Introduction

When Odaiba gets a new transfer student, the Digidestineds' lives are turned upside down. Ken is spending a term at their school…and he's far from happy about it.

Pushing everyone, including Davis, away from him, Ken treats everyone as insects, and does his best to aggravate people. But when a new friendship is forged after an unforgettable event, a young emperor finds himself choosing between his destiny…and his humanity.

Only when someone reaches out, will the damned be saved…

Chapter Five; Misunderstandings

Ken stared at his reflection, wondering what on earth had made him act the way he had yesterday. He never worried about someone else…let alone a Digidestined brat.

And yet, he'd wanted to help Davis…to accept his offer of friendship. Sighing, Ken began to brush his hair, still thinking. >Maybe it won't be that bad…at least I'll have someone to talk to.> He decided.

But wait…what about Digiworld? He wasn't going to give up on his plans of conquest just because he was friends with one of its protectors! >It won't change anything – it's two separate worlds! In one, the Digimon Emperor will continue to fight the leader of the Digidestined. But in the other…>

Unaware that he was smiling softly to himself, Ken grabbed his schoolbag and left the house, ignoring his mother's goodbye. >In the other, Ken Ichijoji will finally have something he's never been able to have – a friend. >

Davis watched as Ken entered the classroom, feeling slightly apprehensive. Part of him couldn't help wondering whether Ken had really meant what he'd said yesterday…or whether he'd just been playing with his mind.

Noticing that Davis was staring at him, Ken stopped, unsure how to react. Was this normal behaviour? Ken found himself wishing that he'd spent more time with other kids – he might have known what to do.

After taking a closer look, and seeing the uncertainty in those expressive brown eyes, Ken suddenly realised what was wrong. Taking a deep breath and cursing himself yet again for his lack of experience, Ken approached Davis, and murmured quietly;

"I meant what I said yesterday, you know."

Then he quickly moved to his own desk, almost as though he'd never said anything. Davis was extremely grateful, though. It was obvious that Ken still hadn't really adjusted to the idea of having a friend, so the fact that the genius had taken time to reassure Davis meant a lot.

"Hey, Ken? Do you want to eat lunch with us?" Ken looked up at Davis' earnest question, and slowly shook his head.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Davis. I've got my own place to eat. Besides, I don't think that your little friends like me very much." He replied.

"Well, if you stopped calling them my 'little' friends, they might like you more." Davis laughed. His eyes were concerned though.

"Yes, I dream of that moment every night." Ken said sarcastically. He instantly regretted it – the look on Davis' face was enough to melt any heart.

"Sorry, Davis. I just don't think it'll ever happen." He explained, making his way towards the door. Davis stared after him, a sad look on his face.

"But it could happen Ken, if you let it." He whispered.

When Davis sat down with a face like a wet fish, the others instantly knew that something was up.

"Davis?" TK asked uncertainly. Davis just sighed loudly in response.

"I asked Ken to sit with us. And he refused. I thought we were friends now…"

"You know, Davis, I don't think that Ken is that comfortable with the idea of being close to someone. You're probably moving too fast." Kari said soothingly. Cody snorted.

"Yeah…or he's just the same old stuck up brat we thought he was when he first came here."

"Cody!"

"What?" The younger child asked defensively.

"You're not helping." Yolei hissed, indicating an even more depressed looking Davis.

"Go and find him, Davis."

"Huh?" The brunette looked up at Kari's soft voice, unsure what she'd meant.

"Find where it is that he hides, then eat lunch with him. You'll never be able to strengthen your friendship if the only time you talk is just before and after class." She explained.

"Yeah!" Taking the others aback with his sudden enthusiasm, Davis ran out of the cafeteria, ready to find Ken. Sweatdropping, Yolei muttered under her breath.

"I think Ken would be better off eating lunch alone…"

Ken leaned back against the roof's wire fencing, and closed his eyes. >This 'being a friend' is harder than I thought. It seems that everything I do or say ends up hurting Davis.> He thought.

Sighing, Ken pushed all thoughts of Davis out of his head, and forced himself to relax. It wasn't hard – the sun was shining on him, making him feel warm and sleepy. >So peaceful up here…so quiet…>

"Hi Ken!" Ken jerked upright, eyes wide. Was it his imagination, or had he just heard someone call his name? Glancing over to the stairway, he saw a figure standing there, and mentally cursed. His secret sanctuary had been discovered.

"Dude, I hoped you'd be up here. I looked everywhere else, so if you hadn't been here, I don't know what I would have done!" >Wait a moment…I know that voice…>

"Davis?" He called uncertainly, squinting against the sun. The figure moved towards him, revealing that it was, indeed, Davis.

"Yup! Sorry about that, didn't think about the sun behind me." He apologised. Ken shrugged.

"Yet another thing that we'll have to work on in our next study session."

"Yeah…how come you're up here? By yourself?" Davis asked, plonking himself down next to the genius.

"I always come here at break and lunch. I can get away from everyone else…well, I could." Ken said, with a faint trace of sarcasm. Davis rubbed the back of his neck, frowning.

"You shouldn't isolate yourself, Ken. There are plenty of people who'd want to be your friend."

"Hmm…you mean there are lots of people who'd want to be friends with a genius." Davis blinked, not sure what to make of this last comment.

"Huh?"

"Face it, Davis. If I wasn't smart and famous, no one would even look at me – they'd just brush me off as the new kid. All they want is to be able to boast that they're friends with Ken Ichijoji."

Suddenly, Ken's purple eyes narrowed, and he turned to glare at Davis.

"That's probably all you want, too." He realised. Davis gaped in disbelief.

"That's not true! You know it isn't!" He gasped. Ken simply got up, and began walking towards the stairs, before turning back to face the shocked boy.

"Do I?" He asked softly. Davis knew that he had to say something, anything, now, or lose Ken's friendship already. But he had no idea what to say, and could only gaze silently at him.

"I thought so." Ken said shortly. Then he was gone, leaving Davis by himself.

"It didn't work." The group looked up at Davis' desolate tones, and stared as he slowly sunk into a seat.

"What do you mean, it didn't work?" Yolei asked, frowning.

"I asked why he always isolated himself. He replied that people didn't like him, just his famous brain. Then he somehow got the idea that I was like that too." Davis groaned.

"Didn't you say anything to prove him wrong?" Kari queried.

"I didn't know what to say. I just sat there staring. So he got up and left me!" Davis wailed miserably.

"Oh, Davis…" Kari murmured sympathetically. TK began to scowl. He could see how upset Davis was, and it made him mad that Ken could just make someone feel this way.

"That's it! I'm going to have a talk with that cold-hearted computer!" He growled, storming off to find the genius. Cody blinked, then turned back to face Davis. >Well, he deserves it anyway, for treating Davis like he did.> He decided.

Ken sat silently on one of the school benches, arms wrapped round himself. >Why should I care whether he wants to be friends with me or not? >

>I don't care. I don't…> Ken told himself fiercely. He didn't understand what was happening to him. How had Davis managed to make him feel this way? In just a couple of weeks, the brunette had wormed his way into Ken's life, and turned the genius completely upside down.

>Why am I feeling like this? I'm the Digimon Emperor, for God's sake!> But Ken knew that that wasn't quite true. He may be the Digimon Emperor in the Digital World…but he was still Ken Ichijoji in the Real World.

Bowing his head to his chest, Ken silently cursed Davis for making him feel so weak and helpless. He dreaded the bell ringing – he didn't want to have to go back to class…he wasn't quite ready to face Davis again.

TK stared at the strange sight before him. If someone had told him ten minutes ago that Ken could get upset about someone like Davis, he'd have laughed at them.

But now…he could see the almost invisible way that the genius' shoulders were hunched over, the way that he was holding himself tightly. Ken was miserable, that much was clear.

"Ken…?" He asked softly. Ken looked up, his eyes immediately freezing into hostile pools of ice at the sight of the blonde boy.

"What do you want?" He spat, getting up so that he could look the other boy in the eye.

TK blinked, slightly taken aback by the sudden change of mood. >Why didn't we see it before? Ken uses anger as a shield, so that no one can see when he's hurting…> He realised.

"Do you know, Davis is nearly crying back there?" TK began. Ken's eyes widened for a second.

"He is?" He murmured.

"Yeah. He's really upset about losing your friendship, Ken."

"Losing…what friendship? He must have knocked his head somewhere." Pushing his emotions aside, Ken crossed his arms and glared at TK.

The next thing he knew, TK had tackled him to the floor, and had him pinned.

"Look, Ken! You may have had some bad experiences with people in the past, but Davis is not like that! When he says he's your friend, he means it!"

Ken stared up at him, processing that information. >Davis really wants to be my friend? He's not a fake?> TK, sensing that Ken was listening now, got off him, allowing the genius to get up.

"Talk to him – you'll see." TK said quietly, before leaving.

Davis sat at his desk, feeling extremely low. >Typical me…I managed to alienate Ken after less than a day.> Letting out a small groan, Davis banged his head against the desk. After a short pause, he did it again.

"Stupid!"

BANG!

"Idiot!"

BANG!

"Klutz!"

BANG!

"Thankyou, Davis, but I'd prefer it if you didn't destroy the few amount of brain cells you have left." Mr. Yakamushi called out. Blushing, Davis nodded, looking at his work again.

He blinked. There was a small piece of paper on his worksheet, neatly folded to hide what was written on it. And he was sure it hadn't been there before he started banging his head against the desk.

Curious, Davis unfolded it, reading the tidy handwriting.

Davis,

I'm sorry for being a jerk earlier. I'm used to people trying to use me, so I didn't believe that you really just wanted to be my friend. Forgive me?

Ken

Feeling his eyes mist up, Davis looked to his left, where Ken was watching him nervously. Smiling at the other boy, Davis nodded, crumpling up the note with one hand, and mouthing;

"Always."

Ok, for certain reasons, I was unable to get onto a computer to update, even though I had loads of great reviews...so to make it up to everyone, I've put up 3 at once now. This won't happen again, so remember - the more reviews I get, the faster I update!

See you next time!