Chisama - Hey, that was really cool....never thought it possible to have a chapter so deep after reading less then 2 minutes. ^_^
Thank you! I was trying to say something meaningful in the last chapter, and you'll get to see how I use it in this chapter...
~Lady S - hmm...after being threatened w/ a sword (hehe j/k)...reading this fic was nice! You updated!!! yeah!! It's a adds a nice consistency to the title and the purpose of the fic...but...THERE's NO ACTION! Arg...they could at least...at least...ah, nvm. I'm expecting some action in the next update ^^ otherwise a cute lil addition.
Action will come later, I promise...I'm not saying how many chapters later, but Daisuke and Ken will get their action! >:)
Kiyra - I really enjoy your story so far and you are an excellent writer. I also like all the information you set at the end of the story, I find them to be interesting and informative. I found the Taichi and Yamato piece something very different from all the Taito/Yamachi's I've read (Trust me, I've had my full share.) And I adored it. It was really something different. You've got talent and skill.(Like how you sort of answer things in the format we use in school. I hate doing that and would never do it willingly. XD) Please! Keep writing!
*blush* Awww... ^_^ I'm glad you like this fic so far. And again, I'm glad you like the notes. Yeah, the way I write them does remind me of school...even in college they make you write stuff like that -_-;; As for the Taito...different was what I was going for...I don't know why, but the scene just begged to be written that way... ^_^;
And as usual, the giant disclaimer is needed...
Disclaimer: Characters with piercing purple eyes and spiky mahogany hair do not belong to me. Neither do the two cute ones with baby blue eyes and superpuff brown hair. Heck, everybody in this fic don't belong to me...but the storyline does! :P
Ok, now on with the fic...
When we last left the duo, Ken had made up his mind to break up with Daisuke because he felt that he had pushed Daisuke into a relationship he wasn't ready to deal with. Daisuke in the mean time, was playing Dragon's Quest XI...getting in a little game time ^_^
Chapter 4: Happiness...
"Yes! About time I beat him!"
Daisuke was patting himself on the back when he heard the doorbell ring. Thinking that Jun would get it, Daisuke continued to sit in his little comfy spot and went back to advancing the plot. When the doorbell rang a second time, Jun stuck her head out of her bedroom door, looking annoyed as she covered the phone receiver to yell at her pesky brother.
"Look, could you get off your lazy bum and answer the door, Dai? I'm on the phone!"
"Neesan..." Too late. Jun had already slammed her door shut and went back to talking with her boy of the week, or a friend, or whoever it was.
Daisuke quickly saved his game, heaven forbid he would actually have to fight that boss again, and trudged over to the door as it rang a third time. His sour countenance disappeared when he saw who it was.
"Ken! What's up?" Daisuke shuffled out of the way as he let his boyfriend in. Ken looked at him and was sorely tempted to give him a hug, but unfortunately, he couldn't due to the fact that any one of his family members could accidentally walk by. Instead, he settled for a more than friendly look, and answered,
"Um, not much...I was just wondering how you were doing, and I decided to come and surprise you."
"Well, this is definitely a surprise...wow...so...do you want to do something, go somewhere?"
"Actually, I was hoping we could talk for a bit. I have a few things on my mind."
Lights and sirens went off in Daisuke's mind. /Uh, oh. Ken's in serious mode again...and that can only mean it's something very important...and that's usually something I don't want to deal with...but I can't just blow him off either...*sigh*.../
"Ok...well, um...wanna talk in my room?..."
"Sure. That would be fine."
Daisuke was definitely getting the feeling that things were not going to go well tonight.
Game forgotten, Daisuke led his friend to his room. Trying to act as though nothing was wrong, he flipped the light switch on his way in, and promptly dove onto his bed, trying to get comfy. Ken was slowly sauntering in with an amused smile on his face, thinking that it was just this kind of child-like behavior that made the red-head so adorable and cute, but his eyebrows slowly lost their arch and knotted together in that look Daisuke knew all too well. Ken gently closed the door behind him with such beautiful feminine grace that Daisuke couldn't help but sigh at how sweet Ken looked. Ken turned around and softly walked his way over to Daisuke's bed, as though he was afraid of causing an avalanche. Daisuke just watched him in quiet anticipation, the pit of his stomach suddenly churning and spinning him into near nausea.
/Why is Ken acting like this?...I've never seen him act so serious since the Digital World five years ago...What's wrong???.../
Daisuke's body shifted closer to Ken's as the dark haired boy sat down, causing the bed to sink in his direction. Daisuke's eyes shifted around the room, darting here and there and back again. He was looking at his desk, the chair, the mirror above his dresser, anywhere but the violet eyes that begged for him to say something. Instead, his eyes locked onto a picture on his desk.
It was taken during the first weekend of Spring Break when he and Ken had gone to Kyoto for a four-day weekend, a little mini-vacation as it were, though Ken was really there trying to lecture about something. Course, the original plan was for Ken to give three lectures over the course of three weeks, but somehow, the people who had hired him couldn't find enough people who were interested enough to make it worth their time and money, so Ken only got to give one lecture. Daisuke was kind of glad that he didn't stay in Kyoto the entire break; that meant that they had the entire break to themselves. Daisuke couldn't help but wonder, though.
/If he had been able to give all three lectures...and I didn't get to spend all that time with him...would we still be in this situation?.../
"Daisuke," The shounen in question looked up at his beloved. "I know we haven't really had time to talk seriously for the past two weeks with my parents getting used to everything and all, and I think it's time we really thought about what our relationship means."
"What do you mean, Ken?...I mean, we get along fine...I can't see any problem..."
"That's not what I mean, and you know it."
"..."
Daisuke looked away and tried to focus his thoughts. He knew what Ken was talking about. It was the same thing that plagued his mind for the past two weeks.
/How do I convince him that I'll be ok, and that I just need some time to adjust?.../
"Daisuke...look at me." And when his partner wouldn't comply, Ken got off the bed, and knelt on the floor in front of him. "Daisuke...please...you have to tell me what you're thinking. We need to communicate for our relationship to work..."
"Ken..." Seeing his friend on the floor, on his knees made the younger one feel ashamed that he was causing Ken to beg. "Ken, please...sit on the bed with me. This isn't right. I'm sorry...I'll talk to you...you can ask me anything...just, please..." Daisuke couldn't stand the hurt in Ken's eyes any longer, and he pulled the young man up into his arms, and onto his lap as he whispered soothing words to ease the pain.
Ken slowly pulled away from Daisuke as the questions started coming in his mind.
"Can I ask you something?..."
"Yeah, sure..."
Ken looked into dark brown eyes, ever fearful of the answers he might find there.
"Will you answer me in complete honesty?"
Daisuke's mind began to whirl, and he began to worry a whole lot more. He didn't like where this line of questioning was headed.
"...Well, yeah, why wouldn't I?..."
Ken took a deep breath.
"Daisuke, are you really ready for a relationship...I mean, this relationship?..."
Daisuke looked at Ken with a stoic face and simply stated, "Yes..."
And as he continued to look, his conscience and his heart gave away his lie and Daisuke slowly closed his eyes as he whispered out a sorrowful, "...no..."
The next few seconds seemed to last forever as each of the youths processed that mournful cry.
Ken's heart ached at the simple word. It confirmed his worst fear. The pain Daisuke must have been going through to accommodate him must have been enormous, and he wanted to do nothing but berate himself for his stupidity. But at the same time, it uplifted him a bit to know that Daisuke loved him so much that he would do anything to make him happy.
Daisuke, in the mean time, was feeling awful.
/How could I have let that slip?! I can't believe I just hurt him! Again! I know I hurt him again. He wasn't supposed to ever know. Stupid, stupid, stupid!.../
Daisuke looked up at Ken and saw pain and self-loathing cloud his eyes. Everything about this night had reminded Daisuke of how far Ken had come since that time five years ago, and slowly, he could see that it was all coming undone. Now was not the time to kick himself; he had to act fast if he wanted to save Ken from his slow descent.
"I'm sorry, Ken...I guess I should've told you earlier. It's just that...I mean...you know I love you a lot, right?..."
Ken gave a little nod. And when that's all he could get from the former Kaiser, Daisuke slowly sank into despair.
"And I mean, I thought I'd get used to it...this is a new thing for me...and I'm not used to thinking I'm gay, and all...I'm scared of all the things that could happen if we told people, and I don't want to lose my parents, and... and..."
Daisuke wrapped his love into his arms and hugged him tightly as he cried.
"...I'm so sorry..."
Ken's body remained emotionless as he leaned into Daisuke. His mind was busy insulting himself while trying to find a way to break it all off now, since he didn't want to put Daisuke through more pain by keeping him in a situation he wasn't ready to face.
"Please, I didn't mean to hurt you, Ken. I know you're probably beating yourself up right now, but please...stop it. I love you, and I don't want to see you in pain. If anything, you should be mad at me...cause I'm the moron who couldn't be honest with you..."
Daisuke's pleas became more hysterical when Ken wouldn't say anything, lost in his own thoughts.
"Please, Ken...I only want two things right now...I want you to stop hating yourself, and I want a little more time...could you please give that much to me?..."
/Ken...please...don't slip back into the darkness.../
Ken tried to understand the words that were flowing out to him, but it was hard to concentrate. He felt like he was caught in a time warp, and everything seemed to be coming in at a slower rate than it should have. Each word was foggier than the last, but slowly, his brain caught up.
Time. That's what Daisuke wanted. Time. Surely Ken could give him that much. After all, he had loved Daisuke for years, albeit subconsciously, but still. What's a little more time?
"Shush...it's ok...Daisuke..." Ken snapped out of his daze and hugged the mahogany-haired boy back as he leaned on his shoulder. "If time is what you need, then I am willing to wait for you. I can understand if you don't want to tell your parents yet. And if you want to take our relationship slowly, that's fine too. You let me know when you're ready..."
"I'm not saying I want to stop dating you, Ken...I just want to get used to it all until it feels, uh, normal..." Daisuke pulled back a little and looked at Ken, hoping he didn't offend his love. Ken's eyes searched Daisuke's, searching for the inherent light within Daisuke that sparkled with truth.
"Are you sure this is what you want? Daisuke, don't do this because you want to make me happy or something. Tell me what you really want in your heart..."
"I already know what I want in my heart. I want you. I guess my brain just has a tougher time accepting what my heart wants." Daisuke gave Ken a little smirk, trying to cheer his boyfriend up, and to reassure him that this is what he really wanted.
"Alright. If that's what you want." Ken tried to smile back through the tears that even now were slipping out to stain his cheeks.
And they hugged as though nothing else in the world existed; each thinking that the one person in his arms was the only thing worth living for. Daisuke tried to capture the essence of his partner in this one moment in time, and as he inhaled Ken's beautiful scent, he felt his heart flutter.
/There is no one else in the world. No one./
******************
It was a beautiful two weeks before Ken had that strange feeling again. This time, however, he was also wondering about something else.
Friday had rolled around, and this particular Friday marked the first month, out of what Ken hoped would be many more, he and Daisuke had been together. Sure it had been a rough month, but that was to be expected.
Technically, since it was a special day, Ken was hoping he could do something a little more special with his boyfriend, but as it turned out, Daisuke had planned for this day too, plans that he had for months in advance, and Ken had decided that his little Dai-chan's plans were too special for them to cancel. So, now they were here, after cram school, at Promenade Park with Tai and Yamato, playing soccer. Actually, to be more precise, he was playing soccer with Tai and Daisuke, while Yamato had contented himself to sit off to the side in the shade of a tree, playing a lazy blues piece on his harmonica.
It wasn't often that the older digidestineds had time to hang out with them, mostly because of school. Outside of the few rare occasions, the only other times Ken and Daisuke had seen these two were at the monthly picnics with the other Chosen Children. College life was easier by far, but they had jobs now, and social lives to maintain, not to mention that Yamato's band was still kicking. So Daisuke was lucky to have gotten what remained of the afternoon and most of the evening with them.
Daisuke was living it up, as he was way more excited about getting to spend some time with Tai than Ken was. Daisuke had to admit that it was a shame that Ken never really got to bond with any of the other digidestined cause he lived so far away. That, and the fact that he had mentioned once before that he felt like an outsider.
/I guess there are just some gaps that can't be patched...*sigh* That whole thing with the Kaiser really ruined any chance he had of being one of us completely in that stubborn brain of his.../ Daisuke gave a little frown to himself, and squirreled this little bit of insight into his brain for later. Right now, Tai was kicking his butt and Ken wasn't being much of a help in stopping the brown-haired boy from scoring.
"Time out! Ow!" Tai had accidentally kicked the ball right into Daisuke's head as he called time.
"Oops. Are you alright, Daisuke?"
"Yeah...I just lost a few more brain cells...what's a few less anyway?..." Daisuke joked. He turned to look at Ken. "Hey, are you alright? You seem a little spaced out..."
"Huh?...oh, yeah... Sorry, Daisuke, Taichi. I'm just not really feeling up to playing today. I'm sorry," Ken said as he bowed. Even now, he was still extremely formal and polite towards Tai. "I think I'll go and sit out for a while."
"Hey," Tai started. "Maybe you can talk with Yamato. I mean, he's got a knack for solving problems."
"Uh, yeah. Sure. Thanks Taichi." Ken turned to leave Tai and Daisuke to their game and slowly sauntered towards the musician. He plopped down next to Yamato, and listened to the mournful melody as Yamato continued his playing, oblivious to anything outside of his music. When he finished the song, Yamato let out a little sigh and looked out at the soccer field, and noticed that there was one less person out there than when he had began playing. That's when he noticed that the missing person was sitting beside him, absorbed in his own thoughts. He looked thoughtfully at Ken for a second, wondering if he should even bother asking what was wrong.
"Yamato, can I ask you something?" Ken tentatively asked.
Yamato blinked a couple of times. He wasn't quite expecting this. It was rare for the indigo-haired genius to talk to him at all, let alone ask him a question. It's not like they didn't get along, it was just that they really had nothing in common or to talk about. Something big must be troubling Ken, and Yamato didn't know if he could help.
"Uh, yeah...what's up?"
"Um, I was just wondering about you and Taichi. How did you two have enough courage to tell us about your...um...'relationship'?"
"Well," Yamato paused for a bit, and looked up at the blue sky. He was thinking back to that day, and wondering how to explain how they had felt.
"I guess we just did what we felt was right. I mean, Tai and I were always really open with each other and with everyone else...well, Tai is more than I am when it comes to everyone, but...well, I guess we just wanted to be able to be comfortable with each other around you guys without causing confusion. So, we just put it all out in the open... Why?..."
"Nothing in particular. I guess I was just wondering... Weren't you two ever afraid of what we could've said about you? I mean, we could have said that you two were gay and that you were just hiding it, or something along those lines..."
"The thought did occur to me, and I'm assuming Tai probably thought of that too. But you know Tai. He's not easily swayed by what people may think. Besides," Yamato turned and gave a small smile to the younger digidestined, "We trusted you guys, and we believed that our friendships are stronger than society's brainwashing."
"Wow..." Ken was surprised at how much trust Tai and Yamato had in them. It's true that he trusted the rest of the group, but this was a level of trust that even he couldn't comprehend at this moment. It gave him some reassurance though, and he felt a bit better about the request he was about to make.
******************
"Daisuke?..."
"Yeah...?"
"What do you think about Yamato and Taichi?"
"Eh? They're cool guys and...um...."
"I mean about how they act around each other and around us..."
"Oh, you mean like when we were eating dinner?..."
"...yeah."
Daisuke thought back to dinner. Seeing how it was a nice day, Yamato had packed them a nice picnic dinner, and they had spread their blanket under a beautiful sakura tree. It was a good thing hanami season had just ended, or they would've had to fight for space. That, and Daisuke doubted Tai and Yamato would have been as...touchy...as they were. The two of them were being their usual selves, which meant that they were draped around each other. Yamato had been playing cushion to a tired Tai, who was leaning against the blond's chest as they ate.
"Well, they're just being them...I mean, ever since three years ago, that's just how it's been." Daisuke thought a bit more and gave Ken a smile. "Actually, they're kinda cute together. I guess I've gotten so used to them acting like that... Why? Oh, wait, I think I know what this is about."
"You do?..." Ken perked up, surprised, even though he shouldn't have been, that Daisuke would know know what he was thinking about.
"Yeah! You're wondering if we're as cute as them!" Daisuke's smile turned into a silly grin.
*blink blink* Ken was not sure what to say. "...uh, not quite, um...I mean we don't do much as of yet..."
Outside of the occasional peck on the cheek, the pair hadn't done much in the way of anything physical. Ken was good to his word when he said he would go at Daisuke's pace, which right now was about as fast as the melting of a snowflake in the middle of a blizzard.
"Oh...um, so then you're asking me if we can do more...like kissing, or something...?..." Daisuke blushed and looked down at the carpet. This was the first time they were actually talking about this, but Daisuke had figure a conversation of this sort was going to come at some point.
"Well, I wasn't going to push it," Ken started to say. "Actually, that's not what I was going to ask about..." Ken was beginning to doubt if it was such a good thing to bring up right now. After all, he had let Daisuke have almost complete control over their relationship, and he really should be waiting for Daisuke to bring it up.
"...Ok...so what is it?"
Ken took in a breath, and slowly let it out as he softly asked, "How much faith do you have in your friendships, Daisuke?"
"Um...a lot, I guess..." Daisuke was getting that feeling again...somehow, he knew this conversation was about to enter a territory he wasn't ready to deal with. Ken looked a little uneasy to him, and that just made the feeling intensify.
"...Enough to tell them about us...?"
"Well..." That did it. The simple question alone triggered the same feelings he had two weeks prior. He wanted to escape. He wanted out. But at the same time, he wanted to stay. More importantly, he wanted to make sure Ken wasn't going to feel all guilty again. This time, he was going to handle this the right way...
So he thought about how to answer Ken's question. He was trying to find the right wording to make Ken believe that he would have told them on his own eventually. But as he thought about it, he had to admit to himself that he hadn't exactly had the most faith in the past month. Otherwise, he would've already told them. More than that, he was fearful of the reactions of certain people, namely Tai, who he still idolized, Miyako, who he was sure would clobber him, for more reasons than one, if she found out, and Iori, who even though was a little less straight-laced than he was when he was little, Daisuke still had no idea how the youngest one felt about gays.
"...um...we can tell them if you want...I mean, I was thinking about that anyway..." That was the best Daisuke could come up with. And obviously, after the mess last time, Ken wasn't about to buy the statement without a little prodding and poking.
"...are you sure, Daisuke? Aren't you afraid of what they'll think or say?..."
"...Sorta...but you gotta trust your friends, right?..."
"Yeah...but I mean, are you sure you are ready to tell them?..."
"Yes, Ken...I have to some time..."
"You're really alright with it?..."
The more Ken probed, the more frustrated Daisuke became. This questioning was starting to wear his nerves down and he was feeling so tempted to just blow the whole thing to hell and just tell Ken how he really felt -- that he wasn't really ready, he wasn't really ok, and that he was damned scared. But he wasn't going to do that again. He was really going to try this time. After all, he had to keep his side of the deal too. He had asked for time and Ken had given him that time. It was time he started accepting things and started facing the reality that if he was going to have a "normal" relationship with Ken, he was going to have to do all those things that "normal" heterosexual couples did.
/...And that includes telling my friends and family about the person I love.../
"I'm alright...really. I guess I'm just nervous and scared..."
"Really?..."
"Yes!!" Daisuke was really peeved by this time in the conversation, if it could even be called that anymore. And right then, in that moment of anger, Daisuke said something he really shouldn't have.
"No, actually, I'm not alright! We'll be telling them we're GAY, Ken! I know that everyone took it well when Tai and Yamato told us about their relationship, but this is different!! They're not attracted to each other like we are...and..." Daisuke's voice dropped in volume. "...And there are things I'd really like to do with you one day..."
Silence. The traffic roaring by outside filtered into the nearly soundproof room.
/I knew it. He really isn't ready. He really doesn't want to face it yet, even if he knows what he wants for the future./
/Damn it all to hell! I did it again! Why can't I do anything right?! Ken's probably worried about how I can't deal with it yet...but I really mean it this time. I want to try...I have to learn to accept myself some time! I can't let what my parents taught me get in the way of who I am, or who I love!/
"Ken...about just now, I didn't mean to say it the way I did...I mean, I haven't really been giving it much thought lately. I know I asked you to give me time, and you've been more than patient. I really want to try...I need to learn to accept things and to stop hiding from these issues... You mean a lot to me, Ken, and I want people to know that. Believe me when I say that I really want to tell them..." Daisuke looked at his boyfriend to gauge his reaction. Then he suggested, "...Let's tell them this weekend at the monthly picnic. It'd be the perfect time while everyone's there..."
Ken was shocked, to say the least. Daisuke had just done a complete 180 from what he had said only moments before. Yet, somehow, Ken could feel in the core of his being that Daisuke really meant every word he just said.
"I...think that would be a great idea, Daisuke. Are you sure it isn't too soon for you, though?"
"Yes, I'm sure! You know how I am when I'm determined to do something!" Of course, in actuality, Daisuke wasn't really sure that his usual stubbornness was going to hold out...but he had to make Ken understand he was at least willing... And apparently, Ken was buying it, since he said, "Alright..."
"But I think we should take little steps...How do you feel about telling out partners first?..."
"V-mon and Wormmon? I guess we can tell them first. They do deserve to know..." /...and they're not likely to hate us for it either.../ Daisuke thought to himself.
"Ok, then. How about tomorrow morning...er afternoon?" Ken knew if they were going to do anything, it would have to be after ten-thirty...as it usually was with Daisuke on weekends.
"Sounds good!" Daisuke smiled happily. He was so glad to have made Ken feel better, and he really looked forward to telling V-mon the good news. It would be therapeutic, and Daisuke believed that it would help get the ball rolling. Maybe telling the rest of the digidestined would be easier after tomorrow...
******************
The next morning, the two lovebirds awoke to the sound of light rapping on the door.
"Ken, honey...would you and Daisuke like some breakfast?..." Mrs. Ichijouji slowly opened the door and poked her head in. Seeing that her son and his boyfriend were still mostly asleep, as Ken was opening and closing his eyes in an effort to clear the fog, she excused herself and left the two boys in peace. She still wasn't quite used to the idea that her son was dating a young man, but she had to admit, it was very sweet to see him so happy. And in all the years she had known Daisuke, he had proven to be a very loyal, considerate, and protective person to her son. So in the end, maybe it was better that he was dating Daisuke than some other person. She smiled to herself. Ken may not have had the most normal of lives, but the stability of his future looked good, and he had found himself someone who loved him back with equal fervor. And for that, she was glad.
*groan*
"Ken...your mom's a really nice person and all, but did she have to wake us up?...What time is it anyway?..."
"Good morning to you too..." Ken good-naturedly teased as he looked over the railing and read off the numbers. "Nine-thirty, Daisuke. Why don't you go back to sleep?..." Ken yawned and looked over at his love.
"Nah...can't..."
"Why not?"
"cause...too nervous...excited..." Despite still being tired, Daisuke was starting to wake up fully. Today, he would tell V-mon about his relationship with Ken, and tomorrow, he will tell his friends...one step at a time...one day at a time...
"Well, if we get up now, we may still be able to get some breakfast made for us. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good to me. Food is always good..." Daisuke slowly rose out of bed to begin this day.
"Daisuke!!!" The little blue ball of energy bounced into his partner's arms.
"Hey! I missed you buddy! How've you been?" While Daisuke and V-mon were catching up in their uniquely loud manner, Ken was quietly chatting with Wormmon as he hugged his partner to his chest.
"So how is everything, Ken-chan?"
"Very good, actually." Ken gave his partner a smile that spoke volumes.
"Wow...something really good must have happened, right, Ken-chan? I've never seen you smile so much before!" And the little worm gave his own smile in return.
"Yeah. Actually, something extremely wonderful has happened. We'll tell you later."
"We?..."
"Daisuke and I have something to tell you two."
"Oh, ok..." Wormmon didn't question further, knowing that whatever it was, Ken would tell him in his own time.
"Should we tell them now?" Daisuke asked Ken.
"Ooh! Tell us what?...Huh, huh?..." V-mon couldn't contain his curiosity and was bouncing around again.
"Ok, ok...I'll tell you...yeesh! Calm down!" Daisuke laughed. He just couldn't feel tense around V-mon, it was as simple as that.
"Yea!"
The day had flown by and it was slowly approaching sunset. Daisuke wanted to tell V-mon more than anything now, and surprisingly, he felt he was ready to do so.
Daisuke sat V-mon down next to Wormmon as he sat down next to Ken. He reached out for Ken's hand and intertwined their fingers.
"You guys know what being in love means, right?"
"Yeah..." V-mon replied. Wormmon simply nodded his head in affirmation.
"Well, um...Ken and I are in love...and we're going out..." Daisuke looked to the two digimon, waiting to see their reactions. Both digimon looked back at their partners with hugely cute and innocent eyes filled with joy.
"See! I told you they'd get together someday!" V-mon was all excited again. Wormmon gave a little smile and nodded.
"EH???" This was definitely not the reaction he was expecting from V-mon.
"Yeah! I told Wormmon that this would happen one day! I could just tell from how happy you are when you're around Ken!" V-mon smiled broadly as though he had made the most brilliant discovery of the century.
"I...uh...don't know what to say..."
Ken looked over at a flabbergasted lover and sighed. "I think our digimon had us figured out long before we ever knew."
"We knew it all along," Wormmon explained. "Back when you were still the Kaiser, I knew you and Daisuke were special, like you were meant to be together. I couldn't explain it, but it just felt right. That's why I went to find Daisuke when I needed help. I think that's why he was able to change the power source into the Digimental of Miracles, and why the Crest of Kindness showed when he was near it..."
"Oh..." Daisuke thought about it. He did always wonder why Wormmon had sought him out...and why the Digimental of Miracles showed the Crest of Kindness before it shined in its radiance. Wormmon's theory made some sort of sense in that way.
"Wait a minute...so you guys are telling me that all this time, you two were just waiting for us to get together??..." This whole concept was still settling in Daisuke's brain. It was almost like betrayal! V-mon and Wormmon had known and they hadn't said a thing all these years!
"Yeah. And now you guys have!" V-mon's eyes twinkled in delight.
Daisuke put his other hand on his waist and cocked his head to the side in a mock lecture. "Did it ever occur to you two that we may never have gotten together? Or that maybe we might have thought it would be wrong to date another boy?..."
"What's so wrong with it if you love him?..."
"V-mon, I wish all the world was as understanding as you," Ken stated. He looked over at Daisuke and squeezed his hand. "Some people in the real world...they just don't see it that way. They think it's wrong for two people of the same sex to go out with each other, even if they love each other a lot."
"Then I feel bad for those people."
"Yeah...I do too, V-mon. I do too." As Ken said this, Daisuke felt a pain stab his heart, mostly because he knew that certain people in his life were in that category.
Ken sensed Daisuke tense up at that statement and squeezed his hand affectionately as he tried to lighten up the mood.
"Say, Wormmon, you aren't going to be jealous now are you?"
"No...why would I be, Ken-chan? I'm never jealous at Daisuke"
"...Just at anyone else, right?..." Ken joked, remembering Rosa, the Mexican digidestined Wormmon seemed to have problems with. Wormmon blushed a deep red as Ken picked him up to give him a hug, and Daisuke and V-mon joined Ken in his light chuckling.
"He's got you there, Wormmon! Hehehe..." The blush deepened until Wormmon was the color of the setting sky and laughter filled the air.
Things were beginning to really look up, and Daisuke was feeling pretty good.
Notes:
-As frustrating as it is I'm sure for readers (I'm sorry...I know this section's moving a little slowly) I want to show Daisuke's conflict with himself. Daisuke finally pulled out of denial and is starting to face his fears and prejudices, but he will have quite a way to go before he can fully come to terms with himself...It's easy to say that if you like someone that you should be ok with it, but in actuality, it's really hard to accept yourself and your sexuality, especially if you've been taught that it's not right to be gay/lesbian or bi. I hope I've captured the struggle a little bit. I know that for many people, it's even more painful than I portray it to be to the point that some people deny themselves the love they feel altogether. I extend my sympathy to those who feel this way, and hope that you can find a way to come to terms with yourself. Hang in there...
-It's kinda weird...I'm beginning to write less and less thought bits...hmmm...I wonder if they're detracting from the story or if I'm just getting lazy... :(
-Promenade Park...yet again, it does exist...The Japanese name is "PUROMUUNAADO koen". This is a lesser-known park, and is not where the world's biggest ferris wheel is located. That park is the Odaiba kaihin koen, or Odaiba Seaside Park. Thanks again to MSN Japan for its maps.
-Yea! The return of Yamato's harmonica ^_^ College students in Japan have it easy...it sucks. But then again, they have a really hard academic life all through middle school and high school, so I guess I'm not so jealous...
School life in Japan is very different from the States in that students try to get into the best high schools and colleges through vigorous tests that are held every year. People go to cram schools (think SAT and GRE prep classes, only loads worse) after school usually to go study extra subjects and learn advanced things so they can do well on their entrance exams for their high school and college of choice. But once you get into college, life is so much easier. Whereas before college you don't have time to get a job, students in college tend to have free time to get jobs. Though things vary by family, these jobs that students get usually aren't even for tuition. Most Japanese families will support their kids all the way through college, so any money students make is their own spending money.
-Yes, there was a point to the last chapter other than I wanted to make a statement...heh. I wanted to explain Tai and Yamato's relationship so that the other characters could refer to it in conversation. But I wanted people to really understand the how's and why's of Tai and Yamato's relationship, and I didn't want to have to break the flow of dialogue to explain, so I wrote a separate thing for them.
-hanami...the actual time varies depending on where in Japan you are, but in the Tokyo area, hanami is the time period in late April into May when people lounge and have picnics to watch the cherry blossoms bloom and fall. (Hana=flower, mi=to see) So at this point in the story, since Daisuke and Ken have been going out for a month now, it's the end of May, so hanami has just recently ended.
-I like Ken's parents, and I really think that they were committed to their resolution to support their son. I think that they're also rational people, so Ken's mom is a representation of that. After all, I think most parents only want what's best for their child, and since Ken's mom knows Daisuke, she can see that Daisuke is a good person, and is probably a better partner for Ken than anyone else he may meet (which he is! ^_^) She also trusts the two of them in bed together cause she knows all about their relationship (family discussions around the dinner table, remember? ^_^ ).
-The digimon were in on it! Um...I think that Wormmon and V-mon would know, or at least sense that the two of them are a really great match. I mean, just look at how cutely they play together and nuzzled each other after their first Jogress! That and I was always wondering why Wormmon searched Daisuke out for help...and the crest thing...foreshadowing of their compatibility in Jogress shinka?...heh...
-Ah, Wormmon *squeeze* He's so sweet and so protective...and sooooo jealous! He wants all of Ken's attention for himself ^_^ But somehow, I think Wormmon would be willing to work out some sort of time share with Daisuke... >:) Just to share, in a Christmas song sung by all the season 2 digimon ("Mama ga Santa ni Kiss Shita"("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus")), while everyone else is listing off things they wanted from Santa during the interlude, such as chocolate cake and better wings (Patamon wanted that), Wormmon actually says that he wants Ken-chan! It's sooooo cute as everyone sweatdrops after that statement...who wouldn't?... ^_^;; Thanks Meg-chan for your lyrics translations!