Dominance - #6: Confusion
Disclaimer: The same as all the earlier parts. Digimon is not mine... end of story. The only thing mine is this fic. Don't sue please.
Takeru felt his eyes widen as he stared incredulously at Daisuke, who was carefully avoiding all of their gazes. He had long ago come to the conclusion that part of Daisuke's mind didn't work. There had to be one single brain cell in there that had warped and scrambled the entire thing. He figured that was probably the part that caused Daisuke to goof up so often.
Now he had the feeling that was the part that Daisuke actually used to think. How could he have submitted to the Kaiser like that? Even though Daisuke hadn't done it using words or anything, he had refused to fight their enemy. That was just as good as saying anything. But the more important question was Why?
Miyako looked close to strangling Daisuke, Takeru had never seen her face go that pale with fury before. Iori looked calm and relaxed as he always did, but Takeru knew inside he was just as confused and as angry as they all were. Hikari just looked sad, as if she didn't want to believe what had just happened. The Kaiser looked delighted for some reason, grinning gleefully, an unusual change from his usual sullen pout or arrogance. And himself?
He just wanted to know Why.
He had the feeling Hikari had suspected something was up from the cryptic way she had spoken to him in the cave, but he figured even she hadn't suspected anything like this. Daisuke had some explaining to do. A rather large amount of explaining to do, if they could keep Miyako from possibly killing him.
"Well, I think my point has well and truly been taken," Ken said smoothly, looking as if this was just another battle against his foes. He looked extremely satisfied, as if something he had been hoping to happen had just done so. But how could Daisuke refusing to fight mean anything to him, except as an excuse to be used to taunt Daisuke later? None of this made sense! "Until we meet again," he added, before leaping onto the back of his Airdramon and departing. His minions began to leave the clearing by a much more ordinary method - by foot. The Digidestined were the only ones who remained, the four staring accusingly at their leader.
"I think the question we all want the answer to is," Miyako snapped, the first to speak, "what on earth convinced you to just do that?!" Her eyes flashed behind their glasses and she took a threatening step towards Daisuke, who visibly balked in fright.
"Uh ... well, that's kind of - difficult - to answer," he stuttered, eyes wide, as he backed away. He glanced wildly around, fear beginning to set in as he met four pairs of accusing, sad and disappointed eyes. "Uh ..." He gulped hard, realising he was in big trouble.
I can't tell them why I did it, I can't! he thought, panicking. They'd never understand. And I can't tell them what I let Ken do to me - and what I did to him. He couldn't put the blame on Ken entirely, he had wanted it just as much as him. What had he done to deserve all of this? Be born?
Hikari watched Daisuke carefully, eyes calculating as she watched the conflicting emotions play across her friend's face. Something was very, very wrong here and now she was sure it had something to do with Ken. Deciding to take a more subtle approach, she walked over to Daisuke and leaned close into him, ignoring Takeru's furious look. "Daisuke," she said gently, making him look at her. "What's wrong? You know you can tell us."
"I can't," he answered, shaking his head miserably. "I really can't. I'm sorry, but that's the way it has to be."
"What has all of this got to do with Ken?" she whispered, keeping her voice low so only he could hear. She had a feeling this was something the others didn't need to hear. "Did he ever do something to you Daisuke? Is he blackmailing you?"
The look of terror that entered his soft brown eyes gave her the true answer. "No!" he cried, stumbling back. "How could you say I'd let him do such a thing to me?! There's nothing wrong!" Eyes stinging, he turned and ran away from them, ignoring their cries for him to come back. All he cared about was just getting away, to be left alone. He didn't want to have to face their accusing and confused stares any longer. He also conveniently forgot that Ken could very easily find him ...
Trembling finely, he stepped out from the trees to a small expanse of land beside a small rushing stream. Gasping for breath and trying to get the tears to go away, he fell down onto his knees and stared emptily into the clear water, watching as his reflection blurred and shifted with the current.
He didn't say anything at first as his digimon's reflection appeared on the water beside his own. Veemon silently sat down beside him and sighed slightly as they both lapsed into quietness. Eventually, in a desperate bid to break the silence and his loneliness, Daisuke muttered bitterly, "I guess you're mad with me too huh?"
Veemon shook his head. "That's not true Daisuke. Maybe I am mad a little," he admitted, "but I'm your digimon and I'm supposed to be on your side no matter what. Anyway ... I - I've seen the way you acted after Ken ... erm ... kissed you and well, you liked it. Even I could see that." He stopped, suddenly uncomfortable with what he was saying, not sure if it was the right thing.
"What?" Daisuke looked at him, stunned. "Is it that obvious?" He groaned, rubbing his forehead hard as the first pangs of pain began to appear. "Why did I insist on explaining girlfriends and all that to you?" He highly regretted having that talk now, if he'd known it was going to be used like this.
"I don't know, you wanted to explain it to me," Veemon replied. "Dai-san, whatever you choose, remember I'll always be there for you. I'll always be on your side no matter what you decide." He touched his partner's arm hesitantly, smiling slightly.
"Thanks Veemon," Daisuke replied, smiling down at him, before leaning down and gathering him in a hug. The surprised digimon didn't bother to protest, instead hugging him back.
"How touching," a new voice sneered from behind them. "Someone gag me already." Daisuke and Veemon broke apart to see the Kaiser standing behind them, looking disgusted, his Airdramon silent near him. Daisuke stood up, glaring at Ken angrily.
"What do you want now?!" he demanded. "Do you expect me to lie to my friends again?" He didn't know a brief flicker of pain flashed in his eyes as he said that, and neither did he know the Kaiser felt something in his chest twist as he saw that pain.
"I kept your secret however, did I not?" he answered, smirking slightly. "Believe me, if you had fought against me I wouldn't have wasted time keeping secrets. But you knew that, didn't you?" His smirk broadened as Daisuke nodded numbly. "You understand me better than you think my Daisuke."
"I'm not your anything Kaiser!" he snapped without thinking, an automatic response. For that he suddenly found himself slammed against a tree, the Kaiser keeping him there with one hand and the other twisted in his hair.
Leaning in close, so he met Daisuke's eyes directly, the Kaiser replied, "But you are Daisuke. You're mine, or have you forgotten already? I can do whatever the hell I want with you and you can't do anything about it." Gathering part of Daisuke's hair in his hand he pulled it slightly and felt grim satisfaction as Daisuke winced slightly. "Understand?"
"Yes Kaiser," Daisuke replied tightly, his teeth clenched from anger and from pain. "I understand."
"No, I don't think you do." Ken's eyes narrowed behind their shades. "I've been questioning your loyalty to me Daisuke. You may have chosen me over your friends, but I can tell you don't truly support your decision. Maybe it's time to finally make you choose." Releasing Daisuke's hair, he reached underneath his clock to a hidden pocket in his uniform to flick open a tiny vial and release some of the liquid onto his glove, before resealing the vial again.
"Let him alone!" Veemon shouted, taking an angry step forward. He shrank back however, when the Kaiser glared furiously at him. As much as Daisuke meant to him, no one was fool enough to go up against the Kaiser when he was that mad.
"Oh? And how will you do that?" Daisuke replied tartly to the other boy, beginning to feel a bit mad. He was getting sick and tired of Ken's arrogance.
"This." Daisuke momentarily struggled as the Kaiser clamped his right glove across his mouth and nose and hauling him roughly around, grabbed his arms with the other, twisting them behind his back. He found himself trying not to breath in, guessing correctly there was something on Ken's glove. However when Ken tilted his head down and gently kissed the nape of Daisuke's neck, the boy got such a surprise he gasped without thinking and breathed in. Instantly a sharp smell reached his nostrils and he gagged, as a warm feeling took over him. Within moments of breathing in the substance he lost consciousness, sagging in the Kaiser's hold.
Dropping Daisuke gently on the ground for a moment as he pulled off his gloves, Ken grimaced. Lucky he kept an extra pair of gloves at his base, the right one of this set was now ruined. No matter, gloves were easily replaceable. Leaning down to tenderly scoop the unconscious Daisuke into his arms, he cast a glance down at Veemon, who was staring at his human friend in concern. "What have you done to him?" he asked Ken.
"Don't worry he'll wake up soon," Ken snapped in reply. He looked up as he heard approaching footsteps and low voices. "Damn," he hissed, recognising it was the Digidestined coming towards them. Looking down at Veemon he spoke quickly and curtly. "Normally the last thing I'd want to take is you, but since you are Daisuke's digimon I'll make an exception. You can stay here and have to answer the Digidestineds' awkward questions on what exactly happened and why it did. Or you can come with me and be with your human once he wakes. It's your choice."
Veemon stared up at him, afraid and not wanting to let it really show. Besides, he had said to Daisuke he'd always be there for him, right? There was no question on where he was going then. "I'll go with you," he answered quietly, following the Kaiser to his Airdramon. Having enough sense, he let the boy go on first, Daisuke still cradled in his arms. Inwardly he was amazed the Kaiser would treat anything that gently. He even hurt his own digimon! Maybe his feelings for Daisuke were genuine. Maybe.
"Well what are you waiting for?" the Kaiser growled. "Your idiot friends are
coming and if I have to, I will leave you here." Veemon quickly scrambled
up behind him and was nearly flung off as the Airdramon rose into the air and
they soared up to the sky. By the time the other Digidestined came out of the
trees, they were gone and it looked like they had never been there at all.