Disclaimer-I don't own Digimon. 29th time in the story it's been stated. I should probably state...Kako's my OC.

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Restarting Training

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"Ah, Kouichi, come in!"

Kouichi gulped and walked in. With a trembling hand, he pulled up a chair and sat down. "Uh...so, Mr. Aizawa, is it poss-"

"Nope," the elderly man replied cheerfully.

Kouichi felt his heart sink. His face fell. Realizing he was out of options, he stuttered, hoping to find another option, "Uh...s-so, um..."

Mr. Aizawa chuckled. A thin smile formed, almost rejuvenating his ancient face. "However, since I know you won't go back and apologize, we'll find an alternate solution. We'll have Rai teach you."

"What? Are you serious?" Kouichi sputtered incredulously, amazed at his luck.

"Yes, of course! Rai will teach you while Mr. Ogata is teaching the class, and the rest of the time, your classes will be with the respective teachers. And you're excused from P.E. You can watch the class, though. Okay, that wasn't too hard, was it?"

While the principal let out a carefree laugh and dismissed Kouichi, the boy stood up, utterly shocked. "Uh...thanks Mr. Aizawa," he murmured before walking out of the office, still stunned.

It was only while heading off campus that Kouichi began to laugh as well, running home despite the fact that he had run the mile earlier that day.

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"Kouichi!" Lowemon called out for the seventh time in the past five minutes.

Kouichi jumped, nearly dropping the large package in his hand. Glaring at Lowemon, he hissed, "Shush!" Then, he proceeded to wrap the package up more.

Duskmon appeared out of the shadows of the open door, snorting as Kouichi attempted to sneak towards the living room. He's going to get caught.

Duskmon, hush! Lowemon returned, He'll have to learn for himself.

Kouichi kept his eyes glued to the door as he slipped on his shoes. Just as his hand reached the doorknob, he flinched.

"Kouichi Kimura, get over here right now, young man!" his mother yelled from the kitchen.

Thank whatever, digimon or gods, that she doesn't do this in public, Kouichi thought, shivering visibly. He yanked up the package, then called back, "Mom, I know you want to yell at me, but I have to be somewhere right now, I can't cancel it, and it's crucial to my future, so can we do this when I come back? Thanks for being so understanding!" he yelled, a small hint of sarcasm in his voice.

The next chance he got, he ran out the door.

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Kouichi gasped, out of breath. Lifting the cumbersome object in his hands, he began treading towards the bookstore, one step at a time. I have to say, he thought, Mr. Saito's pretty smart. This is training itself. TORTUROUS TRAINING!

The boy groaned. "Just...a few more...steps," he grunted, dragging his feet and grabbing a hold of the doorway to pull himself in. "Mr. Saito...uh...could I get a bit of help?"

Mr. Saito flashed him a look before smiling. "Kouichi," he greeted the boy. "No."

Biting back a groan, Kouichi forced himself to drag the sword through the doorway before he collapsed into a nearby chair, attempting to steady his breath. "Okay...that works too. What...now, then?"

Mr. Saito shut the door and flipped the sign over. "I'll close up, and we'll continue your training. Now, bring the sword to the back."

This time, Kouichi really did groan.

"Well, do you want to learn or what?" Mr. Saito returned sharply.

Kouichi shut up. Drawing a breath, he picked up the sword and trudged to the back of the room.

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"So...I just do this until I get the hang of it?" Kouichi asked, wincing as he swung the sword in the directions his mentor had instructed him to.

Mr. Saito nodded. "Do you have it?"

"Yeah..."

"Then we'll move on. Leave the sword here for now. We'll be going on a little...'field trip.'"

Kouichi blinked, utterly confused as he followed the new instructions. As if my life isn't messed up already...oh, whatever. He knows what he's doing, right?

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"What...is this place?"

Mr. Saito calmly walked in and murmured, "A friend of mine teaches Taekwon-Do here. But you should know that. After all, Kako goes here."

Kako...Taekwon-Do, Kouichi frowned, and Kanaye. Can't forget. Kanaye.

"Fuuya," the bookstore owner bowed slightly to the elderly man who stood at the side. Kouichi blinked and walked in, watching the two men exchange a quite conversation. He looked around to observe the room. A word that summed it up was empty. The walls were bare, save the mirrors on the right side of the room. The floor was covered by a mat.

Shivering slightly at the thought of being stuck in a room as empty as the one he was currently in, Kouichi returned his gaze to Mr. Saito. The two men had now finished whatever conversation they had. "Uh...so..." Kouichi murmured, looking around nervously. Why me...?

Mr. Saito chuckled, "Now, you watch."

"I watch?"

"Yes. You watch the class. Just take any techniques into mind. I'll pick you up in...an hour."

The only question in Kouichi's mind as Mr. Saito walked out was, HUH? WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS THIS?

Sighing and taking a seat on the bench behind him, Kouichi began to watch, not knowing the slightest of what was going on. "Eh...Saito's gone nuts..."

I TOLD you, he could practically hear Duskmon snort. Kouichi grumbled to himself, folding his arms and leaning back against the window. But...where would Kako and Kanaye be, then?

"There is NO way I'm doing that!"

Okay...there's Kako, Kouichi thought, attempting to hide a smirk.

He heard Kanaye snort. "Then don't bother coming."

"Oh please, Mr. I-think-I'm-all-that! Why don't you wash all the windows?" Kako exclaimed angrily as the two students walked onto the mat.

Kanaye returned, "Because, as I recall, we had an agreement."

"Kanaye," the man at the side shouted. "Do your own chores. I've told you a thousand times..."

"Uncle Fuuya, it's a bet. That's life," Kanaye stated smoothly.

Fuuya glared at his nephew. "Nevertheless, it is still your chore. If I catch you one more time..."

Kanaye snorted and looked away grumpily as his uncle walked to the front of the class. Kouichi's eyes narrowed in on the other boy, then Kako, who stood beside Kanaye. Someone looks unhappy...

"Wait...why is Kouichi-" Kako started, glancing to her right and catching sight of Kouichi. "What-"

"Kako! Stop being so distracted," Fuuya barked. "Kanaye, go."

As the class bowed in, Kouichi kept an eye on Fuuya's every move. Every single technique executed, every word, he took it all in. And as soon as he left Kanaye in charge of the class, Kouichi was reviewing everything he had just seen.

"Hm...of course I'm in charge," Kanaye murmured to himself smugly.

Kako threw him a disgusted look. "So, oh-so-holy one, what are we going to do? Or are you going to have us write an essay on how great you are?" she asked hotly.

"Forms, of course. Because apparently, you need to touch up yours."

"WHAT?" Kako glared, outraged, "I'll have you know, mine are way better than yours."

Kanaye laughed at this. "I fail to see how."

"First off, you totally blank out. Your forms had ten times more mistakes than mine!"

Kouichi resisted the urge to yell as he said through gritted teeth, "Do you guys wanna start your forms now? The others aren't all that great..."

Kanaye and Kako turned to him, then exchanged glares. "MINE IS SO BETTER THAN YOURS!" they chorused before running to opposite sides and beginning their forms.

Kouichi twitched. "Why...are they so...and when did Kanaye act so...I give up," he muttered, sitting down, disgusted with the entire situation. He began his observations. Kako was indeed slightly better than Kanaye in forms, but Kanaye seemed to have an air about him that made him seem as the powerful one. And yet, Kako had determination, whereas Kanaye thought he was the best. But they're both pretty good. Just need to stop having ego problems. A small smile appeared on his lips.

"Kako, that's wrong," Kanaye suddenly snapped.

Kako froze and looked at her hands. "What? No! You're just stupid!"

"Actually...that is wrong," Kouichi countered. "Look at your feet."

Confused, Kako glanced down. "Uh...yeah. So?"

"It's the wrong stance."

Kako went red. "SINCE WHEN WERE YOU SUCH AN EXPERT?"

Kouichi shrugged and replied, "I was just paying attention to details. Something you fail to do in math, may I say?"

Blushing an even deeper shade of red, Kako fixed her stance, then continued with her form, determined to not make another mistake. Kanaye finally walked over to Kouichi and muttered, "What are you doing here?"

Once more, he shrugged. "I could wonder that myself, but apparently, this is my training. Do you want to move? You're blocking my way."

"Training?" repeated Kanaye. He laughed, "How is this training? Learning for free by watching, are you?"

Kouichi's eyes narrowed in on the boy in front of him, but he said nothing.

"Oh, but of course...your parents are divorced. You couldn't afford it, could you?"

"Hm...you said only a select few are able to hit you, right?" Kouichi asked, hands gripping the edges of the bench.

"What about it? Think you're fast enough," Kanaye taunted.

A chuckle escaped Kouichi's lips. "Think?" he asked, bringing his right foot around the back of Kanaye's feet and yanking them out from under him. "No, I know." Standing up, the boy glared down at Kanaye. "I suggest you make no comments about me or my family, especially my family, as you know nothing at all. Unless of course, you'd like me to clear up a few mistakes the class is making? I'll gladly use you as an example."

The entire class had fallen silent as they watched Kanaye scramble to his feet, flustered. "Lucky shot," he spat, turning around and storming to the back of the room.

Kouichi pondered exactly what move to use against Kanaye. It then occurred to him that Mr. Saito might greatly disapprove of the fact that he was fighting with Kanaye. So, reluctantly, he sat down and watched once more.

However...the entire class was still watching him.

"Uh...could you all get back to-" he started.

Kako quickly shook her head. "Uh...no. See, the thing is...now...Kanaye's going to-"

"I'm going to challenge you to a sparring match!" Kanaye yelled.

Kouichi covered his mouth with a hand, puffing up his cheeks and pointing at Kanaye with another hand. Swallowing his laughter, he asked, "What...the heck are you wearing?"

"Sparring gear. Otherwise, Uncle Fuuya'll kill me."

"Okay...a sparring match...and why would I accept?"

"To save face!"

Raising an eyebrow, Kouichi considered his options. It would be smart to accept, he'd learn something from watching Kanaye's techniques. But thoughts of whether Fuuya and Saito would approve...

Well, Fuuya must've known I'd pick a fight with Kanaye, Kouichi thought, flustered as he realized he needed to make his choice soon. Might as well make him happy?

"Fine," he snapped, standing up and slipping off his socks and shoes. "Sheesh...this is ridiculous. The only one he needs to save face is you."

"Uh...Kouichi?" Kako called out, "you might want to take off your jacket."

"Why?"

"Because, it'll restrict you from...doing a lot more damage. And I want you to do a LOT of damage to him."

Kouichi snorted and Kanaye glared. "Shut up, Kako!" the insulted boy shouted.

"Ne, you're a scaredy-cat for putting on your gear! Why don't you take it off? Scared?" she sneered.

"I AM NOT!" Angrily, Kanaye began to discard pieces of his gear, angrily throwing it in Kako's direction. Kako dodged every single piece, a large grin on her face.

"I think I'll sit out," Kouichi commented, heading back towards the bench. "Doesn't feel safe anymore."

"NO! YOU HAVE TO!" Kanaye and Kako screamed.

Kouichi turned to the two and let out a sigh. "Fine," he muttered, taking off his jacket. "I'll do it."

"Yey!" Kako cheered, pointing to the mirrors. "Alright, everyone! Go guard the mirrors with your life! Unless things get really nasty. Then run and scream."

I'm beginning to regret this, Kouichi thought, tossing his jacket on the bench. Well, I should've brought my D-Tector. I could've told Kako to give it to Kouji in case I die. Oh...great, I bet I'm going to die. Yeah, that's just great. I only last a day after I stand up for myself in Ogata's class. Yeah, Ogata's planning this all. He wants me to die. I should have known...Digimon, I wish I brought my D-Tector...

"Then, are you ready?" Kanaye asked, a smirk on his face.

Kouichi shrugged, pushing up his sleeves. "Whatever. Stop being so overconfident."

"Then here I come!"

Kouichi's eyes widened as Kanaye charged towards him. He barely had a second to dodge the kick that was aimed towards his head. This...is definitely a lot harder than it looks. "Nice...but...very off target," he breathed, jumping back. Jump...yeah, that makes sense, he thought, examining Kanaye as he bounced slightly and then attempted another kick.

Kako clasped her hands together, eyes shut. Please, please...please, let Kouichi win, she thought, shivering as her eyes opened. "Please...?" she whispered in a barely audible voice. "Kouichi...you have to. For Takuya."

He hasn't done any back kicks...or hand attacks...so he specializes in kicks, Kouichi observed after five minutes of sparring. He was still on defense, and Kanaye didn't show the slightest intent of slowing down. And he's not tired yet...or it doesn't seem like it. So if I aim a kick to injure his leg...

"You're finished."

Kouichi looked up, surprised. Caught up in his observations, he hadn't realized Kanaye had literally walked up to him. "Finished? I...didn't even get a chance to start," the words came out of Kouichi's mouth as if he wasn't even saying it. As if knowing what to do, he lifted a let, then aimed it at Kanaye's knee.

Kako squealed, covering her mouth happily as Kanaye collapsed on the mat, clutching his knee. "YES! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!" she yelled, running up to Kouichi and giving him a hug. "YES!"

Kouichi froze and twitched. "K-Kako...do you want to...let go?"

"Oh? HUH? OH! SORRY!" she squeaked, turning around and staring out the window. "Mr. Miwari is back..."

"Eh?"

"UNCLE FUUYA!" Kanaye thundered, "THIS ISN'T FAIR! IT'S ILLEGAL TO AIM BELOW THE BELT, RIGHT?"

Fuuya walked in, utterly surprised. Kouichi stared at the man before something clicked. "NO! Before anything else! You have to leave Takuya alone!"

Kanaye blinked before he burst into laughter, then slowly stood up. "Takuya? No...how's this? I'll leave Kako alone. After all..." His eyes narrowed on Kouichi. "You never did give her the list."

Kouichi shrugged. "It was stupid."

"No...but you did it instead...you ruined everything."

"Good," Kouichi returned coolly. "That was the intended effect."

Kako blinked at the two boys before turning to Fuuya. "Uh...sir...about this whole mess..."

Fuuya waved a hand to silence her. "No, no...it was expected. Saito told me you were a fast learner, Kouichi, but I didn't realize you were that fast," he murmured. "A very nice job. Not many people realize Kanaye has that weakness." As he said this, he turned to Kako, a faint smile on his face.

Kako pouted and crossed her arms. "I don't wanna spar him. I hate sparring."

Fuuya laughed. "Well, Kouichi, would you like to join the school? We could use a bright mind like you!"

Kouichi headed back to the bench and put on his jacket. "Uh...no, that's okay." To himself, he muttered, "I prefer having to deal with Duskmon's sarcasm and Saito's confusing ways."

"Well, you're always welcome!" Fuuya declared. "Can't not accept a kid like you with pure talent."

At this compliment, Kouichi shifted uncomfortably. "I...just...watch. It's nothing special."

"What are you talking about?" Kako exclaimed, "you're the first person to beat Kanaye since...since...since something, okay? Stop degrading yourself!"

"Stop giving him so much credit!" Kanaye retorted. "It was a lucky hit."

"It was not!"

"It was too! I'm better now!"

"You're acting!"

"Hah, so you say!"

"I know!"

"Prove it!"

Kouichi let out a sigh as Kako fell forward while attempting to kick Kanaye's knee. He glanced at the clock. It would be one long fifteen minutes...

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"Kouichi."

Kouichi looked up. "Low-uh!" he sputtered, looking up. I must've been dreaming or something, he thought letting out a nervous laugh. "Mr. Saito..."

A smile appeared on the man's face, as if he knew what Kouichi had done. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

The boy shrugged. "Uh...yeah..."

"Well, that's good. Now hurry up. We still have a long talk to go through..."

Kouichi winced as he followed his mentor. Usually long talks meant him spacing out. Unless, of course, he had some say in them. As good of a student as he seemed, Kouichi wouldn't get anywhere without the textbooks.

As soon as the two got back to the bookstore, Kouichi was told to wait while Mr. Saito brought some tea over. The two sat down, and Mr. Saito cleared his throat. Kouichi sat on the edge of his seat, ignoring his tea as he waited for Mr. Saito to speak.

Realizing the bookstore owner wasn't initiating a talk of any sort, Kouichi asked, "So...?"

"As you know, when using a sword, one must remember that a sword is merely one half of the attack. The power, the strength...everything comes from the wielder," Mr. Saito replied softly. "That is why I had you watch Fuuya's students." Then, he added, much to Kouichi's chagrin, "And...you seemed to have learned a lot from what I saw."

He was watching the entire time...no wonder Fuuya left Kanaye in charge, Kouichi thought, shutting his eyes. "Uh...about that match..."

Mr. Saito chuckled, "No need to worry, Kouichi. Fights happen. Sometimes, there aren't ways to prevent them."

"Yeah...but-"

"No, just listen. Because of this, I know I can trust you'll use proper judgment in moments like those. You won't initiate a fight for no reason. I can tell. So...get out your D-Tector."

Kouichi's eyes widened. "What! Wait, but-"

"You have it. Your jacket pocket," Mr. Saito told him politely.

"I...do?" Kouichi asked, digging into his jacket pocket and pulling out his D-Tector. He handed it to Mr. Saito. "But how did you-"

"Not now, Kouichi..."

Kouichi fell silent. Then he asked, "What are you doing?"

Mr. Saito placed the D-Tector on the table. Quietly, he held a hand over it. A bright flash of light was emitted from his hand, and a second later, there was nothing. "Now," he murmured, picking up the D-Tector and pointing it towards Kouichi's sword, which lay on the ground against the wall. "Scan."

The sword lifted itself off the ground before shimmering. A fractal code appeared, then flowing into Kouichi's D-Tector. The sword disappeared.

"Where-"

"In the D-Tector," Mr. Saito answered with a smile. The smile quickly faded. "And now, Kouichi. There is something else I must tell you..."

Kouichi took back his D-Tector, staring at it in amazement. Something bigger was definitely going on.

And he just happened to be in the middle of it all.

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A/N-

Well...tada! I know, I know, the story is beyond confusing. It's bizarre, weird...incomprehensible. I swear, I don't mean to make it like this! It's like my 8th grade teacher said...different people write different ways...I just happen to swirl in on the main point...and you have no idea what I'm talking about. Credits for the 11 1/2 chromosomes go to my friend, Pekkle. It's in Chapter 6. And I'll edit the chapter so it says that.

If you have any questions, please state in an understandable manner (in your reviews). I'll place it in my livejournal (userdragonsunlight (The site was stated in the A/N of the last chapter)), and you can get the breeze of what's going on! And everyone will be happy!

Another thing, every single italic I have is either a thought or intends to stress a point that the talker is saying. Unless the computer somehow screws it up, every italic is there for a reason. I'll double check, PrincessKaze.

Thank you for the reviews-

PrincessKaze, WithBrokenWings, Snowy Leopardess, Light's Blue Blossom

And thank you, Pekkle, Ishy and Caro for volunteering to beta. XP I really should have a beta.

And I know Flames aren't nice, but I want one badly. TT

Review or Flame.