The Next Step

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Part 3: Silver Lining

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Hey! Long time no see! It's me again. I don't have much left to say here, except that someone commented they'd like a key for the chat names. So...here it is. I'll mention if other people join the discussions.
Hopeful_Angel: Takeru
IoriT: Iori
Holylight25: Hikari
Bravechibu42: Daisuke
Purelove2713: Miyako
Dangerous_Mind: Ken

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**Private Chat**
-Purelove2713 has entered-
-Holylight25 has entered-
-IoriT has entered-

Purelove2713: So, what is it?
IoriT: I sort of dumped Takeru...
Holylight25: What?! Why?
IoriT: He's not willing to consider us ever having children.
Purelove2713: He made an issue out of that?
Holylight25: He would. Miya-chan, how about we go try and talk some sense into our blond friend?
IoriT: Guys, I don't want him to come back because you threatened him. I...if he comes back, he should want to be with me.
Purelove2713: What Hikari meant was that we should try to see if we can show him the benefits of going back with you.
IoriT: I...you guys...thanks.

* * *

"Thank you, Ken, for letting me stay here." Takeru bowed to Ken, and turned to the door.

"You're sure you'll be all right?" Ken inquired nervously. "I mean, the strain of a relationship ending-"

"It hasn't ended!" Takeru protested, his eyes panicked. "We're just trying to work some things out. I...we'll be fine, right?" Ken nodded.

"Right, I understand. It'll be fine, Takeru." Takeru nodded, and stepped out the door.

"Thank you again, Ken-kun. I...I'll keep in touch." Ken watched Takeru leave, and frowned. Turning, he stumbled over a cardboard box.

"Ow!" He gingerly rubbed his sore leg, and glanced up when he saw Daisuke step into the room, dressed in only a bathrobe.

"Sorry, Ken-chan. There's a lot here; I'll have it all put away before you get back from work." Ken waved his hand vaguely.

"No, Suke-chan, take your time with it. It doesn't matter if the apartment's a mess. If you need to rest or something, go ahead. And Suke-chan?"

"Yeah, Kenji-koi?"

"Don't set anything on fire." Daisuke grinned at his boyfriend, and pushed him out the door. He smiled, and looked at the myriad of items spread throughout the apartment.

"Time to get to work."

* * *

"Hi, Mr. Ichijouji," Leah said briskly. "You know, the meeting today was moved to 9." Ken swore, and grabbed a pile of papers from his desk and dashed out the door.

"Leah! You could have told me, and I would have gone there from home!" She shrugged, and he was gone. She returned to her typing, but glanced up when a black-haired man approached her.

"Excuse me, miss?" Leah glanced up, pushing her glasses up her nose.

"Yes?"

"Is Ichijouji Ken in?" Leah shook her head.

"You just missed him. Can I take a message?" The man nodded.

"My name is Kuroi Hiroshi, and this is my number. Have him call me when he gets in."

* * *

"Who in the world could be coming over here? Most people would call, or wait, since he's at work," Daisuke mused, sumbling over the (still) full cardboard boxes. "Coming!" he shouted, and leapt for the door. He swung it open, and smiled cheerfully at the black man who stood in front of him. "Hi, may I help you?" The man before him looked around nervously. His gray eyes peered at the packing boxes.

"I'm sorry; is this where Ichijouji Ken lives?" he asked of Daisuke.

"Yeah; I was just moving in. How can I help you?" The man took a few steps in, and then turned to Daisuke.

"You must be one of his friends. Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Hiroshi, and I'm Ken's boyfriend."

* * *

Ken leaned into the door, and was surprised when, instead of grinding against piles of boxes, it swung open freely. He stumbled into the apartment, blinking in astonishment. There were no boxes, nor any clutter. In fact, the apartment was spotless.

"Wow...Daisuke said he'd clean up, but...wow." Ken dropped his tie on a chair, and poked his head into the small hallway to the bedroom. "Daisuke? Are you here?" There was no response. "Huh. I thought he said he'd be home all day," Ken muttered. "Suke-chan?" Still no response. Ken wandered into the kitchen, where a note was on the table, written in Daisuke's familiar scrawl. Ken picked it up, frowning.

//Ichijouji-
Kuroi Hiroshi came by to see you today. Apparently, he is your boyfriend, which left me immensely confused. We had a nice little chat, and he took the bus back to the airport. Very nice guy. I can see why you wanted to date him. Anyway, I'm at my sister's, and I'm not accepting phone calls.
-Daisuke//

Ken dropped the note, and watched it flutter to the table. A few tears followed it, then a soft curse, and audible sobs. The apartment was silent except for the sobs, which, over time, melted into desperate laughter.

* * *

**Private Chat**
-Holylight25 has entered-
-Dangerous_Mind has entered-

Holylight25: So, what's wrong, Ken?
Dangerous_Mind: Daisuke.
Holylight25: Well, that certainly narrows it down. Thank you, Ken.
Dangerous_Mind: He left.
Holylight25: What?!
Dangerous_Mind: He left the apartment, took everything with him, and left quite a sarcastic note behind.
Holylight25: Why in God's name would he do that?
Dangerous_Mind: It's a long story.
Holylight25: Miyako's at the former Takaishi/Hida apartment chatting with Takeru, so I've got time.
Dangerous_Mind: Well, back in college...
Holylight25: Just a second; I'm going to the bathroom first.
Holylight25: Okay, back!
Dangerous_Mind: Well, back in college, I was upset because I hadn't let myself admit my feelings to Daisuke. And, one day, I met this guy-
Holylight25: I don't like where this is going.
Dangerous_Mind: And we started dating. We were comfortable together, and things sort of progressed, and we...
Holylight25: I'm starting to get a picture of went on. How long had you been dating when...
Dangerous_Mind: Well, a week.
Holylight25: Uh oh.
Dangerous_Mind: The fact that you nearly jumped into bed with this guy could conceivably Daisuke believe that the reason you haven't yet because you don't find him attractive. How long did the relationship go on?
Dangerous_Mind: Well, I never actually ended it.
Holylight25:...
Dangerous_Mind: Hikari?
Holylight25: I feel like I've been thrown into some American high-school soap opera. You never broke up?! Didn't he ever find out you got married?
Dangerous_Mind: He was studying atmospheric science, and he's been in Antarctica since he got out of college. I sort of lost track of him.
Holylight25: You know, you're not helping your cause at all here, Ichijouji. How do you lose track of your boyfriend?
Dangerous_Mind: I...he was a nice enough guy, but I never felt...connected to him.
Holylight25: It sounds to me that you connected quite a lot with him.
Dangerous_Mind:...
Holylight25: Well, speaking as someone with experience with people, I'd advise staying away from Daisuke for at least two days. Then, he should be cooled off enough to talk to. But Ken, be prepared to do some serious groveling.

* * *

"Takeru, why don't you ever want kids?" Miyako asked, rubbing a hand on Takeru's shoulder. The blond glanced up at her nervously.

"It's not that I don't want them-it's more that I'd hoped that we'd decide on it together, when we'd been married, that it could be a joint decision, not someone planning it from the beginning." Takeru sighed. "I screwed things up, didn't I?" Miyako nodded, and he buried his head in his hands. "So, is there any chance that I could fix this mess?" Miyako sat back, pensive.

"You can, but you're going to have to do it right. Take-kun, to be honest, he's really upset, and it's going to take more than an 'I'm sorry'. You have to show him that you do love him, and that nothing is going to change it." She shrugged. "I'm not going to tell you how, but think, Takeru. You're a writer; use those language skills." Takeru smiled at her, and nodded.

"Thanks, Miya-kun. By the way, where's Hikari?" Miyako frowned.

"She was supposed to be here a while ago. Something must have come up."

"Well, again, thank you," Takeru added, and Miyako stood up.

"I'll see you, Take-kun, and good luck."

* * *

Ken glanced up from his dinner, and stood up, walking to the door. He was utterly and totally surprised when Motomiya Jun burst in, and pinned him against the wall.

"Hello, Ken," she hissed. "Surprised to see me?" Ken was about to answer yes, that he was surprised that his (currently ex-) boyfriend's sister had burst into his apartment with a murderous look in her eyes, when Jun moved her face closer to him. "Listen, Ken, I don't know exactly what you did to my brother, but now is the time that you should learn that I am *very* protective of Daisuke. Sure, I always thought he was a brat, but he's still my brother, and he *deserves* *to* *be* *happy*. Do you agree?" Ken nodded. "Good." She released her grip, and stepped back a foot. "So, listen to me, and listen well, Ken. During the past three weeks, my little brother has been the happiest he's been his entire life. I can only assume it has something to do with you. Today, however, he appeared on my doorstep with everything he owned. He was crying, Ken, *crying*. Now, I can only assume the reason that he was crying was related to you. So, Ken, I'm telling you this. Normally, if someone upsets my little brother like this, they would find themselves in somewhat of a quandary, namely, how to remove their heads from the place I had firmly wedged it. However, it seems that you care for Daisuke to some extent, so I give you this warning. If you *ever* make my little brother cry like this again, I hope you get to the airport quickly, because if you're in this apartment, you will quickly find yourself lacking both lungs and genitalia." With that, she turned around, and stormed from the hallway. Ken stared after, and shuddered. Then, in a delayed reaction to the shock, he slid to the floor in a faint.

* * *

"Hikari, where were you?" Miyako demanded. Hikari glanced up, and smiled ruefully.

"Sorry, Miya-chan. Something happened with Ken, and I had to advise him."

"How?" Miyako asked.

"It's a long story, love, and I just want to sleep right now." Miyako glared at her, but then slipped onto the couch with her girlfriend.

"Fine, but first thing in the morning-er, second thing in the morning, you tell me. Okay?" Hikari nodded, falling asleep with her head on the other woman's shoulder. Miyako wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, and they fell asleep like that on the couch.

* * *

"Iori, I love you-no, that's not the way to start. Listen, we have to talk-no, that sounds like I'm really going to break up with him. Argh!" Takeru threw himself into an upholstered chair. "I just can't find what I have to say to him to get him back. I'm just a writer; I'm not Cicero." He sighed. "I'm hopeless, aren't I?"

"Actually, that would describe me," Ken said, walking in. He sat next to Takeru, and sighed. "You have made a mistake; I screwed up three perfectly happy people's lives because I was an idiot." Takeru glanced up at him.

"Three? Do I want to know?"

"My boyfriend from Antarctica came looking for me at the apartment."

"You've been cheating on Daisuke?"

"No; I was actually cheating on the Antarctica guy. I never really broke up with him...I did get married, though." Takeru turned to him, frowning.

"You really did screw things up, didn't you?" Takeru quipped.

"Yes, I did."

"Well, we're pathetic, aren't we?" Takeru added. "Two guys, in great relationships, and we just ruin them because we're idiots. Care for a drink?"

"Sorry; I'm a coffee person," Ken replied. Takeru smiled, and took a sip from a small glass of beer.

"Well, do either of us plan to fix things?" he asked of the blue-haired man. Ken frowned.

"Jun has effectively paralyzed me for a while. Did I tell you that she came to my apartment and threatened me? She said that if I ever did something like this again, she'd tear out my lungs." Takeru nodded vaguely, and the two sat in silence.

"I could have warned you. I never told you that he asked me out once. Around the time we found out you were the Kaiser. I turned him down, and the next day, it was explained to me by Jun that the only reason I was still alive was because she was trying to get in with my brother."

"Huh. The only reason I'm still alive is because Daisuke's crazy about me."

"Yay. We both survived Jun's wrath. Maybe there's hope for us yet."

* * *

"Hello, Hida-san," Takeru said, bowing to Iori's mother. She frowned at him, and stepped aside.

"Takeru. Iori told me to let you come in if you wanted to see him, but I'm not happy with you." He nodded.

"Hai, Hida-san."

"And I tell you that unless you're here to apologize, there's a very good chance that you will not leave this apartment unharmed. Iori is a very special person, and the fact that he's interested in you should make you happy. And if you can't see how much his love is worth...there isn't any hope for you." Takeru sighed.

"I have no illusions about that; I love him, and I hope I can show him that."

"Good luck," she whispered, and stepped clearly aside.

* * *

Ken dialed again, and lstened as the answering machine picked up.

"Hi, Daisuke, listen, we have to talk," he pleaded. "I...have to talk to you about-gods, I *miss* you, Dai-chan! You-you're everything to me, and I need to see you. Please..." He dropped the phone, and sat down on the kitchen floor. His wandering eyes rested on the wall where he'd hung the Daisuke mask, that he'd made on Mark's insistence, and had led to him remembering his love for the cinnamon-haired man. "Gods, I *need* you, Suke-chan," he whispered to the empty room.

* * *

"Iori?" Takeru stepped cautiously into the small bedroom.

"What is it, Takeru?" Iori asked coldly. Takeru felt a pang in his chest, but he knew he deserved that.

"Iori, we need to talk," he explained nervously. The brunette turned, and approached him.

"Then talk." He crossed his arms and waited.

"Iori, I know that when you mentioned children, I freaked out. A lot of it was, that I hadn't really thought about it, and that I'd assumed you wouldn't be planning so far ahead."

"You didn't think I'd be planning ahead? How long have we been dating, Takeru? You should-"

"That's beside the point," Takeru interrupted. "The thing is, I realized that breaking up because of this is stupid. You see, I love you, and that means I want to be with you forever. It doesn't matter whether I ever want children, because I would do anything, as long as you're there with me. So, Iori, will you marry me?" Iori smiled faintly, and took back the engagement ring from Takeru's fingers.

"Of course."

* * *

"I need to see you. Please..." Daisuke rewound the tape again, and frowned. Suddenly, a presence behind him made him turn quickly.

"Jun! Don't do that!"

"Sorry," the mother answered. She walked next to him, and looked down at the tape recorder. "You know, you're being unfair to Ken."

"N-nani?"

"You listened to that guy and left. You haven't even given your boyfriend a chance to defend himself." Jun smiled at her little brother. "You used to be this guy who would give anyone another chance. It didn't matter if they were a murderer, a dictator, a usurper, you'd be willing to give them a chance. Now, what happened to that little guy, hm?" Daisuke turned to her, smiling.

"You know, I think you're right. Thanks, 'neechan."

* * *

"Daisuke. I didn't think you'd come."
"Jun told me I should give you a chance." Ken nodded, and gestured to a park bench. The two of them sat down, side by side. "So, what did you come here to say?"

"I'm not going to make excuses or try to defend myself. It would be hopeless, and I was simply an idiot. There's no excuse for that. But...I want to explain a few things. I'm sure you heard that he and I-"

"Were in bed together within a week of meeting," Daisuke spat out. "Yes. Since you're obviously so fast, there must be something wrong with 'Sike-chan', right?"

"Wrong. Da-Suke-chan, listen. You think I don't love you because I won't-" He shook his head. "No. Daisuke, I *do* love you, and that's why we're waiting. I know that it would be your first time, and I want you to be comfortable with it. I'd wait forever for you." There was silence, and then Daisuke spoke up.

"Ken? I-I want it."

"Nani?!"

"Let's go back to your apartment. I'm ready."

* * *

"Kenji?"

"Hm?" Ken asked, rolling over to face his lover;
'Gods, I love that word. Daisuke is my lover'
both of them were smiling.

"Aishiteru." Ken felt his grin grow, and he moved up close to the other man. Daisuke nuzzled up against his chest, and they fell asleep like that. When Ken finally woke up, he found himself simply staring at the simple beauty of his boyfriend. The sunlight, and the fact that Daisuke looked deceptively *innocent* when he slept just made Ken's heart twinge.

"Morning, beautiful," he whispered, laying a kiss on the other's forehead.

"If you're gonna kiss me, do 't on the lips," Daisuke muttered sulkily. Ken grinned, and kissed him. The intimacy, however, was short-lived as Ken realized he was late for work.

* * *

"Hello, Ichijouji-san, have a good weekend?" Leah asked pleasantly. Ken nodded vaguely as he slipped into his office. The intercom buzzed, and she spoke. "If you had a good weekend, why did I get threatening calls from Daisuke's sister?"

"It doesn't matter, Leah. We're all good now." There was a pause, and then-

"No man ever sounds that happy unless he got some!" Ken chuckled.

"You got me, Leah. Now, we both have work to do, so goodbye." He shut off the intercom, and smiled. Then, picking up the phone, he dialed his own number. As he'd expected, Daisuke was still trying to get some sleep. "Hey, Suke-chan, don't bother calling back. I just wanted to call to say I loved you, and...well, to just tell you that I believe there is nothing in this world that can separate us. I just want you to remember that no matter what, I *will* always love you. Ja,"

* * *

After waking, Daisuke checked the answering maachine. He then turned his hand to another painting. It was another of his visions of the Digiworld, but this was no memory of a past horror. Rainbows sparkled, flowing over the Digiworld, and a flock of butterflies soared above, spreading ppeace. Daisuke had been there, and was in the picture, standing next to a blue-haired man in a valley, watching the rebirth of the world. Daisuke grinned, and signed the painting with a flourish.

* * *

There! Finally, I'm done! I hope you all liked it...please give me feedback, or I won't know whether you liked it or not. Anyway, keep your eyes out for another part to the series, but not soon, as there are several other projects I'm involved with.