Erm, Okay most of this takes place nine years after the end of the second season. I'm ignoring most of
episode 50 except the bits I like. This places their ages at:
Iori: Eighteen
Takeru, Hikari, and Daisuke: Twenty
Miyako and Ken: Twenty-one
Koushiro:Twenty-two
Taichi, Yamato, and Sora: Twenty-three
Jyou: Twenty-four
I have no plans to use Mimi at the moment, but if I do, she's twenty-two.
Chapter Warnings: I've...er...bastardized Dr. Kido...it just happened. I'm being kind of mean to Jyou, aren't I? Strange..I'm not usually in the habit of abusing my favorite characters...
The Ghost..Chapter 2
***********************************
~Ken's office: The next day~
Daisuke scowled as he threw his jacket at the hook on Ken's wall-missing it completely-and plunked down on the battered couch, "What were you *thinking* yesterday?? You can't honestly believe any of the 'destined are involved in this!"
Ken looked up from his paperwork-one eyebrow raised, "Do you *ever* knock?"
"No, of course not. It's your office, why would I knock?"
Ken rolled his eyes and went back to his papers as if nothing had happened.
Daisuke, who didn't like being ignored, glared at him; "Well?"
Ken made a frustrated noise and dropped his pen, "Daisuke...whether we like it or not, one of the 'destined *is* involved. Koushiro's been over *every* other possibility a hundred times, and it all comes back to that password. *Someone* knows what's going on, and it's someone *we* know!"
Daisuke shook his head violently, "No. Not a chance. There's no way. This is some sort of mistake..."
"Dai...I don't like this any better than you do...but one of the digidestined is a thief. Or, at the very least, an accomplice."
Daisuke dropped his head into his hands. A few moments later, when he raised it again, the defensive friend had given way to the cop, "All right. Which one? And why?."
****************************
~Flashback~
~Eight years and six months ago~
The lockpick scraped against the metal noisily before clattering to the ground...it was no use..his hands were shaking too much.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jyou watched his...benefactor? //More like slave driver// he thought. He knew without turning his head that the man was *looking* at him...something about the way the thief watched him sometimes made him deeply uncomfortable. Though he couldn't have said just why.
After a moment the thief, who'd introduced himself as Susiro, stepped away from the wall and came to stand beside him. A long, painful silence followed and was punctuated by the clink of the lockpick against the man's rings as he picked it up and held it out for Jyou to take.
"Too slow. By the time you got the pick in the lock the guards would have been all over you. Loud too. Try again."
Sighing, the former destined child of faith turned back to the lock. He wasn't a thief..but explaining that to the man who'd taken him in off the street had proven futile. Time and again he'd thought about leaving...going back home...only to remember that he *had* no home to go back to.
And when he closed his eyes, the night he left would all come flooding back...the decision he'd made to stand up to his father once and for all-to tell him what he really wanted...and why...the fight that had followed...and afterwards, curled up in his room with fresh bruises forming on his face and stomach...crying both for the physical pain and for the words that had been said.
At times, he'd considered going to his friends for help. In the end, pride, and the fear of being a burden...again...had kept him hesitant, and when-the few times he'd called-he'd gotten busy signals, he'd given up.
He really had no place to go...and no skills that would help him survive, alone on the streets.
At least here he had a roof over his head and regular meals...and baths...that had been the selling point--the way he'd been starting to smell had really bothered him....
Susiro seemed to expect Jyou to follow in his footsteps, just like Jyou's father, and..like so many times before...Jyou was giving in.
~End Flashback~
*****************************
~Present Day~
Daisuke read the correspondence over for the sixth time, and-for the sixth time-groaned in frustration, "All right, what am I supposed to be seeing here, again?"
"I don't know...you're the oh-so-promising, decorated, rising in rank, young police officer..you tell me."
Ah, sarcasm, two could play that game, "Ahh...but you're the brilliant, solves cases like some people solve crossword puzzles, leaves ordinary detectives in the dust, young private investigator...*surely* you'd know better than me."
Ken smirked, "I'm going to remind you that you said that...but, honestly, it's exactly what it looks like. A thief and a fence, arguing about whether or not a batch of stolen diamonds is worth more than four million. What *we're* looking for is some nuance that will give us a clue who these people are."
"Hey...I'm not the perceptive one here...that's *your* job."
"Actually, I don't think either one of us knows what we're looking for. I was never around most of the older 'destined much-except for Koushiro, and, like you said, you're not exactly perceptive. Who-out of the digidestined-would be most likely to pick up on the personality quirks we want?"
Daisuke appeared to consider this seriously for a long moment. Then, "Hikari. She always seemed to be aware of things no one else was."
Ken favored him with an amused look,"You're sure this isn't just an excuse to see your old crush?"
Daisuke--dignified cop that he was--stuck his tongue out.
*******************************
~Flashback~
~Somewhere in Japan: Five years and two months ago~
The bank was of the large, fancy sort that attract wealthy people who believe that the fancier the building the better the security.
The young man with the silver cross dangling from his right ear looked a little out of place...but-apart from the earring and the ponytail that brushed the bottom of his shoulder blades he was clean-cut. He wore glasses and a serious, business-like expression and the bank personnel quickly dismissed him as another dot-com entrepreneur.
Maybe if they had been paying closer attention they would have noticed that he was taking note of each of the security cameras-where it was and how it was positioned.
And, if they had been watching, maybe they would have realized that he was pacing out how long it took to get from one end of the bank to the other.
Perhaps, if they had cared to, they might have noticed the way his eyes occasionally flickered towards the vault.
But they weren't, they didn't, and they hadn't.
Jyou was a fast learner, and it was all too easy really.
~End Flashback~
*****************************
Hikari's heels clicked against the linoleum as she entered the building, looking for all the world like a Botticelli painting given life.
She stopped in the doorway and smiled, her perfectly made up eyes lightening a shade as if, somehow, being around people she considered friends made her entire life brighter and more meaningful.
It was one of the things people loved about her.
Daisuke had often wondered what had made her choose Takeru over him. Maybe, if he had asked her, she would have told him that it was because he and Ken loved each other more than either would ever love any of the women who came and went in their lives.
Or perhaps she wouldn't have...she really hoped they would realize it on their own. Before she had to do something drastic...like lock them in a small room together, sans clothing, with mistletoe hats and a bottle of wine.
All right...so it wasn't plausible, but it would be fun.
At the moment both men were at Ken's desk peering at his computer. One of Daisuke's arms was draped across Ken's shoulders..Hikari's eyes softened a little at how cute they looked.
It was another minute or two before either of them noticed her standing there, but when they did Ken motioned her over.
"Yesterday didn't go over very well...think you could help us out?"
"No, it didn't. What is it you need?"
"Could you read this over..maybe see if anything here reminds you of any of the digidestined?"
A hurt look rippled across Hikari's features, "You don't really think it was one of us..do you?"
Ken winced a little at her tone, "I'm afraid I have no choice."
Looking distinctly uncomfortable, Hikari took Daisuke's place in front of the computer. A tense silence fell as she read and Daisuke and Ken concentrated on avoiding each other's eyes. There was something of offended accusation in her silence and it was apparent that she was taking any slight on the 'destined as a personal affront.
When, at last, she looked up from the computer screen there were tears in her eyes and when she stood she collapsed against Ken as if she could no longer support herself.
"It's Jyou...oh my God, it's Jyou..."
**********************************
~TBC~
episode 50 except the bits I like. This places their ages at:
Iori: Eighteen
Takeru, Hikari, and Daisuke: Twenty
Miyako and Ken: Twenty-one
Koushiro:Twenty-two
Taichi, Yamato, and Sora: Twenty-three
Jyou: Twenty-four
I have no plans to use Mimi at the moment, but if I do, she's twenty-two.
Chapter Warnings: I've...er...bastardized Dr. Kido...it just happened. I'm being kind of mean to Jyou, aren't I? Strange..I'm not usually in the habit of abusing my favorite characters...
The Ghost..Chapter 2
***********************************
~Ken's office: The next day~
Daisuke scowled as he threw his jacket at the hook on Ken's wall-missing it completely-and plunked down on the battered couch, "What were you *thinking* yesterday?? You can't honestly believe any of the 'destined are involved in this!"
Ken looked up from his paperwork-one eyebrow raised, "Do you *ever* knock?"
"No, of course not. It's your office, why would I knock?"
Ken rolled his eyes and went back to his papers as if nothing had happened.
Daisuke, who didn't like being ignored, glared at him; "Well?"
Ken made a frustrated noise and dropped his pen, "Daisuke...whether we like it or not, one of the 'destined *is* involved. Koushiro's been over *every* other possibility a hundred times, and it all comes back to that password. *Someone* knows what's going on, and it's someone *we* know!"
Daisuke shook his head violently, "No. Not a chance. There's no way. This is some sort of mistake..."
"Dai...I don't like this any better than you do...but one of the digidestined is a thief. Or, at the very least, an accomplice."
Daisuke dropped his head into his hands. A few moments later, when he raised it again, the defensive friend had given way to the cop, "All right. Which one? And why?."
****************************
~Flashback~
~Eight years and six months ago~
The lockpick scraped against the metal noisily before clattering to the ground...it was no use..his hands were shaking too much.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jyou watched his...benefactor? //More like slave driver// he thought. He knew without turning his head that the man was *looking* at him...something about the way the thief watched him sometimes made him deeply uncomfortable. Though he couldn't have said just why.
After a moment the thief, who'd introduced himself as Susiro, stepped away from the wall and came to stand beside him. A long, painful silence followed and was punctuated by the clink of the lockpick against the man's rings as he picked it up and held it out for Jyou to take.
"Too slow. By the time you got the pick in the lock the guards would have been all over you. Loud too. Try again."
Sighing, the former destined child of faith turned back to the lock. He wasn't a thief..but explaining that to the man who'd taken him in off the street had proven futile. Time and again he'd thought about leaving...going back home...only to remember that he *had* no home to go back to.
And when he closed his eyes, the night he left would all come flooding back...the decision he'd made to stand up to his father once and for all-to tell him what he really wanted...and why...the fight that had followed...and afterwards, curled up in his room with fresh bruises forming on his face and stomach...crying both for the physical pain and for the words that had been said.
At times, he'd considered going to his friends for help. In the end, pride, and the fear of being a burden...again...had kept him hesitant, and when-the few times he'd called-he'd gotten busy signals, he'd given up.
He really had no place to go...and no skills that would help him survive, alone on the streets.
At least here he had a roof over his head and regular meals...and baths...that had been the selling point--the way he'd been starting to smell had really bothered him....
Susiro seemed to expect Jyou to follow in his footsteps, just like Jyou's father, and..like so many times before...Jyou was giving in.
~End Flashback~
*****************************
~Present Day~
Daisuke read the correspondence over for the sixth time, and-for the sixth time-groaned in frustration, "All right, what am I supposed to be seeing here, again?"
"I don't know...you're the oh-so-promising, decorated, rising in rank, young police officer..you tell me."
Ah, sarcasm, two could play that game, "Ahh...but you're the brilliant, solves cases like some people solve crossword puzzles, leaves ordinary detectives in the dust, young private investigator...*surely* you'd know better than me."
Ken smirked, "I'm going to remind you that you said that...but, honestly, it's exactly what it looks like. A thief and a fence, arguing about whether or not a batch of stolen diamonds is worth more than four million. What *we're* looking for is some nuance that will give us a clue who these people are."
"Hey...I'm not the perceptive one here...that's *your* job."
"Actually, I don't think either one of us knows what we're looking for. I was never around most of the older 'destined much-except for Koushiro, and, like you said, you're not exactly perceptive. Who-out of the digidestined-would be most likely to pick up on the personality quirks we want?"
Daisuke appeared to consider this seriously for a long moment. Then, "Hikari. She always seemed to be aware of things no one else was."
Ken favored him with an amused look,"You're sure this isn't just an excuse to see your old crush?"
Daisuke--dignified cop that he was--stuck his tongue out.
*******************************
~Flashback~
~Somewhere in Japan: Five years and two months ago~
The bank was of the large, fancy sort that attract wealthy people who believe that the fancier the building the better the security.
The young man with the silver cross dangling from his right ear looked a little out of place...but-apart from the earring and the ponytail that brushed the bottom of his shoulder blades he was clean-cut. He wore glasses and a serious, business-like expression and the bank personnel quickly dismissed him as another dot-com entrepreneur.
Maybe if they had been paying closer attention they would have noticed that he was taking note of each of the security cameras-where it was and how it was positioned.
And, if they had been watching, maybe they would have realized that he was pacing out how long it took to get from one end of the bank to the other.
Perhaps, if they had cared to, they might have noticed the way his eyes occasionally flickered towards the vault.
But they weren't, they didn't, and they hadn't.
Jyou was a fast learner, and it was all too easy really.
~End Flashback~
*****************************
Hikari's heels clicked against the linoleum as she entered the building, looking for all the world like a Botticelli painting given life.
She stopped in the doorway and smiled, her perfectly made up eyes lightening a shade as if, somehow, being around people she considered friends made her entire life brighter and more meaningful.
It was one of the things people loved about her.
Daisuke had often wondered what had made her choose Takeru over him. Maybe, if he had asked her, she would have told him that it was because he and Ken loved each other more than either would ever love any of the women who came and went in their lives.
Or perhaps she wouldn't have...she really hoped they would realize it on their own. Before she had to do something drastic...like lock them in a small room together, sans clothing, with mistletoe hats and a bottle of wine.
All right...so it wasn't plausible, but it would be fun.
At the moment both men were at Ken's desk peering at his computer. One of Daisuke's arms was draped across Ken's shoulders..Hikari's eyes softened a little at how cute they looked.
It was another minute or two before either of them noticed her standing there, but when they did Ken motioned her over.
"Yesterday didn't go over very well...think you could help us out?"
"No, it didn't. What is it you need?"
"Could you read this over..maybe see if anything here reminds you of any of the digidestined?"
A hurt look rippled across Hikari's features, "You don't really think it was one of us..do you?"
Ken winced a little at her tone, "I'm afraid I have no choice."
Looking distinctly uncomfortable, Hikari took Daisuke's place in front of the computer. A tense silence fell as she read and Daisuke and Ken concentrated on avoiding each other's eyes. There was something of offended accusation in her silence and it was apparent that she was taking any slight on the 'destined as a personal affront.
When, at last, she looked up from the computer screen there were tears in her eyes and when she stood she collapsed against Ken as if she could no longer support herself.
"It's Jyou...oh my God, it's Jyou..."
**********************************
~TBC~