Shattered Mirror CHAPTER 7 ADDED!

by Nemesi

[DISCONTINUED] The 'mirror' image of an old enemy is back to claim Daisuke as his own. When Daisuke surrenders willingly to him, the run against time to bring him back starts. But if that was only the game of a child...?

4. Shattered Mirror - part 4 - Return

WAH!!! Thank to your reviews and all your support, the fourth chapter is here!!!! What does it got? Bad grammar??

Uhm…yeah, that and some funny scenes, a little sad scene concerning blood, and… ::takes a deep breath:: yaoi yaoi yaoi yaoi yaoi yaoi yaoi yaoi yaoi!!!!! *Finally* we have a *real* Daiken scene here!!! ::everyone gasps:: I know, I know, it was time that something happened between those two ^_^ I mean, in three chapters they just hugged, *nearly* ::underlines the word 'nearly':: kissed, held hands …but anyways, hope you'll like it! ^^

This fic is dedicated to Hotaru ::grins:: hope ya like how this is coming out!! But I suppose this chapter is dedicated to Brooke Davis too, for the help and the support ::waves happily:: hi!!!

Ja minna!

Shattered mirror

Part 04 – Return

All the way from the coffee shop to Daisuke's house, Ken's heart had pounded fiercely in his chest, resounding strong and happy in his ears. Set on fire, it had leaped up to his throat, speeded up, jumped…it had done a lot of crazy things Ken couldn't explain, but that had made him feel warm inside, lightheaded and a little shaky. He had felt his face heating up, and his eyes watering from an unknown reason. The thick jacket and scarf wrapped around his body had suddenly seemed too constricting for a moment, suffocating him, forcing him in a mould he couldn't recognize as his at that very moment. But all that hadn't happened for the breathtaking rush he had broke into as soon as he had took his first step out the little shop, oh no! Ken was sure of this.

But now, on his way through the deep forest, Ken's heart had sank, and the once shining jewel was now a hard and dark rock heaving his chest. Something dark and ugly trembled inside him, a cold fire clenched to his heart. This time, what awaited him at the end of his breathtaking rush, wasn't Daisuke's smiling face. Wasn't the scaring, yet so exciting possibility to see his lips part slightly to mouth a sweet declaration, his eyes ripple with warm emotion.

This time what awaited him could be…

Hell. Maybe literally. Hell.

Cause Daisuke went to the Kaiser.

Willingly.

Ken knew that was the reason for his sudden run away, but he couldn't believe it.

He could *let himself* believe it.

Ken gritted his teeth. Why had he got so excited anyway? And why was he so disappointed, now?

Uncomfortable in the cold clench of this feeling, Ken wasn't aware of anything around him. Suddenly, a faint sound, soft and somewhat sad and rather hesitant, forced him to a screeched halt and back to reality. He widened his eyes and he turned, quickly, finding his companions running behind him.

The little melody Daisuke's heart usually played with his own was growing faint, distant, drowning in a dark oblivion that left his depths overwhelmed by a freezing silence.

Courage's heartbeat had faded away.

"I…can't feel his heartbeat anymore…" he managed in a breath.

Everyone fell silent.

Kari had felt the air grow colder as they walked further north, but that coldness was nothing compared to what they felt now. The air getting chilly had not stopped them. But this sudden coldness did.

All of a sudden, Ken restarted to walk, running as if he was possessed, blinded by this sudden impression that if he stopped there he would freeze forever, unable to move forward until the dusk of time. Hikari knew that he could not keep up this pace much longer. No one of them could, for that matter. They had walked miles and had been running for more than an hour without rest. Already, Iori had began to lag behind. Hikari had done all her best to keep up with Ken's pace but she was beginning to tire. And just when she thought she couldn't go on much longer, she has looked up, opening her mouth to reason with Ken, but she had found the purple haired genius had stopped. He had swirled toward them with a light of burning fear inside his eyes, his mouth open but nothing coming out of it.

He silently mouthed something, and kept moving his lips until a faint whisper slid out them.

"I…can't feel his heartbeat anymore…"

She knew this would happen. Daisuke had drifted away from them. She just hoped it to happen as late as possible. How could she tell them the Kaiser made Daisuke happy? They would never understand. She herself couldn't understand it, even is she had been gifted with the possibility to share that feeling of happiness Daisuke had radiated the previous day in the field of violets. Spreading out from his body, the warm feeling had danced around her, enclosing her in its warm hug. That's why she knew.

"Ken?" she whispered, in that moment of peculiar clarity, when she thought she could see behind his mask. "I know what you feel." He stopped. "But we need a plan." She stepped closer and he didn't move. "Daisuke is all right. The Kaiser would never *hurt* him…" he gave his head a slight toss and slowly turned around, big purple eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "he *wants* him, Ken, he won't hurt him." She smiled, trying to infuse that single smile with all the confidence she felt lacked in the older boy.

Ken nodded and turned his face to the sky where the large pale sun peaked out from behind the evening clouds. Rays of sun crept along the bluffs, clothing each blade of grass with a dress of gold and bathing his face in a soft glow.

"I know…" he whispered in a breath, nodding slowly and letting his lids drop to half cover the purple orbs.

A black figure appeared and stared down at the Chosen children. The sun reflected on Ken's ivory skin and was casting a some kind of spell on the dark figure. It quickly disappeared from sight when it saw Ken look up at the sky. Hikari let out a soft sigh and looked up as well, causing the figure to grin from inside the black shadows of the threes.

Slowly and carefully, it silently ordered his mount to leap up, and made its way closer to the digidestined with a devilish grin on its face.

Hikari blinked her eyes, her gaze focused on the soft clouds above. "Oh, my…" she whispered, her eyes wide. Something had appeared and had covered the sun. At first glance it could look like some kind of aircraft, a black, metal, battle cruiser. Shining black and incredibly huge, it concealed the sun and made it more dark in clearing. It moved toward them, its sharp, black front glowing with a white beam of energy in the process of forming.

"WATCH OUT!!" She yelled as she pushed herself out of the shot's trajectory.

A blinding flashing light came from within the dark shape fogged in the clouds. Hikari shielded her eyes from the sudden flash as the beam shot down through the sky, and reached beyond the dim clouds toward them. It rushed toward the ground at hit it full force. And when the brunette dared to reopen her eyes, she found herself at the edge of the crater formed where the shot had hit the ground, and it still glowed faintly with a greenish kind of light. Her brown eyes widened as she crawled on her hands and knees toward the very edge, reaching a hand out to the faint glow. Suddenly the atmosphere around it became incredibly hot and Hikari snatched her hand away and held it.

It was throbbing like she had just been burned.

Her head jerked up and met with the sight of a boy of her age, sitting gracefully astride the black armored digimon, as an extension of his shining body. He was clothed in a purple, white and yellow jumpsuit, with heavy metal cuffs and a golden armor. His slender body was enfolded in a purple cape that resembled insect wings and his eyes, glowing pools of evilness, were shielded from a pair of tinted purple lenses. His spiky hair was ruffled by the wind and his grin was wide on his lips. Here he was, the looming image of the long-dormant Digimon Kaiser.

"Oh my, *that* was enough to scare you off, little bitch??" he hissed. Then his grin widened and became a low snigger, which developed into a full, superb laugh that shook hardly his shoulder when he whipped his head backward.

"YOU!!" she yelled, jerking up on her feet. "Where is Daisuke??"

Ken stepped closer at this and, unnoticed by him, Takeru did that too. Instead of answer, the digimon Kaiser let his laugh quiet down and he looked down at the girl in front of him with the same look the eyes of a sneak held when they focus on a prey. Her brown eyes were hooked on him as his huge digimon royally landed a few feet in front of her, beating his wings with nonchalance.

Feeling all his rage, his worry built up inside him, Ken took a step forward, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"What did you do to Daisuke??" Once again, the digimon Kaiser did not answer. Instead he slid gracefully from his Digimon's back and stepped closer, giving Ken a good sigh of his former self.

Ken's eyes widened briefly and his mouth went dry as he, once again, felt like looking at a distorted image of himself. The twisted reflection lost his grin as it stepped closer. Ken's eyes narrowed, momentarily blinded by the energy that seemed to flow out the other boy. He was mesmerizing. The way his hand slowly raised toward his digimon's nuzzle was charming. The way he took something glistening in the fading daylight from the big mouth, holding it close to his chest, was hypnotizing. The grace with which he slowly turned around to face him was fascinating.

Ken's mouth opened as he slowly realized there was something…*wrong*, something *disturbing* in the silent figure standing still in front of him. It seemed like his vision was tinted by a pair of dark glasses. Purple lenses. The same he used to conceal his eyes when *he* was the emperor.

Ken blinked quickly his eyes.

That couldn't be right! He wasn't wearing any glasses…but yet, the image in front of him seemed obscured by a soft veil of magenta.

The purple haired boy snapped out of his thoughts to come face to face to reality, when he noticed that the Kaiser was stepping closer. The tyrant's arm sneaked forward with a rapidity unknown to any other creature and the shimmering item he held in his hand flew toward Ken at full speed, hitting him right in the middle of his chest.

The bow hadn't been all that hard but somehow it managed to leave Ken breathless.

Still glimmering in the dim light, it slid down his gray jacket, tracing a track of ruby red on its way down.

"I think he wanted you to keep these." The digimon Kaiser hissed quietly, his eyes never leaving Ken's now astonished face. "You're the new leader, now."

Ken shakily looked down, feeling the blood leave quickly his cheeks. His purple gaze moved down slowly, and what Ken Ichijouji saw in the next few seconds would be seared into his memory for all time.

Goggles…

Daisuke's beloved goggles laid down on the soft grass at his feet, a large crack running in one eye.

Red…

Something red and gleaming moisten the glass. His eyes, wide and unfocused, slowly moved down to his chest, where the moist ruby line ran.

Moist…

Se reached out a hand, running a fingertip down the thin, cold track.

Cold…

He reached his hands in front of his eyes, too captivated by the way the red liquid leaked down his snowy fingers to notice his friends gather up around him, to answer when they called out to him.

All he was aware of was the two fat blood tears that trickled down his hands and splashed onto the grass at his feet.

Blood.

Goggles.

Blood.

Daisuke.

Blood.

His heart ached as those words echoed through his mind. He painfully slid to his knees, thinking of all the horrible things that the Kaiser could, and probably *did*, have done to Daisuke. He caressed the cold glass with his fingertips, blinking rapidly to keep back the moisture that was filling his eyes.

You're the new leader, now!

That's what he had said.

"…Daisuke…no…" He felt like trembling, more tears building up in his eyes as he picked up the item Daisuke held so dear. "What happened to you__"

There was a stunned pause, and then a look of fierceness suddenly flashed into his purple gaze, setting it on a fire that had died the same day the Kaiser disappeared from his heart and mind. "No." He tightened his hold around the goggles and jerked his head up he met the Kaiser's gaze. "Where is him? Where did you bring him?"

His words were quiet, collected, but beneath the quiet surface, the Kaiser could sense a blinding anger and a underlying indignation, twisting and simmering, thrusting to reach out.

"Aren't you worried?" he blinked, folding his arms across his chest.

"He is *alive*."

"Ahh…" the Kaiser sighed, his tone pitched to deliberate mock-wonder. "Young love. How *sweet*."

"W-what…?" Ken's shoulders jumped up and he moved backward in a protective gesture.

The Kaiser shook his head, his tone still sugary taunting. "No wonder he loves *you*, seeing how smart you are…how could you understand I didn't kill him? No, wait…or maybe you just didn't care? That's it? You thought I killed him after seeing his blood but you didn't care? Is this just a some sort of trick came out from your marvelous mind?"

Ken's eyes widened; he was so surprised to hear the Kaiser say that Daisuke loves him, that he didn't even notice that he's been clearly mocked.

"L-love…me?" Ken shook slightly his head. "He-he doesn't love…"

"Why you don't want me to say he loves you?" the Kaiser cocked his head to one side, so that the purple spikes moved from his sight. "After all, that's the destiny of the deepest feelings: be doubted." He grinned, leaning forward. "But if it hurts you, then I'll say it to you millions of times! He loves you! He loves you, Ken! With all his heart! But…" he leaned backward again, tilting his chin up. "Do you love him back? Ah! I doubt it."

"But I…"

The Kaiser was lying deliberately. He was *sure* Ken loved Daisuke, but he knew Ken wasn't still aware of his feelings. And he wanted to leave it as that.

"You don't care for him. But he care for you. And I'm somehow a part of you, am I not?" his grin grew even wider as he let wander down and place on his hips "If that's so, loving you he loves me as well…doesn't he? Now, do you think is right to part two people in love, Ichijouji? Wouldn't it be cruel? Evil? Hurting?" He slightly bent forward. His eyes narrowed and his tongue darted out his mouth to run on his lilac lips. "Just how cruel and evil life has been when it separated you from Osamu?"

Those words hit Ken with all the force of a bullet, causing him to reel backwards, as if mortally wounded.

"I…" Was all he managed to say. "…I…"

"There was so much you wanted to say. And in an instant flash...he has been taken away from you. You've learned about what came out of it, haven't you? You can never tell when a person is going to leave you." Hid digimon stepped forward and stopped at his side, glaring at the purple haired genius with an unreadable look. The Kaiser's right hand left his hip and drifted slowly upward to pat casually his digimon's muzzle. "So, wouldn't it be cruel to make me feel the same pain you once felt?"

"I…"

"What hurts the most?" the Kaiser's digimon murmured suddenly "Lose Osamu or lose Daisuke?"

The Kaiser immediately stopped his unconscious stroking and let his hand drop at his side. He flashed his digimon an angry look, but he just shrugged, taking a step forward. "Which loss hurt the most?"

Ken had to swallow his sudden confusion to find the strength to talk, but nothing of what he was thinking came out.

"I…"

"ENOUGH!!" The Kaiser yelled, outraged. How dared his digimon to betray him?? "Snimon…Go!" The Kaiser snapped his fingers and as the evil digimon emerged from behind an hill, the Kaiser's digimon quickly turned around to face his master.

"NO! Kai-Kaiser…"

All the chosen children, with the exception of Ken, leaped forward and cheered their respective digimon. But, before they could even move, the earth trembled under the meticulous work of a Drimogemon. And they couldn't do anything else than watch, helplessly and frightened, as the ground collapsed under Ken and Wormmon.

"KEN-CHAN!!!"

"WORMMON!!!!"

The two called each other's names, stretching their hands in a last, desperate attempt to touch the other's one, with the dust making their eyes burn, blurting their vision.

A thick cloud of dust rose and then, when it finally settled back down, where the purple haired boy and green worm-like digimon stood, there was just a big, floorless abyss which had swallowed both of their friends.

The silence fell, heavy and heartbreaking, over their heads.

No one dared to breath.

Not even a heart dared to not skip a beat.

No even a word dared to escape their mouths, hung open in shock.

The emperor had their leader, now.

Unexpectedly, Miyako's voice echoed thorough the now fractured valley. A voice usually high and cheerful that was now reduced to a broken whisper.

"This…this already happened…"

* * * * *

Ken opened his eyes to find that he was hanging from a cliff. And a very familiar one he could add if he would be forced to point out. But he wasn't *really* in the mood to take a note of his surroundings right now. He was way more concerned of *how* he arrived there. And *how* he could get free without crash at the bottom of the cliff.

"Ken-chan!" Ken's eyes leaped up and he found that Wormmon was chained on the cliff opposite him.

"Wormmon!!" he smiled. "Are you alright??"

"I'm fine, Ken-chan! And you?"

Ken nodded. "I'm alright, Wormmon! But now, quick! Digivolve into Stingmon and take us away!"

"Ehm…" someone coughed from above him. Ken's head jerked up and he wasn't surprised to see his D3 hanging languidly from the Kaiser's hand.

"You…"

"I think you two lost this."

"Where is Daisuke?"

The Kaiser gave his head a toss and Ken guessed –since he couldn't actually see it—he had rolled his eyes. "You're turning out to be annoying, Ichijouji."

"Where_is_him?"

With a deliberately quick but graceful toss of his wrist, the Kaiser pointed one of his glowed, slender fingers toward Ken. "Other than the fact I'm rather disappointed that you're proving to be so annoying and that I was able to capture you so easily," he bent forward, his voice reducing to a ragging hiss. "You don't seem aware of the fact you and your inutile friend there are chained to a *cliff*, which I suppose is *not* all that comfortable."

"Someone I know already survived this."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then, I suppose you don't need this, if you're so secure of yourself…" he reached his hand out, dandling Ken's black Digivice over the edge of the cliff. "Throw it or not throw it? That is the question…"

Ken frowned. Was *he* so full of himself and taunting when he was the Kaiser?! He didn't remember to be like *that*!!!

"Throw it…" The Kaiser let the dark device slid from his fingers…only to catch it a second later. "or not?"

"NO!" Ken shouted and that only made the Kaiser's grin grew wide.

"Throw it…" he hissed as evilly as he could, watching in delight the look of horror that played on Ken's face as he flowed helplessly his Digivice's fall.

"NOOOOOO!!!"

"The Digivice!!" Wormon screamed as he unsuccessfully tossed inside the chains' cold grip. "Ken-chan!"

The Kaiser broke out in an evil sneer, way more scary and chilling than the sudden loud peals of thunder that announced an approaching storm. The Kaiser leisurely looked up at the sky, letting out a content moan, which disturbingly resembled a purr. He stood like that, head titled backward and arms reached out at his sides until he felt the first raindrop splash on his forehead to slid down the side of his face and drop down his chin. He actually grinned when his gaze set back at Ken.

"I love it…" he smirked. "A tempest…how appropriate…have a good time, Ichijouji!" he laughed as he drew away from the edge of the cliff.

"COME BACK!" screamed Wormmon, who was still trying to get free. "YOU CAN'T LEAVE KEN-CHAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM!!!"

But only an even evil laugh answered him.

Then the silence.

More thunders.

The sound of the raindrop falling quickly on the ground, gradually gaining more force with every second that passed.

Everything was black.

And cold.

The only lights were the occasional flashes of purple electricity running trough the livid sky.

Emotionally and physically exhausted, soaked wet, frozen, scratched and bruised, Ken Ichijouji could do nothing from stop the faint feeling which was quickly overwhelming him. His eyelids heaved and he could feel the energy flow out his body. He heard Wormmon's voice calling him from somewhere far away. And it was growing fainter…and fainter…as if his digimon was walking away.

The thick fog caused by his raising fever penetrated his brain, it numbed his thought. He felt shaky, weak... but he was fighting, even as he fell into the unwanted sleep. The last thing he saw before pass out, leaving a terrorized Wormmmon to scream his name behind, were Daisuke's goggles, hanging languidly around his own neck.

* * * * *

The young boy quickly looked around as he carefully made his way toward the cliff. He was at the bottom, and his eyes were darting around in search of the purple-haired boy genius and his green caterpillar. The storm had passed, leaving the land drenched and the air filled with electricity. High above him, the sky was a canvas of mauve and crimson, with brushes of golden strung across it. Evening was approaching rapidly and the faint sparkles of the stars could be seen in the sky.

He licked nervously his lips and peered around once again. He only had limited time to do what he came for.

The little digimon walked beside him, muttering something under his breath.

"*He* is going to kill us…he is *so* going to kill us…"

"Shut up!" the other hissed quietly. "And help me find them."

Instead of reply, the digimon just held out a finger and pointed something above his head, his eyes never leaving the young human's ones. The boy's head jerked up, following with his gaze the direction the stretched finger was pointing and…

"AAAAAAAH!" he screamed, trying to held his voice down to a some sort of whisper. "Ken! Wormmon!!" his head jerked down so that he was now looking into the digimon's eyes. "Quick! Do something!! We've to save Ken-chan!!!"

"Ken-chan?" the digimon raised slowly an eyebrow. "And from *when* he is Ken-chan for *you*?"

"JUST DO SOMETHING!!!"

The digimon nodded, before rush full force toward the rock wall. There he stopped, straightening his shoulders. Behind him the boy had balled his fist, and was grinning in silently cheer. A whole three minutes had passed when the digimon slowly turned around, lips quivering and big ruby eyes watering. "I'm scared of the highs…"

The boy slapped a hand against his forehead, slowly sliding it down his face in a frustrated gesture. "And from *when*??"

"..dunno…" he shook slowly his head.

"All right then…" he placed his finger on his lips, looking thoughtfully. "Our only chance is to find his Digivice, then."

"And where?" the boy grinned as he pointed silently the mud at his feet.

"Gee…why did I ask…?" he whined as he plunged into the sludge full force.

"No wait!"

"TWHATH?" the little digital ball yelled back, but it came out sort of muffed.

"We can use my own Digivice, you little twit," he tried to suppress a giggle, but it's difficult not to laugh when a ball of digital fur glares at you from inside a poll of mud. He quickly pulled the beeping device out and found a little blinking dot on the screen. It should be about thirty meters to his southeast.

He set off running down the muddy path, watching the little glowing dot converge on the center of the screen, with the little digimon growling at his side. Suddenly, the red dot meet the center of the screen, and the boy screeched to a grinding halt, causing the poor digimon to crush against his legs.

Taking long, calibrate steps forward, he finally found himself in front of a Ken's black and gray Digivice, buzzing quietly in a puddle of mud.

"Here it is!!" he shouted as he quickly grabbed it, shacking his hand to get rid of the mud. "Now…" he looked up. "We need to reach the top."

"WHAT?!" big ruby eyes widened as he splashed down onto the muddy ground.

"Gee…you can wait here…" the boy replied, as he reached out to pat the blue digimon on the head, before speed full force toward a path to the top. The digimon shook his head, walking back toward Ken and Wormmon's current position. Once there he looked up, narrowing his eyes in order to see them in the distance.

Soon, the familiar shape of his human friend loomed at the top of the cliff, and the digimon couldn't suppress the delighted yelp that rose to his lips. Carefully looking around, the boy disappeared from sight for a brief moment --during which the digimon blinked worriedly—and then he let a liana rope drop down.

Spotting Wormmon's tiny shape below him he began, slowly and carefully, to climb down the rock wall.

He managed himself very well in going down and with no effort he carefully flipped over to reach the green caterpillar.

"Please, work…" he whispered as he hold out Ken's Digivice in front of a now sleeping Wormmon. "Wormmon! Digivolve!!!" he yelled.

Wormmon's azure eyes snapped open. The first thing he saw was the Digivice held in front of him and then, in the close distance, he caught a glimpse of his Ken-chan enchained on the cliff in front of him.

"Ken-chan!!!!!!!" he yelled. "Wormmon digivolve to…STINGMON!!!!!!"

The iron chains literally crushed when the almost human, armored body replaced the little and rather plump one they were holding.

"AAAAAAAAAH!" unfortunately for the boy, when Stingmon had appeared, he had lost his hold and was now drifting further and faster toward the bottom. Suddenly, he felt a strong, yet somehow gentle pressure around him. "I died. I died and now I'm in paradise. I *died*." He cracked one eyes open. Just a little. And slowly looked around. His disbelieving mahogany eyes grew wide when they drilled into Stingmon's glassy orange ones. And he was surprised to see the flicker of confusion and happiness that crossed his face. Not able to do anything else, the boy let out a long, low, sigh, relaxing in the green digimon's hug. "Thanking God…" then his head jerked up. "Ken!!! Ken, hold on!!!"

The flying digimon let out all his rage and worry in a single attack, sending flashes of purple energy to spread out his body and light up the dark sky. It shattered the iron chains like glass. And Ken's body slowly fell further, his shoulder-length, soft hair swirled around his pale cheeks. The other boy grabbed his arm as he slipped and gently catch him as he gracefully fell in his stretched arms.

"Ken…" He whispered, and brushed a bit of his purple hair out of his amethyst eyes, burning his fingertips as they run gently trough his hot forehead. "Ken."

"Daisuke?" he whispered back, even softer. His voice too weak for even Ken himself to heard.

"Shh…" Daisuke replied as he lovingly placed his index finger on Ken's lips, now purple for the coldness. "It's okay…" he whispered. "Everything will be okay…"

And then he leaned forward, touching his lips to Ken's forehead. And the burning skin nearly bruised his lips as they came into contact. "Everything will be all right…"

"Daisuke…" he whispered, sighing softly, before drift back into a dreamless oblivion.

When Stingmon landed, he gently laid Ken down, before digivolve back into his Wormmon form. Daisuke kneeled down next to Ken, and Chibimon climbed slowly up to his left shoulder to look straight at his tan face. Wormmon does the same on his other shoulder, but his eyes were fixed on a wet strand of purple hair which hung limply on Ken's loosely shut eyes.

Daisuke took Ken's tiny wrist in his hand and was happy to feel his pulse, steady and quiet. Looking around, Daisuke spotted a little cave and his eyes widened briefly.

"Chibimon, Wormmon, go searching for something to eat and some *big*and *dry* leafs, all right?"

"But…" sniffled Wormmon.

"I'll take care of Ken." He added quickly. "It would be best if you'll find some fruits… and I need sweet water, too! Go, now! We've to hurry!!" Daisuke ordered as he carefully gathered Ken up, and quickly brought him toward the cave.

"Right." Nodded Chibimon and quickly went off, dragging a worried Wormmon along.

* * * * *

Daisuke looked down at Ken's unconscious body. The light of the fire was playing along his face, caressing gently his cheekbones and Daisuke had to resist this sudden urge to do the same. He bit his lower lip and with some hesitation, he reached over and brushed Ken's hair out of his eyes. Ken was still shivering. Hard.

His clothes and hair were still completely saturated with water and even being so close to the fire wasn't helping at all. Daisuke shook his head, and quickly turned away.

He couldn't do that…

But that could save Ken's life…

"What are you thinking about D'suke?"
Daisuke looked down at his digimon, who was looking up at him with pure curiosity filling his ruby eyes. Instead of replying, he just smiled and reached an hand out to rub his belly.
"Ehy!" He giggled. "That tickles!"

The tan skinned boy felt a soft sigh coming from his left and in return he slowly let his gaze fall downward toward the green digimon. Carefully he handed over and patted him on the head.

"Don't worry…" he whispered, and his gaze wandered around to fell on Ken's feature for a moment.

It could be his only chance to survive… shacking this thought away, Daisuke looked down at Wormmon, his cheeks flaming.

No, no, no!!! It's too embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!! Slowly, Wormmon's eyes moved from Ken's unconscious form to look straight into Daisuke's ones. And the tan skinned boy bit his bottom lip.

HARD.

But even if it *is* embarrassing, it could save his life… His blush darkened as this thought crossed his mind. His eyes moved back to Ken's face, twisted in pain as he gasped for air.

Daisuke bit his bottom lip again and even harder than before. He was blushing even harder and now both the digimon were looking up at him, holding a silent plea of help in their steady gazes.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!" Shaking his head and spreading his hands in a futile gesture, Daisuke let out a loud yell, before jerk up to his feet like if he has been bit by a tarantula. The two digimon at his sides fell backward, yelping and just looked as he paced toward Ken. "I *have* to do it, DAMMIT!!"

Reaching out for Ken's gray uniform, Daisuke carelessly unbuttoned it and threw it as near as he could to the fireplace. "It's for your own good!" he yelled.

As if Ken could heard him…

Then, he took care of Ken's shoes and pants. "Don't wake up, don't wake up, *don't* *wake* *up*…" he mumbled under his breath. Chibimon and Wormmon exchanged a worried look, one which said Daisuke-has-so-lost-it and then turned around in time to see Daisuke discard his own jacket, still mumbling and growling like a damned fool.

Then, he gather Ken in his arms, suddenly, but with an unimaginable gentleness. And the way that he carefully sat the slight older boy on his lap and hold him close, resembled surprisingly religious worship. Discarding his gloves, he let his bronzed fingers run through Ken's hair, before reach over to take his jacket and wrap it around Ken's shivering form. Then, with his arm tucked firmly behind Ken's back, he resumed his caresses with his free hand, blushing fiercely.

He stopped only when he noticed that Chibimon and Wormmon were now crawling toward him. He blinked as he saw them climb up his legs and curl on Ken's chest.

They had to keep him warm if they wanted him to survive the night.

And Ken *is* going to survive.

Daisuke wouldn't let it go any other way.

* * * * *

Ken woke up feeling something graze his cheek. He looked down to see Wormmon curled next to him, and it was one of his antennas that was touching his cheek. It was broad daylight, but the sunlight was blocked out of the mouth of the cave, for Daisuke's spiky headed, kneeled shape was thrust into the entrance.

"Hmm…?" he moaned tiredly.

"Morning Ken. Welcome back to the land of the living."

"Daisuke?"

Ken blinked a few times before his vision adjusted and he could make out Daisuke's outline in the morning light.

He followed the other boy with his eyes as he walked over the fire.

He tried to sit up slightly so that he could take a better look at his surroundings.

"Hey, what are you doing??" Daisuke protested, attiring Ken's purple gaze on him. "You're still to weak! You're feverish, man! Take it easy!" However Ken didn't pay attention to him, but his head jerked downward as he noticed a soft noise of leaf trembling accompanied every his movement. Looking down he found out that he was nearly naked, and big, long leafs were placed upon him as a some sort of sheets. Blinking slowly, his gaze moved up to Daisuke's now completely red face.

"Uh…" muttered Daisuke.

Ken blinked.

"Uh…ah…ouh…you-You were freezing and that was the only way to warm you up and I…"

Ken blinked.

"W-what…?" his eyes were half-closed and were regarding the tan skinned boy with a indefinable look, now. And then…suddenly…

Suddenly Ken threw a handful of moss to Daisuke. Mud, little rocks, leafs, *Chibimon*…he threw to the other boy everything he could find out on the ground.

"Waaaaaaaaah!" Daisuke yelped as he stumbled backward and speeded out the cave on his hands and knees. He reached a big three and he swirled around, pinning his back against it, his ass on the ground. Daisuke held out his hands in front of him, while Chibimon gripped his shirt. Ken was in front of him, panting, kneeled down on the mouth of the cave, his body barely covered by a big leaf, hanging from one of his shoulders.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" Ken choked out at last. Daisuke's eyes grew wider and then narrowed dangerously as he slid up the three until he was on his feet.

"Jesus Ken, I saved your life!!"

"Why it has to be *you*?!" Ken turned around, retreating inside the cavern.

"WHAT?!" Daisuke didn't know what to say. Then his own rage took the upper hand. "What's so wrong with *me* saving *you*?!"

"Do you want a list of reasons?" Ken replied, coming out the cave. He was wearing his pants now, and the shirt he intended to put on was hanging from his hands.

"What is your problem?" Daisuke yelled back, balling his fists.

"You can't just strip someone and held them because they're comatose!!" Ken snapped, wearing on his shirt.

"Just admit it was the only way to save you, dammit!!"

"It wasn't!!"

"Oh? Then tell me what else I could have done!!"

"I don't know!!"

"Then stop yelling!!"

"I'm *not* yelling!!"

"You're!!"

"I'm not!!"

"You're!!!"

"I'm not! And beside, the one who is yelling is you!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!!"

"YES!!"

They both looked deep into each others eyes, not wanting to look away. But Ken was still weak and a little feverish, and soon he found himself shivering, suddenly very cold. He had to look away, placing an hand on his forehead, and chewing gently on his bottom lip.

"Oww…" he moaned softly. Then he shivered again and felt faint, his knees failing to hold him up.

"Hey, you alright?" Daisuke asked, wide eyed, and wrapped his arms around the other boy's waist, gently sitting him to the soft grassy ground. They both sat down, one against the rock wall and the other against the big tree, and the sudden silence prevailed.

"Well thanks," Ken whispered sarcastically and Daisuke mid-glared at Ken. Or maybe he really glared, Ken wasn't sure.

"What's the problem with you??"

"I didn't want *you* to see me naked!" Ken snapped, turning away from Daisuke's brown, steady gaze.

"What?" Daisuke blinked in sudden surprise. Was Ken *blushing*?? "It's not like you've got anything I haven't seen before…"

"Ah-ah. Not funny" Ken replied, trying to sound dry, but instead he just sounded very, *very* uncomfortable.

"Ken?" Daisuke blinked rapidly, making evident his inner confusion. "What's wrong with me seeing you naked?"

Ken swirled around, so that he was now facing Daisuke. "Jesus Daisuke, you lo---" Ken bit his bottom lip, cutting his own sentence off. What was he about to say? 'I don't want you to see me naked cause there is this rumor that you love me?'. Oh, very smart…

"I?"

"Nothing. Never mind." Ken said with a sigh.

"But Ken…"

"It was nothing…"

"…"

"…"

Chibimon, who had now been joined by Wormmon, sat on the ground, blinking quickly as he watched them. Then he shook his head, and the green digimon at his side did just the same.

Ken sighed, playing with some blades of grass. He looked up at the morning sky. Reflecting the azure sky, his eyes shifted to a soft tone of blue, just like the shade of the calming sea after a storm. Daisuke turned his face a little and got caught in Ken's purple-blue eyes. He felt like he would fall into them. Such beautiful eyes…They sparkled in the sunlight and danced like the water of a quiet river.

"I suppose it's time for us to go home…" Ken whispered.

Daisuke looked away, shifting uncomfortably. He looked up at Chibimon in search of help, but the little thing just shook his head.

Great! Daisuke thought. Just great.

"Uhm…Ken…" he muttered.

"yeah?" he sighed.

"I…uhm…can't…come back…yet."

"What??" the purple haired boy jerked up in a sitting position. "Why??"

"I…I…" Daisuke shook his head. "It's hard to explain. You wouldn't understand…"

"Try me." Ken interrupted, sort of angrily. "I deserve an explanation!"

"Ken, you can't understand!"

"WHY?!" Ken's s eyes flared with anger, and he turned slightly so that he could look at Daisuke straight in the face.

"That's something between me and him!! I want you to stay out of this!!" He looked up at the other boy, and the warm wind stirred Ken's purple hair to blow freely around his face and tickle tauntingly Daisuke's cheeks.

"And why?! He is part of me, after all!!" his usually quiet voice was quickly raising.

"Ken, how can you be so blind?! Can't you see he is different now?" Daisuke narrowed his eyes, and moved his face right up to Ken, so their noses were almost touching. "Stay out of this! It has nothing to do with you!"

"It has!"

"NO! Go away, Ken!"

"Try to make me leave, then!"

The two glared at each other, their eyes down to thin slits. All around them went dead silent and even their digimon weren't really sure of what was happening.

And suddenly, the most amazing thing happened.

Which one started it, neither of the two knew, but Ken's and Daisuke's lips touched briefly.

When they slowly pulled away, flushing and looking at each other with mid-closed eyes, it was just for a second. And then, almost as if a magnetic force was pulling them together, they moved forward, and their lips caught in a soft, magnetic touch once again.

At first their lips just grazed each other's, but then Daisuke cupped his hands around Ken's cheek and delicately pressing his thumbs in the soft flesh, he parted Ken's lips and immersed his tongue into his mouth, licking at every inch of it. And then Ken was kissing him back, his hands sliding up Daisuke's chest and neck to tangle in Daisuke's spiky hair.

Daisuke's hands brushed across Ken's cheeks, down to his neck and shoulders, then, tracing their way down his sides and sliding around his waist, they crushed the other boy against him. Ken couldn't suppress a moan as the kiss deepened. The warm tongue exploring his mouth, and the warm body pressing hard against his made his mind clouded. He couldn't help it...he moaned loudly into the tan skinned boy's mouth while one of his hands smothered Daisuke's spikes and gently snaked around the base of his neck, forcing their lips even closer, to add more sensations at the surprisingly wonderful onslaught. Unable to think, Daisuke let his hands run up and down Ken's spine, tracing lazy circles with his nails.

They relished the kiss, memorizing and anticipating every sensation, every movement, every sound, smell and touch.

It was at once frightening and incredibly exciting.

And they both would have gladly remained like that for the rest of their lives.

As their kiss went on, both their digimon could feel something…unidentifiable, wash over them. They shuddered, at once frightened and happy. The world spun crazily in front of their wide eyes and suddenly their backsides collided with the grassy ground. They tried to stumble up to their feet, unsuccessfully, and then they glance at each other, sharing and helpless look that told each one the other had felt too those strange waves of…something.

Ken and Daisuke suddenly remembered the need to breath and reluctantly pulled some inches back from each other, glowing for happiness and panting in fear. They shared a dreamy look, their vision fuzzy and unfocused. When realization of what just happened dawned on them, both boys on the ground immediately leaped apart.

Ken looked away, placing a hand over his heart, which was beating so rapidly, it felt as if it would explode out of his rib cage.

Daisuke looked away as well, but soon his eyes flinched upward and he studied the other boy, trying to understand his thoughts.

A minute of silence passed before Daisuke cleared his throat.

"Ken…" he whispered. "You'd better go."

Ken felt the embarrassment cover him like a blanket and he nodded wordlessly, absently standing up, light headed and kind of tired.

"Yeah…" Daisuke shivered at the emptiness dripping through Ken's usually sweet voice. And he sighed, as tears stung his passion glazed eyes.

Their digimon hopped at their respective human's side. Ken stared blankly down at Wormmon curiosity-filled eyes, while Daisuke took his Chibimon in his arms. When the tan skinned boy stood up, his eyes and Ken's met, wide in wonder and astonishment.

The trip from the cave to the nearest portal was silent, uncomfortable, but they eventually made it to the window to the real world. To the door which could bring Ken back home. Chibimon hopped down Daisuke's arms and bounced toward his green friend. Then he threw a quick glance at Daisuke, who smiled, before turn toward Wormmon.

Leaning forward he gave the other digimon a quick peek on the cheek. When he pulled away he saw Worrmon blinking, adorably bemused, because he didn't know why his friend had done that.

"What was that?"

"A kiss!" the other giggled softly.

"I know, but…why?" he tilted his head, dancing his antennas. The blue digimon shrugged, smiling sweetly.

"D'suke once sad that to say goodbye to a really good friend you can kiss them."

"Goodbye?"

"Yeah." Chibimon nodded. "For…a…while."

Ken and Daisuke, who were both looking down at their digimon, happened to look up at the same time and their eyes linked.

"…Daisuke…?"

"Ken…go. Just go." He sighed.

The purple haired boy took one last glance at Daisuke, before turn around toward his way back home. He took a step forward and held his Digivice out. Wormmon hopped onto his shoulder and looked down to a smiling Chibimon, still wondering.

"DIGIPORT OPEN!" he yelled. Then he swirled around. "Daisuke, I…" Ken was cut off by the warm lips of Daisuke against his in a fiery, long kiss. A kiss that Ken gladly returned. There was no hesitation now, but that one kiss tasted as something like sadness. Desperation. The slightly younger groaned, a hand coming up to tangle in Ken's hair, the other cupping his pale cheek. Daisuke tongue swept across Ken's bottom lip, and traced his teeth, curling around Ken's tongue.

His and Ken's tongue collided, danced in time to the quick, thumping rhythm of their hearts beating at unison again, like they were meant to do. Ken's tongue caressed gently Daisuke's, silently promising him something both of them weren't still prepared to say. To hear. Or even to admit.

Daisuke relished this second kiss, gripping desperately to every sensation -- the way Ken's lips faintly taste of mango, the gentleness with which their tongue met, the liquid touch, the burning sensation inside his heart – committing everything to memory.

Suddenly Daisuke pulled his lips away.

"That felt like…goodbye…Daisuke, you…"

Daisuke smiled and thrust something into Ken's hand. His fingers closed over his paler ones and suddenly he let the other boy go, pushing him backwards inside the portal.

While falling backward, Ken got a glimpse of what he was holding and his breath get caught in his throat.

Daisuke's blue Digivice was beeping quietly in his hand.

"Daisuke!" he yelled, reaching a hand out for the other boy; but he didn't reach out to catch his stretched hand, thought. He stood still, smiling sadly, his lips slightly parted, but nothing coming out. Looking away for a fraction of a second, he squinted his eyes shut. Then his head jerk up, and their eyes met. And to his horror, Ken realized Daisuke's ones were watery.

"Ken! Don't ever come back here! Trap me there and forget me!!"

"DAISUKE!!"

"I can take care of the Kaiser alone, Ken!" he tentatively reached a hand out, only to let it drop at his sides a moment later. "Forget me, Ken! Forget me!!"

"DAISUKEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!" He cried out, grasping at the air, eyes shut closed.

* * * * * *

Ken reopened his eyes only when the world stopped to fee like spinning around him. He frantically looked around, immediately recognizing the place where he had landed as the computer lab of Odaiba elementary school. He jerked up to his feet, grabbing the computer monitor in his hands.

"Stupid!" he yelled to the buzzing screen. "Stupid, Daisuke!! Stupid!!!"

* * * * *

Meanwhile, in the digital world, Daisuke was still in front of the closed portal which had took Ken away. He looked around, wrapping his arms around himself against the chilly wind that ruffled playfully his hair. In the distance, he could make out the looming image of the Kaiser's base and he couldn't suppress a little shiver at that sight.

"Let's go home…" he sighed, walking toward the dark tower.

"Hai…" sighed Chibimon at his side. Then he leaped up and settled comfortably in Daisuke's arms.

"Ehy, what's this?" he laughed. "Are you jealous?"

"No…it's just I…" Daisuke noticed that his digimon was shivering now. In a way he had never seen him shiver before. "Chibimon?"

"Daisuke, I…"

"Going somewhere, Daisuke my dear?" the cold, low purr literally froze Daisuke dead in his spot. And scared, he discovered he was shivering in a way similar to Chibimon's. He had to swallow his fear to find enough voice to reply.

"Home."

"Home?"

Daisuke growled, gritting his teeth hard enough to break them.

"To your base, Kaiser. Home." He said, but his eyes were very angry.

"oh…"

Daisuke balled his fists and slowly restated to walk. "It didn't please me you spent the whole night with that annoying guy, Daisuke." The Kaiser's voice filled Daisuke's ears with thunder. And once again the spiky haired boy was paralyzed, breathing quickly and swallowing in fear and hate.

"So? What do you want to do now?" he laughed bitterly, raising his voice to deliberate sarcasm. "Punish me? Whip me till I'm dead?"

The Kaiser laughed and Chibimon jumped down from Daisuke's arms, ready to hide under the nearest rock. His laugh was chilly, paralyzing…the unmelodious sound of crushing crystal.

"Oh, no!" he chuckled, evidently amused. "You served me so good! Why should I punish you?"

In the horrid pain and surprise of the moment, Daisuke's eyes grew wide and he unconsciously looked down at his hands.

"…I…?"

Laughing hoarsely, the Digimon Kaiser lowered his voice to a low hiss, not too louder than the soft whistle you can produce running a fingertip trough textured satin. "Oh my…did you thought you managed to let him escape?" he chuckled, an evil sound which broke trough Daisuke's heart as easy as an hot blade could pass through butter. "It was all part of my plan, Daisuke…"

"Your…plan?" Daisuke swallowed. What had he done?

"Yes…my plan to achieve your return…" he purred, his voice caressing Daisuke's ear. "your return to the digidestined…"

Daisuke grinned, narrowing his eyes. "But I threw away my Digivice…"

Though his words were unheeded, or simply unheard, this single statement was followed by the unpleasant echo of the digimon Kaiser's evil laugh fluttering trough the chilly air. Daisuke took a single look to Chibimon, who was still at his feet, and then shot a glance over the clearing and then up to the sky, beyond the clouds and higher beyond them.

"I THREW AWAY MY DIGIVICE! I CAN'T COME BACK TO THE REAL WORLD!!"

Once again the digimon Kaiser laughed and Daisuke couldn't help but grit his teeth.

"…that won't stop me, my Daisuke…" his whisper echoed thorough Daisuke's very being, setting his soul on the bitter fire of horror. "It will be just a matter of time…" he breathed, his voice dripping malice, feeling Daisuke's breath shallow in apprehension. "…before your return…my Daisuke…"

He burst into a glorious laugh, then, one which emptied Daisuke of all his force, leaving him to shiver, kneeled down in the soft grass.

=========================================

To be continued in part 05: The Game

Nemesi = So? Did ya like it? ^_^

Daisuke = ::grabs Nemesi's shoulders and shakes her:: Why do you always have to make me do stupid things??? Why did I trap myself in the digital World?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!?!!? ::whines::

Ken = ::patting gently Daisuke's back:: Don't worry…we'll come and save you… ::glares at Nemesi:: right?!

Nemesi = ::gets pale:: ehm…*coughnotexactlycough*

Daisuke and Ken = WHAT?!

Nemesi = ::scratching the back of her head:: We-well…didn't ya read what the Kaiser said? Daisuke will return to the earth…

Ken = ::blinks::

Daisuke = ::stares::

Nemesi = TRUST ME FOR ONCE!!!!! ::sweatdrops:: eh…se ya in the next chapter minna! ^^