Chapter Six; Unforgivable

Davis slowly woke up, stretching as he released himself from the cramped position he'd been in. Glancing up, he saw Ken watching him, but the other boy shut his eyes quickly when he noticed that Davis was awake.

"Nice try, Ken. But I know you're faking." Ken opened his eyes again, and shot an almost apologetic look in Davis' direction. But Davis could see something else in those eyes, and he realised with a jolt of sadness that Ken was still angry with him for not leaving him to die.

>What was I meant to do? Just pretend I didn't see anything?>

He could also see the tearstains on Ken's cheeks, and was pretty sure that they were new. Ken had obviously woken up during the night.

"Umm…I'll go and get you some breakfast."


Ken watched as Davis sidled out, and sighed. He wondered if his confessions last night had freaked him out, if he felt guilty about not being there for Ken.

>What would he say if I let him know that our argument was one of the things that finally pushed me over the edge?>

He could hear voices outside. Damn. He didn't want any visitors. He considered faking sleep again, but gave up on the idea pretty quickly. If Davis could see through that act, there was no chance of fooling the others.

His door creaked open, and he watched as Cody, TK, Kari and Yolei came crowding in. Just what he needed – the whole team there, trying to act as though nothing had changed. >But if I get hear one hint of lecturing, I'll make them regret it. Even with my arms bandaged up.>

"Sooo…how are you feeling, Ken?" Ken felt his face twist into a patronising expression, and hated himself for it. It wasn't Yolei's fault that she got flustered sometimes.

"Oh, right…anyway…" Yolei's face fell, and she looked helplessly at TK, who seemed to have been elected as leader of this mini group.

TK tried desperately to find something to say, anything that would relieve the tension.

"We brought some magazines and stuff…so you won't get bored." He held out a carrier bag, but Ken didn't take it. TK winced at the mildly angry look Ken was giving him.

"Oh, that's nice – you being worried that I was bored, I mean. Perhaps you're worried that I might find something else to entertain myself…slitting my wrists, maybe!"

Ken was almost shouting now. He knew that he was being totally unfair, but he couldn't stop himself. Months of frustration and misery were boiling over…and the Digidestined were in the firing line.

He almost laughed at the looks of horror that the others were giving him, but he was still too angry to do anything like that.

"Because that's what I will do! You won't be able to watch me forever! And the moment your back's turned…SLASH! It'll all be over!"

The gang left the room quickly, unable to take so much raw anger. Ken flopped back on the pillows, cursing himself. >Crap. I didn't mean to tell him that. Now they'll guard me like their lives depend on it.>


Davis walked back towards Ken's room, carrying a tray with two bowls of cereal on it. >I wonder if the others were able to reach him.>

Then he heard the shouting, and watched as the other Digidestined hurried out of Ken's room. >Should have guessed.> Davis sighed, and went to join the others.

All of them were visibly shaken up, but Kari seemed to have been affected the most. She was crying into TK's shoulder. The blonde was trying to tell her that everything would be ok, but it only to one look to see that TK was just as upset. Yolei and Cody were just silent, equally shocked expressions on their faces.

"All right guys, what did he say?" Davis asked in exasperation.

"He told us that he was going to try again!" Cody gasped.

"Try what again? Getting his life back on track?" Davis wrinkled his nose in confusion, wondering what on earth the younger boy was on about.

"No! Try and kill himself again!" Davis froze, unable to take in the information. >He still wants to…he still feels…he can't…>

"Hold this a sec." Without waiting for an answer, he shoved the tray into Yolei's hands, and ran into the room. Exchanging glances, the others followed, but decided it was better to spy than actually go in.

They watched as Davis stormed in, and grabbed Ken's shoulders. The cinnamon haired boy then proceeded to shake Ken hard, before starting to scream at him.

"If you think that you're going to pull a stunt like this again, you've got another thing coming! Do you hear me!" Davis wasn't quite sure how he expected the other boy to answer, but couldn't stop himself.

"Everybody hurts, Ken! But they don't just go and cut their wrists open with a knife! They talk to their friends, and they try to stay positive!" He'd stopped shaking Ken now, but he was still screaming at him – Davis couldn't remember the last time he'd been this angry.

Suddenly, he realised that although Ken could have easily retaliated by now, he hadn't. Blinking his eyes to clear the haze of anger from them, Davis noticed that Ken had almost shrunk into himself. He was just sitting there, raven hair falling over his face, letting Davis rant at him.

"Ken?" His voice was soft now. Uncertainly, Davis reached out, and gently brushed some of Ken's hair away from his face, so that he could see him.

"Ken?" There was still no reply, and Davis wondered whether the lecture had been too much for Ken in his present state of mind.

"Ken. Answer me, dude." Finally, Ken raised his head to look Davis in the eye. Davis was slightly shocked to see that there were tears there. Sure, Ken had cried the night before…but those tears had been because of how he was feeling inside. These had been caused by Davis. >Something finally got through his numbness and anger. >

He got another shock as Ken toppled forward into his arms, sobbing against his shoulder.

"Please, Davis…save me." He spoke the words in a whisper so quiet, that Davis almost missed them.

"What?"

"Save me, Davis. Save me from myself." And with these final pleas, Ken dropped into another exhausted sleep.


Ken's eyes slowly flickered open, and he glanced around the room. Davis wasn't there. Ken felt a dim disappointment, but ignored it. He couldn't expect Davis to be there 24/7. It wasn't fair on him.

Looking to his left, Ken noticed a note on his bedside table. Reaching over, he picked it up, feeling a solitary tear trickle down his cheek as he read it.

>Don't be alarmed if you wake up and I'm not there. I've just gone to arrange a few things. Be back soon.>

Ken wondered what things Davis had gone to arrange, but decided to ignore it. Knowing Davis, it would be some sort of chocolate feast. Or a weird movie to watch on the hospital room's television. Either way, it had been nice of him to leave that note.

>Of course he'd do something like that. He's a good best friend…he doesn't try and shut other people out.> Ken sighed as he realised how much of an idiot he'd been. Getting depressed was no excuse for ignoring Davis, or turning up late for meetings.

>Although, if Davis had been there in the first place, I wouldn't have needed to.> Ken grimaced, and shut off that line of thinking before it even started. >Don't even go there, Ichijoji. That's what got you here in the first place.>

Besides, who could ever be mad at Davis for long? Even without those big puppy dog eyes to contend with, Davis could melt your heart before it even froze. Ken stretched luxuriously, remembering previous arguments when he'd lost his dignity trying to resist those puppy dog eyes. After a while, he'd learnt it was safer to give in at the start.

"Hey! You got my note!" Davis bounded into the room, startling Ken out of his thoughts.

"Yeah. What were you arranging?" Ken asked. Davis shrugged, a small smile beginning to form on his face.

"Ohhh, nothing that would concern you…just where you'll be staying when you get out of here!" Ken groaned and tried to sink back into the pillows. He hadn't even thought about going back home. He hadn't wanted to.

"Thought that may be your reaction. No one wants to go home when their parents aren't there, even if they have a lovable Digimon partner waiting for them. So you're going to stay with me!" Ken blinked, the announcement refusing to sink in.

"Stay…with you?"

"Well, yeah. After all, your parents won't be home for another five days. This way you can get out of hospital…without Wormmon never letting you out of his sight." Davis' smile had slipped, and he looked as though he thought Ken didn't want to stay with him.

"Thanks, Davis." Ken said warmly, glad to have a best friend who cared so much.

"No prob. They'll come in and take off your bandages soon. I'll pack your stuff up, so that you can leave as soon as they do."


Davis led Ken into the Motomiya apartment, trying to ignore the way his friend was holding back slightly. Ken obviously didn't feel comfortable here. >Just like when we first met. It's almost like we're back at the beginning again.>

Davis could have hit himself. Of course it was like being back at the beginning again! Ken was practically starting over, making a clean start to his life. >Does that mean I have to earn his trust again?>

"Are you sure your parents don't mind?" Ken asked tentatively, violet eyes anxiously looking around.

"Well actually they're away at the moment…looking after my sick gran. But Jun doesn't mind." Davis wondered whether Ken would make up an excuse and leave, but the other boy just nodded.

"Just relax. I'll go put your bag in my room." Davis grabbed Ken's things and took them into his room, before placing them carefully on the desk. Quietly, he pulled a mobile out of his pocket, and rang Sora.

"Hello?"

"Sora, hey. It's Davis."

"Oh, hi Davis. Did you bring him home?"

"Yeah…how's Veemon and Wormmon?" There was a crash on the other end, and Davis heard Sora's mum shouting in the background.

"Oh, getting along smashingly." Sora replied dryly.

"Right. Do you mind keeping them a few days longer? Wormmon can come over and visit, but I don't think Ken's up to 'Digimon Panic Mode' just yet." Davis crossed his fingers, hoping that he'd get the answer he wanted.

"Oh, go on then. But you owe me for a new vase!"

"Thanks Sora. You're the best!" Ending the call, Davis put the mobile away and went back to Ken. The slightly taller boy hadn't moved from his position by the door, and was staring around as if lost.

"I told you to relax! Come on, I've just bought a new film! We can watch it together!" Not taking no for an answer, Davis pulled Ken down on the sofa, glaring at him until the other boy got into a comfortable position.

Sighing, he leant back against the cushions, realising that it would be like starting over from square one. Ken was once again the awkward, shy and unhappy teenager he'd been when he'd stopped being the Digimon Emperor.

Despite himself, Davis felt his eyes drawn to Ken instead of the movie. Ken was sitting there, almost as nervous as he had been the first time he'd slept over here. The only difference was…the wrists. Davis stared at the stitches, the only mar on Ken's otherwise perfect skin.

Shuddering slightly, Davis looked away, and tried to concentrate on the film. The last thing he wanted was for Ken to catch him staring at him.


"Hey, Davis." Davis looked up, and smiled as Jun tiptoed in.

"How is he?" Jun whispered.

"Ok, I think. He's still pretty tired – he hasn't been getting much sleep lately. So I made him go to bed early."

Jun covered her mouth with her hand, obviously trying not to laugh.

"Wow. Maybe my baby brother won't kill off his first born children." Davis glared at his sister. She'd been joking about his lack of responsibility for ages now – she'd finally got tired of using his homework against him.

"Shut up Jun. Oh yeah, I put all the knives and stuff in your room." Jun paused at Davis' last comment, and turned back to look at him.

"You did what?"

"I put all the knives and stuff in your room. You know, out the way…" Davis shifted about a bit, and Jun's face softened.

"Oh, Davis."

"I can't help it. I'm afraid that he'll do it again…he said he would."

"But unless you give a chance, you'll never know whether he meant it. You have to trust him." Jun pulled her brother into her arms, summoning up all the love she had.

"Believe in him, Davis. Maybe he'll surprise you. After all, he got through that Digimon Emperor thing, didn't he?" Davis looked up, surprised at how Jun had taken the time to remember stuff about their adventures in Digiworld. His own parents had just conveniently forgotten it – they didn't want their son to be too complicated.

"I though he did…but that's why he tried to kill himself…because of his past." Jun sighed, and Davis knew that she'd almost lost patience with him.

"Look, are you the one who's depressed, or is he? If you want to cheer him up, you'll have to either get over yourself, or work on your fake smiling. Either way, your friend needs you."


Silently, Ken padded round the Motomiya apartment. He didn't know why Davis had made him go to bed. All that had happened was that he'd woken up earlier than usual from his nightmares.

Cursing under his breath as he knocked into a table, Ken froze. When he was sure that no one had woken up, he carried on into the kitchen, and began looking through the cupboards. He knew what he was looking for.


Yawning, Davis came out of his bedroom, wondering where Ken had gone. He wasn't quite sure when the other boy had sneaked out last night, but he knew it had to have been after midnight.

Glancing around the apartment, Davis caught sight of somebody in the kitchen. Coming round the corner, he saw Ken sitting at the table, face down…with something red on his cheek.

"Ken!" Suddenly terrified, Davis yanked his friend upright – only to see that it was jam on his cheek. Ken had fallen asleep over his toast.

"Davis?" Ken blinked sleepily, still not wide awake.

"Uh…morning, Ken!" Davis opted for breezy, and luckily Ken bought it in his sleepy state.

"Morning, Davis. By the way, what happened to all your knives? I don't know what kind of bread you get, but it's hell to cut with a spoon."

Davis stared at him, before bursting out laughing. The look on Ken's face only made him laugh harder.