Notes: sometime I forget that other people aren't as geeky as I am. NaNoWriMo- National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words (a novella really) by November 30th. For more information go to: . And I originally wrote this chapter at work and since I'm a complete retard I accidentally deleted it. So, I'm now trying to recreate what was previously written.
Warnings: if you read chapter one, then you ought to know by now.
Disclaimer: don't own, don't sue, poverty's a bitch.
Glass Statue- 2While Daisuke chiseled away, Ken was faring much worse. In fact, he was certain that the gods were punishing him. Punishing how? One- Hikari and Miyako had found him and were dragging him out shopping, which would have been fine if Ken actually gave a damn about what they were looking for. Two- he had just broken up with his most recent fling and he really needed to talk to Daisuke. Really.
Sighing for the umpteenth time during their spree, Miyako and Hikari exchanged a look behind Ken's back. The look said it all, and unbeknownst to Ken, he never even stood a chance. The trio walked along, gazing into windows on occasion.
Finally, Miyako decided to break the ice. "So, Ken how're things going? And where's Mai? Haven't seen her around in a while."
Ken was quiet for a few minutes. "We broke up." He refused to look at Miyako, or Kari for that matter. His eyes darted all over- anywhere but his two friends.
The Keeper of Sincerity was never one to beat around the bush, so the next question really shouldn't have been a shock. "Who broke it off, you or her?"
He went quiet again. Why did she always have to ask about things like that? "I did."
Another look was exchanged. This time Hikari spoke up, because the Light has a tendency to make great guesses at certain things. "Was it because of Daisuke?"
Ken stopped walking. He stopped so suddenly that his two companions went past him and had to back up to get to him again. "Why would you say that?" If he had been feeling brave, Ken might have been able to admit to himself that his voice was shaking.
Hikari sighed. "Well, you've stopped talking to him, Ken. You haven't spoken to him for nearly two weeks." There was the briefest of pauses. "And that would almost be okay if he wasn't your best friend. Or if you weren't treating him-"
"Like he's got The Plague," Miyako cut in. "Which is a completely shitty thing to do. What's going on, Ken?" She stood there trying to muster as much patience as she could manage.
"It's just that… I don't know," his voice was quiet. Dammit, he was having a difficult enough time trying to figure things out, he didn't need two meddling minds trying to poke him along.
The girls shared another look. It seemed that what they had suspected was actually true. Kari knew how hard things were going to get from this point. Miyako nodded to her Jogress partner and let her ask the question. "When did you find out?"
Blinking and feigning obliviousness, Ken asked, "About what?"
Even Kari had to raise an eyebrow at that one. "Cut the crap, Ken. You know what."
Ken winced at the sound of such harsh words coming from the Child of Light. Finally, he nodded and mumbled the answer. "Two weeks ago."
Miyako's smirk was triumphant. "So you did hear that conversation!" She turned to the other girl, "I told you it was a perfect setup."
Ken felt his eyes widen. "A setup?"
Shrugging, Miya pretended to yawn and explained. "Well, yeah. I mean it's been going on for so long and you didn't know about it. Someone had to tell you somehow."
There was a vein in his forehead that he could feel twitching with every word. "A setup?! Why?"
Then Kari reached out a hand and touched his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Because Daisuke is miserable. He has been for a long time. Every time you show up with some new girl it only gets worse. He never wanted to tell you because he thought you'd never take it seriously. He thought you might laugh, think it was a joke, or maybe just be disgusted."
"But… how could he? I mean, I would never do anything to hurt Daisuke." Ken's voice went quiet again and he felt small all of a sudden. It was another moment of complete confusion for him. Thankfully, Miyako guided him to a bench where he could steady himself. Even if there had been no emotional outbursts occurring, Ken still would have been hard pressed for anything brilliant to say. As it was, he simply repeated, "I would never hurt Daisuke." He looked up to see matching sympathy and guilt in his friends' eyes.
Kari gave a bittersweet smile. "That's the first time I've heard you say his name in two weeks."
However, Miyako always tried to look at the bright side. "Yeah, you haven't so much breathed in his direction since Takeru's party." Bad move on her part.
At the word 'party', Ken's shoulders stiffened, his eyebrow went up, and his jaw set. "About that party…?" Now if he would just put on some sunglasses and spike his hair a little bit… And get a whip…
Throwing her hands up in defeat, Miyako looked to her Jogress partner. "A little help here?"
***
"So, you're telling me that the conversation I overheard between Taichi and Yamato was staged entirely for my benefit."
Miyako and Hikari nodded, opting to say nothing until they were sure Ken understood.
"And they were supposed to talk about how Daisuke has… feelings for me." Even after two weeks, he still couldn't say the words outright.
They nodded again.
"And about how he's miserable."
Still more nodding.
"Then launch into the Koushiro Project."
Kari made a face that clearly stated she had no idea what project Ken was talking about. Miyako started to nod and then caught herself.
"Whoa there, tiger." To her, this sounded like a juicy bit of gossip. And wherever there was gossip, that was where Miyako, Keeper of Love and Sincerity, would be. Grinning with socially deadly menace she all but purred, "Tell me everything."
***
Said blond, brunette, and redhead were not two blocks away at a local bookstore. They had all decided to do something relaxing after leaving Daisuke's studio. Hopefully, it was something that would bring them a little more cheer.
But something was going on in Odaiba. Taichi kept scratching his nose with a vengeance, Yamato seemed to have suddenly fallen victim to red-ear syndrome, and Koushiro swore his was getting and ear infection because his left ear just would not stop itching.
Rubbing fiercely at his nose, Tai declared what the issue had to be. "Someone must be talking about us."
Koushiro rolled his eyes. "That's just a superstition. Honestly, that's as silly as believing in-"
"Fairymon and wolves and dragons that come from another world?" Yamato couldn't keep the smirk off of his face.
The redhead rolled his eyes again and headed off to check out the section of computer programming books.
Taichi, on the other hand, was still scratching. "Dude, either I've got the biggest booger in the world, or someone is talking mad shit about us right now."
It was just too easy. "Well, with you that really could go either way," Yamato snickered.
"Ha, ha, ha," was Taichi's reply. "Don't talk to me Ishida, I'm still pissed off at you." At that, he spun on his heel to head towards the magazines.
Yamato only rolled his eyes at his friend's retreating back. "Such a whiny bitch sometimes, I swear…"
***
"I can't believe no one's told me about this," Miyako was outraged. "Honestly, we all know that no one keeps a secret around me for long!"
"I just can't believe I didn't know. Or that Takeru didn't know either. By now one of us should have found out." Kari felt a pout tugging at her perfectly glossed lips.
"If it's any consolation, I don't think I was supposed to know either," Ken smiled a bit. He was just glad that the subject was off of him and Daisuke.
Hikari continued pouting. "This is just so off, though. Considering the people involved I should have known by now. Between Koushiro, Yamato, and my own brother, not to mention Takeru, I should know. I can't believe he didn't tell me!"
Miyako's eyes narrowed. "Can I see your phone for a minute?" The phone was already in her hand and she was dialing from memory before anyone knew what was really happening.
"What on earth are you doing?" Kari was suspicious enough- she knew her Jogress partner, and knew her well.
"I'm calling him," Miyako's voice clearly sounded as if that was the most obvious answer in the known history of the universe. "What else would I be doing?"
"You won't be able to reach him at home right now, he's at work until seven." Fairly certain that he knew who they were talking about, Ken sighed and sent out a silent prayer of pity for his fellow man.
Letting the glint in her eyes shine clearly to all, Miyako gave a devilish smile.
"Oh no you don't," Hikari caught the other girl's arm. "We can't go in there and make another scene. Do you really want Takeru to get fired?"
Miyako stuck out her tongue and promptly sat back down. "Why do you always have to rain all over my parade?" Sighing she eyed the cell phone that was still in her hand. "Fine. But then Ken gets to call him."
He sputtered for a moment and then whined. "Why do I have to do it?"
Both girls rolled their eyes, but Hikari answered for all womankind: "Because you're the one who told us about it. Idiot!"
***
Taichi was peering over the top of his magazine, eyes tracking his prey. It was amazing how graceful someone could be if they had no idea that they were being watched. He frowned when a familiar body blocked his view and returned to his soccer magazine. Tai was still reading when Yamato sat down next to him.
The blond was completely unprepared for the solid slap that connected with the back of his head. "Ow! What the hell was that for?!"
"Because I'm still mad at you, because you all but told him everything, and because you were blocking my view just now. But mostly because I'm still mad at you." His eyes never left the article he was reading.
Sighing, Yamato grabbed a magazine from the nearby stand. "Well, I just thought it looked like you needed some help in the Getting the Situation Going department."
That finally made the brunette look up. "Help, yes. A hard kick right in my balls? No."
Feigning nonchalance as well as Taichi, Yamato countered. "Not in the balls, more like in the ass."
That line got them both laughing so hard and so loud that Koushiro wandered over. He was inevitable followed by store personnel- who asked them to leave.
***
After dialing the number, Ken was not surprised that the phone was snatched out of his hands. He could only hope that his yelp of "ambush" had gotten through in time.
"Takaishi Takeru you are the devil!" Miyako was screaming into the cell phone. "Why? What the fuck do you mean 'why'?! You know why you little shit!"
Kari made a grab for her phone. "You withholding bastard. Don't tell me you have no idea what I'm talking about!"
Taking the phone back, Miyako started in again. "This is only the best story of the year, Takaishi. How could you keep something like this from me? I know you must've told someone!" There was a loud scream emitting from the earpiece of the cell phone as she held it nearly a foot from her head. When she finally decided to listen again, the conversation on Miyako's side was mostly "uh-huh", "no", "yes", "no way!", and "damn then". The last of which meant Takeru had won the battle.
"You mean you've really got no idea what we're talking about? Well then ho-ly shit have I got some gossip for you, my friend!"
Ken just settled in, trying to rest up for what would certainly be a trip all over town to hunt down the rest of the Destined. He was fine with that, so long as no one asked him any questions about Daisuke.
*************
That's the most I can remember of it. Now, it's late and I'm getting sleepy. Next chapter: more agonizing Ken, the trio returns, checking in with Daisuke, and just what the hell has Takeru been up to anyway? And who else is out of the loop? Review?
