Story Title: Trial By Ice
Disclaimer: Still don't own Digimon 02.
Author's Notes: Thanks to KyuuuChan, chromate, Aquamarine6996, and DoliInTheSkyWithDiamonds for reviewing and to all those who faved and followed this story. Honestly, your reviews are what pushed me to finally finish this story after shelving it for four years. I don't know if I would've ever finished this if not for your kind words so thank you once more.
I really wanted to get a few more of the other Chosen Children to help teach Ken but I couldn't figure out a logical reason for any of them to show up and teach him other than literally having them randomly show up and help out. I particularly wanted Jou because I think he would've made another good big brother figure for Ken but logic states his studies probably wouldn't have let him have time to randomly help Ken out and ice-skating isn't on par with saving the Digital World… Oh well, what would have been…
And here we have part two of what would have been quite a long one-shot. As always, thank you for reading.
-o-
Chapter 2: The Fruits of His Endeavor
-o-
The phone rang yet again and from underneath the towel covering his head, Ken groaned. Aside from Wormmon, Ken was the only one home this Wednesday night, his parents having gone out on a much-deserved night out. A small part of him selfishly wished they hadn't gone out so someone else could have been here to deal with the phone.
The phone hit a fourth ring. Ken ignored it and went on drying his hair. He didn't want to pick it up and wasn't going to in the chance that it might be Miyako Watanabe from his class.
Ken's unfortunate reading of his notes in class had an unforeseen consequence of leading a girl to believe he had been talking about her. Watanabe was going around school claiming Ken was madly in love with her and causing mass jealousy and rage in all the other elementary school girls. The whole scenario had Ken baffled because he had no idea that he was apparently such a prize in the girls' eyes and didn't understand why all the girls were acting this way. He thought about asking Miyako and Hikari to explain to him this strange behavioral phenomenon.
Before all this, Ken had thought Watanabe was a nice girl—granted he never had much to do with her—but she had seemed nice and she was kind of pretty. But beauty couldn't make up for personality and she was acting like a love-crazed stalker, following him around school, clinging to him at all chances, bragging about how in love they were, and calling his home nonstop. His parents thought it was cute he had an admirer and weren't concerned and downplayed her behavior as just innocent fun. Ken was mortified and tried to avoid and escape her clutches and her endless embarrassing pet names for him and the ones she demanded he used for her. Wormmon had offered to sticky net her. Ken considered letting him. Especially if she ever appeared at his home.
"Ken," Wormmon called down the hall, "should I answer it?"
Ken thought on it. He had tried letting Wormmon answer the phone before but that had not gone well. In truth, everything had been fine until a persistent and persuasive telemarketer had his partner believing they had won a cruise—Wormmon didn't really know what a 'cruise' was but had been thrilled to have won something—and could give him a free timeshare—again, the meaning lost on Wormmon—if he just gave him such and such vital information.
After that call and a little arguing from Wormmon, upset he couldn't have his prize, and Ken's explanation that it had been a scammer fishing for personal info, that for now was the end of Wormmon answering the phone.
"No," Ken called back, "just let the answering machine catch it."
Wormmon agreed but asked Ken where the answering machine's arms were. Ken stifled his laugh but failed to not smile.
Ken heard the answering machine kick on and his family's message play. Tossing the damp towel in the hamper, Ken waited by his door to hear if the caller would leave a message.
And they did. Well, she did.
"Ken, this is Miyako." Instantly recognizing the voice as Miyako's—Inoue, not Watanabe—Ken bolted down the hall.
"Are you there?" she asked. "Wait, dumb question. You'd answer the phone if you were home. Sorry." She laughed in embarrassment a bit before her voice faded into disappointment. "…I guess you're not home."
Ken reached the phone table but slid past it in his haste and he scrambled to backtrack over his misstep. He grabbed the phone just as Miyako said she would call back tomorrow.
"Hello? Ichijouji Residence," he said in a hurry, practically shouting into the receiver. "Miyako?"
"Ken? Is that you?" she said, much to Ken's grateful relief. He had worried she had hung up already. "You sound out of breath. Did you just get in?"
"You could say that," Ken said, catching his breath, his heart thumping, as he leaned casually against the wall and smiled.
"Sorry for calling so late," Miyako said.
"It's okay, really it is," Ken said, darting a glance up at the clock and seeing it was 8:46, not really that late. "I'm glad you called."
"I tried calling you earlier but your mother said you weren't home."
Ken said nothing. He swallowed his air dryly and looked about guiltily. Luckily, they were on the phone, otherwise Miyako would have known something was up if they were talking face to face.
"In fact, I've been calling you all week and you haven't been home."
"Er, well…" Ken tried to come up with a good response but failed to. That and Miyako wasn't letting him get a word in edgewise.
"And you barely replied to any of my messages. I haven't seen or heard from you all week! I was starting to get worried. It looked like you were distancing yourself."
"N-No, it's not like that at all. Uh, this week is just busy for me. I've got…a lot of tests this Friday," Ken poorly replied and hoped for the best.
"Oh…" Miyako said, her voice quieted and saddened. "You won't be busy on Saturday, will you? We're going ice-skating, remember?"
"Of course!" Ken replied a little too immediately. "After Friday, I'm clear. I'm marking down the days as we speak."
At that, Miyako giggled. "Okay, Ken. Try not to tire yourself out and I'll see you on Saturday. Oh, I wish it was tomorrow… I can't wait! Weekdays are so much slower than weekends, it's not fair."
After his own goodbye, Ken set the phone back on the hook and sat down beside the phone stand. Even though he still had plenty of reservations about his skating ability (or lack thereof), after talking to Miyako, he certainly didn't feel like Saturday's arrival would signal the end and he actually felt excited about going skating with Miyako for the first time this week. Maybe he would learn in time and Saturday would be perfect after all…
"Ken, are you all right?" Wormmon said, crawling from the living room and hopping into his lap. "Your cheeks are red again. Are you getting a fever?" Wormmon raised a claw up to his forehead and checked.
"No, Wormmon, I'm just happy," Ken assured as he held his partner and stood up. "Come on. Let's see if we can find something to snack on."
Wormmon readily agreed, practically cheering in Ken's arms, as they entered the kitchen. One unforeseen side effect of all his practicing was all his hard work leaving Ken with quite an appetite at the end of the day. Normally, Ken didn't eat much, when he remembered to eat at all. But since his skating lessons, Ken would not only eat his dinner but several snacks throughout the night. Ken didn't think much of it but his parents and his partner thought it was great improvement.
"Hey, Ken…" he heard Wormmon say as he decided between chips, red bean buns, a mini-pizza, or all of the above.
He turned and looked at his partner on the countertop.
"I'm glad you're happy," he said and Ken returned his smile.
Actually, Ken decided, between the two of them, they could probably handle a little of all three.
-o-
On Thursday afternoon, a miracle happened. Ken skated. Sort of and he had Taichi's support but it was the first time he had managed to get his legs to do something actually resembling skating. It was proof enough to Ken that skating indeed wasn't a made-up prank and it was something he was actually capable of doing after all.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Ken asked, catching sight of Hikari and Takeru watching him outside the rink. With Taichi's help, he skated over to them.
"Just seeing how the lessons are going," Takeru said. He wondered if he should tell Takeru that Taichi knew about their Saturday plans and give him a head's up on Taichi's own but didn't think it was his place to impede big brother tradition.
"Yea, how are things going?" Hikari asked. "Big brother says you're doing well."
"He's too kind," Ken said, tipping his head downward in embarrassment. "Truth is I just started skating today and not very well."
"Come on, Ken. Be proud of yourself," Taichi said, giving his shoulder a gentle, encouraging shake. "You're skating. We'll work on the 'well' part but you're skating."
"Yeah, you're doing a lot better from our first lesson," Takeru said.
"Yes," Ken nodded, grateful for the all support around him. "And I still have some time left. I hope to be ready."
"You will," Takeru assured. "As long as Koushiro doesn't drop by and forget you're supposed to be learning how to skate, not be a sounding board."
"Ah, he'll be ready," Taichi said, grinning. "All of us pitching in, he's bound to figure out something about skating by then."
"Good luck, Ken." Hikari smiled cheerfully. "Miyako won't even be able to tell you didn't know how to skate a week ago, I bet."
And then Takeru's D-Terminal chimed inside his backpack, alerting everyone of a new email. Hikari helped Takeru fish out the handheld.
"Oh, it's Miyako," Takeru said and then paused to read her message. His fading smile was an instant cause for concern. "…Uh oh, she's asking if we've seen Ken. Looks like Daisuke said something."
"S-She knows?" Ken said, nearly losing his balance in his panic and would have fallen if Taichi had not caught him and helped him stand.
"I don't think so…" Hikari said, reading the email over Takeru's shoulder until her own D-Terminal started to chime. "Oh, Daisuke sent something. …Seems like he managed to keep your lessons secret but Miyako knows that he knows you've been busy doing something secret all week and he won't tell her what that is—"
"And she's trying to find out what the secret is and I guess trying to find out who else might know," Takeru said as he typed. "But we're at the bookstore right now and we haven't seen you all week either but we promise to call or message you and tell you to talk to her."
Ken bowed his head and sighed in relief. "Thank you," he said. At least for now, she didn't know and he had time to figure out something to lead her off the track, in case she insisted on knowing. "We should get back, though..."
"Yea, hopefully we can get you skating by yourself before Daisuke breaks," Taichi said, taking hold of Ken's hands and helping him inch away.
"But he could crack at any moment," Hikari said. "Better stick to the Saturday deadline."
Ken had to agree to that. He really didn't need the extra worry on his mind and shoulders so he tried not to think about the strong possibility of Miyako finding out about his lessons at any second but Ken wasn't the type to not dwell on disparaging thoughts. "Please don't let Miyako find out about my lessons," he pled.
"Just concentrate on learning how to skate," Takeru said, "and leave the damage control to us."
Ken offered a quick, uncertain smile in thanks and headed off with Taichi to practice more. His attention was soon back on his friends when he noticed a silver shine as Hikari raised her camera.
"Ah! Please don't take any pictures!" Ken shouted over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ken," Hikari called. It was harder to see out near the center of the rink but Ken was fairly certain she was smiling and Takeru's shoulders were shaking with laughter. "I promise I won't take any pictures."
She certainly didn't sound like she wasn't planning on taking any pictures.
"Hikari—" he whined, wobbling on the ice in worry and in complete distraction from the task at hand. His wiggling and wobbling soon fell way to outright flailing as Ken lost what little balance he had in his panic.
"Ken! You have to focus!" Taichi ordered, as he managed to grab a hold of him long enough to get pulled down to the ice with him.
Then again, Ken reconsidered as he bowed his head and apologized profusely to Taichi as they each winced and held their sore lower backs, perhaps one miracle wasn't enough.
-o-
Hearing Daisuke call his name as he headed over to meet him and Takeru at the ice rink, Ken stopped and smiled as he turned around and saw him waving his arm in hello with Takeru walking close after. Today's lesson was a little later than the others, with Ken timing his commute from Tamachi to take into account Daisuke's soccer practice. Luckily, there hadn't been a great need afterwards to fabricate a story for Miyako as Iori's grandfather's VCR needed a repair and Miyako was confident she could fix it, though she admitted it had been a while since she had fixed one but she was eager to get the chance to.
Miyako still suspected something was going on. So far, the others had helped keep Ken's lessons a secret but once in a while, Miyako would try to pry something out of Daisuke, he would try to keep quiet but never actually stop talking and their words would grow heated, and eventually someone had to save Daisuke before he spoke a little too much. Luckily, with Miyako having graduated to middle school, Daisuke was at least safe from her there.
But Ken could hardly find fault with Daisuke for having such a hard time keeping quiet. Miyako and Daisuke's tempers could stand in front of one another and not know which was which. The two together…well, strong spirits like theirs tended to clash. It was a wonder that Daisuke had managed to keep quiet this long, especially when she knew her friends were keeping something from her.
"If it hadn't been for Taichi aiming a ball right at Daisuke's head, she would've found out today," Takeru said.
"Yea, he just needed to kick it a little harder and I would've forgotten the secret all together," Daisuke grumbled as he tentatively touched the bruise on the back of his head. "Probably would've forgotten today's math lesson and how to juggle too."
"Daisuke, you don't know how to juggle anyway," Ken reminded him.
"Yea, well…" Daisuke said, scratching his cheek and smiling sheepishly. "If I had, I would've forgotten how…"
"Well, we've only got a few more hours. Can't you avoid Miyako until tomorrow?" Takeru said.
"I don't have to. I've got it all planned," Daisuke said, head raised and smiling, proud of his idea. "When I'm about to give, I'll just make something up. Like you're on a secret mission for the government. Battling rainforest diamond pirates or something."
Ken resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. "That probably wouldn't help things, Daisuke," he said matter-of-factly.
Eyebrow raised in disbelief, Takeru said, "Yea, you're liable to make her angrier lying to her like that."
"But I can't let Ken's secret slip!"
"And you can't tell her wild stories either. Just tell her something reasonable," Takeru said. "Or better yet just let the rest of us handle it. You can hold out for a few more hours, can't you?"
"Yea…" Daisuke grumbled in disappointment. "I was going to make up something cool."
Being a Friday, thus close to the weekend, the ice rink was far more crowded now than Ken had ever seen it earlier in the week. Though he could leave the gate now, the sight of so many people still stifled his courage. Apparently, the rink was a popular place for Odaiba students of all grades to go after school. Daisuke and Takeru waved back and chatted briefly with some passing classmates as they slipped on their skates. Ken said hello when noticed and a few recognized him and asked him for an autograph. He tried not to think of what they would think of him once they saw him out on the ice.
"You think I'll finally be able to skate by myself? I don't have much time left," Ken said as he tightened his laces on his skates.
"You kidding me, Ken?" Daisuke said, laying a hand on Ken's shoulder and raising his other in a confident fist. "By tonight, we'll have you ready for the Winter Olympics! Get ready to represent Japan—"
Takeru quieted Daisuke with a quick jab in the side. "What Daisuke means is yes."
The three of them was a curious sight around the rink, with Takeru and Daisuke each supporting a side and Ken in the middle with his arms wrapped around their shoulders. A few of their classmates eyed them in wonder, purely surprised that ice-skating was apparently one of a few things the Boy Genius didn't know how to do. A few came up to them to say just that and gently kidded with Ken, who took their words in stride and smiled softly in embarrassment. Daisuke, on the other hand, took to his defense a few times and loudly explained that they were trying to teach him to the few who were outright mocking him.
While Takeru was busy responding to Yamato's message, Daisuke continued helping Ken practice. Daisuke's hands rested on Ken's shoulders while Ken held onto Daisuke's outstretched arms for support.
"Hey, I was wondering something..." Daisuke said as they inched along. "The Dark Spore made you a genius, right? Then how come it didn't tell you how to ice skate?"
"The Dark Spore only enhances a host's intelligence and physical abilities," Ken explained, his eyes fixed down on the ice and his feet. "It does not provide information or skills. If I had sought to learn how to ice-skate it would have allowed me to learn at an accelerated pace."
"And I guess the Kaiser wouldn't have needed to know how to ice-skate, " Daisuke said, grinning. "Just so you know I'm totally picturing you as the Kaiser laughing manically as you spin around on the ice."
"Could we…talk about something else?" Ken said, clearly uncomfortable. His time as the Kaiser was something simultaneously always with him and banished to the far corners of his mind. Much as he tried to distance himself from him, it was impossible to escape someone who wore the same clothes, walked in the same shoes, was you at one time.
"Oh, yea… Right… Sorry about that," Daisuke said, cringing at his own insensitivity. "But y'know, Ken, you're not him anymore. I know it's a still a sore spot and this'll be the last I'll talk about it, I swear, but I just want to remind you that you aren't him anymore. I can't make you not think about it but I can tell you to try to not let it get you down."
"It's all right, Daisuke. I think the ice will get me down before my thoughts will," Ken said, wavering. "My attention is a little occupied right now to think of anything else."
"Oh yeah… Concentrating…" Daisuke said, helping Ken regain his balance. "But you know, you are doing much better."
"But it's not good enough," Ken said. "I have to be able to skate by myself. Miyako can't hold me up the entire time."
"Why not?" Daisuke grinned. "You do want to get closer to her."
"That's not…" Redness flushed from Ken's cheeks and ears. "I-I…"
"Wow, I've never seen you like this," Daisuke said, eyes wide. "You must really like Miyako."
Head tilted downward, Ken gently nodded yes.
"I get how she was all gaga for you but what about her changed for you? Miyako is…Miyako. Personally, she reminds me too much of my sister."
"That's because you and her are more similar than either one of you realize," Ken said as Daisuke scrunched up his face in confusion and disagreement. "To be honest… She confuses me."
"She confuses me all the time," Daisuke said, head raised high, "but you don't see me asking her out."
"Miyako…does things the way Miyako wants to. She is true to herself and everyone around her. I'm not the Boy Genius to her. I'm Ken."
"Ha, you like her because she doesn't ask for your autograph anymore," Daisuke joked.
"In a sense, yes, I do. I've had enough of the spotlight and it's nice to be just Ken." He canted his stare off to the side. "I'm still figuring out what that means…"
Daisuke stared at him wide-eyed and blinked. "What do you mean? How can you not know that?"
"I was young when the Spore infected me and for years, it changed me and then I became the Kaiser. Now without it, I have no idea who I am and I have to sort through which is me and which is the Spore's influence…that is what the Spore brought out of me. I have to remember what it is and means to be Ken again."
Again, Daisuke started back at him and blinked his eyes repeatedly in astonishment. "…You really need to go out with Miyako this Saturday," he said in total seriousness. "Just to have some fun."
"My thoughts are not that grim…" Ken said as Daisuke raised an incredulous eyebrow. "It's just simply what it is. Something I have to figure out."
Daisuke sighed. "I know we saved two worlds and all and we're total heroes," he said. "But Ken, you know you're not in junior high yet? And that it's okay to act your age once in while?"
"I know. But there are plenty of things that are…more difficult to sort through than others. Things that will take more time. It's another reason why I like Miyako," Ken said. "Miyako says what is in her honest heart for good and bad and I believe that her sincerity will best keep me in check."
"Sounds like you're thinking awfully far ahead, Ken," Daisuke said, smiling suggestively. "Saving up for a ring yet?"
Ken was not amused.
"What? That's what you sound like!" Daisuke said. "Come on. I know you're supposed to think ahead but you go too far forward. You should think more like me—"
"Not more than a second beforehand?" Ken smirked playfully.
"Exactly!" Daisuke nodded and then realized what Ken had said. "Hey, wait…"
It was then Daisuke's turn to stare unamused back at him as Ken laughed.
-o-
He really shouldn't feel this nervous. His stomach shouldn't feel like Stingmon was swarming about inside him but no matter how many calming breaths he took or how many peppermints he ate to help settle it, his stomach still tipped and churned. His hair was fine every time he caught his reflection in the storefront windows as he passed by on his way to meeting up with Miyako in Odaiba Park and yet he still raised a hand and drew one side behind his ear, only for it to fall right back into its perfect angle once more.
He pressed his hands flat inside his jean pockets in an effort to get them to stop shaking. He really shouldn't be this nervous. He was meeting Miyako. He was meeting a friend, not just a friend but someone he wanted to be even dearer to than that. Nervous should be the last emotion rushing through him and yet he didn't know if all his lessons would pay off, if their not-date would go well, if they would be anything more than friends. He had plenty to be nervous about, even though he shouldn't be.
Ken pulled out his mints and found the small pillbox empty. Just as well, he supposed since he was past the park gates and simply had to find Miyako. That and his breath was so minty chill he could probably freeze his gloves together.
Typing a message on her D-Terminal, Miyako waited by the splashing bronze water fountain of a mermaid clutching a seagull-winged baby. She was wearing her deep red jacket with matching winter tights and her similarly colored vaguely tartan skirt. Ken caught the splash of pink around her neck and noticed she was wearing her turtleneck sweater, but not without first noticing the red sparkling flower that reminded Ken strongly of Shurimon's shuriken pinned to her orange knitted cap. The flower was definitely new.
Catching sight of him, she smiled brightly and waved to him. She quickly closed her D-Terminal and stuffed it into her backpack and then hurried toward him and, to his surprise, wrapped her arms around him.
"Hi, Ken!" she said through her laughter. "It's so good to see you!"
"A-Ah, M-Miyako!" Ken said, taken aback, as he tipped backwards at the sudden off-balance. "It's nice to see you too."
"It's been so long," Miyako said, still with her arms around him. Ken wasn't sure if the heartbeat he was feeling was his or hers.
"It's been a week," he said, a little confused.
"Yea, but—" she said, as she slipped out of their hug and pouted a bit in annoyance. "We hardly get to see you, so it's not just been a week."
"That is true," Ken agreed. Between everyone's daily schedules and his commute, they rarely had time to see one another. Last Saturday at Daisuke's had been the first time in a while that the six of them had been able to hang out together. Miyako was in middle school now and only saw Iori and Takeru now and again because they lived in the same complex.
"Ah, finally we get to see each other and here we are standing around too much. Come on, let's go skating!" she said, grinning, as she took him by the hand and pulled him along as he stumbled and hurried to match her pace toward the ice rink.
At least one of them was eager to get on the ice. Unfortunately, that was Miyako and not Ken. As they laced up their skates, Ken purposely retied his knots several times in an effort to stall time. Truthfully, he just wanted to calm his nerves and gather his courage. Ken would have asked Daisuke to let him hold onto the Digimental of Courage for the afternoon if it could actually bless the holder with courage but it could not and did not. No, all Ken had was time and breath to find his own nerve.
"Let's go, Ken!" she said as she helped him stand.
As the ice drew closer, Ken's heartbeat quickened. Every bit of advice, every lesson seemed to float aimlessly about in his head like the bubbles he blew off the balcony with Osamu. The exposure of the truth was imminent and Ken couldn't stand to let Miyako see the truth without her knowing.
"Miyako, there's something you should know," he said, as she turned and faced him, a curious and puzzled look on her face. "I-I don't really know how to skate. I'm sorry, I should've told you but you were so eager to come here that I didn't say anything. I tried to learn all week and everyone helped out but even with all my lessons, I still can't skate well."
Ken wasn't sure how he expected her to react. Disappointed, yes, maybe even a bit annoyed by him not telling her the truth and keeping things behind her back. What he did not expect was the softness in her eyes and her understanding smile.
"That's okay," she said. "The point is that you tried. You went through so much just to make me happy." And then she looked down at the rink, touched the tips of her gloved thumbs together, and grinned sheepishly. "Truth is…I should be apologizing to you. I chose to go ice-skating because Daisuke told me once you couldn't and I wanted to know how much I meant to you."
It was then Ken's turn not to know how to react.
"The boys didn't know but Hikari knew my plan and kept me up to date on your lessons. I only pretended not to know anything." She peered back up at him, her eyes apologetic. "I understand if you're angry with me…"
Ken shook his head no and smiled. "I'm not angry. It was an interesting experience learning how to ice-skate."
"I can't believe you went through so much just for me…" Miyako said.
Ken tipped his head down bashfully. "I guess you mean a lot to me then."
"Yea…" Miyako blushed and grinned brightly. Overcome and energized with happiness, she suddenly raised her fist and cheered. "All right! The others gave you lessons all week but you haven't had one with me! And I bet you'll definitely know how to skate by the time we're through!"
Thankfully she did not drag him onto the ice as she grabbed both his hands and led him through the rink gate. Miyako guided him gently along, her hands resting on his shoulders, as he slowly skated with her support. He steadied himself more by holding onto her upper arms than by laying his hands on her shoulders, unable and uncomfortable with resting them any higher than that. Both stared down toward their feet, each one leaning toward the other in an effort to get a better view. In time, there was no more distance left as their foreheads touched.
Surprise caught the both of them and they looked up, meeting one another's eyes and holding their gaze. Her brown eyes stared back at his violet-blue in awe and wonder. Ken's heart drummed in his chest as he felt the weight of her hands on his shoulders, the feel of his own around her upper arms, and speculated on what it would be like to wrap them around her waist and draw her close to him.
He heard Miyako indistinctly mumble something about Ken smelling like peppermints and Ken muttered he ate a pillbox full as their eyes remained fixed and studied one another's faces. Ken calculated the distance between their lips first in inches and then in centimeters and then asked himself if he had the courage to shorten the gap between them. As it turned out, no, no, he did not. That and Miyako was the first to softly and awkwardly laugh—it sort of sounded like a high, sharp hiccup—and looked away, pink on her cheeks. Ken followed suit seconds after.
"Ken…" she said, still pink and peering away. "You want to try skating on your own?"
Eyes widening in alarm, Ken certainly didn't want to try.
"I think you're ready," she said.
Ken didn't think he was ready. He certainly didn't feel ready as he felt her hands slide away and she pushed off sharply away from him. Ken flailed his arms and wiggled a bit at the shock and sudden loss of support but soon found his balance and managed to propel his skates forward. Again and again.
"Bingo!" Miyako cheered, clapping her gloved hands vigorously. "You've got it!"
Indeed, somehow, Ken was skating by himself at a leisurely pace like everyone else circling the rink. He could probably skate faster but Ken saw no reason to push his luck. He did nearly fall back and hit the ice when Miyako skated toward him and hugged him. Miyako laughed in complete joy of his success and Ken smiled in return as he felt the warmth of her cheek pressed against his. He even mustered enough courage to return her hug, tentatively drawing his arms around her shoulders. At the end of his lessons and now an ice-skater of adequate skill, Ken decided that skating was pretty fun after all.
Ken could not remember how many times they went around the rink. He could describe the feel of holding Miyako's hand around the ice or of her pulling him along as she sped forward as he scrambled to catch up and found himself not so much panicking than enjoying the sudden rush—it certainly kept his heart beating. He could map out every smile line around her mouth and eyes and he knew exactly where the light would shine through her ears but he could not tell you how long they had been out there. It was only when Miyako decided it was time for a hot chocolate break did Ken see that two hours had passed.
"You know, Ken," she said as they sat at a table, sipped hot chocolate, and watched the steady stream of people spiral around the ice. "From now on, if there's ever a place you don't want to go or I ask you to do something you don't know how, you should tell me. Just because I suggest it doesn't mean we have to do it."
Ken watched the curls of melted whipped cream swirl about on the surface of his hot chocolate. "But you seemed like you really wanted to come here and I didn't want to upset you…"
"Ken, you're missing the point!" she said, her voice raised. "I don't want to go somewhere just because. I want to go there to be with you. You can tell me if you don't like it or want to do it because how can I have any fun if you're not having any fun? You have to speak up, Ken!"
Miyako's spirit ran like lightning, for good and bad—as equally she could bolt around for hours, laughing and smiling, her temper could flash and flare. At least, throughout her quick-triggered, passionate responses, he knew she was being sincere. There was always honesty in her words.
"You're right, Miyako. I should've said something. I should've told you." He nodded appreciatively and smiled, one that he knew was sure to calm her. "I promise I'll speak up."
"And then if you ever want lessons, you can include me next time. I'm a great teacher, aren't I?" She grinned and winked.
Well, she certainly provided Ken plenty of distraction, he admitted. Ken softly laughed. "You know, it never once occurred to me that you had any other reason for choosing ice-skating over anything else," he said. "I do believe you outsmarted me."
Miyako raised her head high and proud. "You're not the only genius in the world, Ken Ichijouji," she said and then stuck her thumb out and pointed at herself. "This super girl happens to have a pretty good head on her shoulders too."
"I've known that for a while now…" Ken said. "How smart you are, how funny, and full of energy you are. Though of all the things I know and like about the head on your shoulders, I admit I have a soft spot for everything between the ears."
Miyako did not know what to say and simply stared puzzled back at him.
"I…" His heart was beating and it positively was not from a hot chocolate caffeine-sugar rush. "…I like you."
He watched her blush and tip her head down and smile shyly. "I know," she said, idly swirling her half-empty cup. "No boy takes secret skating lessons for a girl he doesn't like."
"That is true," Ken said, looking down and fiddling with his fingers—the proper response of the shy and uncertain young couple on the precipice of blossoming love—before slowly reaching over and taking Miyako's hand. At first, he worried she would not let him but as his hand brushed hers, she pulled her hand from her cup and gave it to him.
"So, Ken…" Miyako said, eyes on their clasped hands, as her soft smile quickly broadened, "where are we going next time?"
"Oh, I don't know," he said casually. "Wherever you want to go is fine with me."
"You're lucky I like you, Ken Ichijouji," Miyako said, wrinkling her nose in light annoyance, as she held back her smile and tried not to laugh.
Ken simply grinned. Wherever they did go next, Miyako would probably end up leading him around anyway, ever eager as she was, but at least wherever they went, they would go together. From here on out.
Indeed, Ken was lucky.
