Digimon: Rules of Engagement
Part 2: Count Down
By Lord Archive
--------------------
Thursday
--------------------
Takeru wrapped his blanket tighter around himself, rolled over and fell off the couch. "Huh? What?"
Patamon blearily looked at Takeru on the floor and went back to sleep.
Takeru realized he had fallen asleep watching television, but where had the blanket come from? "Hey, Patamon, did you get me this blanket?"
Patamon opened one eye. "No."
"Then who?"
"Maybe your mother was here."
Takeru dropped the blanket and ran to his mother's room. Not finding her there, he searched the apartment. He punched a wall when he noticed the mess on his mother's desk had shifted. "I needed to talk to her."
Patamon sighed, and gave up trying to go back to sleep. He fluttered over to his partner. "Sorry you missed her."
"There has to be some way I can get out of this."
--------------------
Yamato stared at the phone like it was a snake. He really should call Jun and tell her about what he found out. She was his girlfriend, even though she had to trick him to go on the first several dates. Not to mention help get Sora 'back' to Taichi, though those two never officially dated. But it's been nearly a year since he met her and signed that 'cute boys' shirt.
Yamato shook his head. He had wondered if Jun wasn't a virgin if she had a shirt that was signed by over two hundred 'cute' guys. But now he knew better. The girl was an insatiable flirt. It wasn't until after he had willing asked her out after Sora officially broke up with him that they had kissed. Jun's shirt came off shortly after that, but she hadn't let him touch her breasts until recently. Her teasing him like that was driving him insane. But it was a fun kind of insanity, which had helped him write a couple songs.
But now after all the progress they had made together, he might have to marry someone else. But what was he supposed to-
Yamato jumped as the phone rang. It rang again and he hesitantly picked it up. "Hello? Ishida residence."
"Hello Yamato," purred a voiced that was attempting to sound sexual.
Yamato nervously laughed. "Ah, hi Jun. I was just thinking about calling you."
"What's wrong?"
"Um, we've got a really big problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"Remember about what I said about someone getting engaged?" Yamato gulped. "It looks like I'm might have to marry Sora."
There was a long pause before Jun said anything. "Could you repeat that?"
"I might have to marry Sora."
"Why?" Jun's voice sounded rather unemotional.
Yamato shrugged. "I don't know. Dad said that I was going to an engagement ceremony Saturday and then found out Sora is going too."
"Are you sure that's the case?"
"Not really." Yamato sighed. "But it's too much of a coincidence. Dad doesn't like it and is hopefully trying to stop it."
"Well, if you do end up getting engaged to someone, I can think of a few ways out of it."
Yamato blinked. "You can?"
"Sure," Jun replied confidently. "You're an upcoming rock star. A little trouble in the tabloids would be great for your career and cause you to be seen as a poor choice for an arranged marriage."
Yamato smiled, that sounded like a good plan. "What kind of trouble?"
"We could fake a story where you're a drug addict."
Yamato grimaced. "Not a chance. I'd like to stay clean of that image."
"Well...." Jun paused for a moment. "You could get caught on film doing naughty stuff with a certain someone that isn't your fiancee."
Yamato blinked. He could deal with a playboy image, and he might get to do more with Jun in the process. "That sounds good."
"Pervert."
"Flirt."
Jun sighed. "We can try that idea IF you do end up engaged."
"Sure." Yamato frowned. He'd rather try that idea even if he wasn't engaged. But then he might end up having to marry Jun instead, which would be another mess of problems.
"Now I want you to tell me everything you know about this engagement ceremony."
--------------------
Sora eyed the phone, hoping that Taichi would call her or something. She really needed to talk to a friend.
Taichi and Hikari were almost family to her, but she didn't know how to contact them. Neither of them had responded to any of the e-mails that she had sent them. She suspected their e-mail pads had been left home for some reason.
Talking to Yamato had only made things worse. Miyako wasn't much help either. Koushiro had vanished. Joe simply wouldn't understand. Takeru was part of the problem.
There was only one person she could think of that might understand and trusted enough to talk to. She picked up the phone and dialed. She didn't care what calling New York would do to the phone bill.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is Mimi there?"
"This is Mimi."
"Hi, it's Sora."
"Sora!" Mimi chirped. "It's been ages since we've talked."
"Sorry, but international calls eat up the phone bill."
Mimi sighed. "I know. Dad threatened to make me pay for the bill after we moved out here because of how many times I called you guys. So, anything new?"
Sora nodded. "Oh, you can say that. I'm being forced to get engaged on Saturday."
"Did you have a 'little accident?'" Mimi asked in an accusing voice.
Sora blinked. "An accident?"
"Yes, are you pregnant?"
"What?!" Sora blushed. "I haven't done anything with Taichi!"
"Then why are you being force to get married?" Mimi sounded like she was pouting.
"Because Mom decided I was going to get engaged." Sora growled.
"Don't you want to marry Taichi?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't matter. He's not going to be my fiance."
"He's not?" Mimi paused. "Then who?"
"Takeru."
"Excuse me, but did you say Takeru is going to be your fiance?" Mimi asked disbelievingly.
"Yep," Sora clipped.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Haven't you talked to your mother about this?"
"Why should I?" Sora replied bitterly. "She's the one forcing me to get married. I'd rather not even see her."
"What does Taichi have to say about this?"
"He doesn't know. He's on vacation until Sunday."
"That's rather convenient."
"Certainly is," Sora grumbled. "Mom probably planned it that way since that will keep him from interfering until it's too late."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Sora shrugged. "I was hoping you could help."
--------------------
Yamato plucked at his guitar trying to focus his thoughts, but talking to Jun had brought a lot of issues up. When the phone rang, he hoped it was going to be good news. "Hello, Ishida residence."
"Hey, bro. What's up?"
"Too much, Takeru."
"You too, huh?"
Yamato raised an eyebrow. "What's your problem?"
Takeru sighed. "Well... I'm getting engaged Saturday."
Yamato blinked several times. "You're what?!"
"I'm getting engaged, and guess who it's to?"
Yamato just stood there, dumbfounded.
"Yamato? You there?" Takeru wasn't pleased to hear his brother starting to laugh a bit insanely. "Yamato!"
Yamato tried to rein himself in. "Sorry, Takeru. But Dad told me I was going to an engagement ceremony and I thought _I_ was the one getting engaged."
"Glad to make YOU happy with this."
"Aw, Takeru, I'm sorry. But you have no idea how stressed I was-"
"STRESSED!" Takeru screamed. "Mom left a note on the refrigerator telling me I'm getting engaged Saturday and then she completely disappears on me. I've had no means to talk to her about this. I'm being completely railroaded!"
Yamato looked at the phone like it was a lethal snake. "Calm down. Okay, you're stressed out."
"And pissed off."
Yamato nodded. "Right. But you and Sora will make a great couple."
"Some help you are." Takeru slammed the phone down, and then wondered how Yamato knew Sora was going to be his fiancee.
Yamato sadly shook his head. He could've handled that a lot better. He promised himself that he would make it up to Takeru, but first he had to call Jun.
--------------------
Friday
--------------------
"Oh, Miyako."
"Yes, Dad?" Miyako looked up from the shelf she was stocking at her family's convenience store.
"Be sure you have something nice to wear tomorrow."
Miyako blinked several times. "Something nice.... Why?"
"Something special will happen then. Be sure to bring your cameras." Mr. Inoue picked up his coat. "I've got a few errands to run. Man the store until I get back. Bye."
Miyako stared blankly at where her father had stood. The tray of food she was stocking from fell to the floor. "What?! That can't be... there's no way... WHY?!"
Miyako rushed over to the phone and dialed.
"Hello?" a girl answered.
"Hello, Sora? We've got a problem."
"Oh, great. What now?" Sora asked sarcastically.
"You might not be engaged to Takeru after all." Miyako shuddered slightly. "I was just told that I'll be going somewhere where something special will happen. I can't be sure, but I might be getting engaged too."
"That doesn't help at all."
"You're telling me? I can only hope is that I was invited to watch the ceremony."
"That's not how it's normally done."
"I know that. But I can hope."
Sora sighed. "I can hope too."
--------------------
Yamato knocked on the door to his little brother's apartment for the third time. He sighed and fished his keys out. No point in coming all the way here and not go in. He opened the door and bumped into something.
Yamato looked down and shook his head. "What are you doing?"
Takeru blearily looked up. "Damn, you're not Mom."
"Sorry to disappoint you. But why are you sleeping in the doorway?"
"In case Mom came back during the night, I'd be able to talk to her."
"No luck, I see."
Takeru wearily stood up. "Nope. What brings you here?"
Yamato shrugged. "Well, I thought you'd want to do something on your last full day of freedom."
Takeru smiled. "Sounds good to me."
--------------------
Daisuke blinked as he noticed his mother checking over his suit. "What're you doing, Mom?"
"Something special will happen tomorrow, and you'll need to be wearing this when it happens."
Daisuke gulped. "Something special?"
"Right."
Daisuke hoped it wasn't the same kind of special something Takeru was going through. "It's not that I'll be going to an engagement ceremony is it?"
His mother stared at him for a moment. "Actually, yes."
Daisuke's eyes bugged out. "W-who's?"
Mrs. Motomiya went back to looking over the suit. "You'll find out tomorrow."
Daisuke nearly fainted.
--------------------
"Four digital cameras?" Koushiro asked.
"Check." Iori set the cameras in a case and shut it.
"And the eight millimeter recorder?"
"Check." Iori tapped a nearby case among the numerous cases and boxes around him.
"I guess that's it."
"Your suit ready?" Iori asked.
Koushiro smiled. "Check."
"Well, tomorrow is the big day. Nervous?"
"Maybe a little, but I'm sure this is the right thing to do."
Iori shrugged. "If you say so. I should be getting home."
"Be sure to be here early tomorrow. I'll need your help."
"Affirmative."
Part 2: Count Down
By Lord Archive
--------------------
Thursday
--------------------
Takeru wrapped his blanket tighter around himself, rolled over and fell off the couch. "Huh? What?"
Patamon blearily looked at Takeru on the floor and went back to sleep.
Takeru realized he had fallen asleep watching television, but where had the blanket come from? "Hey, Patamon, did you get me this blanket?"
Patamon opened one eye. "No."
"Then who?"
"Maybe your mother was here."
Takeru dropped the blanket and ran to his mother's room. Not finding her there, he searched the apartment. He punched a wall when he noticed the mess on his mother's desk had shifted. "I needed to talk to her."
Patamon sighed, and gave up trying to go back to sleep. He fluttered over to his partner. "Sorry you missed her."
"There has to be some way I can get out of this."
--------------------
Yamato stared at the phone like it was a snake. He really should call Jun and tell her about what he found out. She was his girlfriend, even though she had to trick him to go on the first several dates. Not to mention help get Sora 'back' to Taichi, though those two never officially dated. But it's been nearly a year since he met her and signed that 'cute boys' shirt.
Yamato shook his head. He had wondered if Jun wasn't a virgin if she had a shirt that was signed by over two hundred 'cute' guys. But now he knew better. The girl was an insatiable flirt. It wasn't until after he had willing asked her out after Sora officially broke up with him that they had kissed. Jun's shirt came off shortly after that, but she hadn't let him touch her breasts until recently. Her teasing him like that was driving him insane. But it was a fun kind of insanity, which had helped him write a couple songs.
But now after all the progress they had made together, he might have to marry someone else. But what was he supposed to-
Yamato jumped as the phone rang. It rang again and he hesitantly picked it up. "Hello? Ishida residence."
"Hello Yamato," purred a voiced that was attempting to sound sexual.
Yamato nervously laughed. "Ah, hi Jun. I was just thinking about calling you."
"What's wrong?"
"Um, we've got a really big problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"Remember about what I said about someone getting engaged?" Yamato gulped. "It looks like I'm might have to marry Sora."
There was a long pause before Jun said anything. "Could you repeat that?"
"I might have to marry Sora."
"Why?" Jun's voice sounded rather unemotional.
Yamato shrugged. "I don't know. Dad said that I was going to an engagement ceremony Saturday and then found out Sora is going too."
"Are you sure that's the case?"
"Not really." Yamato sighed. "But it's too much of a coincidence. Dad doesn't like it and is hopefully trying to stop it."
"Well, if you do end up getting engaged to someone, I can think of a few ways out of it."
Yamato blinked. "You can?"
"Sure," Jun replied confidently. "You're an upcoming rock star. A little trouble in the tabloids would be great for your career and cause you to be seen as a poor choice for an arranged marriage."
Yamato smiled, that sounded like a good plan. "What kind of trouble?"
"We could fake a story where you're a drug addict."
Yamato grimaced. "Not a chance. I'd like to stay clean of that image."
"Well...." Jun paused for a moment. "You could get caught on film doing naughty stuff with a certain someone that isn't your fiancee."
Yamato blinked. He could deal with a playboy image, and he might get to do more with Jun in the process. "That sounds good."
"Pervert."
"Flirt."
Jun sighed. "We can try that idea IF you do end up engaged."
"Sure." Yamato frowned. He'd rather try that idea even if he wasn't engaged. But then he might end up having to marry Jun instead, which would be another mess of problems.
"Now I want you to tell me everything you know about this engagement ceremony."
--------------------
Sora eyed the phone, hoping that Taichi would call her or something. She really needed to talk to a friend.
Taichi and Hikari were almost family to her, but she didn't know how to contact them. Neither of them had responded to any of the e-mails that she had sent them. She suspected their e-mail pads had been left home for some reason.
Talking to Yamato had only made things worse. Miyako wasn't much help either. Koushiro had vanished. Joe simply wouldn't understand. Takeru was part of the problem.
There was only one person she could think of that might understand and trusted enough to talk to. She picked up the phone and dialed. She didn't care what calling New York would do to the phone bill.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is Mimi there?"
"This is Mimi."
"Hi, it's Sora."
"Sora!" Mimi chirped. "It's been ages since we've talked."
"Sorry, but international calls eat up the phone bill."
Mimi sighed. "I know. Dad threatened to make me pay for the bill after we moved out here because of how many times I called you guys. So, anything new?"
Sora nodded. "Oh, you can say that. I'm being forced to get engaged on Saturday."
"Did you have a 'little accident?'" Mimi asked in an accusing voice.
Sora blinked. "An accident?"
"Yes, are you pregnant?"
"What?!" Sora blushed. "I haven't done anything with Taichi!"
"Then why are you being force to get married?" Mimi sounded like she was pouting.
"Because Mom decided I was going to get engaged." Sora growled.
"Don't you want to marry Taichi?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't matter. He's not going to be my fiance."
"He's not?" Mimi paused. "Then who?"
"Takeru."
"Excuse me, but did you say Takeru is going to be your fiance?" Mimi asked disbelievingly.
"Yep," Sora clipped.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Haven't you talked to your mother about this?"
"Why should I?" Sora replied bitterly. "She's the one forcing me to get married. I'd rather not even see her."
"What does Taichi have to say about this?"
"He doesn't know. He's on vacation until Sunday."
"That's rather convenient."
"Certainly is," Sora grumbled. "Mom probably planned it that way since that will keep him from interfering until it's too late."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Sora shrugged. "I was hoping you could help."
--------------------
Yamato plucked at his guitar trying to focus his thoughts, but talking to Jun had brought a lot of issues up. When the phone rang, he hoped it was going to be good news. "Hello, Ishida residence."
"Hey, bro. What's up?"
"Too much, Takeru."
"You too, huh?"
Yamato raised an eyebrow. "What's your problem?"
Takeru sighed. "Well... I'm getting engaged Saturday."
Yamato blinked several times. "You're what?!"
"I'm getting engaged, and guess who it's to?"
Yamato just stood there, dumbfounded.
"Yamato? You there?" Takeru wasn't pleased to hear his brother starting to laugh a bit insanely. "Yamato!"
Yamato tried to rein himself in. "Sorry, Takeru. But Dad told me I was going to an engagement ceremony and I thought _I_ was the one getting engaged."
"Glad to make YOU happy with this."
"Aw, Takeru, I'm sorry. But you have no idea how stressed I was-"
"STRESSED!" Takeru screamed. "Mom left a note on the refrigerator telling me I'm getting engaged Saturday and then she completely disappears on me. I've had no means to talk to her about this. I'm being completely railroaded!"
Yamato looked at the phone like it was a lethal snake. "Calm down. Okay, you're stressed out."
"And pissed off."
Yamato nodded. "Right. But you and Sora will make a great couple."
"Some help you are." Takeru slammed the phone down, and then wondered how Yamato knew Sora was going to be his fiancee.
Yamato sadly shook his head. He could've handled that a lot better. He promised himself that he would make it up to Takeru, but first he had to call Jun.
--------------------
Friday
--------------------
"Oh, Miyako."
"Yes, Dad?" Miyako looked up from the shelf she was stocking at her family's convenience store.
"Be sure you have something nice to wear tomorrow."
Miyako blinked several times. "Something nice.... Why?"
"Something special will happen then. Be sure to bring your cameras." Mr. Inoue picked up his coat. "I've got a few errands to run. Man the store until I get back. Bye."
Miyako stared blankly at where her father had stood. The tray of food she was stocking from fell to the floor. "What?! That can't be... there's no way... WHY?!"
Miyako rushed over to the phone and dialed.
"Hello?" a girl answered.
"Hello, Sora? We've got a problem."
"Oh, great. What now?" Sora asked sarcastically.
"You might not be engaged to Takeru after all." Miyako shuddered slightly. "I was just told that I'll be going somewhere where something special will happen. I can't be sure, but I might be getting engaged too."
"That doesn't help at all."
"You're telling me? I can only hope is that I was invited to watch the ceremony."
"That's not how it's normally done."
"I know that. But I can hope."
Sora sighed. "I can hope too."
--------------------
Yamato knocked on the door to his little brother's apartment for the third time. He sighed and fished his keys out. No point in coming all the way here and not go in. He opened the door and bumped into something.
Yamato looked down and shook his head. "What are you doing?"
Takeru blearily looked up. "Damn, you're not Mom."
"Sorry to disappoint you. But why are you sleeping in the doorway?"
"In case Mom came back during the night, I'd be able to talk to her."
"No luck, I see."
Takeru wearily stood up. "Nope. What brings you here?"
Yamato shrugged. "Well, I thought you'd want to do something on your last full day of freedom."
Takeru smiled. "Sounds good to me."
--------------------
Daisuke blinked as he noticed his mother checking over his suit. "What're you doing, Mom?"
"Something special will happen tomorrow, and you'll need to be wearing this when it happens."
Daisuke gulped. "Something special?"
"Right."
Daisuke hoped it wasn't the same kind of special something Takeru was going through. "It's not that I'll be going to an engagement ceremony is it?"
His mother stared at him for a moment. "Actually, yes."
Daisuke's eyes bugged out. "W-who's?"
Mrs. Motomiya went back to looking over the suit. "You'll find out tomorrow."
Daisuke nearly fainted.
--------------------
"Four digital cameras?" Koushiro asked.
"Check." Iori set the cameras in a case and shut it.
"And the eight millimeter recorder?"
"Check." Iori tapped a nearby case among the numerous cases and boxes around him.
"I guess that's it."
"Your suit ready?" Iori asked.
Koushiro smiled. "Check."
"Well, tomorrow is the big day. Nervous?"
"Maybe a little, but I'm sure this is the right thing to do."
Iori shrugged. "If you say so. I should be getting home."
"Be sure to be here early tomorrow. I'll need your help."
"Affirmative."