Hikari made herself comfortable beside Ken as they ate the soup and juice they'd gotten from the vending machines. She pulled something out of her pocket.
"Saltines. I got them from the machine. It should help."
Ken took the package and looked into her kind eyes. "You're always thinking of me."
"You're going to need your strength." Hikari shrugged, sipping her soup. Daisuke gawked at the two of them. The touching scene was making him nauseous.
"That's so unfair." He complained to no one in particular. "First I like Hikari, but she doesn't like me, now she's stealing Ken from me."
"Hey, Daisuke." Takeru was beside him again. Daisuke unglued his eyes from the other two Digidestine to see a smiling Takeru
"What do you want?"
"Could you call me T.O. one more time?"
"You're crazy." Daisuke rolled his eyes and looked away. Then softer: "T.P."
Takeru chuckled. "Good enough."
"I care about you too much to let you go!"
"I care about you too, Takeru."
Takeru looked over to Ken and Hikari, who had struck up a conversation about her classes, which Ken could probably be teaching. Hikari didn't really know what she wanted to do with her life yet, and asked Takeru for advice often. Not that he had any idea what he wanted to do either.
"At least I have one son that's a man."
"Dad, Anikun is a man! He's just in love with one too! Don't you see, this is why he doesn't come to visit? He comes when it's just me and mom."
"You don't understand, Takeru"
"I understand. I understand that you can't love your sons for who there are!"
And if you knew about me? At least Anikun likes girls, too. There's hope, but me. Takeru sighed heavily and tried to feel Daisuke' warmth beside him. I'm hopeless.
"You have to be yourself, Take chan." Hikari smiled maternally. She caressed his hair that stuck out from his newest hat. "We love you the way you are. That's how it is to be a Digidestine. The support group is one of the perks."
But some things I have to work out on my own. Yamato can't hold my hand when I go tell dad he probably won't have any grandkids unless we adopt.
"Whassa matter, T.O?" Daisuke stared at him obtusely.
"Just thinking." Takeru smiled back. You're so cute when you get my name wrong. "The problems we had that first time around, were nothing like what we're dealing with now."
"Yeah, I guess. I wasn't there."
"Nobody was stuck in a love triangle. Nobody was pregnant. We were so scared and confused; we didn't have time to think about that kind of stuff. Just protect each other." He chuckled in remembrance. "And fight with each other."
"I can relate to that last one. Ken chan can too." Daisuke said pulling his legs to his chest. "Y'know, I think Hikari and Iori are the only ones from our group not to smack the hell outta him."
"Ha ha! I guess that's right. Poor Ken chan. Little did he know, that's how guys get welcomed into the Digidestine!"
"I dunno. Ken chan said Miyako kun hit harder than any of us."
"Yowch."
Iori stepped over to them and sat down. "How goes it guys?"
"Just discussing how things got weird here fast." Takeru grinned. Iori didn't smile, but creased his eyes a little.
"True enough. I wonder if my professors will let me count this as extra credit."
"What are you studying?"
"I'm going to be a psychologist. Get my PhD in it, so I can prescribe drugs for my patients."
"Oh, you're studying us, huh?" Daisuke leaned over on his knees. Iori grinned suddenly.
"Don't worry. I couldn't begin to explain you."
"Well, fine." Daisuke stuck out his tongue.
"Are we going to pick groups after breakfast, Takeru kun? If so, I think we should be on the same one. In case we find our Digimon partners." Iori said seriously. "So we can DNA digivolve if necessary."
"Good thinking. I can't wait to see Patamon again."
"Hey, then I get to team up with Ken chan!" Daisuke beamed. Takeru frowned at him.
"Something wrong, Takeru?" Iori narrowed his eyes and analyzed the expression on his friend's face.
"Oh, nothing. Just thinking."
Sure, Takeru kun. Whatever you say.
Koushiro cleared his throat. "Okay, guys. We should go ahead and split up now."
"I'll be on a team with Ken chan." Hikari offered. Daisuke stood up quickly.
"I'm gonna team with him too, in case I find Veemon, so we can DNA digivolve."
"You'd think it was Daisuke kun's idea." Iori muttered.
Ken raised a brow. "I feel popular all of a sudden."
"Well, in that case, I'll tag along because Hika chan's my DNA digivolve partner." Miyako said, pulling her stuff together.
"I'm with Miya, wherever she goes." Sora said, taking Miyako's bag and carrying it with her's. Miyako smiled and took her hand.
"I suppose I can join that team, too." Koushiro said. "And that's six, so the rest of you can make a second team. Not a bad split, actually."
"Team Yagami, follow me!" Taichi cried boisterously. Jyou picked up Gomamon and scowled.
"How long exactly are we going to be split up?" Jyou demanded. "Does anyone even have a watch?"
"I have a watch, Jyou kun." Mimi said holding it up to show him. "We can go a week and come back."
"I guess that will be okay." Jyou replied, giving a severe glance in Ken's direction. He pulled on Koushiro's shirt sleeve and drew him away from the two groups that were organizing themselves. "Koushiro kun, keep an eye on Ken kun, ne?"
"I understand. Don't worry about it. He has Hikari chan and Daisuke kun looking out for him, too, not to mention Wormon."
"I know, but Ken kun's not the type to mention if he isn't feeling well. This is the worst place to be if something bad happens with the baby."
Yamato hooked his arm around Jyou's neck. "Come on, Jyou kun. Join the boy's team."
"OI!" Mimi protested. "I'm not a boy. I'm here to make sure you boys don't get in trouble!"
"And I'm not a girl." Koushiro miffed.
"Sure you're not." Yamato teased ruffling Izzy's hair. "Okay, see you guys in a week!"
"Send us an email if something goes wrong." Sora called, leading her group in the opposite direction.
"Unreaal..." Takeru sang softly to himself as the marched along. Iori looked up at Takeru questioningly. He seemed rather sad and withdrawn.
"Questions, I...
Watch TV
Listen to songs
Talk about us"
"Talent runs in the family." Yamato said looking back approvingly at his little brother. Knowing Yamato, he was probably listening for the quality of his voice. Ever since he'd gotten into playing seriously everyday, Yamato tended to point out when someone's tone was less than desirable. Takeru pursed his lips.
That's not the only thing that runs in the family.
"Questions, I
Don't like your answers
If I had one myself
Would it be wrong too?"
Takeru looked around the Digital World. Other than the bitter cold that had followed them before, he didn't really see anything wrong. Why had that Digiport opened? And why were Ken and Hikari having strange dreams?
I should be acting jealous. Everyone remembers how Dai kun and I argued over Hika chan. The triangle's different now.
"A promise
Unfulfilled
A reflection in my eyes
Unreal
Unreaaal..."
"That's really eerie." Mimi chimed. "Can't you sing something happier?"
"Don't mess with the artist." Yamato said shoving his hands in his jacket. Takeru finally broke a smile. He still protects me.
"Hmm." Mimi replied. "Are we just going to wander around and hope they run into us?"
"Seems that way." Iori said. "Got a better plan?"
"Not really. Once we find a flying Digimon we can get a better view, I guess."
"That's pretty astute, Mimi san." Jyou remarked, surprised at the thought she'd put into it. They'd always kept in contact with one another, and in their letters, emails, and phone calls she wasn't that shallow. But in public, she didn't seem to care for thinking things through, only having fun.
"There's no need to insult me, Jyou kun." Mimi replied haughtily. Jyou cringed and began to sputter.
"I I-I didn't mean-"
"I'm just kidding! I know what that word means." She leaned over and gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. "How cute."
"Awww..." Yamato and Taichi cooed together, making Jyou blush. Iori chuckled at his comrades.
"Gee, Jyou chan." Gomamon put in. "I thought you were a doctor, not a lover."
"Oh, shut-up." Jyou dropped his Digimon on the ground. "Walk for awhile."
Mimi scooped Gomamon off the ground. "No need to be mean. I'll carry you."
"Thanks, Mimi chan. See how much she's grown up, Jyou chan?"
Jyou glared pointedly in the other direction. Takeru adjusted his hat trying to cover his bemused expression.
"Armadillomon!" Iori cried, running into the bushes.
"Long time no see, Iori chan." The Digimon rubbed up against him.
"Hey, Armadillomon, is there a river around here?" Mimi asked hands on hips. The Digimon nodded.
He pointed to the right. "Over that way."
"Would you mind jumping in and asking the fish if they've seen any of our Digimon, Gomamon?" Mimi asked sweetly. Gomamon grinned.
"Anything for a pretty girl!"
"What is it, Takeru kun?" Iori patted Armadillomon's head, and frowned at Takeru hat, which was all he could see of him sitting on the rock next to his. Black...
"Nothing." Takeru replied despondently. He dug his foot into the dirt and looked up at the river to see if Gomamon had come up yet.
"So you can't tell me? Think of the team. You and I need to be close if we want to DNA digivolve."
"I probably can't anyway."
"What!?" Iori tried unsuccessfully to get him to meet his eyes. "You've never had a problem before, at least not when there weren't control spires around."
"It's different now. Everything has changed." Takeru removed his black hat for a moment. "When I got to college... everything changed."
"Why?"
"Partially because of Anikun and Tai kun, you know, with the parents. Partially because... when you get there, you start learning all kinds of things, and you learn that everything you knew was wrong, even about yourself."
"Wow. Maybe I should drop out now." Iori said seriously. Takeru looked over at him with alarm, then chuckled.
"It really thought you were serious!"
"Well, it got you to smile. So you think you can't make Patamon digivolve, even if we find him?"
"No."
"Armadillomon, can you leave for a moment?"
The Digimon cocked his head questioningly, but headed over to the others out of earshot regardless.
"You're in love with Daisuke kun, aren't you?"
Takeru's eyes widened in shock.
"And you're upset, because you found this out about yourself, and your father hasn't exactly been supportive of Yamato san. And Daisuke kun is still hung up on Ken kun, who you can't beat into a pulp, because he's pregnant."
"Damn, you really should be a psychologist."
"I just know you better than you think. Hikari san knows, doesn't she?"
Takeru nodded.
"Anyone else?"
"Nope. Just you. And anyone else who can see through me like that."
Iori smiled sympathetically. "Well, you should tell Yamato san. He's you brother, and he's been really worried about you. I can tell. Patamon will know something's wrong, too."
"Even if I figured this out, I couldn't make him digivolve. I'm not the Hopeful Child I used to be." Takeru hung his head in defeat. "It's sad. I was supposed to be the one supporting everyone else."
"Yeah, well, now it's our turn." Iori moved over and put his arm around Takeru
"Growing up sucks. I'd have rather stayed a stupid kid."
"No you wouldn't." Iori laughed, patting his back. "This will work out, I know it will. And you'll come out of it stronger."
Takeru sighed and looked up at the river again. "Gomamon's back."
"Hey! Gabumon and Agumon aren't far from here." The little water Digimon cheered. Jyou patted his wet head.
"Well, let's get going." Taichi said energetically. Yamato nodded and followed Taichi's lead to their Digimon.
"Have faith, Takeru kun." Iori remarked softly as they continued their search.
If you like, email me and let me know. I'm vain and like to know if yall like what I'm doing.