I don't own Digimon.
A/N: There will be a few chapters in here now to set the stage for future events, which I'm looking forward to writing. Hope you all enjoy!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 313: Ulterior Motives
Sam Ichijouji
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
Sam hit the floor with a painful grunt, but despite his aching back, he had the presence of mind to catch Dai before the goggle-headed leader ended up injuring himself further. It was a close call, though, and taking extra care to ensure his grip was gentle, he said worriedly, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, thanks for breaking my fall," Dai groaned, leaning heavily against his chest. "Sorry, dude. I'm making you all wet."
Sam quickly shook his head, and smiling at the goggle-headed leader, he said mildly, "I don't care about that. As long as you're safe."
"Seriously, why do you guys always insist on making me look bad?" Matty grumbled, picking himself up off the floor. "I never catch a break around here."
Sam was about to reply with a teasing retort, but before he could get the words out, a loud shriek rang out from across the room, causing him to glance up in surprise. The ear-splitting nose had come from Noriko, and whispering in Daichi's ear, he said hastily, "Look out. Incoming!"
"Dai!" Noriko sobbed, dropping to her knees and reaching for her son. "You really are alive! I don't...I can't even..."
"Careful!" Dai yelped, trying unsuccessfully to edge away from his mother. "I'm injured here!"
Having come to her senses, Noriko quickly backed away, and attempting to smile, she said in a trembling voice, "Right. I'm sorry, honey. I'm just so glad you're safe."
"Wait, how much did Izzy tell you guys?" Dai asked, sounding suspicious.
Good question. I'm sure he wanted to at least prepare them...
"Enough to make it clear you need your rest," Izzy interrupted, seating himself next to his wife by the computer. "I'll let Kara tell the full story. Joe, would you mind taking a look at him?"
"Not at all," the doctor replied, immediately pulling out his supplies. "A near drowning experience should never be taken lightly. I want to have a look at his lungs first and foremost. Sam, can you help me get him to the sofa?"
"Of course."
"The rest of us might as well take a seat so we're not in the way," Sora instructed, motioning for Taysuke and Ema to move from the sofa. "T.K., if you and Cody could grab all the chairs from the kitchen for us, that would be great."
"Dinner's also been taken care of," Rosa announced, coming into the room from the foyer just as the two men passed her on their way out. "Kari, Yolei, Mimi, and I brought enough food with us to feed the whole lot of you."
I guess we're all staying for the evening then.
Sam wasn't quite sure how he felt about that, since his mind was currently all over the place, and recognising the fact that he needed to focus, he quickly helped Dai into a standing position. Joe was quick to take the goggle-headed leader's other side, and together they helped their injured charge move slowly over to the sofa. Once Dai was settled, Joe quickly sat next to the goggle-headed leader and said mildly, "I'm a little concerned this is starting to become a common occurrence for you."
"I'm not doing it on purpose," Dai protested, allowing the doctor to pull up his shirt. "Trust me, if I could avoid feeling like I just got hit by a truck, I would."
"Well, I'm just thankful Kara put the knowledge she learned from her father to good use. Speaking of which, I'll give Tai a checkup once I'm done with you."
"Don't worry about me," the former leader insisted, attempting a weary smile. "I can wait. Dai needs you more than I do."
Tai was leaning heavily on Matt's shoulder, and glancing over at the drenched duo, Joe turned his attention to the former musician and said firmly, "Make sure he sits down, and don't let him move until I'm done here."
"Yes, sir," Matt replied, smirking at his old friend before dragging the dark-haired man over to the loveseat.
Those two really are something else.
Assuming his presence was no longer required, Sam proceeded to search the room for a free spot on the carpet, which was easier said than done. As usual, the room was crowded, and catching his eye, Mickey shyly beckoned him closer and said softly, "Over here, Sam. There's a free spot next to me."
Though he couldn't explain why, for some reason those sweet words made his heart pound painfully in his chest, and thinking back to the romantic scene he had witnessed on the shores of Cyber between Dai and Kara, he found his mind wandering to places it had never really ventured to before. Now that he thought about it, the subject of romance wasn't really something he had spent much time exploring in the past, but seeing how happy his two friends were, he couldn't help feeling as if it might be nice to experience that sort of moment for himself.
Except...that doesn't explain why I can't seem to get Mickey out of my head. Or...does it?
"Are you coming or not?" Matty called out, raising his eyebrows. "Unless you just want to stand there all day."
The younger twin was sitting on his brother's opposite side, and giving himself a mental shake, Sam quickly made his way over to the two boys. Settling himself next to Mickey, he suddenly wondered if maybe he was sitting too close, but a quick glance at the older twin revealed absolutely nothing. Mickey's facial expression appeared as pleasant as always, and nothing about the golden-haired Digidestined's demeanour suggested he felt uncomfortable. As a result, Sam felt it was safe enough to remain where he was, though the thought of being near enough to touch the other boy made his skin feel like it was strangely on fire.
Seriously, what is going on with me? I don't remember this sort of thing ever happening to me when I've been around him before...
Chances were he was probably overthinking things, but even then...how could such an innocent request make him feel so...flustered?
Don't think about it right now. Better to wait until it's quiet. I can't focus with all these distractions...
Having come to an executive decision, despite the way his brain was attempting to argue with him, he quickly turned his attention to the rest of the occupants in the room. Noriko was sitting on the arm of the sofa, her dark eyes following Joe's movements as the doctor used his stethoscope to inspect Dai's lungs, and leaning his back against the base of the sofa with his legs stretched out in front of him, Davis was doing his best to hide just how worried he actually was. Sitting on the opposite armrest and holding tightly to Ryoko's hand, Ami was anxiously watching her brother for any signs of obvious distress, and unlike her father, she wasn't making any attempts to suppress her feelings. Ryoko was squished between Ami's thigh and Dai's feet, but it didn't seem as if the golden-haired Digidestined felt at all annoyed at being stuck in a tight spot. If anything, he simply looked concerned for Dai, and he was clearly doing his best to offer Ami his support.
They're just like Dai and Kara. Must feel nice to have someone to hold onto like that...
Curled up next to Davis, who had an arm draped around her shoulders, Takara's expression was the definition of calm and composed, indicating she felt fully confident in Joe's abilities to treat the goggle-headed leader. Sam was inclined to agree, especially since he had a good feeling that Dai wouldn't suffer from any complications due to his near-death experience. Sitting next to Kara, Taysuke seemed content to remain by his sister's side, though it was clear from the intense sparkle in his eyes that the female Digidestined had caused him a great deal of fear and worry.
Not that I blame him. We all felt the same way. It's hard seeing the people we love put themselves in danger, but at least some good came from this experience. It's obvious how much Kara has grown as a person, and she's not the only one. Myself, Dai, and Ryoko...We've all learned a lot from our trials to better ourselves, and I hope the same thing will happen for Mickey and Matty.
Whether or not that was the case, though, remained to be seen.
Somehow I have a feeling neither one of them is going to have an easy time of it...
Just thinking about it made him feel anxious, and reminding himself that the remaining two Spirit Chips were a problem for another day, he turned his attention to the group sitting to the left of the sofa. Makku, Shinji, Noah, Miya, and Taka were crowded together at the base of the armchair near the door, and in the armchair itself, Ema, Nao, and Rina were sharing the space as best they could. To the left of the armchair, Renmi, Hana, Hikaru, and Kenzo were lounging on the carpet, and to their right, which was his left, his parents were sitting in two of the chairs from the kitchen. Across from him, Izzy had pulled over the chair from the computer desk to join them, and next to the dark-haired man, Mina was occupying the third chair from the kitchen. Tai, Matt, and Sora were all crowded together on the loveseat, with the former leader in the middle, and on Matt's other side, Mimi had been offered the final chair from the kitchen. T.K., Kari, Cody, Rosa, and June were sitting on the carpet in front of the loveseat, and all of their digimon, along with Shadow, were curled up under the window, their small bodies glowing in the late afternoon sunshine. That left Taniko, Matty, Mickey, and himself, who were all grouped together in front of the television, and tugging on his arm, the younger twin said shortly, "Move over this way. If you keep spacing out like that, you're gonna make Mickey worry."
Huh?
Sam blinked in surprise, but before his mind could even register the sudden blush on Mickey's cheeks, he found himself nearly falling over the older twin in an effort to prevent Matty from tearing his arm out of its socket. Try as he might, though, his efforts were futile, and giving up in order to avoid injuring himself unnecessarily, he let the younger twin do as he pleased. As a result, a quick scuffle ensued, and resigning himself to the inevitable, he proceeded to settle himself comfortably between the two brothers.
On Matty's other side, Taniko quickly came to his defence, and smiling warmly at him, the dark-haired female said gently, "Sorry about that. You know what he's like. Personally, I think it's sweet the way he worries so much, but I know it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes."
"S-sweet!?" Matty stuttered, his face immediately turning an even darker shade of pink than the rosy hue his brother was attempting to hide.
What's...going on here?
"It is sweet," Taniko insisted, giving the younger twin's fingers a quick squeeze. "It's also cute the way you get flustered so easily."
Despite his obvious embarrassment, Matty didn't let go of the dark-haired female's hand, and attempting to change the subject, the younger twin pointed an accusing finger at him and said, "A-anyway, look at you. Your face is practically white. At least this way I can keep an eye on you in case you pass out or something."
"Matty!"
The protest had come from Mickey, and shaking his head, Sam murmured, "I'm not going to pass out, Matty."
At least, he didn't think he was.
To be fair, I probably do look a bit out of it, but I'm pretty sure he's exaggerating about the colour of my face. Matty can be a bit dramatic sometimes, but even then...I don't get it, why is he so focused on me all of a sudden?
It was an interesting thought, but before he could explore the younger twin's odd behaviour any further, Joe sat back with a sigh and said, "You can relax, Noriko. While there don't appear to be any lasting effects, I'd still like to monitor Dai closely over the next couple of days. In the meantime, let me have a look at Tai, and we'll talk more about taking precautions once Kara has had a chance to tell her story."
"Alright, thank you," Noriko replied, leaning over to give Joe a hug. "I know my son is a handful, but despite that you always come through for us."
"I'm right here, you know," Dai complained, sitting up and giving his mother a dirty look.
Joe was quick to return the hug, and frowning at his nephew, the doctor said seriously, "You, young man, are very lucky to be alive right now. You can probably thank your father for that. You're as hard-headed and stubborn as he is, which in this particular instance likely saved your life. It bought Kara some time, which is exactly what you needed."
"I'd take that as a compliment, if I were you," Davis joked, giving Takara's shoulders a quick squeeze before moving to sit between Ryoko and his son. "I won't take all the credit, though. Kara's the real hero here."
"I don't know about that," the female Digidestined said softly, smiling as she reached up to take Dai's hand. "I just did what I had to do."
It was such a humble statement, and unable to maintain her compose, Noriko leaned down to kiss the top of Kara's dark head, her arms going around the female Digidestined's neck in a warm hug. There were tears in the older woman's eyes, and struggling to speak, Noriko choked out, "You are the best thing that's ever happened to my son. I love you so much, sweetie. I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you've done."
"Ditto that," Davis agreed, smiling fondly at Kara, who turned a delicate shade of pink at the praise. Her reaction brought a smile to the former leader's face, but instead of commenting on it, he simply wrapped his arms around his son in a gentle embrace and said, "Not to ruin the mood or anything, but you really had me worried. I've never been so scared in my life."
Daichi had the decency to look a little guilty, and blushing at the way his mother was fawning all over Kara, the goggle-headed leader muttered, "I am really sorry. I didn't mean to scare you guys."
"I know, and we're proud of you. You were there when Kara needed you most. That's the important thing."
"Okay, seriously. How much did Izzy tell you?" Dai asked, frowning at his father before turning to glance suspiciously at his mother.
Enough to make me think they know Dai and Kara are an item...
Despite the goggle-headed leader's obvious embarrassment, Sam had the presence of mind to hide his smile, although in the end he wasn't sure why he even bothered. It wasn't as if the goggle-headed leader would have noticed, since Ami chose that moment to interrupt. Reaching around Ryoko and her father to give Dai's shoulder a quick squeeze, the dark-haired female scolded, "Last time was bad enough. This time was even worse. Are you legitimately trying to give me a heart attack?"
"How many times do I have to say it? I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Well, whatever," Ami huffed, though the redness in her eyes told a different story. "I'll forgive you this time, but only because you were trying to help Kara."
"You're all crazy," Dai groaned, letting his head flop back against the sofa. "Can anybody tell me where to find a new family? There's gotta be some kind of trade in deal or something."
Shaking his head in amusement, Joe moved off to work his magic on Tai, and reaching out to give his sister a hug, Taysuke said quietly, "I'm really glad you're okay, Kara. You're my big sister, after all. I dunno what I'd do without you."
"Oh, Tay," Takara murmured, letting go of Dai's hand for a moment so she could return the hug. "I feel the same about you. I don't know what I would do without your support. It means a lot to me."
"Plus, it's good to see Mom and Dad smiling again," the young boy mumbled into her shoulder.
Takara nodded in agreement, and realising their parents were positively beaming at them, she said softly, "I know exactly what you mean."
No kidding. What a difference. Ever since Kara was able to free herself from the darkness, Tai and Sora look ten years younger.
"So, what's the verdict?" Matt asked, watching as Joe gave Tai a quick checkup.
Both Sora and the former musician had moved to give the doctor some space, and smiling at them, Joe said, "He'll be fine. Some rest is in order, though. As I'm sure Izzy told you, that attack was meant to incapacitate him rather than cause any lasting damage. You were lucky this time, Tai. YukiOnnamon might not be so generous in the future, so you'd best be careful from now on."
"Can't make any promises, but I'll do my best," the former leader joked, winking at his daughter, who laughed at the obvious hidden message behind those words. "Oh, that reminds me. I almost forgot."
"Forgot what?" June asked, glancing up in surprise as Joe quickly joined her on the carpet.
Tai quickly held out Gatomon's tail ring, and motioning for Matt and Sora to reclaim their spots on the loveseat, he said, "I promised Gennai I'd give this back to its rightful owner."
"Look, Gatomon!" Kari called out, waving her partner over. "Safe and sound, just like he promised."
The feline digimon made a show of uncurling herself, and cracking an eye open, she drawled, "I hope he didn't scratch it."
That's Gatomon for you, always playing it cool.
It was kind of endearing, and taking her time, the feline digimon made her way over to the sofa. Hopping onto Tai's lap, she allowed the former leader to slip the ring onto her tail, and whiskers twitching, she said nonchalantly, "Thanks for taking care of it for me."
"Anytime," Tai replied, scratching affectionately behind the feline digimon's ears.
Now that she had made the effort to move, Gatomon proceeded to settle herself on the former leader's lap for a nap, and getting to her feet, Noriko said quickly, "Some of you are completely drenched. Let me go fetch some blankets before we begin. I don't want anyone catching a cold."
"Sorry about your furniture," Matt apologised, sounding a bit sheepish. "Guess we should have thought of that before we sat down."
"No, no. The furniture will dry out. That's the least of my concerns."
Without another word, the dark-haired female hurried off to grab as many blankets as she could find on quick notice, and glancing down at himself, Sam realised his own clothes had gotten a bit wet thanks to Dai. Despite that, though, he still wasn't as soggy as Matty, and smiling sympathetically at them, Mickey said, "Both of you must feel pretty uncomfortable right now."
"To be fair, we can't really complain, much as I already have," Matty joked, shrugging his shoulders. "Dai, Uncle Matt, and Uncle Tai soaked up most of the water. We just got the leftovers from Dai."
"Even so, Noriko's right. It's better you warm up quickly, especially now that the temperature's starting to drop."
Sam felt strangely flattered that the older twin seemed so concerned about his well-being, which was ridiculous since the comment had been directed at Matty, as well. It wasn't like Mickey had singled him out or anything, and yet it still created a peculiar fluttering sensation in his stomach.
I must be tired, or maybe I'm just imagining things. Or maybe I'm going crazy...
"Well, I managed to scrounge up a few," Noriko announced, coming back into the room with a mountain of blankets in her hands. "Some of you will have to share, though."
"That's fine," Sora replied, smiling at the younger female before turning to address her husband. "You know, given how drenched you are, I'm surprised Gatomon stuck around."
"That's cause she loves me," Tai teased, earning himself a raised eyebrow from Kari.
Gatomon chose not to dignify those words with a response, though she did crack an eye open to give the former leader a look before resuming her nap. Despite the fact that he had just been dissed, Tai appeared more amused than upset, and letting out a soft snort, Noriko threw a blanket at the former leader before offering one each to Matt and Sora.
Once the three adults were fully covered, the dark-haired female made her way over to Takara and Dai, and holding out a blanket, she said, "Are you two okay to share?"
"Of course," Kara insisted, leaping to her feet and motioning for Dai to shuffle over a bit so there would be room for her to sit next to him on the sofa.
Dai was quick to oblige, and as the young couple settled themselves beneath the blanket, the goggle-headed leader didn't hesitate to rest his dark head on the female Digidestined's shoulder. They looked so warm and cozy together, it made Sam wonder what it would feel like to share a blanket with Mickey, and upon realising where his thoughts were going, he quickly averted his gaze before either of the two lovebirds could catch him staring.
I'm just being dumb. It's not like I haven't been close to Mickey a million times already.
In fact, the older twin was sitting only inches away from him right at that very moment, and for some reason that closeness was making him feel a bit dizzy. Try as he might, he couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation for his body's lack of control, and as a result he was starting to feel a bit frustrated.
Maybe it's because I'm starting to grow paranoid of everything. Plus, I am kind of cold, and he looks so warm...
Unlike him, Mickey had managed to avoid getting wet, and as a result, the thought of those lovely arms wrapping gently around his waist was starting to sound very attractive. Even more odd was the fact that he could picture the scenario so easily inside his head, but before his mind could get too carried away, Noriko dropped a blanket into his lap and said, "Here, Sam. You'll have to share with Matty."
"Sounds good to me," the younger twin butted in before he could answer.
Sam wasn't about to argue, and throwing the blanket over both of them, he teased, "I suppose I can share, even if you are a blanket hog."
"Hey!"
Despite his protest, Matty was quick to close the distance between them, and allowing the younger twin to invade his personal space, Sam was content to huddle within the thick folds of fabric surrounding his damp body.
On his other side, Mickey leaned close and said softly in his ear, "Feel warmer now?"
Not as warm as I would be if I was sharing this blanket with you...
It was a random thought, and an innocent one at that, but it startled him so badly, he almost fell over in shock. He hadn't meant to think such a thing, but now that he had done so, he couldn't get the image out of his head.
Just like with Dai and Kara. I don't understand. What difference does it make if it's Mickey or Matty? Seriously, what's wrong with me?
"Hello, earth to Sam," Matty snorted, poking him sharply in the shoulder. "See? You're totally spacing. Don't even try to deny it."
"Sam...is something wrong?" Mickey asked, hesitantly reaching for his arm.
There will be if you keep looking at me like that...
Despite the fact that both twins were touching him, it became instantly apparent that only Mickey's closeness was wreaking havoc on his incredibly confused brain. Technically speaking, Matty's presence should have captured more of his attention, since the two of them were snuggled together beneath the blanket to conserve heat, but despite sharing his warmth with the younger twin, it was the feel of Mickey's hand on his shoulder that was making his face heat up. Something about that faint touch was far more appealing than the heat of Matty's thigh soaking into his skin, which instantly brought back memories of the night they had camped out in one of the maintenance rooms beneath the city of Abacus. Though Matty had practically crawled into his lap in order to put his arms around Mickey, the younger twin's closeness had barely registered inside his brain. Instead, he had been unable to take his eyes off Mickey, which had made him wonder if maybe he reacted differently towards them because their personalities were so unique.
They might look exactly the same, but their differences are so obvious to me. Even when they're quiet, the subtle nuances in their facial expressions makes it so easy for me to tell them apart. Mickey knows that...doesn't he?
"Hey, snap out of it," Matty insisted, tugging anxiously on his arm. "You're kind of starting to scare me."
Sam blinked, and attempting to clear his head, he glanced uncertainly at Mickey, who was gazing at him with obvious concern. As far as he could tell, the older twin didn't seem particularly bothered by the fact that his best friend and brother were using each other for personal heaters, but was that a good thing or a bad thing? Earlier, when they were in the waterway, Mickey had seemed almost nervous about Matty spending time with him, or maybe he had just imagined it?
I'm probably just seeing what I want to see. Mickey doesn't feel any different towards me than he does any of the others...
Which made him wonder. Did he want Mickey to treat him like he was special?
Maybe that's why I'm seeing things that aren't really there. It's because I want to get a reaction out of him...
"Sam? What is it?" Mickey pleaded, moving even closer and wrapping an arm around him. "Please, tell me."
I wish I knew...
Somehow he had a feeling there was nothing he could say that would go over very well, and taking a deep breath, he managed to smile and say, "Sorry, I'm just really tired. Ignore Matty and his unfounded accusations. Really, I'm fine."
"What do you mean unfounded!?" Matty protested, punching him lightly in the shoulder. "Back me up here, Mickey!"
"Leave him be, Matty," Taniko interrupted, looking amused. "You're just going to make Mickey worry even more."
Thankfully, the dark-haired female's sparkling eyes and enticing smile were more than enough to thoroughly distract Matty, and breathing a sigh of relief, Sam turned his attention to the older twin, who didn't seem convinced by his attempts to downplay what was really going on inside his head. Mickey was chewing anxiously on his lower lip, and wanting to reassure the golden-haired Digidestined, he said softly, "Even if there was something wrong, having you close by always makes me feel instantly better."
Is that wrong, or does it make you feel the same way?
Mickey had eluded to having similar thoughts earlier, and letting out a soft gasp, the older twin blushed before averting his eyes and murmuring, "I hope so."
Huh?
Sam wasn't quite sure what to make of that statement, but it reminded him of the unexpected words Mickey had let slip in the middle of the night while they were waiting for DarkAngelicmon.
Words that had almost stopped his heart in its tracks.
"You feel nice."
Did he...really mean that?
"Now that everyone's comfortable, we should probably give a full account of what happened," Izzy suddenly spoke up, his voice filtering through the multiple conversations going on at once. "If you don't mind, Kara, I think it's best everyone heard the story from you."
Immediately, the room fell silent, and sitting up straighter, Takara quickly took Dai's hand again and said calmly, "I don't mind at all. You're all well aware of the fact that I was struggling from a lack of confidence in myself, and really that's what started the whole thing. Combine that with my inability to express my inner feelings, especially to the people and digimon who are most important to me, it's not exactly a surprise that my heart succumbed to the darkness. I can only tell my side of the story, though. Dai will have to tell the rest."
"I can do that," the goggle-headed leader spoke up, giving Kara's hand an encouraging squeeze. "I might as well start with how I got pulled into the gate. That was Encantamon's doing, and it worked so well on me because of my feelings for Kara."
"Wait, back up a moment," Noah interrupted, raising his eyebrows. "That's it? Just like that? You're finally admitting it?"
"What? That I love Kara?" Dai challenged, lifting his chin. "Yeah, because I do. Except stupid me didn't realise it when Encantamon lured me through the gate. Anyways, more about that later. Are you gonna let me tell this story, or not?"
"By all means, continue," Makku replied, exchanging a very amused look with Shinji. "We'll tease you about your romantic feelings later."
Dai rolled his eyes at that, and squaring his shoulders, the goggle-headed leader said, "Right, so after I was pulled through the gate..."
As Kara and their fearless leader took turns recounting what had happened in the ancient waterway beneath the city of Abacus, Sam was reminded again of just how much they had gone through to rescue Dai. The goggle-headed leader started the tale with his experience of waking up only to find himself trapped inside Encantamon's giant water sphere, and Takara went on to describe their encounter with Lucemon and their subsequent meeting with Surfymon and AncientMermaidmon. The whole time Dai and Kara kept up a running commentary of what had been going on inside their heads throughout the entire journey, and it was then that he finally understood the full extent of Takara's pain. She had truly believed she was useless, which couldn't have been further from the truth.
She was afraid of losing everyone she loves, but her heart wouldn't allow her to share those insecurities with us. Plus, she had no confidence that Dai would return her feelings or that she could be of help to the rest of us. She thought she was holding us back, but in reality she was only holding herself back. I'm glad she realises that now.
Part of that enlightenment had come from AncientMermaidmon, which Takara explained in detail, and from there the female Digidestined spoke about their first encounter with DarkAngelicmon and Encantamon, which had ended in disaster. That led to the fallen angel's promise to meet them after midnight, and from there Izzy briefly took over to explain DarkAngelicmon's cryptic words and all the possible theories about Daemon they had entertained, which the computer expert promised to delve into a bit more once Dai and Kara finished their story.
Clearly intrigued, those who hadn't gone to the Digital World listened closely as more was said about the interesting changes in DarkAngelicmon's behaviour, and picking up the story, Dai went on to describe his first encounter with YukiOnnamon. After that, Takara proceeded to tell them what had happened after she was captured by Spritemon, and this was where Sam found himself paying close attention. The female Digidestined explained in great detail the terrible things Spritemon had said to her while they were on their way to the central chamber, and having reached a critical point in the story, Takara paused before saying quietly, "After mocking my feelings for Dai, she tried to make me believe that he could never fall in love with someone like me."
"Well, that's just rude, and completely untrue," Miya scoffed, snuggling under Noah's arm. "Of course he loves you. You two are perfect for each other."
"And there she goes," Noah teased, kissing the raven-haired female's cheek.
Takara simply smiled, and doing her best not to draw attention to the blush on Dai's cheeks, the female Digidestined said softly, "It's easy for me to believe that now, but at the time I was at my lowest point, and everything Spritemon was saying made sense on a superficial level. That was why it was so difficult for me to simply ignore her words, and the more I let them get to me, the more the darkness inside me started to construct the cave that would eventually take over my mind."
"You mentioned the way she kept taunting you about Dai, but what could she have possibly said to make you believe he wouldn't be interested in you?" Mimi asked, looking curious. "Especially since the truth was so obvious."
For some reason Kara was avoiding Mickey's eyes, and keeping her voice low, the female Digidestined said, "Spritemon tried to say that Dai's drawn to a specific type of personality. She even used Ryoko and Matty as examples."
"Huh? What about us?" Ryoko asked, frowning in confusion.
"Yeah, I don't think Ryoko and I are that much alike," Matty commented. "Maybe a little bit, cause we're related and all, but I don't think our personalities are that similar."
"They are and aren't," Takara countered, attempting to explain what she meant. "Spritemon wasn't wrong when she said Dai has plenty of courage and motivation to spare, which at the time was something I lacked. In that moment, he was everything I wasn't, and it's no secret that Dai respects and admires people who have the strength to challenge him. Both you and Ryoko fit that bill. You're not afraid to speak up when you think he's in the wrong, and you don't hesitate to encourage him when he needs it. In many ways, you're both just as brave and bold as he is, and there's no denying he's often surrounded by people with strong personalities. Due to my lack of self-confidence, it was obvious I didn't measure up to those standards, and Spritemon didn't waste any time telling me he wouldn't have any interest in a feeble-minded girl like me, who lacked the conviction to stand up for herself."
Kara...
Sam took a quick look at the boy whose character was currently in question, and witnessing something he hadn't even thought was possible, he found himself holding his breath. Never before had he seen the goggle-headed leader's dark eyes glittering with such fury, and holding up a hand, Dai said very quietly, "Let's stop there for a moment. First, I want to make one thing very clear. That is the biggest load of garbage I've ever heard in my life."
"Trust me, I know that now," Kara replied, giving the goggle-headed leader a reassuring smile. "And I don't think you're ever going to let me forget it."
"Not a chance," Dai said firmly, reaching out to gently run a hand through her long ponytail. "You're all of those things and more. And even if you weren't, it doesn't matter. You know why? It's because Spritemon forgot the most important thing. I don't care about personality. I surround myself with good people I know I can trust, which includes everyone in this room. You don't have to be bold to be brave, and you don't have to be brave to be kind. See where I'm going with this?"
For a moment, all Sam could do was stare, and then all of a sudden he felt an almost overwhelming amount of affection for the goggle-headed leader. He understood perfectly.
Everybody has their strengths and weakness, which Dai respects. He knows better than anybody that all types of personalities are needed to develop healthy relationships, and it's when those personalities all come together that we can truly make a difference and learn to appreciate others.
"Yes, and that's why I love you so much," Takara replied, further increasing the goggle-headed leader's embarrassment.
Sam couldn't help but smile, and sensing movement beside him, he turned to glance at Mickey. For some reason the older twin was frowning at his feet, and directing his words at Kara while refusing to look at Dai, the golden-haired Digidestined said carefully, "She used Matty and I as an example, didn't she."
Huh? What...
There was sympathy in Takara's eyes, and nodding her head, the female Digidestined said, "She eluded to the fact that because you have such a sweet and sensitive personality, it made sense for Dai to resonate more with Matty than with you. Essentially, she was comparing you and I, and because of our personalities, she tried to say we weren't as important to him."
"I thought so."
The words trembled with emotion, and bolting up in his seat, Dai stared hard at the older twin and said bluntly, "You know that's not true, right?"
Mickey slowly nodded, and unable to stand the deflated look on the older twin's face, Sam quickly grabbed his friend's shoulders and said boldly, "Don't you even dare think otherwise. Everyone in this room knows you're an amazing person, and we would never want you to be anyone other than yourself. Remember what I said to you at the park?"
"I..."
Mickey suddenly seemed to realise he was surrounded by a large group of people, all of whom were watching him, including his family, and looking flustered, the older twin mumbled, "I-I haven't forgotten."
"Good."
"Seriously," Dai insisted, refusing to take his eyes off Mickey. "If I had heard her say that, she wouldn't have lasted long enough to see Kara get the Spirit Chip."
Sam didn't doubt that for a minute, and reaching around him to give his brother's shoulder a fond squeeze, Matty said firmly, "We all love you just the way you are, including Dai."
Do you really not see how much your light affects everyone around you?
"Oh, Mickey. There aren't any words to describe how important you are to all of us," Kari said warmly, sending her son a fond smile. "You bring so much joy to your family and to everyone who loves you."
Though he didn't say anything, it was obvious T.K. agreed wholeheartedly with his wife, and scrambling out of her seat to fling herself into Mickey's lap, Rina scolded, "I love you, Mickey. I love you lots!"
The older twin's face immediately softened at those words, and hugging his little sister tightly around the waist, his golden head resting on the young girl's dark hair, Mickey murmured, "I know. I'm sorry, Rina. I didn't mean to make you worry."
"Whatever you do, don't allow yourself to start believing things that aren't true," Kara warned, her hazel eyes searching the older twin's face for any signs of distress. "That's the trap I fell into, and I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."
"Same," Ryoko agreed, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "You saw what it did to me. I refuse to watch you follow the same path."
Me either. How can I when...
"Why don't we let Kara continue?" Cody suggested, attempting to change the subject. "There's still a lot we need to cover."
Sam could tell the dark-haired man was hoping to spare Mickey from any further scrutiny, and taking the hint, Takara continued with her eventual descent into the cave. Tai picked up the story to explain what was going on in Kara's absence, which led to the second encounter with Encantamon and DarkAngelicmon. Giving a detailed account of the way the two supposedly evil digimon were quick to allow them passage, the former leader then handed the story over to Dai. The goggle-headed leader spoke openly about his love for Kara and how those feelings had finally opened his eyes while he was trapped in the sphere, and Takara went on to explain the terrible visions she had witnessed inside the cave. From there, Sora took over, and the older female wasted no time in retelling their confrontation with YukiOnnamon and Dai's near-death experience.
Takara seemed particularly intrigued by her mother's words, and smiling softly, the female Digidestined said, "So all of you really were calling out to me. I knew it. I could hear your voices, and the light I followed to escape the cave...That was all of you."
"I'm just glad we were able to reach you," Dai mumbled, closing his eyes as if to block out the less pleasant memories from earlier that morning.
"You most of all," Takara whispered, kissing the goggle-headed leader's cheek.
It was a sweet moment, and realising his arm was still draped around Mickey's shoulders, Sam hesitantly pulled the older twin closer. To his surprise, the golden-haired boy didn't resist, and as Mickey settled comfortably beneath his arm, he could feel the warmth of the older twin's slender body even through the blanket that was still wrapped tightly around him. It was a pleasant sensation, and once again taking control of the conversation, Takara finished off with Encantamon's sacrifice and Spritemon's subsequent demise. Izzy proceeded to tie up some loose ends, including their journey back to the gate, and as silence once again descended upon the room, Sam could tell the others were taking a moment to absorb the large amount of information they had been exposed to.
It was some time before anyone spoke, and deciding she would do the honours, Ami took it upon herself to lighten the atmosphere by turning to her brother and saying, "So you and Kara are finally a couple? About time. You're a terrible person for keeping a girl waiting so long."
"Wait, what!?" Dai shouted, glaring at his sister. "How am I the one being scolded for this!?"
"In Ami's defence, you were acting adorably clueless," Makku joked, giving the goggle-headed leader a playful wink.
Dai looked like he wanted to protest, but before he could do so, Ema butted in and said brazenly, "You should be ashamed of yourself. Seriously, you're the worst. What do you think about all of this, Uncle Davis?"
"Good point. How do you feel about Dai and Kara being a couple?" Noah asked, sending his male cousin a teasing smile.
Dai looked absolutely mortified at the direction the conversation was taking, and ruffling his son's dark hair, Davis joked, "As long as Matt doesn't try to murder my son, it's all good in my book."
"I love how everyone mentions you and not me," Tai commented, smirking at the former musician.
In response, Matt merely shook his head, and looking amused, Sora said, "We all know why."
"It's cause he's scarier than you, Dad," Taysuke laughed, though despite his teasing the young boy looked incredibly happy for his sister.
Dai's response was to cover his face with his hands, and smiling fondly at her son, Noriko turned to Kara and said, "You'll be good for him. He needs a woman like you to keep him in line."
"What!?" Dai squeaked, gawking at his mother in disbelief.
The room immediately erupted into laughter, and after everyone had been given the opportunity to congratulate the young couple, Yolei said, "As much as I'm glad everything worked out for the better, I have to say DarkAngelicmon has really caught my interest, now more so than ever. It's almost mind-boggling how much his behaviour has changed since he first put in an appearance."
"Not only that, but I'm also intrigued at how drastically his attitude has apparently shifted just within the last little while," Izzy agreed, his expression growing thoughtful. "To be more precise, I mean since he came back from the place where even Lucemon couldn't detect him."
"About that, you said you might have an idea of where he went?" Ken asked, directing his question at the older man.
Izzy nodded, and pulling out his laptop, the computer expert said, "I might, but before I get into it, I'd like to speak with Gennai first and get his opinion. I'm planning on talking to him tonight to update him on what happened in the waterway, so I'll ask him then."
"You really believe DarkAngelicmon lost his heart to the darkness because of Lucemon?" Kenzo asked, exchanging a look with Taka. "That's a lot to take in."
"It's really the only explanation that makes sense right now," Izzy said simply, his fingers tapping away on his keyboard. "And based on Lucemon's own words, a timeline involving Daemon would fit. It's certainly not impossible."
"Unbelievable," T.K. murmured, his bright blue eyes sparkling in the afternoon sunshine. "If only Lucemon would confide in us. Then we would know the truth."
"I believe he will eventually," the computer expert replied, his expression indicating he wasn't too concerned about it at the moment. "In the meantime, I'll consult with Gennai, and if I learn anything new I will definitely let you all know."
Hopefully before it's too late...
Sam wasn't quite sure where that thought came from, and deciding it was probably best to keep it to himself for the time being, he quickly turned his attention to Kara and said gently, "You managed to overcome a lot to get your Spirit Chip. That must feel pretty good right about now."
Takara nodded, and addressing the group as a whole, she said softly, "I look back now, and thinking about all of the things that used to worry me, I have to admit it's a little embarrassing. Even now, I can't believe I ever doubted myself so much. It's so obvious how much you all care about me, and it makes me wonder why I had such trouble expressing my own feelings in return. I really do love all of you, and I'm never going to hesitate to show it ever again."
"That's all we need to know," Mina responded, standing up and moving over to kiss Kara's cheek. "Well, if there's one thing I can say, you've all certainly had quite the adventure. Why don't we have dinner, and then I think a good rest is in order."
"Speaking of rest, I think it's best if June, Ema, and I stay here for the remainder of the night," Joe spoke up, exchanging a look with his wife. "I'd like to monitor Dai overnight just to be on the safe side. Noah, you're welcome to stay, as well, though I assume you already had plans to spend the evening at Makku's apartment?"
"That's right. Shinji and I were planning to sleep over, unless you'd rather I stay here?" Noah asked, glancing at Dai with obvious concern on his face.
"No, it's fine. Although I would prefer if Dai had a friend or two stay with him."
"I'll stay," Ryoko volunteered, earning himself a beaming smile from Ami. "If anything, it'll at least put my mind at ease."
Sam was about to volunteer himself when Takara suddenly bent her head to whisper furiously in the goggle-headed leader's ear, and something about the look on her face immediately made him feel suspicious. In response, Dai nodded, and turning his attention to Mickey, the dark-haired boy said bluntly, "You're staying, too."
"Oh, um...but..."
"You might as well, Mickey," T.K. interrupted, giving his son an encouraging smile. "You've already got everything you need with you. I'm sure Dai will appreciate the company."
"Definitely, especially if Uncle Joe's gonna give me grief all night," the goggle-headed leader grumbled, earning himself a few laughs.
Like earlier, Mickey was obviously having trouble meeting the goggle-headed leader's eyes, and realising he didn't have a good excuse to decline, the older twin mumbled, "I guess I can...if you want me to."
"Of course I want you to," Dai shot back, rolling his eyes. "Would I have asked if I didn't want you around?"
Turning bright red in the face, Mickey quickly ducked his head to avoid having to come up with a reply, and watching the older twin, Sam had a feeling there was an ulterior motive behind Dai's seemingly innocent request.
I bet it has something to do with the way Spritemon used Mickey as a way to hurt Kara.
And if the female Digidestined's actions were anything to go by, then her obvious suggestion that Dai talk to Mickey was likely the reasoning behind the goggle-headed leader's sudden desire to have the older twin stay the night.
Which is probably a good thing. I'm sure Mickey will feel better once the two of them have some time alone together.
"Sorry to impose on you," June apologised, sending Noriko a sheepish look. "You know what Joe's like, though."
"Oh, no. You're not imposing at all," Noriko insisted. "You know the guest room is always free if you need it. In fact, Davis and I insist you stay. We'll feel better knowing you're both close by in case Dai needs anything. Ema can always share with Ami."
"Definitely," Ami agreed, smiling at the younger girl. "Seriously, with the Digital World, you guys all practically live here now anyways."
"Can't argue that," Matty joked, his words ending in a loud yawn. "Well, if Mickey's staying here tonight, then you can stay with me, Sam."
Huh?
Sam froze, and frowning at the younger twin, he blurted without thinking, "What? Why?"
"What do you mean why?" Matty asked, looking offended. "You don't want to?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Good, then you can keep me company," the younger twin insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Can we eat now? I'm starving."
What...just happened?
Sam chanced a quick look at Mickey, and what he saw made him pause. The older twin was staring at Matty with an uncertain look on his face, and something about the golden-haired Digidestined's demeanour suggested he was nervous about his brother's sudden desire to have a roommate for the evening.
It's just like before when he kept watching Matty and I when we were together in the waterway. Did he think we were talking about him or something? And if so, what does he think we were saying? Why would that make him feel nervous?
It was an interesting question, especially since whatever was bothering Mickey clearly wasn't limited to anything that might have happened in the waterway. The older twin's worries were obviously still affecting him, and as a result, Sam couldn't help feeling just a little bit guilty.
Except Matty and I haven't done anything. He knows we would never say anything bad about him, especially behind his back...
"As much as I'd like to stay, I should probably head home after dinner," Takara sighed, leaning back to stretch her limbs. "I could really use a hot bath, plus I have a feeling my family wants to spend some time with me this evening. Am I right?"
"If you don't mind," Taysuke replied, giving her a hopeful look. "Especially after everything that happened."
"Not at all. Besides, I know with Joe, Ryoko, and Mickey here, Dai's in good hands."
Having come to a final decision about who was staying at the Motomiya residence that night, everyone proceeded to break off into groups while Noriko, Rosa, and June took it upon themselves to hand out full plates to the hungry crowd. Sam accepted his own plate with a grateful smile, and slipping free from the blanket, he left Mickey and Matty to their own devices before moving off the wake the digimon. All of their partners were likely to want some dinner, but despite his good intentions for leaving the twins behind, the real reason he had moved was to give himself some space.
Although Mickey's behaviour was starting to worry him, right now Matty was the real issue. The younger twin definitely had an ulterior motive for inviting him over, and if he was honest with himself, he was dreading the inevitable confrontation between them. Matty wasn't going to let him get away with the weak excuses he had given for his behaviour earlier in the waterway, and despite having time to prepare, he had no idea how he was going to respond when the younger twin finally did give him an earful.
What can I say? How am I supposed to explain all of the strange things that are happening to me because of his brother...