A/N: Well, I'm trying my hand at a bit of angst and romance. Though I'm not entirely sure how this'll turn out, all I can promise is a Daiyako. I'm not promising happy, sad, or a confused ending… but there will be an ending (otherwise what's the point in writing this?).
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Thunder echoed off in the distance, yet it's deafening roar shook the small room. Daisuke Motomiya's room, the small compact space was somewhat comforting for a 15-year-old boy. Yes, fifteen. Time doesn't stop you know, and now young Daisuke had grown. His hair now fell covering his eyes a bit, and he had become significantly taller. Yet one of the greatest differences was the once happy attitude he had, yes that had gone away quite a few months ago.
Now sitting in his room he stared at the cold silver of the sharp kitchen knife, the one his mother always used to cut food produce with. Then staring at his wrist he briefly wondered how it would feel for the blade to pierce his flesh, and shook as a mental picture of it flashed through his mind.
Another encore of thunder rumbled off in the distance, this one not strong enough to shake the foundation of his apartment building. He noted the storm was finally passing, and stared out onto his floor focused on nothing in particular. A brief glance and he caught sight of his newly bought Spawn(1) issue.
His right hand trembled, he wasn't prepared to let his life end at this point. There was still much to do, to much to say, and still some people he had to attend some business with. So life for him still held much, but did he have the courage to stand up to it? The irony of that phrase was lost to him, here he was holder of the Digi-mental of Courage… so why was he afraid of life or better way to phrase it, why was he afraid to live?
A tiny tap at his window shook him out of the trance, and he stared out to see a haze of rainfall. It wasn't much, just a small shower… and he didn't want to be in his house a minute longer. Better yet a delusional thought came to him, and sitting up quickly he opened the door to his small sanctuary and headed to the kitchen. Setting the knife down he made his way for the front door to his apartment, and quickly slipping his shoes on grabbing his keys and slammed the door shut.
As he pushed the elevator button, his mind re-played images of bitter thoughts. And unconsciously his right index finger played across the scar that created that image, closing his eyes he lowered his hand from his right cheek.
'Don't think, just don't think.' Repeating this mantra he awaited the elevator, and hearing the ritual like 'Ping' opened his eyes to see the doors slid open. Stepping in he pushed the button for the lobby and awaited leaning against a side of the semi-cubicle transport. His thoughts had become a blur, he thought of everything he could think of to clear his mind from the memory of how he had gotten that scar, but he could constantly feel it picking at the back of his mind. Every breath he took made its presence greater, every timed he touched it made it burn into his mind.
The doors slid open again, and stepping out he began to walk in the rain. It was a bit foolish to walk in the rain with no umbrella, nor a raincoat. However he really didn't care now, he just wanted to walk.
"Yea , if I could just walk away and leave my pain behind. If it were all that easy…" Suddenly he stopped and tilted his head backwards, allowing the cold drops of water to rain upon his tainted brown skin. Wishing it could wash all the pain away, but it wouldn't. "So much for that thought, huh?" He spoke to no one but himself.
He stood there for quite awhile, his clothes becoming damp and clinging to his body. He could feel the cool drops still hitting his skin, and for a moment he felt his whole body go cold. "I wonder what it's like to die?"
"Why would you want to know that?"
Daisuke spun on his heel, his eyes meeting a pair of soft brown ones. Breathing heavily he dropped his stance, having thought she were a threat. "Miyako…"
Walking up to him in a red raincoat, she gave him a stern look. "Why did you want to know how it feels like to die? Your not thinking of suicide are you?!" Her eyes blazed, and for a moment Daisuke felt himself lose face.
"What's it to you? Not like you'd give a damn."
How did he just receive a sudden red hand mark on his left cheek so quickly, take a guess. His eyes went wild with bewilderment, she had just slapped him?!
"What do you know? I do give a damn Motomiya, believe me I do."
"You don't even know what I went through! How could you possibly know?!"
"It happens Dai, and whether you want to accept it or not… it's going to happen to all of us."
Daisuke Motomiya; bearer of courage, friendship, and miracles felt himself shatter at those words. The dam was broken and soon the waters in his eyes would fall. It wasn't right, but that was the way of things. Here one minute gone the next, yes that's the way it is. And it came, the tears… the bitter salty tears came and slid down his face. A mixture of tears and rain slid down his cheeks, and he felt as if heaven itself were crying with him.
"Why? I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye."
Miyako Inoue saw the leader of their team broken, and her heart wrenched at the site. If anyone deserved this it certainly wasn't him. And yet life seemed to do as it pleased taking who or what it wanted not bothering to say sorry. Taking a step forward Miyako Inoue held the goggle-headed teen, and he wept on her shoulder.
"Let's get you out of the rain, will your parent's mind you coming over to my place? It's not that far."
Looking around he suddenly noticed that he was far from home. 'I wondered around that far?'
"Umm, sure. But I'll need to use your phone to let them know I'm fine, ok?"
Seeing her nod, he allowed her to take his hand and lead her. Truth be told he probably wouldn't have moved if she hadn't done so. "Dai?"
"Yes?"
"Promise me… promise you won't do something stupid."
"You mean kill myself?"
A slight pause, and then her reply came back sounding like a plea.
"Promise."
"I promise."
A sudden heat rose in his cheeks as he felt her fingers tighten slightly around his own. Looking up he saw her head turned towards his, her eyes looked sad yet happy at that statement. Her smile was what confused him though.
'Did I just make Miyako… happy?'
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"Come in already, it doesn't matter if the floors wet. I'll get it later."
Daisuke stood at the entrance of her front door, his face a cloud of confusion. "But… why don't you just bring a towel and I'll dry myself a bit out here?"
Frustrated with him, she grabbed his arm and yanked the poor boy inside. Nearly tripping he steadied himself and turned to face her.
"That hurt Miyako!"
"Quit whining, just take your shoes off. Jeez your wet, stay here I'll get a towel."
Standing still, he noticed the quiet aura within. It was somewhat relaxing and yet a bit un-nerving. "Uh, Miyako… where's your family?"
Coming back with a large blue towel, and a pair of clothes under one arm she grinned. "Gone for the weekend, so that means we have the whole place to ourselves. Feeling naughty?"
"EH?!" Daisuke backed into the door within .03 seconds, he covered his nose feeling the heat in his cheeks rise above normal. 'Maybe I'm sick, yea that's it I'm sick!' A sudden image of that sentiment crossed through his mind. 'NOT THAT KIND OF SICK!!'
Hearing her laughing at his reaction, he stared at her quizzically. "Playing, I'm playing. Trying to lighten the mood, y'know?"
"That wasn't funny!"
"Maybe not for you, but to me it was hilarious. Oh, jeez Dai you think I'm that sort of person. And here I thought you had a much higher opinion of me."
"With you, I'm always guessing."
"So you just wing it when you're around me." She smiled somewhat devilishly, and spun on her heel her back toward him. "Well, you can use the bathroom down the hall to your left. There's a change of clothes that belong to my brother."
Staring at her for a minute he followed her directions and shut the door once he had found it. Looking around he noticed it look like any ordinary bathroom, except it had an odd pattern of tiles and magazines along with newspapers stacked neatly. Deciding it rather rude to be snooping, he quickly took off his clothes and dried himself quickly. Then quickly put on the clothes she picked out, it was a white t-shirt that fit too big, and a pair of track pants that were also white. 'I look like some sort of a priest.'
Unlocking the door, he stepped out spotting her awaiting him to exit. "All done? Good, give me your wet clothes I'll take them downstairs and dry them off. I left you a glass of orange juice on the table, ok?"
Handing her the clothes he walked behind her to the door, feeling something he had to ask.
"Miyako, why are you doing this?"
Stopping in the doorframe she turned to look at him, a small smile on her face. "I told you, because I care." Slowly the door shut, leaving Daisuke there his eyes holding all the confusion from what was just said. 'What does she mean that she cares?'
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F/N: (short for fin notes) Well, it's sort of a work in progress. C'mon you thought I'd spell it all out in one chapter? Give the story some time to grow! Anyways leave a review, flame, criticism please. It's kind to hear opinions of others. LaterZ!