k2: Okay, you remember the chapter I wrote before with Steve and Nancy? Well, I decided to make it bigger.
MK: Lots bigger.
k2: I also decided to exclude Misshra's parents, they were a throw in anyway and I can do without them. For now anyway-.
MK: Throw in? They were so last limit that you still didn't like that part!
k2: (eyebrow twitches) Anyway! I did, however, put the other parents in. I made it more complex-.
MK: I'll say! She had to come up with all this last minute, no revamping involved!
k2: Hey! Since I am revamping, there is no reason to need to make it better because it will already be good! I hope. oO;;
MK: So anyway! Complexity or not, that is neither here nor now, it is later.
k2: Err… yes, yes. I, uh…expanded on it so well that I have made several parts to the 'Meanwhile' side of things. What's more, I have about five whole meanwhile chapters, so here is part one. I hope you enjoy it. (grabs her ryou-chan from her subspace pocket and runs after Mewkit with it.)
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What Now
Meanwhile pt-1
PG
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Steve watched as the children disappeared through the portal, the rainbow of color slowly fading away as the portal itself vanished into the night. It was then that he saw lights flash on and people staring out their windows. Some were on the phone and they all looked frightened or curious. Steve reached into his pocket for his pack and pounded it against his hand, allowing one to fall out. He put it to his mouth and lit it, flashed a mini salute to those staring, and headed for his car again. People were beginning to gather outside when he reached the vehicle and, when he opened the car door; he heard a voice reach out to him.
"Is…I mean…was that what I think it was?"
Steve froze. He wasn't quite prepared to answer a barrage of questions, the whole reason they decided to do this at night.
"Are those children the same ones…from all those years ago?"
Turning around Steve raised an eyebrow. A woman was standing a few feet away from him, her hand clutching her shirt by her throat. She was looking at Steve with an expression more of concern then fright, where as everyone else seemed scared or apprehensive. She was the only one who had the courage to approach him on the matter so he felt she deserved an answer.
"Yeah." He blew smoke out the corner of his mouth and took the cigarette out. "Yeah, that's them. Same ones. Same portal."
"Is it happening again?" She asked, stricken by his answer.
"I dunno." Steve's reply was as honest as he could give.
"Then…where are they going?"
Steve put the cigarette back in his mouth and entered his car. He wasn't sure how to reply but he figured it was best to put their worries at ease.
"The trouble isn't here." He stated, "It's there so there's no reason for you to worry." He started his engine and started to back up but the woman approached his car.
"Your…one of their parents?" She asked him, "How do you feel about all this?"
Why can't you leave me alone!
"I can't say a whole lot." Steve replied. HE had to restrain himself from snapping at the woman; he had to get back to Nancy. "I can't just put my personal feelings above the world, could you? Now, if you don't' mind I have to go."
He pulled away from the woman and took off, disappearing into the night. As he did the woman bit at her nail, watching the empty road until a neighbor came over to her.
"It's not fair for them." She murmured, "It's not fair they should have to see their children suffer for our sake."
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16-year-old Chizuru Inoue slowly stirred at the small cup, watching the tealeaves dissolve as her thoughts swam through her head. She was pretty worried, not knowing what her sister was going through. What dangers awaited her on the other side? IT bothered her to know that Yolie was once again out there, working hard to protect people while she was stuck waiting for some answer, some form of note, anything, saying that everything was going to be okay.
But mostly, it was the fact that at this moment Yolie was looking for a friend that had been kidnapped. What if it had been the other way around? What if it had been Yolie that was kidnapped?
Chizuru let a breath out, a cross between a sigh and a dry sob.
I don't know why I'm so worried about it. She thought to herself, Yolie's proven herself to be capable; I just need to trust her more.
Chizuru put the spoon down and took the two cups she had out of the kitchen where Mrs. Takaishi sat. She was curled on the couch and looked haggard. Chizuru understood why she was asked to stay, she understood very well why. Nancy Takaishi looked like she would have a nervous breakdown if they didn't return soon and Chizuru worried about her. It had to be a terrible shock to see your son disappear into thin air, to vanish without a trace and only having a vague idea of what was happening.
"Mrs. Takaishi, I brought your tea." She politely handed the green liquid to the older woman.
Nancy smiled at the Chizuru and took the cup.
"Thank you, Chizuru." She murmured, "And thank you again for staying. I don't' think I could handle being alone right now."
"Yolie told me…she mentioned, so I would know, kind of what happened." Chizuru murmured, "But…she only said he disappeared earlier this morning. Somehow…I think it was more then that."
Nancy looked at her cup before taking a sip. "Your right." She murmured, "It was more then that. You have good insight Chizuru."
"Uhh…thanks." Chizuru was startled by the unnecessary compliment.
"TK didn't just disappear." Hr voice seemed thick. Chizuru began to feel she shouldn't' have mentioned it at all now. "He was torn from our world." Nancy continued. "He-he looked like he was…in so much pain-."
She broke off, the dam in her eyes loosing the battle against the torrent of tears.
"I'm…sorry I mentioned it." Chizuru murmured, guilt welling within her.
"No." Nancy forced a smile, patting the girl's arm. "No it's okay."
The front door opened and Steve entered the room, smiling grimly as he set his coat on the hook. "There were a few witnesses, but I don't' think we'll get any public recognition out of it. No trouble." He walked over to the phone and stopped with his hand hovering over the receiver. "Err…Nancy, do you happen to have the a phone list I could use?"
"I have a few names." Nancy replied, "But I don't know Ken's parents, Mimi's."
"I think her parents are in the states anyway. Matt said something about her staying with Sora."
"There area few others I don't' know…." Nancy trailed off.
"Does TK have a list then? They are, after all, his friends."
"He doesn't' talk on the phone a lot, he prefers to go out."
"I see."
"Yolie has a list of her own in her room." Chizuru stated, "I can get it if you need it."
"Could you?" Steve asked
"Of course. I'll be right back!"
"Thank you, uh….."
"Chizuru!"
"Right, Chizuru. Thank you Chizuru."
As the young woman left the room Steve flopped onto the couch next to Nancy, placing a hand on her knee.
"Steve." Nancy murmured, "Please."
Steve removed his hand from Nancy's knee and crossed his arms. "Just because this happened the day were going to tell our children we were dating again does not mean it's a sign."
"I…I don't want to talk about it Steve." Nancy murmured
Steve frowned but remained quiet after that. Chizuru's return was the only thing to spark any interest in anything as Steve stood and walked to the phone, the phone list in his hand.
"Let's see…who's first?" Better yet, whom I would prefer to call first…?
Steve settled on a name and dialed the phone. "Hello, Susumu?"
Steve?The voice of Tai and Kari's father, Susumu Kamiya, answered.
"Yeah, it's Steve. Tai's staying over here tonight if that's-."
Both Kari and Tai left earlier this morning in a rush.The man interrupted, Neither said where they were going but they were real worried about something. I've been waiting for a phone call to confirm my suspicions.
"Suspicions?"
What's going on this time Steve?
"That obvious?"
Don't try and tell me they're having a sleep over, it's over used. They're in that world again, aren't they?"
"Yeah."
Mind telling me what you know?
Steve glanced at Nancy as she watched him expectantly. HE turned to face the other direction and put his hand closer to the receiver. "My youngest disappeared this morning while we were getting ready for a picnic at the park."
What do you mean…disappeared?
"Exactly what I mean. In literal terms. TK vanished, right in front of us, in Matt's arms. There was something wrong with him, he had collapsed after a sever headache affected him. After that he just…vanished. Matt contacted Tai after that and they met up at Nancy's. All of them, all the kids are in the digital world trying to find him."
How's Nancy?
"Not good. Listen, can you call the others? Yolie's sister, uh…Chizuru, she needs to get home, it's getting late. She was staying with Nancy for me while I ran an errand. Yolie and Cody's parents are under the impression that their kids are having a sleepover, though I assume they probably suspect the truth like you."
"Yeah, sure. No problem, I'll take care of everything. I know more of the parents then you anyway."
Steve hung the phone and turned back to Nancy and Chizuru.
"Well, everything's settled, Susumu is going to take care of everything else. Chizuru, it's almost ten o'clock, you should be getting some sleep now."
"Oh, yeah sure." Chizuru stated, finishing off her tea and hurrying to the door. "I was…glad I could help." She stood at the door for a moment, rubbing her arm. "Well…bye."
"Nancy, you should get some rest as well."
"I don't know if I can sleep." She murmured, "Just knowing…Oh, Steve, what could be happening to my baby?"
Steve rubbed a hand through his hair. There was no doubt that he loved his ex-wife with a passion, but as of this moment he was at a loss on how to comfort her. HE barley remembered the reason for their divorce anymore. But if there was one thing that hadn't change it was her fear for her children's safety.
Steve made his way over to the couch and knelt down before her.
"Nancy, Matt Promises. HE swore passionately that he would return TK to us. The he will make sure his brother comes back and that nothing, nothing will stop him from doing that."
"I should have spoken to him." Nancy murmured. She brushed her hair away from her eyes, her hand staying on her forehead as a fresh wave of guilt crashed into her. "I should have…I should have ushered him that I didn't blame him. HE must hate me, Matt must hate me for everything I have never said to him!"
"Nancy!" Steve was shocked. HE had never known she felt that way. "Nancy, no. No, Matt doesn't hate you. HE loves you Nancy, you're his mother."
"I made a choice, Steve. I chose TK over Matt. I took his baby brother away from him; I know he never forgave me for that one. I doubt he ever will. HE must have felt so horrible on that day. Like he wasn't good enough and I never even thought about it before."
"He's stronger minded then that Nancy." Steve stated
"You would think that, wouldn't' you?" Nancy set her cup on the coffee table and shifted position, staring Steve in the eyes.
"Matt is your son Steve." She stated with a certainty that startled the man. I may not have been around to raise him but I know that stubbornness and a tendency to beat yourself up runs deep within your family as well as that annoying habit of hiding your weaknesses in a façade. False security fooling those around you except for the ones who truly know you, yet distancing yourself from people so no one can get to know you." Nancy rubbed at her face, her temple, and sat back against the couch. Tiredness fell over her and she smiled weakly at her ex-husband. "TK told me about Matt Steve. About his reactions to things that happened when they were trapped on that other world. How he acted and responded. How hard it was for him and…." Nancy trailed off for a moment, as if trying to think of what to say next.
"Matt seems to feel responsible for everything that happens to TK Steve. He's extremely protective of him and even went berserk, from what I heard."
"Really?" Steve rubbed the back of his head, "Matt doesn't' talk about it much. I don't pry into his life, either, so there are times we don't' communicate at all."
Nancy smiled, shaking her head slightly. "One of the reasons it was so difficult to live with you, Steve, was your stubbornness. TK get's it from you as well as Matt. They are truly your sons."
"I'm sorry."
Nancy sighed and lifted her eyes to meet his. "Sorry for what Steve? There is nothing to be sorry for and yet you feel the need to reassure yourself that things are okay. You can't control something, yet you insist on considering the outcome to be your fault.
Nancy fell into silence then and Steve stood from his kneeling position.
"What do you think they are doing right now?"
Startled by her abrupt question Steve raised an eyebrow in her direction. "The kids?" H the back of his head again as she nodded and he looked towards the double doors leading to the balcony. "Well, they're probably talking to each other. Maybe sitting around a campfire or something, unless there is a significant time difference between the two worlds. They might even be on their way home now, with TK in toe just fine."
He smiled t his ex but she shook her head at his attempt to lighten the mood.
"I have a bad feeling Steve. Something horrible is happening to TK and there's nothing I can do about it."
"I'm sure things are fine Nancy." Steve assured her, "Remember, they did save the world a couple of times. Two worlds in fact"
"Yes, but TK wasn't a hostage, was he?"
"No, But Kari was." Steve rubbed the back of his head as he remembered the first time he had met Kari. When that monstrous digimon tried to kill her at the TV station six years ago.
Nancy looked at him, startled. "What?"
"Six years ago, when the city was attacked by the digimon and we first found out about the path our children had to walk. Children all over the city were being rounded up. They were looking for TK's friend, Kari."
"Why?"
"I'm not entirely sure really." Steve replied as he stretched, "But it doesn't matter right now. It just proves my point that they can handle the situation."
"I-I hope your right."
"The key word Nancy." Steve winked at her, "Hope."
"TK once told me that hope lies in everyone's soul." Nancy murmured, "He said it was strongest in his. I never was too sure what he meant."
"I think I do."
Nancy looked at Steve, startled. "Really?"
"Think so, anyway. It's something Matt told me. TK has hope that we will all be a family again. For that to happen, he needs all the hope he can get at the rate we're going."
She smiled in spite of herself. She found she never could resist his sense humor, even with it as bad as it could be at times. Like now for instance.
"What now?" She asked him, feeling in a slightly better mood now. But only slightly.
Steve raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding her conversation.
"Do we just sit here like worried parents?" She asked him, "I don't think I could handle that Steve. I wish…I wish that there were something that we could do. To help them, you know?"
"I know alright. I know all about it. And I feel that same." It's hard to just sit here, but what can we do?"
"Nothing." Nancy replied "Nothing! And I can't handle it!"
Steve watched, surprised, as she got up from the couch and began to pace. No, not pace, she flung open the balcony doors, the cool wind hitting her face, and stepped out, hugging herself against the chill of the wind.
Steve's expression softened and walked over to the front door, retrieved his coat, and made his way to Nancy. HE stopped just outside, his breath catching him as the pale moonlight graced her delicate form, accentuating the delicate curves of neckline. She still looked as young and beautiful as when he'd first met her.
Steve saw her shiver slightly and he smiled, placing the jacket over her shoulders. The night may be warm, but when you're this high in an apartment building the wind was extremely chill.
"It's getting late Nancy." Steve whispered, "You get some sleep, okay?"
"I suppose your right." She murmured. She turned slightly and looked up into his eyes. "The couch is yours if you want it. You won't have to drive all the way home that way."
"I wouldn't leave you alone if you forced me to leave." Steve stated before she could say another word. He knew how hard it would have been for her to admit she didn't want to be alone. "You have an extra blanket?"
She smiled and we walked back inside. She made her way to her linens closet and pulled one out for me, a pillow as well. I walked her to her room and she hugged me.
"Thank you Steve." She murmured into his chest. "I appreciate this."
"Anytime Nancy, any time."
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k2: Okay, this is complicated for me. I am trying to write about a pair of divorcee's with no true knowledge of who they are. Only what I saw of them on the show, the brief scenes they were in.
MK: Uhuh. What we, or she rather, I wasn't around at the time, saw of them together was a bit of awkwardness where there was hurt between them yet more then that. There was a distance that they couldn't quite bridge over, something had caused that distance.
k2: But what? They will not be put together in this fic, though there will be moments when it may look like they will.
MK: We have our reasons, just remember; Rome wasn't built in a day.
k2: And relationships, even second chance relationships, don't' always last or work out as planned.
MK: Neither of us knows what is going to happen with these two in the future but we can tell you one thing.
k2: We will do our best to ensure that it fits in with the running of the story. You have to remember, we don't' write the story, we only chronicle what happens. The characters frame of mind does all the work, we just throw the curves.
MK: Remember! R&R folks, it helps for morale!
k2: Constructive criticism is the key!
MK: Flames will be ignored.
k2: (sweatdrop) what flames? ;;
