CHAPTER 6 "The stranger, alone."



"Ken, you ready to go?" I asked as I glimpsed at my watch with the new time adjusted. It showed that it was 5:57pm already. It was time to go. I started walking away and Wishmon followed closely.

"Right! Come on, Wormmon, let's go before she leaves us here with them still angry," Ken joked.

"Right," Wormmon agreed. Ken and Wormmon started to run to catch up with me and Wishmon. When Ken and Wormmon finally caught up with us, they stopped running.

"Bye," Davis said as he and his team were confused.

"I thought that Annye's with Ken, but why isn't she waiting for him? Something fishy is going on here, don't you think so, Davis?" Veemon asked.

"That reminds me, I'm having fish for dinner tonight, we better go now, Veemon," Davis answered.

Back in Ken's room when we finally arrived, there was a knock on the door. It was his mom calling that dinner was ready. "Hey, Ken, do you mind if Wishmon and I eat here in your room alone tonight?" I asked.

"What?" Wormmon asked. "Then where am I going to eat?"

"Oh, don't worry, you can stay, I think," Wishmon assured.

"Okay then. But, does this mean that I'm going to eat dinner alone with my parents?"

"Absolutely! Why?"

"Oh, nothing, Annye."

"Besides, your parents might really want to have a talk with you, or something. Won't they? And besides, I received another e-mail from Destiny104, and I was hoping that I can read it tonight during dinner in your room."

Dinner was fantastic! Wormmon, Wishmon and I enjoyed it. I wasn't sure if Ken did. I felt so bad when I asked him to eat with his parents alone, but then again if he didn't, he would have been able to read my e-mail from Destiny104. I really didn't mean to push him away, but I really needed some privacy with Wishmon. We had a lot to talk about and explain and ask each other. We allowed Wormmon to stay so when Ken asks him about what we've been doing, he would be able to assure Ken that everything was just fine. Beside that, all of us didn't think that Wormmon should have eaten dinner with Ken in front of Ken's parents; they'll freak! When Wishmon and I finally read the e-mail message, I made sure that Wormmon wasn't reading it also. It was strange, this time, the sender's e-mail address was given. I made no reply, instead, I e-mailed Izzy to ask of Willis. He agreed.



***



When I was getting our dirty dishes to the kitchen, I heard him and his parents talking in the living room. They were standing in front to the tv. I didn't really mean to listen to their private conversation but I really wanted to know what they were saying about me and my presence here in their home.

"Ken, Son, I know that you meant well," his dad said, "but, she can't stay here forever."

"I know that, Dad."

"Then, what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm not sure yet, Mom, but I'll have a talk to her. I'm sure she'll understand. But until then, can't she stay a little longer?"

"Okay, Ken. But just for a few more days, I mean, doesn't she want to return to her home?" his dad asked.

"Home, I wanna go home. Why can't I go back home?" I thought angrily. With more mixed feelings, I quickly pulled myself together and cautiously walked into the kitchen in order to place the dishes that I was still holding near the sink. When I returned to the living room, they were still talking. This time, I left immediately and entered Ken's room quietly. There I pretended that I had heard nothing. The pretending part was easy, the part that was hard was not thinking about it. Because of this, I took some clothes and went into the bathroom to have a nice relaxing bath. I allowed Wishmon to come with me since she needed a bath also.

After Wishmon finished, I followed as Wishmon returned to Ken's room to get some desirable rest. She did what she was told with loyalty. When she arrived in Ken's room, she met up with Wormmon, who was just lying on Ken's bed. He seemed very calm and peaceful but extremely quiet. Was he worried? Wishmon wasn't sure, she just greeted him and said goodnight to him and did was she was told to do-to get some desirable rest.



***



While in the bathroom, I was confused and very frustrated. "Too lonely, too sad, too much to think about, too much left to do, too many things to worry about, too little time." That's what I thought. It was just too much. Just too much. When I finally finished my bath, I dressed myself in forest green pyjamas-long-sleeved top with matching long pants using my powers of Illusion Confusion that I rarely use. Actually, this was my first time to try it out. This was an easy task to complete, I realized that the hardest part of Illusion Confusion is with making the illusion real, the thing with Illusion Confusion is that no one really knows, except for me and maybe Wishmon, if the illusion is really an illusion, and that's why it's called Illusion Confusion. At last I was ready for bed although I was hoping to be back home in my room, on my bed, looking at the beautiful and enchanting night sky of heavenly bodies of uncertain possibilities.

I opened the door slowly. Standing just in front of me was a figure of no stranger, for it was Ken. Why is he here? Maybe it's because this is where he lives, but why am I here? I don't even live here. It's because my home is too far away, but am I just staying here?

"Oh, um, are you finished?" Ken asked.

"Oh, that. I'm finished," I answered as I left the bathroom and passed Ken who went in. He said nothing, instead, he nodded. I took a glimpse back towards him. He didn't look back, or did he? I wasn't really sure. Then, I resumed heading towards Ken's room. It was almost bedtime, at least at the Ichijoujis' resident. At my house, I would usually sleep at least until when it is midnight; but for the Ichijoujis, it's much earlier.



***



Before I entered Ken's room, his mom stopped me when she asked a personal and an unanswerable question, "Annye, uh, are you really my son's girlfriend?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, are you and Ken really dating?" she tried to explained.

"I'm sorry," I thought, "I'm really sorry. Tomorrow, I'll go, don't worry. Your son is safe. He'll always be safe; I promise to do whatever I can to make sure that he'll always be okay." "I hope so, Ms. Ichijouji, I hope so."

"What do you mean you hope so?" she asked.

"Ken has a lot on his mind lately, I don't want to be a problem to him or any one of his family; I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I've scheduled to meet with a few of my friends that I've been trying to contact here. They'll get me back home."

"So, you've heard, our conversation with Ken. I'm terribly sorry, forgive me," she began to say.

"No, it's not you. You're not the one who should be sorry, I am. Forgive me for intruding in your son's life. He's a good kid. I thank you for you and your family's hospitality. I'm very grateful. I'll never forget your kindness. Someday, I'll repay my debt to you and your family, I promise."

"Oh no, we're sorry."

"Don't worry, I understand. I always do. Goodnight, Ms. Ichijouji. And in case I don't see you or your husband tomorrow before I leave, this is goodbye as well."

"Does Ken know?"

"I'm going to tell him tonight," I answered and just then his dad approached us. He had heard everything, and for some strange reason, he seemed sad, rather than angry with me and my unwelcome presence life in his family's lives as well as his home. He felted really bad for me. He pitied me, who was still roaming around Japan and who knows where else alone.

"Actually, Annye, you're welcome to stay for a few more days," Mr. Ichijouji offered.

"Then what? Either way, I'll have to leave, it's just a matter of time. And the time is tomorrow. But thanks for the offer and hospitality, Mr. Ichijouji."

Ken's dad was stunted, he didn't know what to say for he knew that I was correct. He knew of nothing to encourage me to stay, and for that I am the most grateful for. "And I guess that it's almost time for bed. Goodnight, Mr. and Ms. Ichijouji."

"What about Ken? Are you going to just leave him?" his dad questioned.

"No, I won't. I won't just leave him, I promise. Goodnight," I answered truthfully and entered Ken's room. His parents, being almost satisfied with the answers I had provided, returned to their usual schedule of work.



***



After some time had passed, Ken rejoined us in his bedroom. He had finally finished his bath, now he was ready to sleep for he seemed somewhat more exhausted and tired than me. Or was he depressed? I didn't know, but I hope to know. I need not to ask for when he asked me to verify if I was actually going to leave I had a good idea of what it was-he was somewhat sad to know that I was to leave in the morning, or was he feeling a bit guilty of my unusual decision? He was already above me in his bed, trying to get some rest but wanted more answers while I was trying to answer as much as I can to reassure him.

"So, Annye, does any of this have to do with the e-mail you got from Destiny104?" Ken asked, "Or did you really find your way home?"

"I know where my home is, I just can't get there. But the e-mail does have some connection with this. I'm going to meet with Izzy in the morning to meet with one of his friends to investigate on this matter. And at the same time, I'll find a place to stay while this is all happening. That's all. Nothing really anything that matters. And besides, I'm positive that I'll be just fine or else I won't make this kind of decision. Don't worry, Ken, Wishmon is coming too so I won't be actually alone."

"Okay then. But if you need anything, call or e-mail us. You do have my phone number and e-mail address, right?"

"Of course, Ken, of course," I answered.

"I guess this is goodbye, Wormmon," Wishmon stated.

"Yeah, goodbye," Wormmon repeated.

"You two mean goodnight," I said in amusement.

"Yeah, goodnight, Annye, Ken," Wormmon and Wishmon said together and began to sleep.

"Goodnight, Wormmon, Wishmon. Goodnight, Ken," I said in closing.

"Yeah. Goodnight," Ken answered, "and goodbye."



***



It happened again, except this time, I knew it was Ken from the start. Although I knew that he was crying, I wanted to know why. It will always be my nature to be too curious, just too curious, although I admit that I might not be as curious as Izzy. My first attempt to fall asleep was almost a total failure. I had tried to forget the feeling that I would have when someone's crying, but I really couldn't ignore it, for it was Ken; I couldn't forget his kindness, his hospitality and help. He's a true friend even if he isn't my boyfriend. For someone who had just met a stranger who asks for too much, he was willing to try to grant my requests. My best option would be either to talk to him, or to cry myself. By crying myself, I won't sense Ken's crying because I would be blocking it or maybe blending it, either way, it works, for I had tried it once already when my mother was crying and I couldn't help. I never figured out why she was crying though, for she would always seem cheery and happy-going, almost like Davis, except for the obnoxious and insensitive personality. My mom was and still is the nicest even though her favourite is my older sister. My brother says that Dad favoured him over me. How untrue, I hope. He was right; I had found out that when I was too curious to get out of the house to stare at the meteor showers. I would have used the telescope in my room, but for some unknown reason I had wanted to feel the night while gazing at the fascinating meteors showering down from the night sky. It was my first viewing of meteor showers. It was breath-taking. After viewing for over an hour outside the house, I was satisfied. During my walk back to my room, I had overheard my dad's late reply to my morning's question of whom his favourite was. My brother was there, for he seemed unsure that Dad had changed his stubborn mind. He was happy to hear his dad repeating his previous answer to him. But, I wasn't; I was furious. If it wasn't for my gratefulness for this meteor shower night I would have charged into the living room to confront both of them and ask for soothing answers to my broken heart. Now that I'm older, it doesn't bother me anymore. Instead, I was determined to prove my greatness and what they have refused for I had never really felt appreciated in their warm loving home for each other but me. But I will always be a bit grateful that they treated me with respect at least. It will always be my most memorable night; I would never forget it. It's forever, meteors. Thanks for revealing the truth to me. Even today, I am trying to prove to them that I am of greatness and not just a cry baby anymore. I'm gonna prove them wrong, but first, I must prove to myself that they are wrong. That is my everlasting mission until it has been completed thoroughly. I'll repeat no such error, I'll leave Ken alone this time. I'm truly sorry, but it for his own good 'cause I needed not to interfere in his world.



***

Author's Notes: I don't own Digimon or anything relating to it. I just write fan fictions.