~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken looked over to the way the gas station would be. He
sighed. This was not good. Iori walked over to Ken, and stopped in front of
him. Ken stared a bit.
" Yes, Iori?" He asked, trying not to be angry. Iori pulled
out a Kendo stick from behind his back, and handed it to Ken. Ken took it
warily. Iori smiled.
" Go get your dad back. And, I want to see some imprints on
that Kendo stick. Whack em' good!" Iori fake punched the air, and Ken smiled.
Ken looked over the gas station. Taichi trotted up to Ken, and put a hand on
his shoulder.
" Ken, I'll give you the only advice I can: Lose control. Go
wild. Turn into the Kaiser, for all I care, just get him back. And, stay
strong. Don't give up. Win. That's all I know. So, go get your dad back." Ken
nodded, and aimed for a dash. With almost no sound, Ken ran faster then he did
at Daisuke and his soccer game, dashing and kicking up dust. Taichi and Hikari
watched him disappear into the horizon. Miyako walked up beside Hikari. Hikari
looked up at Miyako. Miyako looked as though the world had come crashing down.
" He'll make it out alive. He's got a lot of strengths and
guardians, and he doesn't even know it. Believe me, he'll come back with his
dad, running and dashing like the wind, with a broken Kendo stick in his
hand." Iori laughed along with Hikari, and stared out at the horizon. Takeru
walked over with Daisuke, and eyed the bruise under Miyako's ear. He kept his
mouth shut, not wanting to bug her. She probable just fell. Takeru
thought. Daisuke started pacing around, until Taichi grabbed him by the
shoulders and stopped him.
" Daisuke, he'll be fine, don't worry, Ken's going to make
it. So, stop making me dizzy, I feel like I'm going to hurl. Hey, just in
case, where's Sora's hat? Just in case." Miyako raised an eyebrow. It was
true, Taichi had hurled in Sora's hat before. She had been fuming for weeks.
Hikari laughed, and stared back out into the distance.
With Ken
Ken ran up to the gas station, and held the Kendo stick tight, skidding to a halt in front of it. He walked over to the door, and kicked it open. He looked around the dark room. It was only light by the sunlight coming in from the windows and cracks in the walls and roof. At the end of the room, he could see a large one eyed man with a long, gleaming Nodachi sword. His face was hidden by a silver mask, and he was wearing a blue trench coat, the collar flaring up over the mask's mouth. He was wrapped in bandages.
Behind him, was a lady in red. Her long leggings and mini skirt were red. Her shirt was very tight, and the collar showed nothing but cleavage and her chest, to a certain point. That was red, too. There were no sleeves. Her long, red hair was let loose, and her ears pointed out of the strands of hair. Her high gloves were red, like everything else, and she had a sword by her side. Her face looked a lot like Miyako's, only it was a lot sharper looking, angry even. Her boots raised to about her knee, and she was leaning in a chair. Ken's father was on the floor, beneath her feet, in the same clothes he was wearing the day of the fight. The Lady laughed.
" I didn't think you'd come, little Kaiser. Well, I have a
proposal: He goes to your friends, and you stay her with me and Scattermon, or
I kill him and you. By the way, my name is Keromon." Ken snarled slightly.
" What's the catch?" He asked bitterly. Keromon laughed.
" You must become the Kaiser. So, what'll it be?" She grabbed
Mr.Ichijouji by the back of his shirt, and pulled him to his feet. Ken sighed
slowly.
" Fine. I'll join you. Let him go. Now." Keromon laughed and
threw Mr.Ichijouji at Ken. Ken caught him, and helped him back onto his feet,
and pushed him to the door. Ken whispered into Mr.Ichijouji's ear.
" Run, and find the others. Tell them that the real Ken is
dead, and that Kaiser is back. Tell them to be ready. GO!" Ken shouted aloud,
and shoved his father hard to the door. Mr.Ichijouji ran as fast as Ken,
surprisingly, and ran the right way, to the Digidestined. Ken turned around,
and watched as Keromon slowly advanced on him. She stood in front of him, and
Scattermon blocked of the exit. Keromon shoved Ken hard into the wall, and got
close, her nose touching his. She ran a red gloved finger down the back of his
neck, and stopped around the middle of his neck. Ken felt icy shivers crawl
down his neck. his grip on the Kendo stick was tight, but something was
loosening his grip, and he was getting sleepy.
" Now, it's time to scream, and morph." A sharp sensation ran
down Ken's neck, and before he knew it, he was screaming in pain. Keromon
laughed while Ken screamed. Fire flew around her in the form of a dragon. It
curled around her and Ken, and he screamed further and louder. Scattermon
laughed along with Keromon. Ken's scream could be heard for miles, which was
in the range of the Digidestined.
Miyako heard Ken's scream, and gasped.
" That's Ken! He's in pain!" She yelled. Taichi frowned.
" We don't know if Ken's dad is okay. We have to wait until
Ken comes back. THERE'S KEN'S DAD!!" Taichi yelled. Mr.Ichijouji collapsed in
front of Taichi. Taichi bent down. Mr.Ichijouji looked up, tears streaming
down his face.
" They're going to hurt him! They're going to turn him
somehow! He's in pain!!" Mr.Ichijouji cried. Taichi sighed.
" Ken'll be fine. He's got a strong heart. We'll make sure of
that, don't you worry. Taichi tried to calm the older man down. It worked, and
Mr.Ichijouji sunk down into a crouch, and cried a bit. A fire bolt flew across
the sky, and crashed right in front of them all. Keromon stood up. Scattermon
threw Ken onto the ground. Ken looked fine, but obviously was not. He was
dressed as the Kaiser, except all in red. Dark, blood red. Ken stood up like a
zombie, and faced the Digidestined, eyes flashing. Keromon stepped forward.
" Hello, all you pathetic fools. My name is Keromon, he's
Scattermon, and this is Kaiser. But, he's not just the Kaiser. He's mine.
And you all can't do anything about it. He doesn't know anything now. I've got
total control over him. And there's nothing you can do about it." Keromon
snarled. Miyako growled in her throat. Ken stared blankly at them. Keromon
stared at Ken.
" Kaiser. Go kill them. Now." Kaiser snarled and walked
forward, Kendo stick in hand. Iori blinked. She was right. Ken didn't know
what he was doing. Ken raised the Kendo stick to waist level, and walked a
little faster, stopping about 4 meters in front of them. Miyako let a tear
flow down her face.
" Ken, wait, you don't want to hurt us! Keromon is
controlling you! Please, listen!" Taichi cried out. Ken turned to Taichi, and
a flash of confusion glittered on Ken's face, and then was washed away as he
turned back to face forward.
" Please, Ken, don't you remember? We're your friends!
Please, remember! You're not the Kaiser! You're Ken!" Hikari cried, hands
shaking. Ken's left foot moved a step back, but then returned flat again.
Takeru took a small step forward.
" Listen Ken. We forgive you. It wasn't your fault for
becoming the Kaiser before. And it's not your fault now either. So, please,
don't hurt the friends who care." Keromon growled as Ken was taken back. His
eyes widened, but then narrowed again, the blank look returning.
" Kaiser, they are just trying to trick you! I am your
master, and you shall kill them!" Keromon screamed angrily. Ken took a small
step forward. Daisuke walked forward a bit.
"Ken, don't you remember us? We were all doing good,
including you, on tearing apart control spires, remember? We're almost half
way done. Don't make is do it alone. You are a strong part of this team." Ken
stopped dead in his tracks, and looked down.
"I......can't.....remember you......" Ken moaned, pain
apparent. Iori almost cried.
" Please Ken, you have to. We all care about you, whether you
like it or not. Keromon is just trying to turn you against us!" He cried out.
Ken shook his head, and walked forward. He looked blank, but Keromon was
smiling. And that wasn't good.
" Ken, listen to me. I know you're in pain. She's hurt you.
Please, remember. Earlier today, I fell asleep standing, and then you caught
me." Miyako spoke clearly as she walked to Ken. He had stopped, and memories
of catching Miyako flashed through his mind.
" You laid me down on the ground, and you started to talk to
Hawkmon. Well, you were right, I was hit. You were right about everything!
Please, don't let go, Ken. Because you've got to much to lose, and not enough
to win. So don't feel sorry, please, just remember." Ken took off the glasses,
ignoring the angry cries to kill Miyako from Keromon. He threw them on the
ground, and unlatched the cape, throwing it to the side. He removed his
gloves, and threw them aside as well. He chucked the whip away, and stared
back at Miyako.
" I'm not sorry......If I hurt Keromon. I am if I ever hurt
you our anyone. Goodbye if I die." Ken whirled around, the jumpsuit and
anything else disappearing and turning back into his clothes. Ken dashed
forward, leapt in the air, and hit Keromon square in the face with the Kendo
stick, sending her hurling to the ground. Ken threw a strike to the side, and
connected with Scattermon's face, sending him falling onto Keromon.
He kept brutalizing Keromon and Scattermon with the Kendo stick, using all his strength in each hit. He kept hitting them until he couldn't lift his arms, and then some. He stepped back and observed his target, fallen and beaten down. The Kendo stick was still alive, but pretty trashed. A huge fire column flew up under Ken, and sent him hurtling in the air, back down to the Digidestined, smoking. He hit the ground, and groaned. He slowly got up, and watched as Keromon and Scattermon disappeared.
" I'LL BE BACK!!!!!" Keromon screamed as she vanished. Ken
stood there, burnt and bruised, with a busted up Kendo stick in his hand. He
turned to Iori, and handed him the Kendo stick.
" Sorry if it's busted, I kinda went nuts..." Ken rubbed the
back of his head shyly. Iori raised his thin eyebrow, and nodded. Ken turned
to Miyako.
" So.....How about after you work?" Ken asked sheepishly.
Miyako laughed.
" But that happens to be at....say......10:30?" She answered,
laughing a bit. Ken thought for a moment.
" I could always sneak out. Mom goes to bed before that."
They laughed. Ken turned to his dad, and helped him up. Mr.Ichijouji hugged
Ken tight.
" I'm sorry son, I didn't mean to hurt you....." Ken sighed
and hugged his dad back.
" It's alright, I know you didn't really-" Mr.Ichijouji cut
Ken off.
" No, I mean about everything. I'm sorry I kept pushing you
to be like Osamu. It made a bad effect on you, and I'm sorry." Ken stood in
his fathers arms, stunned. Ken's mind flashed through his memories, and over
and over again, the words of encouragement flashed through along with the hit.
Ken sighed.
" It's okay dad, I forgive you." But it's not! Ken
screamed in his mind. I lost to much of my own life for Osamu's....What am
I thinking? I can't be jealous. I won't be! Then again, I guess I do stand
alone.... Ken broke the hug with his dad, and smiled a little, trying to
kill his pain. They all went their separate ways.
Mrs.Ichijouji was ecstatic when she saw her husband. They
made up, and everything was okay. Ken had bolted out the door, and had
practically ran to Miyako's store. He found her almost asleep at the counter.
As soon as the little door bells rang, she popped awake.
" Welcome to the Inoue Family Store, what would you-Hi Ken!"
She chimed. Ken smiled and walked to the counter.
" Miyako, when is your regular shift over?" Ken asked. Miyako
thought for a moment.
" Now. Yoki should be here in about a minute to ask me if I
want to switch. Why?" She asked suspiciously. Ken sighed.
" Miyako, you have to go home. According to Hawkmon, you
barely ever go home. If you can't go home because you're scared, then come to
my house and phone." Miyako sighed. She rested her elbows on the counter.
" Alright, fine, but don't start pestering me. There's Yoki."
A tall girl walked into the room. Her hair was long and brown, and her eyes
were caramel, like Miyako's. She walked to the counter.
" Miyako, do you want me to take over?" Yoki asked, very
suspicious and curious about Ken. Ken stood silent.
" Yes, yes yes yes yes yes!!! Take over!! I never want to see
Mrs. Iamawartwearingwitch ever again!!! My cheeks are raw from pinching!!"
Miyako exclaimed, throwing off the apron and leaping over the counter. She
landed and Yoki stopped her.
" Who's he?" She asked, pointing to Ken. Ken turned slowly,
facing Yoki and Miyako. Miyako laughed at her sister.
" Don't be so up tight! He's my friend, Ken. Ken, this is
Yoki, my older sister." Ken smiled and shook Yoki's hand. Yoki smiled back.
" Watch out Ken, Miyako bites. She bit Mitsue when she was
10, and Mitsue had to have a rabies shot." Miyako growled and bared her white
teeth, and Yoki backed off a little, leaning away. Ken raised and eyebrow, and
Miyako stopped growling at Yoki, and smiled.
" Um, it was nice to meet you." Ken said kindly, trying to
stifle his laughter. Miyako smiled and grabbed her jacket.
" Yoki, I'll be staying over at Ken's for a while, so I'll be
back tomorrow. Remember, summer break?" Yoki raised an eyebrow, and turned to
Ken. Miyako walked out the door.
" Don't try nothin', boy. Break her little heart, and I'll
break your little neck. Capeash?" She growled. Ken gulped and nodded. He
walked out the door, and walked up beside Miyako. But they had no idea, how
much the world twisted in the night.....
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ELP: Okay, notes. Keromon sounds like the beginning of Kerosene, with mon
ended on it. Kerosene is very flammable, so that suits a fiery evil witch.
R&R!
