Ryo sat quietly beside the bed, wilting from exhaustion as he watched Ken sleep. For the past several days, he and Keiko spent more time in Ken's bedroom at the Crystal Tower than their own bedrooms. They switched out around the clock, ensuring that no one would leave Ken alone. Although Ken already had Wormmon by his side, it was a challenge to get the worried Digimon to take care of his own needs.

The worst of the wait was the fever. For several days, Ken quietly moaned and twitched, soaked with sweat. It was only earlier that day that the fever finally broke. Besides Wormmon, Higashi was the one who rarely left Ken's side. Even now, the angel fussed at the sheets and switched out the cool compress on Ken's forehead. It wasn't necessary now, but it was 'just in case,' as Higashi put it.

The stress was especially apparent on the Digimon. Wormmon could only fret, curled up in an empty space on the bed to not get in the way of Ken's healing. He barely ate, slept, or said more than a whisper of Ken's name and ask Higashi how his partner was faring. Higashi tried to be confident, smiling around soothing words, but Ryo noticed the way his wings kept twitching, how his fingers couldn't keep remain idle. The longer Ken's fever lingered, the more the fidgeting increased, and only when it broke did Higashi seem to relax just a little.

Ryo barely saw Keiko and Nyamon, except when they came to switch places with him. It was as though they existed on opposite ends of the days, with him taking the sunlight hours, and them taking the nights.

Nyamon remained stoic every time he saw her, most often climbing on the bed to sit beside Wormmon. She would lay a comforting paw on his back, but say nothing as they both watched Ken's fitful slumber.

It was Keiko's behavior that troubled Ryo the most. Her normally stony exterior cracked when Ken fell into her arms, bleeding. Zennyu had to pry her away from Ken with more violence than Ryo thought necessary to allow Higashi a chance to take Ken to bed. Since then, shadows lingered under Keiko's eyes, which were red due to more than her irises. More than once he walked in on her sitting by Ken's side, hand in her arms, and whispering apologies under her breath.

Although Ryo tried his best to reassure Keiko, she still blamed herself for what happened to Ken. What was more frustrating, was that she kept trying to do the same for him, when it was obvious that he was the one responsible. If Ken hadn't stopped to save him when he was being reckless enough to turn his back on an enemy, then his oldest friend wouldn't…

Ryo ran his hand across his face and let out a sigh that ended in a groan as he leaned back in his chair. Despite how plush his seat was, he couldn't get comfortable - not that he wanted it. He couldn't accept it. Not now. Not with Ken still in a coma. "Ken…"

"It's my turn now."

The sudden familiar feminine voice made Ryo jerk from surprise, and he looked up to see Keiko entering the bedroom with Nyamon right by her side.

Keiko paused at the foot of the bed to look at Ken before she moved to Ryo's side. "Go eat and rest."

"Don't worry," Nyamon said as she crossed her arms. "We'll let you know when Ken wakes up."

Ryo nodded at that before he stood up stiffly. As much as part of him wanted to protest and remain a little longer, he already knew he wasn't going to win any more than Keiko did when he switched out with her. He also noticed that at some point Higashi had left the room, likely to get something else for Ken like a fresh pillow or blanket. His muscles ached from sitting still for so long, and he had to take the time to stretch and rub his arms and legs for a bit. Once he felt as though he could move freely again, he let out a weary sigh as he allowed his hands to drop to his sides.

Lingering a moment more, Ryo gave Ken one last look, desperate to see some sign that he was waking up, before he surrendered his post and approached the door

Nyamon watched Ryo as he passed her by before she turned her attention to Ken. "By the way."

Ryo paused at that and glanced down at the cat Digimon, with a blink.

"The time distortion has ended," Nyamon said, her expression unreadable.

"What!?" Ryo blurted out a she whirled to face her, shocked. All the fatigue he felt by the end of his watch evaporated under a terrible jolt of adrenaline. "So Millenniumon-"

"Was apparently not involved," Keiko said, eyes closed and lips curled in distaste. "For once."

"But… how is that possible?" Ryo asked, glancing between the two. "What happened!?"

"The other Chosen Children killed an enemy called 'Apocalymon'," Nyamon said, finally turning her head to look at Ryo again. "After they did, time began to right itself and flow normally once more."

"A… Apocalymon?" Ryo repeated the name, slowly. He had never heard such a name before. Why hadn't anyone told him that there was another threat just as dangerous as Millenniumon out there?

Nyamon nodded. "He was apparently the leader of Piemon."

"So he's the one that attacked Ken?" Ryo asked, clearly struggling with what he was hearing. "But what… how does Millenniumon… I mean, but what about everything we… I..."

Keiko moved to Ryo's side and placed a hand on his shoulder, as she locked eyes with him. "Breathe, Ryo. We don't know what was going on with Apocalymon either, just that the others discovered him right before killing him."

"I know how you feel," Nyamon said, with a snap of her tail. "It feels disorienting - like we had the rug ripped out from underneath us. But as it currently stands, it seems like everything's over."

Ryo reached up rub the back of his head, then grimaced. "I… don't know what to say."

"For now, just get some rest," Keiko said, her expression softening. "And leave Ken to me."

Ryo was quiet for a moment before he nodded, far more weary than he had been moments ago. "Alright. Good night."

"Good night, Ryo," Nyamon said, watching as the Chosen of Miracles left the room, closing the door behind him. She was quiet for several moments before she snorted. "He didn't believe it any more than we did."

Keiko nodded before she took a seat in the chair Ryo vacated, the cushions still warm from his body heat. "It must've been a puppet. It had to. Just because he didn't use the name Millenniumon…"

For the first time in a while, Wormmon spoke up, his weak, cracking voice startling the girls. "Apocalymon is still the one who told Piemon to do this to Ken-chan, right?"

"I guess," Keiko said after a moment.

"The other Chosen Children killed Piemon too," Nyamon added with a snap of her tail.

"Good," Wormmon muttered, his eyes never leaving Ken. "I wish I could've been the one to kill them."

Silence lingered in the room for a long moment before Nyamon hopped onto the bed and sat beside Wormmon. She placed her hand upon his back and bowed her head a little. "I feel the same."

The ephemeral vision of Narakumon appeared beside Keiko, his arms crossed. Although he could have appeared in a physical state, in this form he spared Wormmon and Ken from his intimidating presence, as well as potential awkwardness.

"Ryo's instincts are as incredible as always," Narakumon said. "And that they're telling him this is a pack of lies - and bad ones at that. It may fool everyone else, but it won't fool me."

"So it isn't really over," Keiko said, softly, not that Wormmon seemed to be paying attention to her muttering to herself. "Apocalymon was just a patsy."

Narakumon nodded. "He's up to something, as always."

"What do we do?" Nyamon asked, not caring if Wormmon overheard. "Hunt him down?"

"We wait, and let him think he's deceived us," Narakumon said. "Keep both eyes open and watch for his next move." He hesitated before his expression softened. "As for Miracles and Kindness..."

"Let's keep them out of it, if we can," Nyamon said. "They've been through enough."

Narakumon nodded, his expression pained, before he turned to Keiko. "...As have you, Keiko."

"I'm fine," Keiko said a little louder than she intended, the words coming too quick to have much behind them. "It's Ken we should be worried about."

"Yes," Wormmon said, reminding everyone of his presence. "When Ken-chan is better, I want to go with you." He turned his gaze towards the girls, his watery blue eyes blazing with a terrible fire. "If Millenniumon did this, I want to make him pay myself."

Nyamon nodded, her expression solemn, as she patted Wormmon's back. "Right."

Narakumon watched Wormmon as the little Digimon returned to the silent vigil without further comment, then down at the unconscious Ken. "Humans weren't meant to take attacks from Digimon. The fact that he's survived this long, despite being such a small boy…" His eyes drifted to Keiko and a small shudder ran through his ghostly form. Fortunately, all eyes were still on Ken, sparing him from displaying even such a minute weakness. "...He will recover, even if Tenraimon has to get involved."

"Even if Mama doesn't know how to fix what's wrong?" Keiko asked before rubbing the sting from her eyes.

Narakumon caught his adoptive daughter's gaze and gave a smile that would terrify most, but not her. "Of course. What do you think she's been doing all this time?"

Keiko relaxed, just a little, then a bit more as her papa gently stroked her hair.

Nyamon noticed the faint tension that crept into Wormmon's body from a question he couldn't hear the answer to. "Tenraimon will fix this."

Although Wormmon didn't quite relax, he returned to a less anxious state, and nodded. "R-right. Ken-chan will get better. Absolutely. Absolutely…"

Silence lingered for a time in an air filled with unbroken tension and mild comforts. Eventually, Nyamon glanced at the DigiGod. "What's happening with the other children?"

"Gennai sent them home," Narakumon said.

"Really?" Nyamon asked, quirking an eyebrow as she turned to fully stare at Narakumon. "He actually believes it?"

"Of course he would," Narakumon said, with a snort. "He's just a program serving the Holy Beasts. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to lunge on the idea that it's just darkness causing trouble as always."

Keiko sighed and shook her head, though her eyes never strayed from Ken. "Idiots."

"Let them believe what they like," Narakumon said. "It makes it easier to lull our prey in to a false sense of security."

Keiko nodded, trying to remain stoic, but she couldn't erase the cracks scarred into her stony facade - not until Ken woke up.


Higashi fumbled about the kitchen, his hands shaking slightly as he rooted through the cabinets. He felt as exhausted as he looked, with heavy bags under his eyes and his wings drooping slightly. As he reached up for a jar on a higher shelf, his fingers brushed against it just enough to dislodge it. However, in his state, he lacked the reflexes to catch it as it went tumbling forward. Helplessly, he could only yelp as the jar went flying past, heading straight for the floor.

Higashi turned just in time to see the jar easily snatched in mid-air by Zennyu, whose sudden appearance made the angel jump. He placed his hand over his chest as he let out a sigh, then gave his partner a grateful smile as he reached to take the jar from Zennyu. "T-thank you… I didn't see you there."

Zennyu allowed the other angel to take the jar, his expression piercing. "You need to rest."

Higashi paused at that before he looked away, instead focusing on the jar as he opened it. "I… not yet. Ken still needs my help." He paused for a moment before a weary sigh escaped him. "Humans are… more difficult to heal than Digimon, it seems."

"His fever has broken," Zennyu said, not taking his eyes away from his angel even as Higashi tried not to look at him.

"Yes, which means he needs me more than ever," Higashi said, wearily. "His condition is fragile, and he could still easily relapse.'

"He can wait an hour for your care," Zennyu said as he ran his fingers through Higashi's bangs, sliding the errant hairs out of the other angel's face. "Please sleep for at least an hour, Higashi."

Higashi sighed heavily before he finally looked up to meet Zennyu's gaze. "I can't, I-"

Zennyu closed the distance between them, his lips meeting Higashi's tenderly and silencing any further protest. A muffled, but not at all protesting squeak escaped the angel of Light as he reluctantly allowed himself to enjoy such affection.

They barely parted before Zennyu swept Higashi up into his arms with practiced ease. "One hour. I won't accept anything less."

Higashi wanted to protest as he was carried away from the kitchen in Zennyu's arms, but in the end, he lacked the energy to. Instead, he simply sighed as he sagged in his lover's arms, relenting. His head drooped as he rested it against Zennyu's chest, closing his eyes. "I just can't win against you, can I...?"

"You won my heart a long time ago," Zennyu said with a wry smile, gratified to see a rosy blush appear on Higashi's cheeks "I yield to you every day, Higashi. You are my love, my life, my reason for existing. I just can't help but being a little selfish when it comes to you now and again."

A soft smile played on Higashi's lips as he further relaxed against the angel of Darkness, lightly holding the long forgotten jar in his hand.

Zennyu leaned in closer, his low voice taking on a richer rumble that suggested delightful things to come. "And I promise you I'll do everything I can to persuade you to spend far more than an hour in our bed."

No response came from Higashi. It seemed that in that brief moment of relaxing his guard, exhaustion swooped in and stole his consciousness away, leaving him deeply asleep in Zennyu's arms. His breathing was even as he slumbered, his body trying desperately to regain the energy he had spent for so long.

Zennyu exhaled deeply, relaxing even as he felt a twinge of disappointment. The relief he felt was well worth not getting a blushing reaction from his beloved. However, as he bent down to kiss Higashi's brow and bid the other angel sweet dreams, he noted to himself that when Higashi woke, his lover would no doubt be far more rested for his persuasion then.

Although Zennyu knew that he was forcing the issue, Higashi needed someone to put him first. Zennyu was painfully aware that without his intervention, his darling Higashi would work himself to death again and again and again. He was seeing it happen right before his very eyes, and had seen it far too often in the past as well.

Higashi could never refuse to help anyone, even if it meant his own destruction.