Hina's silence was louder than anything. Iori noticed the moment she saw his picture. But yet, he didn't say a word about it. Only walking in that exact silence down the sidewalk. Once arriving at the bus stop.

Hina lowered her head, her scarf covered her mouth, but he knew she was taking a deep breath.

Once she did, she said the words, "Iori-san… I saw Daisuke-san…"

Starless

Chapter 8

Slowly, the bus traveled through the snowy road. Creating a trail through the road if passed through. The driver, a kind old man, smiled as he made a stop at a red light.

Only two passengers in this bus for tonight, Iori and Hina.

Hina spoke up, "I saw him. I saw him when my dad's car broke down. He just came by to help out. I didn't think much of it. I never truly saw him when we met."

Iori shifted, "this… this isn't good."

Hina shook her head, "you guys said he was gone."

Iori put his hand over his mouth. "He was… and from where your dad got stuck. Daisuke-san must be with his parents."

"So he never left? He was just hiding out with his parents?"

The inheritor of Knowledge and Reliability shook his head, "he left. He just came back. His parents would not go through the trouble to move out… live in the corner of town away from other family and friends… just to avoid their son from raising a child."

Hina hesitated, "I mean they are his parents…"

Iori took a deep breath, "they are, but the child is not like their parents and vice versa. There is more going on and I am going to investigate."

"How?"

Iori took out his cell, "if we just tell people that Daisuke-san is back then what we get is the equivalent of a mob. Lots of people don't like Daisuke-san, justifiably so… but I hate to say this… I always considered his disappearance not simple…"

Hina smiled softly, "look at you, acting all adult."

Iori jumped up, "you're teasing me on purpose."

Last night, Hina simply went home without an idea of what Iori was going to do. She didn't sleep much, thinking about what would happen now that Daisuke was back.

And when she was getting ready to go to school, she got her answer. As she exited her apartment complex, Iori was there wearing his uniform. They lived far enough where they cannot meet regularly, but here he was.

Iori said, "I told my mom I would be going early to study early."

Hina blinked, "skipping class? That's your big plan?"

Iori nodded, "what better time to meet Daisuke-san than on a school day."

Her eyes widened as her boyfriend walked past her, "w-we're going to meet Daisuke-san!?" She followed as Iori was walking ahead.

"Yes, no better way to see what is going on with him than talking to him."

Hina looked down, "what if he doesn't want to meet us?"

Iori smiled, "nonsense," he said, turning on the street, "meeting an old friend is quite common."

Hina kept pace, "very true, but Daisuke-san. You know, the guy everybody hates. The guy who might have ran away from Hikari-san to avoid being a parent. Do we really want him to be associated as a friend?"

Iori smirked, "no, but there's a chance he may be as innocent as a puppy. I am going to find out."

And they stopped at a bus stop, like the night before. "Okay, then what?"

Iori looked up, finally having a shred of nervousness. "I talk to the person I trust most…"

"Achoo!" Takeru sounded off.

Takeru, now 21, tall. He has a full grown beard. His hair is as long as his shoulder. His stature is mature and very toned.

Annia, his now wife, took out a napkin. "I told you, you would catch a cold. Wear a scarf next time."

Takeru took the tissue, "my apologies, I didn't know it was going to be this cold in Japan."

Annia tugged on her scarf, "it's best to be cautious. We don't need to be getting sick before the big anniversary party." She took it off and placed it around Takeru who leaned down.

"What if you get sick?"

Annia smiled, "I'm not reckless, I know I won't get sick." She pushed up her glasses and adjusted Takeru's coat, "you must be presentable when meeting your mother."

Takeru snickered, "come on Annia-san, it's just my mom."

Annia huffed, "I will not have it. The Takaishi and Ishida days of looking lousy are over. Look at your brother, wearing suits all the time."

Takeru leaned down to kiss her cheek, "cause his work involves suits. Mine doesn't…"

Annia walked towards the cab, "at least wear a turtleneck, award winning writer."

Takeru caught up and opened the door for Annia, "it was just a children's book about the adventures I had as a kid in the Digital World."

They both sat in the back of the cab, Takeru quickly giving his address to the driver. Annia giggled, "you won many awards for that book. Most of which more well known writers could only be nominated for. Imagine if paparazzi catch that the writer of 'Night in the Digital World' was a slouch."

The cab driver said, "Oh, I read that book to my children."

Takeru nervously blushed, "I'll try better," before smiling at his wife. Both sigh and enjoying being back in Odaiba.

Iori and Hina got off the bus, "Takeru-san is Hikari-san's long time friend. I think he would just flat out beat up Daisuke-san."

"I'm aware of the ramification of this. But I can make it work…"

"By hospitalizing a man?" Hina asked as they both walked through the snowy sidewalk.

Iori shook his head, "by actually helping this time…"

Hina was caught completely off guard. Stopping in her tracks. Letting Iori get ahead. It slowly dawned that they were in the road where Daisuke helped her father fix the car. She lightly jogged to catch up.

Slowing down when she noticed Iori had stopped. She walked up to see him staring ahead, "what?"

She looked to see Daisuke shoveling snow off his parent's driveway.

It finally dawned on her that this is the first time Iori is seeing a lost best friend in nearly 5 years. Someone whose disappearance caused so much pain. Now he was right in front of Iori.

Hina glanced over at Iori to see him stunned. Completely, even more than when she told him last night of the revelation.

Daisuke felt someone watching, he stopped and looked to the side. Only to no one. He pondered a bit before shoveling some more.

Across the street, an alleyway. Iori leaned against a brick wall. His eyes cold, Hina looking concerned. "I have two bad memories. One is the day my grandfather died. I never saw such devastation in my mother's eyes. But the second… It was a rainy day. Hikari was one month away from giving birth to Miyuki-san. I remember the phone ringing, it was so gentle before, but I changed the phone ringing because of what happened next. Takeru-san, in a panic, told me Hikari-san ran off again. She would go off to find him for hours. Maybe an entire day, but this day was bad. It was storming and it was very cold."

Hina stepped back.

"I helped look. I have never seen Takeru-san and Annia-san so desperate. I never saw Miyako-san so worried, she was gonna pass out from the stress. Everyone tried, but the storm got intense, but Miyako-san found her. And…" he clenched his fist, "I saw Hikari-san at her lowest. Desperate to find him… I… I want to know why she looked like that. Daisuke-san was my leader at one point and he made her look like that."

Iori finally got furious, "and if I don't hear a good reason from him…" he walked out of the alley, Hina gasping at this, "I'll hurt…" a loud thud, Iori was immediately backed up as he fell on his butt.

Iori's fury quelled as he said, "sorry, I…" and he stopped to see it was Daisuke. Hina covered her mouth from saying anything bad.

Daisuke looked worried, "sorry, I didn't see you there. Are you hurt?"

Iori was left speechless. His memory didn't remember Hikari, but that of Daisuke. The one he remembers trying to make him smile. He tried to take a deep breath, but only put his head down.

Daisuke became concerned, "I'm sorry, young man, I should have watched where I was going."

Silence, Iori froze from it for a moment. Looking up to see Daisuke's face of realization.

Suddenly Daisuke got a gladful smile, "Iori-san?"

And the look Iori gave made Hina realize something. Something her mother said a while back, "Iori is a very kind person no matter what. He doesn't always show it. But he cannot hate. He only wants to see the goodness in people. You can do 3 bad things, but as long as you do 4 good things, Iori will see the good from then on. That's a small flaw I see in him as a mother…"

Daisuke reached his hand out to help, "Iori-san, it's good to see you. Can I help you up?"

Iori places his hand out in acceptance.

"Iori will respond to kindness with kindness."

Ken stood outside his balcony as he saw the snow fall.

"It's not just my imagination… this feeling… this feeling that transcends logic… Daisuke-san, you're back."

He watched the snow fall.

The golden dragon chime ringing with the flow of the wind.