Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Just to let you all know, once I have this story finished I will be going back to fix things up here and there with regards to the relationship between Dai and Kara. It's very hard to keep track of everything they've done and everything everyone has said about them in the span of almost three hundred chapters, so I will fix things up and eliminate any contradictions once the story is complete. The same will be true for any other bloopers I may have made that are not immediately urgent to fix. That's it for now. I hope you all enjoy the new chapter, and I'll be back soon with a new one for Trinity!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 290: Premonition
Ryoko Ishida
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
Ryoko watched with narrowed eyes as Takara left the classroom with her group of female friends, and quickly shoving his school supplies into his backpack, he climbed out of his chair and frowned as Matty approached him.
There was a pause as the two of them gazed meaningfully at each other, and glancing hesitantly at Dai, who was still seated, Matty lowered his voice and said quietly, "Mickey and I are going to stop by our lockers with Sam, and then we'll meet up with you guys in the computer room. Sound good?"
Ryoko nodded, determined to go through with the hastily made plan they had come up with the night before, and smiling slightly, he said, "Sounds good to me. We'll see you in a few minutes."
Matty nodded, and briefly touching his shoulder, the blond hurried towards the door with Mickey and Sam, the three of them talking softly to one another as they exited the room.
Ryoko watched them leave, and glancing warily at Mrs. Hanari, who was watching Dai suspiciously from her desk, he discreetly bent down to pick up the crumpled pieces of paper around Takara's seat that Matty had chucked at the female Digidestined before approaching Dai's chair. If left to lay scattered on the floor, chances were Mrs. Hanari would try to blame Dai for it, and that was the last thing they needed right now.
The goggle-headed leader was still seated, his head bowed and his mind lost in some other world, and sensing the barely perceptible pain in his friend's dark eyes, he reached out a firm hand and placed it on the goggle-headed leader's shoulder, unsure of where to start.
Startled, Dai jerked in surprise at the sudden touch, and looking up at him in surprise, the goggle-headed leader frowned, his subdued expression changing into one of confusion. "What?"
Well, no use beating around the bush. Might as well just get this over with.
"We need to talk."
"We do?" Dai asked, looking even more confused.
Ryoko sighed, and realizing Mrs. Hanari was still watching them, he murmured, "I mean all of us. Emergency meeting in the computer room. Matty and the others are meeting us there."
"Oh," Dai replied, scratching his head. "And what are we talking about?"
"You know what."
Dai's face fell, and shifting uncomfortably in his seat, the goggle-headed leader avoided his eyes and said, "What if I don't want to?"
Ryoko gave the other boy's shoulder a sympathetic squeeze, and softening the tone of his voice, he said, "Come on, we don't want to keep the others waiting, and plus I don't like the looks Mrs. Hanari is giving us. The sooner we get out of here, the better."
Dai glanced over at Mrs. Hanari, as well, and taking her young student's sudden attention as some sort of cue, the teacher stood up from her desk and quickly approached them, an accusing look on her pinched face. Glaring at the goggle-headed leader, Mrs. Hanari said stiffly, "You know very well I don't tolerate fighting in my classroom, Mr. Motomiya. If you insist on arguing with your friends then do so on your lunch break, not here."
Dai stared at the teacher in disbelief, and growing indignant, the goggle-headed leader said, "We're not fighting!"
"Somehow I find that even more suspicious," Mrs. Hanari said dryly, glancing between the two of them. "Just remember, I'm watching you. Physical altercations on the schoolyard are strictly prohibited, and I will not hesitate to uphold the rules and make sure you abide by them!"
"Right," Dai said wearily, getting up from his seat. "Come on, Ryoko."
Mrs. Hanari gave a start, obviously not used to the way the goggle-headed leader was now calling him by his first name, and looking even more suspicious she continued to watch them until the door shut behind their backs, blocking them from view.
As soon as they were out of sight, Dai rolled his eyes, and making a face, the goggle-headed leader grumbled, "Can't a guy just hang out with his friends without being accused of having done something wrong?"
Ryoko raised his eyebrows, and motioning for the goggle-headed leader to follow him, he said, "To be fair, the fact that we're getting along now isn't something she's used to seeing. I can't really blame her for being suspicious."
"That doesn't mean she has to accuse me of being up to no good," Dai complained, wrinkling his nose.
Despite her harsh words, Ryoko had sensed the deep well of concern within Mrs. Hanari's dark eyes, and although he could tell their teacher was worried about Dai, he chose to keep his opinion on the matter to himself. Chances were even if he did try to explain Mrs. Hanari's feelings to Dai, the goggle-headed leader wouldn't believe him. It had happened before, and somehow he didn't think Dai would believe it anymore this time than he had earlier, and right now they had bigger things to worry about.
There was one thing in particular that was a concern they needed to discuss, and after three weeks of speculation, it wasn't something they could put off any longer. Whether Dai liked it or not, Takara's questionable behaviour was a grave matter of importance, and as much as it might hurt the goggle-headed leader to put his fears into words, it was something that needed doing.
For all of them, not just Dai.
Though Dai had yet to fully admit his feelings to himself, it was obvious to everybody who knew him that the goggle-headed leader was ridiculously in love with Takara, but due to his young age and the fact that he had been friends with the female soccer player for so long, Dai had yet to understand how his once brotherly feelings for Takara had started to change over the course of their young lives.
Ryoko could tell Dai was aware of the change, but unfortunately the goggle-headed leader had yet to fill in the final pieces of the puzzle. At this point, Dai had thus far not managed to reach the point of enlightenment and understanding when it came to matters of the heart, and because of that Takara was still in the dark about his feelings.
He was getting there, though, albeit slowly, and unfortunately that was part of the problem. Because Dai loved Takara so much, the goggle-headed leader was understandably very worried about the female Digidestined, and due to the fear resting in his heart, Dai's personality had changed significantly over the last three weeks.
Which was most definitely not a good thing.
Normally the goggle-headed leader was loud and opinionated, but lately Dai had become subdued and withdrawn, his thoughts constantly focusing on Takara's bizarre behaviour. Within the last three weeks, Ryoko had been given a wonderful opportunity to truly get to know Dai and understand him, thanks to the much closer relationship they now shared, and as a result he was able to read the goggle-headed leader more easily than he had ever been able to before. It was clear Dai was frightened over Takara's behaviour, and the way she was avoiding them hurt the current leader deeply. It didn't help that Takara was refusing to open up to them and tell them what was wrong, and he wasn't sure how much more of the growing distance between them Dai could take.
Dai was hurting because he wasn't sure if he could protect Takara, and the more withdrawn she became, the more he was frightened she would eventually grow too far out of his reach. He was terrified she would slip away from him for good, and Ryoko knew if that happened it would create a hole in Dai's heart that would probably never heal no matter how long he lived.
The only time he ever doubts himself is when he feels like the people he loves are in danger. The same thing happened to him with me, and now he has Kara to worry about. It's one thing to go through the experience once, but to endure it a second time? No matter how brave he is, even Dai isn't immune to the Powers of Darkness. How much more of this sort of thing can he take before the strength of his heart finally gives out?
It was a disturbing thought, and though it wasn't a conscious act, he felt himself move closer to the goggle-headed leader for support. Having conjured up such an unpleasant image inside his head, he suddenly realized the same was true for Kara, and that only made him feel even more uneasy. Over the course of their time as members of the Digidestined, Takara had also suffered the pain of possibly losing those she loved, as all of them had, but for her she had yet to find a way to unleash those feelings out into the open.
And that, unfortunately, was a dangerous thing.
Without a way to express herself, all of those feelings were still building up inside her, and there was no telling when they would finally explode. If it happened in the wrong place at the wrong time, the situation could become dire, and that was the last thing they needed right now.
Unlike Dai, it was clear to him that Kara had accepted her feelings for the goggle-headed leader a long time ago, and though she hadn't been overly vocal about it, there was no denying her feelings were just as strong as Dai's, who unfortunately hadn't given the female Digidestined much indication that he was aware of her feelings and returned them in kind. That was the main problem between them, and because Kara was frightened Dai wouldn't return the sentiment, she had yet to reveal her true feelings to the goggle-headed leader.
The lack of communication between the two was destined to send them on a spiraling downward path covered in darkness, but despite that he was actually glad Takara hadn't said anything yet, and there was a good reason for that, much as he secretly wanted her to find the courage to speak up.
At the end of the day, it would be better for Dai to come to terms with his own feelings first before Takara revealed her love to the goggle-headed leader, at least if they wanted the situation to turn out favourably for both parties involved, but there was a potentially threatening downside to that particular scenario.
If Takara waited too long to tell Dai how she felt and something happened to the goggle-headed leader, he knew she would end up feeling just like Dai if their roles were reversed. The pain of loss would leave a gaping hole inside her chest that would remain there for the rest of her days, and if that happened he knew she would never forgive herself for not having told Dai the truth about her feelings right from the beginning.
I want to help them, but what can I do?
If the main problem was simply an issue of romance perhaps the situation wouldn't be as urgent, but unfortunately the strength of Takara's negative feelings seemed to run even deeper than matters of the heart involving a certain goggle-headed leader. Even above and beyond Dai it was obvious there were other things bothering the female Digidestined, but unfortunately he wasn't quite sure what else was eating away at her mind just yet. Until he figured out what those things were, there wasn't much he could do to help her, which only made him feel even more determined to figure out what was truly the matter with her.
I need to find out. I want to see her happy, and I don't want to watch Dai suffer like this. I care way too much about them both to let them give up on each other, which makes me wonder...Is this how Kara used to feel when Dai and I would fight all the time?
Chances were she probably had felt that way, and thus he had full intentions of making sure the female Digidestined didn't do anything stupid, and while there wasn't much he could do about her situation right at that moment without any new information to go on, that didn't mean he had to remain idle. There was still one other thing he could work on in the meantime, and that was to coax Dai into finally admitting his feelings for Takara to himself. At least if he could do that, there was a greater chance Dai would let Takara know how he felt about her, which would give them an excellent foundation to work with. Knowing Dai loved her would act as the catalyst to reaching her heart, and it would give them a greater chance of getting the female Digidestined to open up to them again.
Easier said than done, though...
Not only had Dai not admitted his feelings to himself, he also hadn't admitted those feelings to any of his friends, and that made things a bit more difficult. As far as he could tell, at least from what he'd heard later from Tai's version of the story, the closest Dai had ever come to understanding and revealing his true feelings for Kara was when the former leader had challenged him on it when he had gotten the Spirit Chip of Bravery, but since then the goggle-headed leader had seemed to shy away from those feelings, as if revealing even a hint of his love for Kara to the girl's father had squashed his confidence somewhat.
While it was understandable that Dai was self-conscious about his feelings, it was still unacceptable, and as far as he was concerned it was time for a change, whether the goggle-headed leader liked it or not.
He can't hide from his feelings forever. Sooner or later they're going to come out in the open, and once that happens we need to make sure he doesn't screw it up, which I wouldn't put it past him to do.
Ryoko knew he would have to tread carefully, since he didn't want to force Dai's feelings or push him into speaking up too early, and because he was going to have to treat the situation as a delicate matter, it wasn't going to be an easy task. Dai was hard-headed and stubborn, which made the situation a lot more difficult, but he had promised Matty he would try to reach the goggle-headed leader, and there was no way he was going to give up that easily.
He couldn't let down his cousin, after all.
Last night Mickey had stayed at Sam's place, and since the older twin's bed was unoccupied, Ryoko had taken it upon himself to go over and spend the night with Matty to keep the younger twin company. During the evening, their conversation had turned to Dai and Kara, and as a result they had come up with the idea to coax Dai into admitting his feelings for Kara, which would help alleviate at least some of the female Digidestined's more pressing issues. Matty had left him in charge of the operation, since he was a little more discreet than the younger twin, and though they hadn't said anything yet to Sam and Mickey about their plan, he was sure the two would approve.
Matty, having fully understood his intentions earlier when the lunch bell rang, since they had talked about it the night before, had quickly made himself scarce with Mickey and Sam to give him an opportunity to get the ball rolling with Dai, and thus here he was now trying to figure out the best way to bring Kara into the topic of conversation.
Like him, Matty and the others knew just how much Dai loved Kara, and all of them wanted to help if it meant seeing their two friends happy again.
"How are you feeling now?" Dai asked lightly as the two of them weaved their way through the lunch crowd.
The sudden question brought Ryoko out of his thoughts, since it was an obvious attempt to change the subject, and bumping into the goggle-headed leader as another classmate nearly knocked him over, he said calmly, "Pretty good. The bruises are all gone now. You don't have to worry. I'm pretty much back to my old self now."
If you think you're getting out of it that easily, forget it. I'm just getting started...
"That's good," Dai replied, stopping by a row of lockers to let a huge group of rowdy kids go by. "One less thing on my mind."
Ryoko stood next to the goggle-headed leader, and feeling warm inside from the subtle affection in those words, he watched the crowd drifting past and said quietly, "Listen, I know you don't really want to talk about it, and I understand that, but it's something we have to do. That's why Matty and the others are meeting us in the computer room."
"Because Kara won't be there," Dai finished, his expression suspiciously neutral.
Ryoko frowned at the goggle-headed leader, who refused to look at him, and letting out a soft sigh, he said, "It's a subject we've been avoiding for weeks now, and with our upcoming trip to the Digital World, we can't put it off any longer. Since Kara's hanging out with the girls for lunch, it's a good time to talk. I doubt we'll have another opportunity before tomorrow afternoon, since she'll be with us, so we need to make the most of it."
Dai leaned his head back against the lockers, and closing his eyes, the goggle-headed leader said, "I don't know if there's anything we can do."
Ryoko smiled, and leaning against the lockers next to Dai, their shoulders touching, he crossed his arms over his chest and said dryly, "Giving up so easily? That's not like you at all."
Though the crowd had passed, Dai didn't move from his spot, and shaking his head, the goggle-headed leader mumbled, "I didn't say that."
"You had no intentions of giving up when you were trying to save me. Why now? Is it because this time the stakes are a bit higher?"
Dai jerked his head around to stare at him in surprise, and tensing, the goggle-headed leader said stiffly, "If you're trying to imply that saving Kara is more important to me than saving you was then-"
"That's not what I meant."
"But you..."
Ryoko quickly put a soothing hand on the goggle-headed leader's shoulder, another smile touching his lips at the way his words had offended Dai so easily, and glancing around to make sure no one was listening, he said gently, "I'm not saying I'm any less important to you than Kara. I know you care. You made that pretty clear, and you definitely proved it earlier when you saved me. Trust me, I'm not questioning your feelings. At least, not your feelings about me. I don't need to anymore. I was just thinking there might be...a little extra something with Kara that's weighing heavily on your mind at the moment..."
"W-what do you mean?" Dai asked, immediately turning red in the face.
Ryoko was careful not to look at the goggle-headed leader, and shrugging his shoulders, he said mildly, "Did you really used to think Kara and I might have a thing for each other?"
There was a pause, and sounding a bit embarrassed, Dai mumbled, "Well, the two of you have always been pretty close, and Takara's really well...you know, pretty looking, so it's not like I could blame you if you did feel that way about her. And you...you're not a bad looking guy. I could see how she might have a thing for you..."
Ryoko raised his eyebrows, and trying not to laugh, he said in amusement, "Not a bad looking guy? How much of a blow to your pride was it to say something like that with a straight face?"
"Shut up," Dai grumbled, elbowing him in the stomach. "I'm not dumb, you know. My ego isn't that big. You're better looking than I am, so-"
"I'm not really."
"Uh, yeah. You have like Matt for a dad and Mimi for a mom. Of course you're better looking than me. It's like not even a contest. Not that my parents are bad looking or anything like that, but-"
"Dai, shut up for a moment, would you?"
Dai quickly shut up, his face turning red when he realized he'd been babbling, and gazing at the goggle-headed leader, Ryoko shook his head and said, "You know the old saying. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Whether you're right or wrong, it doesn't really matter because there is no right or wrong answer. It's all a matter of opinion for every individual, and no matter who my parents are or what I look like, it doesn't impress Kara. Never has, and it never will."
"Easy for you to say, looking like that," Dai shot back, though he didn't sound the last bit angry.
Ryoko was rather flattered by the compliment, though he would never admit it, and laughing softly, he said, "I assume you now realize that was a silly assumption to make?"
"Er...well, yeah. I mean you and Ami..."
Ryoko could feel himself blushing, and still not looking at the goggle-headed leader, he said quietly, "You know I support you, right? Like you did with me...with Ami."
Though he had never actually admitted it right out to Dai, he knew the goggle-headed leader understood he cared about Ami just as much as Ami seemed to care about him, and the other boy hadn't objected over the last three weeks when he had spent time with Ami. During the course of their time together, he had even worked up the courage to hold the girl's hand, and only two days before she had kissed his cheek and told him she couldn't wait until they saw each other again during an afternoon stroll alone on the beach together. During those times when Dai had been present, the goggle-headed leader hadn't objected to them holding hands or exchanging smiles, and that acceptance had made him feel extra fond of the dark-haired boy over the last three weeks.
Just another one of the many reasons why he wanted to help his troubled friend so badly.
He's been so amazing and supportive lately. I can't just let him suffer like this...
Dai was blushing furiously at this point, and shoving his hands into his pockets, the goggle-headed leader mumbled, "I don't know what you're talking about. I mean, not about Ami, you know I'm cool with it. I mean..."
It was the closest Dai had come to admitting his feelings thus far, at least to him, and encouraged by the goggle-headed leader's favourable response, he chose not to push the subject.
A little bit at a time. Give it a chance to sink in, and sooner or later he'll come around. Sooner preferably than later...
Though he still had a ways to go, it was obvious Dai was getting a lot closer to the true feelings inside his heart, and once the goggle-headed leader eventually came to terms with his feelings, the rest would work itself out. He just had to be patient until then.
Time is running out, though. He'd better not take too long before something terrible ends up happening to Kara...
"Shouldn't we be going?" Dai muttered, shifting restlessly on his feet.
Ryoko once again raised his eyebrows, and feeling amused, he said, "You're the one who stopped."
Dai flushed, and grabbing his arm, the goggle-headed leader said shortly, "Fine, let's just get this over with."
Before the other boy could drag him off down the hall, he held up a hand and said seriously, "Just remember, Takara's vulnerable right now. Whatever her issues are, we can't allow them to affect our next trip to the Digital World. I haven't forgotten what happened to me, and I don't want to see her attitude end up putting anyone in danger, including herself. Let's not make the same mistakes again, okay?"
Though the hallway had emptied out, Ryoko knew even if it hadn't, it wouldn't have changed what happened next. His face a mask of emotions, Dai suddenly pulled him into a tight hug, and in that moment of weakness, Ryoko could feel the goggle-headed leader's desperation. The desire to save Kara, the longing to show his true feelings, the terrible need to have someone else to lean on, the cry for help. It was all there, and knowing instinctively that words weren't what Dai really needed right now, he simply returned the hug and kept quiet.
After a moment, Dai was able to pull himself together, and taking a deep breath, the goggle-headed leader mumbled into his shoulder, "I like this so much better. Being able to talk to you. The way you're so much more...open with me now. I can definitely get used to this."
Ryoko could feel that deep sense of brotherly affection floating off of Dai in waves, even more so since his feelings for Ami had come out into the open, and knowing it was because the goggle-headed leader understood the potential for that to become a reality if things continued as they were, he felt his heart swell with a burst of love for both Motomiya siblings. His feelings were so strong they almost overwhelmed him, and gently patting the goggle-headed leader's back, he whispered, "Same."
They stayed that way for a moment longer, and then letting go of him, Dai once again grabbed his arm and said, "Come on."
Ryoko allowed the other boy to drag him along, his heart filling with a sense of warmth and affection, and stepping into the computer room, they found the other three already waiting for them with their digimon.
Immediately DemiEmbermon jumped into Dai's arms, and sensing his partner's distress, the little digimon attempted a smile and said, "Come have some snacks with me."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," Dai replied, returning the smile.
It was the first smile Dai had managed all day, and looking around the room, the goggle-headed leader's eyes immediately fell on Matty, who flushed at the sudden attention.
Over the last three weeks, Dai had grown a lot more gentle and sensitive to Matty's feelings, and his affection for the younger twin had become increasingly more obvious with each passing day. The two of them had spent a lot of time with both him, and just with each other since their last trip to the Digital World, and it made him happy to see how much Matty had rekindled his friendship with Dai. Though he hadn't said so in words, Ryoko could tell his cousin loved Dai's newfound softer side, and the younger twin clearly appreciated the goggle-headed leader's more outspoken affection, though there were times, like now, when you could tell Matty was still getting used to it. As for him and Matty, they too had grown much more close, and during the times they spent together, whether just the two of them or in a group, he hadn't hesitated to show Matty the affection the younger twin deserved. The occasional arguments were still there for all three of them, but now when they fought, that sense of closeness they all shared never disappeared, even for a second.
It's what I always wanted, and now that it's a reality, I've never been happier. This feeling is something I want Kara to feel, and I know no matter how happy I am, I won't be truly happy until she's happy too. Her and Mickey. And Matty too...
Because Takara deserved to be happy, just like Dai, whose newfound softer side wasn't even really new. It had always been there, like the rest of him. That particular aspect of his personality had just never had the opportunity to shine until he and Matty had given the other boy a reason to show it off.
And now we have to do the same for Kara. We need to give her a reason to shine at her brightest.
Ignoring the chairs, the five of them sat down on the floor in a tight circle with their digimon partners, and holding Glimmermon and Fluttermon in his lap from his seat between the twins, Sam said curiously, "What took you guys so long?"
"And what's this all about?" Mickey added, holding Palelymon gently in his lap. "Matty was insistent we meet here in the computer room."
Ryoko was sitting on Mickey's left with Dai on his other side, and holding Iramon close in his arms, he said shortly, "Matty and I both agree we need to talk."
"About what?" Sam asked slowly, though he looked like he already knew the answer.
Matty was sitting between Sam and Dai with Goldmon in his lap, and rolling his eyes, the younger twin said, "Are you really going to make me say it? About Kara, of course."
"Oh," Fluttermon said softly, her face immediately falling.
Dai, who made up the last member of their circle, was holding DemiEmbermon tightly against his chest, and giving the female digimon a sympathetic look, he said, "Sorry, Fluttermon. Trust me, I feel the same way."
"Right, Kara," Sam murmured, looking thoughtful. "So let me get the facts straight. As far as we can tell, ever since before finding Ryoko's Spirit Chip, she hasn't been acting like her usual self."
Ryoko nodded, and leaning back on his hands, he said, "That seems to be the case, though...I have a feeling this has been an ongoing issue for her even before the incident with my Spirit Chip. It just didn't become obvious until then."
"I agree," Mickey butted in, the concern obvious in his soft voice. "I also believe Kara has been carrying her own personal burden for a while now, but since we don't have much evidence to prove it from before our journey to find the Spirit Chip of Bravery, we'll start where the proof becomes visible, which was at the Ice Caverns."
"Okay then, so what are the facts we do know?" Matty asked, glancing almost shyly at Dai before turning his attention to the rest of the group.
Ryoko glanced down at his partner, who gave him a meaningful look, and taking the hint, he squared his shoulders and said calmly, "We do know she was affected by the crystal mirrors in the Ice Caverns. Like myself and Matty, she could see the shadows and hear the voices whispering inside her head."
"Which means she's allowing the Powers of Darkness to stir inside her heart," Goldmon said solemnly, his snacks having been all but forgotten.
Dai visibly flinched at those words, and reaching out to give the goggle-headed leader's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, Matty said, "Okay, so whatever it is that's bothering her, it's strong enough to suggest, as Izzy would say, that the Powers of Darkness are affecting her in a negative way. What else do we know?"
"We know she's been really quiet around us lately, and though I don't think it's intentional she has kind of been avoiding us all," Palelymon offered.
"Which to me suggests she's aware of the fact that there's something wrong with her and she's either frightened of telling us or she's just simply not ready to reveal her feelings yet," Sam said slowly, glancing towards Mickey for confirmation. "Sound about right to you?"
"I would say so," the older twin agreed. "Anything else?"
Ryoko hesitated, unsure of whether or not it would be considered relevant, and then figuring it wouldn't hurt to bring it up, just in case it did eventually prove to be significant, he said slowly, "I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but...don't you guys think Kara's been acting a little odd around my dad lately?"
"Huh?" Dai asked, clearly surprised. "What do you mean?"
"I've just noticed she's been acting a little weird around him lately. In fact, I notice it every time I see the two of them together. I have ever since we came back from the Digital World. Just a few days ago Kara and her family were over at my house for dinner, and she seemed real embarrassed around him and stuff."
"Did you ask her about it?" Glimmermon asked, looking intrigued.
"I wanted to, but a good opportunity never came up. Plus, she seemed really out of it. I don't know if I would have gotten an answer even if I had asked."
"What about your dad?" DemiEmbermon butted in. "Was he acting weird?"
Ryoko thought about it for a moment, and shaking his head, he said, "Not really. He seems the same as he always does."
"Strange," Mickey murmured, glancing uneasily at his twin before turning to Fluttermon. "What about you, Fluttermon? Out of all of us, you've spent the most time around Kara over the last few weeks. Anything you want to add?"
Fluttermon snuggled herself against Sam's stomach, and looking morose, the little digimon said sadly, "I wish I could help more, but there's nothing I can add. Kara won't tell me anything, even when I ask her. All I know is that she's been very subdued over the last few weeks, even towards her own family."
"And what do Sora and Tai have to say about that?" Iramon asked, frowning slightly.
"There's not much they can say. Same for Taysuke. They're just doing what they can to support her. I know she hasn't been sleeping well lately, which is why she was late today."
"She was worrying about her dad," Dai said quietly, his expression hard to read.
"Well, can't say I blame her for that," Matty interrupted, making a face. "Uncle Tai does have a pretty dangerous job. I worry about him myself on a regular basis."
"Before we left the house, Tai was sleeping," Fluttermon said softly, her eyes growing dark. "Takara sneaked into his room to give him a kiss and to tell him she loved him before leaving for school."
Immediately the room fell silent, the weight of Takara's feelings hanging over them in a dark cloud of despair, and clearly struggling with his emotions, Dai slowly lifted his gaze and said firmly, "We have to help her. We have to save her."
The response to that was unanimous, everyone vigorously nodding in agreement, and glancing at each of his friends and their digimon in turn, Ryoko said, "We still don't know much about what she's going through, but we can't let that discourage us. From now on we keep an eye on her, and if you notice anything about her bahaviour that's worth mentioning, make sure you let the rest of us know. Once we've gathered enough information, hopefully we can start fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, and that in turn will help us figure out what's wrong with her."
"So in other words our mission is to watch Kara like a hawk," Matty joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"That's exactly it," Sam agreed. "From now on nobody take your eyes off her. We're going to figure out what's wrong with her before it can escalate to the same level of what happened with Ryoko's Spirit Chip."
"They're going to make her suffer," Mickey warned, slowly looking up. "Because it's only after you've learned to overcome your suffering that you truly learn to harness the power of the Spirit Chip."
"When you've learned to let go of your doubts," Palelymon added, nodding in agreement. "DarkAngelicmon and the others will take advantage of that, just like they have the last three times."
"Hey! We don't even know if the next Spirit Chip is hers yet!" Dai snapped, his face turning white at the implications of Mickey's words. "It could just as easily belong to Mickey or Matty."
Ryoko nodded in agreement, and nudging the goggle-headed leader, he said calmly, "You're right. We don't know for sure, but we still need to be prepared in case it is."
"Look, I get that she'll suffer," Dai said quickly, avoiding their eyes. "I'm not completely naive. I've accepted that part, but that doesn't mean I can't be there for her when it happens. I won't let it become a risk to her life even if it means I have to put my own life on the line to save her."
"Dai, you moron," Matty said, smiling affectionately at the goggle-headed leader. "How are you still so clueless?"
"About what?" Dai asked, looking confused.
"Ugh, forget it."
Still completely clueless, Dai brushed Matty's words off and said firmly, "I'm going to protect her."
If she doesn't end up protecting you first.
Ryoko smiled at the thought, and putting his arm around the goggle-headed leader, he said, "And while you're doing that, we'll protect you."
"And make sure you don't do anything stupid," Matty joked.
Dai's face immediately softened at their words, and managing a genuine smile, the goggle-headed leader said, "Thanks, guys."
"Come on, let's finish our lunch," Sam said, pulling the bag of snacks towards him. "We've got a lot to think about going forward, and don't forget we're meeting at Dai's house tonight."
There was a general murmur of agreement, and as they quickly dug into their food, Ryoko once again allowed himself a moment to study Dai's tired face.
Kara was a strong girl, and despite Dai's best intentions, Ryoko still couldn't help feeling as if when it came to the two clueless lovers, whoever saved who might not end up being the other way around.