I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I'm super excited to start a new Spirit Chip arc, and I'm already loving the way this one is shaping up. I hope you all love it, as well!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 318: Tale of Uncertainty
Takara 'Kara' Kamiya
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
As a general rule, Takara Kamiya liked to believe she had the patience of a saint, but there were certainly days when her male friends had the ability to test her limits in ways that made her want to affectionately knock some sense into them. Today was definitely one of those days, and frowning at the interior of her locker, she paused for a moment to collect her thoughts before rifling through the contents it contained.
Approximately two and a half weeks had passed since the day she had managed to overcome the darkness in her heart, and yet despite an extensive amount of time for the search party to dig up some new information on the whereabouts of the remaining two Spirit Chips, they still hadn't received a summons from Gennai to begin their next mission. It was no secret the robed figure had a lot of allies who were eager to help out, and what they currently lacked in results, they definitely made up for in enthusiasm. Though Gennai had remained in constant contact with Izzy throughout the course of their downtime, as of yet there hadn't been any tidbits of news worthy enough to warrant a team meeting at the Motomiya residence. With nothing substantial to occupy her time, Takara had received plenty of opportunities to study her fellow Digidestined in great detail, and having done so on multiple occasions over the last couple of weeks, there was no denying that three of her male friends were acting somewhat peculiar towards one another.
On one hand, it was a little amusing, but at the same time their behaviour was also causing her quite a bit of concern. Beyond that, it was utterly exasperating to watch the three boys in question dance circles around each other, and having witnessed enough awkward scenarios to last her a lifetime, it was high time that something was done about it.
Really, at this stage of the game it was almost painful to watch, thus Takara felt it was her duty to take matters into her own hands and rectify the situation as best she could.
But in order to do that, she first needed to talk to Dai and Ryoko.
Which shouldn't be too difficult. Mickey and Matty said they wanted to get some stuff from the library for their class projects, and Sam offered to go with them. Dai and Ryoko should be in the computer room by now, since they didn't have any reason to stop by their lockers. I'll never have another chance like this, so I might as well make the most of it.
With that thought in mind, Takara quickly grabbed the items she needed from her own locker before slamming the door shut, and hurrying off down the hall, she made a beeline for the computer room.
Masato Takaishi, Makiya Takaishi, and Sam Ichijouji.
Never did she think those three would be the source of any anxiety for the Digidestined, at least not from a relationship perspective, and yet here they were, on the brink of a possibly disastrous situation, and she was at a loss of what to do.
After all, how was she supposed to plan her next move when she didn't know what the problem was to begin with?
And that's where Dai and Ryoko come in. It'll be good to have a second opinion, even if they don't have any solid answers. At least then I'll know I'm not going crazy or just imagining things...
Recognising the fact that the clock was ticking, Takara quickly waved to a couple of her girlfriends without stopping to say hello before bursting into the computer room, and taking note of the time, since their lunch break only lasted for so long, she paused to lean on a chair in order to catch her breath. A few feet away, Dai and Ryoko were sitting on the floor with six hungry digimon, and raising his eyebrows, Ryoko said dryly, "What's the hurry? Our break just started. It's not like we have a schedule to keep."
"Mrs. Hanari didn't try to hold you up, did she?" Dai asked, immediately looking suspicious.
Takara couldn't help the laugh that escaped her throat, and smiling fondly at her loveable boyfriend, she said warmly, "No, nothing like that. Although the fact that our minds immediately go in that direction every time one of us is late definitely says a lot."
"No kidding," Dai agreed, holding out his hand to her. "Speaking of showing up late, you might want to have your share of the snacks before our digimon eat them all."
"Hey, to be fair, Sam did bring them for us, you know," DemiEmbermon pointed out before diving back into his lunch.
"Some partner you are. Didn't anybody teach you how to share?"
"Shouldn't that have been your job?" Ryoko joked, ducking as the goggle-headed leader attempted a lazy blow to his head.
Takara shook her head in amusement, and taking Dai's offered hand, she quickly sat down next to the dark-haired boy. Over the last couple of weeks, the two of them had enjoyed spending time together as a couple, and leaning over to kiss the goggle-headed leader's mouth, she said gently, "Ignore him. You're a great role model for DemiEmbermon."
These last two weeks with Dai have been amazing. We're closer than we've ever been, and the way he's just so genuine about his feelings gets my heart racing every time he looks at me. He really is a sweetheart, and I couldn't be happier. He's all I wanted and more, and I know he'll support me in this, especially since he cares about Sam and the twins as much as I do.
"Hey now, I never said he wasn't a good role model," Ryoko protested, rolling his eyes. "So, now that half our group is missing, what do you guys wanna do? I mean, other than watch our digimon stuff their faces with food."
"Well, excuse us!" Iramon shot back, his words somewhat muffled by a mouth full of sugary goodness.
Takara wasn't quite sure how to bring up the subject, and settling herself comfortably in a tight circle with the two boys, she left the digimon crowded together near Ryoko to their own devices and said hesitantly, "Actually, about that...would you guys mind if I asked you something?"
"Of course not," Dai insisted, giving her hand a tight squeeze. "Is something wrong? You look pretty serious."
"Please don't tell me someone else has become a target in the human world," Ryoko groaned, slapping a hand against his forehead. "I swear, if-"
"No, nothing like that. This isn't Digital World related. At least, I don't think it is..."
Perhaps it was a result of their failure to steal the Spirit Chip of Wisdom, but for whatever reason the Ruler of Darkness and his minions hadn't made any further attempts to harm them while in the human world. Despite that, though, Takara knew that could change at a moment's notice, which was why they needed to remain vigilant at all times.
We can't have another incident like what happened with Dai. No way am I going to let that happen to anybody else I love...
"Well, now you've got me curious," Ryoko admitted, his sapphire eyes lighting up with interest. "What's up?"
Takara took a moment to reorganise her thoughts, and deciding it was best to just jump right in, she said slowly, "Maybe I'm only imagining things, but...have you guys noticed anything...unusual about Sam and the twins lately?"
The two boys immediately exchanged looks, and letting out a deep sigh, Ryoko said bluntly, "I wish I could say you were, but that would be a complete lie. On the plus side, at least I now know I'm not going crazy."
"Same," Dai agreed, making face. "Cause for a while there I was starting to wonder..."
Wait, so...they have noticed?
Caught off guard, Takara wasn't quite sure how to respond, and running her fingers over the goggle-headed leader's palm, she said slowly, "I take it that means you guys know what I'm talking about?"
"Oh, we know," Ryoko murmured, his expression growing serious. "We're just not sure why. I take it you might have some ideas?"
Truthfully, she didn't have a clue, but perhaps hearing what the two boys had to say would help her come up with a theory.
That's the plan anyway. Can't guarantee it will help, though...
With that thought in mind, Takara said quietly, "I'm not sure. I just...lately I've noticed a change in the way Sam and the twins have been acting around each other. Maybe not Matty so much, but I feel like he might still be a part of whatever's going on. Sam definitely seems a lot more...careful around Matty? I wouldn't say hesitant exactly, but there's an obvious air of caution there. Now, that's not to say Sam's recent behaviour is necessarily a bad thing. If anything, he seems to hold Matty in even higher regard than usual, which doesn't make any sense at all. As for Matty, he isn't treating Sam any differently than he always has, so...what does that mean? I have to admit, I'm at a complete loss."
"I think that goes for all three of us," Ryoko grumbled, his golden eyebrows narrowing in concentration. "I feel like it started sometime around our last trip to the Digital World, but other than that I don't have a clue what's going on."
"Yeah, and what's with Mickey and Sam?" Dai demanded, his dark eyes sparkling under the fluorescent lights. "Like, I know Mickey's always shy, but Sam sure as heck isn't. You wouldn't know it by the way he's acting, though. I've never seen those two tiptoeing so awkwardly around each other before. It's actually kind of painful to watch."
Takara had to agree, and shrugging her shoulders, she said, "I don't understand it either. Again, it's not that Sam and Mickey are uncomfortable around each other or anything like that. They just seem almost...unusually aware of the other, if that makes any sense? It's like they're too considerate and overly sensitive about each other's feelings, though that hasn't seemed to affect their closeness in the slightest."
"Plus, Mickey's acting all nervous around Matty, who doesn't even seem to notice at all," Dai complained, throwing up his hands in defeat. "Or if he does, he's hiding it pretty well. Ugh, if it's not one thing, it's something else. Seriously, can't everyone just learn to get along?"
"That's rich coming from you," Ryoko teased, nudging the goggle-headed leader affectionately in the ribs.
As the two boys began to throw friendly insults at each other, Takara proceeded to think back on the events that took place in the waterway. A minor argument had occurred between Sam and Mickey, that much she recalled, but was that the only memory worthy of further scrutiny?
I feel like there was something else...
"Yo, Glimmermon, you got any idea what's up with your dummy of a partner?" Dai asked, only half-joking.
"What about you guys?" Ryoko inquired, directing his words at the two celestial digimon. "Any insight into what's going on with Mickey and Matty?"
All three digimon were quick to swallow their current snacks, and looking a little morose, Glimmermon said, "I wish I could give you an answer, but I just don't know. Anytime I ask Sam if there's something wrong, he insists he's perfectly fine."
"Mickey's the same," Palelymon added, his fluffy ears drooping slightly in the afternoon sunshine streaming through the glass window. "He either has some excuse, like he's mentally tired or physically exhausted, or he just gets really quiet and won't answer me."
Huh...I don't know what to make of that.
At this point, Goldmon was the only one who hadn't responded, and realising everybody was now staring at him, the little digimon said happily, "I dunno what you're all going on about. Matty's just fine. He's acting like his usual feisty self!"
"Kara, is there anything in particular about Sam and the twins that really caught your attention, or is it mostly a general overall vibe?" Fluttermon asked, her words indicating she was eager to help.
It was a good question, and thinking on the matter, she hesitated before saying, "I'm not sure. Maybe a bit of both?"
"I did think it was a bit odd that Mickey wanted to know my opinion on Sam," Dai muttered, the words slipping free almost as an afterthought. "I mean, I thought it was pretty obvious how I feel."
"What's this?" Ryoko asked, poking the goggle-headed leader in the shoulder to get his attention.
Dai blinked, and sheepishly scratching the back of his head, the dark-haired boy said, "Oh, right. You remember when I bullied Mickey into coming with me to get Uncle Joe off my case? Well, after Mickey and I sorted out the whole Spritemon thing, he asked me what I thought of Sam. That's not exactly the kind of thing he would normally ask, especially cause he and Sam are so close."
"That does seem a bit strange," Ryoko agreed, looking concerned. "Does Mickey have some doubts about Sam, and that's why he was asking? I know the two of them had that misunderstanding in the waterway when Mickey took offence to the way Sam was goading him about Matty, but that whole thing didn't last very long. If anything, they've probably forgotten all about it."
Maybe, but I dunno. It sure looked that way when I caught them holding hands, but...wait a minute...
Takara froze, and thinking back to that early morning in the waterway, she suddenly felt like she was on the verge of discovering something incredibly important. At the time, nothing about the incident had seemed out of the ordinary, but perhaps she had overlooked an important clue.
That's it. That was the thing I was trying to remember. It was such a sweet moment, and they seemed so close despite their little argument the day before. It was like nothing had ever happened between them. In fact, Mickey had gone from ignoring Sam to acting all shy and embarrassed around him, and he was behaving strangely when Matty started accusing him of hiding a possible significant other. Then again, that could have just been a case of Mickey acting like his usual adorable self. It's hard to tell sometimes, except...there was that odd tension in the air. I dunno why, but I feel like Sam somehow played a role in all of that, especially because he suddenly got really protective of Mickey...
"Earth to Kara," Dai joked, reaching out to give her a warm squeeze. "Any chance you plan on telling us what you're thinking about?"
Takara quickly made herself comfortable in the goggle-headed leader's arms, and smiling slightly, she said, "Oh, I was just thinking about Matty's silly behaviour that night we slept in the waterway. You weren't there to see it, but I'm sure Ryoko remembers. Matty was acting all protective of his siblings, but it was the dig about Mickey possibly being interested in someone that really got him going."
"Oh yeah, I definitely remember that," Ryoko said slowly, his expression growing thoughtful. "And if I recall, Sam seemed a bit...agitated over the whole thing? He got pretty defensive, and Mickey seemed more embarrassed than usual. That bizarre conversation definitely caught my interest at the time, but even now I still don't know what to make of the whole incident."
Neither do I, but if I think about what happened when Mickey and I rescued Dai's D-Coder and then Sam's reaction later at the beach...
"Okay, now I'm curious," Dai spoke up, his warm breath tickling her ear. "Mickey already told me about his 'fight' with Sam, but he never mentioned anything about Matty going into protective mode."
Takara quickly described the incident as best she could, and looking very amused, the goggle-headed headed leader said, "Funny, now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever really thought about the possibility of Mickey having a crush on somebody. Poor guy. Matty really doesn't know when to quit. Anyways, so basically the three of them started acting super weird around the time Mickey and Sam had a falling out?"
"That's the only time I can really pinpoint," Ryoko agreed. "Now the only question that remains is why? What changed after that? Why did that incident suddenly spark all kinds of unnecessary tension, if you can even call it that..."
I don't know if I have an answer for that, but...there might be a way to find out.
"Ugh, my head's starting to hurt," Dai groaned, the frustration in the goggle-headed leader's tone making it plainly obvious how he felt about the whole situation. "Any idea how we're going to solve all this? We can't exactly afford to have those three acting stupid right when we're on the verge of locating another Spirit Chip."
"Trust me, I'm well aware of that," Ryoko murmured, his sapphire gaze straying to the six digimon who were staring at him with worried eyes.
Knowing how her own attitude had affected their last trip to the Digital World, Takara felt entirely in agreement with the two boys, and pulling back so she could once again take Dai's hand, she said firmly, "I think maybe I'd better have a talk with those three. Separately, if possible. If I can convince Matty to talk to Mickey, that'll be the most effective way to get Mickey to open up to me. He's always more likely to talk once he's shared his feelings with Matty, and as for Sam...there are a few things I want to ask him before I make any assumptions."
Like why he felt the need to protect Mickey and what happened that night to cause the hand-holding incident...
"What sort of things?" Ryoko asked, immediately looking suspicious.
Takara was quick to give the golden-haired Digidestined a reassuring smile, and slipping an arm around him, she said, "Don't worry, I could be way off, but if I find out anything significant, I'll let you know."
"Well, considering Ryoko and I would probably just mess it up, you're the best one for the job," Dai joked, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "In the meantime, we'd better get back to class. The bell's going to ring any second now, and the last thing we need is Mrs. Hanari breathing down our necks."
"Do you...think Mickey will be okay?" Palelymon asked, his voice sounding small and timid.
"Sam, too," Glimmermon worried.
Takara quickly crawled over to the two digimon, and pulling them both into her arms, she said gently, "Don't worry, they'll be fine. We'll make sure of it."
"Yeah, you can count on us!" Dai said firmly, giving them a thumbs up. "With Kara on the job, they're in good hands."
"I'm assuming you're going to talk to Matty tonight?" Ryoko asked, getting to his feet. "You mentioned earlier your family was having dinner at his place this evening, and since Mickey mentioned something about staying the night at Sam's..."
You read my mind, Ryoko.
Takara allowed Dai to pull her to her feet, and nodding her head, she said, "That's exactly what I intend on doing. Wish me luck, guys."
"I suspect you're going to need it," Ryoko sighed, his expression indicating he didn't expect much.
Don't worry, I won't let you guys down. I promise.
After saying goodbye to their digimon partners, the three of them quickly raced down the hallway in hopes of making it before the final bell. Somehow, they managed to sneak inside the classroom just as it went off, and ignoring Mrs. Hanari's disappointed glare, Takara gracefully sat down in her seat with her head held high. Though she could feel the twins watching her with obvious curiosity, she chose to ignore their silent questions. It was Sam who caught her attention the most, and as their eyes met, the raven-haired Digidestined stared her down without flinching before he eventually averted his gaze.
Oh yes, she definitely had some questions, and she intended to get some answers whether Sam liked it or not.
DarkAngelicmon
Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World
Though it was only early evening, the gloomy shadows lurking in the dark corridors of the castle made it feel like it was the dead of night, and leaning against the stone wall just outside the door leading to the room where the crests had once resided, DarkAngelicmon waited in silence, his emerald gaze searching the long hallway for any signs of life. To his left, he sensed movement, and as a dark figure suddenly materialised out of the shadows, he said mildly, "I take it you have been summoned, as well?"
"Indeed, my lord," a female voice replied, her sultry tone and smooth words echoing down the hallway. "If I had to make a guess, I would say there have been new developments that require our attention."
Thinking back on the day he had woken from a deep sleep far beneath the castle dungeons, DarkAngelicmon felt a shiver race down his spine, and fighting back a wave of disgust, he said bluntly, "Why do you insist on calling me that?"
"I told you already, I am still yours to command," LadyDevimon replied, her dark feathers rustling to prevent the dust from settling on her wings. "And I must admit, I am looking forward to working with you again."
"I'm flattered, truly."
If I could strike you down here and now, I would. You are no servant of mine, and I refuse to let the blackness in your heart stain my own any further.
"Ah, I hear footsteps," LadyDevimon murmured, twisting slightly to glance back down the corridor. "It seems we are not the only ones who were asked to pay the Ruler of Darkness a visit."
And thus, my night is utterly ruined.
It took every ounce of willpower he had to prevent a sigh from escaping his lips, and peering through the shadows, he spotted two other figures heading towards them. Judging by their movements, it had to be Persiamon and Phelesmon, and greeting them with a casual wave, the former said lightly, "I am going to assume Gennai has found the next Spirit Chip?"
The Demon Lord of Greed. Never did I imagine it would come to this...
Knowing he stood before one of his greatest enemies, DarkAngelicmon had to force himself to respond, and doing his best to sound unconcerned, he said mildly, "That would be the most logical assumption. Come, we shouldn't leave our master waiting."
"LadyDevimon might be fond of you, but she does not speak for all of us," Phelesmon snapped, brushing past him. "Do not order me around like a lackey. I would rather delete my own data than take orders from you."
I hope you're prepared to stand by your words, you fool.
Since he didn't feel it was worth his time to come up with a response, DarkAngelicmon chose to ignore that comment, and following the fallen angel into the chamber with Persiamon and LadyDevimon, he paused on the threshold to survey the room. YukiOnnamon and another of his master's servants were standing on either side of the Ruler of Darkness, and beckoning them closer, the robed figured said pleasantly, "Come, my loyal followers. Gather around. I have some exciting news for you tonight."
"Who's this? Your new guard?" Phelesmon asked, gesturing to the skeletal digimon standing to the right of their master.
Waving aside the fallen angel's obvious suspicion, the Ruler of Darkness said easily, "This is SkullSatamon. He shall be serving as my attendant while you and our lovely Persiamon are out on missions. Now then, I am pleased to inform all of you that Gennai has discovered the location of the next Spirit Chip."
"We figured as much," Persiamon replied. "We are ready to receive a briefing on the details and to act on your command."
Mickey and Matty...I wonder which one of you will have to suffer first...
It was a sobering thought, and keeping his eyes averted, DarkAngelicmon did his best to maintain a neutral expression. Over the last two and a half weeks, he had been unable to stop thinking about the Takaishi twins, and as their faces hovered in the forefront of his mind, he couldn't help wondering how they were doing.
There will be many challenges ahead. The two of you must stay strong, for your own sakes and for mine...
"The details will come soon enough, but first I must warn you that this mission will be slightly different than your previous excursions to acquire the Spirit Chips," the Ruler of Darkness informed them, his violet eyes glimmering in the dim lighting. "Of course, the Spirit Chip is still a priority if you can manage to steal it, but there is something even more important that will determine whether or not your mission is a success."
"And what would that be, master?" YukiOnnamon asked, her dark eyes lighting up with interest.
The excitement on her pretty face was almost unnatural, and ignoring the goosebumps crawling along the back of his neck, DarkAngelicmon stood between LadyDevimon and Phelesmon in silence, his presence going unnoticed. Since the incident in the waterway, he had done his best to maintain a low profile, and as a result, he had managed to avoid being alone with the Ruler of Darkness for any substantial length of time. Since that afternoon he was summoned from the courtyard, he had only seen his master once for a brief update, and beyond that he had mostly been left to his own devices. It was comforting and nerve-racking all at the same time, and sensing he was on the verge of discovering something unpleasant, he suddenly found himself holding his breath.
After all that I have already been through, how many more terrible experiences am I going to have to endure?
"The Spirit Chip is apparently located close to a place that is overflowing with dark energy," the Ruler of Darkness murmured, his silky voice drifting eerily out of the shadows. "A place much like the chasm that exists within the Ice Caverns."
No, you cannot. Please...
"And this place is our main goal, even above the Spirit Chip?" LadyDevimon asked, exchanging a look with Persiamon.
"Indeed," the Ruler of Darkness confirmed. "And we shall use it to breath life into a prophesy that is long overdue. Tell me, DarkAngelicmon, which prophecy would that be?"
You will not take him from me, even if it means my death!
DarkAngelicmon slowly lifted his gaze, and speaking around the lump in his throat, he whispered, "The Myth of the Seven Demon Lords."
Masato 'Matty' Takaishi
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
Glaring at his notes, Matty let out a loud groan before letting his golden head fall back against the couch, and giving him a look, Takara said dryly, "Can't concentrate?"
"No! I wish we could just go to the Digital World already! All this waiting is driving me crazy!"
"Is that really what this is all about?" Kara asked, raising an eyebrow.
Huh?
Matty glanced at his cousin, who was sitting next to him on the sofa with her homework spread out on the coffee table, and frowning, he said suspiciously, "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. You just seem a bit on edge is all I'm saying."
Understatement of the year.
The thought should have made him smile, but instead he felt even more irritated. Though it wasn't quite late enough for bed, all he wanted to do was sleep, and yet if he did close his eyes, he knew he wouldn't be able to escape his dreams.
I wonder what Sam and Mickey are doing. They're probably having way more fun than I am. Or...maybe not. They were being kind of weird in the library...
Due to the fiasco he had witnessed during their lunch break at school, a small part of him had secretly wanted to join the dark-haired boy and his twin for the evening, but at the same time he also hadn't wanted to leave his female cousin hanging. His aunt and uncle had shown up earlier for dinner with Kara and Taysuke, and though the dark-haired female would have been just fine spending time with Rina and her brother, he still felt it would have been a bit rude to abandon her.
At the moment, the adults and their digimon were all having tea or coffee in the kitchen, and Taysuke and Rina were entertaining Goldmon and Fluttermon in the bedroom he shared with Mickey. That was mostly due to the fact that his mother had threatened to ground him if he didn't get his homework done, and Takara was given the job of babysitting him to make sure he did it. As far as he could tell, the female Digidestined was almost done her own work, which didn't bode well for him. He had barely even started, and truthfully it was all Mickey's fault.
He's always a bit shy, but he was being extra shy around Sam in the library. Plus, it was starting to get annoying the way they kept apologising profusely to each other. I mean, come on. It's not like all of us don't trip over each other and bump elbows all the time. What's the big deal?
More worrisome was the fact that the awkward behaviour between the two boys wasn't just a one time thing. In fact, it had been going on for the last couple weeks, and it was high time he had some answers as to why.
Sam said everything was fine when we talked that night after coming back from the waterway, and Mickey insists there's nothing going on between them, but I dunno. It's not like they're fighting, that much I can tell. They're definitely still close, but something's just...different...
"You're thinking about Sam and Mickey, aren't you," Takara said gently, interrupting his thoughts.
The words caught him completely off guard, and jerking up in his seat, he stammered, "How did you-I mean no! I am not!"
"Was that supposed to be convincing?" Takara asked, shaking her head in amusement. "No use trying to deny it, and just so you know, Dai and Ryoko have noticed, as well."
"Really?"
"Definitely. Has...Mickey said anything at all to you? I'll understand if you don't want to say, since Mickey is entitled to some privacy, but..."
Matty quickly shook his head, and flopping back into his seat, he said wearily, "Nope, not a thing. Anytime I ask him about it, he just says he's fine and there's nothing to worry about."
"Even if you ask him about Sam?"
Especially when I ask him about Sam...
Taking a moment to think on the matter, he said slowly, "If I mention Sam, he just gets all flustered and insists the two of them are great. On one hand, I can tell he's not lying, but at the same time, there's definitely something going on between them."
"And it's becoming more and more obvious as the weeks go by," Takara murmured, looking lost in thought.
"Exactly, and Sam's the same. When I talked to him that night he stayed at my place, he made it pretty clear that he and Mickey weren't fighting and that things were great between them."
"I don't think he's lying either," Kara said firmly, reaching out to give his shoulder a sympathetic squeeze. "This isn't about a fight. It's something else, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is."
Join the club. Clearly she's already talked to Dai and Ryoko about this, probably when they were having lunch together earlier, but it doesn't look like those two have any more answers than I do. What am I going to do if Mickey doesn't want to tell me what's going on...
The thought stung a bit, and biting his lip, Matty had to take a moment to regain his composure. In his heart, he knew if a time ever came when his twin didn't want to confide in him, the loss of his brother's trust would completely crush him, and with the discovery of a new Spirit Chip still hanging over their heads, he was starting to panic. It also terrified him that both Sam and Mickey were acting so nervous around him, and he had no idea what to do about it.
I don't think I've done anything wrong, but it feels like I have. For some reason, ever since we were in the waterway, they've both been tiptoeing around me like they're afraid I'm going to get mad at them or something...
"Stop that right now," Takara scolded, poking him sharply in the shoulder. "I know you well enough to tell what you're thinking, and you're being silly. Mickey loves you, and you know he would never keep anything from you. If there is something he hasn't told you yet, it's not because he doesn't want to. It's because he's not ready yet, and you need to find a way to reach his heart and let him know you're willing to listen without passing any judgment."
"He should know by now I'd never do that!"
"He does know," Takara said patiently, giving his hand a quick squeeze. "It's not you he's doubting. He's making the same mistake the rest of us have made. He's doubting himself."
Mickey...
Matty could feel a lump forming in his throat, and gazing at his feet, he whispered, "What am I supposed to do?"
Immediately Takara's arm went around his shoulders, and speaking calmly, she said, "I assume when you were in the library with Mickey and Sam it was more of the same?"
"Yeah, it's been going on ever since the waterway. They're just being so...weird around each other, and around me..."
As silence fell between them, Matty could feel himself losing hope, and pulling him into her arms, Takara said softly, "Listen, Matty...Can you do something for me?"
Huh?
Matty glanced at his cousin in surprise, and shrugging his shoulders, he mumbled, "I guess."
"I want you to talk to Mickey."
"But-"
"Don't interrupt," the female Digidestined admonished, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Whatever it is that's bothering Mickey so much, I can tell he desperately wants to confide in you, but his conflicting emotions are holding him back. He needs you to reassure him that it's okay to say something. If you can get him to open up to you, it'll likely give us an idea of what's going on with Sam, as well. We don't know whether the next Spirit Chip belongs to you or Mickey, but regardless, I'd like us to have some insight into what's wrong with Sam and Mickey before we have to go searching for it."
"Because you don't want any of us to end up like you did."
"Exactly," Takara agreed, resting her cheek against his golden hair. "I'm not saying we have to solve the issue entirely right this second, but having an idea will help us to prevent the worst case scenario from happening once we do have to go to the Digital World."
Truthfully, Matty hadn't allowed himself to think too much about the Spirit Chips over the last couple weeks, and that wasn't because he was worried about himself. He was concerned about his twin, and just the thought of having to look for his brother's Spirit Chip was making him feel ill.
I don't care about putting myself in danger, but I don't want to see anything happen to Mickey...
"Matty?"
Realising he hadn't actually agreed to his cousin's request, he let out a deep sigh and said, "I can try, but I'm not making any promises."
"You'll manage," Takara said simply, her lips turning up in a small smile. "I know you will."
She really believes that...
For some reason those words instantly made him feel better, and thinking back on his conversation with Sam a couple weeks ago, he felt his heart begin to race with a spark of determination.
You promised me you would look out for him, and I still believe you. I just wish you would tell me what's wrong...
"Mom?" Kara suddenly blurted, her body shifting as she straightened up. "What's going on?"
Huh?
Matty twisted around to glance at the door, and spotting Tai and Sora, along with his own parents and the four rookie digimon belonging to the adults, standing just inside the room, he said stupidly, "Uh..."
"Sorry to startle you, but we just received a call from Izzy," Tai explained, his dark eyes flashing. "Apparently Gennai's found the next Spirit Chip."
Great. Just great...
Attempting to ignore the sudden anxiety building in his chest, Matty managed to choke out, "Did Izzy say who it belongs to?"
His mother quickly shook her head, and giving him a sympathetic smile, the dark-haired female said gently, "Not over the phone, he didn't. It's getting fairly late, and we felt it was best to wait until we all had a chance to meet at the usual place tomorrow. How's your homework coming?"
"Yeah, about that..."
"Don't worry, Aunt Kari, I'll make sure he finishes it," Takara interrupted, giving the dark-haired female a reassuring smile. "Even if that means I have to stay here all night."
At this declaration, Matty nearly fell off the couch, and giving his cousin an incredulous look, he said, "Are you this hard on Dai, too?"
"Worse," Takara joked, winking at him.
For a moment, Matty almost felt sorry for the goggle-headed leader, and shaking his head at the female Digidestined, he muttered, "Somehow I doubt it."
It does feel kind of nice to see Dai and Kara cuddling and holding hands. They're obviously super happy and stupidly in love, but I don't even mind when they get all mushy in front me, even when they kiss. Hmm...I wonder what it would feel like to kiss Taniko...
"Matty, are you listening to me?"
Matty blinked, and realising his father had been attempting to speak with him, he blushed and said, "Uh, sure. Um..."
"I said you'd better hurry up and finish your work so you can get to bed at a decent hour," his father repeated, giving him a look before turning back towards the door. "Come on, Patamon. Let's leave these two to finish up while we help pass on the message for Izzy. Now that our group has gotten so big, we have a lot more people who are expecting regular updates about what's going on in the Digital World."
"I'll contact Tal and the others from his group," Sora offered as the adults and their digimon headed back into the kitchen. "Tai can get in touch with Willis."
Matty waited until the room was clear before turning back to his cousin, and taking note of the way Kara was staring at him, he said defensively, "What?"
"Do I even need to answer that? Now that Gennai has found the next Spirit Chip, you know what you need to do," the female Digidestined reminded him, her hazel eyes studying him with careful scrutiny. "You need to talk to Mickey before we go to the Digital World, and I assume you were listening to me earlier and you know why that is."
Matty could feel his own pulse pounding in his ears, and attempting to play it cool, he grumbled, "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll talk to him tomorrow. Satisfied?"
Except...what if he says something I don't want to hear?
Leaning over to kiss his cheek, Takara beamed at him and said happily, "You're the best, Matty. Seriously, stop worrying. Everything will be fine."
Matty wanted to believe his cousin, but the fear in his heart was making it difficult for him to remain positive. At the end of the day, he just wanted everyone to be happy, especially since the thought of anything terrible happening between Sam and his brother was really starting to bug him more than he was willing to admit.
They can't afford any distractions, especially since that Spirit Chip belongs to either myself or Mickey, which brings me to another issue. I wonder what DarkAngelicmon's up to right now. I hope he's okay...