THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE...
By Stiltzkin

Author's Note: Wow! I didn't expect so many responses from my last chapter! Because of your responses I rushed to write this chapter (thank you to all my reviewers). This chapter is a little longer than I wanted...okay a lot longer then I wanted, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

On a short note, I couldn't find the name of Yamato and Takeru's father anywhere and my little brother, the Digimon aficionado was in the dark about this one, so if anyone knows please tell me - it'll be easier to refer to him by name in the future.

Finally, although this chapter has a lot of Daikari elements and may suggest that the story is going that way, rests assure that I'm still in debate whether it'll end up a Takari or Daikari (I have not seen enough Digimon episodes to have an opinion yet). So all you Takari freaks out there don't flame me...it's just one date! All in all, enjoy.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Love is like a knife, it can stab the heart,
or it can carve wonderful images into the soul that will last a lifetime."

- Unknown.

* * * * * * * * * *

CHAPTER THREE: PRELUDE TO A DATE.

"Davis! Breakfast's ready!" His mother bellowed from the living room. "Where is that boy? This is the third time I called him for breakfast." She exasperated putting the food on the table.

"That IS unlike Davis." Jun Motomiya, Daisuke's older sister replied putting a piece of fruit into her mouth. "He usually bolts out of bed before you finish your first announcement of breakfast." She pointed out.

"Could you go check on him? I'm worried about him."

"Do I have too?" She whined.

"Please." Her mother replied. "I still have to bring the rest of the breakfast out." She pointed out disappearing into the kitchen.

Frustrated, Jun walked to her brother's room pounding on the door, screaming his name, and telling him to get up. "All right I'm coming in." She warned opening the door.

To her amazement the room was emptied...and clean. "What in the world is going on?" She silently cursed to herself. To see her brother's room clean was...well this was the first time she saw her brother's room this clean. Jun headed towards the desk and picked up a note. "Mom, don't worry, went to school early, Davis."

With astonishment she put the note back down noticing for the first time that his soccer ball was resting neatly on his desk. "Okay what's wrong with this picture?" She asked to herself. 'Davis going to school early and not for soccer? Being considerate enough to leave a note? His clean room? Missing breakfast!?!' She gasped at the last thought. 'I hope he isn't sick.' She thought leaving the room. "Mom, you won't believe this but..."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Tai is there something wrong?" Hikari asked putting her breakfast plate in the sink and started to wash it. Taichi was still silent, playing with his food. She looked at him with concern. 'He has been like that all morning.' She sighed. "Tai?"

"Yeah, Kari what is it?"

"Is something wrong?" She reiterated her question. "You haven't touched your breakfast." She pointed out.

"Oh that." Taichi sighed scrapping his breakfast in the garbage. "You know how I loathe healthy food." He pointed out.

Hikari knew that this was an excuse, a lie, and Taichi knew that his sister knew. "You have been exceptionally quiet since your formal last night." She pointed out. "Did something happen last night? Did you and Matt have a fight last night?" She probed.

"No." Taichi lied.

His sister knew that her brother was lying, and he knew that his sister knew. "Honestly, Tai. I don't understand you two, why can't you forgive Matt." Hikari exasperated.

"What Matt did is unforgivable!" Taichi yelled, his voice louder then he wanted or expected. "I'm sorry." He sighed. "I didn't mean to yell."

Hikari understood her brother statement; it wasn't directed at the formal last night, but at their fallen out almost a year ago. "What did he do? What happened to the three of you?" Hikari asked; her voice had a hint of frustration in it.

"Hikari with all due respect, it is none of your business." He replied with a hint of anger in his voice. Taichi quickly headed to his room slamming the door.

"Why do I bother?" Hikari sighed raising her arms with frustration. She slowly headed towards her bedroom to get ready for school, but was interrupted by the doorbell. 'That can't be T.K. he knows not to come this early.' She thought to herself heading towards the door.

"Davis." She gasped as the door swung open. "What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if I could walk you to school." Davis blushed.

"Sure, but T.K. usually walks me to school." Hikari said still flabbergasted at the sight of the boy.

"Oh." Daisuke sighed looking at his feet. "I just want to talk about our date tonight that's all." He sighed.

"All right." Hikari smiled. "Com'on in. Make yourself at home, I'll be but a minute." She smiled disappearing into her room.

* * * * * * * * * *

"You're awfully quiet this morning." Nancy Takaishi peered over the article that she was editing. "Want to talk about it?"

"Nah, not really." Her son sighed.

She knew not to pester her son when he was in his mood. "How was the dance?" Nancy asked with some concern.

"It was okay, why do you ask?"

"Oh, I don't know." She sighed. "You came home awfully early."

"Yeah." Takeru sighed. "It was rather boring."

"Are you sure nothing's wrong?"

"Yeah. Fine." Takeru gave a pretence smile. "I've better go and pick up Kari." He said leaving without letting his mother say another word.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Kari could you get the door?" Taichi yelled from within his room. The doorbell rang again. "Kari?" He asked popping his head from his room. "Hmm...must have just left with Davis." He sighed.

He approached the door finishing his blue tie simultaneously. He hated wearing the tie and was relived that after this day he wouldn't have to wear one for the next two months. That thought put a smile on his face as he opened the door.

"Hi Tai." Takeru greeted with a grin.

"T.K." He gasped.

"You sound surprised?" He responded sarcastically.

"Yeah, you're here." Taichi explained still in some bewilderment. "What are you doing here? Didn't Kari call you?"

"What do you mean? I'm here to pick up Kari like I do everyday since the past two years." Takeru explained. "Why would Kari call me?" A sudden wave of fear drowned him. "Is she okay? She's not hurt is she?" He gasped. "I knew I shouldn't have let Davis walk her home last night."

"Whoa...calm down." Taichi reassured. "What I'm saying is, Davis picked Kari up for school and they probably left a while ago. I thought Kari would have called you." Taichi explained.

"Oh." A sudden wave of depression drowned out his anxiety. "No she didn't." He sighed. "Thanks for telling me. Have a good day at school." Takeru said hiding the fact that he was crushed and heading towards the elevator.

"Are you okay T.K.?" He asked watching Takeru head for the elevator. Despite his feelings for his older brother, he really did care for him. He always considered Takeru the younger brother he always wanted - the one that understood him.

The elevator door opened and he walked in. Takeru turned around and looked at him. "Yeah." He lied as the doors closed.

Taichi gazed at the closed elevator doors. He knew that Takeru was hurt, that he was lying, he could see it in his eyes and it was over his baby sister. "The sins of the older siblings." He sighed relating to his own personal experience with love triangles. "God help them all." He sighed.

* * * * * * * * * *

"So what do you want to talk about?" Hikari asked. They have been walking together for a good fifteen minutes in silence.

"It's about the date." Daisuke sighed.

"What you change your mind?"

"No." Daisuke quickly gasped. "Have you?" He asked, his voice above a whisper.

"No." Hikari smiled. "What's wrong Davis?"

"It's just that I didn't want you to go out with me, because I forced you to, or you did it because you felt sorry for me." Davis explained.

"Davis, I really do want to go out with you." Hikari reassured. Daisuke looked at her with disbelief. "Honest." She smiled. "In fact that's what T.K. and I talked about last night, during the last dance."

"Really?" Daisuke was surprise to hear that. "What did he say?"

"Well I asked him if I was too hard on you for constantly refusing to go on a date with you and he said that I was." Hikari sighed. "Then I asked him what he thought if I went out with you." She sighed.

"What did he say?"

"He said that I should go out with you if I wanted to. He told me not to if I felt pressured, or feel sorry for you." Hikari smirked at the next thought. "He even said that you deserve better then to have a pity date."

"He said that?" He asked with disbelief. "Boy, maybe he does like someone else." Daisuke sighed.

Hikari felt hurt by that statement, but it was the wrong time to act on it. So she suppressed them and filed it away for another day. "Yes, he did." Hikari smiled trying to get back into the conversation. "Davis, T.K. is not the villain you paint him to be."

"Maybe you're right." He sighed.

"Davis, I really do want you and T.K. to be friends."

"We are friends."

"No, you have a temporary unsaid alliance, if not for our experiences in the Digital World I believe you and T.K. would have been enemies." Hikari pointed out. "I really want the two of you to be friends...Please, for me?" She pleaded.

"All right." Daisuke sighed. "I'll try."

"Thanks." Hikari smiled gleefully. "So where are we going on this date?"

"It's a surprise." Daisuke taunted.

"Please?"

"I'm not telling." Daisuke stood his ground.

"Oh, you're no fun." Hikari sighed.

"All right." Daisuke sighed. "It's dinner, but I won't tell you where, but I could tell you that I'll pick you up at six and oh, please dress formally." Daisuke smiled.

"Davis." Hikari said sternly. "I thought that you're not going to make a big production of this date."

"I'm not." Daisuke quickly protested. "It's just that I have this reservation and it'll be a waste to let it go." He sighed.

"All right." Hikari caved in. They turned and walked into the school, for the last time.

Eyes were on them as they entered the classroom together. Whispers and giggle were heard as she took her seat. She looked around at her friends, her classmates wondering what was going on. Hikari took out her mirror to check if there was something on her face or between her teeth. 'No nothing there.' She thought feeling a tad paranoid. She turned to her right and wanted to ask Takeru something, but he wasn't there. 'Where is he?' She thought. 'It's not like him to be late.' She looked at the clock and saw that it was two minutes before class started.

Takeru dashed in as the bell rang. "Right on time Mr. Takaishi." His teacher said closing the door.

"I'm sorry Mr. Fujiyama, I just lost track of time." He panted out of breath. "It won't happen again." He promised.

"I know." He smiled. "Especially since it's the last day of school." The class laughed in response. "All right class, that's enough." Fujiyama ordered. "Mr. Takaishi please take your seat."

Takeru quickly dashed to his desk while Fujiyama started to teach. "Why were you so late?" Hikari whispered.

"I went to your house to pick you up." He whispered back.

"But I wasn't there."

"Evidently." He pointed out.

Then it hit her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to call you about Davis." She felt guilty for making Takeru going all the way to her house for no reason.

"Mr. Takaishi! Miss. Kamiya! Is there something you like to share with the class?" Fujiyama asked.

"No, sir." They answered in unison.

"I realized that it's the last day of school, but it's still not your holidays yet. So please pay attention." Fujiyama reprimanded.

"Yes, sir." They replied in unison.

Takeru quickly opened his notebook and started scribbling some notes. He stole a look at Hikari and saw her mouthed the words: I'm sorry. He smiled forgiving her; he could never stay mad at her.

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru meandered through the busy cafeteria looking for any of the Digidestined to sit with. The cafeteria was segregated as usual into the customary cliques, but instead of talking, the whole room suddenly got quiet as he entered the room. All eyes were on him and whispers were heard in the various corners of the room.

He felt very uncomfortable being watched by everyone in the room. It was like he was under a very powerful and very discomforting microscope. Takeru slowly walked towards the table where Hikari, Iori and Ken where sitting.

"Hey T.K." Chastity Shiozaki smiled.

"Hey Chastity." T.K. replied with a hint of suspicion. The whole school was still looking at him.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry." She smiled apologetically.

"For what?"

"You don't know do you?"

"No." He paused. "What should I know?" He asked feeling a little paranoid.

"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said anything." Chastity said quickly and left.

"Okay." Takeru sighed approaching the table a little gazed. He took his seat, opposite to Hikari and exchanged salutations with his friends.

"What's wrong T.K.?" Hikari asked.

"That's the fifth person today apologizing to me for no reason and before that one of my basketball friends from the team told me to cheer up also for no reason. I don't know what's going on with this school." Takeru sighed.

"Tell me about it." Hikari sighed. "Every time I walk into a room, the class goes silent and on occasion while walking down the hall there will be people congratulating me for something, while others, mostly girls are very angry at me for no reason. I don't know what's going on." Hikari sighed.

Iori and Ken looked at each other, trying to figure out what to say. Hikari and Takeru noticed the action and knew they knew something. "What's going on guys?" They demanded in unison.

They sighed in unison. "Should I?" Ken asked.

"Please." Iori sighed.

Ken took a deep sigh. "You see there's a rumour going around that..."

"Hey guys!" Daisuke interrupted Ken's explanation. "Isn't it a great and wonderful morning?" Daisuke greeted with a grin. Everyone watched him strangely; he was glowing and beaming.

"Davis, are you feeling okay?" Takeru asked with some concern.

"Yeah, T.K." Daisuke beamed. "I feel wonderful." The sounds of three forks hitting the metallic table startled Daisuke from his elated mood. Daisuke looked at Iori, Ken, and Takeru noticing that their jaws were about to hit the table. "Is there something wrong with you guys?" He asked.

"Yeah...You called me...T.K." He said with shock.

"That is your name isn't it?" Daisuke smiled.

"Yeah, it is, but in the last two years, you haven't got my name right once." Takeru said still in shock.

"Lucky guess?" Daisuke smiled, trying to make a joke.

"There are only six hundred seventy-six different permutations, he's bound to get it right sooner or later." Ken pointed out, trying to suppress the obvious, at least to him, Iori and the rest of the school.

"Yeah." Takeru sighed, still feeling suspicious. He knew that something odd was happening to Daisuke, with the school, but he couldn't figure it out.

"I heard that the Teenage Wolves are playing tonight." Iori pointed out.

"Yeah." Takeru smiled feeling glad that the conversation has taken a different turn. "It's an end of school bash." He informed. "Matt has invited all of us to hear his band play at the Warehouse District, Aqua City at four." Takeru invited. "Are you interested?" Iori Hida and Ken Ichijouji agreed quickly. "Kari, Davis, what about you?" He asked.

"Hmm...I don't know." Hikari sighed looking at Daisuke for help. "What do you think Davis?" She asked sheepishly.

Takeru thought that was a strange act. 'Sine when did Kari need Davis' permission to go somewhere?' He thought, having a bad feeling overshadowing him. 'What's going on?'

"Well we can meet at the Warehouse say at five, listen to a couple of songs then go to dinner, the restaurant is near there." Daisuke smiled. Again the sound of three forks hitting the metallic table interrupted their private discussion.

"Sounds good." Hikari smiled. She returned her gaze to Takeru who was still shocked by the fact that Hikari and Daisuke were going out on a date. "We'll be going." She smiled.

"Great." Takeru literally felt his heart broke. Like his heart was made of glass and dropped from the top of Tokyo Tower, shattering into a million small pieces upon impact.

He felt broken-hearted and shattered, he wanted to cry, but remembered his environment and kept his tears in. Suddenly the words of his friends at school ran through his head, Chastity Shiozaki's impromptu apology and his friends' attempts to cheer him up. 'They know, the whole school knows.' He looked at Ken and Iori and it confirmed his suspicions.

Then an epiphany hit him. 'If the school knew that I was going to feel this way...then the whole school know my feelings for Kari.' He suppressed his gasp. 'Was I that obvious?' He asked himself. He looked up and saw Hikari laughing at Daisuke's joke. 'Not obvious enough unfortunately.' He sighed, picking up his fork again.

* * * * * * * * * *

The last bell rang signifying the end of the school year. A clamour in the halls echoed through the halls like a wildfire. It was a sea of jubilation with one solitary, lonesome, secluded island. Takeru was set apart from the commonality, the masses and going against the conformity.

"Hey T.K." Hikari greeted with a big smile.

"Hey Kari." Takeru smiled back.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine." Takeru sighed. "Why do you ask?"

"You were awfully quiet at lunch today."

"Oh that." He sighed. "I was just shocked that you and Davis were going out that's all." Takeru sighed.

"Yeah I guess it was a big surprise." Hikari let a chuckle out. "Are you okay with it?" She asked. "Do you think this is a good idea?"

'Why does she have to ask me that?' Takeru pouted, his all ready broken heart shattered further, if that was possible. "I'm fine with it." Takeru lied putting on a pretence smile. "Besides you don't need my permission to go out with Davis." He pointed out, his voice above a whisper.

"Yeah I guess, I'm getting cold feet." She smiled. "I've better get going if I'm going to hear Matt sing tonight. Are you going to walk me home?" Hikari asked.

"No." Takeru sighed. "I promised Matt that I'd help him set up for tonight." He lied. The last thing he needed was to talk with his best friend, whom he liked, about a date with another man, especially a man who had a crush on her for over two years.

"All right, see you tonight." She smiled leaving.

"Yeah." He sighed.

* * * * * * * * * *

Hikari sat in the middle of her walk-in closet and wondered what she should wear. She didn't know why she was so indecisive. 'It's just a simple date.' She thought to herself. "Then why don't I believe that?" She sighed. Hikari picked out a blue dress and placed in front of her and sighed with indecision. 'I don't know.' She sighed, picking out a red dress.

"Anybody home?" Taichi announced entering the house.

"Yeah Tai, I'm here in my room." Hikari announced walking out of her closet. She waited patiently walking to the mirror placing the blue dress in front of her, then the red, as her brother walked into her room. "What do you prefer the blue or the red?" She asked.

"Umm...the blue." He sighed with a hint of confusion.

"You're right." Hikari smiled. "I'll wear the red."

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"To hear Matt sing." Hikari replied. "Are you going to come? He's playing at the Warehouse District, Aqua City. I think he'll like to see you there." She sighed knowing the futility of her request.

"It'll be a cold day in Hell before I hear him sing another note." Taichi protested rushing out her room.

"Tai I don't understand why you haven't forgiven Matt yet!" Hikari yelled slipping on the red dress. "You two are acting like kids!"

"We are kids!" Taichi protested. "That's the joy of being fifteen you can go both ways!" He objected.

"Why do I bother?" Hikari sighed walking into the living room. "Tai do you mind...my zipper?" She said lifting her brown hair, her back towards her brother.

"Sure." Taichi exasperated. "Aren't you a little overdressed for Matt's Concert?" He asked with brotherly concern walking towards his sister doing up her zipper.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "I have a date afterwards." She replied nonchalantly.

"With who? T.K.?"

"No, Davis." She replied.

Taichi remembered how crushed Takeru looked that morning when he told him that Daisuke has already picked Hikari up, he couldn't help but to feel sorry for him. "Really?"

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "So how do I look?"

"You don't really want my answer do you?" He taunted.

* * * * * * * * * *

Daisuke threw several dress shirts on his bed looking for one that he hasn't grown out of yet and is relatively clean and unwrinkled. "There you are." He gasped in victory. He ceremoniously draped the shirt around his shoulders and quickly buttoned it up.

He was wearing his navy blue dress paint with matching blazer. "Where did I put my tie?" He asked himself going back into his closet. T-shirts, shorts, and unmentionables were thrown aimlessly into the air landing on various spots on in the room.

"Now that's more like it." Jun Motomiya taunted looking around the room.

"What's that suppose to mean?!?" Daisuke asked defensively, popping his head out of his closet.

"Your room...it was spotless this morning. Mom almost had a cardiac when she saw it." Jun pointed out.

"You act like it's the first time I clean my room."

"Well...it is."

Daisuke shot an angry look at his sister. 'I have no time for this. I need to get ready for my date.' He thought to himself. "Do you know where I put my ties?" He asked.

"Ties?" Jun suppressed a chuckle. "You don't have any, you usually borrow dad's." She smiled.

"Why didn't you tell me that before!" He stormed out of his room.

"I was right." She sighed. "He is sick...love sick."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Mr. Ishida, your son is here to see you." His secretary's voice came via the intercom disrupting his work.

"Tell him I broke." He sarcastically barked back.

"It's your other son, sir." She justified.

"T.K.?" He gasped. "Send him in." He quickly cleaned up his desk and fixed his hair and tie while Takeru, his son walked in. He found it odd that he needed to look good in front of his youngest son; perhaps he didn't want to break the illusion of how he looked when they were younger, when they were still together.

"Hi dad." He greeted with a smile.

"Hey T.K." He smiled giving his youngest son a hug. "So how is the last day of school?" He asked sitting down behind his desk.

"Great." Takeru sighed unenthusiastically.

"Please keep all the excitement down." His father teased. "So are you excited graduating tomorrow?"

"Yeah." His son replied in the same tone.

He looked at his son and took a deep sigh. He knew something was troubling his son, something that he couldn't go to his mother with. "So son what are you doing here instead of playing with your friends?"

"I was on my way to help Matt with his concert next door, so I thought: why not drop by and see how dad is doing?" Takeru said putting on a pretence smile.

"I see." His father sighed not entirely believing in his son.

"You don't sound convinced." Takeru sighed. "Can't I visit my dad without an ulterior motive?" Takeru asked unconvincingly.

"Of course." His father smiled. "But I have a feeling that you wanted to talk to me about something." He sighed.

Takeru looked at his father and pondered how he should proceed. It has been a long time since he talked to his father and there were so many things he wanted to talk to him about. "Yeah you're right." Takeru sighed. "How do you know when a girl likes you back?" He said very quickly.

Ishida suppressed a smile so he wouldn't embarrass his son. He took a deep sigh and pondered how he would proceed. "Well son, it's different with everyone." His father pointed out.

"Well how did you know when mommy liked you?" Takeru asked timidly.

He saw his father take a deep breath before answering. "Well son, she did little things like calling me just to say hi; making me lunch; baking me sweets; finding any excuse to talk to me...why do you ask? Is there a girl you think might like you back?" His father teased.

"No not really." Takeru sighed. 'Kari doesn't do any of those things.' He thought. "I was just curious that's all." He lied.

"T.K. I wouldn't worry too much." His father smiled. "The 'Ishida Charm' would kick in sometime soon."

"The Ishida Charm?"

"Matt never told you?"

"No." Takeru sighed. "What is it?" His father peaked his preadolescent interest.

"It seems that every generation of Ishida men in our family at one time in their lives would drive women crazy over them and for the rest of their lives women will be hitting on you." His father pointed out.

"Really?" Takeru asked unconvincingly.

"Yeah, look at your brother he's swarmed with more women than he could handle, and when your grandfather and I were about Matt's age...well let's just say, we've known to drive scores of women insane." His father replied with a smile. "Trust me T.K. all Ishida men find true love."

"But we can't keep it." Takeru mumbled under his breath.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing dad." Takeru sighed. "It's just that one man's charm is another man's curse." Takeru sighed. His father seemed oblivious to what he was thinking. "Dad haven't you noticed that we Ishida men find true love, but can't keep it? Grandpa divorced and moved to France, you and mom divorced, Matt had true love in his grasp and lost it..."

"By the way, did Matt ever tell you what happened with him, Tai and Sora?" His father asked.

"No. You?"

"Same here." His father sighed. "Well that's maybe true, but technically you're a Takaishi and may escape that part of the curse." His father smiled.

"No I didn't." Takeru quickly clasped his mouth with his hand. 'I've got to start thinking before I speak.' He thought to himself hoping that his father didn't hear what he just say.

"What's this?" His father smiled. "My youngest son had his heart broken?" He started to tease.

"Dad, I didn't come here to be teased." Takeru said adamantly.

"You're right. I'm sorry." His father sighed. "How are you feeling?"

Takeru thought allowing himself into his suppressed feelings. "Broken-hearted." He sighed above a whisper. "You know dad, I always thought a broken heart was a hyperbole." He sulked. "That is until it happened this afternoon. It felt like my heart was glass and broke into a million pieces." Takeru sighed.

"Was it Kari?"

"No! Why does everyone think its Kari?" Takeru asked defensively. He didn't know why he lied to his father, didn't know why he felt so frustrated when everyone assumed that it was Kari, but for some strange reason he hated the fact that he was so obvious.

"I'm sorry, who was it?"

Takeru stalled and stuttered. "It doesn't matters now." He sighed. "She's going out with another guy." He sighed.

"Takeru." He said putting his hand on his son's shoulders. "You're at the beginning of a wonderful and scary adventure and your heart will break and make a hundred times before you find your true love. Sometimes your heart will be broken and at others you'll be the one breaking the hearts, but never give up the hope." His father smiled.

"Yeah I guess you're right." Takeru sighed.

"So tell me how long has this girl be going out with this boy?" His father asked curiously.

"Tonight will be their first date."

He looked at his son and suppressed a chuckle. 'No, that's not fair.' He thought. 'He hasn't had the years and wisdom to know.' He thought sitting on his desk. "Takeru, don't lose hope." He gave his son a reassuring smile. "Remember it only takes a small degree of hope to cause the birth of love." His father smiled.

Takeru chuckled to himself. "Yeah, that's what Kari told me." He sighed. "Have you been talking to her?" He asked suspiciously.

"No." He smiled. "T.K. it's only one date, it's probably frivolous."

"How many dates did it take you to know that mom was the person you were to marry?" He asked.

"Well T.K. that's different." His father protested.

"Dad?" He sternly stressed.

"One." His dad sighed. "It took only one date."

"Why doesn't that make me feel better?" Takeru sighed. "I better get going, don't want to miss Matt's concert." Takeru said getting up.

"I hope everything works out for you."

"Thanks dad." Takeru smiled hugging his father.

"Drop by anytime." His father smiled still holding him. "I don't see you too often." He said breaking their embrace.

"Sure dad." Takeru smiled. "I'll come especially when I need money." He smiled leaving. His father blushed slightly; he didn't think his son would hear his private conversation with his secretary when she announced his son's arrival.

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru was in no mood to hear his brother sing, but he didn't want to go home to an empty home either. He sat silently and alone back stage nursing a transparent blue drink, which he looked through. He didn't know what it was, or if it tasted good, or alcoholic, frankly he didn't care. The world shown through the drink matched his mood. Everything was blurry, exaggerated and very blue.

His head lay on the table and he allowed himself to make a slight sigh. His brother's music was just ambient noise to him and so were the screams of hundreds of women chanting his brother's name. All he knew is that he was on the verge of losing the only person he really cared about, that is, outside his immediate family and his digimon. "Kari." He sighed under his breath.

He was so captivated in the private little world of his that he didn't hear the announcement of the band taking a short break. He also didn't notice that his brother walked up towards him.

"Hey T.K." Yamato greeted with a hint of exhaustion in his voice. "How are you?" He asked taking off his guitar.

"Fine." He mumbled unconvincingly.

His brotherly concern took over him. "How's school?" He probed going through the mental list in his head.

"Fine."

Now Yamato questioned if his baby brother even heard his questions. "How do you think my band's been playing tonight?" He asked.

"Fine."

Now he knew that his brother wasn't listening to him. He knew he played better than fine, not out of vanity, but because he knew that Takeru was his biggest fan. Takeru was there when he first picked up the guitar and was the only person that didn't laugh when he had the dream of becoming a rock star; in fact he cheered him on. Yamato knew that his baby brother would never answer that question with that word. "What would you think if I say...oh take a leap off the Tokyo Tower?" He casually asked.

"Fine."

"That does it." He sighed with indignation and walked towards the table and picked up the glass of transparent blue liquid.

"Hey I was drinking that!" Takeru protested coming out of his trance.

"Yeah then what is it?"

"It's...it's I don't know, blue?" He sighed with frustration.

"Obviously." Yamato sighed taking the seat opposite his brother. "Would you like to tell me what's wrong?" His brother remained silent.

Takeru sighed and looked into his brother's blue eyes. 'Will he tease me like everyone in my life?' He took a deep breath and decided to tell his brother. "There's this girl..."

"Kari." Yamato said with a smile.

"It's not Kari!" He protested. Yamato was still unconvinced and Takeru knew that he knew that fact, but he still played the charade. "It's a girl, that you don't know, that I really, really, like..."

"Kari."

"It's not Kari!" Takeru said with frustration. "Would you stop saying that?"

"I will. When you start telling the truth."

"It is not Kari." He said pronouncing each word profoundly.

"Then who is it? Quickly now." Yamato probed crossing his arms with a condescending smirk on his face.

"It's...it's..."

"Ah...you stuttered because it's Kari."

"IT'S NOT KARI!!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"What's not Kari?" The certain brunette in question popped her head in.

Takeru's heart skipped a beat. 'How much of the conversation did she hear?' He could feel all the blood retreating from his face. The sight of her mortified him.

"Oh, T.K. was telling me who's this certain girl he likes." Yamato explained.

"Really?" Hikari smiled. "I'm glad that I didn't miss the juicy stuff."

"You mean you knew about this?" Yamato asked. This was the first time he believed his baby brother.

"Yeah, T.K. and I are best friends, he tells me everything." Hikari smiled. "But every time he was about to tell me this mysterious woman something interrupts him." Hikari smiled.

"Really?" Yamato raised an eyebrow with interest. "Please enlighten us T.K. who is this girl?"

"Yeah T.K. who is she?"

Takeru started to stuttered nervously, he couldn't tell the truth now, and especially not in the presence of Hikari and after he protested adamantly before his brother that it wasn't her. "It's Chastity Shiozaki!" He yelled the first name that came through his head.

"Really?" Hikari gasped. Her heart stopped when she heard her name, she was devastated yet was able to suppress that feeling.

"Yeah." Takeru sighed. "I hope you two are happy now." He exasperated sitting back on his chair. 'Why on Earth did I say Chastity?' He thought taking a sip of his blue drink. 'Yuck...this thing taste horrible.'

"Kari you in here?" Daisuke hesitantly asked popping his head into the room. "Wow Kari, you look beautiful." He complemented seeing her in the red dress.

Hikari blushed and returned the complement. "You look handsome yourself." The navy blue blazer and paints was a change from Daisuke's normal decorum. She smiled and waltzed towards him fixing his tie.

In response he blushed. "Here I got this for you." He smiled presenting her a long stem red rose.

"Thanks, you shouldn't have." Hikari smiled accepting the rose. "Only one rose this time?" She teased.

"Do you know how expensive a dozen roses are?" He blurted. "I mean I did promise you that I'll tone down didn't I?" He covered hoping that Hikari didn't hear his first response.

Hikari suppressed a chuckle remembering the conversation she had with her brother last night about the monitory value of a dozen long stem red roses. "Thanks for remembering your promise." Hikari smiled twirling the red rose in her nose.

"Are...are you two dating?" Yamato asked flabbergasted.

"Yes." Daisuke blurted.

"No." Hikari corrected quickly. "This is our first date and I like to ask a favour from you Matt." She smiled.

"Sure what is it?"

"Play my favourite song?"

"All right what is it?"

"It's the song you wrote for Sora."

"Anything but that." He sighed. "I don't play that song anymore." Yamato protested adamantly.

"Please?" Hikari pleaded fluttering her eyes innocently.

"Don't look at me like that." Yamato warned. He couldn't stand her innocence, her guilelessness. "Okay, just this once."

"Thanks Matt." Hikari hugged him. "Coming T.K.?" She asked.

'T.K.!' Yamato gasped. He had totally forgotten that his baby brother was in the room witnessing the whole-blessed event. He darted his cerulean blue eyes at his brother and saw that he was holding his tears. 'So it is Kari.' He thought feeling sorry for his brother.

"Why don't you two go on ahead? I'll catch up later." Takeru replied his voice on the verge of cracking.

"All right." Hikari smiled. "I'll call you tonight and tell you all about it." She whispered to him. Takeru put on a convincing smile in response.

"Com'on are you ready to dance?" Daisuke asked.

Takeru watched at they walked out of the room. He sighed banging his head gently on the surface of the table. Yamato couldn't help, but to suppress a smile. "It is so Kari." He teased.

"Shut up Matt." Takeru said, his eyes were puffy red and filled with tears.

"I'm sorry..."

"Just leave me alone." He said storming out of the room.

"T.K. I'm sorry!" Yamato bellowed seeing Takeru running away. He thought that his baby brother had a simple crush, but now he knew that it was something more. He wanted to chase after his brother but was interrupted by his stage manager telling him it was time to go on. "I'm sorry." He sighed under his breath walking towards the stage.

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru splashed cold water on his face looking at himself in the bathroom mirror. He felt heartbroken about what he witnessed at what maybe the beginning of a romance, but he felt worse for telling his brother to shut up earlier.

He slowly wiped all evidence that he was crying and regained his composure. 'I got to be happy for Kari if Davis is the one.' He thought. 'I can't tell her my feelings now. I rather be Kari's friend than risk losing her.' He thought nobly. 'Now go out there and enjoy the band.'

He quickly circumspect the warehouse trying to find any of the Digidestined old or new that he could hang out with. Anyone but Hikari or Davis because the last thing he wanted to see was them being together, his heart couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you ready to rock!" Yamato yelled. In response the crowd gave a relatively weak cheer. "Oh you can do better than that. Are you ready to rock!" He asked once again. The crowd gave a louder roar. "Much better." Yamato smiled. "We're going to bring things down a bit, this song was requested and dedicated to a couple on their first date...you know who you are." He smirked looking at Hikari and Daisuke. Yamato turned to the band and nodded, as the band played the only slow, romantic ballad in their repertoire.

The last thing Takeru wanted to see was them dancing, but it was unavoidable. They were the only people dressed in semi-formal wear and were the only couple slow dancing while everyone else were swaying their arms in the air. Takeru watched them remembering how they danced last night as king and queen. 'No it's not the same...it's more intimate.' Takeru thought leaving the warehouse with that image waltzing through his head.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Davis are you sure about this?" Hikari whispered.

"Yeah. Don't worry. I have a reservation." He whispered back.

"But it's Le Rendez-Vous." She whispered. "It's the most expensive French restaurant in Tokyo." She pointed out.

"Don't worry." Daisuke reassured. "I've been saving up for a long time."

"May I help you?" A condescending French accent rudely interrupted their conversation.

Daisuke turned and saw a very tall and intimidating maître d' standing by the podium. "Umm...we have a reservation." He said confidently.

"You're name?"

"Daisuke Motomiya." He confidently said.

"Monsieur Motomiya?" The maître d' gasped. "You're THE Monsieur Daisuke Motomiya, party of two?" He clarified.

"Yeah. Is there something wrong?" Daisuke asked. "Did you lose our reservation?" He gasped with fear.

"Well you see Monsieur has been making reservation for the last eight weeks and haven't been shown up, so we assumed that the reservation was a joke." The maître d' explained.

"What are you saying?" Daisuke asked.

"We didn't keep your reservation." He explained.

"What?!?" Daisuke freaked. "But I called in last week!"

"Davis, let's eat somewhere else." Hikari whispered.

"No, we're eating here." Daisuke whispered back adamantly. "Look sir, I'm sorry for all the inconvenience, but this is our first date and after two years of chasing her she finally said yes to go out for me. Isn't she worth the inconvenience?" He sheepishly asked.

"Davis." Hikari cried blushing.

"Oui, Monsieur is quite correct. Mademoiselle is quite beautiful." The maître d' smiled. "And it is our fault for not keeping your reservation and after all the French is known for their sense of romance."

"So you'll let us in?" Daisuke asked with excitement.

"Oui, Monsieur." He smiled. "Walk this way." He replied walking towards an intimate table for two. "Mademoiselle." The maître d' said pulling out a chair for Hikari as she took the seat. "Please accept our apologize by having dinner at half price." He smiled.

"We accept." Daisuke quickly forgave. "Now we can eat twice as much." He winked at Hikari.

"Très Bien Monsieur." The maître d' replied. "Your waiter would be here momentarily." He said leaving.

Hikari smiled to her date and quickly surveyed the restaurant. Le Rendez-Vous took her breath away. The French restaurant was beautifully decorated in velvet; satin and passable imitations of famous paintings, with candle lit tables and violin music being played in the background. The ambience of the restaurant was unequivocally and unconditionally that of romance.

Daisuke watched her being impressed by the venue he had chosen for his date tonight. 'She looks so beautiful in the candlelight.' He thought.

Hikari finished her inspection of the restaurant and looked at her date. Their brown eyes met, she gave a slight smile. "Is there something on my face?" She asked.

"No. You're perfect." He smiled. "Why do you ask?"

"You're just looking at me funny."

"It's just that you look so beautiful that I can't help but look at you this way." Daisuke smiled.

"Well stop it." She smiled. "You're giving me the willies."

"Sure...when all life on this planet cease to exists." Daisuke smiled.

"Oh Davis." Hikari replied blushing.

"Beinvenue à Le Rendez-Vous." The waiter interrupted. "I'm Henri and I'll be your waiter tonight." He smiled handing out the menus. "Shall I suggest a wine from the wine list?"

"Umm..." Hikari sighed looking at Daisuke.

"Do you have something non-alcoholic?" He sheepishly asked.

"Ah...of course." The waiter smiled. "We have a nice white grape juice, some sparkling champagne..."

"We'll take the champagne." Daisuke smiled.

"Très Bien." Henri smiled leaving.

"Davis." Hikari quietly protested. "Do you know how expensive champagne is?"

"Don't worry Kari." Daisuke replied confidently. "I've been saving up for a long time." He smiled.

"Really?" Hikari smiled. "Just how long have you been saving?"

"Ever since I first saw you." He smiled.

Hikari couldn't help but to feel flattered, albeit uncomfortable. She didn't like being on such a high pedestal. "Davis I appreciate all the attention, but I told you that I don't need it." She pointed out.

"I know, I know, my promise." Daisuke sighed. "But I made this reservation a week before." He pointed out. "And I hate to waste a reservation like this." He smiled. "Com'on let's order." Daisuke smiled opening up his menu.

"Yeah, it would be a waste." Hikari sighed opening her menu. She scanned the menu and bit her lower lip. "Umm...Davis, my menu doesn't have any prices." Hikari whispered.

"I know." Daisuke blushed. "All the fancy restaurant does that." He hushed hiding behind the menu. Although he had been saving up his money for two years, he was still afraid that he couldn't afford anything even at half price. 'Things are not going right.' He thought.

"Umm..." He heard another concern coming from Hikari.

"What is it Kari?" He said sheepishly.

"This whole menu is in French." Hikari whispered.

"Really? I thought it was some sort of weird English." Daisuke sighed still hiding behind his menu.

"I wish T.K. was here." Hikari sighed.

Daisuke was heartbroken to hear that. 'Even on a date with me she thinks of T.K.' He thought sadly. "Why?" He asked sheepishly behind his menu. He didn't care to know the answer to the statement that she gave, but to the thought he was thinking.

"No big reason." Hikari sighed. "It's just that T.K. could read French."

"Really?" He sound unimpressed.

"Yeah ever since he visited his grandfather in France two years ago he's been picking it up on his spare time." Hikari sighed. "I'm just scared about ordering brains or something disgusting like that." Hikari smiled.

"The French eat brains?" Daisuke gasped.

"Yeah T.K. told me all kind of disgusting things they eat in France." Hikari smiled.

"Could we stop talking about T.K.?" Daisuke said with a hint of anger in his voice. "You're on a date with me." He pointed out with more than a hint of jealousy.

Hikari put her menu down and looked straight into his eyes. "For the last time Davis, T.K. and I are just friends." Hikari said pronouncing each word. "There's nothing to be jealous of." She pointed out.

"I am not jealous!" Daisuke yelled. Suddenly the ambient conversation in the restaurant stopped as he felt all eyes pointed towards them. "Okay, maybe I'm a little resentful, but it seems that every conversation we have T.K. gets mentioned." Daisuke pointed out. "Are you sure you don't like T.K.?" Daisuke asked.

"Davis." Hikari sighed reaching for his hand. "Even if I were, it doesn't matter T.K. likes Chastity Shiozaki." Hikari pointed out.

"What if he didn't? What if he likes you?" Daisuke tested. "You can't tell me that you and T.K. are more then just friends." He pointed out.

"Davis, I've known T.K. for almost ten years." Hikari pointed out. "We've been through a lot together. He was there during the Heighten View Terrorist Attack; he was there through my years of sickness when I was a child; he was there during the Odaiba Fog incident; he was there when we fought the Dark Masters five years ago; he saved my life when we battle Piedmon; he was there through our second adventure in the Digital World; he was there when my dad died...I know him, just as he knows me." Her voice cracked after the mention of her father's death. "We know each other so well that when my dad died he was the only one, present company included that didn't ask: 'How are you?' but remained silent, because he knew the way I felt couldn't be defined by simple words." Hikari pointed out. "So to answer your question Davis, yes, T.K. and I are more than friends, perhaps more than family, but we are not lovers." Hikari sighed.

"Then when will you consider me like that?" Daisuke pointed out. "It's like I'm competing against a ghost that's always there." He sighed.

"Look Davis, if you want our relationship to be more than what it is now, then you have to accept that T.K. and I are just friends." Hikari pointed out. "And I would like my best friend and any potential lover to be friends."

"I got his name right at lunch didn't I?" Daisuke sighed looking at Hikari who didn't seem impressed. "What? I'm trying aren't I?" He asked.

"I guess." She was unable to suppress smiled and started giggling. "Did you see the look on his face when you did." She continued laughing.

"Yeah. I thought he was going to faint." Daisuke joined her in her laughter. It felt good laughing with her, it seemed right. "Look I'm sorry." Daisuke smiled. "I was a little jealous."

"A little?"

"Okay a lot jealous." Daisuke sighed. "Could we put our first fight behind us?" He sheepishly asked staring into her brown eyes.

"Yeah." Hikari smiled. "I guess I understand how you feel." She sighed. "T.K. is rather a big ghost to fight."

"Well, he's not really a ghost if he's around." Daisuke pointed out. "But I'll put my jealousy in check I promise." He pointed out.

"Scout's honour?" Hikari smiled.

"Yeah." He smiled remembering the lie he was caught with the night before. "So am I forgiven?" He timidly asked.

"Yeah." She smiled. "You forgive me?"

"Always."

Hikari reached for his hand and held it. "Why don't we start this date all over again?" She smiled.

"I think that's a good idea." Daisuke smiled. "Have I mentioned how beautiful you looked tonight?" He asked.

"Are you two ready to order?" Henri asked.

"Yeah." Daisuke smiled. "Could you point to anything that you'll recommend that isn't brains or anything disgusting?" He asked showing the waiter the menu.

"Absolument." He replied with smile.

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru was in uncharted waters. When he was upset the first person he would call was Hikari, but since she was apart of the problem he couldn't go to her. His brother was busy with his concert and his father and mother were at work and the subject on his heart was too intimate for any of his friends.

He wondered aimlessly through the streets of Odaiba and found himself on the basketball court in the park. 'I wish I have a basketball.' He thought.

"Hey Takaishi! Catch!" A ball hurled towards him, he instinctively caught it.

"Tai? What are you doing here?"

"I came looking for you?" He smiled.

"Why?"

"I thought we could play basketball?"

"With a soccer ball?" Takeru asked passing the ball back to him.

"Well I didn't have a basketball." Taichi shrugged.

"Because you don't consider basketball a sport." He smirked.

"Oh you two tell each other everything, don't you?" He smiled nervously.

"Well not exactly everything." Takeru mumbled under his breath.

"So do you know about Kari and Davis?"

"Their date? Yeah." Takeru sighed.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really." He sighed. "Why do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really." Taichi answered. "I just thought it might bother you."

"Well even if it did, Kari has the right to go out with anyone she wishes." Takeru sighed, leaning against the basketball pole.

"You know you should tell Hikari how you feel." Taichi sighed.

"Kari and I are just friends." Takeru protested. "Besides even if I do have feelings for Kari the last thing I want to do is tell her now." He pointed out.

"Why not?"

"Because Kari and I are good friends and I like to keep it like that." He sighed. "The last thing I want to do is to jeopardized that friendship like you did with Sora and Matt. I rather be Kari's friend then her enemy."

Taichi was hurt, not because of the attack Takeru just made to him, but because he served an example and a bad one at that. "T.K. just because it happened to us, doesn't mean it will happen to you." Taichi pointed out.

"But it could." Takeru sighed. "Unless you can guarantee to me that it wouldn't." He waited for a full minute for Taichi to answer, but there was none. "I didn't think so." He sighed. "If you don't mind, I have to be going." He said leaving Taichi alone on the basketball court.

"Oh T.K." He sighed watching him leave.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Dinner was lovely." Hikari smiled. "It's the best dinner I've ever had." She commented.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Daisuke smiled. "Are you going to finish your dessert?" Daisuke asked hesitantly.

"Help yourself." Hikari smiled. "I'm stuffed." She watched her date stuff his face with her dessert.

"What?" Daisuke asked. "I'm paying for this aren't I?" Bits of the dessert emanated from his mouth.

"No, it's not that." Hikari tried to suppress a chuckle. "I like watching you eat." She sighed.

"Well if you like this, you should come over for dinner at my place, you'll be laughing hysterically." Daisuke teased.

"Oh Davis." She smiled.

"Will there be anything else?" Henri asked.

Hikari looked at Daisuke eating the dessert. She suppressed a smile at the sight. "Just the bill." She answered for him. Hikari continue to watch Daisuke eat, just revelling in the moment. The bill came shortly after with a couple after dinner mints.

Hikari reached over for the bill. "No you don't." Daisuke interrupted her. "I told you I'm paying for dinner."

"I know, just curious about how much it cost that's all." Hikari smiled picking up one of the after dinner mints.

Daisuke looked at the bill and gasped. 'This is half price! It's going to drain all my savings!' He suppressed his concern; he looked at Hikari and saw her counterfeit against the candlelight. 'It's all worth it for one date with Kari.' He sighed reaching for his inner breast pocket for his wallet. 'That's funny.' Daisuke thought. 'It's surprisingly thin.' He gasped in fear. 'My wallet is gone.' He felt that his pocket had a hole in it. Daisuke quickly looked under the table, but his wallet wasn't there.

"Is everything okay?" Hikari asked with concern in her voice.

Daisuke popped from underneath the table. "Yeah." He quickly smiled covering the fact that he had lost his wallet. "I'll be right back." He smiled taking the bill with him.

He quickly and quietly mingled towards the front of the restaurant. He cleared his throat to signal for the maître d'. He turned around and saw Daisuke hiding behind the potted plant. "Monsieur Motomiya." He smiled. "How is your evening?" He asked.

"Great."

"And Mademoiselle?" He probed.

"She's enjoying herself."

"I am glad." The maître d' replied. "The French do love romance." He smiled.

"But there is just one problem."

"Oh? What is it?" The maître d' asked with concern.

"The bill." Daisuke sheepishly smiled. "It seems that I had a hole in my pocket and well...lost my wallet." He said looking down at his shoes.

"Really?" He replied unbelieving.

"Yeah." Daisuke sighed. "And since the French do love romance I figure you can put our meal on the house?" He sheepishly asked. "Or I can come back tomorrow and give you the money?" He said looking at the maître d' who's hands were at his sides. 'Uh oh.' He thought.

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru's wondering finally brought him home. His thoughts consumed his mind. 'I wonder what they're doing now?' He thought walking into the atrium of his apartment building complex. 'I wonder if she's enjoying herself.' He sighed unwilling to wait for the elevator and heading for the stairs. 'I wonder if she's fallen for him.' That thought pained him. "Oh god I hope that isn't so." He sighed under his breath. It was his first words spoken since he left Taichi at the basketball court hours ago.

He tactlessly climbed the stairs slowly, with each step getting heavier and harder to make. He was a man suffering from unrequited love, a love that could never be. 'I can't tell her.' He sighed. 'I can't let what happened to Matt, Tai and Sora happen to Kari and me.' Takeru sighed.

In his mind, he thought he was doing the honourable thing stepping aside to let Hikari determine where her heart should be. He figured that Hikari wasn't chattel or his property. 'Or am I just a coward?' Takeru allowed that thought to enter his mind. He stopped for a moment and mentally listed the pros and cons of telling her.

There were too many variables and too many possible outcomes that he would have liked. 'I can't risk it.' He thought. Takeru would rather have Hikari as a friend than risk losing her by telling her how he felt. He liked the relationship he had with her right now, but was unwilling to gamble with it for something more.

So he had no choice. Takeru didn't want her to go through the pain of choosing whom she want to be with. 'Or am I being selfish?' He sighed. Takeru was full with anguish over the reason behind not telling her. On the one hand he could be protecting her, on the other he could be selfish. 'Oh the agony.' He thought taking out his keys to open the door.

"Hey T.K." His mother greeted her eyes still fixated on her computer.

"Hey mom." He replied apathetically. "Still writing?" He draped his arms around his mother's neck, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Yeah." She sighed.

"The toilet paper story?" Takeru asked reading a couple of sentences on the screen. "I thought you were done with this."

"So did I." She sighed. "I didn't like the first draft."

"Keep at it mom." He encouraged. "I know you'll get it right."

"Thanks." She smiled. "You got several calls while you were out."

"Really?" He sounded surprised. 'Of course Kari said she would call me when the date was over.' He suddenly remembered. The idea of having Hikari telling him all about her date was something he didn't want to do, but he figured it fell under the job description of a best friend.

"Yeah." His mother smiled. "Your father called he wanted to know if you're feeling better. Then Matt called apologizing over a fight you two had at the concert. Then your friend Tai called for the same reason your father called." She turned around breaking the embrace. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked with motherly concern.

Takeru sighed; he was a little hurt that Hikari hasn't called him yet. 'Maybe she still out with Davis.' He thought pained him. His mother reiterated the question, which got him out of his thoughts. "Maybe a little later mom, I'm all talked out tonight." He replied trying to hold his tears back.

"Dad said it was over a girl. Is it Kari? Is that why her brother called?" He couldn't hold the tears back anymore. His eyes started streaming with tears and he started weeping. "There, there." His mother sighed holding her son closer to her. "It's okay, let it all out." She whispered into his ears. He felt safe in the arms of his mother.

* * * * * * * * * *

"I'm sorry." Daisuke whispered scrapping French food off the plate.

"Davis that the fourth time you apologized." Hikari sighed washing the dish Daisuke handed to her. "It's okay, it's not your fault that you lost your wallet." She pointed out.

"I should have checked before we entered the restaurant." He sulked. "Now we're here washing dishes to pay for our meal. I wanted this night to be perfect." He sighed.

"It is." Hikari smiled.

"You're just saying that." Daisuke sighed.

"Look Davis." She smiled putting her arms around his neck holding him. "The point of a date is to spend time with another person and to have some fun."

"Are you?" Daisuke asked pulling her closer to him, his arms around her waist.

"I am." She smiled. "I don't care what I'm doing as long as I'm with you." She smiled looking into his eyes and still saw uncertainty in them. "Davis, you're rather a romantic, sweet guy."

"I am?" He sounded surprised. "I mean, I am." He said, this time with more confidence.

"Yeah you are." Hikari smiled. "You saved your money for the better part of two years so you could have one ostentatious date with me. You called Le Rendez-Vous for the last two months for reservations in the hopes that one-day I might say yes to one of your invitations. You bought me roses, a baker's dozen worth. You took me out dancing." She smiled. "I felt like a princess this whole night."

"So I'm sweet and romantic."

"Yeah."

"More than T.K.?"

"Oh, you're incorrigible." She smiled looking into his brown eyes that were awaiting her answer. "Yeah more than T.K." She sighed.

Daisuke was excited about his small victory over the infamous Takeru that he pulled Hikari closer in. He closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her.

"Hey you two, you're not here to make-out but to clean dishes." The busboy interrupted them by placing a stack of dirty plates down. "Get to it!" He ordered. "We all have to sing for our dinners." He grunted leaving to collect more plates.

"Well he's right." Hikari smiled breaking the embrace. "We better get back to work." She sighed washing another dish.

Daisuke swore to himself. 'I was this close from kissing her.' He thought.

"Com'on Davis, I'm not doing all this work on my own."

"All right." Daisuke sighed returning to his work. He looked at the stack of dirty dishes and sighed. 'This is going to take forever.' He thought. "Kari did you mean what you said that you didn't care what you're doing as long as you're were spending time with me?" He asked enigmatically.

"Yeah." Hikari smiled. "Why do you ask?"

"You should come over to my house on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at seven." Daisuke invited with the smirk still on his face.

"To have dinner with your family?"

"No, to wash dishes, those are my nights to do them." He smiled.

"Oh." Hikari chuckled playfully picking up some food on the dish she was scraping off and threw it at Daisuke. She didn't realize what she did until it was too late. "I'm so sorry." She couldn't contain her laughter.

"Sure." Daisuke said unconvinced at her apology. He then picked up a good size morsel of uneaten food in his hand and had an evil grin on his face.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me." He smiled.

"Don't you dare!" She smiled picking up another handful of food in her defence. It was too late because Daisuke had already thrown his food at her. In return, she threw what she had in her hand.

"Food Fight!" They yelled in unison.

The food fight lasted only for a couple of seconds before they ran out of ammunition. After which Daisuke started to chase her around the kitchen. "I'm going to get you." Daisuke taunted.

"Catch me if you can." She taunted sticking out her tongue.

They cased each other around the island in the middle of the kitchen once more when he caught her. Daisuke pulled her in so hard that their noise almost hit each other. Their eyes were locked, laughing, smiling, with French food all over their faces.

Then an invisible force, an attraction pulled their faces closer to each other. Their eyes closed and their lips were about to approach their pinnacle. Nothing else was on their minds except the inevitable.

"Hey! What is going on here?" The maître d' asked. "You're not here to make out with your girlfriend. Now clean up this mess and if a dish was broken because of your rowdiness you'll have to make up for it with more washing."

"Yes sir." They said in unison.

"Now get to it! Monsieur you clean up the floors! Mademoiselle get to the dishes! Vite, vite, vite!" He ordered clapping his hand three times.

"Yes sir." They replied returning to their work.

* * * * * * * * * *

It has been a long time since he cried and longer since he cried on his mother's shoulder. Then again, it was the first time his heart was broken; he was, like most of his night in uncharted waters.

He never knew why he felt better after a good cry, but he did. Perhaps it was the discharge of strong emotions that drained him so much that he ended up with such a clear mind.

His mind was so clear, too clear for his liking. He could hear every thought that ran through his mind. The debate whether he should tell Hikari his feeling still rang strong. Part of him wanted to tell her and the other part, the side he was leaning towards told him to keep his feelings to himself. Then came a second debate the reason behind why he shouldn't tell Hikari. Was it out of honour from a promise he made a long time ago, to protect her to make her happy, or was it because he was scared or selfish. It was driving him crazy.

"Hey T.K. are you hungry you missed dinner?" His mother popped her head through his room.

"Not really." He sighed, sitting up on his bed.

"Well I made you a sandwich just in case." His mother smiled putting the plate on his nightstand. "How are you feeling?" She asked fixing her son's flaxen hair.

"Better." He said putting on a brave smile. "You finish you're article?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "You want to read it?"

"Maybe later." Takeru sighed. "You should get some rest, you look tired."

"I will." His mother smiled. "You better get some sleep too, you're graduating tomorrow and I don't want you falling asleep getting your diploma." She smiled.

"All right." Takeru smiled. "I'll turn in soon."

"Good night." She gave a kiss on his forehead.

Takeru was not ready to go to sleep, especially when he was waiting for Hikari's call. He turned to his clock to check on the time. 'That's odd it's really late.' He sighed. 'Kari should be home now. It's unlike her to break her promise like that - it'll be the first one.' Takeru was worried.

He hesitantly picked up the phone and pushed one on his speed-dial. The phone rang three times before someone picked up the phone. "Hello?" Taichi answered.

"Hey Tai." He sheepishly answered. He hoped Hikari would have picked up because he wasn't in the mood to talk to him.

"Hey T.K. I hope you're feeling better."

"Yeah...I will be." Takeru sighed. "Thanks for calling earlier."

"No problem. How can I help you?"

"I know it's late, but Kari said that she'll call me after her date, I was wondering if she was home?" Takeru sighed.

"No, she's still out on her date...wait a minute she just got in." Taichi informed. "Hey Kari! T.K. is on the phone for you..." Takeru heard through the receiver.

* * * * * * * * * *

"I'm sorry about your dress." Daisuke apologized.

"Would you stop apologizing?" Hikari smiled. "It's only a dress and the stains will come out." She pointed out. "Thanks for walking me home." She smiled.

"No problem." He smiled. "I hope you had fun." Daisuke sighed. "It's just not the way I envisioned my first date with you."

"Hey I have a fun time...dishes and all." Hikari smiled holding Daisuke around his waist.

"Really?"

"Honestly Davis." She sighed. "I never knew you to be insecure about anything." She smiled. "Tell you what how about we go out tomorrow this time I'll plan the evening and dress casual."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Hikari smiled reassuring.

"Are you sure you're not doing this out of pity."

"Daisuke Motomiya, after knowing me all these years and spending an evening with me, you should know that I don't do anything out of pity." She smiled. "I enjoy your company and want to go out with you again."

"So does that means you'll be my girlfriend?"

"No, it means I'll go out with you again." Hikari smiled.

"Well that's good enough with me." Daisuke sighed.

"Thanks for not rushing me." Hikari smiled running her hand through his hair. "I had a great time."

"Me too." Daisuke smiled leaning in for a kiss. 'This time I won't let anything stop me.' He thought with determination.

'Well here goes my first kiss.' Hikari thought. She slowly approached his mouth and slowly closed her eyes. Soon the vision of the blue eye, blond hair boy wearing a white hat slowly disappeared to be replaced by darkness. Hikari gasped pulling away from the kiss. The last thing she saw before kissing Daisuke was Takeru. "I'm sorry. I can't do this." She gasped breaking the embrace.

"What do I have bad breath?" Daisuke asked checking out his breath.

"No you're breath is fine." Hikari started to hyperventilate. She quickly searched her purse for her keys. "I...I...I just don't kiss on the first date." Hikari stuttered giving the first excuse that crossed her mind.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah...fine." Hikari answered nervously. "Thanks for walking me home." She said putting her key in the knob. "Good night." She smiled nervously crossing the threshold.

"What about our date?" Daisuke interjected.

"I'll tell you tomorrow at graduation." Hikari said slamming the door in his face. She started breathing heavily leaning against the door. 'Why would I think of T.K. when kissing Davis?' She thought still flabbergasted at what just happened.

"No, she's still out on her date...wait a minute she just got in." Hikari heard her brother talking on the phone. "Hey Kari! T.K. is on the phone for you."

"Who?" She freaked.

"T.K. he's been worried about you."

"Tell him I'm not here." She said still disturbed over the events that just happened.

"But I just told him that you're home." Taichi protested.

"Tell him I'm in the shower or something. I just don't want to talk to him right now." Hikari said storming into her room.

"Umm...I was mistaken Kari is asleep." He lied quickly hanging up the phone.

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru listened to the dial tone for a few seconds. "Sure." He sighed hanging up the phone. He had heard the whole conversation through the phone. 'That's odd.' He thought. 'Did I do something to hurt Kari?' He couldn't think of anything. 'It must be her date. Yeah her date probably went badly.' He sighed. Part of him was glad, but only a small part. The bigger and more important part felt worried. 'But even so she always comes to me with all her problems or at least talk to me about them.' He thought.

"T.K. shut the light off and go to bed." His mother's voice emanated from the living room.

"Yes mom." He replied back turning off the lamp. 'But how am I suppose sleep if something's wrong with Kari?' He sighed looking at the ceiling. 'I wonder what happened?'

TO BE CONTINUED...

Disclaimer: [1] The names of persons, places, and events pertaining to Digimon: Digital Monster Animated Series is not my invention and is the property of Toei Animation, Bandi, and Saban Entertainment - no profit is gained from the writing of this series. [2] This is a fan fiction and as such names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination that is, those not mentioned in the previous clauses and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.