Hidden Love
Ken slowly opened his eyes. White. Everything was white. He groaned as he shifted in a soft white
bed. The last thing he remembered was severe pain and begging Wormmon to go and get his
parents.
He started to look around when his parents walked into the room.
"Oh! My baby! Ken! You're awake!" cried his mother, as she attacked him in a giant hug. Ken
moaned in pain as she squeezed his ribs.
"Ouch...Mom...please don't..." he mumbled.
"Oh, I'm sorry honey" she apologized. Ken's dad patted him on the back as Ken ducked his head
down to hide behind his hair. Only...No hair fell.
Ken felt at the back of his head to see if his hair was pulled back. All he felt was bandages. he
looked up at his parents, confused.
"Mom- What happened to my hair?" he asked, a little afraid to hear the answer.
"It...fell out. It appears that you had some type of cancer in your chest. I'm really sorry. The doctor
said this was common. It'll grow back soon, son" answered his father.
Ken eyes widened in disbelief. "No..." he whimpered, feeling his head.
"It's alright, you can just wear a hat" offered his mother.
But Ken didn't hear her. His mind was racing. His heart yearned for him to ask out Yolei, but...how
can he ask her now that this has happened?
Will she want to go out with a freak with no hair? Unable to bear the thought, Ken burst into silent
tears.
By the early morning, just about everyone in Odaiba and Tamachi knew about what had happened
to Ken. The didgidestined had all decided to get together at Izzy's house to discuss it.
"Wow, this is a pretty rare disease. It says here that he'll be let out later this afternoon, perhaps late
tonight" says Izzy, who was typing away at his computer.
Davis shook his head. "Wow. You know, come to think of it, he didn't look all that well when he
came over to my house yesterday" he commented. Everyone looked at him.
"Ken was at your house?" Cody asked suspiciously.
Davis sweat dropped. "Yeah, he was bored. I think he was kind of lonely too. He says that I'm his
only friend."
"I'm sure that's what he tells everyone" hissed Cody.
"Would you just knock it off!" yelled Yolei. "He's not the Emperor anymore! He's changed. I saw
him too yesterday and he says he doesn't even know why he was the emperor!"
"He told you that?" asked Sora.
It was Yolei's turn to sweat drop. "Yeah...after I asked him by mistake."
"Well, let's just hope he gets better" sighed Kari. Everyone nodded.
Ken stepped out of the hospital doors later that afternoon. A large brown hood over his head. He
walked dejectedly in between his mom and dad as they walked down the street.
Everything was going fine until someone came running up to them. It was girl about ten years old.
She held a paper and pencil in her hand.
"Your Ken Ichijouji aren't you?" she asked in a chipper voice. Ken reluctantly nodded. He reached
for her pencil, knowing it his autograph she wanted, when a large gust of wind came and swooped
his hood back. The girl screamed when she saw him and ran.
Pulling the hood back quickly, Ken begged to his mother. "Let's go home. Now! Before anyone
else sees!" His mother hugged him tightly and they quickened their pace.
Ken opened the door to his room, happy to be home. He sighed as he shut the door. Wormmon,
who had been up ever since the night before, worrying, rushed up to his partner.
"Ken! You're okay! I was so worried about you!" cried the little green worm. Before Ken could do
anything, Wormmon climbed up him and onto his shoulder. Wormmon paused, sensing something
wrong. "Ken...What happened to your hair? I don't see it"
"That's because it fell out" replied Ken. He grabbed Wormmon and climbed up to his bed, where
he put Wormmon down on the bed. He slowly removed his hood. To his surprise and happiness,
Wormmon didn't run or gasp, only looked at Ken with sadness.
"Oh Ken. I'm sorry. If it helps I still love you just as much" said the little digimon. Ken smiled
brightly.
Ding Dong! The doorbell to the Ichijouji household rang and Mrs. Ichijouji walked happily to the
door to answer it. There, stood Yolei.
"Hi Mrs. Ichijouji! I'm one of Ken's friends. We met yesterday. I heard about what happened and I
came to wish him well! May I see him?"
"Oh...well, I don't really know if he wants to see anybody right now, but you can go ahead and try.
His room is at the end of the hall. Knock please. He likes his privacy" answered Ken's mom.
Yolei walked down to his room and gently knocked. "Ken? Are you there? It's me Yolei. I came to
wish you well" she said. She cursed herself for sounding so stupid.
"Yolei? What are you doing here?" came Ken's voice.
"To wish you well. I'm coming in" with that Yolei opened the door. The lights were dimmed and
Ken was sitting on his bed. The sheets were over his head.
"Ken, what are you doing? Playing hide and go seek or something?" asked Yolei at the sight of Ken
under the covers.
"No...I just don't want you to see me. You're too pretty to see a freak like me" he said.
Yolei blushed. "You're just saying that Ken,. You're too sweet for your own good. Now take those
covers off. What, are you bald?" laughed Yolei.
She had only meant for it to be a joke, and when Ken answered, she was shocked. "Yes."
Ken lifted the covers off his head and Yolei gasped, making Ken cringe.
"Its because of the cancer isn't it? Your hair fell out" she said. Ken nodded. Yolei smiled. "Well, I
still think you're the hottest guy on the planet!"
Ken blushed. "What?"
"Oh yeah! All you have to do is wear a large hat or something and you're still the loveable Kaiser
we all love!" said Yolei.
Ken laughed a little, but then stopped. "Wait...Kaiser?"
"Oh, no. Ken, I know your not him anymore, I was just joking! You know? Haha!" tried Yolei.
Ken nodded. There was silence for several minutes.
"Ken..." came Wormmon's voice. Ken looked at his friend. "You know you want to ask her..."
Ken nodded, and looked Yolei. He then climbed down his ladder and walked up to her. He
grabbed her hands and looked at her in the eyes.
"Yolei, there's something I've been wanting to ask you. And...get me a hat!" he cried. Yolei laughed
and found a hat sitting on the table. He put it on. "What I've been wanting to ask you was...will you
go out with me?"