LIVE!

I can't remember how Daisuke refers to Ken when they first meet -- probably by Ichijouji-san, but I'm not sure, and 'Ichijouji' fits better, so there you go.

This one was inspired by the instrumental titled 'Who Burns Away Their Life', but that's an awkward sentence, so I tweaked it slightly. ^_^

Some angstiness. Some borderline friendship/implied stuff, but really, there isn't anything beyond friendship. These fics really didn't take too long to write. (I'm working on a much longer fic. This was a break. Really.)

I don't own Daisuke...but he's too fun to abuse...I *really* must write a happy fic about him someday. Some characters (like Hikari and Ken) were made for angst-y fics and it's hard to write happy fics about them. Some, like Daisuke, were *not* meant for angst fics, and I feel bad...someday I'll write him some fluff. ^_^

I think I abuse asteriks in this part. ^_^;;;;

LIVE!
~Daisuke~ Who Would Burn His Life Away.
by Rb

I wonder why Ichijouji doesn't believe in himself.

I believe in him. I believe in him a lot, maybe too much. Can you believe in someone too much? If you can, it's what I feel for him -- but no, I don't think you can.

As long as your belief is well-founded and not just a pipedream, you *can't* believe in someone too much. And I don't *think* that my belief in Ichijouji is just a delusion in my head, because I can feel his warmth arching out in some part of...my heart, I guess.

C'mon, Ichijouji. We need you here. We can't fight without you. I know you think I'm just some little pest, some annoying twerp (probably your opinion hasn't changed since you were the Kaizer), but right now I *am* the leader of us Chosen, and you're a Chosen, so listen to me because of that if nothing else.

I never asked to be the leader, Taichi-sempai just gave me his goggles and said I was the leader. It's not the same as being nominated the leader or elected the leader -- hardly anyone pays attention to me, except to see when I'm next gonna screw up. Ichijouji seems -- is -- different though, I'm sure he'd work with me, listen to me...

If only he *would*. If only I didn't feel so much like an annoyance to him, if only he didn't feel so threatened by me and the others, if only I could be his *friend* -- I know we could win this fight. I know that his heart would heal that much faster. After all, he's fighting on the side of love and justice here, what better way is there to heal from doing wrong?

And we need his strength. Forget Iori's old-mannish mutterings, we definitely need more help. With Ichijouji Ken on our side -- has everyone else forgetten that he's an absolute *genius*? That he's *strong*? There'd be no doubt that we could win, if only he'd be with us!

It's not like he has a choice, right? Being a Chosen Child is...is like destiny or something. He's gotta come to our side eventually. He's gotta fight with us.

He's *gotta*.

Here he is, but he seems so wrong, his eyes blazing with inner, righteous zeal, looking so upset. I'm glad to see him, and I don't bother hiding my pleasure, but...there's something wrong and *dangerous* -- Kaizer-ish -- about him.

He's going out on a suicide mission. I can tell that almost instantly. He's going to go out with a blaze of glory right here, right now -- dying not for what he feels is right, but for what he feels is necessary.

I'd like to slap him. Is he incredibly stupid? So what if he's made mistakes in the past -- together with us, he can fix them! And Wormmon -- in Stingmon form -- is no better than his partner! Why won't they see that they're *needed* -- not as corpses, but as living, breathing helpers!

Ichijouji, get it through your thick skull -- we need you. We need your crest, we need your power -- but most of all, we're your friends, we need you, the person, Ichijouji Ken!

Ichijouji, don't do this to yourself! Ken, don't be one of those who burn away their lives! Your life is worth too much -- to me, to the others, to your family and all those who care about you -- to do this!

"LIVE!"

I almost don't hear my own passionate shout. I can feel my heartbeat thrumming in my ears. No, not just my heartbeat, but Ken's as well.

I'm scared but I'm not scared at the same time, almost shaky but very...fulfilled. Like I'm floating, suspended in mid-air, underwater, but with eyes and heart clear. Content. Peaceful.

This is my purpose, maybe. For me to help Ichi -- no, Ken -- Ken in any way I can. And you know what? I don't really mind. If it means helping Ken, I'll do anything. I can feel his kindness, even if no one else can -- I will make sure that the others can feel it someday.

The power leaps from me, from him, and towards our digimon, who start to glow. I feel alive, filled with energy to the tips of my toes, enthusiastic and excited and ready to do anything I can.

Like I'm riding on a flying horse, soaring above everything else. A weird feeling, but pleasing at the same time.

I could get used to this.

So this is my rescue, of a boy who would burn his life away.