Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon!!!!!


Chapter 7: The Deal



"Hey Kiku! Are you coming with us?"

Kiku turned to meet the smiling faces of Taichi, Sora, and Daisuke. She cocked her head but there was a slight smile on her face.

"Go with you where, exactly?" she asked.

"Wednesdays are soccer days!" Sora exclaimed. "The day that we all have free. Don't you want to come play?"

"Of course I want to," Kiku replied. "But I can't. I have to go meet Gennai today."

Kiku turned back to her locker and shut it (rather hard so that it made that lovely noise). She slipped the lock back on, then began to walk to the computer room. Everyone turned to look at Taichi as if he were the one who could make her stay.

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"School got out fifteen minutes ago, Kiku," Gennai said bluntly.

Kiku had met Gennai in the Digital World at the same blank patch in the woods that she first met him at. She was sitting on the ground, legs sprawled out, and eyes up at the sky. She had the same grin on her face that had gotten there when she had heard Taichi's voice ask her if she was coming with...

"Kiku!"

Her eyes snapped over to Gennai who was standing with his arms crossed. Kiku sighed then laid back onto the soft grass. She closed her eyes.

"I"m doing what you told me to do," she said. "I'm focusing all my energy, and I'm going to make you float up from the ground."

Kiku's eyes scrunched up as she concentrated. The crystal around her neck was clear. A slight smile spread across Gennai's face as his feet were lifted up off of the ground, and he stood their floating for a minute or two, until Kiku grew tired and let him down again.

"Are you happy now?" she asked, not moving. "I've mastered my powers..."

"You have come far in a very short amount of time," Gennai confessed. "I must admit that I am impressed."

Kiku opened one eye and smiled at Gennai. They had been working together for two weeks, and Gennai had loosened up a bit. Kiku was still forbidden from falling in love and acting upon her emotions, but they had worked out a deal.

Gennai said that Kiku was allowed to go to the school dance–with a date–if she was able to make him float. She had done so...

"I get to go to the dance now, right Gennai?" Kiku asked, growing excited.

Gennai sighed, then nodded. Kiku jumped to her feet and ran over to hug Gennai.

"Thank you so much!!" she exclaimed as she squeezed him tight.

"Too....Tight...." he coughed. "Can't.....Breath...."

Kiku released Gennai from her hold and grinned at him. She began to skip around the area, very pleased with the fact that she was able to go to at least one dance in her high school career. Gennai grabbed her arm and stopped her skipping.

"But remember the rules," he said. "Because if you break them..."

"Then I don't get to go to any other dances, I know!" Kiku exclaimed.

"You're allowed to dance, but no kissing, or anything beyond that point," he reminded.

Kiku sighed.

"Come on!" she exclaimed. "I'm not going to sleep with someone at this lame of a dance! I'm just there for the music and the dancing."

She demonstrated her dancing ability for Gennai as she smiled. Gennai just grinned.

"Come on Gennai! You're not that bad looking when you smile! You should go to the dance too!"

"No, no. I have had my fill of teenagers," Gennai assured.

Kiku nodded.

"Well, I have to go! The dance is tonight, and I told Taichi I would call him as soon as I found out!"

With a quick wave, Kiku ran off to get back to her world.

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A/N: I got a review telling me that I was wrong when I said that they would have to miss art class when they went to the Digital World because one minute in the real world is one day in the Digital one. Well, at the end of Season01 in the last episode Old Gennai comes to tell them that the times are now the same, and that stays true through season02. This fic takes place in season02 when Gennai is young again. So not trying to be mean, but letting you know that I know what I'm talking about ^^