Authors Notes: Sorry for taking so long to get chapters out. I have so much homework from school that most of the time I barely have anytime to write and type my stories up. I'll try my best to get chapters out faster. It's my birthday today. I'm fifteen… *sobs* I feel so old…. Anyway I hope you enjoy reading. And I apologise very much for any spelling or grammar errors there maybe. I make way to many mistakes for my own good, even when I do use spell checker.

Disclaimer: I do not own the anime Digimon.

Chapter four: Painful departures

Last night had a traumatic effect on Yamato the next day. He couldn't get the image of the Digimon Kaiser out of his mind. Every time he closed his eyes it was there to haunt him. And still he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. What had happened last night, it just seemed so impossible. This whole situation was impossible. It was Yamato's whole life that was impossible. Ever since his first night in the Digital world he felt it nothing more than a dream. He had told himself over and over again that it was just some bizarre dream and he would make up from it soon. But he never did, and still now he was living it.

Will I ever wake up from this nightmare?

Ken. He just couldn't believe it. A sweet, innocent child one minute and the next a raving monster. Which one was real? Perhaps he had some sort of severe personality disorder. It occurred at times in the real world, making it very well possible. Yet something told Yamato that this was not the reason. It was something else, something that he neither any of the other chosen didn't know about.

Ken why the hell are you acting this way?

"Ishida-san!"

Yamato returned back to reality instantly as the teacher yelled right in his ear. He blinked in confusion, staring at his sensei for a few moments. "Ishida-san, will you pay attention?!"

The blonde stood up and hung his head in a bow. "Go-Gomen nasai sensei."

"This is very important will be on your next test!" The man sighed. "Well just make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Hai." He nodded then sat back down. He gave a loud sigh and sat his head on his arms that were folded on the desk. Why always me?

A pair of worried brown eyes stared at him from across the classroom. Yamato…. What's wrong with you?

The bell rang signalling that it was lunchtime. Yamato gave a small sigh of relief and headed out of the classroom. Today had been hell, and right now all he wanted to do was go home. But not even his house could protect him from the horrible memories floating around his mind. The image of Ken kissing him came back to him. Was it Ken who had kissed him, or the Kaiser? He was pretty sure it had been Ken, for when the Kaiser realised what was happened he threw himself back in disgust. But whoever it was he kissed, it felt nice…

Yamato's eyes widened realising what he was thinking. I-I… enjoyed it?! Tightly he clenched his fists together, his safety net preventing him from screaming out. Who the hell could he think like this? It was wrong. It was sick. It wasn't the fact that he had kissed another boy, hell he was fine with the whole gay thing. It was the fact that he had kissed the Digimon Kaiser…

Osamu...

Slowly he began to fear for all of his friend's safety. Ken was strong, terribly strong. There was no sense in denying it, and now he wasn't sure if the chosen even stood a chance of defeating him. He was the only one who knew Ken's true identity and therefore was the only one able to stop him. Sadly he had failed….

The Digital world was doomed. The Digimon Kaiser's powers were going stronger. Yamato could sense it within him. There was one thing though that the Kaiser had been right about, and that was that only one destiny would prevail. The question was, which one would show truth?

"I'm a failure. This is all my fault…."

"What's you fault?"

Instantly the blond looked around. "Tai-Taichi…"

The look on the brunette's face showed that he was deeply worried about something. Slowly he approached the blonde. "Yamato are you all right?"

Yamato sighed. "I told you all ready, I'm fine."

Taichi frowned. He could tell easily when he was lying. "No you're not. Why do you keep lying to me? I'm supposed to be your best friend Yamato."

Yamato groaned. Why couldn't people just leave him alone? "Taichi you are my best friend I know, it's just…"

"Just what!? I know there's something wrong with you, and I'd much rather you told me the truth than make up some stupid lie about it. Yamato, I'm worried about you, real worried. And just what happened on the phone last night?"

Yamato found himself lacking words. It was true that he felt bad about lying to Taichi, he was one of his best friends after all, but there was absolute no way he could tell him the truth. Sometimes he felt Taichi was just being far to over protective of him beside if he were to tell the truth…. No he just couldn't. He would never tell. Last night had made things even harder. He gazed into his best friend's eyes, they were filled with so much sorrow. Am I really making him feel this way?

"Taichi…"

"I guess you don't want to be friends anymore…" Tears began to fill the former child of courage's eyes. "If that's they was you feel then sorry…" Brushing past Yamato he began to run away.

"Taichi! Matte!" Yamato raced after his friend but it was no use, Taichi's speed was incredible, there was no way he could catch up to him. Out of breath, Yamato stopped watching his friend run further into the distance.

The element of friendship he had discovered was once again fading…

*******************************************

Ken sat in the shadows of the darkened control room. Confusion and worry circled through the child's mind. It had all happened so quickly. Thoughts of Osamu plagued his mind, only this time the love for his brother was replaced with thoughts of hatred. All his life he had been ignored by people, including his parents. He was all but Osamu's shadow. He was left on his own to waste away while Osamu went on to carry on with higher and better things. Ken's parents didn't even notice if he was there or not. In other words, they didn't really give a flying fuck about him.

They were only concerned with their other son, only concerned with his genius. It was true, everyone loved Osamu, yet Ken had no friends at all. In the past he had craved for them with all desperation, but now the very thought sickened him. Friends would only hurt. Friendships would never last. They would be destroyed as quickly as they had started. When friendships ended, pain and sorrow were left instead to haunt you for the rest of your life. The only friend he had ever had was Osamu and even then he wasn't sure if his brother even cared about him.

Osamu would often yell and scold him, upsetting him deeply. On the day of Osamu's death, he was not sure whether to feel joy or sorrow. With his brother gone, he was no longer a shadow. Finally all of his great achievements would be acknowledged and praised, not ignored as they always had been in the past. But yet, Osamu had taught him so much. He taught him about right and wrong, about the world, everything Ken had learned from until the day of his death. Then he was left to discover the world on his own. He was left to live his life without a friend to show him the way. Even if he were noticed, he would still be alone. This brought him back to what Yamato said.

When I first met Osamu, he told me that no mater how many people you're surrounded by, you can still feel all alone. Loneliness can't be measured by how many people you're with, only can it be measured by your real friends.

Inside, Ken felt like he was going to crack. Nothing made sense. Just a week ago he felt so sure of himself, now he felt trapped. Past memories had returned to haunt him, and even with all the power he had developed throughout the years, he couldn't control his thoughts. "Dammit!" Anger raged through his body making the desire to destroy something even stronger. Violently he punched the wall.

Not a crack, not a dent, nothing…

He had so much power, yet he felt so weak like a tiny little puppy lost in alone in the big bad world. Still he felt something missing from himself. How deeply he craved for it. But no matter how hard he wished, he would never truly find it. It was lost, hiding from him, not wishing to be found. He punched the wall again. Still no change. Again he hit it, again and again. He felt like he was loosing what little sanity he had left. He wanted to scream. "I bet Osamu never had these fucking problems!"

Suddenly an old memory returned to him. He was standing on the balcony of his old apartment with his older brother Osamu. They were blowing bubbles together. He gazed at his brother, a look of joy plastered upon his face. How much happiness it brought him just to watch his brother blowing bubbles. He wished so much that he could be exactly like him when he grew older. Unexpected Osamu handed him the bottle of bubbles. Ken stared in amazement. "Go on try."

The young child smiled and began to softly blow into the hole letting the bubbles flow up into the blue sky. Osamu had told him that he was great at blowing bubbles. Compared to the things Osamu can do, blowing bubbles seemed pitiable. His brother told him that he was even better than he was at blowing bubbles. Ken's mouth opened half in shock and half in delight. Osamu had told him it was because of his gentle nature. He blew softly for the bubbles whole Osamu did it with force. That was what set them apart. But like Ken had once thought, Osamu was not always right. He had told him that his kindness would help hundreds of people one day. So far he had only destroyed them…

Angrily he Ken grasped hold his hair, looking as if he was going to pull it out. He fell to his knees and banged his fist into the floor. "So that's the only thing I'm good at, eh Osamu? Blowing fucking bubbles?! You thought I was so weak, but look at me now! You're the one who's fucking dead after all! I am the most powerful being the entire Digital world! That boy was wrong, I am half of what you were! No! Even better, I am everything you were not!"

A pair of worried blue eyes gazed in from behind the door. Tears began to flood them and slowly the creature came forward. "Ma-Master?" it stuttered nervously.

Quickly the Kaiser turned around, giving the small creature a look of disgust. "Who gave you permission to speak?! Just what the hell are you doing in here?!"

Wormmon bowed instantly showing his apology. "Master the reason I am here is because I'm worried about you. You've been acting really differently lately? Please tell me what's wrong Ken."

Anger rushed within once again. Idiotic creature. He got up and turned away deciding it was better not to waste his anger on the little worm. "I told you never to call me that." He replied trying his best to keep his calm.

"It's about that boy isn't it? He told you something that you didn't want to hear."

That did it. "That's none of your goddamn business you pathetic little fool!"

Wormmon's eye's narrowed as he stared at his master. "He's right Ken, you have changed. What happened to the sweet innocent child who was my best friend? What happened to the child that I used to know? You've changed so much…"

"I've changed for the better!"

The small bug shook his head not once taking his eyes off his human master. "No you haven't, and deep down you know this is true. Why do you act like this, Ken? What happened to that little boy I used to know?"

Ken clinched his fists tightly together. "That part of me is long gone and I'm glad. Look at me, I have thousands of slaves to which I can do as I please with, this gigantic lair and soon I shall be master of the entire Digital world!"

"You may have all this, but are you truly happy?" Suddenly Ken stopped boasting and stared at the Digimon. "You may have almost everything you ever wanted but there's one thing you don't have, and if you keep on going on like this you'll never gain it."

He snickered. "Oh, and what might that be?" he asked mockingly.

"Friends."

Suddenly there was silence.

Ken remembered the talk he had had with Yamato. This is what the golden haired boy had told him also. In away, the older boy reminded him of Osamu, both had a way with words making seem more meaningful and less confusing That boy, he was…so strange…so mysterious as if- He stopped and mentally he slapped himself. Why was he always think about that human?! It annoyed him deeply, especially since he was yet to find an answer. It was hard to people that one worthless person can have such a great effect on another persons life. His thoughts of Yamato seemed to differ from moment to moment so quickly that he really didn't know what to make of the older boy.

Sighing he turned back to Wormmon. He chuckled in amusement. "Friends do not exist. People will only hurt you. Friends only turn their back on you. Friendship, a word that means so much to people yet to the rising of humanity it means nothing. It's meaningless. I didn't get to where I am today by relying on friendships. Power and force helped me gain the status of the Digimon Kaiser. And I don't need anyone but myself."

"Your hiding your emotions again, Ken. That boy said something to you and you know that it's true. Otherwise why would you be getting so worked up about it? You see something in that human don't you, you're just to stubborn to admit it!"

"So you were spying on me then?! You are just a worthless, pathetic, spineless little worm, how dare you talk to me like that?! You deserve to be squashed."

Tears rushed down the Digimon's face as he gazed up at Ken staring down upon him in disgust. "If you were so powerful, then you could handle the truth!"

Ken had just about reached the breaking point. In total rage he took his whip out and fiercely slashed the worm with it. The poor creature was tossed to the other side of the room and into the wall. The sight made Ken smile in amusement. "You see, this is what happens when you disobey me. Do it again and I swear I won't be as gentle next time." He turned to leave but stopped hearing a small groan from behind.

"There you are again, running away from the creatures that only want to help you." The Kaiser turned back around, and to his surprise the creature was standing back up again.

"Are you deaf, or just incredibly stupid? I told you before, I don't need anyone's help!"

"I know what you feel for that boy, Ken. They way that you looked at him, the way that you're eyes changed. They didn't belong to the Kaiser, they belonged to your true self. You can change, I believe in you!"

"I-I don't know what you are talking about." Fear wrenched at his heart upon hearing his partner's words. And what had frightened him the most was the fact that he had felt something strange when he looked at that boy. Why did he feel this way? He was just another worthless human after all. Just another worthless human who's existence should have meant nothing to him. But it did…

"You have feelings for him don't you. You have never felt this way about anyone before and even though you like the feeling, you classify it as a weakness. You're only human just like he is and no matter what you try to do, you can't get rid of those feelings!"

Ken's body tensioned up traumatically and he found himself using almost all his strength to hold back the tears that were forming in his eyes. His heart ached and his mind was lost in confusion. Everything was so messed up. His dreams were being shattered. He couldn't take it anymore. He grasped his whip tightly and began running towards Wormmon. He slashed the creature with one mighty blow. "Shut up! Everything you say is a lie! You don't know shit about anything!" He cried out, his screams echoing loudly through the lair. He found himself slashing the creature continuously over and over again. When his anger was finally satisfied he fell down on to the ground and tossed the whip away. He gasped deeply for breath as the sweat ran down his forehead forming a little puddle on the floor.

Minutes later he finally stood up. Slowly he moved towards his victim. Strangely he gasped at the sight of it. Blood leaked through the creatures many wounds. Bruises grew darker and old scars were torn open once again. If a normal human were to see it, it was most likely that they would vomit in horror. The creature looked so pathetic, something which sickened him greatly. His whip lay a few meters away from him. Should he finish the job t or just leave it there to waste away? Two very good choices yet neither of them sounded appealing to him.

The creature gave a small whimper and weakly opened its eyes. They searched around for a few moments until finally they stopped and settled upon Ken. Ken was affronted by the gaze and took a step back. A strange and unappealing emotion was rising inside of him. He was sure he felt it before, yet the feeling left him bitter. Could it be sympathy? Was he feeling sympathy for the pathetic little worm? Yes it was true he had been familiar with the feeling, only in the past it was caused by self-pity. It hurt more back then but still he couldn't help feeling sorry for the creature lying blood wrenched on the floor.

"What have I done?"

"Ke….Ken…"

He blinked, surprised that the creature even had the strength to speak. Slowly he knelt down beside him. "What-What is it Wormmon?" he asked, his voice trembling with each syllable.

"I know that you say that you hate me but I know you can change. You're looking for something, aren't you? Something deep within yourself but you still haven't found it yet…"

"What are you talking about?" He was confused at the bloody little creature's words. Was Wormmon right? Was he really looking for something? And if so, how did Wormmon even know? The Digimon seemed to know so much that at times it even frightened him. From what little of his past he remembered Wormmon was supposedly his partner. After a few moments of thought, he closed his eyes. Concentrating he began to search through his memories for an answer to the past, for a memory of his first ever experience in the Digital world. His mind was blank, and after a few minutes of trying he had lost hope of being able to find any. His heart sank as he realised that he was unable to find any other memories before he became the Digimon Kaiser. All the memories in his mind seemed to contain some sort of anguish, always containing pain and suffering. If there had ever been any good memories, they had all been destroyed…

What's wrong? What's wrong with me? Why can't I remember anything?!

He opened his eyes and frowned in discontent. Wormmon breathed loudly, each breath seeming like it was his last. Perhaps these breaths really would be his last. Perhaps it was really over from him after all…

"Ken I know to you that I am just another worthless Digimon that doesn't deserve the right to exist, but you mean a lot to me. For years I have beard the torture and pain you have put me through. You taunted me, you slashed me, practically abused me until you finally convinced me that I was nothing to you after all. These bruises and scars on my skin no longer hurt me for the pain and in my pathetic little heart can take no more. So now my end is coming, and throughout this pain there is still one tint of emotion left inside me. And that is love, the love I shall always have for you."

"Wor-Wormmon…"

"A true friend sticks by you no matter what. And I have done this, so perhaps this may satisfy your theories of friendship. Goodbye, Digimon Kaiser."

"Good-good bye? Wormmon what do you mean? What are you talking about?" stuttered Ken, tears running down his face. "Where-Where are you going?"

The small creature smiled and closed his eyes. "Ken-chan, I love you…"

Tears ran down from Ken's cheeks and onto his partner. This couldn't be happening…

I-I love you too…You're my friend…" He bent down onto his knees and slowly moved his hand to place on to his partner. But before he could even touch him, his partner disintegrated into millions of different pieces.

"Wormmon?" Instantly he got up. "Wormmon what's happening?!" Quickly he began to chase after the floating pieces of data. "Wormmon, don't leave me!" He reached his hand out as far as it could reach in hope of catching one of the small specks, but accidentally he tripped and fell, letting his partner fade away.

Finally Wormmon was no more…

The innocent child screamed.

He was alone once again…

Authors Notes: I feel so mean for doing that to Wormmon. I adore his Japanese voice, it's so cute especially when he calls out Ken-chan. Wish I could see the original Japanese version, I've only seen a few clips. I really dislike the dub voice used for Wormmon. No offence to anyone who likes it but I really don't think it does such a cute character enough justice. Anyway I hope this chapter was all right and not too bad. Reviews would be appreciated very much and any advice upon how I could try and improved. Thanks for reading. Ja ne!