Daisuke peeked out of Jun's door and down the hall. Satisfied that his father would not be emerging from his room anytime soon, Daisuke placed an arm full of items in the hall and turned to lock the door. He had kept the key to Jun's room. Their father had been serious about not letting Jun back in the house. She hadn't even been able to come back to get her things. Daisuke had secretly been smuggling her possessions out of the apartment every time he went out. Now, a week later, he was carrying out the last load.

He quietly walked down the hall and out of the house, making sure the front door made no sound when he closed it. He quickly descended the stairs and walked around the corner where Jun was waiting for him. He grinned as he approached the car. "That's the last of it," he informed her as he placed the items in the trunk.

She looked at him sadly. "Are you sure you don't want to move with me?"

Daisuke shook his head. "That'd put too much of a burden on your friend."

"What about Ken?"

Daisuke glared at his sister. "We've been through this. I'm not moving out right now. I'll be fine," he protested at his sister's look. "I'll just stay out of his way. He still can't get into my room so it shouldn't be too difficult. And as long as he doesn't see me he forgets I exist." He smiled sardonically. "I just gotta make sure he's never sober."

Jun rolled her eyes. "No joke." She studied her brother for a moment. "Get in the car."

He blinked at her. "What?"

"Get in the car." She opened the door to the driver's seat. "We're going for a ride."

Daisuke cautiously slid into the passenger seat. "Where are we going?"

Jun shook her head. "So you won't move out but at least you can celebrate your sister's freedom. We're going to Akira's."

"Akira? Isn't that your pothead friend?"

Jun smirked. "Maybe."

Daisuke groaned. He was in for a long night.


Daisuke glanced around the room warily. He was leaning against a wall with an untouched drink in his hand, watching the room's occupants grind against each other to the beat of the blasting music. Daisuke briefly noted that Satoru was a very good DJ and took a very small sip of his drink. It wasn't that he was afraid of alcohol—he'd been drunk plenty of times—he just didn't exactly trust Jun's friends. He also wasn't sure what state his sister was in. He had lost track of her quite awhile ago and wasn't sure if they were staying over at Akira's or if he would have to drive back home. He took another glance around the room, looking out for a certain brunette.

Akira's cousin Toni had a huge crush on him. Extremely huge. Think Relena Peacecraft. Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration as Toni never took it quite as far as stalking. Still, the boy was a bit…obsessive sometimes. Daisuke had of course complained to Jun at some point, but she had brushed it off with a laugh. Daisuke jumped as a hand fell on his shoulder. His stomach dropped as he turned to stare into a pair of green, decidedly drunk, eyes.

"Daisuke," said Toni, "so good to see you."

Daisuke forced himself not to cringe. He couldn't figure out why he felt so uncomfortable and blamed it on the fact that he hadn't been to a party in months. "Hey Toni."

Toni grinned. "You remember me! I'm so flattered. I mean, I haven't seen you in like, years. I'm so excited!" he exclaimed.

Daisuke rolled his eyes. "You're so drunk."

"Of course I'm not!" Toni replied in mock indignation. "Come on, I'll introduce you to people."

Daisuke decided not to mention that he already knew half the people and wasn't particularly interested in meeting the other half. He let Toni steer him through the crowd as he didn't quite catch people's names and they certainly wouldn't remember his. He decided to put an end to the little tour when he stumbled upon his sister making out with some guy. There are some things a guy just doesn't need to see. Although that certainly answered his question of whether she was drunk.

Toni pulled Daisuke to the dance floor. "Dance with me," he demanded.

Daisuke hesitated. He didn't want to lead the guy on, as there was no chance he would ever swing that way, but he also didn't want a sobbing Toni on his shoulder. Resigning himself to fate he danced with Toni. He was getting increasingly disturbed by all the drunken dancers and the loud music without really knowing why, until something in his head clicked. It was like a flashback of the past couple weeks. No wonder he was so uncomfortable with drinking. He needed to either leave or get really drunk, really quick.

He placed his hand on Toni's shoulder. "I need something to drink." Toni grinned.

Half an hour later, Daisuke found himself dancing with some girl whose name he didn't know and having the time of his life. He didn't know what Toni had given him, but whatever it was, it was doing the trick. Toni had disappeared somewhere with some red-head, much to Daisuke's relief.

Someone passed by handing out more drinks and Daisuke grabbed one. By now he was far too drunk to care about the potential consequences.


Daisuke cracked an eye open and groaned at the offending sunlight that dared to affront his face. He heard someone chuckle beside him and turned very slowly to find Toni lying right next to him. He began to panic before he realized they were both fully clothed.

Toni must have caught it as he laughed softly. "Am I really that horrifying in the morning?" he asked playfully.

Daisuke groaned again as he sat up. He felt his stomach give a protest and jumped up to run to the bathroom.

As he finished emptying his stomach he felt someone press a wet towel to his face. He looked up to meet Akira's eyes. "A bit of a hangover huh?"

Daisuke nodded. "Yeah, but I've had worse."

Akira laughed. "I won't tell your sister that. She freaked when she woke and realized she had no idea what might have happened to you last night."

Daisuke smirked. "Let her know I got completely smashed and then Toni raped me. I then proceeded to be beat within an inch of my life and am now lying somewhere in some dirty back alley."

Akira's eyes widened. "Are you trying to get me killed?"

Daisuke was about to respond but soon found himself once again worshipping the porcelain God.

Akira shook his head. "How much did you drink?"

Daisuke wiped his mouth. "I lost count after about the sixth glass of…something." He gasped as he just realized something. "Today's Saturday isn't it?" Akira nodded. "What time is it?"

Akira checked his watch. "About 11:30. Why?"

Daisuke jumped to his feet, quickly regretting it. "I'm supposed to be meeting someone at 12:00!"

Akira snorted. "Good luck with that. You're not exactly in your best state. Hope it's not a date, cuz you certainly aren't impressing anyone right now."

Daisuke glared at him. "Can I use your shower?"

Akira stared at him. "It is a date?"

Daisuke rolled his eyes. "No, it's not a date. I just don't want to go smelling like alcohol and I don't have time to go back to my place."

Akira nodded in understanding. "Probably not a good idea anyway. Go ahead; I'll let you borrow some clothes."

Daisuke nodded his thanks and followed Akira to the shower room.


Ken opened the door to find a disgruntled Daisuke on his doorstep. "You're late," he commented playfully. He studied his friend a bit more. "And you look…hung over."

"Way to state the obvious," Daisuke grumbled as he walked through the door. He flinched as cheerful voices greeted him. He grunted a hello and collapsed on the couch.

"Are you okay?" asked Hikari in concern. The six younger digidestined were all hanging out at Ken's house just to get together and see how everyone's summer was going.

"Daisuke's a bit hung over," Ken answered. His eyes sparkled with amusement.

"I'm glad you find such joy in my suffering," Daisuke commented.

"Any time," responded Ken with a wink.

There was a moment of silence until Daisuke got fed up with everyone staring at him. "What?" he asked in irritation.

"I can't believe you would be so irresponsible to get drunk the night before we were gonna meet. You planned this didn't you? Well don't think you're gonna get out of this just because you're hung over!" exclaimed Miyako in one breath.

Daisuke rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Please Miyako, I've got a killer headache. I wasn't trying to get out of anything. I wasn't planning on doing anything last night, but things just kind of happened."

Ken stepped in before things got out of hand. He didn't want a fight erupting at his house. Besides, he was trying to bring Daisuke back to the group, not push him away. "Enough you two." Miyako glared at him but he shrugged it off. "Miyako lay off. Daisuke, you do realize it's your own fault for having a headache?"

Daisuke smiled slightly. "Actually it's Toni's. My sister's if you want to take it that far." An indefinable emotion flickered in his eyes. "Shoot, might as well blame my father."

Ken held in a sigh.

Daisuke noticed the other four looking at him strangely. "I'm joking. I know it's my own fault. Sorry if I snap at any of you for the rest of the day, how's that?"

Ken shook his head at Daisuke's futile attempt at redirecting the conversation.

"Who's Toni?" asked Takeru, slightly interested.

Daisuke shrugged. "One of my sister's crazy friends." He grimaced. "Ken do you have any 7up?"

Ken shook his head and walked into his kitchen. "What would you do without me?" he called as he dug through his refrigerator.

Daisuke grinned. "Be free from never-ending lectures?" he suggested cattily. He was rewarded with a dish towel in his face.

Takeru raised an eyebrow. "You get drunk often?" he asked.

Daisuke nodded his thanks as Ken handed him the 7up. "I wouldn't say often." He carefully took a sip of his soda.

Takeru studied the brunette. Finally he shook his head and laughed.

"What?" asked Daisuke, a bit peeved.

Takeru shook his head again. "It's just that—you've changed so much and yet you haven't changed at all."

"Of course I haven't changed," answered Daisuke carefully. He threw a veiled look at Ken. His friend gave him a look that basically said "it's not my problem". Daisuke was going to have to have a talk with him about what best friends were supposed to do for each other.

Hikari finally spoke up. "No, you have. All of us have noticed."

Backing out of the room slowly, Ken counted off in his head. That really wasn't the best thing Hikari could say.

Daisuke's eyes flashed and Ken retreated into the kitchen, having witnessed the brunette's outbursts far too often.

"So you guys talk about me behind my back?" Ken heard Daisuke ask evenly. Yep, he was upset.

"Well what do expect when you're never around to talk in front of!" Ken slapped his hand to his head. That would be Miyako. He was going to have to figure out some damage control quick. Come on genius, he mocked himself, think.

"Oh excuse me for going to school and trying to get an education. Or for working this summer so I can get some money. Not all of us are lucky enough to work for our parents." It was official. Daisuke was pissed. Perhaps Miyako didn't know you weren't supposed to pick fights with hot-headed people with hangovers.

Hikari spoke up. "Daisuke she didn't mean it like that!" But Ken knew it was too late. They had both been pushed to the edge.

Deciding his best bet was to intervene on Daisuke's behalf; he grabbed a plate of double chocolate chip cookies and rushed into the living room. He was just in time to see Miyako jump out of her seat and glare at the brunette. Before she could open her mouth Ken nearly shouted, "Anyone want cookies?"

Everyone glanced at him and the tension in the air was thick. Suddenly Daisuke started laughing. He clutched his stomach and tried to calm down, obviously realizing laughing wasn't the best thing to do in his state. Everyone stared at him. "I'm sorry," he said, taking deep breaths. "That was just too funny. Classic even." He turned to Miyako. "Look, we both know that we irritate each other like no one else. So let's just both admit that and try not to overreact every time we open our mouths?"

Miyako stared at him, shell-shocked. Then a grin appeared on her face. "Deny it all you want Daisuke, you have changed." She held out her hand. "Truce?"

Daisuke made a show of eyeing the outstretched hand warily. He slowly clasped the hand with an air of caution and peered up at Miyako. He then dropped the act and smiled. "Truce."

Ken let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He placed the cookies down on the coffee table. He caught Daisuke giving him a strange look. "What?" he asked, fidgeting uncomfortably.

Daisuke shrugged, then waved his hand as if trying to find the words. "You just seem so…domestic right now." He grinned. "I was picturing you in an apron."

Ken blushed and turned away, grumbling something about sodas. Daisuke laughed.

Hikari watched Daisuke. The brunette must have noticed because he gave her a questioning look. She smiled at him. "It's nice to have you around again. You've been missed."

Daisuke shrugged it off and the six settled into a comfortable conversation.


Hikari and Daisuke walked along the sidewalk in the growing darkness the sunset was creating. After several hours at Ken's place, the group had separated. Ken needed to study for a test, Iori had Kendo practice, Miyako had to work at her parents' store, and Takeru had something to do. That had left Hikari and Daisuke with nothing to do so they had decided to go to dinner. Now they were content to share a companionable silence as they walked.

"So what's been going on with you?" Daisuke asked.

Hikari shrugged. "Nothing much really. Mostly trying to stay out of the way of my increasingly insane brother." She smiled. "How about you?"

"Working," stated Daisuke.

"And partying?" Hikari asked jokingly.

Daisuke shook his head. "I really don't go out that often. Haven't all summer. Jun kidnapped me."

Hikari watched him for a moment. "You guys certainly seem to be getting along better."

Daisuke shrugged. "She had a change of heart."

Hikari continued to watch him as they reached the corner where they would part ways. They stood awkwardly for a moment until Daisuke smiled. "Well, I guess I'll see you later."

Hikari mustered up her courage and smiled back at him. "What, you're not gonna walk me home?" She could feel her heart pounding as she waited for his response.

Daisuke stared at her oddly before breaking into a laugh. "Well, of course I am. I shall follow your every request, my fair lady." He then dramatically held out his arm to her.

She laughed at took the offered arm, and the two walked in the darkening twilight.


A/N: I'm really really really sorry it took so long to update. But I finally put it up so you can all lower your pitchforks. I ended up being busier than expected and then I had to deal with a ton of drama. And then I got a serious case of writer's block, which I haven't yet recovered from. But I had promised you guys a chapter and it was already a month late, so I forced it out. Hence the really crappy chapter. To top it all off, my muse has taken a vacation, so until he comes back I'm not sure when the next update will be. Please don't kill me. If anyone has any suggestions to where this story should go, please let me know. And the Daikari is coming, I promise. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed and everyone who's still actually reading this story. Now if you'll just please once again refer to the little button at the bottom of your screen…