors to other universities are closed to you...forever. Now if any of you are not able to handle such responsibility, by all means, walk out that door right now." He motioned to the door behind the mass. "Otherwise, I want you all to bow your heads, close your eyes, and think very hard about what I have just told you." Every head went down in unison, creating a loud ruffling sound. After a few seconds had passed, little by little they all raised their heads. When they all raised their heads, the dean concluded. "Welcome to Kyoto Academy, know that this is your only home until your graduation. There is no outside world beyond these walls when school is in session. Lights out are at 10:00PM sharp. Good day gentlemen." With that, everyone left the room with their heads deep in thought.
The following day, Ken had woke up early to take a jog around the outside of the school. He was obviously oblivious to the time, as he heard the bell ring. He cursed himself for his lack of memory, and quickened his pace, as the bell indicated that class was to start in fifteen minutes. As he ran to the gate. He noticed a figure in the bushes. Being as bold as he was, he ran to apprehend the trespasser. He saw the person turn away from him. It was the perfect time to strike. With a burst of speed, Ken grabbed at the person's coat. The individual turned around startled. Ken was surprised to see that it was a girl, and a good-looking one at that. She had long purple hair, which was covered with a bandana. Her most noticeable feature were her unfeasibly oversized glasses, but she was still rather cute in Ken's eyes. Right away Ken was captivated, and he let go of her. The young woman who appeared to be about the same age took this as an opening and dashed away. Ken didn't chase after her, since he realized that he would be late for class soon. He deduced that the girl went to the college that is run by Mrs. Hida. He was beginning to formulate a plan.
In their Calculus class, Izzy was impressing his classmates and his teacher with his grasp on the subject. It seemed as if derivatives came natural to the young man. Him and the teacher became fast friends. He even asked him for a favour: pick up a colleague from the local train station. Izzy, being the kind soul that he is, gladly accepted. His teacher was grateful.
When Izzy arrived at the station it was dusk. It was rather quiet, and the only one there was the stationmaster who said the train would arrive shortly. Just as he heard the whistle of the train coming by, he looked across the tracks and noticed a young lady standing by the tracks herself, she had brown hair, with what looked like pink highlights, and she wore a white dress that had the feel that it was used in a wedding. The look in her eyes was one of a very melancholy nature, as if she was hoping for something, but knew that she should not. The train then arrived at the station, thus blocking Izzy's view of the young lady that had sparked an interest in him. He welcomed the colleague of his teacher and took his bags for him. As they were leaving, Izzy stopped briefly and watched as the train pass by. When the other side of the tracks was clear, the girl was gone. Defeated, he headed back to school.
When Izzy got back to school, the sun had long set, and the time was nearing 10:00. He noticed his friends in the big gazebo in front of the school sitting on the railings, so he decided to join them. He noticed Ken was telling TK something.
"...just this morning I met this strange girl that was trespassing, she was so beautiful, and I think that she lives at the all-girl college next door. When class is over tomorrow, I'm going to sneak over there and try and get a date....Izzy, it took you long enough. What's up?" Ken said.
"Nothing really, so you're gonna ask someone on a date I hear, I would advise against it." Izzy replied.
"And why is this, Mr. Bootlick." Ken scoffed.
Izzy just smirked. "Because I have heard a story about the Academy that might just be a rumour." Ken and TK's ears picked up, silently asking Izzy to continue. "Well you see, about five years ago or so, there was a student who went to this school that broke the cardinal rule of Kyoto Academy - he fell in love. When the dean found out, he was furious. He expelled the student the very next day after hearing this. He didn't even meet the student or even saw him to hear him out...just like that." Izzy snapped his fingers to make the point. "...and you know what happens when you are expelled from the Academy. Needless to say, the young man was crushed and just disappeared, left without a trace. The girl he was in love with took it worse, and was completely devastated. She committed suicide shortly afterwards." The two just gasped silently at this. "You would think that such an incident would soften Takenouchi's heart, but instead it only made it harder. Which is odd...for you see the girl was......Sora Takenouchi, the dean's one and only child." Ken and TK took a step back in shock. "So do yourselves a favour, do not fall in love, there's plenty of time afterwards." Izzy solemnly concluded. As if on cue, the "Lights out" bell rang. They retired to their rooms. Izzy could not break the thoughts of the girl that plagued his mind from the station. He prayed that he would not have to take his own advice.
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To be continued... be sure to tune in next week for the next part! Well the story's just starting to get really interesting, don't you think? Please review and share your thoughts.