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PART VII: AWAY

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"All right…this is it, then." Daisuke and Ken stood outside on Koushiro's front balcony, spending their last moments alone together just staring.

Ken's eyes were hungry, wild, devouring Daisuke piece by piece, desperate for another taste, another dose of heartbreaking addiction. "You know I'll never see you again."

"Yeah. I know," Daisuke said, his voice and heart breaking in one dreadful, unbearable moment. "I'll miss you so much."

"But you have me. In your world."

Daisuke shook his head. "Not you. Not you exactly. You'd never be exactly the same. I know every difference."

Then it seemed to both a travesty that they were wasting precious time and breath in speech when they could be kissing, expressing the most complex nuance of emotion in the simplest form possible.

Daisuke's eyes fluttered shut as he raised himself slightly on tip-toe, brushing Ken's lips with his own, before pulling away slightly, running careful thumbs over the taller boy's cheekbones, barely touching the flesh. Ken caught the retreating lips in his, drinking of them as if he were dying of thirst. Don't go! Don't leave me! his mind screamed, unable to comprehend the emptiness he'd feel once Daisuke had gone again…

Kissing with desperation the two clung together, gathering handfuls of each others' clothing, lips savage and tender at once. Daisuke could never seem to get enough air, but it didn't matter – Ken was just as important. But soon nature won, their lips broke apart, and they panted, deep shuddering breaths, foreheads pressed together and lips barely, nearly touching. Daisuke placed his hand over Ken's heart, feeling it thrumming softly in tune and rhythm with his.

The raven-haired boy felt a surge of bravery at that; he knew that every time their hearts beat, they beat together. Steadily. Without cease.

'Till death do them part.

Ken had his second chance. He said good-bye.

After a never-ending moment Daisuke pulled away, reaching for the door knob, eyes never leaving his love's. Ken felt another surge of bravery at the resigned and loving expression deep in the chocolate eyes locked with his; and he knew, somehow, that he would be able to make it.

Somehow.

Then Daisuke smiled, and Ken's heart broke and grew strong with hope all over again.

"I love you."

And he opened the door.

The first thing Daisuke felt was an incredible pull towards Koushiro's room – as if a giant magnet was tugging at his body. He stumbled forward a few steps, fighting the desire to sprint forward as he kept tightly ahold of Ken's hand.

The silent, feeling walk through the hallway was over entirely too soon; Daisuke pushed through the door to Koushiro's bedroom, facing the rest of the Chosen with dry eyes.

Takeru was about to chastise them for their lateness when he saw how frightful they looked; how pained, how disheveled, how loving. They stood in the middle of the room, still staring at each other, when Koushiro cleared his throat.

"You…you should go, Daisuke. I don't know how long I can keep this portal open."

Daisuke nodded. Hikari stood, tears streaming down her face. She came over and quickly hugged him, then retreated quickly to the bed once more, sobbing unabashedly, now. The rest of the Chosen filed past one by one, embracing the redhead, wishing him luck. Then it was over and Daisuke looked at Ken as if he could never get enough.

He pulled Ken to him and they kissed once more, briefly, their lips moving in an achingly perfect rhythm, hands memorizing the contours of face and neck, the texture of hair…

And Daisuke pulled away, stepping backwards as their arms moved straight out under the pressure of interwoven fingers and their hands broke apart but their eyes didn't.

The redhead reached down to his belt, pulling his digivice free. He held it to the screen.

"Daisuke, I love you!" Ken cried desperately, hands clasping and unclasping at his sides, eyes on the verge of tears.

"I love you more than anything, Ken-chan." Daisuke wrenched his eyes away, finally, and turned to the computer monitor, holding his arm outstretched, fingers gripping white on the blue plastic. The magnetic tug was even stronger here; so was the overpowering feeling that he was in the wrong place, and that where he belonged, where he needed to be was just through the portal…

He turned his head once more, locking eyes with Ken, who said simply: "Sayonara, Daisuke-chan."

"Goodbye, Ken-chan. Everyone." Daisuke's eyes flickered to include the rest of the room, but soon returned to Ken, who was standing straight, proud, and brave, eyes full of love and memories.

"Goodbye," he whispered, and Daisuke turned away.

"Digiport, open."

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END PART VII

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