I don't own Digimon Adventure 02 or any of its characters and what am I doing here when I have so many Gundam Wing ideas banging on the insides of my head? ;;;

Love Equals Headach

It was the sound which meant freedom. It was the sound that destroyed any and all holds and restrains. It was the sound of… hope, some might dare say.

It was the sound of a school bell, signaling that half the day had passed and the students had a bit of freedom before the rest of the day.

"See you outside, Miya!"

Daisuke shouted as he dashed out of the classroom with his lunch. Miyako sighed as she picked up her own lunch and the cookie bag. She eyed Hikari rather worriedly, but the other girl was busy chatting happily with other people between bite of her own lunch. Miyako released a breath she hadn't realized holding.

"Shall we?"

She blinked at Iori's voice, surprised to find him standing next to her. Her eyes wondered over to Takeru, who seemed to be doing his best not to look in their general direction. She hated the relief that came with the knowledge that not only her relationship wasn't functioning properly 24-7.

"I'm glad things have gotten better between you and Hikari-san."

"At least someone is."

She sighed and he said no more, merely holding her hand gently as they made their way out to the yard.

They were both romantically interested in their own sex, yet that hardly stopped them from becoming as close as a brother and sister. If anything, it removed the awkwardness of being so close to a member of the opposite sex.

"Hurry up, will ya?!"

Daisuke shouted once they left the building, waving at them from his spot under one of the cherry trees. Both his friends smiled, bracing themselves for what was bound to become a whirlwind of excitement.

"Geez, taking your time there…"

The tanned boy said with his arms crossed, noticing his friends were holding hands a second before they broke contact. He'd have asked what was wrong had he seen a point in that. Both had those 'will not rain on your parade' smiles he so hated, yet often wore himself. Therefore, he propped down on the grass in the tree's shade, looking at them with warm eyes as they arrived. Miyako sat down next to him, yet Iori continued to the other side of the tree trunk.

"I'm sorry, Daisuke-san, but I'm not in the mood to share anyone's happiness. I will only ruin the moment."

"Then why bother coming at all?"

The question came out of pure curiosity, yet it was not responded to in an appropriate manner.

"I, I just…"

Iori stuttered, yet a calm shake of the head from Miyako told him no harm was meant. Turning away, he half disappeared behind the tree, pulling both his lunch and a book from his bag.

"He had a fight with Takeru."

Miyako whispered once Daisuke turned to her, no doubt about to ask for that very answer. Daisuke frowned.

"Say what? Damn… poor Iori…"

"Yeah, well… I'm sure they'll get over it soon enough. But this isn't why we're here, you know!"

She giggled and waved the cookie bag in front of Daisuke's face. He eyed it hungrily.

"Pay in advance?"

"You wish. Last time I spoiled you appetite with cookies, your dad almost killed me."

"Which one?"

"…Both."

They chuckled before opening their boxed lunches, earning themselves a confused look from Iori.

"So. Give me the dirt. All of it. The full report. Was he the perfect date, or the absolute jerk?"

She raised an eyebrow over his rather worn out sigh.

"I… don't know, really."

"Oh?"

He sighed again.

"One minute he pecks me on the cheek, the next he's molesting me, and the other…"

"Woah!"

Miyako yelled, raising her hands to stop him.

"Slow down, boy, you'll choke on your lunch."

Daisuke swallowed the bit in his mouth and told the tale, slower this time.

"When I met him, I was kinda spaced out… got there a bit early, lost in thought, I guess. Hadn't noticed him until…"

A blush crept to his cheek as he side glanced at his friend. Miyako was blinking at him, waiting patiently as she chewed her meal.

"…until he… kissed me."

She almost chocked.

"On the cheek! I told you he kissed me on the cheek!"

Now breathing again, she smacked him.

"Well… at least now we know he really likes you, and is not afraid of physical contact much."

"You think he's a jerk."

Daisuke dared her.

"Had he frenched you right there and then, yeah, he'd have been a jerk by any standard. Now go on, there's many a cookie here and far less time."

He nodded, swallowing half his meal at once.

"Well, hold that thought, cuz that's pretty much what I thought of him when we got in."

And then he went to describe how flattered he felt at first, having Ken want to touch him like that yet not quite there, how annoying it got after about five minutes, and then how it all became utterly absurd as people told them to get a room.

"Be thankful none of his fangirls were there."

She stated, basing that fact on the fact the boy was still alive, even though noticeably pale now.

"Damn."

"'Ouch' would me a far better definition."

They laughed, only to be stopped by a cough from Iori. He liked Mimi's cookies too, after all.

"Right."

Daisuke said, smiling sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.

"Anyways, you can see how it made me want to abandon ship during the break. Almost did, too, especially considering he forced me to let him buy the drinks and snacks. With his money."

"I don't think he meant it that way, Dai-chan."

The girl commented, tapping her finger against her nose thoughtfully.

"It might be he finally got the hint and tried to show an offer of good will."

Daisuke half chuckled. She was trying to convince herself every bit as much as she did him. He feared for Ken's life should she fail. She was, at the very least, willing to yell her lungs out at Ken for it (How grateful he was for having her as such a wonderful friend… instead of a horrible enemy…).

"Maybe it was… I guess…"

He said, mostly to calm his friend down.

"Really?"

"Yeah… He said he was sorry, and acted like a complete… well, gentleman… afterwards. We held hands and snuggled but nothing more than that."

"That's gre…"

"Until…"

Miyako's shred of enthusiasm vanished as Daisuke looked away, staring at nothing.

"We went to eat later. Shared costs this time. Broke the ice for a talk. We started out with nothing, and then went on to…"

He glanced sideways at her, a slight blush on his cheeks. She blinked in return.

"…Personal stuff."

He said no more. She didn't ask.

"We talked about a lot of things. I really feel like I've gotten to know him real well, beyond the total-strangers-sharing-info-on-the-first-date thing. I think he feels the same, too."

"Where's the marriage breaking 'but'?"

"But…"

"There it is."

She teased him rather harshly, feeling obliged to help him finish the tale. He continued after a deep breath.

"Just… I don't know. One moment he's smiling and laughing with me, the next he's sulking… I think he's ok again and then he bursts into tears on me! I wish he'd have made up his mind!"

He pulled at his hair in annoyance, missing the rather sad and painfully knowing look which crossed Miyako's face.

"Story of my life."

"Eh?"

Daisuke blinked at her, utterly confused. She blinked back.

"Did you just say something, Miya?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but spotted Iori looking intently, and above all, comfortingly at her. A small yet warm smile caressed her lips and she shook her head.

"Nothing. You were saying? He had mood swings?"

"Yeah… I guess you can call it that…"

"Don't worry about it too much, it's probably nothing."

He raised an eyebrow at her, spektical.

"Reeeeally…"

She pinched him.

"From what I heard, it was his first date. Ever."

Daisuke's eyebrows shot up.

"No way."

"That's what I said. But that's that. Turns out Boy Wonder's saving himself for Prince Charming. How adorable."

Daisuke felt a blush rise to his cheeks, but his best friend must've been in a really good mood. He was spared any teases, though he had to admit the sight of him on a white horse was tease-worthy. Almost as much as Ken dressed up as the princess… He shook his head and chuckled guiltily.

"As I was saying…"

She hissed his attention back to her, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"It was his first date ever. Add to that he seems to really have a soft spot for you, he probably just didn't know how to act."

A chuckle, a bitter one this time, escaped his lips, not quite smiling. Miyako blinked.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, he sure knows how to act… at least he did when he tried to French me!"

"On the cheek."

She raised an eyebrow at him, in a 'answer wrongly and he's dead' way. Arms crossed behind his head, he leaned backwards to lie down, blush much deeper by now.

"I did not just blurt out that 'French' part on accident, Miya. He sure has a good brand of toothpaste, still smelled all minty and fresh after all the French fries we had."

Silence. Stares exchanged. Iori sneezed. And a crow flew overhead.

"ALRIGHT!"

Came the shout, a mingle of cheers and pain.

"MIYA, YOU'RE… CHOKING ME!!!"

Daisuke cried out as his friend caught him in a headlock, all the while squeeling.

"You go Daisuke! W00T! You got soooo lucky!"

"Did… not!"

He growled as he broke free, snatching the cookie bag in the process.

"Hey!"

She protested.

"Hey yourself, you were the one who wanted to kill him earlier…"

"Because you weren't even officially on your first date then!"

But her voice wasn't completely true, which helped him to be able to reply.

"Weren't you also the one…"

He popped a cookie into his mouth, leaving her handing.

"Mmm… Yummy."

"I was the one…?"

She urged as she snatched the bag again, helping herself to a cookie as well. Relief washed over her; no one could ever find out she tried to throw the cookies away.

Daisuke sighed and shook his head, feeling his face heating up again.

"The one who told me not to kiss on the first date."

Closing his eyes, he saw it as if it was happening in the here and now, instead of hours ago.

Ken standing there, both hands on the sides of Daisuke's face; Daisuke's eyes closed, his heart beating faster with each moment… and then, just as he could feel Ken's breath on his lips, almost taste it… just as those lips almost brushed against his…

He remembered pulling away.

Warm, willing lips brushed against his cheek, obviously disappointed. He hadn't even uttered a request for forgiveness. There was no need, as Ken laughed, excused himself and retreated to the restroom. Upon returning, he was the perfect date. Charming, funny, intelligent… and kept his hands to himself. The only times he agreed to touch Daisuke after that were when the tanned boy initiated the contact – when they held hands on the way to the train, and the good night peck Daisuke granted Ken on the nose. Neither really thought a return of the gesture would've been appropriate.

Opening his eyes again, a warm feeling spread over Daisuke. He suspected the serene smile he had on was the only thing keeping Miyako from going insane. She was already chewing off her fingers, having finished the cookie without taking another.

"I didn't let him, Miya. I just… couldn't let him kiss me."

"WHY?!"

She half yelled at him. He smiled rather oddly at her.

"Because you told me not to."

She paled noticeably. He chuckled and looked away.

"He asked me about you, actually."

Now, she also tensed. Iori had been on the same page of his book for the past five minutes and now looked up from it all together.

"I told him you were a good friend… Maybe I did talk about you too much, but… after all that… not to listen to your advice…"

"You idiot!"

Miyako shouted, rising to her feet. Daisuke looked up at her, rather surprised to see her flushed cheeks.

"Miya…"

"What… what were you thinking, talking about me? And a lot, too… whatever pushed you to do such a thing?!"

He was now also on his feet, more confused and annoyed than angry, but still feeling a need to retaliate.

"You'd think you'd be flattered! I only told him the truth about you, why're you so…"

He was cut short with a cookie shoved into his mouth. She was flattered, he knew. Otherwise he'd have been slapped. But still… why?

"You were on a date with him! HIM! Not me, him!"

He almost chocked at even the suggestion of such an act. True, they 'dated' before, but the thought of him and her doing half the things Ken at least tried to do…

"You don't talk too nicely about other people in front of your date. Jeez!"

She was pulling at her hair now. He began nibbling on the cookie, expecting her to calm down, but instead she smacked him. Hard.

"Don't you ever, ever mention me to him unless he gives you no choice whatsoever, you hear? Jeez!! Of all the inconsiderate… that was so mean, Daisuke!"

For a moment he felt as though he was speaking to Hikari, but knew not why.

"But why?!"

"You're on a date, you're supposed to praise the one you're with, not the people he's most likely to get jealous of!"

Her voice was bordering bloody murder now, and drawing quite a bit of attention. Daisuke stared at her, worry shining in his eyes rather than hurt or anger. Iori was also up, standing on their side of the tree trunk. Miyako quickly took a deep breath and turned her back on them, wiping a tear.

"You… you just… don't do that sort of thing…"

She tensed slightly as hands were placed on her shoulders, and then moved lower as Daisuke embraced her from behind. The boy knew not why she was that distraught, but then again, it mattered not. All that did was that his best friend needed him to be there.

"I'm sorry, Miya. I promise that unless he pretty much forces me to, I won't… talk about you needlessly."

It hurt to say it… It would've hurt to say it about any one of his friends, but most of all about his very best one. Then again, if that was what she wanted to hear?

"Is that ok?"

She nodded, pulling away from him enough to face him. He could've died right there and then, a happy man. She was smiling.

"Silly Daisuke… it's so obvious that was your first real date… Silly, silly Dai-chan…"

"Why are you crying over it? That's what I don't understand."

He said so worriedly, confused. She shook her head.

"Just… keep your word, k? And apologize to Ken… I'm sure he'd appreciate it."

An awkward silence fell, in which Daisuke sought refuge in his watch.

"Better get going… break's almost over… see you in class?"

"Like I have a choice…"

Grabbing a few more cookies to go, he went past her, looking back once before dashing to class.

"You're keeping things from him."

It was not a question, but it might've been, for all the good Iori's curious expression was doing him. Miyako smiled back.

"I don't wanna burden him, even though I just did, apparently…"

"Apparently."

She glared. He raised an eyebrow, unmoved.

"It's not only that. You're still mad at Ken for fouling you. Why push Daisuke to his waiting arms."

She sighed.

"I have enough problems of my own. The last thing I need is for him to stop smiling, and for me to be the cause of it."

"But… what about your smile?"

He asked suddenly, causing her to stare, shocked.

"He's acting up for you're sake, but I'm sure he's worried about you. Let him help, Miyako-san. For the sake of your own smile."

She hated how he almost liked to dramatize everything when he stopped a few steps ahead of her, back still turned to her.

"You are, after all, his best friend."

And with that, he took off as well, leaving Miyako still a tad sobbing and quite sobered up. Looking up, she spotted Hikari waving at her from one of the class' windows. She was smiling and seemed happy, and Miyako allowed herself a small smile as well.

"My smile… doesn't mean much nowadays. Not as long as everybody else keep on theirs."

She waved back.

–

–

The train ride went by too quickly. What to say, how and when to say it… nothing managed to fall into place by the time Daisuke reached his station and departed the train at Tamachi. He tried to figure it all out on the way to Ken's house, but only managed to nearly miss the boy's house. He hardly managed to calm down enough to normal breathing by the time Ken answered the door. He was, to say the least, surprised.

"Daisuke-kun…"

"Yo, Ken…"

They stood there for a moment before Ken ushered him in.

"This… is certainly a surprise…"

Yet hardly a bad one, Daisuke concluded from the smile on Ken's face. He blushed and looked away.

"Want something to drink? Eat? We have some ice cream…"

"I want to talk."

Ken paused, uncertain as to how he should respond.

"Is this… about last night?"

Daisuke nodded hesitantly, and Ken went pale.

"I'm sorry! I was out of line! I was rude and inconsiderate, and…"

A finger to his lips silenced him, and both boys blushed before Daisuke took a step backwards.

"I… I'm the one who should apologize."

Ken started at that, but was quickly silenced by a wave of a tanned hand.

"The one who was rude and inconsiderate was me. I rumbled on and one without realized I was… I was hurting you."

He glanced at Ken, then looked away. The other merely looked at him uncertainly.

"It was my first date too, you know, and I guess I was just trying to find some safe stuff to talk about, something I knew for certain I knew about… but no more!"

He announced, pointing at Ken while striking a pose.

"From this day forward, Ichijouji Ken, I will only think of you during our dates! I will tell you what's on my mind about you for better or worse instead of thinking of other people to make myself comfortable, for it is you I will be dating at that moment and not them! You will have my undivided attention… unless we both unanimously agree on discussing in the matter of a different person besides those currently present in this very room! I will be your entirely on each and every date and of course I will date none other between our dates!"

Sparkles went flying around him as Ken stared, not even daring to blink. A moment later, Daisuke seemed to sober up, and seemed rather uncertain as he spoke again. Indeed, Ken thought, it was Daisuke who wanted to talk…

"That is, of course…"

But he was smiling, and for Ken, that was enough.

"If you'll still have me."

The taller boy was still for a moment, hardly managing to breath.

"Daisuke-kun…"

"Now…"

The smile on Daisuke's face turned into a grin.

"I do believe you mentioned some ice cream in this very apartment?"

Apology accepted, Daisuke thought triumphantly as Ken threw his arms around him and pulled him close.

"Daisuke-kun… thank you… Thank you, Daisuke-kun!"

"Hey, come on. We're boyfriend and boyfriend now, right? If I can do it, I'll do it if it's for you."

"Thank you."

Ken said, and Daisuke agreed, as he mentally thanked Miyako for yet another good piece of advice.