Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon
It was the fallowing night, and Hotaru stood in her room with butterflies fluttering dangerously around in her stomach. Today was her date with matt. She still couldn't believe he had asked her out in front of her family. Hotaru had to admit, she was very impressed with his bold and straight forward personality. Kari and Sora were in the room helping her get ready. Tai sat on the carpet floor room next to Sora, amused by all that was going.
" Sora did you put this much effort when we went out on our first date?" Tai asked her, trying to remember what she was wearing on their first day. Sora laughed. " We went to a baseball game Tai! I didn't really have to put much effort into my outfit. Mind you, Mimi actually wanted me to wear a mini skirt and a sparkly tank top" Sora said laughing fondly at her best friend.
" Mimi is a smart girl!" Tai mumbled quietly, as Sora gave him an amused look.
"Speaking of Mimi , she says she has some good news to share with us!" Kari said, as remembered how nervous she was when TK and her finally went out on their frist date.
"What about?" Tai asked curiously
"Not with you Tai! Just with us girls." Kari kidded her older brother.
"Oh my dear, Hotaru, You look amazing!" Mrs. Kamiya cried, as she stood in the door way, looking at her eldest daughter. Hotaru was wearing a deep blue skinny jeans, and a cotton white top that Kari insisted she wear. Sora had done hair into an elegant but simple pony tail.
" Thanks mom" Hotaru said blushing, and smoothing her top.
"What time is your boyfriend picking you up?" Mr. Kamiya asked as he joined his wife. He had to admit his daughter did look amazing. He was happy that Hotaru was finally living a life like a normal teenager.
" He's not my boyfriend dad" Hotaru mumbled " and he should be here any moment." she was anxiously awaiting his arrival.
" Alright, alright." Susumu said shaking his head laughing and, putting his hands in the air. I won't call him you boyfriend. You're too young to get settled down anyways."
" He sure is good looking though" Mrs. Kamiya said. " Both him and TK have such beautiful blue eyes. Eyes you could get lost in."
" MOOOOOOM!" the Kamiya children groaned. Great! First my sisters, now my mother !Tai thought grumpily.
" Just make sure you're school work doesn't suffer." Her father said putting his arm around his wife, and looking at his 3 beautiful children
" Psh! She could probably teach that class." Tai said rolling his eyes. They heard a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" Her mom said, as she left to answer the door. Mr. Kamiya fallowed his wife.
"Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya." Matt said nervously as he entered the house. Matt had been to Tai house numerous time, yet he felt like he was visiting for the first time today.
"Why Matt, you sure clean up good." Mr. Kamiya said. "Thank you sir". Matt said, and then handed a bag of food to Mr. Kamiya. "This is for Tai, just like he ordered." Matt said sourly, still annoyed that Tai insisted Matt buy him dinner for a week for going out with Hotaru.
Tai came and took the bag from his father with a huge a grin. "Very good. A+ for fallowing orders."
"TAICHI!" Cried his mother and Sora, while his father and Kari rolled with laughter
"You better have not made Matt bring you food in order to go with you sister!" Said Sora angrily as she pulled him away by the ear.
Matt laughed. Tai could never get anything passed Sora. " Ready to go? " He asked smiling at Hotaru. She nodded.
After saying goodbye to the family, and promising to have Hotaru home in time, the couple left.
Matt had never been this nervous on a date before. And he had PLENTY of dates. He dated Cheerleaders, Choir girls, and even queen bees. All those girls were pretty demanding and high maintenance. They all wanted to be treated like Queens, and Matt really never cared if he impressed them or not. Usually, Matt would lose interest them before the drama started. Matt knew he didn't have to buy expensive things or make reservations at fancy restaurants to make Hotaru happy. And that's what made him nervous. Unlike all the other girls he's been out with, he actually wanted to get to know Hotaru. He wanted to know what made her smile, and what made her cry. He wanted to know what she loved, what she feared, and what she thought about everything. In some ways, Hotaru reminded Matt of himself. When he first met Hotaru, he remembered thinking that this girl looks so lonely, even though she was surrounded by people that loved her.
Hotaru was first startled by the size of the crowd at the concert. She was never a fan of big crowds. However she felt a lot better once Matt held her hand and they sat down in their seats. This was a band that Hotaru had never heard before, and she became an instant fan. Moreover, she enjoyed how close Matt leaned towards whenever he wanted to share a bit of his knowledge about the band members.
She could feel her face burn up like fire. After the concert, they went to dinner. Dinner was pleasant. Hotaru still a bit nervous didn't talk too much. In order to make her feel more comfortable, Matt told her about the troubles that he and Tai would get into on a regular basis. After dinner, Matt took her over to his apartment. A daring move, that Matt prayed she wouldn't take the wrong way.
" Why are we at your house?" Hotaru asked, as Matt fumbled with his keys. Matt couldn't believe how nervous he was. In the past, whenever Matt brought girls over to his apartment, he felt every confident.
"I have a surprise for you." Matt answered, as he held the door open for Hotaru to enter. He and his dad had stayed up late last night cleaning the apartment. Needless to say, the apartment had never looked this clean since they first moved in. Wait till TK sees this. He'll freak Matt thought, impressed with his work.
" It's very clean." Hotaru said as she took off her coat and handed it to Matt. " I expected it to be a bit messier."
"why, because two men live alone?" Matt asked as he lead Hotaru to the living room and sat on the couch. "No because TK said you could barely see the floor." Hotaru answered, smiling sheepishly.
"What? I'll have you know, his room is actually a lot messier. He' just shoves everything into the closet or under the bed whenever Kari goes over. " He said waving his hand. His hand accidently brushed Hotaru's as he rested it.
Hotaru blushed. " You nervous?" Matt asked. Hotaru nodded shyly. "Me too" Matt admitted. The two teens smiled at each other. Hotaru then noticed a picture on the coffee table of a younger Matt, and TK with an elderly man and woman. "Are they your grandparents?" Hotaru asked, picking up the picture to closely examine it.
" Yeah it is. They are my dad's parents. This picture was taking a few summers ago during summer vacation. It was actually the same summer I first met you." Matt said, remember that every eventful summer.
"Really? I don't remember."
" I've kind of had a crush on you since then."
Hotaru blushed.
"It was the summer that Diaboromon first appeared on the internet. After the battle was done, the gang was supposed to meet at Tai's house. When we came over , you and your grandmother was there. I remember she was a very friendly woman, she talked with all of us, and teased your mom about her cooking. You we wearing a white sun dress with long sleeves, and black tights. I remember thinking you looked so lonely even though you were surrounded by so much people. You didn't really talk much; you just smiled as Tai introduced us to you. You were glued to your grandmother." Matt said.
"Oh yes I remember. I remember that day. "
"That was the day when I first met your uncle Iwoa as well. He and your dad got into a fight about some house, and then it was just ackward so we left. I remember looking at you before I left. You looked so terrified. You know, you had the same look when he was over on your birthday. He scares you doesn't he?"
Matt noticed Hotaru turning pale. He grabbed hold of her hand.
"Hey hey, Hotaru. I didn't mean to upset you. We don't have to talk about him."
Hotaru squeezed Matt's hand back, and took a deep breath.
"No, it's ok. My uncle isn't a nice man. He makes me very uncomfortable. " Hotaru explained.
"What do you mean?"
"My grandmother's parents had arranged her marriage when she was little, to a boy in the same village.
He wasn't a good man. My grandmother said he was a very dark, and had many daemons. He used to abuse her, and treat her really bad. But my grandmother stayed with him because she had two children with him; my uncle Iwoa and my aunt Hitomi. Then something happened, and my grandmother's husband decided to leave her. Despite how hard she fought, he took off with my aunt , and left my uncle with my grandmother. A few years after wards, my grandmother met my grandfather, and they fell in love and got married, and had my dad. My uncle Iwao always resented my granddad because he it was his fault that his parents broke up and never got back together. And because of that he's recented my dad, and in turn me, because I remind him of my aunt. He doesn't like my aunt either because his father chose to take her instead of him."
"What happened to your aunt?"
" My grandmother looked as hard as she could, but she never found her. But, my dad went to Tokyo for university, he accidently found my aunt, and she was reunited with my grandmother for some time."
"For some time?"
"I'm not too sure why, but she left soon a few months before I was born, and no one has heard from her since."
Matt squeezed her hand. " that must have been very hard on your grandmother."
"My grandmother never got over losing my aunt twice. And my uncle never got over feeling like his parents didn't want him."
Matt looked at Hotaru with concerned eyes. He felt like she wanted to tell him more.
"Sometimes I think that's why Iwoa took me away from my parents. He wanted revenge on the family, so he separated me. I wish my dad didn't let him. "
"Oh Hotaru," Matt said, putting his arm around her in a hug.
"Promise you won't tell anyone?" Hotaru asked like a child.
"Hotaru I'll protect your secrets with my life" Matt said sincerely.
" I hated that school Matt. I hated everything that school was. The only reason I was able to deal with it was because of my friends Ami and Sakura. "
"Oh, Hotaru," Matt said as he comforted her. He put her arms around her and gently stroked her hair.
"The girls at my school, thought they were superior to others. They were very cruel, and had no consideration for other people feelings. They used words like weapon, knowing what words would make the most impact. They made me feel like I was an outcast at my school. In a school of 1000 students, I had only 2 friends. I was an outcast in my family. They always treated me like a guest. And Iwoa always made feel like an outcast when I visited my grandmother. " Hotaru said as tears fell down her cheeks. "
Matt felt helpless. He hated that she was crying, and hated even more that he couldn't make it better.
"They never called me by my name. It was always freak. We were all freaks, yet they had to single me out."
"what do you mean Hotaru?" Matt asked concerned
Hotaru looked at Matt , suddenly aware of her surroundings. She realized matt had his left arm around her , his hand gently grasping her left shoulder. His right hand held hers, and he looked at her with such concerned eyes. Hotaru had her legs crossed to the side of her, her left thigh touching Matt's right. Hotaru closed her eyes, aware that she had told matt things she never spoke about aloud, things she was afraid to even admit to herself.
"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. " Hotaru heard her grandmothers voice. This was something grandmother used always tell her, a quote from her favourite author Hemmingway. "
" Hotaru?" Matt said tentively. Please don't let her shut me out again
"Hotaru I'll protect your secrets with my life" She remembered matt saying
Hotaru opened her eyes, and took a deep breath. "I'll show you." She said as she reached up for Matt's hand that was around her shoulders. She lead him by the hand to his kitchen, and reached for the knife that was on the table.
"Hotaru?" Matt asked, confused and startled at the same time.
"I can trust you right?" Hotaru asked again, trying to be brave and not chicken out.
Matt nodded. Hotaru opened the tap and washed the knife under the running water. She closed the tap and held her right hand, palm up, over the sick. She took the Knife with her left hand, and quickly made a shift cut on her palm, and then dropped the knife in the sick.
" HOTARU WHAT THE HELL!?" Matt said cried as he reached for Hotaru's hand. Blood was dripping from her hand and into the sink. Hotaru pushed matt away with her uninjured hand.
"Just watch Matt." She said, and then placed her left hand close on top of her bleeding left one. She closed her eyes, and she left the familiar warmth flow towards her hand from the center of her heart.
Matt watched , shocked as Hotaru closed her eyes. He thought she was going to faint. Then he saw a purple mist, radiate from her left hand, and Right before his eyes, the blood on Hotaru's hand disappeared, and the skin of the on her palms shrunk together and diminished the cut on her hands.
Hotaru opened her eyes once she felt the healing was over. She looked at her hand, and a feeling of dread enclosed her whole body. What if Matt thought she was a freak too, and wanted nothing to do with her. She turned around to face matt, and leaned on the kitchen counter. Matt stared at her in shock.
If Matt told say he wants nothing to do with me, I'll just call Tai to pick me up. No, that would effect Tai's friendship with matt. It's not too far my house, I'll just walk home, and tell Tai I didn't want to see matt anymore. Yeah that's what I'll do.
" I'll just get my coat and leave" Hotaru said, as she tried to side step matt. Matt snapped out of it, and place his hand on her waist and stopped her from walking.
"Why? Where are you going?"
" Don't you want me to leave?"
" Why?"
" Because I'm a freak?"
Matt took a step closer to matt, his hands still on her waist. He was so close that he could hear her soft breaths.
"Hotaru, I always knew you were special." He stroked her left. He then picked up her left hand, and kissed her palm. " Just please don't ever hurt yourself again. You scared me."
Hotaru blushed and looked up at Matt's ocean blue eyes. Mom is right, he does have such gorgeous eyes.
Then without thinking what she was doing, Hotaru tippy –toed, Put her left hand on Matt's cheek, and kissed him gently on the lips. Once Matt had gotten over the initial surprise of being kissed, matt wrapped his arms around Hotaru's waist, and kissed her back, more passionately.
Hotaru felt like mini fireworks where going off all over her body. She felt like hot where Matt's hands were around her waist, and she could fell her ears and cheeks turning red, but she didn't want it to end. She put her arms around r his neck, and Matt, pulled her closer, and kissed her some more. It was like she was a breath of fresh air to Matt. He loved the feeling ofher silky hair that brushed against his chin. Goosebumps were all over him especially on his neck, where Hotaru had wrapped her arms around.
The couple had finally broken apart. Just as Hotaru thought, her cheeks and ears were red as tomatoes. After cleaning the sink of any blood, and Matt decided to throw the knife out, the two sat on the couch once again.
" so can everybody in your school heal?
"No. as far as I know it's just me, and this other girl who's like 6."
" So what about everybody else."
Hotaru took a deep breath. " In order to attend the' academic, you have to have psychic abilities."
"Like reading minds?"
" some people can read minds, some can move objects with their minds , telekinesis, others can alter realities, and then few have other abilities as well."
"Such as?"
" well, uummm" unsure how much she should tell matt. "For example, well I can heal, and some can control the elements."
Matt shook his head. He believed Hotaru , but all this information just hurt his head.
"Wait, so you have psychic abilities too?"
Hotaru nodded afraid of how matt would feel to her ability. Matt decided that he would not ask Hotaru what her psychic ability was. He had a very strong feeling, that this was something Hotaru did not want to share. And his hunches were usually right.
"Well I guess it makes sense." Matt said.
Hotaru looked up at him with surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Well take the digidestined. At first we didn't even know that the digital world exists, but it does, and so does other dimensions. And there are digidestined of all over the world, consisting of different generations. Most of the world doesn't even know about the digital world. So it makes sense that there would be other unexplainable things like magic that the world isn't aware of either."
Hotaru nodded her head. "There is a whole world out there Matt, that is hidden. So much that I can't even begin to understand."
"But Hotaru, what I don't understand is why would those girls exclude you?"
Hotaru Sighed. She pulled up her tights to reveal her birthmark. "there is an ancient legend , which is probably not true, that those born with the mark of the moon, or a star, are destined to be some kind of gatekeepers of light. And they are said to posses power like no one else has seen before. "
"Okay?"
"Since I have this birthmark, the others exclude me. They've been doing that ever since I was little."
"That's why you always wear tights to hide it?" Matt said, suddenly understand so much more about Hotaru.
Hotaru nodded.
"Hotaru, I want you to know that you are not an outsider to me." Matt said stroking her cheek. " Don't ever feel alone, because I will always be by your side."
Hotaru nodded, and hugged Matt.
"Matt?" She asked, as they broke away from their hug. "what's the surprise?"
Matt smiled, and two figures appeared on his laptop screen. "Matt!" one of them cried.
"Perfect timing guys" he said as he lead Hotaru over to the computer table. " The surprise was these guys." He said, nodding to Gatomon, and Gabumon. "they've been nagging me all the time to talk to you".