Wow its been so long since I worked on this story! looks sheepish. Well I did it all in one night so if its not up to par no need to kill me. It will get better. And I really want to thank all my wonderful reviewers! I'm so lucky to have you all like my story. Thanks so so much and I'll keep writing if my public demands it feels very special Also I'm sorry that the characters have lost some of their canon-ness. The sort of got away from me so don't kill me. Some of them are the same though.
Disclaimer- I do not own the characters or digimon no matter how much I wish I did.
Zoe buried her head in her hands. " You suck." She murmured darkly at Takuya. She couldn't look at Koji.
At that moment everyone's favorite bandana boy was in fact staring at Zoe in shock. He hadn't even thought she tolerated him all that well. Then again the choices were pretty weak and it was just a stupid game after all. Besides he could understand if she liked him more then Takuya. Tommy was too young for her anyway and JP was…JP. But he was still startled and even a bit…was he happy? Koji shook his head and wrote it off as male pride. Still…
" So Tommy truth, dare, double dare, face, fix, repeat, or mimic?" Takuya said happily, oblivious.
Zoe threw up her hands and spun the glare at Takuya, still not looking at Koji. "I'm quitting." She said.
" Zoe!" JP moaned.
" Why?" Tommy asked.
" You don't have to quit." Koji said, staring at the ceiling. Zoe blushed darker, still not turning to him.
" I just don't want to play anymore! Isn't there something else we can do?" She asked.
" Sure!" Takuya said, glowing all of a sudden. " I have this new movie. It's called Stryker's Revenge. It's an action flick. Wanna watch?" He asked.
" You couldn't have thought of that before?" Zoe asked.
Takuya blushed. " Well yeah I did sorta forget…"
" Sure but can we eat first? I haven't had food since breakfast. I should have gotten something from the vending machine at the hospital." Zoe said with a sigh.
" 'Kay." Takuya said springing up from the bed. " I think mom has a frozen pizza in the fridge. I can put it in the oven while we watch some of the movie. Everyone like pepperoni?"
(For reference I am fully aware that Japanese people don't eat jell-o or pizza or ice cream on a regular basis…or who knows they might. That's why I'm putting this in here. I have no clue what they eat and wouldn't want to insult them culturally by making them eat a scared animal or whatever so for my sake please just pretend they are normal people in America. Not to say the Japanese aren't normal but… sighjust ignore it…)
" I do!" JP said, excited to get to eat soon.
" Me too!" Zoe said happily.
" It's fine." Koji said noncommittally.
" I like mushrooms better but pepperoni is good." Tommy said.
Zoe made a face. " You like mushrooms? Sick."
" Course I do they're the best!" Tommy said.
The group followed Takuya out of his room and to the kitchen. True to his word they found the frozen pizza buried under a mountain of ice cream boxes. JP covertly grabbed one when no one was looking and probably would have eaten it himself had Takuya not noticed it as he was walking to find his mom to be sure they could use the oven. As it was he made JP share and Zoe, Tommy, Koji and JP all made it into the living room and sat down. Zoe claimed the loveseat and laid back. Koji and JP sat down on the larger couch.
JP immediately dug into some of the chocolate ice cream. Tommy looked around for a moment then had Zoe hold his ice cream while he drug a beanbag out from the hall closet and sat down in front of the TV. Then he proceeded to use his spoon to try and write his name in the ice cream. Luckily he was short and they all could see over his head.
Soon enough Takuya was back with his own bowl of ice cream in hand. " The pizza's in the oven. It will probably take about twenty minutes." He said flopping down on the couch in between JP and Koji.
Zoe took a bite of her ice cream then motioned toward the black screen. " Aren't you going to put it in?"
Takuya looked up from his ice cream, which he had been shoveling into his mouth in large bites. Everyone was peering at him with some amusement and he laughed. " Oh yeah!" With that he sat the ice cream down on Koji's lap and stood up, heading for his room. The bandana boy just peered at the ice cream, his face blank. Zoe fought a laugh.
JP groaned out loud, breaking the silence.
" What is it?" Tommy asked in between bites.
JP moaned again. " I finished mine already!" He looked mournfully at the empty bowl in his hands. " Think Takuya will let me get more?" He asked hopefully.
Zoe swallowed her bite of ice cream and shook her head. " No I don't think so JP. We already finished almost the whole box."
JP groaned and stuck his spoon into Takuya's ice cream which still sat on Koji's lap. Tommy laughed. Zoe shook her head as he scooped as much as he could on the spoon.
It was only the footsteps coming from the hall that stopped him and he hurriedly shoved it in his mouth. Seconds later Takuya emerged holding a DVD in the air triumphantly. " It was under the bed!" He laughed. " Should have looked the first." He sighed.
Zoe shook her head again. " I'm surprised you can find anything in that room. And why was it under the bed?"
Takuya shrugged. " Why was the case for it in the fish tank? The world is a mysterious place. I've learned not to question it." He said, sliding the disc into the player.
Zoe turned to Koji, eyes shining with confusion as she mouthed the words ' fish tank?' Koji shrugged and bit back a laugh.
" Ugh!" JP yelped.
" What is it now?" Zoe sighed.
JP's eyes were wide and he coughed as he tried to say "Brain freeze!" They later learned he'd swallowed the ice cream so fast he'd gotten the worst case of brain freeze he'd ever had.
However all were oblivious to the fact for the moment and Takuya just said whatever and flopped back down grabbing his ice cream from Koji in one swift move.
Everyone fell silent as the movie started. It was only ten minutes into the movie when the buzzer went off on the oven. Everyone sat up immediately as Takuya paused the movie and rushed to the kitchen.
As the pizza was being sliced Zoe turned to Takuya. " So why is the girl running from the cape guy?"
Takuya sighed exasperatedly. " Because," He stressed as if it were a stupid question " She got him put in jail twenty years ago for killing his daughter who was actually her half sister but she never knew that. But he didn't actually do it. It was really her boyfriend who left her right after the cape guy got jailed. Jeez Zoe don't you know anything?" He sighed, turning back to the pizza.
Koji and Tommy laughed as Zoe rolled her eyes and mouthed 'weirdo'. JP meanwhile helped himself to another bowl of ice cream.
Five more minutes later they were all sitting again and eating the pizza watching a movie that no one but Takuya understood. It was little over half an hour into the movie that Tommy fell asleep. Zoe followed nearly immediately after and then after yet another half hour JP did as well. Most likely a result of all the food.
As soon as he noticed Koji shook his head and turned to Takuya. " Everyone's asleep. Maybe we should get some rest?" He suggested somewhat sarcastically.
Takuya jumped and turned away from the screen to look at the others. He shook his head. "They were weak."
" Takuya we need to sleep." Koji pressed. " You can make us watch complex movies some other time. Remember we have a party to plan tomorrow."
Takuya sighed. " I guess." He turned the TV off with the remote and the room went dark. " I'm going to my room." With that he shuffled back the hall in an almost zombie like manner.
" And he would have watched the whole thing too…" Koji muttered as he tried to get comfortable on the couch. Soon he too was asleep and the house fell quiet.
" Up and at-'em! We got a party to plan baby!" Takuya said in his odd way as he chucked a pillow at the sleeping Koji.
" Huh?" Koji blinked wearily as the pillow made contacted.
" Time to get movin Tommy!" Takuya said shaking the young boy.
" Moving where?" Tommy moaned as he rolled, falling off his beanbag in the process.
" Come on Zoe! Time to get up." Takuya ordered like a drill sergeant.
" Where's JP?" Tommy asked.
Takuya waved a hand noncommittally, " He was up as soon as he smelled Mom cooking breakfast." He said but he was looking at the still sleeping Zoe irritably.
" Zoe! UP!" He barked.
The blond girl slept on.
Takuya sighed. " Get her up Koji. I'm going to get some bacon before JP eats it all." He said, sprinting off toward the kitchen yelling. "Don't eat all the bacon! Save me some!"
Tommy shrugged at Koji helplessly and followed Takuya. Koji wondered how this was just decided without his input. However he decided to do it anyway. Takuya would just try and send him back if he refused anyway and he would rather avoid that argument.
With sleep-blurred eyes he stood up and walked toward the love seat and peered down at the girl. " Zoe time to get up." He said.
The girl didn't stir.
" Zoe?" He said again. No response.
He could hear the others in the kitchen talking about her.
" Where's Zoe?" JP was asking.
" She decided to pull a Sleeping Beauty on us. Koji is waking her up." Takuya replied, louder then he needed to, Koji thought.
Koji sighed and tuned out looking down at the sleeping girl. " Zoe." He tried again. Again he got no response.
Placing his hand on her shoulder he called gently but firmly. " Zoe wake up!"
" Mmmm…" Zoe moaned and rolled over mumbling in her sleep.
Koji sighed. Great. She was never this hard to wake up in the digital world! This time he shook her gently in addition to calling to her. " Zoe, seriously you have to wake up!" He called louder.
Zoe moaned and murmured into the loveseat. "Ko-" However whatever she'd been saying was cut off as she rolled off the loveseat all together and was jolted awake.
" Ow! What's with tha-…Koji?" Zoe looked up from the floor and peered at the boy as if she couldn't quite believe it.
Koji held up his hands. " I didn't do that. You rolled off yourself. I was just trying to wake you up."
Zoe nodded after a moment and sighed. " 'Kay I believe you. I used to roll of my bed all the time when I was kid. Guess I still do."
Koji smiled and held out his hand.
Blinking she took it and he pulled her up, barely steadying her before she fell into him. She looked at him again as he let go of her hand.
" What is it?" He asked as they walked toward the kitchen.
" Nothing." Zoe shook her head.
" Alright I guess." Koji said at last, it was against his nature to really press people like that.
Zoe was silent for a moment and finally said. " I was just surprised is all."
" About what?" Koji felt it was okay to ask now that she'd offered up the information. However before she could tell him they were in the kitchen and staring in shock at the sight before them.
Takuya and JP were rolling on the floor, fighting fiercely. Tommy blinked in an almost scared way. " Guys! Stop it!" Zoe yelled, stepping between them.
" It's mine!" Takuya yelled.
" No it's mine! I had it first!" JP yelled back.
" STOP!" Zoe yelled again separating them and attempting to hold them back.
" What's going on in here?" A tall woman with short dark brown hair, dark eyes and a forceful voice asked, stepping out of one of the other bedrooms.
" N-N-Nothing Mom…" Takuya stuttered, stepping back and looking innocent. JP looked confused but stopped fighting Zoe in attempt to get at Takuya. Zoe sighed in relief. Tommy took a deep breath and rubbed at his eyes. Koji looked a bit startled as well.
"Good." Takuya's Mom said. " Keep it that way. And keep the noise down or there will be no more sleepover for the rest of the summer." She threatened looking at Takuya.
All was silent for a moment until Zoe broke the silence. " I like your mom." She laughed. " I could never get you to behave in the digital world. Now what was going on?" She asked.
All at once Tommy, JP and Takuya began speaking. Their words mixed in a way that made it impossible to understand them.
" Hey!" Zoe yelled, causing them to quiet. Then she looked at Tommy. " What happened?" She asked.
Tommy took a breath. " JP had grabbed a piece of bacon and Takuya saw it was the last one and he said he should get it. Then all of sudden they started fighting." He said.
Zoe gaped. " Bacon?" She asked disbelief on her features. " Of all the stupid…all of that over a piece of bacon?"
" The last piece of bacon!" JP and Takuya protested at the same time and glared at each other.
Koji sighed and walked over to the table and picked up the bacon. Then he split it in half and glared at them. " Was that so hard?" He asked.
" That half is bigger!" Takuya protested.
Koji sighed and bit into one of the pieces causing an instant protest from the two boys as he looked at Tommy. " Did you get any bacon before this?" He asked.
Tommy shook his head. " No," He cast a glance at JP and Takuya. "but I don't want any."
Koji shrugged and tossed the other piece to Zoe who caught it easily and bit into it.
Doom seemed to descend upon Takuya and JP as they sat down to eat the eggs on the table. All of them ate in silence until at last Zoe set her fork down with a clang. " Seriously guys, bacon? How do you plan on throwing a party when you can't share even the simplest thing?"
" Will there be bacon at the party?" JP asked.
Zoe leveled her gaze on him. " No."
" Then we'll be fine." JP chirped almost brightly as Takuya muttered " Easy for you to say, you ate it all…"
Zoe sighed. " Hopeless." JP at least had the decency to look insulted.
As soon as they were all done they set out for the store to get the supplies they needed. As soon as they were there Zoe sent Tommy in search of plates, cups and napkins. JP was sent to get a banner. Takuya was told to get the balloons and Koji and Zoe were working together to get the food. Zoe knew she couldn't carry what she needed by herself and was trying to avoid Takuya and JP after the bacon incident.
As they walked through the frozen foods Zoe stopped in front of the cakes and asked " What kind of theme do you think your brother would like?"
Koji shrugged. " I wish I knew."
Zoe glanced over the selections, her gaze passed over one with rainbows then one with trucks till it landed on an ice cream cake with chocolate and vanilla icing that formed the symbol for yin and yang. " I like that one. What do you think?"
Koji peered through the foggy glass. " I like it."
" Good!" Zoe grinned and opened up the door and handed the cake to Koji. Koji shivered but held it anyway.
Ten minutes later Zoe was carrying a shopping basket filled with pop and chips and other snacks. Koji had managed to locate a basket for the ice cream cake as well and he was rubbing his chilled arms when they met up with the others. All had successfully managed to get their items though Tommy had had to jump to reach the cups he needed.
When they got to the register they all pooled there money and found they had just enough for the purchases. As they walked Tommy asked what time it was. Everyone looked about but there wasn't a watch in sight. With that they all sprinted for the house, none of the wanting to be late. Koichi's mother wasn't home as she had to go pick up Koichi and sign some papers. However she'd left the house unlocked for them.
As quickly as they could they began setting up. Zoe placed the food out and put the cake in the fridge. Tommy and Takuya blew up the balloons. Koji was writing ' Welcome Home Koichi' on the banner and JP was helping set the table.
With all of their efforts they finished fifteen minutes before Koichi was scheduled to come home. Takuya decided to raid Koichi's CD collection and put a few discs aside for the party.
( I see Koichi as more of a lite rock type of kid and my idea of lite rock might be different then yours. So that's what kind of music it will be, lite rock. Well mostly! Heh. You'll see. Actually that CD was his moms. Opps foreshadowing doom You'll have to read the next chapter! )
They all looked at each other, now unsure. " How about we hide? After all it is a surprise party." Tommy said.
" Good idea!" Takuya said. " But we have to hide in the living room so we can jump out when he comes through the door. "
Everyone nodded and began searching for their hiding spot. JP hid behind the couch and Tommy ducked behind the TV. Takuya and Koji and Zoe looked around and found no other spots.
" Crap!" Takuya sighed, running his hand through his hair in frustration.
" Hey look!" Zoe said.
The two boys looked toward where she pointed. The door to a coat closet stared back at them.
" Think we can all fit?" Koji asked.
Zoe shrugged as she opened the door. The closet was roomier then she'd first thought but not by much. Wiggling she scrunched herself into the left corner. Koji followed and tried to make himself as small as possible. Takuya looked wary but followed anyway. However his presence was too much. There was no way they'd all fit.
Takuya backed out. " Sorry guys. Hey guess I'll just get JP to move some and hope it works." He sighed and then grinned. " We'll whistle when you need to get ready and pop out when you here the door. Now be good! Don't try to take advantage of the delicate flower Koji!" He laughed as he shut the door on them. Koji glared and tried to unclench his fists. Zoe was muttering darkly under her breath though she was grateful the dark hid her blush.
They could vaguely hear Takuya and JP arguing outside the door. Koji and Zoe tried to distance themselves but the closet prevented them movement and they ended up pressed together side-to-side and shoulder-to-shoulder. The two were silent.
" So what was it?" Koji asked at last, feeling that the silence was worse then speaking. Takuya was so going to pay.
" What was what?" Zoe asked, relived to be speaking but trying not to show it.
" Earlier you said you were surprised. What was that about?" Koji asked.
" Oh…" Zoe said softly. " It was important. It was just that, well, remember when we were back in the digital world? We were in Breezy Village and you'd de-digivolved. I was trying to help you but you just got up anyway. I just…well I guess I was just surprised that now you were willing to help me up." Zoe said at last. " Saying it now it just seems silly." She tried to force a laugh.
Koji was silent. So that was it? She remembered that from so long ago? Man, come to think of it that was pretty rude. I wonder though, when did it change? At what point did it start becoming okay for me to help her up? I can't really remember. I guess I sort of take it for granted now that I'll have friends. It was only then that he realized his silence must seem rude. " No. It's not really silly. I guess I can see how it would surprise you." He said, figuring it to be the only thing to say at that point.
Now it was Zoe's turn to be silent. At last she decided that conversation was over and decided to move to a safer topic. " So when did you fall asleep?"
Koji shrugged causing his hand to brush Zoe's and he stopped mid-motion. He'd have to remember it was cramped and the best way to not touch was not to move. However it didn't stop the light blush that spread over his features. " A while after you. I had to make Takuya sleep. He really liked that movie."
Zoe snorted. " I didn't get it at all!"
Koji laughed. " Neither did I. So what type of movies do you like?
Zoe thought. " I don't really know if I like a type."
Koji nodded. " Yeah. I don't really like a type either I guess. Favorite movie then."
Zoe had to think for a moment then said " I like lots and my favorite changes. Right now my favorite is One More Day."
Koji blinked. " I don't think I've ever seen that before."
Zoe nodded. " I didn't think you would. It's sort of a chick flick. It was the last movie I watched before the digital world. So what's your favorite Koji?"
" Hmm. I don't know if I have one I don't watch many movies."
" Why not?" Zoe asked. " Most people like movies." She teased.
" I do!" Koji protested. " I-" However he was cut off by one long, piercing whistle.
" Their here!" Zoe whispered excitedly and she and Koji pushed toward the door and laid their ears against it. It seemed forever until they heard the lock click and the door began to swing open. Koji twisted the knob hurriedly as he and Zoe yelled " Surpr-" However they were cut off by the fall.
Koji hadn't realized how much weight they'd been putting on the door and as a result when he'd opened it they both fell. Koji had ended up on the bottom with Zoe on his chest. Because f them the others had stood up and were staring after them.
Zoe blinked in shock and lifted her head from Koji's shirt and turned toward the doorway just as Koji turned his head to look as well.
There in the doorway was Koichi and his mother. The poor woman held the keys and blinked. Koichi looked around eyes wide, as if unsure what should be the most surprising to him. Then his eyes rested on Zoe and Koji and he immediately erupted into loud laughter.
" Surprise…" Takuya said weakly, stifling giggles of his own.
JP was looking outraged. " Great!" He snapped. " Just great! Now I'm the only one who hasn't fallen with Zoe!" He said, referring to the time in the digital world when Takuya had fallen with her.
Koichi laughed again. " I'm defiantly surprised! You guys went through all this trouble just for my coming home?"
Tommy nodded proudly and blew on the noisemaker in his hand. " Yep!"
Zoe looked down at Koji and realized she was still lying on top of him. His dark blue orbs stared steadily back at her as a dark blush spread over her. She noticed a light pink on Koji's face as well. Immediately she scrambled to her feet and gave Koji her hand, which he took and she pulled him up.
" Are you kids okay?" Koichi's mom asked, worriedly.
" Were fine." Zoe and Koji answered as one earning another laugh from Koichi.
" Alright then. I'm going to go cut the cake. Have fun Koichi." Koichi's mom called back as she hung her coat in the offending closet and headed for the kitchen.
" Welcome home Koichi!" Takuya said, grinning.
" Yeah! Were all glad your okay!" Zoe grinned, pleased to see her friend healthy.
" Good to have you back bro." Koji grinned, hands in his pockets.
" I'm not sure what to say." Koichi smiled. " But thanks guys."
" Alright enough of the mushy stuff!" Takuya announced. " Lets party!" With that he headed over to the stereo and turned on the CD he put in. Immediately the song called Dirty Little Secret by the All American Rejects blasted from it. Takuya yelped and turned the volume down.
Koichi laughed. " You stole my CD's?"
Takuya laughed as well. " No. Besides we prefer the term ' permanently borrowed' thanks!"
Zoe looked at Koji. " I didn't know your brother liked this band. Doesn't seem to fit him."
Koji shrugged. " I didn't either." He walked toward his brother. " You sure have a weird taste in music brother." He laughed.
Tommy had started to dance in that crazy little kid way and JP was trying to look cool, leaning against the wall. Takuya poked his head out of the kitchen. " Guys! The cake is ready! And it looks great!" He laughed as he ran back toward the table.
" Awesome!" Tommy said as he headed after him. JP tried to maintain cool indifference but when he heard Takuya's loud chewing the façade evaporated and he ran yelling at them to not hog it all.
Zoe sighed. " I better go make sure they don't kill each other. Again. Don't be too long 'kay?" She called back as she jogged to the kitchen.
Koij made a move to follow her but Koichi grabbed his wrist and held him back. " What is it?" Koji asked.
Koichi grinned. " Did you think about what I said?"
" What you…" Koji muttered softly then glared. " No I didn't. There's no truth there."
Koichi sighed. " Then I have no choice but to initiate Plan A. Besides what have you got to lose. I do this you gain a girlfriend if she likes you and things stay the same if she doesn't."
" She doesn't and no plans. It's just cruel when I don't like her." Koji retorted.
Koichi shook his head. " Me thinks he doth protest too much."
Koji glared " What does that even mean?"
Koichi laughed. " Means you're either lying or oblivious. So did you enjoy your time in that closet?"
Koji glowered. " Don't make me send you right back to that hospital."
Koichi shook his head in an offended manner. " Why Brother your words wound. You know some people think it's rude to threaten the life of the guest of honor but whatever."
Koji sighed. " Fine. Just leave this alone. There's nothing for you to investigate or whatever it is you plan to do."
Koichi grinned. " Oh but there is."
Koji was about to protest when Zoe peered around the corner. " Guys? You coming."
" Of course!" Koichi smiled gently as he headed for the kitchen.
Koji followed at his side and murmured under his breath. " Are you sure you didn't get mixed up with one of my other twins that was supposed to be here? The nice one maybe?"
Koichi grinned. " Silly little brother. This is kinder then you know."
Cliffy!!
Authors Note- Hey guys! Yep. Once again my over-long chapter is at an end. Don't worry. If I get the response I did last time with this chapter then the party chapter will be up soon. Sorry if you were expecting more and I'm also sorry if this wasn't up to your standards. I will try to do better and any reviewers new and old are welcome. Over and out for now.
Story Note- None of the movies named in here are real so don't worry or look for them cause you won't find them. However if I accidentally stole a movie name I apologize. So not done on purpose. Hehe. Anyway no one would be able to understand SR ( Stryker's Revenge). The one thing Takuya never mentioned was the fact that it was the sequel to a movie called Killer Stryke's.
Poll- I was just wondering when/if you all review you could tell me your favorite Digimon couple. I was just thinking of starting another fan fic so I figured I'd ask your opinions. When you vote just add it to the bottom of the review. You don't have to do this but I'd appreciate it.
KojiXZoe
TakuyaXZoe
KoichiXZoe
JPXZoe
Thanks! Bye!