Disclaimer-I don't own Digimon. I own a reputation of being a pro procrastinator. XP

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Only...It Turned Dark

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Lunch was quiet until Kouji opened his mouth, much to Kouichi's dismay. "So, Kako, when should we make Kouichi sing?" he asked eagerly. If all went well, he could put his plan into action today.

"Who cares," Kako muttered back, apparently in a foul mood which was obvious as she stabbed at her food rather violently.

Upon hearing those words, Kouichi nearly dropped his fork. "Wha?" he asked, blinking. "You don't care?"

In response, she shot him a withering glare.

Instinctively, Kouichi jumped up and placed a hand on her forehead. "Are you sick or something!"

"I'm fine," snapped the girl, irritatatedly whacking his hand away. "Just incredibly irked."

Everyone fell silent once more as Kouichi returned to his seat feeling somewhat awkward.

"Are you sure you're Kako?" asked Izumi, raising an eyebrow in a skeptical manner.

"Hey," the bandana boy said suddenly, "Kako, what's today?"

"December 25th, idiot, what do you think?" came the rude reply.

Kouji just grinned. "And...?"

"Christmas day."

"And...?"

"For hell's sake, Kouji, it's my birthday, so what?" Kako snapped angrily, slamming down her fork.

Kouichi tensed up. "Oh, yeah, Kouji, did you get everyone presents or is it I.O.U. this year, too?"

The other boy laughed at the joke, "Hey, I actually shopped this year, isn't it amazing!"

Everyone rolled their eyes.

A grim smile appeared on Kouichi's face as he continued, "But do you remember where you put them?"

"Yep!" The tone in Kouji's voice was obviously proud as he continued, "Under your bed!"

Kako raised an eyebrow as Kouichi choked on his food. "Has anyone else noticed that Kouichi always seems to have food around at big news?" she asked, somewhat amused.

"That is true! Like when you were trying on those dresses!" Junpei laughed.

She glared at him, silencing him as she threatened, "I'll make you try on dresses if you don't shut up."

Junpei mumbled something meekly before returning to his food.

Izumi frowned and asked in a concerned voice, "Kako, are you okay?"

"Just fine, why?" replied the other girl somewhat carelessly.

"You're biting everyone's heads off...even Kouji's-Kouichi, where are you going?" she asked suddenly as Kouichi stood up.

"Hm/ Oh, to get the gifts. I'd rather not forget. Knowing Kouji, I'd definitely forget later," he replied, disappearing into his room.

The expression on Kako's face softened from angry to a look of depression. Sighing, she looked down at her hands which were clapsed together in her lap, occassionally fidgeting.

Seconds later, Kouichi walked out of his room, arms filled with presents. Almost immediately, Tomoki, Junpei and Kouji ran over to Kouichi while the other three followed behind.

"What'd you get me for my birthday?" asked Kouji happily as he tore away at the wrapping paper, unable to bear the suspicion.

Takuya tore away at his presents, determined to figure out what they were before Kouji figured out his. "No way! My own copy! Cool, now I don't have to bug Kouji for Super Smash Bros. Melee!"

"I got an awesomer shirt!"

"Red's not your color, though," Takuya said distastefully, making a face.

"Ignore the red! I'm the evil twin! Cool!" Kouji laughed as he examined the shirt his brother had given him. Kouichi has no idea just how evil I am...

Sighing, Kouichi handed everyone else their presents, tensing up as he approached Kako. "Uh...Kako?"

"Huh?" she looked up at him, somewhat surprised.

He held out two boxes. "Your presents."

"Oh..." she murmured quietly, accepting the presents somewhat glumly and reached into her pocket, handing Kouichi something. "Don't open this until your birthday," she instructed firmly, forcing a smile.

Kouichi returned the smile with ease. "Glad to see you're okay."

Kako just kept smiling and walked over to Izumi to examine what her cousin got.

Sighing, Kouichi leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, listening to his friends chatter as they opened their presents.

"Hey, don't think we forgot you," he heard his brother say.

Opening his eyes, Kouichi saw Kouji shove a box at him. "What's that?" asked the older twin, examining the box. "Not a bomb, I hope."

"Nope!" Kouji replied, laughing. Dang...think bomb next time, Kouji! How does Kouichi come up with these ideas? "Open and see!"

Kouichi opened it, his eyes widening as soon as he realized the contents of the box. "A...where'd you get this?"

"You have at least twenty batteries in your room. So I bought it with my own money...and uh...everyone else chipped in, too. Kako's idea," Kouji replied, wincing.

"Two questions. How did any of you get a look at my room after the paint incident and why didn't you just give me the money for the window instead!"

"And it wasn't my idea," Kako said smoothly.

"Kouji...?"

"Because MP3 players are cooler and I only had twenty bucks!" the bandana boy blurted after a minute of intense glaring against his twin.

Kouichi shook his head with a small smile and placed a hand on Kako's shoulder while she was in a conversation with Izumi. "Open your presents yet?"

"Don't really plan on diong so right now," she answered, looking out the window with a sigh.

"Alright everyone, we've got a song for you!" Kouji cheered.

Takuya snickered. "We wanted Kouichi to sing, but..."

"I'm singing in his place!" Junpei yelled.

"No, I am!" Tomoki argued.

"Good grief, just forget the singing and play the music!" Kako snapped.

Both Takuya and Kouji just grinned at each other and ran to their instruments. Just as they began to play, Kouichi flashed a look at Kako, who was now smiling. With a relieved but quiet sigh, Kouichi retreated to the wall and closed his eyes as he listened to the music.

And for some reason, it sounded familiar.

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That evening, after dinner and hours of fun, jokes and idiocy, mostly provided by Takuya and Kouji, Kouichi walked beside Kako, flat out refusing to let her walk alone at nine at night, even if she was capable of taking care of herself.

"But Izumi's walking by herself," Kako muttered as she stalked out the door.

Kouichi chuckled and shut the door, glancing quickly at the night sky before running up to Kako. "So..." Ask her, his mind commanded. Ask her now.

Kako looked at her feet. "We never forced you to sing," she murmured softly.

"Everyone pretty much forgot about karaoke. Even Kouji," Kouichi mused, smiling at the sky.

"You're in a good mood."

"You're in a bad mood."

Kako cracked a small smile as she joked, "Stole my mood, did you?"

"No clue. Did I?" he teased back, yanking her ponytail lightly.

She shot him a glare before she continued to walk, silently looking at her feet.

"Are you going to cut your hair soon?" Kouichi suddenly asked, walking behind Kako and examing her hair's length.

"Nope."

"It's down to your waist," he observed, looking back up at the sky. "Pretty, huh?"

"What?"

"The stars."

"Yeah..." Kako murmured absentmindedly, shivering as droplets of water fell around her. "It's starting to rain...I better just run the rest of the way. Thank you, though," whispered the girl, taking a small step back as she turned to look at Kouichi.

Before Kako could run off, Kouichi pulled her back. "Are you cold?" he asked, taking of his jacket and placing it over her head.

"No...aren't you! Stop taking off your jacket! You know you're going to get sick! Don't you have a brain!" Kako scolded as they continued walking to her house.

"Nope. I guess I don't. Especially considering that I like the rain!" Kouichi replied good naturedly with a laugh. As they fell silent again, his gaze fell upon her. "Kako, I've been meaning to ask you something..."

"What is it?"

"Well, what would you think if...if...if we..."

Kako turned to look at him questioningly. "Hm?"

"What would you think if we took our relationship to...to, well, something more?" This is getting hard to phrase cryptically...

Kako fell quiet.

Uh...what did I do wrong? Kouichi panicked. "Kako?"

"What are you talking about?" she finally asked, entirely baffled.

Kouichi drew a breath and asked, "I mean what would you think if we were dating?"

She looked at her shoes. "I..."

"I mean, as in what if we were, not if we should. Er-I mean-"

"Kouichi...please, understand..."

"What?"

"D-do you know how stupid you sound saying that? Honestly, Kouichi, you're a great friend, but that's it. I...I have to go!" she blurted, dashing off and throwing Kouichi's jacket back at him.

Kouichi stood in the now pouring rain, staring at the direction Kako ran off in with semi-surprised eyes. He looked down at the jacket in his arms. Quietly, feeling confused and hurt, Kouichi headed back home. It's funny, the boy thought, how the rain can seem so beautiful and so ugly at the same time.

Slipping a hand into his pocket, he brought out what Kako had given him earlier. It was a small, thin, square package, covered in newspaper. Half of him wanted to throw it in the gutter. The other half of him urged him to keep it. Somewhat angrily, he stuffed it back in his pocket and headed to the arcade, hoping he'd feel better after a few games.

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By the time Kouichi came home that night, it was twelve. His other stood at the door, frowning down at him.

As he walked inside without a word of apology or any excuse, she asked, "Kouichi, what is wrong with you?"

In response, he headed to his room, ignoring the fact that he was soakign wet. "Rejection feels like getting swallowed by darkness. Funny thing is...it's worse."

Just as he slammed the door, both Kouji and his motehr exchanged glances.

And Kouji immediately knew what to do to make his plan at it's best.

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A/N-

Aaaaah! Short chapter attack! RUN AWAY! ...just kidding. So I lied to you. This chapter is depressing. The next chapter will be a big humor chapter. Go Kouji time. .:grins:. Sorry I took forever. I really am. I promise to not take forever next time, I really do!