A/N: Nothing, really. Just read the first partwell, first! Make sense? Please, please, please review, I can't write well unless I have reactions!
Disclaimer: I still don't own em.
Shape of My Heart Part Two: Dreams
Yolei ran. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to get out of there. Blindly she pelted on until she tripped over a tree root, where she lay sobbing for all she was worth.
Ken walked back to his observation tower. He feltstrange. His thoughts were swirling around so quickly he wasn't sure he was thinking at all. It was bothering him. He attempted to push the unwanted confusion away from his mind – a habit that was second nature to him now. It worked for a minute, and then his mind whirled again. He frowned. It was really odd, how he felt right then.
Ken had long since eliminated all emotions except anger and the thrill of conquest. Of course, he had momentarily lapsed into something else after Yolei had comehe shrugged off that thought. Everyone was bound to make one mistake, even a genius like him.
But then what was it he was feeling now?
Not angerno. Not even the cool, calculating, slightly smug attitude he had when making new plans. He was justempty. Completely. Like someone had scooped out his insides with a shovel. Like the one remaining thing that kept him to some semblance of humanity had somehow been taken away
He shook his head, confused. Maybe enslaving a few more Digimon would clear his head. He looked up to his central monitor and froze.
It was set on a figure, crumpled in a pitiful heap on the ground. The girl was crying, clearly miserable.
Ken couldn't tear his eyes away. The ache, the one that was so new to him but that had become so familiar since he met Yolei, filled his chest with such sudden sharpness that he gasped and had to stifle a cry of pain. Before his eyes danced visions of Yolei, and he was powerless to stop them. He could do nothing but watch as images passed in front of his eyes, emotion after painful emotion flooding through him.
After what seemed like hours, Ken came to himself. He was kneeling on the hard floor, gasping for breath and clutching his heart in pain. He trembled as he got to his feet. What's wrong with me? he thought desperately. Why can't I just forget her?
His heart knew the truth but his mind preferred lies.
* * *
Yolei's tears finally came to an end. She had cried herself hollow, except for the ache residing in her heart.
Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could you have ever believed that he cared? He doesn't care about anything except becoming ruler! He's your enemy, damn it! Her eyes burned, but she couldn't cry anymore.
She couldn't take this. She had to get out of there.
Before she was halfway to the TV screen, Yolei checked herself. No doubt the others were looking for her. Maybe they were even still waiting in the computer room! She had no idea how much time had passed.
Yolei glanced at her watch. 5:49. So much for that, she thought. The others are long gone by this time. Still, there was a chance she might run into them going home. They couldn't be allowed to see her like this. Yolei continued on, but warier this time. She was constantly on the lookout for her friends.
By some kind act of fate, she ran into no one. She re-entered the real world and headed straight for the school bathroom. There was no way she was going home until all traces of her weeping had been removed.
Thankfully, her sister didn't seem to notice anything was wrong at dinner. Of course, she generally didn't notice her anyway unless they were fighting. That night Yolei fell into a restless and nightmare-filled sleep.
Far off in the Digital world, Ken Ichijouji was not sleeping well either. "Noplease don't!" he cried. "I didn't mean" He thrashed wildly around on his bed.
"Ken?"
Ken sat bolt upright in bed. Sweat poured off him as he struggled to catch his breath. It took him a moment to recognize Wormmon, who had inadvertently woken him up from his nightmare.
"What is it?" he barked harshly. Wormmon backed up slightly.
"I'm sorry, Master, but you were having a nightmare and I was worried about you," Wormmon stammered.
"I am fully aware I was having a nightmare!" Ken snarled. "And I don't need anyone worried about me!"
"Yes, Master." Wormmon turned hastily to leave.
"Wait!" The Digimon turned back, surprised. Ken took a few gulps of air. What was he thinking? He only knew that dread had filled his heart when Wormmon turned to leave. I don't want to be left alone, wailed a little boy's voice from deep inside of him. He searched around for a safe topic. "Ah...do you happen to remember what I was yelling?" Ken mentally kicked himself. He had already told Wormmon he knew about his nightmare! But the truth was he didn't remember anything then a feeling of utmost despair.
"I don't remember everything, Master," admitted Wormmon. "But you sounded like you were in pain, and you were asking someone not to leave." He hesitated. "Earlier, it sounded like you said, Yolei.' "
Ken sank back into his pillow. He hardly noticed when Wormmon exited the room. Why had he it made his head hurt to think of it. What is wrong with me? he thought again angrily. I got rid of her! Why is she coming back to haunt me? I had to get rid of her because she confused me and I couldn't control my thoughts around her, and now that she's gone I'm still having the same problem! Worse, in fact!
Ken shook his head to clear it. Whatever it was, he was going to have to get some sleep in order to deal with it fully. He shut his eyes and prepared for slumber. But sleep was a long time coming to the tortured mind of the Digimon Emperor.
* * *
If Yolei had been distracted the day before, it was nothing compared to how she felt today. She sat through all her classes like a zombie. When a teacher called on her, she gave nothing but a short, one-word answer – if she answered at all.
"What's wrong, Yolei?" Cody finally asked in exasperation. "You haven't been concentrating the entire day!"
"Nothing's wrong," she responded mechanically.
"Yolei, I'm not buying that! You're not yourself!"
"Look, Cody, I'm fine!" Yolei yelled. She paid no attention to the hurt look he gave her. "Just leave me alone!"
She stalked away from the table, leaving the rest of the Digidestined completely stunned.
"Wow." T.K. said at last.
"She sounded like the Digimon Emperor!" exclaimed Davis.
Kari stayed quiet, but made a mental note to find out what was bothering Yolei as soon as possible.
That afternoon they all gathered in the computer room. Yolei didn't even notice everyone was waiting for her until they had stared for quite some time. "What?" she snapped.
"Aren't you gonna open theoh, never mind, I'll do it," said Davis. "Digiport open!"
The Digidestined held out their Digivices and were sucked into the Digital world.
"All right!" exclaimed Davis. "It's Emperor-stomping time!"
They set out, heading towards the nearest control spire. Yolei lagged noticeably behind. Kari noticed that her black mood had gotten darker since they entered the Digital world, but her set jaw and angry eyes told Kari it was useless to try and talk to her.
They reached the spire without incident. "That's weird," T.K. observed. "There's no sign of the Emperor."
"Well, I'm not complaining! Maybe he gave up and went home!" That was Davis. "Anyway, let's just destroy this thing and go home, I've got soccer practice in half an hour."
Digmon's Gold Rush attack, combined with a few Fire Rockets' and Rosetta Stone's were enough to send the tower crumbling. Then T.K. came back on Pegasusmon's back. "There are no Digimon anywhere that might attack us. I looked all around, but the Emperor's Airdramon aren't here either!"
"Good. Let's go." Without waiting for an answer Yolei turned around and stalked back to the monitor that would take them home. Everyone stared after her. She hadn't even had Hawkmon Armor Digivolve, and she wanted to go home already?
The Emperor watched as the rest of the Digidestined followed Yolei out. He knew he should have attacked them, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He merely sat and observed as they destroyed his hard work.
Ken's mind was buzzing with exhaustion. He hadn't slept at all the night before. Even now he felt his eyelids droop, and he surrendered to the depths of sleep.
* * * Dream Sequence * * *
Ken was standing in the middle of an empty room. The walls were strangely undefined, like they were nothing but mist. He looked around, confused. Then he heard voices.
"I'm glad someone understands how I feel." He started. The voice washis, and full of bitterness.
"You're scared. I understand that." Ken trembled. That voice was Yolei's
"I am not scared!"
"Then why won't you look at me?"
Two figures came into his view. He knew who they were even before they came into focus. He and Yolei stood scant inches apart. As he watched, the ghost of himself leaned over and kissed Yolei on the lips.
Emotion caught in the real Ken's chest. This was what had happened just a few short days ago. Then the scene shifted.
"You foolish girl." He flinched. The scene was one he remembered all too clearly. It was the one that had plagued his nightmares all the night before. This time he saw it play out from the outside; saw the anguish on Yolei's face, and the ruthlessness on his own. Yolei's pain cut like a knife into his heart. He wanted nothing else but to somehow take that pain away from her...
It shifted back now, to a close up of the kiss. There was bliss on those two faces as they reluctantly pulled apart. He smiled as he saw the happiness light up Yolei's face and the wonder on his ghost-self's. He remembered now how that felt – perfection in its highest form. No words could describe the euphoria he had felt with Yolei in his arms.
Then the dream was fading out around him – save for one more shot of Yolei's tear-streaked face that sent daggers deep into his heart.
He woke up panting. As he tried to catch his breath, he felt a strange wetness on his cheek. He reached up a hand.
Tears?
Reality struck him like a thunderbolt. What have I done? he thought, horrified.
Well? How am I doing? Next part or no?