Author's Notes: Short chapter here, more of an interlude. I don't own, please don't sue.
***
Walking off the plane and into the crowded international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport was an entirely disconcerting experience. The large crowd of people waiting for relatives or friends from the multitude of flights that arrived at the busy airport made the terminal too loud for comfort.
Takeru looked at the amassed crowd and tried to pick out Willis's head of blond hair. He could see him, standing by the metal bars separating the area leading into the airport proper. Takeru pushed the cart containing his luggage towards him, and the two hugged.
Nothing was said between them until they got to Willis's car, a forest green convertible.
"Nice car."
"I briefly worked for an internet company... I got out before it went south, and the stock was enough to cover it."
"Cool."
Soon the two were free of the horrendous traffic of the airport and the city, speeding on the 101 towards the bay city of San Francisco. The open air experience on the freeway doing 80 was exhilarating, but bearable because of the thoughtfully installed wind screen.
"I figured you wanted to go up to Berkley as soon as possible, so that you could get unpacked and all."
"Hmm." Takeru stared out at the scenery, letting his eyes glide over the rolling hills.
"Soo... why are you attending college here, instead of in Japan?" Willis glanced at Takeru for a second, before turning back to the road.
"Hm? Oh, just needed a change of scenery, I guess." Takeru answered absently.
"But I thought you and Daisuke were together." Willis looked away from the road again, and saw that Takeru's shoulders had gone stiff.
"Yes, that, ah... I caught him with Ken." Belatedly remembering that Willis probably didn't know who Ken was, he went on, "Another digidestined."
"Oh, uh, that sucks, Takeru."
"It does." Takeru turned to face Willis, "I know I've been not all that friendly, but it's just still so fresh in my mind."
"That's ok, I can understand that."
The two were silent for a moment, before Takeru reached into his satchel and pulled out a small bag. In it were the remains of the bracelet he had given Daisuke. In a moment of anger, he had asked Yamato to go ask for it back, and once he got it, he set a screwdriver to it, meticulously unlinking every piece of the silver chain. Takeru poured the pieces into his hand, and tossed them up into the air, watching as they scattered onto to the freeway.