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Disclaimer: Still taint mine.

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The Challenge::Part2

I walked along the streets slowly, well aware that this was not the best place to be dallying. Daisuke's words kept ringing in my mind causing me to be completely indifferent to the strange stares I received. I have no idea how long I had been walking. All I knew was that I had not stopped since I left Daisuke's side. Finally I stopped when I realized that I was standing on one of the many bridges that spanned the inlets of the bay.

It would be easy enough. I've always hated the dark water. Too many memories, none of them buried deep enough, I guess. But all it would require is a bit of mind over matter. I've always been exceptionally good at that. Even now, I can almost convince myself that I can see my eyes staring back at me. But I won't. I want to, but I won't.

Only because my responsibilities are no longer only to myself.

[Back to Dai-chan]

Daisuke watched Ken walk slowly away. He wanted to scream out for Ken to come back, to try and convince him that he was crazy just one more time. Daisuke knew that was all it would take for him to give in. Ken had accepted it all so softly, so calmly... so Ken-like. It only served to scare Daisuke more. And then he was gone, disappearing all too soon into the omnipresent fog. It took everything Daisuke had to turn in the direction opposite of what Ken had taken and head back to their apartment.

`This idea wasn't any better than following Ken,' Daisuke thought bitterly when he arrived. Ken was everywhere here. His books were stacked neatly on the table where he had left them when Daisuke had suggested they go to the park and the warm fleece blanket they liked to snuggle under while watching movies lay where he had casually tossed it over the back of the couch. Daisuke did not even venture into their room. Instead he grabbed his coat again and headed back out the door.