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Ken glared at where the Kaiser had disappeared to. He groaned a bit, and slumped to his knees, panting at the pain those deep wounds had inflicted. He crouched over, elbows in the dirt. All of the Digidestined scooted over to him, but not too close, a little worried about the whole thing. Davis, being the Courageous leader, inched forward, and kneeled down, checking this 'Ken' out. Looks pretty beat up to me........ Davis thought. He waved the others in, but only Miyako went closer. Man, he really was torn up. Ken stopped panting, and looked up at Davis and Miyako, his gaze shifting from Miyako, to Davis, to the others, then back to Miyako and then Davis. He looked back down at the dirt. Ken slammed his fist into the ground.
" I can't believe I let him get away!" Ken exclaimed angrily, trying to rise to his feet. He went back down, unable to stand up. Miyako helped Ken up on one side, while Davis did the other. They managed to help Ken onto his feet, and pull him under a tree. He sat down there cross-legged. They all sat in front of him in a half-circle. Ken sighed deeply, enjoying the shade. Miyako stared at him. He didn't look so angry anymore for some reason. He looked, content. Ken opened his eyes, pain showing through.
" Okay, so who exactly are you?" Takeru asked. Ken brushed some hair out of his face.
" I'm Ken Ichijouji. The real Ken Ichijouji. The other guy is a fake, and imposter, a complete idiot at that. But he's got a lot of power. Some sort of old demon. I don't really know much. I got hit on the back of the head, then there was pain later, and then I was locked up for three years. Thanks to Wormmon, I didn't starve. I have to save him. I escaped by digging a hole in the wall, and climbing through. Hehehe, lucky they left us spoons. But, I'm in a lot of pain, because of all the torture. You have no idea what they all go through.........." Ken explained, fingering shackle burns on his arms, and the huge lightning burn scar that was on his shoulder. It was massive compared to anything else Cody had seen. It was all black, with blue edges. It was in the shape of the symbol of Pain. Ken noticed Cody's stare.
" Wondering about this? I got hit by lightning when I was walking in the forest, when I was about 8, a little before that." Ken's stomach growled loudly as Cody gulped. Everyone sweat dropped.
" I think we should feed him. He doesn't look so good." Hikari stated, standing up. Takeru nodded, and stood up with Cody. Miyako and Davis once again helped Ken up. Ken limped to the portal. They were all sucked in as Hikari opened the port. They landed in her house. Taichi was obviously stunned at the sudden arrival of Ken and the others. Ken slowly got to his knees, while the others untangled themselves. Davis and Miyako helped Ken to his feet, and Tai stared angrily.
" What is he doing here?" Taichi growled. Hikari sighed.
" Taichi, listen up, this isn't the Kaiser. This is the real Ken, the other is an imposter!" She explained. Ken looked up into Taichi's eyes, and bowed his head.
" Konnichi-Wa." Ken stated, looking back up. Taichi stared through Ken, and then his eyes widened.
" You aren't the Kaiser, are you? You're..... something else......." Taichi said in a whisper, very surprised at what he saw through this new person's eyes. Ken nodded.
" Yeah. I'm hungry, too. Not to be rude, or anything." Taichi nodded, and ran into the kitchen, grabbing the left-overs from the simple Kraft Dinner with rice and ham dinner. Ken was seated down in a chair, and he immediately started to dive into the food with a fork, eating very fast, loving it all. When he was done, there were no more left overs. Ken sat back, and sighed contently. He wiped his mouth, and bowed his head again.
" Arigato. I was really hungry. Uh, Gomen for eating all of it......" Ken scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Taichi waved it off.
" No problem. Just, what in the worlds are you? You definitely aren't the Kaiser, but you're not all human, either. I can see into you're eyes, and something is there. It's not human, is it?" Taichi asked, pointing to Ken's eyes. Ken nodded.
" Nope, not human. I got more spirits in me then a Bath House for the Spirits. Believe me, it gets crazy in my head sometimes, and I end up going nuts for some reason. Anyway, the Kaiser has to be stopped. He's getting to strong." Ken suddenly stood up. He just started to pace, cracking his knuckles, and snapping his arm into it's place. Ken did some arm circles, and turned back.
" I figure we have about a month before he gets to strong to handle. If we can take everything out before then, he'll only have himself to defend with. It's summer break, I think, so I suggest a month camping trip, or something. It would be advised, anyhow." Ken explained, looking at the calendar. Yesterday was the start of the break. Taichi nodded. Miyako thought for a moment.
" Hey, my dad can pitch a ride for about 6 people. So, I can take Davis, Hikari, Takeru, Cody and Ken, plus me, and the older kids will come in their own rides. Then, my dad drives away, the older kids stay back, and we go kick the Kaiser into the ground!" Miyako exclaimed. Ken grinned.
" That'll work. In the meantime, I better go check in on my parents. Haven't seen them in 3 years. I'm in Odaiba, right?" He asked. Hikari nodded.
" Yeah. It takes about a half an hour to get to Tamachi." She informed. Ken nodded, and looked out the window. It was still light out. He smirked.
" That's child's play. I'll get there in half the time. Where's the stairs to the roof?" He asked. Taichi pointed to the door.
" Go left when you come out our door, it's right at the end of the hall. But, why would you want to know that?" He asked. Ken smirked.
" Well, follow me, if you want to know. " Ken walked to the door, and was about to open it, when Taichi stopped him.
" Wait. Dude, you need clothing. I mean, you look like a rag doll." Ken looked down at himself. Okay, so they didn't fit. Ken looked up at Taichi.
" Yeah? I know I look bad, but hey, what can you do in a cell for 3 years?" Taichi laughed. He ran into his room, and came out with a pair of grey jeans, and a black shirt. He handed them to Ken, and pointed the bathroom.
" You can change in there. Throw those out, I don't think anyone can fit in them again." Taichi stated. Ken nodded, and walked into the bathroom. When he came out, he was wearing the new clothing. It wasn't even big on him. Ken patted some dirt out of his hair, and shook his head violently, then walked to the door.
" Arigato." Ken said to Taichi. Taichi nodded, and with the others, followed Ken up to the roof. Ken looked down over the city from the roof. He marveled at the motion, having not seen it in 3 years. Ken's eyes shone with happiness.
" I'm coming home, mom, I'm coming home....." Ken whispered. With determination, Ken jumped up onto the edge of the fence that was around the roof. He stood up, spread his arms like a bird, and before they could stop him, fell forward to over the edge. Everyone ran to the fence, and stared as Ken stopped falling, and floated down to a roof top, and started to run, jumping over impossible gaps. Ken was heading in the right direction, too. Cody sighed.
" What a weird person. And I thought Miyako was odd."
Ken kept running, until he was out of the sight of the Digidestined. He climbed down the building fire escape, and into the main hall to his house. He pushed open his door, and found the hall to his living room. He heard sobbing. It was his mother. Ken walked into the living room, and observed from afar. His mother was crying into his father. They had changed so much. It brought tears to his eyes.
" Oh, Robert, he's not coming back! It's been 2 months already! He's probably dead!" Mrs. Ichijouji cried. Ken stared. So, he's been an imposter for as long as I've been gone, and then he ran away 2 months ago. Ken thought, angry. He softened at the sound of his father's voice.
" Honey, I know it's hard, but we can't give up! He'll come back, don't worry. For all we know, he could be standing right behind us." Ironic. Marie turned around, and spotted Ken standing there, tattered and bruised. Marie and Robert leapt up from their spots, and ran over to Ken. Marie yanked Ken into a huge bear huge, almost crushing the poor kid. Ken hugged back just as hard, finally seeing his Oka-san again. Robert embraced them both, knowing his family was back. Ken pulled away. His tears weren't dried yet.
" Oka-san, Otou-san, I haven't been here in 3 years! You've been living with a fake!" Ken exclaimed. Marie and Robert gasped. And imposter, since their son died? Marie cried out loud, balling her head off, hugging Ken to know end. Robert was furious.
" Really? Wait until I find who did this....." Ken sighed.
" Oh, don't worry, he had a few things coming to him. That is for sure. Me and a bunch of friends are going on a camping trip for a month, to go kick it to him. I have a few things to explain here...." Ken continued the long explanation of the Digi-world. Marie and Robert listened closely. When Ken was done, Robert clenched his hands.
" I will provide a ride to anyone, and be a chaperone for you kids with your mother. This will not go unpunished!" Robert promised, standing tall. Marie nodded.
" Yeah. No one gets away with taking my son away from me....... Now, let's get you cleaned up. You look terrible." Marie went on, cleaned Ken's wounds, gave him how ever many re-fills of chicken noodle soup he wanted, and shoved him into bed. He wore shorts, and a sleeveless shirt to bed. He looked like a car accident victim. He had luckily been able to take a shower, and now looked clean. His hair was long, so it was in a pony-tail. Marie kissed her son goodnight.
" We'll be right outside. If you need anything, holler for us, okay? Tomorrow, we'll sort more of it out." Ken nodded, shifted in his sleep, and started to snore in seconds, being really tired. Marie left the door open, and sat down on a rocking chair, and started to knit, with a shotgun beside her. Robert fell asleep on the couch, with a baseball bat in hand. Funny, nothing happened all night.
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ELP: Was that good? NO FLAMES!!! PLEASE!!!!
Sammy: R&R!