Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Searching
"You don't remember anything?" She questioned as Connor tugged at her shirt. The younger boy apparently wanted up on the stage with the red headed pair.
The twins had met back at the club where they had originally met. Kacey was scheduled to have practice with the band that played there.
Izzy reached down and picked up the golden haired youth, his nephew. "Nope," he shrugged. The younger boy situated himself in Izzy's spacious lap and began to play with his ears. "Hell, I don't even remember having a sister."
"Hew," Connor giggled under his breath.
Izzy laughed while Kacey gave him a sour scowl. "I don't need you teaching my son to kiss. These guys do a fine job of that." She pointed off to her band mates sitting around a high bar table, taking tequila shots. "That's right," she yelled to them. "Get smashed before a set!"
The guys laughed. "Join us, C!"
She shook her head, but a giggle sprung up from her throat. "Idiots. Funny, I work in a bar and I can't hold my liquor." She looked up at him with jolly ebony eyes. "Go on, I didn't mean to get off track."
"Its alright," he replied, watching her with interest.
She stared at him. "Go on," she prompted.
"Oh. Uh, well I didn't know I had a sister. After you left I guess I forgot and my parents never bothered to remind me. I found out I was adopted when I was nine. I held it against my folks for a while, but I forgave them and then kinda forgot again. I always knew, but I didn't want to do anything about it." The little boy in his lap made a face at him, eliciting a laugh from him.
"How come you didn't want to do anything about it?" She asked as she offered a bluish juice box to Connor.
"Well, I guess I felt guilty," he admitted as he scratched the back of his head. "My parents were really good to me and then the minute I found out I wasn't their kid I refused to even admit them into my life." He ran a hand through Connor's hair as he sighed in a fit of nostalgia. "So I thought if I tried to find out who my real parents were I would be betraying them again."
"Oh," she nodded. She played with a strand of her hair, braiding it subconsciously with one hand. "Your parents must really be cool."
"They are," he agreed, a surge of pride welling up in his chest like a knot. "They are, you'd have to meet them sometime."
"'Iro!" Connor suddenly called out. "Whewe you fom?"
"Japan," Izzy answered. The boy nodded, satisfied, and went back to merrily sucking on the juice box in his small hands. "So, your turn. What about you?"
"Me?" She said. "I uh…sort of remember." She paused to think about her answer. She gave a nod to reassure herself. "I don't remember Japan, although I wish I could. Nor do I actually remember being with you. But I've always remembered that I had a brother. I guess that's cuz I stayed with dad."
"Did he talk about me?" He asked.
She frowned. "No…" Again her hand began braiding the strand of hair again. "Living with dad was never easy. He wasn't a very nice person. So as a reassurance I always remembered I had other family." She looked at him with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sure it sounds stupid. But hey, that's life."
"I've met dad, but what happened to mom?" He asked.
She grimaced. "She died. Like an hour after we were born. Complications or something."
"Oh," Izzy murmured, dismayed. "Well-"
"Okay, let's get this over with!" One of Kacey's band mates yelled as he tackled/hugged her. "I'm sure C has places to go," he teased as her wrapped an arm around her neck and began to give her a noogie.
"Scott, you're hurting me!" She squirmed.
"Say I love you Scott," he taunted, arm still around her neck.
"Lemme go!" She struggled trying to pry his arm off.
"No, try it again. I love you Scott." He jabbed her in the ribs, causing her to giggle uncontrollably.
"I love you Scott," she sing-songed unenthusiastically.
"You're the best Scott."
"You're the best Scott."
The man with his thick-framed glasses and spiky mop of black hair looked up at Izzy with a white-toothed grin. "Yo Connor, how's it hanging buddy?"
"Good," the boy said simply.
"What should I do to mommy here?" He asked as he poked Kacey in the ribs again.
The blond boy grinned. "Tickwe hew!"
"Yeah!" Scott laughed as he began to tickle Kacey, who could do nothing but struggle and squirm. Scott stopped when tears streamed from her eyes and looked up at Izzy again. "Hey, how you doing?" He extended his hand for Izzy to shake. "I'm Scott. Lead guitar." He rubbed Kacey's head again, messing her hair, which had been pulled into a ponytail. "Kacey's best friend. Come on C, say it."
"You're my best friend," she called.
"I'm Izzy," he replied, unsure how to react to the two.
"How do you know Kacey?" He asked.
"He's my brother!" She yelled. "Lemme go!" Her demands were starting to sound more like whines.
He let her go. "Oh I didn't know you had a brother. That's cool. Come to watch her sing?" Izzy shrugged. Scott turned back to Kacey, who was attempting to fix her hair. He reached out and messed it up once more. "You know you love me, C." He looked over to his band mate. "Come on!" He stomped his ankle high boots. "Let's get this over with. I have a hot date."
Grumbling the others walked over and took their places on stage. "You and Connor can sit there." She pointed to a table a yard from the stage and Izzy sat down with Connor still in his arms. Kacey grabbed the mic. "Scott, the Victoria Secret catalog doesn't count as a 'hot date'." His band mates laughed.
He shook his fist at her as he hung his guitar strap over his shoulder. "You just wait, C. We'll see who's laughing." He glanced back at his band mates. "Okay, set one. Rick, count it down."
The large man seated behind an even larger set of drums held up two pale drumsticks. "One, two, one, two, three, four…"
Scott started up with his red and white electric guitar, playing a fast tune. Rick, the drummer joined in, before Kacey stepped up to the mic. Connor began clapping in Izzy's lap and Kacey laughed.
"Amphetamines and jelly beans, she was pretty in her teens. Waiting for the month of come what may, I smelled you on my shirt today…"
'She's good,' Izzy thought impressed. But his awe was quickly interrupted when Conner suddenly jumped from his lap and ran out of his sight behind him. Startled he whipped around in his seat, only to find the golden haired toddler pushing a chair from a table up to the bar. Fascinated he watched his nephew in interest while Kacey's singing continued on in the background.
"Phone me, tell me, that's your waiting, by the phone for me to phone you…"
Connor climbed up onto the chair and used that as a step stool to climb up onto the barstool. Mac, the bartender, who had been down at the other end of the bar taking inventory set down his clipboard and walked over to the boy who sat patiently spinning on the barstool. "Hey big man, what'll it be?"
"Soda!" He yelled as the spinning slowed and came to a halt.
"Soda? Is that okay with your mom?" A mischievous grin crossed his face and he gave an overly convincing nod. "Okay!" He pulled a glass from under the bar and went to the soda tap. "Who's that?" He gestured over to Izzy who watched the pair at the bar from his seat.
"Unca 'Iro! Come hewe!" The red head got up from his and joined them.
"Well, hi, Unca 'Iro!" Mac greeted. "I do believe we've spoken before. The name's Mac, I'm the owner of this fine establishment."
Izzy nodded numbly. "My name is Koushiro."
"Your C's brother right?" Again Izzy nodded. "You older?"
"Well, maybe by like ten minutes," he laughed as he scratched the back of his head. "We're twins."
"Can I get you anything?" Mac offered holding up a glass.
"He'w haf soda," Connor interjected, briefly halting from sucking on his straw.
"Soda's good," Izzy shrugged.
Mac poured Izzy's drink. "Twins eh? Where are you from? You look Asian."
"Japanese." Izzy took his drink. After taking a sip he spit it back out. "What is this?" He demanded as Connor copied his example and spit his drink back into his cup. "I said soda."
Mac laughed. "It is soda. Well, it has soda in it. Rum and coke."
Izzy wiped his mouth and set the drink down. "Thanks, but no."
"Yeah," Connor mimicked as he arched his eyebrow. "Fanks, but no fanks."
"Ah, I see. Can't hold your liquor either." Mac laughed at him. He poured a second drink that look and bubbled like beer. "Here you are. Ginger ale. You'll look like a big boy by drinking something that looks like real booze." Izzy just stared at the glass sourly as the band started a new song.
"Watch your mouth…"
"Don't sweat anything I say to you. I made fun of C a lot for being a non-drinker."
"How do you know her?" Izzy asked as he took a drink of his ginger ale.
"Now you're drowning in your own saliva…"
"Foster home," Mac replied. "She was in the same foster home as me in Colorado."
"Well keep on talking, just keep on rambling, you've got your mouth full, now listen here's the pleasant part, you and I we fell apart why don't you make up your mind…"
Izzy listened to the song silently, enjoying the sound. "How often do they play?"
"Sundays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays. I'd get them to play more, but C's usually got school and work."
"Work?"
"She works in a restaurant on fourth. You didn't know that?" He shook his head. "Yeah, this is just for fun. She works at the restaurant to help support her family."
"What about Victor?"
"He works too. He's an intern in some law office." Izzy nodded.
The song ended and the band started to put away their instruments. "Well, good job today guys. See you tomorrow night," Scott called. He turned to his leading lady at the mic. "Kacey you did excellent!
She rolled her eyes behind crossed arms. "We did two songs," she griped, irritated.
"Well, we did those five before we took a break. And if you ask me, we sounded better after went knocked back a few. Maybe you should join us next time."
She laughed at him before turning to face off the stage. "Connor!" She called. He spun on the barstool to face her. "What should I have to drink?"
"Soda!" He yelled. She smirked smugly at Scott.
He looped his arm around her neck in a chokehold position once again. "Connor, what should I do to mama now?"
"Tickwe herw!"
Once more he had her laughing until big tears rolled down her face in streams. Izzy glanced over at Mac. "Does he do that to her often?"
Mac glanced up from his clipboard. "Who Scott? Oh yeah. He loves to pester her. Its his favorite pass time."
Scott finally released Kacey, allowing her to collapse onto the stage crying and giggling. Izzy left his position beside Connor and hopped up onto the stage beside Kacey as she wheezed air into her lungs. "You okay?"
"Yeah…" she giggled. "This happens daily."
"How do you know Scott? You seem…close."
"Scott took me in when I can to San Fransisco. Well him and Mac. They were room mates and they let both me and Connor stay at their place," she explained. "Scott's the best. When he heard me sing he immediately offered me a job in the band. He and I went out for awhile but we called it off." She leaned back on the stage, propped up on her elbows. "'Shiro do you have the time?"
He glanced down at his wristwatch. "Ten fifteen," he read.
"Crap," she murmured. "I gotta get Connor to daycare."
"Daycare, why?"
"I've gotta get to work." She pushed herself to her feet. "It was nice talking with you."
"Well, uh, my friends and I were going out to dinner tonight, would you, Connor, and Victor like to join us."
"Yeah," she nodded. "We'll go. Where?"
"Renee's on Seventh and Park at six."
"Sweet, we'll be there." She bent over and gave him a peck on the cheek. She straightened and jumped off the stage. "Connor, say bye to Koushiro."
"Bye Unca 'Iro!" The little boy waved as he jumped down from the barstool. He watched as she picked him up and walked out of the club.
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"Connor! Get back here!" A red haired woman yelled as she chased after her golden haired son. He giggled as he ducked under the kitchen table. She grinned. "Hmmmm. Where did Connor go?" She circled the table. "Connor. Connor, where'd you go?" She staggered to the living room. "Oh no, I lost Connor. Oh woe is me. What ever will I do?" She collapsed onto to the forest green couch, eyes closed and tongue hanging out.
"Mama?" She squinted and saw him crawl out from under the table. He stood up. "Mama?" He began to walk over and she snapped her eyes shut. "Mama, I wight hewe." She felt a weight on her stomach as he climbed onto her and sat down. He jumped up and down on her stomach. "Wake up!"
"Rarrrr!" She sat up and wrapped her arms around him. He screamed. "Gotcha!"
"No!" He struggled. "Lemme go!" She kissed her cheek. "EW!" Victor walked into the room. "Daddy, help me!"
The Mexican man showed a white-toothed grin. "What's she doing to you?"
"Mama kissed me! And she won't let me go!" He struggled in her arms. "LEMME GO!"
Victor sat down on the couch behind her and began to tickle her. Her hands immediately shot to grab hold of his hands. "Stop!" She giggled.
"Run Connor, run!"
The boy jumped off the couch and ran down the hall. "Hey!" She snapped between laughing and struggling. She wrestled away. "I was trying to get him ready!"
"Ready? For what?"
"Victor, don't tell me you forgot. Lunch with my brother and his friends." He didn't show of remembrance. "Victor, I called you earlier and told you. I told 'Shiro that we'd have lunch." She pushed herself off the couch. "I gotta get ready. You too."
He stood and grabbed her arm. "Kacey, I don't want you to see him."
"What?"
"I don't want you going to meet up with him or his friends. I don't want you to see him at all. Ever." His voice was hard as were his mahogany colored eyes.
She pulled away from him. "Don't order me around Victor!"
"I will!" He retorted. He grabbed her arms. "Because you're being stupid! You can't mess around with these people! They're dangerous. And if your father found out-"
"My dad won't find out," she finished matter-of-factly. "He's not here." His hands on her arms tightened and she grimaced. "Let me go, Victor." Her voice squeaked.
"Daddy?" The pair looked up to see Connor standing just inside the living room.
Victor released Kacey's arms and stepped back. "Hey bud, what's up?"
"Mama?" Victor looked at Kacey who was rubbing her arms where he had held them tightly. The boy walked over to her and held up hers arms for her to pick him up. "Don't cwy, mama. What's wrong?"
"Nothing Connor." She hugged him tightly.
"This is why you need to stop seeing him. You tell him today! Unless your willing to give up Connor, you will tell him to screw off and go back to where ever the hell he came from."
She looked up at him as she hugged her son. "I'm not willing to give up my son. But I'm not telling my brother to leave." She turned and walked out of the room.
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They sat in uncomfortable silences over and over again. After every topic they would just sit there, exchanging looks or nods. It was obvious from the beginning that Victor didn't like the DigiDestined. And it was obvious that Kacey knew; she just ignored the hateful looks he sent Matt, Izzy, Tai and Sora.
Partway through the meal Connor stood up on his chair and cupped his hand over Kacey's ear. He whispered something to her. Kacey nodded and stood up, tossing her napkin onto the table. "I'll be back in a minute. Connor has to use the restroom." She picked up the blond little boy, who continued to wiggle in her arms. As she walked away from the table she smacked Victor in the back of the head.
The four DigiDestined watched her leave wishing she hadn't. "So…uh…" Izzy began as an attempt for conversation. "Victor, when did you meet Kacey?"
Victor stared at him, fuming with hatred. "I don't like you, don't attempt to talk to me. I don't want anything to do with you. I really just want you to stay away from my fiancé and my son."
"F-fiancé?" Izzy stuttered out.
"Yeah, my fiancé," he retorted. He leaned in over the table. "You should leave and never bother us again. Go back to Japan. You're not welcome here. You have no idea what you're messing with."
Matt leaned over. "Neither do you."
"I have a pretty good idea. And I'm not afraid of you. What are you going to do? Whip out a digimon and fry me."
At that point Kacey returned with Connor pulling her back to the table. "Hey everybody." She helped Connor back into his seat. "Talk about anything interesting while we we're gone."
Victor just grinned at her. "Nope," he replied shaking his head. "Just getting to know each other." He glared at Izzy again.
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They stood up and mingled they're way to the exit of the restaurant. Out of the corner of her eye Sora watched Kacey walking briskly beside Victor. He had her wrist in a vice lock and she was biting her lip, to hide the pain obviously. "Kacey," Sora called as she dashed up behind the lanky redhead. She turned around and Sora locked eyes with Kacey's charcoal ones, the same she saw in Izzy everyday.
She glanced back at Victor, "Just a sec." He released her wrist, not looking happy and she turned back to Sora, rubbing her wrist tenderly. Sora pretended not to notice. "Yeah, Sora?"
"I just wanted to know if maybe tomorrow you might want to go out to lunch or something. I would love to get to know you better," Sora explained.
"Oh really?" She seemed to be caught surprised by the proposal. "Well, I'm free tomorrow, it's just me and Connor if you'd like to have lunch with us."
"I'd love to."
"Great. I'll meet you at your hotel room and we'll walk down to the park."
"Great!" Sora squeaked, hoping not to sound too false.
"I'll seeya tomorrow at eleven. Bye!" Kacey turned back to join her boyfriend and son. As they walked away Sora distinctly saw Victor grab her arm roughly and Kacey's face contort into one of pain.
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"I don't get it!" Izzy snapped as he lay back on his hotel bed. "How is it the majority of Japan doesn't know about digimon and everything pretty much happened there and we come to America and every asshole we find knows and wants to mess with us?"
Sora sat down beside him and rubbed his forehead. "Not every asshole. Just your dad and Victor. I mean there are a lot of assholes in America."
"Don't call him that!" He snapped suddenly.
"Who?" She asked withdrawing her hand for a second startled by his sudden venomous reaction.
"My dad," he replied turning his head away, gesturing for her to stop. "Don't call him my dad…"
"Sorry," she apologized.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before he propped himself up on his elbows. "So the four of us are going shopping and sightseeing tomorrow. Was there anywhere you wanted to go in particular?"
She stared to pull of her shoes. "Sorry, but I can't. I'm going to have lunch with your sister."
"Oh really?" He pushed himself up into a sitting position and flipped on the lamp. "How come?"
She began to remove her earrings. "I want to get to know her better," she replied as she set her ruby earrings on the dresser by the bed.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Do I detect an underlying meaning to that?"
She sat down on the edge of the bed. "I just want to talk to her okay?" She shrugged.
"Yeah, that's cool," he complied. "I think that's actually really nice. Thanks for trying. I think Victor may have scare Tai and Matt off. Or pissed them off." He lay back down. "I can't believe that guy."
Sora lay down on her side beside him and he reached over her to flip off the lamp. She felt his arm wrap around her waist. "Izzy," she muttered quietly. "Do you think Victor hurts your sister?"
"What?" He abruptly pulled away and she rolled over to meet his eyes. He sat up and stared down at her, but his face was covered in shadow. "Why?"
She shook her head. "Never mind."
"No really. Sora, if you know something-"
"I didn't, don't worry," she snapped.
He still hovered over her in the dark, his breathing hard and fast. "She's not telling me something," he told her cryptically. "And it's not about Victor, at least I don't think. It has something to do with Mizuhara. Every time I ask about him she freezes or changes the subject."
"Maybe she doesn't want to talk to about him. He did give her up for adoption," she reasoned, trying to sound helpful.
"That's the thing. She's talked about him before. She seemed uncomfortable, but she talked about him with no problem." He sighed and it sounded strained with confusion. "I don't know."
She leaned up and kissed him and he leaned in obviously enjoying it. When she pulled away she kissed his cheek. "You'll figure something out. You always do," she reassured him as she lay down.
In the she felt him smile. "Yeah. I guess. Night Sora."
"Night Izzy."
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They sat on opposite sides of the bed, back facing back, refusing to turn around and break the silence. The ticking of his watch pounded in their ears while the light of the single lamp on her side burned the back of his neck and burned her eyes.
His hand was still red and her cheek still burned. He hadn't meant to lose his temper like he did and he hadn't meant to slap her. Neither has she meant to say all those harsh thing she had said. But despite all the regret that hung in the room and silence their vocal chords and ceased all movements, the sour words still hung at the tip of her tongue and his anger still boiled to a point where he could hit her again.
Suddenly he wished that he wasn't where he was.
Abruptly he stood up and his footsteps pounded out the bedroom. He slammed the white door, momentarily forgetting Connor, his more or less son, was asleep down the dark hall. Being in the hall was a relief from the tension in the room, but it didn't settle the knot of rage and regret inside his chest. Back inside the room she sobbed, knowing exactly what he was going to do and unable to keep in the fear induced panic and pain his large hand had caused.
In the dining room he sat at the kitchen table with the phone pressed to his. "Hello, Mr. Mizuhara?"
Her sobbing only increased.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Its kick ass if I do say so myself! Hehe....please review and tell me what you think.
By the way, to clear somethings up:
Cassandra or Kacey is seventeen (17)
Connor is three (3)
Victor is not Connor's real father. He just took on that role. The real father is back in Alabama or where ever.
Searching
"You don't remember anything?" She questioned as Connor tugged at her shirt. The younger boy apparently wanted up on the stage with the red headed pair.
The twins had met back at the club where they had originally met. Kacey was scheduled to have practice with the band that played there.
Izzy reached down and picked up the golden haired youth, his nephew. "Nope," he shrugged. The younger boy situated himself in Izzy's spacious lap and began to play with his ears. "Hell, I don't even remember having a sister."
"Hew," Connor giggled under his breath.
Izzy laughed while Kacey gave him a sour scowl. "I don't need you teaching my son to kiss. These guys do a fine job of that." She pointed off to her band mates sitting around a high bar table, taking tequila shots. "That's right," she yelled to them. "Get smashed before a set!"
The guys laughed. "Join us, C!"
She shook her head, but a giggle sprung up from her throat. "Idiots. Funny, I work in a bar and I can't hold my liquor." She looked up at him with jolly ebony eyes. "Go on, I didn't mean to get off track."
"Its alright," he replied, watching her with interest.
She stared at him. "Go on," she prompted.
"Oh. Uh, well I didn't know I had a sister. After you left I guess I forgot and my parents never bothered to remind me. I found out I was adopted when I was nine. I held it against my folks for a while, but I forgave them and then kinda forgot again. I always knew, but I didn't want to do anything about it." The little boy in his lap made a face at him, eliciting a laugh from him.
"How come you didn't want to do anything about it?" She asked as she offered a bluish juice box to Connor.
"Well, I guess I felt guilty," he admitted as he scratched the back of his head. "My parents were really good to me and then the minute I found out I wasn't their kid I refused to even admit them into my life." He ran a hand through Connor's hair as he sighed in a fit of nostalgia. "So I thought if I tried to find out who my real parents were I would be betraying them again."
"Oh," she nodded. She played with a strand of her hair, braiding it subconsciously with one hand. "Your parents must really be cool."
"They are," he agreed, a surge of pride welling up in his chest like a knot. "They are, you'd have to meet them sometime."
"'Iro!" Connor suddenly called out. "Whewe you fom?"
"Japan," Izzy answered. The boy nodded, satisfied, and went back to merrily sucking on the juice box in his small hands. "So, your turn. What about you?"
"Me?" She said. "I uh…sort of remember." She paused to think about her answer. She gave a nod to reassure herself. "I don't remember Japan, although I wish I could. Nor do I actually remember being with you. But I've always remembered that I had a brother. I guess that's cuz I stayed with dad."
"Did he talk about me?" He asked.
She frowned. "No…" Again her hand began braiding the strand of hair again. "Living with dad was never easy. He wasn't a very nice person. So as a reassurance I always remembered I had other family." She looked at him with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sure it sounds stupid. But hey, that's life."
"I've met dad, but what happened to mom?" He asked.
She grimaced. "She died. Like an hour after we were born. Complications or something."
"Oh," Izzy murmured, dismayed. "Well-"
"Okay, let's get this over with!" One of Kacey's band mates yelled as he tackled/hugged her. "I'm sure C has places to go," he teased as her wrapped an arm around her neck and began to give her a noogie.
"Scott, you're hurting me!" She squirmed.
"Say I love you Scott," he taunted, arm still around her neck.
"Lemme go!" She struggled trying to pry his arm off.
"No, try it again. I love you Scott." He jabbed her in the ribs, causing her to giggle uncontrollably.
"I love you Scott," she sing-songed unenthusiastically.
"You're the best Scott."
"You're the best Scott."
The man with his thick-framed glasses and spiky mop of black hair looked up at Izzy with a white-toothed grin. "Yo Connor, how's it hanging buddy?"
"Good," the boy said simply.
"What should I do to mommy here?" He asked as he poked Kacey in the ribs again.
The blond boy grinned. "Tickwe hew!"
"Yeah!" Scott laughed as he began to tickle Kacey, who could do nothing but struggle and squirm. Scott stopped when tears streamed from her eyes and looked up at Izzy again. "Hey, how you doing?" He extended his hand for Izzy to shake. "I'm Scott. Lead guitar." He rubbed Kacey's head again, messing her hair, which had been pulled into a ponytail. "Kacey's best friend. Come on C, say it."
"You're my best friend," she called.
"I'm Izzy," he replied, unsure how to react to the two.
"How do you know Kacey?" He asked.
"He's my brother!" She yelled. "Lemme go!" Her demands were starting to sound more like whines.
He let her go. "Oh I didn't know you had a brother. That's cool. Come to watch her sing?" Izzy shrugged. Scott turned back to Kacey, who was attempting to fix her hair. He reached out and messed it up once more. "You know you love me, C." He looked over to his band mate. "Come on!" He stomped his ankle high boots. "Let's get this over with. I have a hot date."
Grumbling the others walked over and took their places on stage. "You and Connor can sit there." She pointed to a table a yard from the stage and Izzy sat down with Connor still in his arms. Kacey grabbed the mic. "Scott, the Victoria Secret catalog doesn't count as a 'hot date'." His band mates laughed.
He shook his fist at her as he hung his guitar strap over his shoulder. "You just wait, C. We'll see who's laughing." He glanced back at his band mates. "Okay, set one. Rick, count it down."
The large man seated behind an even larger set of drums held up two pale drumsticks. "One, two, one, two, three, four…"
Scott started up with his red and white electric guitar, playing a fast tune. Rick, the drummer joined in, before Kacey stepped up to the mic. Connor began clapping in Izzy's lap and Kacey laughed.
"Amphetamines and jelly beans, she was pretty in her teens. Waiting for the month of come what may, I smelled you on my shirt today…"
'She's good,' Izzy thought impressed. But his awe was quickly interrupted when Conner suddenly jumped from his lap and ran out of his sight behind him. Startled he whipped around in his seat, only to find the golden haired toddler pushing a chair from a table up to the bar. Fascinated he watched his nephew in interest while Kacey's singing continued on in the background.
"Phone me, tell me, that's your waiting, by the phone for me to phone you…"
Connor climbed up onto the chair and used that as a step stool to climb up onto the barstool. Mac, the bartender, who had been down at the other end of the bar taking inventory set down his clipboard and walked over to the boy who sat patiently spinning on the barstool. "Hey big man, what'll it be?"
"Soda!" He yelled as the spinning slowed and came to a halt.
"Soda? Is that okay with your mom?" A mischievous grin crossed his face and he gave an overly convincing nod. "Okay!" He pulled a glass from under the bar and went to the soda tap. "Who's that?" He gestured over to Izzy who watched the pair at the bar from his seat.
"Unca 'Iro! Come hewe!" The red head got up from his and joined them.
"Well, hi, Unca 'Iro!" Mac greeted. "I do believe we've spoken before. The name's Mac, I'm the owner of this fine establishment."
Izzy nodded numbly. "My name is Koushiro."
"Your C's brother right?" Again Izzy nodded. "You older?"
"Well, maybe by like ten minutes," he laughed as he scratched the back of his head. "We're twins."
"Can I get you anything?" Mac offered holding up a glass.
"He'w haf soda," Connor interjected, briefly halting from sucking on his straw.
"Soda's good," Izzy shrugged.
Mac poured Izzy's drink. "Twins eh? Where are you from? You look Asian."
"Japanese." Izzy took his drink. After taking a sip he spit it back out. "What is this?" He demanded as Connor copied his example and spit his drink back into his cup. "I said soda."
Mac laughed. "It is soda. Well, it has soda in it. Rum and coke."
Izzy wiped his mouth and set the drink down. "Thanks, but no."
"Yeah," Connor mimicked as he arched his eyebrow. "Fanks, but no fanks."
"Ah, I see. Can't hold your liquor either." Mac laughed at him. He poured a second drink that look and bubbled like beer. "Here you are. Ginger ale. You'll look like a big boy by drinking something that looks like real booze." Izzy just stared at the glass sourly as the band started a new song.
"Watch your mouth…"
"Don't sweat anything I say to you. I made fun of C a lot for being a non-drinker."
"How do you know her?" Izzy asked as he took a drink of his ginger ale.
"Now you're drowning in your own saliva…"
"Foster home," Mac replied. "She was in the same foster home as me in Colorado."
"Well keep on talking, just keep on rambling, you've got your mouth full, now listen here's the pleasant part, you and I we fell apart why don't you make up your mind…"
Izzy listened to the song silently, enjoying the sound. "How often do they play?"
"Sundays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays. I'd get them to play more, but C's usually got school and work."
"Work?"
"She works in a restaurant on fourth. You didn't know that?" He shook his head. "Yeah, this is just for fun. She works at the restaurant to help support her family."
"What about Victor?"
"He works too. He's an intern in some law office." Izzy nodded.
The song ended and the band started to put away their instruments. "Well, good job today guys. See you tomorrow night," Scott called. He turned to his leading lady at the mic. "Kacey you did excellent!
She rolled her eyes behind crossed arms. "We did two songs," she griped, irritated.
"Well, we did those five before we took a break. And if you ask me, we sounded better after went knocked back a few. Maybe you should join us next time."
She laughed at him before turning to face off the stage. "Connor!" She called. He spun on the barstool to face her. "What should I have to drink?"
"Soda!" He yelled. She smirked smugly at Scott.
He looped his arm around her neck in a chokehold position once again. "Connor, what should I do to mama now?"
"Tickwe herw!"
Once more he had her laughing until big tears rolled down her face in streams. Izzy glanced over at Mac. "Does he do that to her often?"
Mac glanced up from his clipboard. "Who Scott? Oh yeah. He loves to pester her. Its his favorite pass time."
Scott finally released Kacey, allowing her to collapse onto the stage crying and giggling. Izzy left his position beside Connor and hopped up onto the stage beside Kacey as she wheezed air into her lungs. "You okay?"
"Yeah…" she giggled. "This happens daily."
"How do you know Scott? You seem…close."
"Scott took me in when I can to San Fransisco. Well him and Mac. They were room mates and they let both me and Connor stay at their place," she explained. "Scott's the best. When he heard me sing he immediately offered me a job in the band. He and I went out for awhile but we called it off." She leaned back on the stage, propped up on her elbows. "'Shiro do you have the time?"
He glanced down at his wristwatch. "Ten fifteen," he read.
"Crap," she murmured. "I gotta get Connor to daycare."
"Daycare, why?"
"I've gotta get to work." She pushed herself to her feet. "It was nice talking with you."
"Well, uh, my friends and I were going out to dinner tonight, would you, Connor, and Victor like to join us."
"Yeah," she nodded. "We'll go. Where?"
"Renee's on Seventh and Park at six."
"Sweet, we'll be there." She bent over and gave him a peck on the cheek. She straightened and jumped off the stage. "Connor, say bye to Koushiro."
"Bye Unca 'Iro!" The little boy waved as he jumped down from the barstool. He watched as she picked him up and walked out of the club.
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"Connor! Get back here!" A red haired woman yelled as she chased after her golden haired son. He giggled as he ducked under the kitchen table. She grinned. "Hmmmm. Where did Connor go?" She circled the table. "Connor. Connor, where'd you go?" She staggered to the living room. "Oh no, I lost Connor. Oh woe is me. What ever will I do?" She collapsed onto to the forest green couch, eyes closed and tongue hanging out.
"Mama?" She squinted and saw him crawl out from under the table. He stood up. "Mama?" He began to walk over and she snapped her eyes shut. "Mama, I wight hewe." She felt a weight on her stomach as he climbed onto her and sat down. He jumped up and down on her stomach. "Wake up!"
"Rarrrr!" She sat up and wrapped her arms around him. He screamed. "Gotcha!"
"No!" He struggled. "Lemme go!" She kissed her cheek. "EW!" Victor walked into the room. "Daddy, help me!"
The Mexican man showed a white-toothed grin. "What's she doing to you?"
"Mama kissed me! And she won't let me go!" He struggled in her arms. "LEMME GO!"
Victor sat down on the couch behind her and began to tickle her. Her hands immediately shot to grab hold of his hands. "Stop!" She giggled.
"Run Connor, run!"
The boy jumped off the couch and ran down the hall. "Hey!" She snapped between laughing and struggling. She wrestled away. "I was trying to get him ready!"
"Ready? For what?"
"Victor, don't tell me you forgot. Lunch with my brother and his friends." He didn't show of remembrance. "Victor, I called you earlier and told you. I told 'Shiro that we'd have lunch." She pushed herself off the couch. "I gotta get ready. You too."
He stood and grabbed her arm. "Kacey, I don't want you to see him."
"What?"
"I don't want you going to meet up with him or his friends. I don't want you to see him at all. Ever." His voice was hard as were his mahogany colored eyes.
She pulled away from him. "Don't order me around Victor!"
"I will!" He retorted. He grabbed her arms. "Because you're being stupid! You can't mess around with these people! They're dangerous. And if your father found out-"
"My dad won't find out," she finished matter-of-factly. "He's not here." His hands on her arms tightened and she grimaced. "Let me go, Victor." Her voice squeaked.
"Daddy?" The pair looked up to see Connor standing just inside the living room.
Victor released Kacey's arms and stepped back. "Hey bud, what's up?"
"Mama?" Victor looked at Kacey who was rubbing her arms where he had held them tightly. The boy walked over to her and held up hers arms for her to pick him up. "Don't cwy, mama. What's wrong?"
"Nothing Connor." She hugged him tightly.
"This is why you need to stop seeing him. You tell him today! Unless your willing to give up Connor, you will tell him to screw off and go back to where ever the hell he came from."
She looked up at him as she hugged her son. "I'm not willing to give up my son. But I'm not telling my brother to leave." She turned and walked out of the room.
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They sat in uncomfortable silences over and over again. After every topic they would just sit there, exchanging looks or nods. It was obvious from the beginning that Victor didn't like the DigiDestined. And it was obvious that Kacey knew; she just ignored the hateful looks he sent Matt, Izzy, Tai and Sora.
Partway through the meal Connor stood up on his chair and cupped his hand over Kacey's ear. He whispered something to her. Kacey nodded and stood up, tossing her napkin onto the table. "I'll be back in a minute. Connor has to use the restroom." She picked up the blond little boy, who continued to wiggle in her arms. As she walked away from the table she smacked Victor in the back of the head.
The four DigiDestined watched her leave wishing she hadn't. "So…uh…" Izzy began as an attempt for conversation. "Victor, when did you meet Kacey?"
Victor stared at him, fuming with hatred. "I don't like you, don't attempt to talk to me. I don't want anything to do with you. I really just want you to stay away from my fiancé and my son."
"F-fiancé?" Izzy stuttered out.
"Yeah, my fiancé," he retorted. He leaned in over the table. "You should leave and never bother us again. Go back to Japan. You're not welcome here. You have no idea what you're messing with."
Matt leaned over. "Neither do you."
"I have a pretty good idea. And I'm not afraid of you. What are you going to do? Whip out a digimon and fry me."
At that point Kacey returned with Connor pulling her back to the table. "Hey everybody." She helped Connor back into his seat. "Talk about anything interesting while we we're gone."
Victor just grinned at her. "Nope," he replied shaking his head. "Just getting to know each other." He glared at Izzy again.
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They stood up and mingled they're way to the exit of the restaurant. Out of the corner of her eye Sora watched Kacey walking briskly beside Victor. He had her wrist in a vice lock and she was biting her lip, to hide the pain obviously. "Kacey," Sora called as she dashed up behind the lanky redhead. She turned around and Sora locked eyes with Kacey's charcoal ones, the same she saw in Izzy everyday.
She glanced back at Victor, "Just a sec." He released her wrist, not looking happy and she turned back to Sora, rubbing her wrist tenderly. Sora pretended not to notice. "Yeah, Sora?"
"I just wanted to know if maybe tomorrow you might want to go out to lunch or something. I would love to get to know you better," Sora explained.
"Oh really?" She seemed to be caught surprised by the proposal. "Well, I'm free tomorrow, it's just me and Connor if you'd like to have lunch with us."
"I'd love to."
"Great. I'll meet you at your hotel room and we'll walk down to the park."
"Great!" Sora squeaked, hoping not to sound too false.
"I'll seeya tomorrow at eleven. Bye!" Kacey turned back to join her boyfriend and son. As they walked away Sora distinctly saw Victor grab her arm roughly and Kacey's face contort into one of pain.
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"I don't get it!" Izzy snapped as he lay back on his hotel bed. "How is it the majority of Japan doesn't know about digimon and everything pretty much happened there and we come to America and every asshole we find knows and wants to mess with us?"
Sora sat down beside him and rubbed his forehead. "Not every asshole. Just your dad and Victor. I mean there are a lot of assholes in America."
"Don't call him that!" He snapped suddenly.
"Who?" She asked withdrawing her hand for a second startled by his sudden venomous reaction.
"My dad," he replied turning his head away, gesturing for her to stop. "Don't call him my dad…"
"Sorry," she apologized.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before he propped himself up on his elbows. "So the four of us are going shopping and sightseeing tomorrow. Was there anywhere you wanted to go in particular?"
She stared to pull of her shoes. "Sorry, but I can't. I'm going to have lunch with your sister."
"Oh really?" He pushed himself up into a sitting position and flipped on the lamp. "How come?"
She began to remove her earrings. "I want to get to know her better," she replied as she set her ruby earrings on the dresser by the bed.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Do I detect an underlying meaning to that?"
She sat down on the edge of the bed. "I just want to talk to her okay?" She shrugged.
"Yeah, that's cool," he complied. "I think that's actually really nice. Thanks for trying. I think Victor may have scare Tai and Matt off. Or pissed them off." He lay back down. "I can't believe that guy."
Sora lay down on her side beside him and he reached over her to flip off the lamp. She felt his arm wrap around her waist. "Izzy," she muttered quietly. "Do you think Victor hurts your sister?"
"What?" He abruptly pulled away and she rolled over to meet his eyes. He sat up and stared down at her, but his face was covered in shadow. "Why?"
She shook her head. "Never mind."
"No really. Sora, if you know something-"
"I didn't, don't worry," she snapped.
He still hovered over her in the dark, his breathing hard and fast. "She's not telling me something," he told her cryptically. "And it's not about Victor, at least I don't think. It has something to do with Mizuhara. Every time I ask about him she freezes or changes the subject."
"Maybe she doesn't want to talk to about him. He did give her up for adoption," she reasoned, trying to sound helpful.
"That's the thing. She's talked about him before. She seemed uncomfortable, but she talked about him with no problem." He sighed and it sounded strained with confusion. "I don't know."
She leaned up and kissed him and he leaned in obviously enjoying it. When she pulled away she kissed his cheek. "You'll figure something out. You always do," she reassured him as she lay down.
In the she felt him smile. "Yeah. I guess. Night Sora."
"Night Izzy."
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They sat on opposite sides of the bed, back facing back, refusing to turn around and break the silence. The ticking of his watch pounded in their ears while the light of the single lamp on her side burned the back of his neck and burned her eyes.
His hand was still red and her cheek still burned. He hadn't meant to lose his temper like he did and he hadn't meant to slap her. Neither has she meant to say all those harsh thing she had said. But despite all the regret that hung in the room and silence their vocal chords and ceased all movements, the sour words still hung at the tip of her tongue and his anger still boiled to a point where he could hit her again.
Suddenly he wished that he wasn't where he was.
Abruptly he stood up and his footsteps pounded out the bedroom. He slammed the white door, momentarily forgetting Connor, his more or less son, was asleep down the dark hall. Being in the hall was a relief from the tension in the room, but it didn't settle the knot of rage and regret inside his chest. Back inside the room she sobbed, knowing exactly what he was going to do and unable to keep in the fear induced panic and pain his large hand had caused.
In the dining room he sat at the kitchen table with the phone pressed to his. "Hello, Mr. Mizuhara?"
Her sobbing only increased.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Its kick ass if I do say so myself! Hehe....please review and tell me what you think.
By the way, to clear somethings up:
Cassandra or Kacey is seventeen (17)
Connor is three (3)
Victor is not Connor's real father. He just took on that role. The real father is back in Alabama or where ever.