CHAPTER 15 "To Ken's surprise."



To the school for swimming relaxation she went. Along with her was a black duffle bag with a grey zip, containing her ocean blue towel and swimsuit, plus other necessities. On the way to school, something unexcepted occurred. She was crossing to get to an intersection when her pendant reacted with a melody. Obviously Ken was nearby among the crowds. So, Ken's piece reacted as well, but the crowds weren't startled, they thought it was just music that was coming from the radio that one of them must be carrying. Ken looked around for her while she kept walking to the school. She walked by Ken but he didn't notice her. After some steps, the music stopped, Ken stopped as well. Everything was over, for now.

Swimming was fun and relaxing for Mariana. No one disturbed her. "Oh, this was really relaxing," she said to herself as she walked in the hallway. She stopped when she came across to the new Digidestines with Tai and Izzy. Luckily, I didn't give my D-3 or D-terminal to her yet because she might have blown her cover when the other kids track her on their Digivices. She stood outside the door and watch as the younger kids get downloaded. Before Tai and Izzy could be transported there to the Digital World, she interrupted in suspicion, "What's going on here, Izzy? Tai? Where are the others?"

They became wobbly in her sudden presence with them. "Nothing is going on here, Mariana," they laughed uneasily towards her and shrugged. Their actions caused her to become even more suspicious. Ever since she falsely corrected them that she's not Davis' best friend from the past, they tried to stay clear of her so she won't uncover their secret about the Digital World. She knew everything, alright. She knew it well enough that they were hiding something from her. She already knows that they are Digidestines of an existing Digi-world.

"Really?" she asked in annoyance. They were behaving so suspiciously that anyone can figure out that there was something peculiar going on with them.

"Really," they quickly answered together.

"Guys, that's pathetic. I already know that you're both hiding something. I'll find out soon enough. But who cares," she insulted with pleasure.

"Yeah. That is pathetic," Tai laughed as he pretended not to be rudely affected by her insignificance insults. Izzy, not liking the situation too much, tried to change the subject by asking about her presence at the school on a Saturday.

"That's not the issue here," she replied. "So, where are the others now?"

"What others? Tai and I are only ones here checking on the computers," Izzy explained.

"Whatever you say, Izzy," she answered in uncertainty.

"A peculiar pendant you have there, Mariana. What does it symbolize?" Tai asked unusually. She didn't know if it was meant as a compliment or an insult, so she kept quiet. As Izzy eyed her t-shirt strangely, she became a little tense.

"What does that word mean on your t-shirt, Mariana?" Izzy asked as if it struck his interest. His bizarre question allowed Tai's mouth to be wide open. Tai never thought that Izzy would actually ask such a question.

"Oh, that. You know how there's Ken the Rocket, well there's Starlight Kamari," she answered proudly.

"So, who came up with that name for you?" Tai asked so he can distract her from her suspicions.

"My two friends, Sam and Uraina. Yikes! That reminds me, I was suppose to be finding something for them at Tamachi before tonight's party! Gotta go! Bye! And good luck in downloading yourself!" she shouted and ran.

"Huh?" They sighed and said to each other, "That was close."

When the others returned, Davis asked them why they didn't join them. Izzy told them about Starlight Kamari. Now they weren't sure if she knows about them and the Digital World. Even more, they were puzzled by her actions which caused them all to wonder if she's actually the Maria to Davis or if she was someone else.



***



"What is it, Mom? Dad? Where are we going?" Ken asked them. The Ichijouji family was driving to my house for the party. Ken, holding Wormmon, seated himself at the back row of his father's car. He was blindfolded and wasn't sure of where his parents were taking him. Even though Wormmon was able to see where his parents were taking him and what they might be doing, he didn't foil the surprise. Instead, he promised Ken that he'll stay alert in case of any approaching danger.

"You'll see soon enough," his mom answered him joyfully.

"We're almost there, Son, so no peeking," his father warned. "Or you'll ruin the surprise."

After Mr. Ichijouji parked the car, they led Ken out with Wormmon, and rang the door bell twice like a signal. "You can look now, Ken," his father said to him.

"Oh," he replied as he took off the blindfold and studied the surroundings for clues of where he was. He realized that this was my place and wondered why his parents took him here. He finally figured out an answer, but when he tried to ask, his mother told him to open the door. "Isn't it lock?" he asked his parents and they shrugged so he would try to open the door and see if it is. There was a little set back at opening the door, he had a feeling of uncertainty. But in the end, he opened the door.

"Surprise!" we all yelled jovially. Ken as well as Wormmon were surprised to see us all. They just stood there at the door like if they were daydreaming. We were all there at my house, all except for Sam and Uraina and Mariana's dad, who was hired at the tv. station by T.K.'s and Matt's dad. Those of us who were there all dressed casually.

Before Ken took another step into my house, I stimulated, "Hey, Ken, come in, before the food gets cold."

"Yeah, hurry it up so your birthday party can start already," Tai demanded.

"Right!" Ken accepted and smiled.

"Finally!" Davis commented on Ken's late reaction.

"Davis!" the younger kids shouted while Mariana, who was in her room listened, as she typed something into a folder on her laptop. No one noticed that she was staying with me since no one asked.

"At least it's not past midnight or else," I laughed deviously.

"Or else what, Ange?" Ken asked.

"Or else you'll all have to give presents for me too," I joked.

"Why is that?" Yolei asked as she eyed suspiciously.

"'Cause it's her birthday tomorrow," Mariana interrupted, wearing a black sleeveless turtle-neck vest with black leather pants, as she strolled down the stairs to the living room where we all were at the moment. All the Digimon, including Wishmon, were fortunate enough to settle on the sofas.



***



After dinner and dessert, Ken went upstairs to get Mariana down so she can join us after the rest of us help out with the dishes so he can open his presents in the living room. He did this all voluntarily when he accidently glimpsed around her neck and saw the missing piece to his pendant or so it would seem. The strange thing was that neither piece reacted to the other's presence. Because of no reaction, Ken thought that it was either the wrong piece or it was time for whatever Annye was talking about in the letter. When he was about to ask her, she ran upstairs with a notification that she forgot to do something. Even though the door to her room was open, he dared not intrude her from typing something on her laptop. He just stood there in the doorway, awaiting for her permission to enter. He waited until she sent what she was typing online to ask, "Hey, Mariana, can I come in?"

"Sure, Ken, the door's open for you to enter," she answered, sitting at her desk that was facing a window, without turning her back to see who was there. Instead, she closed her laptop.

"How did you know I was at your door?" Ken asked as he entered.

"That doesn't matter. What took you so long? Did you bring the other half of the pendant?" Mariana asked as she got up from her adjustable chair to face Ken.

"Yes. I did," Ken responded as he disconnected the two links of the necklace so he can show proof of its presence. He held the necklace in his right palm, causing the pendant to drag along. "What's its purpose?"

"You'll understand soon enough. For now, hand it over," Mariana commanded strictly as she took hers off from her neck. Her left palm grabbed the middle of the necklace, causing the pendant to dangle along. Despite her rudeness towards him, he did what he was told as he placed his piece in her right palm, only because he knew that both pieces must be combined today or all is lost, at least that's what he thought. For days, he's been searching, but he found nothing until tonight.

Then, she dropped both pieces onto her desk. When they touched each other, they glowed as they formed an oval opal pendant on the same chain. When she touched the opal stone, a beam of colours was emitted to display a hologram of Annye. "What's happening?" Ken asked in amazement.

The figure started talking, "Whoever possesses this opal stone will be able to remedy any sickness or injury if used within twenty-four hours. Please note, this stone is meant for Ange. Please tell her that only the entire stone can cure her. Say happy birthday to Ange for me. Farewell, Ken, Mariana." After that, the stone stopped glowing.



***



"Well, well. This' for Ange," Mariana said, sounding cold, as she grabbed the necklace. She tossed it into the air and caught it as she ambled down the stairs to the living room.

"Be careful with that," Ken advised. But she didn't listen to him. Instead, she tossed, and caught it again.

"Don't worry, nothing bad's going to happen," she claimed. Ken wasn't sure of what to say next that could stop her from tossing the necklace again. Rather than saying something that can hurt her feelings, he said nothing. He only watched.

Tossed. Caught. Tossed. Caught. Tossed. Caught. Every time she threw it into the air irritated Ken as he followed her. Fortunately, she abstained from tossing it into the air again when she reached the living room automatically or else he would have lost his temper at her annoyance.

"Hey, Ken, what took you so long to come back down? It's time to open your presents," Wormmon asked softly when Ken's parents and Mariana weren't paying attention.

"I had to check on Mariana, she's the one who's got the other piece," Ken whispered and sat down near his wrapped presents from all of us on the carpeted floor. He began opening the presents while I had something to ask Mariana.

"Hey, Mariana, how it is going with the pendant? Did you and Ken combine both pieces yet? 'Cause if you haven't, we're going to be in big trouble," I asked nervously.

"Don't worry, I've got them right here," she said as she showed me the necklace in her palm.

"Whoa! Nice opal! So, who's it for, Mariana? And what is it for? Did Uraina tell you? 'Cause she must have forgotten to tell me."

"It's for you," she smiled and I pointed my right index finger at myself. She nodded. "Want me to put it on for you?"

"Okay," I said and she carefully placed it around my neck. "Who's it from?"

"Me, Ken, and Uraina. Oh yeah, Uraina told me that the opal stone will cure any sickness including yours, but it must be used within twenty-hours. She didn't tell me how the stone works though. But I'm sure that you'll figure it out," she said as she placed the necklace. When she finished, she said, "By the way, Uraina and I wish you happy birthday before you leave."

"That reminds me, I've got something for you in my room," I said to Mariana and ran.

Before I could reach halfway up the stairs, Matt called out, "Hey, Ange, where're you going? Ken's about to open his present from you." After that, everyone's attention was on us two.

"Just upstairs to get something for Mariana, Matt. I'll be back soon. So, just open another present before I get back, Ken. Sorry, but got to go. Sooner I go, sooner I'll return, right?" I winked at all of them and ran upstairs before any of them could stop me.

"Okay, Ange," Ken accepted as he grabbed another present that's from Mariana, who was sitting on one of the steps.

"It's from Mariana," he informed. "Thanks."

"Open it, I'm sure you'll like it very much," Mariana ordered. Graciously, Ken unwrapped and opened the box, revealing a gift for him. He held it in his right hand and stared at it with the others.

"A tape recorder?" Yolei asked, without stopping her stare at the object.

"That's not all," Mariana enlightened.

"Oh, there's more?" Cody asked curiously and she nodded.

"Guys, hold on a sec, there's a tape inside," Ken said as he studied the recorder closely.

"There is?" the others asked.

"Yep! Play the tape, Ken, and you'll understand what's so special about this gift," she advised. He accepted and pushed the play button. It started out all fuzzy, then they could hear Mariana's voice. After a few minutes, the recorder played a different voice.

"Sam?" Ken and his parents asked as tears flowed from their eyes.

"...hey, Ken, Mom, Dad, sorry if I don't make it. I just wanted to tell you, Ken, don't be like me, you might end up like me-lonely, empty and pressure. But, you're lucky, Ken, you'll have second chances, but never give up. Remember Ken, that I'll always be there watching over you, and sorry about everything. And everyone, don't blame yourselves, the past is gone. It cannot be changed, but it'll always be remembered. I'll miss you all when I'm gone. Don't forget me. Love you all, but I've got to go now, Starlight Kamari might never forgive me for using up all the tape's space. Bye. Thanks for everything. Oh yeah, Kamari, if you're listening, reply to Uraina for me.... By the way, please stop crying, I'm sure I'll be fine...," the tape recorder played and ended blank.





Author's Notes: Don't own Digimon.