Chapter 48: Black Wing Rhapsody
Hanekuro lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He and Ryudamon had just come home, deciding to leave the care of Jasper in the hands of a professional like Touma and the worrying about him in the hands of a professional like Rai. He stared up at the ceiling quietly, the only sound in the room was the deep breathing of Ryudamon as he slept curled up next to him. He absently ran a hand through Ryudamon's fur, the dragon uncurling a bit and smiling as he slept.
Hanekuro rolled over onto his side. He looked at his blank TV, staring at it but not really staring at it. Rai had been completely freaking out over Jasper when they left. He wondered if Rai had hit something, or someone, yet. Hanekuro tried getting him to calm down, worrying about Kaya's safety. Rai had snapped at him though, nearly punching him if Sakura hadn't stopped him. She apologized for Rai, saying he was only like this because of his little brother.
Little brother.
Hanekuro cringed as he thought about the words. It played in his head again and again, no matter how many times he tried blocking it out. And as he sat, alone in his room, the chanting slowly turned to "Ryou" churning through his mind. He had been so close to being with him again. So close to being able to bring him home to his parents. And if he did that, then everything would fix itself. Mom and dad would get back together, Ryou would live with them, and they would all live happily ever after. The End.
But that wasn't Ryou. It had been an imposter, only posing as Ryou. He had posed as Ryou, using that fake Dorumon as his partner. He betrayed him. He nearly killed Ryudamon, himself, and Kaya. Hanekuro stopped, shuddering to think about what that thing had implied what he would do to Kaya. Dex, he had called himself. Dex, Dex, Dex. Hanekuro gritted his teeth together, growing angrier every time the name rang through his head.
How he hated that thing. That damn monster. That imposter! He had no right to harm them like that. He had no right to disguise himself as Ryou! If Hanekuro did anything in his life, it would be finding Ryou and killing Dex. Slowly and painfully, making sure he knew every ounce of torture he had inflicted by wearing that damned mask.
"Ow!" Ryudamon cried suddenly. Hanekuro looked shocked, suddenly realizing he had been clenching that hand that was petting Ryudamon tighter and tighter as he thought of murdering Dex. "Sorry." He muttered to his partner. Ryudamon looked at him sleepily but worriedly.
"Are you alright Master?" he asked, seeing the empty look in his eyes. But that was a stupid question, and he already knew the answer. Master wasn't okay. He was hurting, deep in his heart. Hurt by the betrayal of Dex, posing as Ryou. Ryudamon crawled closer, hugging his Master comfortingly. Hanekuro didn't push him off, but he didn't return the gesture either.
Ryudamon let go, pulling away slightly. Hanekuro lied back down, looking away from Ryudamon. The furry samurai dragon frowned, trying to think something up. "How about we call Kaya and Koinumon?" he suggested cheerfully.
"Whatever." Hanekuro muttered absently.
Ryudamon pulled his Master's cell phone off of the bedside table and found Kaya's number. It rang a few times, Kaya picking up quickly. "Hey Kuro-kun." She greeted.
"Not quite." Ryudamon chuckled. "Do you and Koinumon want to come over? Master is feeling a little," Ryudamon paused, looking at the depressed boy. "Er, sick."
"Sure, no point sitting around and worrying I guess." Kaya said, understanding what Ryudamon meant. She hung up her cell phone, turning to the small group consisting of Celena, Haseo, Dorumon, Lunamon, and Koinumon. Everyone else was off worrying and waiting in other parts of the mansion, all deciding that there was too much negativity if everyone was in a single room.
"We're going to Hanekuro's." Kaya informed them.
"Mind if we come with?" Dorumon asked off handedly. "Quite honestly this waiting and worrying is boring as hell. I need something to do or I'll end up as emo as your friend."
"Ryu-nisan." Haseo scolded. He frowned though, thinking it over. "You do have a fair point though." He turned to Celena. "Keep us posted okay? I wish to know as soon as Jasper is better."
"Right." Celena said with a nod and smile. Kaya noticed a small extra bit in her smile. She wondered if something had finally happened between her and Haseo but had another friend to worry about now. The four set out for Hanekuro's house, off to comfort their friend.
Kaya rang the doorbell, politely announcing their presence. The one to open the door was an older man, wearing a business shirt tucked into a pair of pants. He had messy brown hair, light stubble under his chin, and small glasses on his face in front of blue eyes. It didn't take a lot for Haseo and Dorumon to reason that this was Hanekuro's father. The man seemed surprised when he saw Haseo, squinted his eyes, and then sighed.
"You shouldn't do that to your hair kid, it wrecks it." The man said.
"This is natural Sir." Haseo answered. Well, as natural as he knew anyway.
"Whatever." The man said with a one armed shrug, letting the four inside. "He's back in his room. I'm glad you're here honestly. He's been in a slump ever since you guys got back form your little field trip. You're sure nobody got hurt?"
"Well," Kaya muttered. Should she tell him what had happened with the fake Ryou? She wanted to, but somehow it felt like doing so would betray Hanekuro somehow. It was a family matter to be discussed, and maybe Hanekuro's family was broken up but at least he had a family.
"Nobody was hurt." Haseo answered, noticing Kaya's discomfort with the question. "Hanekuro is merely feeling sad. He met someone there that he grew attached to, but sadly they could not come with us. We will help him come to terms with this and maybe then he can fill you in on it more himself."
Kaya was surprised. Haseo hadn't outright lied, but he certainly hadn't told the man the full truth. Hanekuro's father nodded, going back to his office to continue his work. Kaya looked at Haseo, who still had a pleasant, polite smile on his face. "Do not look at me like that." He said calmly. "I am the son of the Boss remember. Is it truly so hard to believe that I can be manipulative when the need arises?"
"Well no." Kaya fumbled. "But the fact that you did it so readily kind of surprises me."
Haseo smiled at her comfortingly. "I realize how important the bond within a family is, and this is clearly a family matter. Though I feel we should not outright explain everything to everyone, I do believe that if we cheer up Hanekuro then it will be easier for him to open up to his father."
Kaya smiled, that sounded a bit more like Haseo. "Thanks, I agree." She said cheerfully. The four walked down towards Hanekuro's room, Kaya guiding them. They knocked on the bedroom door, Ryudamon answering it a moment later. Hanekuro was still laid out on his bed, looking asleep. Kaya walked over and pulled him up by his shirt collar.
"Rise and shine." She said cheerily, setting Hanekuro down on the bed so he was sitting up.
"Go away." He moaned, lying back down slowly.
"Dang." Dorumon grunted. "You really are depressed."
"Ryu-nisan." Haseo scolded.
Hanekuro looked at the two quietly and scowled. "Get out." He snapped suddenly.
"Who, us?" Haseo asked in confusion.
"Calm down man, I was just kidding." Dorumon answered in equal surprise.
"I said get out!" Hanekuro growled. He glared at the two of them, feeling like lashing out at something. That hair, that smile. God dammit, why did Haseo look so much like Ryou! And that dragon. And Dorumon, the same digimon as the thing Dex used as his fake partner. Looking at the two made his stomach churn in disgust, reminded even more of Dex and Ryou. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to look at the two of you." He snapped.
"Hanekuro!" Kaya cried. "Stop it right now. I know you're upset, but Haseo and Dorumon haven't done anything to you!"
"She's right." Koinumon agreed. "Hanekuro we all realize that you're upset but,"
"But what?" Hanekuro snapped. "You want to tell me how everything is okay? How my brother isn't dead? Really, are you even listening to yourselves? Cheer up Hanekuro, all that happened was a monstrous freak of nature appeared and posed as your little brother whom you lost years ago and then nearly killed you and your friends. Cheer up!" Hanekuro's voice dripped with sarcasm as he glared at the group. He lay back down, looking away from the group. "Just leave me alone to die."
"Hanekuro!" Kaya cried in shock.
Ryudamon was stunned. "You can't mean that!"
"Why not?" Hanekuro asked. "I'm useless. I'm only good for my crest, and even that thing is an insult. Friendship? Please. That doesn't describe me at all. I barely have two friends as it is."
"That is a lie!" Haseo cried out. "Hanekuro you have many friends. You have our entire team as friends."
"I'm only here because of my crest." Hanekuro insisted quietly.
"No!" Haseo insisted, pulling Hanekuro up. "You are just as important to this team as anyone else and everyone thinks of you as a good friend. Can you truly lie here and think that we do not care for you? If that were the case then why not just take your crest and leave you? According to your logic there must be someone more suited yes? Well the fact that you have it proves that that is not the case."
Hanekuro looked into Haseo's angry eyes, his own dead ones meeting his. "I hate you." He whispered, Haseo frowning. "You look so much like him, but I know you're not. But every time I see you, I feel my heart lurch as if I had found him." Hanekuro stared at Haseo sadly. "I hate you for looking so much like Ryou."
Haseo let Hanekuro drop to the bed. "I see." Haseo said quietly. "I see. You feel guilty yes? Of course I already knew you did, but for some reason I failed to realize the severity of it." Haseo let out a small sigh, everyone wondering where he was going with this. "Do you think you are the only one carrying the burden of guilt over loved ones you have lost? Of course you do. Nobody could ever understand the pain of losing someone you love right?"
"Otouto, are you really going to tell them?" Dorumon asked in shock.
"Tell us what?" Koinumon wondered a little worriedly.
"Haseo, what's he talking about?" Kaya asked.
"I killed at least twenty people when I was ten." Haseo answered quietly. Everyone, save Dorumon who merely looked down guiltily, gasped. "I didn't do it alone, but it was my fault." Haseo continued. "I allowed Daemon to enter the Boss' mansion where he began destroying the area. The Boss started fighting him, and two of his companions, and I began wishing I could get revenge. I forced Ryu-nisan to Death X Digivolve into DexDoruGreymon and he went on a rampage. Daemon killed at least ten digimon, we killed at least twenty, and countless were injured. And I was betrayed by my closest friend."
"Your closest friend?" Ryudamon asked sadly.
"Daemon." Hanekuro realized. "He tricked you didn't he?"
"He did." Haseo answered, his voice beginning to waver and his ears glossing over. "Please excuse me for a moment." He said politely before leaving the room. Dorumon quickly followed after him, the worry evident on his face.
The room was silent as they absorbed what Haseo had told them. Hanekuro suddenly felt sick. Haseo was carrying that with him, and he was lying around over something like this? Yes it was sad and he did feel awful about being betrayed, but there were worse things right? "Kaya." He muttered.
"Yeah?" the young girl asked quietly.
Hanekuro spread his arms out, his eyes welling up with tears. Kaya smiled at him, hugging her arms around him. "I'm done." Hanekuro sobbed. "I'll stop moping and whining. I'm done feeling sorry for myself. I'll start fighting with everyone." He cried into Kaya's shoulder, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "But I just need a few minutes to let it out." He cried. "I just want a few more minutes of feeling sorry for myself and then I'll try getting better. I promise."
"It's alright." Kaya consoled. "It's like I said, I promise to be their when you overdo yourself. You're allowed to feel sad and betrayed Kuro-kun. But you can't let it get in your way. You have to stand up and keep walking. You have to face life head on, no matter what. You do have friends. You have a lot of friends. And you have Ryudamon. And you have me." Kaya pulled out of Kurohane slowly, looking into his tear filled eyes.
She moved forward, putting her lips on his. They kissed, gently at first but with growing passion. Hanekuro's tears mixed in, giving the kiss a bittersweet flavor but it only made their feelings grow. The two stopped, looking at each other closely. Kaya let on a tiny smile, looking at Hanekuro. She gently wiped a single remaining tear away and smiled. "I owe Sakura five bucks." She chuckled lightly.
"Oh?" Hanekuro asked curiously, feeling a bit better.
"Yeah." Kaya answered with a smile. "I bet her I could kiss you before Celena kissed Haseo."
Hanekuro smiled and chuckled a bit. "That's not a fair bet." He joked before kissing her again. Haseo opened the door suddenly, his eyes opening when he saw the two. He looked to Koinumon and Ryudamon who had kindly turned their backs and allowed their partners some time to themselves. Haseo suddenly felt very awkward, and under that, a little jealous. He had nearly kissed Celena five times and never did, and they got it right on their first.
"Uhm." Dorumon said awkwardly.
The two pulled away, looking a little embarrassed. "Uh, sorry." Kaya apologized to the two brothers.
"Feeling better?" Hanekuro asked.
"It certainly seems that you are." Haseo answered. "Personally stories of genocide do not put me in the kissing mood but to each their own I suppose." He chuckled, reassuring the two that he was joking.
"Right, well as if there wasn't enough mood whiplash," Dorumon said, still feeling a little awkward. "There is a digimon attacking a shopping center near by. We're apparently the closest ones so DATS is requesting we try to help."
"Sure." Hanekuro said with a smile. "I could use some normality again."
