Disclaimer: Digimon belongs to hordes of other people that aren't me.
Author's Note: This is the darkest I've ever written. Please take the 'R' rating seriously. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but the one thing I pride myself on as an author is realism, and as much as we all hate to think of it, things like this happen every day. Maybe if we all tried to face it, instead of pretending it doesn't exist the world could be a better place.
by: Lady Dragon
Ichijouji Ken glanced down at the precious burden he carried cradled close to his heart. The silky reddish bronze strands gently blew in the warm evening breeze, reminding him of another beloved redhead he'd known years ago. Not unexpectedly, his heart clenched in a pain that hadn't faded with the passage of time.
Almost as if he sensed that pain, the young boy snuggled closer to the familiar solid warmth of his father's chest, and Ken's pain, while not lessoning, was balanced and made almost bearable by the fathomless love he felt for the normally restless child sleeping so peacefully in his arms.
Carefully slipping through the front door of his small home located in one of the few undeveloped private estates left in Japan he carried his son through myriad hallways until he could carefully tuck him into the Pikachu bed he'd had his arm twisted into buying. Once the blankets were securely wrapped around the child, Ken gently brushed his son's bangs off his forehead and kissed him. "I love you, Daimon."
To his great surprise, the child he'd thought sound asleep gave a sleepily murmured 'love you too, daddy.' followed by a soft snore in response.
Motomiya Daisuke collapsed into a graceless sprawl in his favorite oversized chair and closed his eyes. What a night... He'd woken up from a sound sleep knowing where the missing Yagami child was being held. With the help of the local authorities, the little girl was back home, her parents' almost embarrassingly grateful for his assistance. How do I do that? he wondered to himself for what felt like the millionth time, as he slowly rotated his neck to get the kinks out. He hissed in pain at the audible 'cracks' echoing through the room as the vertebrae popped back into place.
He didn't know whether to be grateful or upset that these dreams were happening with greater frequency and increasing accuracy. In fact, the redhead was getting rather adept at translating the rather vague flashes into coherent helpful information. And it showed. After almost thirteen years spent recovering missing children, there was only one he hadn't been able to recover.
Recover. How he hated that word. Children weren't missing items, they were living breathing creatures, and no matter how hard his friends on the force tried to help him see them as cases, he refused. Daisuke glanced up at his mantle, staring at the picture of a young American girl who had paid for his ignorance.
His dreams regarding her had been so tremulous as to be non-existent. By the time he'd figured out where she was, her father had already managed to sense he was out of time, killed his daughter and taken his own life. Daisuke stood up and padded over to pick up the picture, running a finger across the glass, tracing the child's enormous blue-gray eyes and the amber ringlets. "I'm so sorry I didn't find you in time," he whispered before carefully putting the picture back in its place of honor, as an eternal reminder.
Against his will, his gaze was drawn to the only other picture on the mantle. He bit back a moan of both pleasure and pain this image evoked. "Oh Ken-chan... Where are you? Are you ever coming home?"
Unfortunately, not even his beloved's parents knew that answer. Over the years, between cases and trips to the Digital World, he'd kept in touched with the Ichijoujis'. If they were the only part of Ken he could have while the older Digidestined was discovering his inner strength, he'd take it. Spending time with them didn't make the ache in his heart go away, but any little bit helped.
Over time, he'd given in to the urges of his co-workers and actually gone on several dates. Though they weren't disastrous by any stretch of the imagination, none of the people he'd seen was who he wanted. You promised you'd come back to me. What's taking so long?
Even Veemon and Wormmon managed to find time to spend together, he thought bitterly. But all his partner could get out of his mate was that Ken was fine, and wasn't ready to come back yet.
So the redhead had resorted to more underhanded approaches. He used his contacts at the police department to try and find where Ken had relocated to: and got nothing. No one seemed to know where the genius had settled, though the papers were full of 'Ichijouji Enterprises released yet another blockbuster video game this week', and 'Ichijouji Enterprises donated thousands of dollars to the Narita City Zoo today for the endangered species breeding program'. Daisuke had scrapbooks filled with such clippings, yet nothing about Ken himself.
With another heartfelt sigh he stared at the picture in his hand. He'd taken it himself, and Ken almost seemed to be glowing in happiness. Turning, he went and settled back in his chair, hugging the picture to his chest. "I still miss you, Ken-chan. Please...come back to me."
"Daddy, come outside and play with me...please?" his son wheedled, widening his eyes and pouting.
Ken took a deep breath and turned away from his computer. "Daimon, I can't play right now. You know I have a deadline to meet."
"But Daddy-"
"No buts. Why don't you go and play with Minomon?" Daimon shook his head, the sunlight caressing the reddish bronze strands and Ken sighed silently. Out of all the possible genetic combinations in the world, why did my son have to look so much like him? "Why can't you?" the genius asked softly, staring at the fidgeting eight year old before him.
" 'Cause he went to go and see Veemon. Daddy?"
"Hai?"
"Who's Veemon? Why haven't I met him yet? Is he another Digimon?"
"He's-" Just then the phone rang, and Ken offered a silent thanks to whoever it was calling as he picked up the receiver. "Moshi moshi."
"K...K...Ken?" a hoarse voice stammered.
"Mama?" He received another muffled sob, which he interpreted as an affirmative. "Mama, what's wrong?"
"I...It's your father..."
"Dad? What's wrong with him? Is he ok?"
"N...No. He...He's gone, Ken."
"Wh...what do you mean gone Mama?"
"He...He had a heart attack Ken. The doctors...the doctors couldn't save him..."
He felt a small hand tugging on his shirt. "Daddy? Is grandpa ok?"
Silently he shook his head, his violet eyes filling with tears. "I...I'm on my way home, Mama." Hanging up the phone, he crouched down in front of his bewildered son.
"Daddy, what's wrong? Why're you crying?"
"I need you to go upstairs and pack a bag. We're going to go and take care of grandma for a few days. She really needs us right now."
Daimon's deep brown eyes widened. "Really? We can go to grandma and grandpa's house?"
"Apartment," Ken corrected absently, already making plans.
"But why are you crying?" he asked confused, reaching over to wipe the stray tears off his father's face. "Shouldn't we be happy to see them?"
Ken stared up at his son, reminded once again of how Daisuke had looked the first time he'd seen him, long before he'd become the Digimon Emperor. "Grandpa...he died, Daimon. And grandma needs us to be there for her."
"He said he's coming back as soon as he can get here, Daisuke. Thank you for staying with me."
"I wish I could do more, Mrs. Ichijouji. If it wasn't for work-"
"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here." Unconsciously the older woman glanced towards where her husband always sat this time of day and started trembling.
"I'll stay till Ken-ch...Ken gets here. That way you won't be alone."
"Oh no!" she gasped. "You can't do that! If he saw-"
With an ease born out of years of practice, Daisuke shrugged casually and nodded. "Then I'll leave Chibimon. And actually," he glanced down at his pager which hadn't gone off. "My boss just buzzed me. I hope its not another new case." The redhead smiled sadly and dropped a kiss on her tear-stained cheek. "If you need me for anything-"
"I'll call. I promise. Arigato."
"Onegai...you've done so much for me, just by letting me be here." He grabbed his jacket and slipped it on, settling the well-worn leather over his now broad shoulders. "Try to get some sleep. Unless Ken lives in town," Which I sincerely doubt, "He wont' be here for several hours."
"I...I'll try. Good night Daisuke."
"Oyasumi."
Ken slipped into one of the guest parking spaces and sighed in relief. So far, so good. Logic had dictated that his father would have been taken to the hospital closest to the Ichijouji residence, and luckily he'd been right. Against all odds, he'd even been fortunate enough that the physician who'd pronounced his father's...death was the one who'd answered his call.
Carefully explaining just who his father had been, and who Ken himself was, he managed to get the doctor to agree to withhold information about his passing for twenty four hours. By the time the paparazzi got word that he'd be on his way to Tokyo, he'd be comfortably ensconced in his old room with Daimon.
Though he considered them a nuisance, the press didn't really bother him. After all, he'd practically been raised before the camera; first watching Osamu, then having to deal with the media himself. But he'd be damned before he exposed his son to the same intense scrutiny, even if it was only for a few days.
As annoying as his fame was to him, that wasn't Ken's greatest concern. Glancing to the left to make sure his son was still asleep in the passenger seat, he lowered his head against the steering wheel. In his mind's eye he saw him: his greatest weakness and strength.
Motomiya Daisuke.
He was half of his son's namesake, and the one person on two worlds he wanted to see more than anything.
And the one he had to avoid at all costs.
"He's here."
"Excellent. And the boy?"
"He brought him as well. They're staying in the Ichijouji apartment."
A cold laugh echoed through the dingy basement. "We know how easy it was to bypass security."
"So do you want me to take the kid tonight then boss?"
There was a thoughtful pause while the question was carefully considered. "No. As much as I want my son returned to me, taking him from a room that has a sixth degree judo black belt sleeping is just too risky. We'll take him at the funeral."
"Wow, boss! What a great idea! Is that why you killed the old man?"
"No, luring Ichijouji Ken back to Odaiba district was the main goal. Hurting him was just an added bonus. He'll pay for stealing my son from me...they'll all pay."
Three days...he's been in town for three days, and hasn't called me. Why hasn't he called?!?! Daisuke sighed as he escorted Miyako through the crowd towards the rest of the Digidestined. Everyone had chosen to come to the wake, honoring their former enemy's father.
"Is Ken here yet?" his lavender haired companion hissed into his hear.
"I don't think so," he responded just as softly, keeping his face expressionless.
"Look, there he is!"
"It's Ichijouji Ken!"
"A word, Ichijouji-sama!"
A rippling gasp could be heard, then practically in one voice, "Ichijouji-sama, who's the boy?"
The assembled Digidestined turned around in time to see Ken enter the room, a small child of six or seven years clinging tightly to his hand, looking around with wide deep brown eyes.
Daisuke stared hungrily at the long unseen face, noting the changes time had wrought and finding no fault with the strength and maturity he could see in the sculptured planes of his beloved's face. His eyes ran possessively across the stiffly squared shoulders, down his still slender chest and stopped in stunned horror at the child. "H...He got married..." he whispered heartbrokenly.
"He has a son?" Kari echoed, glancing at her husband.
"Poor Daisuke," T.K. murmured softly in response.
"Let's not jump to conclusions, guys. Maybe that's a distant cousin or something," Matt offered in the same tone the rest of his friends were using. The close group of friends hovered protectively just beyond Daisuke's shoulder, offering silent moral support as Ken seemed to sense their scrutiny and stiffened even more.
The child tugged on the former Emperor's hand, and the Digidestined all watched his eyes light with a quiet joy as he knelt down. The young boy murmured animatedly for several moments, gesturing towards their little group. Ken nodded slowly and stood back up, leading the excited child towards them, and not meeting Daisuke's hurt expression.
As the child stared up at the Digidestined in wide eyed innocence, Daisuke decided he couldn't wait any longer. "What the hell is going on, Ichijouji?"
Two silent figures ghosted their way into the reception hall, panning the crowd in search of a small ruby and gold haired child. The taller of the two stopped at the edge of the shadows and smirked triumphantly. In a soundless whisper that would clearly carry his voice through the state of the art microphone attached to the inside of his cheek he reported in. "Found him Fujiyaki-sama. The moment Ichijouji-san turns his back, we'll grab him."
"Excellent," the evil voice purred back in his assassin's ear. "Bring my son to me. We'll be ready the moment you give the signal."
"Hai, sir."
Ken blanched, but his voice stayed rock steady. "Su...Daisuke, this is my son Daimon. Little one, these are the Digidestined."
"Dad! I'm not little anymore!" He stared at everyone and his large eyes went even more impossibly wide. "DAD! You never told me you know Ishida Matt! Oh wow, hi!!!" Daimon dropped his father's hand and stared at the older blonde in awe. "I've downloaded all your music Ishida-sama! You're the greatest!"
Matt smiled cheerfully, wishing more of his fans were more like this young child than the screaming females he was used to. "I'm glad to hear that."
"You have the coolest songs! Especially the slow ones...I like those the best!" Daimon missed the faint blush that spread across Tai's cheeks, knowing very well that Matt's love songs were all written for...and about him. "Dad! Why didn't you tell me you knew anyone famous?" His attention reluctantly drew away from the musician and stared at the rest of the team, his eyes once again growing large and then larger as he recognized not one but two famous athletes, and the number one competitor to his father's company. "Dad," he hissed, his young voice carrying much further than he expected. "What's he doing here?"
Ken chuckled softly. "Daimon, this is Izumi Koushiru. You remember the Izzy I told you about?"
His son nodded obediently. "The one partnered with Tentomon!"
"That's Izzy."
Daimon turned bright red in embarrassment and he dropped into a deep bow. "My humblest apologies, Izumi-sama."
"That's quite all right," Izzy responded, hiding a grin. He sounds just as polite as Ken did when he first joined us, always so worried about proper manners. It's quite cute.
Daimon looked up at the gently spoken reassurance and flashed a smile of gratitude before finishing his once over of his father's former teammates. His attention was then drawn to Daisuke; and he stared at the redhead with a thoughtful frown Chibimon's partner completely missed, since he was glaring daggers at his ex-boyfriend. "Daddy, is this the same person you have in that picture?"
Ken barely managed to keep his embarrassed flush from spreading across his cheeks. "Daimon, go make sure Grandma is ok for me?"
"Ok!" Flashing a huge grin at the Digidestined he turned and sped across the room, getting lost in the crowd of mourners.
"I'm still waiting for an answer, Ichijouji." Daisuke growled, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring, radiating both anger and wounded pride.
"What was the question again?" the genius asked softly, stalling for time and looking at anything but the one thing he wanted desperately to stare at.
"I asked you what was going on, who is he and why the hell didn't you tell anyone you got married?"
Ken glanced around nervously, making sure his son was out of hearing range and sighed. "My father just passed away, Daisuke. Can this please wait till later?"
"Don't you dare address me by my first name you...you jerk! And no it can't wait! I've been waiting for you...obviously my mistake! Then again, I was stupid enough to believe you'd actually come back for me! Don't you think I at least deserve an answer? Or aren't I worth even that?" The violet-eyed father jerked his head up at the pain throbbing in the redhead's voice.
"Of course you deserve an answer. You're worth..." Ken trailed off, unsure how much to say with this unfamiliar, confidant young man before him. "I should go check on Mama," he murmured, shuffling his feet.
"Your mother is standing with the Kamiyas' and your grandmother. She's fine. You're not. And you're not moving till-"
Daisuke was interrupted as Ken jerked wildly around at his beloved's offhand description. "What? Daimon isn't with her?"
The taller boy hopped onto his tiptoes and took a careful headcount. "I don't see him, Ken. I'm sure he's fine. Probably by the snack tray."
"No. He knows his grandmother needs him right now. He should be right there." Without waiting for the others, Ken shoved his way through the gathering with mindless intensity, his amethyst eyes sweeping the crowd. The Digidestined along with Daisuke exchanged puzzled frowns, especially since Ken should know children are definitely capable of taking care of themselves, but they silently trailed after the anxiously searching father.
"Mama! Have you seen Daimon?"
"I thought he was with you sweetie. Why, is something wrong?" Mrs. Ichijouji stared up at her son with tear-swollen eyes and a worried frown on her face.
"I...I'm sure he's fine, Mama. Don't worry. He's probably in the restroom." He spun on his heel and started searching harder; growing more and more frantic with every passing moment.
"We got 'em boss!" the kidnapper announced, throwing the wriggling burlap sack into the back of the small battered van.
"Careful with him! That's my son you're manhandling!"
"Sorry boss. He's been trying to get away. Kicked me in the face twice he did!" The heavily accented Scottish voice growled softly before reaching into the toolbox and grabbed a chemical icepack.
"LEMME GO!!! I WANT MY DADDY!!!" Daimon wailed, desperately trying to get out of the bag.
"You're Daddy's here, son. And soon you'll forget all about the man who stole you."
"DADDY!!!!!"
"He...he's not here." Ken sputtered out in a gasp.
"Ken, calm down. He has to be here somewhere. Children don't just..." Tai trailed off, remembering how he and his friends first ended up in the Digital World and smiled sheepishly. "Children don't usually disappear," he corrected, glancing around again. "He's probably just found some little hole to hide in."
"Daimon wouldn't do that. He knows how dangerous..." He ran a trembling hand through his already mussed hair. "I have to find him."
"Ken's right, he's not here," Daisuke murmured softly, just out of the genius's hearing range. "I know how children think, where they're most likely to hide...and he's not in any of them."
"That's because you never grew up," Kari teased softly, a thin line of worry between her brows.
"Why didn't he tell me he got married, Kari? Why didn't he tell me he had a son? I thought he..." He bit his lower lip in frustration before flushing in embarrassment at the pointed look his friend had on her face. "I should stop feeling sorry for myself and do what I do best, right?"
"You said it, not me. Why don't you-" but the brunette noticed her words were being spoken to empty air, since Daisuke was making his way over to the small encircling of Digidestined around the frantic former Emperor.
"Why would he run off? He's never done anything like this before!"
Taking a deep breath, Daisuke reached deep into himself and pulled out the professionalism he'd so desperately need right now; since all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around Ken and tell him everything would be ok. "Are you absolutely certain he's run off?"
"What else could it be? No one knows I have a son. I sent him past the media with my cousin and her three children..."
How could anyone not know you have a son, Ken? Daisuke wondered to himself as he crouched in front of his beloved. "Ken-"
The amethyst-eyed genius leapt to his feet. "I have to find him. Maybe he ran outside! I'll start...whoa!" He fell back into his seat from a well-timed jerk on his free hand, and glared angrily at the redhead responsible. "I don't have time for this, Dai...Motomiya! My son is missing!"
"I know."
"So let me-"
With an agonized groan Daisuke slammed his hands against the sides of his skull in a desperate attempt to evade the sudden mind-splitting pain. "What the..."
"Daisuke?"
"What's wrong with him?"
The concerned voices were drowned out by the terrified shrieks of 'Daddy' reverberated in his head, and his deep brown eyes stared sightlessly ahead as he was caught in the grip of his vision.
"I want my Daddy!"
"Let my son out of the bag. He should get to see his real Papa-chan." Daisuke blinked at the sudden bright light assaulting his eyes and he blinked rapidly to get rid of the spots dancing before his...the child's eyes.
"You're not my Daddy! Take me back, or you'll make him mad!"
"Your Daddy doesn't scare me, son. He stole you from me, both you and your mother. I'm just taking back what's rightfully mine. No child of mine will be raised by some blue haired, freaky fag. We're going home son." And a large dark-haired man loomed into view, his greasy mustache hanging limply over a cruel mouth. His small, beady black eyes stared possessively at him...the child he firmly reminded himself as he blinked again and stared into warm worried violet eyes.
"Daisuke!"
"Give me something to draw with, quick!" Already the flashes of the man's face were starting to fade away, like fog in the early morning light, and he was determined to get down what little information he had so far.
"I don't have time for this!" Ken snapped the moment he realized the redhead was fine.
"Make time, Ken. If I'm not mistaken, Daisuke just had a vision," Matt growled back as Izzy handed a pencil and a napkin to their investigator friend.
"Do you recognize this man, Ken-chan?" The nickname slipped out in Daisuke's hurry to get the sketch completed and he practically shoved it into the genius's face. "Do you recognize him?"
Ken stared at the sketch, going even paler. "Fujiyaka."
"Hold him still."
Daimon squirmed even more desperately as the beady eyed leader walked towards him, a large, scary looking needle held in one hand. "Lemme go! I promise I'll be good, honest!" The small child shuddered in terror. "Hate needles...DADDY!!!!"
"I told you, I'm your Daddy. You won't ever see that thief Ichijouji again." Fujiyaka stopped in front of his son, his ratty unkempt hair shimmering greasily in the faint lighting.
Daimon's small back stiffened, and a glare of absolute hatred hardened his deep brown eyes. "Don't talk about my Daddy like that! He's not a thief, you are!"
"Want me to hit him for talking to you like that boss?"
"No. Let him speak his mind, for now. Once this sets in, he won't remember anything I don't want him to." Lifting the needle, he checked the level of clear fluid in the syringe and smirked. "But he will help us infiltrate his former caretaker's company. Ichijouji managed to get the drop on me once. This time, I'll be the one to destroy him...with the help of my son."
"NO! I won't let you hurt my Daddy, I won't!" The young boy struggled even more desperately, managing a lucky blow to the henchman's chin thanks to the naturally flexibility every child has. Unfortunately, instead of letting go, the Scottish assassin just held on tighter, growling softly under his breath.
"You don't have a choice, son. You're finally home where you belong." And with those words, Fujiyaka injected his carefully concocted drug cocktail into the young boy's throat, and settled back to wait as the small redhead collapsed.
"Who?" Daisuke asked carefully.
Ken took a deep, steadying breath and let it out slowly. "Fujiyaka Odin. He was Ilessa-chan's ex-boyfriend."
"Ilessa-chan?" Daisuke repeated, more than a hint of jealousy apparent in the two-word question.
"Daimon's mother." Ken answered distractedly, staring at the rough sketch. "He's under the impression I stole her from him." Which is the furthest thing from the truth.
"Why would he take your son, though?" Tai queried softly, when it was apparent no one else would.
"Ilessa-chan chose to stay with me," the genius responded. "And Fujiyaka doesn't take no for an answer very well." Not to mention he thinks shared blood makes him a father...
"If you know him so well, do you have any idea where he'd take Daimon?"
Ken reluctantly glanced at the redhead, memorizing the changes time had wrought. Daisuke was like a precious stone, polished by time until he glistened when the light struck. He used to be a diamond in the rough...no, not a diamond, he corrected himself. A ruby, a flawless ruby. Shaking his head over his musings, he cursed softly. How could I forget, even for a moment that that madman has my son!
"Ken?"
"It's nothing," he snapped angrily, though that anger was all directed inward.
Unfortunately, Daisuke didn't know that, and he could clearly see the redhead bristle. Like the fiery heart of a ruby...stop that! He shook his head again, catching the last half of Daisuke's furious retort. "...to help! Or is the great Ichijouji-sama too proud to ask for help from his ex-boyfriend?"
Ex...ex...ex... The words mockingly echoed in Ken's mind, swirling into a dizzying array of images of Daisuke; both past and present, all glaring accusingly at him. "NO!"
Everyone stared at the genius in surprise at the sudden outburst, and the violet eyed man flushed. "I mean, of course I want help finding my son. But what can you do to help me?"
"I'm a private investigator, Ken."
"What?" He'd always assumed Daisuke would become an artist, with how talented the redhead had been when they were teenagers.
"I'm a detective," Daisuke patiently repeated. "I find missing children."
"He's one of the best there is," Kari chimed in.
"Yeah, if anyone can find your son, Daisuke can." T.K. added proudly. Out of all the careers the Digidestined had ended up with over the years, Daisuke's was the one that helped people the most.
"So I'll ask you again. Do you have any idea where this Fujiyaka might have taken your son?"
"Wh...where am I? Daddy...DADDY!" The terrified child stared around the small room, curling into a small ball as he noticed rats, spiders and other creepy crawlers.
"Shut up Sozoku!"
The child cocked his head to the side, his fears momentarily forgotten at the bellowed cry. "Daddy?"
A whip thin, greasy looking man opened the door and glared at the child. "I told you to shut up Sozoku."
"A...Are you my Daddy?" the child questioned tremulously. "I...I don't remember so good right now."
The man glared angrily, shoving one limp strand of long reddish black hair irritably over his shoulder. "I've told you to call me Papa-chan, Sozoku. Or do you want to stay in here even longer?"
"No!" Sozoku squeaked, trembling in fear. "It's scary in here!"
"Maybe next time you'll remember not to tell Papa-chan no, now won't you?"
"Hai, Papa-chan. I'll remember. C...can I come out now?"
"Later. I want you to remember this." Slamming the door behind him, Fujiyaka smirked in undisguised pleasure at the whimper of fear Daimon gave. No, my son's name is Sozoku. And he will be a little thief when he grows up, after he helps me rob Ichijouji blind! Whistling cheerfully, he walked down the hall to check his video equipment. His son's education would begin in the morning.
It had been a frustrating two weeks. There was no sign of Fujiyaka or Daimon anywhere in Odaiba, or the surrounding suburbs. Every lead the investigative redhead tracked down was either too cold to follow, or bogus to begin with, and Ken was slowly losing hope.
And seeing his beloved so despondent was breaking Daisuke's heart all over again. There has to be some clue, somewhere. People don't just disappear, unless... But he refused to even consider the possibility that Daimon might be dead. He would not fail again, not this time. Ken needed him, and the redhead would be damned before he let him down.
The visions weren't helping things either. He was actually starting to worry over them. They weren't coming in sight so much as feelings...first and foremost being terror, followed closely by guilt and shame. And every morning he woke up with a greater sense of urgency and a foul taste in his mouth that reminded him of something he'd had once long ago; though for some reason he felt his experience with whatever it was hadn't left such a bad impression. "Ken, we'll find him. I promise you."
"How?" the genius snapped back, his amethyst eyes alight with frustration and terror. "You expect me to just sit back and trust something I can't see or touch or prove even exists!"
"No," Daisuke murmured, staring into those violet pools of agony, the chocolate warmth of his own gaze reaching out to sooth what pain they could with his words. "I'm asking you to trust me." As Ken flinched, the redhead's shoulders stiffened. "You didn't used to have a problem trusting me."
"It's not that."
"Then what is it? Talk to me, please."
"I...can't." Ken ran a trembling hand through his already rumpled blue locks and sighed. "At least, not like this. Maybe if Daimon hadn't-" A muffled gasp worked its way through his rigid control and he spun away from Daisuke.
Daisuke wasn't going to let Ken run this time, however. No matter how the distraught father felt about him now, the redhead was still in love with him, and his instincts were screaming to go and comfort him. With a few silent steps he was able to reach out and pull Ken into a much-needed hug, tightening his grip when the older man tried to jerk free. "Let me help you," he whispered.
"I...can't. Please, Daisuke, let me go...please." The words seemed practically torn from his throat, the echo of unshed tears throbbing in the pain-filled tones.
"No." Urging Ken's head onto his shoulder, he gave into the overwhelming need to protect, if only for a few moments. "Shh...it's okay to cry, Ken-chan."
Ken resisted for another moment then burrowed into the comfort Daisuke was offering. "If I start, I won't stop."
"If you don't, you might not be strong enough to keep him asleep." While he spoke, the redhead carefully shifted until they could both sit on the couch, making sure to keep his arms wrapped around Ken's trembling shoulders.
"He's not a problem anymore," was the muffled response, since the genius currently had his face buried in Daisuke's broad shoulders.
"He's not?" the redhead asked carefully, trying not to let the hurt he felt at Ken's murmured answer show. "Since when?" Please say recently, please.
"Since before I met Ilessa."
"So almost ten years." Daisuke stated flatly, going cold inside, though his hold on the former Emperor never loosened.
"Nine," Ken answered, shifting to settled more comfortably against Daisuke and muffling a yawn. Within moments, the tense slender body enfolded in the redhead's embrace relaxed into sleep, unaware of the lone tear falling down Daisuke's cheek.
"Please Papa-chan, don't make me. I promise I'll be good!" The young boy formerly known as Ichijouji Daimon stared at his 'father' in undisguised terror.
"You've already disobeyed me, Sozoku. Do you know how?" Fujiyaka finished undressing and stood in front of his son, flaunting his nudity. The redhead nodded, staring at the rather obvious erection his father was sporting in wide-eyed terror. "What did you do son?"
"I...I told you I didn't want to, Papa-chan." He hated doing this, almost more than anything else. He'd rather pose for the multitude of photographers his father brought around on a nightly basis that have to touch that.
"You know," the older man remarked softly, padding over to adjust the angle on one of the video cameras, "I've been neglecting the twins' training. Maybe tonight you'd rather watch, then participate."
The twins Fujiyaka was referring to were identical blonde haired blue eyed six year old girls with porcelain skin and hourglass figures even at their age. Their seraph-like grace was emphasized by the padded bra both were forced to wear; and by the wide-eyed looks of hopelessness and despair caught in their crystalline gazes. Until he'd gotten his son back, those two girls had been his biggest moneymakers. And not just for their photogenic qualities either. Both girls had a rather large circle of admirers who paid large sums of money to sleep with their favorite 'nymph'. He'd even been able to charge more once their cries of pain had faded.
His son stared up at him in horror. He knew his father's temper, and the redhead felt responsible for the fragile girls. They reminded him of someone, but he couldn't remember who. Besides, he was older, so it was his responsible to take care of them. "Papa-chan, please! I'll do it. Whatever you want, just...don't be mad at me?"
Fujiyaka turned and strode back to his small raised satin-covered platform, sprawling his limbs in such a way that not only would his erection be clearly visible to the camera, but his son obviously tending to the problem would also be easily seen. "You're willingly substituting yourself for them, son?"
Flinching, the young boy nodded. He might not remember much before this living nightmare seemed to have started, but he knew what his father was after: and knew it would hurt. As his father moaned and groaned in his pleasure and the small redhead tried not to gag, his mind screamed for someone to save him.
Daisuke froze as the vision rushed through him, forcing himself to be as objective as possible through the turbulent emotions. Daimon...
I'll be good, I'll be good! Please Papa-chan don't...It hurts...It HURTS!
The slight haze that always accompanied the redhead's visions ripped away and he saw and felt everything the child was experiencing in mind-numbing clarity as those two sentences echoed through his mind. Neon lights, the smell of brine and rotting fish. And a sign, 'Rio-Ohki Fish Distribution'.
Ken awoke at Daisuke's snarled "That bastard!" The strong arms that had offered such warmth and comfort earlier now felt like bands of steel, and for one disorienting moment he would have sworn he'd been captured.
Exhaustion had him muttering an endearment he hadn't voiced in years. "What the...Suke-chan?" Moments later he pulled free and spun to look at his clairvoyant friend. "Is it Daimon?"
Instead of answering, the redhead jerked away from the bewildered father and ran to his computer. "Come on, come on!" The moment he saw his virtual desktop he clicked and immediately started a search for wharf bait shops. "Not here in Odaiba...no...no...damn it, where are they?"
"What did you see?"
"Lights," he answered cryptically, scanning the screen faster than Ken would have given him credit for.
"Shouldn't you slow down?" the older man asked hesitantly.
"I know what I'm doing. Now shut up and watch or go away! I don't have time...gotcha!" Hitting the print button on his keyboard quickly, Daisuke grabbed the printout and started racing for the door, his Digivice in hand. "Chibimon!" To his surprise, his partner had already digivolved to Veemon and was waiting for him. "How did you-"
"I'm your fastest ride. 'Sides, I don't need you for everything," the blue Digimon answered dryly. "Roof?"
Daisuke nodded in silent agreement, trusting his small dragon to follow him as he darted through the door and pounded up the stairs to the roof.
As the redhead watched Ken tuck the exhausted child into bed, he finally let himself smile. Daimon was safe, and as an added bonus the person responsible was the mind behind the largest child prostitution rings in Eastern Asia. But before Daisuke would allow himself to go home, he was going to make sure Ken was on his way to recovering as well. Especially since when they'd first spotted the missing Ichijouji, there were only two things he knew: an overwhelming desire to be free, and Daisuke himself.
With Ex-Veemon and Stingmon's help, finding the abandoned fish warehouse was ridiculously easy. Daisuke hadn't taken time to tell his violet-eyed friend where they were going, trusting his Digital partner to keep up. What was most important was getting to Daimon: fast.
The exterior of the abandoned building gave it the appearance of falling apart at any moment. The windows had been boarded, along with all but one small door facing the salty bay behind them. Since it was after midnight, and the building was more than large enough to admit our digivolved partners, though both had needed to fold their wings tightly against their backs and crawl through the double doors.
Ken had hissed questions as we methodically searched the building. He abruptly shut up when a muffled sob echoed down to us through an endless corridor. "Daimon!"
Absolutely nothing Daisuke could do would have stopped the older man from tearing down the hall. With a well placed roundhouse the solidly built double doors flew open to reveal what the clairvoyant redhead had seen in his vision: Daimon cowering on some kind of platform, bruises liberally spread across his pale frame. A lank, greasy figure was just starting to bend over him, his face twisted into an obscene mix of pleasure and greed. "Smile for the cameras Sozoku, or I'll bring the twins up here."
Just as Daimon started to obediently smile, Ken burst into the room. "Get away from my son!" Daisuke, Stingmon and Ex-Veemon had charged in right behind the outraged boy, the two Digimon trying to figure out just what was going on. The moment Stingmon spotted his partner's young child his wings snapped open and a rumbling growl echoed through the large room.
"Ichijouji. I was hoping you'd show up. Sozoku, say hello to Papa-chan's biggest fan." Mechanically Daimon had raised his head and stared in stark terror at his father, absolutely no sign of recognition at the sight of Ken or the Digimon.
Daisuke peered around his partner's wing, and Daimon's eyes had lit up. "Are you here to sa-" Fujiyaka roughly jerked the child to his feet by the lank reddish gold strands and smirked.
"I don't know how you created those illusions behind you, Ichijouji, but you're too late. I have my son back, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Daisuke watched Ken brush those same reddish gold bangs out of his son's face with infinite tenderness as he thought back. The pedophile had quickly changed his tune when he realized that the two 'illusions' were in fact very real. Stingmon and Ex-Veemon were so closely linked to their partner's hearts and minds that just sensing the rage both had been feeling was enough to trigger something neither had expected: the reappearance of Paildramon.
Ken had had murder in his eyes as he lunged towards his son's abductor, but with a gentle touch of a massive hand, their merged Digimon had gestured towards the terrified girls in the corner, urged Daisuke towards Daimon and stalked towards Fujiyaka. Daisuke had watched the indecision on his boy...no, on his friend's face, and the sigh as he noticed his son complete attention fixated on the older redhead.
He chuckled softly from the doorway and Ken glanced up at him questioningly. Motioning silently, Daisuke gestured towards the two Digimon curled at the foot of the bed, one soundly asleep, the other obviously keeping careful watch of the sleeping child. Slumping his shoulders, the older man nodded and silently slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"What's so funny?" he murmured, staring enquiringly up at Daisuke.
"Just remembering how that bastard nearly wet himself when Paildramon raised his blasters and growled 'Boo'."
Ken reluctantly smiled in response. That's not all I remember, he thought to himself, moving unerringly to the couch they'd both been curled up on earlier in the near dawn darkness.
"Ken-chan," Daisuke called softly, following the sound of his beloved's footfalls.
"Hai?"
"We need to talk."
"You're right. I need to thank you. Without you, I don't know if I would have ever-"
In the darkness, Daisuke smiled. Ken was babbling, which meant he was nervous. And if he was nervous, then what he'd felt when their partner's had jogressed for the first time in nearly a decade must be true. "Ken-chan."
"Don't call me that," the older boy whispered.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't deserve it. You of all people should know that." No matter how much I want to keep hearing it...and you.
"Too bad that's not for you to decide. If I want to call the man I love 'Ken-chan', I will." The redhead listened to the sounds of Ken's stammered gasp as the first rays of the dawn's light seeped through the windows. "We still need to talk though."
"L...love?" Ken repeated incredulously. "How can you still love me? I left you."
"I know."
"I never called you!"
"I know."
"I'm a single father!"
Daisuke nodded in the dim light, his rich red hair giving the illusion of gleaming. "Hai, I know. Ken-chan," He ignored the faint tremors running through the slender body seated next to him for the moment. If he reached out to soothe them away, he knew he'd never finish the conversation; and he had to know the truth. "Did you love her?"
"Who?" Ken asked, the confusion evident in his voice as he stared at the shadowed form next to him. Absently he wished the light was stronger so he could see those gorgeous brown eyes.
"Your wife. Did you love her?" Daisuke swallowed hard. "What I mean is, did you love her more than me?" He braced himself for the answer. Whatever it was, he could handle it, since he knew Ken still loved him. He didn't expect the slightly hysterical laughter. "I don't see what's so funny," he grumbled.
"Y...you think I...I was in love with Ilessa?" Ken gasped between peals of quiet laughter. Daisuke nodded silently. "I was no more in love with her than I am with Kari-chan," he added once he'd gotten his mirth under control.
"Then why...how..." the clairvoyant gestured weakly towards where Ken's son was sleeping.
"She needed my help," Ken answered softly, his eyes glowing with a soft light as he remembered something from long ago.
Daisuke suppressed the instinctive flash of jealousy as he stared into the soft violet orbs before him. He wanted to be the one to bring that glow to his beloved's face. "Oh," he answered lamely.
Ken stared blindly ahead, lost in memories of the past as the sunlight slowly crept in, haloing the dark furniture in dusky light. "Meeting her was definitely unexpected. She literally collapsed at my feet, needing help."
"Oh," Daisuke repeated. Maybe I don't want to hear this after all.
With a shake of his head, and a quick darting motion of his fingers to tuck a few stray azure strands behind his ears, Ken brought himself back to the present. Seemingly intent on staring at the carpet, he surreptitiously studied Daisuke from beneath long lashes. "I was on my way to see you," he admitted softly.
Daisuke jerked his head up and stared at the older man next to him, his jaws opening and shutting soundlessly. He was coming to see me! his heart sang before reality crashed back down. He still had a baby with her...
"...almost two months pregnant, and desperately trying to find someplace to hide from her boyfriend before he killed her." Ken finally lifted his head, staring into the ebony pools that were Daisuke's eyes in the soft morning light. It was still too dark for him to read the expressions in them, if he still could after all these years.
"Fujiyaka?" Daisuke asked on a hunch.
"Hai. The bastard had picked her up off the streets when she was just twelve years old, instilling this sense of loyalty in her. It wasn't until she was pregnant and he still kept beating her that she finally got the courage to run. When she found me, she'd been awake almost three days, and had just narrowly missed being caught by one of his thugs. She stared up at me with eyes so much like yours and begged me for help...and I couldn't say no."
Daisuke listened in wonder as Ken detailed in surprising detail of how he'd managed to hide Ilessa, tapping into his rather impressive savings account to keep the girl safe and healthy, going into business for himself when he realized just how much money he'd need in order to insure both her and the baby's safety. And how, on her deathbed, just hours after Daimon had been born she'd gotten him to promise to keep her baby safe and out of his father's hands.
Almost an hour later, the older entrepreneur finally stopped talking and stared silently at his friend, almost afraid of what he'd see. Daisuke was sitting stiffly, one arm carelessly thrown across the couch back, his broad shoulders tenser than he could ever remember seeing. Lowering his head, and grateful that his still long hair masked his heartbroken expression, Ken whispered, "No matter how much I hurt you, if I had to go back and do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm sorry...so sorry," he finished hoarsely.
He was surprised to feel a strong warm hand cup his chin, forcing his head up. Reluctantly he complied, staring into rich melted chocolate that so resembled his son's eyes. "Ken-chan," Daisuke murmured, ignoring the slight flinch the boy before him made. "I have never been so proud of someone as I am of you right now. If you'd only let me know..."
"I couldn't. I'd given up any right to do that when I left. Just because I was helping her didn't mean you should, too. Besides, when I checked in with Mama, she said you were happy and seeing someone."
Daisuke chuckled. "Ken-chan, she told you that for me. I was hoping you'd get jealous like you used to."
This time Ken was the one to say 'Oh'.
"I love you. Even more than I used to, which is still hard for me to believe. That love is boundless, endless and unconditional. Whether you want me or not, it's not going to change. And I'll wait, forever if you need me to, for you to decide what you want."
While he was talking, Daisuke's thumb gently brushed over Ken's cheek with infinite tenderness. As he stared into Ken's eyes, his heart skipped a beat as he watched the violet melt into a luminescent amethyst. I made his eyes light up, he thought in wonder. The twin living precious gems sparkled with life and love, and listening to the silent urgings of his heart he leaned forward and brushed his lips against his beloved's, whispering against them, "I love you, Ken-chan."
"I love you too," Ken answered back breathlessly, bringing their lips back together in a soul-healing kiss.
Dear Diary,
Daddy said I should always write down how I feel. He said it would help me get better and teach me how to spell too, so here goes. We moved back home today, and Dai-sama came with us. Daddy said he was going to live with us like Mama-chan used to. I'm glad 'cause he makes Daddy happy. I don't 'member the last time I saw Daddy's eyes light up like they do now. Dai-sama's teaching me how to listen to my dreams. He thinks maybe someday I'll be able to help people like he does. I think they're gonna get married, and then I'll have two daddies. I'm so glad. I feel like I have a family just like everyone else. And at my next birthday Daddy promised the Wolves would perform! I hope that someday I can meet someone that makes me as happy as Dai-sama makes Daddy. And now that the mean man that used to scare Mama-chan is locked up I can go to a real school! And it was funny. Daddy finally told Dai-sama where my name came from, since it's so different than most Japanese names. He turned so red Daddy asked if we could cook dinner on his forehead. Then Dai-sama chased us both around the house trying to tickle us. I never even knew Daddy was ticklish. Uh oh, it's bedtime, and if they see me still up I'll have to do the dishes tomorrow. I hope I don't have the dream again. I don't want to remember...yikes, here they come!
Quickly burrowing under the covers, Daimon shoved his diary under his pillow and put his finger over his lips as he stared at the two Digimon at the foot of his bed. Grinning conspiratorially, Chibimon and Minomon nodded in agreement, and the young redhead snapped the light off and shut his eyes just as his bedroom door opened. "Daimon," his father chided gently, Daisuke resting his chin on Ken's shoulder as he too stared into the room.
"I was writing in my journal," he explained sheepishly, looking innocently at the two men in the doorway.
"Are you done?" Daisuke asked softly, and Daimon nodded his head obediently. "Then go to bed."
"And keep the light off this time," Ken added, unconsciously reaching up to brush his fingers over Daisuke's cheek. Daimon nodded again, smiling in approval at how happy his father looked. "Oyasumi."
"Oyasumi Daddy, Dai-sama!" he chirped, burrowing into his pillow as his bedroom door shut silently, slipping into dreams where someday he could call Daisuke his Daddy too.
Outside Daimon's bedroom, Ken leaned back against Daisuke's broad chest, lacing his fingers through those resting on his stomach. Daisuke bent his head and whispered in the blue-haired genius's ear "Happy?"
He nodded turning his to rest his forehead against the redhead's throat, sighing. "I can't even begin to thank you."
"For what, Ken-chan?" Daisuke asked, gently nudging Ken's head aside to nibble on the tempting expanse of throat bared just for him.
"Saving me again," he whispered, a soft purr rumbling echoing in the still hallway.
"I love you," Daisuke murmured in response, much more interested in the skin his lips were caressing than talking.
Ken chuckled, spinning in the arms holding him and stared into the warm chocolate pools before him. "I should start calling you angel...my own personal guardian angel."
The redhead tightened his arms, dragging his beloved closer and grinned. "Then let this angel wrap his wings around you and show you just where love can take you."
Reaching up, Ken threaded his fingers in the silky strands at the base of Daisuke's neck, tugging his mouth within kissing distance. "I would fly with you anywhere, Suke-chan."