I'm back! Sorry about the long wait. This chapter was giving me a hard time, and that's one of the reasons why it's so short. That's also why it took so long to update. I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but it'll have to do for now. I'm actually going to go back and edit all of the chapters to get rid of the mistakes and upload them again. The next chapter will be better and probably longer.

One World Away From Darkness

Chapter 3: Voices

Ken Ichijouji

Ken walked home alone in the sunset with his hands shoved into the pockets of his black jeans. Thankfully the heat had died down, and a cool breeze stirred his hair, caressing his face. After everything our group has been through, I still can't believe I have trouble sometimes letting my friends know when there's something bothering me. He knew there was a way to ease his fear, but T.K. always seemed so unapproachable, not to anyone else of course, only to him. T.K. was the type of person people always flocked around. There was just something about him. The blond seemed to glow from the inside out, like an inner light was burning inside him. Other people appeared to sense it and naturally wanted to be close to him. So why can't I be one of those people? It's just not fair. But that was the way things were, and there was nothing he could do about it, short of humiliating himself in front of the others when T.K. told him to get lost.

I wish Wormmon was here. He would know what to say to make me feel better. Ken smiled softly and gazed up at the sky. His digimon partner was the only one he felt he could say something to without fear of it eventually getting back to T.K. Even after all of the horrible things he had done, Wormmon had remained by his side, and Ken knew he would forever be grateful to the little digimon whose loyalty had never wavered. "I wonder how Wormmon's doing," he said thoughtfully to himself. "I can't wait to see him tomorrow."

"...Ken..."

Ken froze and slowly turned around. Did I just hear someone call my name? "Davis?" His voice came out slightly higher than normal, and he blushed, feeling embarrassed. "Is that you?"

No one answered. Behind him the street was completely deserted. Strange, he could have sworn someone had just whispered his name.

After a moment he shrugged and started walking again. Maybe the heat has fried my brain a little or something. I'm probably just imagining things.

Several steps later, he heard it again. The voice sounded like the crackling of dead leaves, dry and barely audible. "Ken...Ken..."

"Davis, come on! This isn't funny!" He glanced uneasily at the street in front of him and behind, but there was not a single person in sight. There weren't even any bushes for somebody to hide behind. If Davis is trying to scare me, then it's not going to work! He started to walk forward, glancing anxiously to his right and then to his left. Still there was no one around. Where did that voice come from? Nowhere, you're just imagining things.

"Sweet Son of Darkness...embrase the call..."

"No!" Ken screamed, the cruel whisper ringing in his ears. He clamped his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. Abruptly there was silence. Ken slowly peeked between his fingers and gazed fearfully out at the street. Empty. No one had witnessed his embarrassing, hysterical behavior.

Hesitantly, Ken lowered his arms. Sweat beaded his forehead, and his hands felt clammy. Quickly, he wiped them on his pants and swallowed hard. The street was still completely void of life and the voice had not come back. What's happening to me? Am I going crazy? "It's nothing," he said out loud. His tone sounded shaky and uncertain, even to himself. "It's just stress about our soccer game coming up, and the heat isn't helping. I'm tired, that's all it is. Once I get some sleep, I'm sure I'll be fine." Oh really? Then why are you standing in the middle of an empty street talking to yourself? He looked down and discovered his whole body was shaking. "I'm fine," he whispered. "There's nothing wrong with me."

He was about to start of again when the skin on the back of his neck prickled. Someone was watching him. He whipped around with a gasp and froze. Still empty. Shuddering, Ken rubbed the back of his neck and quickened his pace, occasionally glancing back over his shoulder. Somehow, he could not shake the feeling that something was definitely not right...

T.K. Takaishi

T.K. walked towards his apartment building with Yolei and Cody on either side of him and frowned at the setting sun. They strolled down the street in friendly silence leaving him free to be alone with his thoughts. Currently they were focused on a certain raven-haired Digidestined who had been acting rather strangely today. He had not failed to notice the way Ken had been looking at him in the computer room this afternoon. His eyes had been so full of sadness. Why? What could have possibly made him so upset?

T.K. sighed softly. He knew Ken still had some personal demons he needed to fight, but he had thought for the most part that Ken was finally letting himself give in to happiness. He absently fingered the golden chain, holding his tag and crest, which hung around his neck. When Oikawa's life essence restored the Digital World, their crests were no longer needed to hold a protective barrier in place. Gennai had given the crests back with all new tags and chains. Even Ken got his crest back, and he too had received a tag. When MaloMyotismon was defeated, the scattered remains of the Emperor's base had mysteriously disappeared. The only thing that had remained was the Crest of Kindness which Gennai had brought to Ken.

There was so much about the former Emperor he did not understand. Even after four years, Ken was still a mystery to him. The only thing about Ken he did know for sure was that he liked the raven-haired Digidestined very much. Unfortunately it did not look as if Ken felt the same way about him. I thought we were supposed to be friends, so why won't Ken talk to me? It wasn't that Ken never spoke to him, it was just so rare to have a conversation with the other boy. When they did speak to each other, Ken always seemed so distant, as if his mind was somewhere else.

"T.K., is something wrong?" Cody asked, frowning at him. He looked a little concerned.

T.K. turned and gave the younger boy a brief smile. "I'm fine, just thinking." Why would Ken be staring at me like that? Most of the time he barely even looks at me. Why the sudden change? I wish...I wish we could be better friends. I just want to be able to talk to him the way I do with my other friends. If only there was some way I could tell him how I feel. He sighed softly to himself and shook his head. There was nothing stopping him from sharing his feelings with Ken, unless you counted the fact that he wasn't sure how Ken would respond to his efforts of improving their friendship. What if he doesn't want to get any closer to me? What if he'll never like me as much as he likes the others? He turned to stare at the ground, hiding the sadness in his eyes from the others. He was not used to this kind of treatment from other people. Even Davis could be a great friend, when the goggle headed leader wanted to be, and he did not hesitate to show it. Davis was especially friendly when he was in a good mood, which was usually most of the time. When T.K. had first come to Odaiba, the students had all but tripped over each other just for a chance to meet him. It had surprised him, but it had also made him feel good inside. Even now, after four years, those same kids still smiled at him in the hallways and waved to him in the lunchroom. Yolei was always giggling about how he seemed to attract people like a magnet, but for all his efforts, it had never worked on Ken. Not that he believed Yolei for a minute. All anybody had to do was be friendly and someone was bound to return it.

"Davis had better not get into any more trouble tomorrow," Yolei muttered angrily to herself. She glared at him, as if reminding him that it was his responsibility to see that Davis stayed out of trouble. Her expression was rather alarming, and he inched slightly away from her, just to be on the safe side. There was no telling when, or where, Yolei's temper could erupt, and he did not want to be on the receiving end of it when it did.

"I'm sure Davis will behave this time," Cody said quickly, casting Yolei an anxious look. "We should have no problem getting to the Digital World."

"We'd better not!" Yolei snapped. "If he does get into trouble again, then we're going without him!"

T.K. shook his head and hid a grin from Yolei. Sometimes it's better just to run for cover and stay out of the war zone before you end up getting hit by the crossfire!

He was about to give Yolei some words of comfort when a cool breeze suddenly stirred the hair on his head, and he shivered. That's weird. How can the air go from boiling hot one minute to freezing cold the next?

"Hey, what's with the weather?" He glanced at the sky and frowned.

Yolei slowed her pace and turned to give him a funny look. "What are you talking about?"

"Doesn't it feel a little cold to you?"

Cody slowed to a stop and exchanged a look with Yolei. Something unspoken passed between them and they gazed at him with the strangest expressions on their faces. "T.K... I'm practically sweating to death here. How can you be cold?"

T.K. frowned at the uneasiness in their eyes and shrugged. "Maybe it was just a sudden chill." Like someone just walked over my grave. Stop it, T.K.! What are you trying to do, scare yourself to death "Come on, let's hurry. My mom's going to be wondering where I am."

The other two nodded reluctantly and quickly hurried after him, his long strides making it difficult for them to keep up. For some reason he had a sudden strong urge to get inside away from the street.

"The darkness is calling...he will suffer..."

T.K. froze in mid stride and whirled on Cody and Yolei. "What did you say?" His voice came out harsh, and the other two stumbled to a stop.

"What are you going on about? We didn't say anything," Yolei said, sounding out of breath. She stared at him wide-eyed and took a step back. He blinked and turned to Cody who quickly shook his head.

"I didn't say anything either," the younger Digidestined said quietly. Once again an odd look passed between him and Yolei.

"Are you sure?" T.K. stared hard at them, and they both nodded. But...then whose voice did I hear? I know I heard something. It sounded like a threat.

"Um...T.K.? Are you sure you're okay?" Yolei asked, sounding a bit hesitant; Yolei was never hesitant about anything.

"I'm fine, let's go," he said shortly and started off again. At least, I hope I am.