Chikomon: Join the club.
Leafmon: Oh well.
annonomous: Thanks for you praise! I am so happy! Please enjoy this chapter!
SoratoL.O.C.Fan: Um…pardon?
aligrl34: Thanks, and sorry if you are impatient, but from now on, I only update every fourteen days (two weeks).Anonymous: Thanks…thought you would say I couldn't write…Sorry if you're unhappy with me…I just couldn't help loving Kouzumi. And then I ended up writing it…lol. I wish you good luck in finding the Digimon Kouzumi fic…it's gonna take you a while…why don't you just write one yourself?
Sakura2387: Not much suspense in the last chapters…but I'm glad you enjoyed chapter 5. I hope you enjoy my upcoming last chapter and this chapter too.
yUmMyCoWs891: Thanks for saying this is a great fic and for the review.
Stephanie: I'm happy you liked it! And is Rurouni Kenshin an anime? I LOVE anime! Well, whatever it is, they shouldn't have taken it off…evil…
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. If I did, I would have Izumi and Kouji together in the actual series.
Digimon: Return To Me
Chapter 6: Dance with me
Kouji stepped into his home, greeted his stepmother, and went up to his bedroom. "Joy." He sighed inside himself as he plonked his bag on his desk and took out his homework.
Half an hour later, he had finished, and decided to phone Kouichi.
"Hello?" Kouichi's voice answered Kouji's phone call.
"Kouichi? It's me, Kouji."
"Oh, hi!"
"About this Christmas…I think I'm gonna go buy the guys some presents…You free this Saturday?" I need company…"
"Sure, I'm free. Meet me by the park, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"No prob."
Kouji hung up.
Saturday…Kouji's eyes immediately saw his twin brother enter through one of the mall's many entrances. He smiled briefly as Kouichi approached, and the two headed for the shops.
"Where to first? I mean, who's present shall we buy first?" Kouichi asked.
Kouji shrugged. "Takuya?"
Kouichi smirked. "Well, let's head for the sports gear shop…"
Fifteen minutes later, the two twins came out, Kouji holding a bag with a football t-shirt and shorts, and Kouichi had a football and football gloves. "That was easy." Kouji said. "Takuya is still mad about football." He shook his head in amusement. "Some things never change."
The two then went to the game shop to get games for Tommy; to the cakes shop and ordered the biggest cake there between them for J.P.; and hair accessories for Keira. That only left Eva and Izumi for both of them. And of course, each other.
"So, what are you gonna get Izumi?" Kouichi smirked as they neared the jewellers.
"Um…" Kouji avoided his twin's gaze. "I dunno."
"How about…there." Kouichi pointed at the jewellers.
Kouji shrugged. "Let's go have a look." The two boys entered the shop. Sparkles of jewels glittered everywhere, making their eyes a little unfocused. After ten minutes of looking around, and failing to find something Kouji was satisfied with, the boys were asked if they needed any help by a shop assistant.
"Something for a special person." Kouichi said to the woman before Kouji could stop him. "Girlfriend. We want something special. A necklace, I think."
The lady smiled, showing rows of white teeth. "Sure, sir. I think I have just the things!" she walked away.
"Girlfriend? Special person?" Kouji raised an eyebrow, trying not to look panicked or too flushed.
"You know I'm joking!" Kouichi winked. "But you do need something nice for Izumi, don't you?" Kouji nodded mutely, pretending to look like he didn't care. "Anyway, necklaces, I think, I are the most appealing."
The lady returned, carrying many different coloured, velvet boxes. She placed them on the table. "Please sirs, have a look."
Kouji and Kouichi began going through the many boxes. "Too big. Too small. Too flashy. Too bling. Too dull. Too ugly." Kouji was thinking as he glanced at each one, bored. He had reached the end of his pile, with only one box left to go. Kouji picked it up and opened it. He gasped, only just managing to control it, so no one heard. In front of him lay the most beautiful necklace. Real silver gave the outline to two swans, whose heads were touching in the middle; their bodies were filled with white, transparent diamond; two, small dark blue sapphires were cut for the eyes; and the silver chain which held the whole thing was entwined with a string of tiny pink diamonds.
Kouji was staring at it for a whole minute. Kouichi finished his pile, and leaned over to see what his twin was gazing at. "Wow." He breathed. "Nice."
"I'll take this one." Kouji said to the assistant without even asking for the price. He didn't need to, his father was loaded with cash, and so was he. Kouji placed it gently back in the lilac velvet case, closed it and handed it to her. She smiled, took it and led the two to the counter.
"Are you serious thinking of buying that one?" Kouichi hissed quietly in Kouji's ear. He nodded. "Okay then." Kouichi said. He looked around. "I need to look for something for Eva, so wait here, okay?" he wandered off.
Kouji paid for the necklace with his credit card, and went to find his twin. Kouichi was looking at some necklaces too. "Didn't you find the one you wanted in that other pile?" Kouji asked.
Kouichi turned around. "No way, they were way too expensive!" he laughed.
"I'll pay." Kouji said.
Kouichi shook his head." I want to buy Eva's present with my own money." Kouji nodded understandingly and tried to help him choose.
Finally, the two left the shop. Kouichi had chosen a silver necklace with a flower dotted with light blue crystals. "I still have to buy something for Eva." Kouji spoke. "And you need to get something for Izumi."
"I also need to get something for you!" Kouichi grinned.
"You don't have to." Kouji looked at him.
"I want to."
The two stopped off at the Bear Factory, and Kouichi got a fluffy bear for Izumi, knowing she loved soft toys. As she put it, "they are soooo cute". Kouji bought a new watch for Eva. "Finished." Kouji sighed.
"C'mon, I want to get you something." Kouichi insisted.
"Fine, fine, but let's split up." Kouji gave in. "I need to get something for you too." Kouichi smiled, going their opposite ways.
On the day of the disco…The snow was falling thickly. Kouji stared out of his window in the grey morning. He liked the snow. He sat down on his bed, grabbing the presents from under the bed. Kouji had wrapped all his Christmas presents ages ago. At school, he had given J.P. and Tommy their presents, but he had promised to give the others theirs at the year nine disco. He placed the remaining boxes in a bag. The disco started at seven o' clock.
Seven o'clock…Kouji walked to school. Finally, he got there. He heard the loud music blast out from the school hall. As he stepped inside, he saw all the lights, the people and the decorations. Kouji spotted Kouichi with Eva in a corner of the room. He walked over, and handed his twin and Eva their presents. They, in return, gave him their presents. Placing them somewhere, the trio began to talk after Kouji got himself a drink.
"I bet Takuya will be the last one here." Eva sighed, smiling. She wore a pink dress that went up to her ankles, the floaty ends just scraping the floor; spaghetti straps were holding it up. Kouji noticed her blushing slightly; the necklace he had helped Kouji choose the other day was hanging on her neck.
Kouichi chuckled. "Well, duh." He dressed casually in a light blue t-shirt and black combats. Kouji wore pretty much the same, except he had a navy nodded top and a pair of jeans. Both wore white trainers.
Keira walked in. she was wearing a black top, also with spaghetti straps, and a black mini skirt. Black boots adorned her feet. She carried a bag, obviously filled with more presents. Keira made her way over the huge crowd. "Hey!" she smiled, and everyone exchanged gifts again. "Where's Takuya?" she asked, her eyebrow raised in amusement.
"Late." Eva sighed. "Big surprise, huh?"
Keira laughed. At that point, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned round, and saw Takuya in a yet another football shirt and leather coloured trousers. "Talk of the devil!" she grinned.
He embraced her. "You look beautiful." He whispered into her ear. She giggled, and they let go.
"I wonder where Izumi is." Kouji frowned.
"Wow, is she later than ME?" Takuya exclaimed. "Scary…"
As Takuya went to get himself and Keira a drink after giving and receiving wrapped boxes, Izumi walked in. Kouji was the first to see her, and she looked perfect. Her hair was down, the cap scrapped; she worse a sleeveless and topless, lilac dress which went up to her knees; and violet sandals with heels were on her feet. Simple, but perfect. As Izumi tried to walk to her friends, however, someone blocked her way. Mario, the rich snob and gangster of year nine, who wasn't in Izumi's class.
He smirked. "Well, hello gorgeous."
Kouji nudged Kouichi and nodded at the guy conversing with Izumi. Kouichi frowned. Takuya returned. Kouji whispered to him, and all five of them walked over to Izumi and the back of Mario.
"I'm not interested." Izumi stuck up her chin at the taller boy, making her point clear.
Mario wasn't pleased with the answer. He was about to slap her; Izumi winced, bracing for the oncoming hit…but it never came. She opened her eyes to see Kouji standing in front of her, holding Mario's hand. Kouichi stood on Kouji's left; Takuya on Kouji's right, like bodyguards. Eva and Keira copied the action on Izumi, protecting her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mario hissed in Kouji's face.
Kouji raised a cool eyebrow. "She doesn't deserve a scumbag like you." Izumi wanted to praise him for standing up to the bad boy in there year, but another part of her was afraid of Kouji being hurt.
"Sorry?" Mario blinked in disbelief. No one had ever spoken to him like that since he had started the school. "I think you have no idea who you're talking to."
"Yeah, I do." Kouji stared at his fingernails, looking bored. "I'm talking to a good for nothing freak, who likes to do nothing better than to have one night stands with sluts, drink too much alcohol and smoke to be cool. Well, let me tell you something. You're not cool. You're just a slimy cheat." His eyes stared straight at Mario.
Mario was seeing red. He swung out clumsily at Kouji. He dodged it by ducking, and threw a punch of his own at Mario's stomach, winding him and sending him flying backwards, into a crowd of people, who parted in disgust. This made him fall to the floor, landing with a loud smack. Mario's face showed obvious pain.
"That'll teach you." Kouji glared, and turning round, he saw Izumi, her eyes relieved. "Let's go." He said in an undertone. "Let's finally have some fun."
Everyone nodded and stepped back to their corner. Izumi said she would distribute her gifts at the end of the disco, when everyone left. Takuya and Keira were the first to hit the dance floor when the soft, melodious music came on, followed shortly by Kouichi and Eva. Before Kouichi was stolen away to dance, he whispered in Kouji's ear, "Get the girl, man!" before he disappeared in the crowd.
Kouji was uncomfortable. Only he and Izumi were left, and the two of them sat there awkward and silent. Finally, Kouji summoned up the courage to say something. "Um…merry Christmas Eve, Izumi."
"You too!" she smiled at him.
Kouji allowed himself a small smile too, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. Thank god the lights weren't white, or Izumi would've seen him blush.
"So… You have a dance partner?" Kouji asked casually.
Izumi shook her head. "Nah…" she looked at Takuya with Eva through the crowd. She felt glad, surprisingly. Kouji followed her gaze.
"You miss him?" Kouji felt a few pangs of jealousy as she stared at her ex.
Izumi, astonishingly, shook her head. "No. He is a brother to me, nothing more. I am glad he has found the person he wants to be with. At first, I have to admit, I was pretty shaken up, but I found out that he wasn't the one meant for me either. It made it a lot easier to let him go and move on."
Kouji out his hand on her bare shoulder, feeling her soft skin. "I'm happy for you." He whispered. Izumi smiled sadly. Kouji didn't want to see her like this, so he said something to try to cheer her up, and then it all came out accidentally. "You want to dance?"
Izumi now looked at Kouji, shocked. "Is he asking me to dance with him?" he eyes were wide. "Oh my god!" she tried to conceal her smile and nodded. Kouji stood up, no idea how his body was even working. He felt rooted to the spot. Taking Izumi's hand, he led her to the dance floor.
As Izumi settled herself comfortably in Kouji's arms, she whispered. "I'm not a good dancer, so I'm sorry if I step on your toes.
"It's okay." He replied. "Don't worry about it." Kouji caught the eye of Kouichi in the crowd. He smiled brightly, making Kouji want to roll his eyes.
The two began to dance. Izumi lay her head on his chest, enjoying every moment of it. She moved automatically, not even thinking. She didn't even step on any of his toes.
The couples danced on for the rest of the night, until ten o' clock. Everyone began to leave. Izumi and Kouji split. She felt cold now, not feeling him against her. But she went to get her presents for everyone. After distributing them, Kouji went up to her. "Hey, Izumi?"
"Yeah?" she turned to face him, eye to eye.
"I still haven't given you my present yet." He felt fidgety. "Can you come with me so I can give it to you…privately?"
She was surprised. How many times had she been shocked by his actions and words that evening? Izumi had lost count. She nodded. "Sure."
After saying their goodbyes, Kouji and Izumi left together. Kouichi watched his brother go, smiling broadly. "Well guys. Looked like it worked!" he grinned to his friends.
"I hope it goes well." Eva stared after the two disappearing figures. Snow enveloped them, and they were lost from her sight altogether.
Kouji led Izumi to the local park, one of his favourite places. It had stopped snowing. For now. The pond had been frozen, and children had been ice-skating on it. He sat down on a bench, Izumi following suit. Kouji took the wrapped gift from his bag. "Here" he handed it carefully to her.
Izumi, filled with curiosity and wonderment, gently took off the wrapping, revealing the velvet box. Even more puzzled, she opened the box, and gasped. The necklace seemed to sparkle even more in the starry night. "Wow!" she breathed. "Kouji, I….I don't know what to say!"
"Don't say anything." He smiled, pleased. Suddenly, she hugged him tight.
"Thank you." She whispered. Izumi stood up, her eyes bright. "Help me out it on!" tenderly taking the necklace out, she held in her palms. A cold wind blew, and then, snow began to fall, landing on their hair and revealing skin. Izumi's having not brought a coat, shivered. Kouji noticed and immediately stood up, wrestled off his hoody and wrapped it around her. He wore a black shirt underneath.
"Thanks." She smiled. Kouji took the necklace and carefully fitted it around her neck. When he had finished, she hugged him again. "Oh…Kouji, I love you." She whispered.
Kouji blinked. "Did she say what I thought she just said?" he asked himself. She had. He found himself saying the three words he thought he would never ever say. "I love you."
Izumi looked at him, her head was off his shoulder now. "Really?" she murmured, her eyes wide.
Kouji rolled his eyes in his typical, old-fashioned way. "Yes, of course I do!" he exclaimed, and lent down, kissing her cold lips.
Princess Viv: Almost the end! Almost the end!
Chapter 7: ???