Pure Essence: Seems like I finally updated. For the sake of you guys, I decided to update while I'm doing my projects over this mid-winter break. I felt bad for leaving you guys hanging for so long. But at the same time, I think my writing skills kinda went down.
I'll try my best to think of something. If you have any suggestions or something you want to happen to Kouji and Izumi, let me know. I am really in need of ideas. Thanks a bunch!

Don't forget to keep the reviews going!

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon! And this goes for the whole story.

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Previously.. on the last chapter:

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'Izumi, I'm sorry. But am I truly happy with you?' Why do I feel so much more free and happy with Akina…' He let out a deep growl. 'I can't believe this. I love Izumi and that's it. I don't have space for another girl to fit… or is there?'

His thinking was interrupted by an angry Junpei shouting angry words at him. He sweat dropped and huddled even closer to the wall.

A Good and Bad Morning
by Pure Essence

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9 A.M. Kouji's Apartment (Saturday)

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Kouji groaned as he woke up in his sunshine-filled room. 'So bright' he thought as he stood up and yawned. He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the bright surroundings.

Suddenly, his eyes fell on a certain golden hair girl who was still sleeping soundly on his bed. His eyes softened as he approached her and pulled the fallen bed covers from the floor and over her.

Izumi shifted a little but did not wake up.

Unconsciously, Kouji's hand reached out and slightly brushed against her cheek. He allowed himself to stare at her sleeping form for a few more minutes before pulling his hand back and entering the bathroom to shower.

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9:07 A.M. Kouji's Apartment

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Izumi smiled in her sleep and muttered incoherent words as memories of her mother and father appeared.

Flashback

"Look mom!" a little Izumi said as she clung to her mother. "What's that gooey thing sliding on the ground over there?" she asked.

"Where?" her mom had asked.

"Over here!" little Izumi pointed to the slow moving object.

"That is a snail Izumi," her mother had told her.

"A snail?" Izumi raised an eyebrow. "What are they doing here at the park?"

Mrs. Orimoto chuckled.

"There are many snails here at the park Izumi."

"How come I've only seen one?"

Mrs. Orimoto chuckled again.

"There are many but you usually don't see them around places where people walk a lot."

Izumi raised another eyebrow, fascinated by the snail.

"Mom" little Izumi pulled on her mother's dress. "Can we bring it home?"

Her mother bent down and patted her daughter's head.

"Don't be silly. They belong here and I'm sure they'll be more happy here then at our house."

"Awwwww" Little Izumi whined.

At the same time, her father came with three ice cream cones.

"Daddy!" Little Izumi called to him as he gave her one of the cones. He gave another one to her mother and one for himself. Then he bent down and gave Izumi a gentle pat on the head.

Izumi held his hands and led him to the snail she just saw.

"Look daddy! Mommy told me that's a snail. Isn't it cute? Can we bring it home?"

Mr. Orimoto grinned. "I'm afraid not Izumi. Snails live outdoors. They aren't meant for indoors," he told her.

Little Izumi pouted. "No fair. Mommy wouldn't let either!"

Both Mr. And Mrs. Orimoto chuckled at the pouty Izumi.

Little Izumi frowned.

"What's so funny mom, dad?" she looked up. Trying to look angry but failed horribly.

Mrs. Orimoto held out her hand and grasped Izumi's.

"Let's check out the pet shop on the way home. What do you say Izumi?"

Izumi's frown turned into a wide grin as she grabbed her father's hand and tried to hurry them along.

"Let's go then!" Little Izumi's happy face smiled at her parents.

Her mother and father looked at each other and grinned.

"Okay let's go" they said and ran after the giggling Izumi.

End Flashback

As the memory passed, Izumi pulled the covers over her head and sighed. It wasn't long before she became conscious of her surroundings and the warmth of the covers.

She jumped out of bed hoping that what she dreamt was reality. That both her parents were still alive, that they were still with her right now. But reality suddenly dawned on her as she realized she was still at Kouji's apartment and that what she dreamt of was merely a happy memory kept locked up at the back of her head.

The painful truth slapped her across the cheek as she slumped back on the bed just as the bathroom doors opened.

"Morning" Kouji's voice greeted her as he walked out of the bathroom. His hair was wet and wasn't tied in his usual ponytail style.

"Morning" Izumi replied back softly.

"I'm going to make breakfast. What do you want to eat?" he asked

Izumi looked up surprised he was so open and nice to her. She opened her mouth to say something but on second thought, decided against it.

"I'll eat anything. I'm not really hungry anyways," she said.

"Okay. You wait here then. If you want to take a shower first, the bathroom's right here."
He pointed to a room.

"Ok thanks" Izumi smiled gratefully.

"You wouldn't mind wearing my clothes for a while until I wash yours would you?" he asked.

"No" she simply replied.

"Okay. Wait here." He motioned for her to stay and he went into another room.

Izumi sat on the bed silently by herself as she waited patiently. Soon, Kouji came back with a jacket and a shirt and a pant.

"You're as skinny as a toothpick," he teased.

Izumi grinned but said nothing.

"The only clothing I found that might fit you are these" He handed her the clothes he found.

"Thanks" Izumi smiled and took the clothes from him.

Izumi started at the clothes he gave her. Suddenly something dawned on her.

"Kouji, aren't these —"

"Yea. Those were the clothing I wore when I was at the digital world with you guys. I outgrew those clothing already but you might still fit." He paused for a minute. "Why don't you go shower and try it on while I make breakfast?"

Izumi nodded and got up.

Before she went into the bathroom, she turned her head to face Kouji.

"Thanks Kouji." She stopped for a moment. "For everything."

She gave Kouji a warm smile.

Then, the bathroom door closed with a small click.

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9:30 A.M. Takuya's Place

Takuya let out a deep sigh. He flipped his hand through his thick and messy brown hair before sinking his head under his bed covers once again.
He groaned in frustration as he remembered the events that took place between him and Junpei last night.

Takuya suddenly flinched when an image of the angry Junpei surfaced in his head.

'Never ever let Junpei over to your house if it has something to do with Izumi!' he mentally noted.

He then grabbed his pillow and threw it across the room. The pillow landed on his desk and a cupful of pencils scattered all over the place. He cursed under his breath at the mess he caused.

'Where are you Izumi?' he mentally yelled out. 'It isn't fair how you could just run away when you get hurt but, I have no one to turn to!' He kicked his chair in anger and it flipped over sideways. He grabbed a handful of hardcover books along with a few magazines and threw it, nearly cracking a window.

By the time he was done wrecking anything he saw, he was breathless and sank to his knees.

Footsteps were heard approaching his room but he didn't notice.

Then, the door slammed open and Takuya jumped.

"TAKUYA! What's with the noi –" Takuya's mother gasped when he saw the current state of his room. "What have you been doing all this time!" she shrieked.

Takuya stayed silent, unwilling to talk.

"Takuya, you are NOT to leave this room until its cleaned understood?" she scolded.

Takuya replied with a groan and opened his mouth to object.

"No buts," his mother immediately said, not allowing him to say anything.

His brows furrowed and he tried to open his mouth to stay something again but, the doorwas slammed in his face.

Takuya sulked. 'This is just what I need' he told himself sarcastically.

He gave a deep sigh before getting on his knees to collect the fallen pencils.

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Pure Essence: YAY! Another chapter finally! I made this chapter longer for my fellow reviewers who wanted a longer chapter. Now that I got this chapter done, I could continue doing my projects. Don't forget to review! I want to also apologize for the slow update. I only had the time to write this chapter because its mid-winter break. If it wasn't for that, I don't know how long I would drag to write this chapter. So, let's all hail to the mighty winter break! Love you all!