Disclaimer-I don't own Digimon. I don't even own a digimon. If I did own a digimon, I think I would live a slightly happier life.
---------------------------------------------
Clashing
---------------------------------------------
"They're on good terms?" Takuya yelled in surprise the very next morning. "Kouji, of all the rotten lies-"
"Hey, Takuya…" Kouichi murmured as he passed the goggle boy, waving as he did. "Anyone see Hotaru? Goggle-brain, you're in the way of my locker."
He doesn't seem to have changed, Takuya thought, stepping aside as he stared at Kouichi suspiciously. On the other side of the older twin, Kouji did the same.
Kouichi stopped what he was doing. "What?" he snapped, glaring at Kouji and then Takuya. "Don't you guys have gossip to discuss or girlfriends to chase?"
"What's your deal?" Takuya asked, sticking his face closer to Kouichi's.
Kouji followed, asking, "What's up with you and Hotaru?"
Oh…so that's what last night's dream was about. "Let me guess," Kouichi muttered, pushing the two away. "The 'umi's got mad at you for bothering about me and started hanging out with their friends, resulting in you two going mad and skimming over a thousand possibilities of what could have possibly changed me." When they nodded, Kouichi smirked and began opening his locker. "Nothing did, idiots. You're wasting your time," he told them.
"It's a lie! Plug your ears Kou-Kouji?" Takuya dropped his hands, watching in confusion as his bandana-less friend walked off. Sheez…I'm glad I don't have a twin, Takuya thought, starting after Kouji.
Someone held him back. "Unless you want detention for violating the dress code, take off the goggles and stuff them into your locker," Kouichi advised, letting go of Takuya's shoulder as the said boy turned around. "And actually wear the jacket properly."
Takuya frowned. "If I don't…?" he asked suspiciously.
Silence fell between them as Kouichi took out his books, shut his locker and locked it. Then, with a shrug, he admitted, "No clue. But play it safe today, will you? This is middle school, not a playground." Now where's Hotaru? Kouichi's eyes scanned the hall restlessly. She's not here…
The goggle boy looked at Kouichi curiously as the bell sounded throughout the hall. I wonder if he even heard the bell ring…might as well wake him up. "Kouichi! Class time. We'll be late," Takuya informed the preoccupied boy.
But Kouichi seemed too distracted to care. "Uh…yeah, that's great," he murmured absentmindedly. Then, under his breath: "Where is she?"
"Alright, buddy, time for class!" Takuya insisted. "Search for her during break…whoever you're searching for," Takuya added under his breath as he grabbed Kouichi's arm and dragged him off to class.
---------------------------------------------
"Mr. Kimura! You would do well to pay attention in class. May I inquire what could possibly be bothering you?" Mr. Kanemaru asked.
Surprised, Kouichi stood up. "Uh…? Oh…nothing," he said quickly before sitting down. "Sorry." He was too distracted to notice or care about the gasps going around the room. I guess I could always ask Arata, he supposed, sending a hesitant glance in the said boy's direction. But I don't think he'd know…furthermore, I doubt he knows just how much she likes him. He let out a half-hearted chuckle, returning his attention to the front and yelping when he saw his teacher standing in front of his desk. "M-Mr. Kanemaru…! Er…uh…I was…"
"For the twelfth time, do you need to go to the office? Perhaps sleep this behavior off?" Mr. Kanemaru asked, sounding exasperated.
"Uh…I…actually…" Kouichi rose to his feet without bothering to contemplate the other possibilities. "That sounds cool. Thanks," he said, heading for the door and stopping before he could get out. Wait! He took several steps back and looked to his right, eyes narrowing on Yumena's seat.
Empty.
"Where's…Yumena…?" Kouichi asked Mr. Kanemaru, trying not to sound too curious.
"Principal Moriguchi wished to speak to her…" Mr. Kanemaru frowned. "Are you-"
"Whew, I feel a headache coming! A nap awaits me," Kouichi declared, strolling out of the room before breaking into a run and quickly dashing around the corner, where he waited for Mr. Kanemaru to disappear back into the classroom. Next stop, Kouji's class. But first…waiting until that geezer of a teacher stops trying to find me.
---------------------------------------------
I'm confused…'nothing' changed him? It's true…but it isn't true at the same time. He's the same, rude Kouichi. But he seems happier. He's getting along with people for goodness sakes! That has to count for something. It can't just be 'nothing.' Kouji let out a sigh and stared at the door. What's with him? Or is it just me…? I really should stop talking to myself.
"Hey, Mr. Tanimoto?"
Kouji looked up, recognizing the sound of the voice. His eyes narrowed on the form of his brother. "Kouichi, what are you-" he began.
"Is Hotaru in class?" Kouichi asked before Kouji could finish. "She…uh…has something of mine."
Mr. Tanimoto shook his head. "I'm afraid she's absent, Kouichi. You didn't get kicked out of class did you…?" the teacher asked, eyes sparkling with humor.
"Sorry, I don't want to stoop to Kouji's level." With a sigh, Kouichi quickly waved at Mr. Tanimoto. "Thanks anyway!" he called out, running off again.
"I DON'T GET KICKED OUT OF CLASS!" Kouji yelled, rising to his feet before he could stop himself. In an instant, all eyes were on him. He fell back into his seat, pink-faced. "Uh…sorry. Don't know what came over me," he said with a nervous laugh. Kouji quickly turned serious. He's up to something…just…what?
---------------------------------------------
He ran for all his legs were worth, sliding to a stop just past the Principal's office as he remembered Yumena had been asked to speak with Principal Moriguchi. What's she doing? His breath was racing at a speed only challenged by his heart. Somehow, he managed to compose himself. Kouichi drew in a single breath, exhaling slowly as he approached the door. All other sound seemed to disappear, being replaced instead with two voices, one of which he recognized.
"It isn't my fault he did that." Yumena, Kouichi immediately thought. But the other…
"He was smart about it, I suppose. She called her 'Kae'…and Yumena, don't make that face. He serves under you and you're going to have to set him in place."
Kouichi lifted a hand and placed it on his throbbing temple. It wasn't the principal speaking; the voice was too young, and Principal Moriguchi was relatively middle-aged. But Kouichi easily drew his own conclusions. Great, is the principal Baku's goon too? Next thing you know, the entire school…no…the entire city will be under Baku's influence.
"But he's so…infuriating!" Yume insisted.
Infuriating? She needs to expand her vocabulary, Kouichi thought with a smirk. 'Infuriating' doesn't cover even half of it.
The second voice laughed. "I should know." Kouichi guessed him to be a young man in his twenties or thirties. "Heima, fill her in on the rest and then report back. I have a certain interloper to take care of."
What?! How…? Kouichi took several steps away from the door, not daring to breath. I'm confus-no! I can't be saying that! I have to be confusing them! That guy said, 'I should know.' What does that mean? Spy…stalker…or wait! Kouji's working-no…wait. He sounded higher than Yumena, and she's practically royalty there. And he's ordering Heima around. Wait-he's ordering Heima around! "That was…?" Kouichi's eyes widened.
'Heima's still the second most powerful guy here.' Itsuma had said that, which meant…
That must mean that guy was…BAKU? "But he's too young," Kouichi muttered. This Baku guy's an old geezer, isn't he?
"Wrong."
Kouichi's eyes widened as he turned around. His breath hitched. In front of him, Gatomon's card floated to the floor. The boy slowly picked it up off the floor. "Then…if Gatomon is here, then Hotaru…Damn it!" Without a second thought, he ran off the school ground, unsure of what he was doing himself.
---------------------------------------------
He reached Hotaru's house in a matter of minutes. With no cars in the driveway and the door unlocked but open, Kouichi couldn't do anything but worry. Double damn, he thought, ringing on the doorbell as a precaution. "Hotaru…?" he called out. When no one answered him, Kouichi ran inside, feeling he had a perfectly good excuse.
Ick…a girl's house. Well…no, technically it's her dad's house. Whatever. Just find her, Kouichi! "But where's her room…?" And why didn't I get a damned dream about this?
Kouichi spent all of five minutes dashing from the kitchen to the living room to the backyard, looking behind every counter, couch and fern. Then, deciding it was his only choice, Kouichi stepped into the hall, looking from one door to another. "Let's try…this!" he muttered, quickly opening a door and closing his eyes at the same time.
Silence. He opened his eyes and shut the door with a groan. Where is she? "Taro girl!" Kouichi yelled. "This isn't funny!" Angrily, he pulled out the reader and his deck. Card…card…Doggymon would be nice about now! He took Gatomon's card and pocketed the rest of the deck. "Forget it. Gatomon!" he snapped, sliding the said card down the slot. "What happened to Hotaru?" he asked as the digimon materialized.
If any words could describe Gatomon at the moment, it was irked beyond reason. The cat glared up at Kouichi. "If you had paid attention to the metal thingy in your hands, you would know," she told him. "You could have helped us out."
"What?" Frowning, Kouichi gazed at the screen. "Let's see…'Jerk, hurry up here!' What else? 'He's got her-no…he's got me.' Well sorry. I didn't know they'd get so annoyed with me lending you to Hotaru," Kouichi snapped, a bit relieved that only Gatomon had been taken.
Gatomon just coughed once before walking up to a door. "Well before I tell you the truth, she's in here," the cat said hesitantly.
"Great!" Kouichi ran over to the door and pushed it open. "Hotaru-I mean…Taro girl…? Yikes, they made a mess…" Or is this the normal state of her room? He frowned, seeing her lying on her bed under the covers, eyes shut. This is my fault. I really owe her. "Alright, Gatomon. What's the 'truth'?" Boy turned to digimon, awaiting an answer.
"I kind of…spoke in front of her."
He groaned. No wonder! "Gatomon…"
"I thought she was still asleep!" Gatomon insisted in her defense. "But she was awake. And then two jerks from the security talon came and knocked both of us out. Believe me, it was less than pretty."
I can imagine. "I don't have any normal-looking digimon left. Hey, you think you could get Doggymon?" Kouichi suddenly asked.
But Gatomon's gaze was fixed on Hotaru. "Don't bother. She's awake."
Kouichi winced, gazing at Hotaru in time to see her sit up and gaze at him sleepily. "What…are…you doing in my room?" she mumbled, trying to grasp a hold of reality.
At a loss for words, Kouichi gaped at Hotaru, not even trusting himself to speak when words came. Then, clearing his throat, he explained awkwardly, "I…well, you weren't at school, so I came to get Ga-Kae."
A strange look passed Hotaru's face. "B-but…" She stopped, and the words disappeared when she saw the cat. Instead, Hotaru began stuttering incessantly. "Sh-the-wh-Kouichi…" Hotaru started again, letting out a strangled cry, "What is going on?"
"What do you remember from before this?"
"I…I woke up and Kae was there," Hotaru said after much contemplation.
"Great. You must've had a nice long dream, because you're late for school!" Kouichi snapped angrily.
"Kouichi-" She stopped herself and turned away. I don't get it. Why did he come for me? And why is he…
Kouichi stood there patiently (for once) awaiting Hotaru to finish her thinking. When she didn't, he cleared his throat.
"Get…out! I have to change, pervert!" Hotaru yelled, picking up her pillow and throwing it at the shocked boy. I'll ask you some other time, Kouichi. I don't think either one of us is ready for answers.
---------------------------------------------
"I don't get it…why are you late?" Kouji asked for the second time that lunch. Hotaru had come five minutes before lunch started with the excuse of a fever.
An irked Sumi pulled on his ear. "Drop it, Kouji. I don't know what's gotten over you. So Kouichi's changing. Big deal! What's so strange about that?" the girl snapped. "And leave Hotaru alone."
"No…he's right," Hotaru muttered. "I don't really understand why he's being nice to me. Being on good terms is one thing, but he apologized, meaning…"
"Of course!" Kouji yelled. He grinned at Hotaru. "He found someone new to annoy!"
Hotaru nodded. "He said something about that a while ago. It must be someone…who must not like me."
Both Sumi and Kouji looked at Hotaru incredulously. "What gave you that idea?" the two asked.
"Think about it! Hasn't he talked politely to someone Kouji hates?" Hotaru demanded.
"I'm not hearing this!" Sumi exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air and walking a ways away.
"You're right," Kouji muttered, folding his arms across his chest and ignoring Sumi for the moment. "And he always barges in my room, and I have to knock. How fair is that? Just because he's older by minutes…and Mom and Dad let him get away with it. He totally takes advantage of it!"
I wonder why, Hotaru thought, rolling her eyes. "We've got this mystery in the bag, then!"
Kouji let out a sigh. "I've always wanted to be a detective. Total solo work," he murmured wistfully.
"What does this have to do with anything?"
Silence.
"Anyway, Kouichi did say something about introducing me to someone. Maybe they would know," Hotaru concluded.
Kouji blanched in response. Seeing the look of askance on the girl's face, he pointed behind her. "Sorry…he told me to keep quiet."
"Oh…you mean…" Hotaru's face fell as she turned around. "K-Kouichi…" She found him leaning on the tree just behind her.
The older twin just shook his head. "Sorry, but you can forget meeting anyone. Too risky now," Kouichi declared, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes on Kouji. "No Takuya?" he asked, scanning the table and the surrounding people a few yards away.
Again, Kouji blanched, this time for a different reason altogether. "Actually, he and Izumi are spending some…alone time together," the boy explained awkwardly.
"Oh. Makes sense."
"It does?"
Kouichi just rolled his eyes. "Hey, Hotaru, I need you to forget about Kae. Will you?"
Her expression was just as he predicted: utter disbelief. "B-but…why? What's the big deal?" she demanded. "That's not fair!"
"Shut up." Kouichi let out a sigh, seeing tears brimming in her eyes. "Look, I'm sorry, but it isn't possible. Just forget the cat. I'll even say 'please,'" he told her, trying to keep his emotions at bay. "So would you…please?"
Hotaru clenched her firsts. "Fine," she spat.
"I'm not going to apologize this time. Don't give me that attitude."
"Why? Because I don't know how it feels?" the girl spat, completely ignoring the fact that Kouji, and now even Sumi were listening.
Kouichi was more conscious of his surroundings, but cared little. "Actually, I'm pretty sure…no…I know you don't know how this feels. You don't want to, either. Forget the cat completely."
"Kae."
"Uh…?"
"Kae, not cat, you jerk!" Hotaru snapped, standing up and japing his chest with a finger. "Get it right!"
Kouichi flinched as she eventually broke into sobs and leaned into the arm of his jacket to cry. Damn…kids these days. "Alright, alright…Kae. Just…stop mentioning her!" They do say naming things forms some kind of affection or something. Harder to let the noun go. "Hey, Hotaru…I do have a rep to preserve. Can you-"
"SHUT UP!"
I guess not. "Um…S-Sumi?" Kouichi called out, trying not to twitch. "Kouji…? Help?"
"Aw…but you two-" Kouji began.
"Your guitar will never see the light of day again," the older twin interrupted. "Now-huh!" Kouichi watched Hotaru pushed him back against the tree. "That works too."
Sumi looked slightly annoyed. "Well? Go apologize!" she instructed, pointing after Hotaru.
"Didn't I do that already?" Kouichi groaned, sulking after the girl. Man…Daisuke would be easier than this! Scratch that. Even Shinya would be easier.
---------------------------------------------
Hotaru ran down the hall, eyes lowered to gaze at the floor. Why am I making such a big deal out of this? But…he seemed so pained when he told me. I don't want to just give Kae up. My dream…hers…I've always wanted a cat. Hotaru gasped as she tipped to the side. "Oh-s-sorry!" she apologized, quickly gaining her composure and gazing at her victim. "Really, I'm-"
"Well you should be! Ugh…" the other girl rose off the floor. "Damn it…"
"Yumena, wait up, would you?"
"Leave me alone, Itsuma!"
Hotaru watched the girl run off, but was unable to catch a glimpse of her. Weird…I know that voice…
"H-hey. Sorry, but that girl you bumped into…"
Surprised, Hotaru rose to her feet and looked to her right to find a breathless boy. "Uh…"
He held his hand out. "I'm Itsuma. You seem kind of familiar…."
"H-Hotaru," the girl murmured, shaking his hand. "I don't know you…"
"Oh! Are you Yumena's sister?"
"Who…?" Yumena? What? Hotaru blinked at him in confusion. "I don't have a sister," she murmured quickly.
Itsuma let out a laugh, letting go of her hand and scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, my bad. Anyway, that girl you bumped into…which way did she go?"
Hotaru pointed to her left. "Girlfriend?"
"…actually, ex, but she denies both." Itsuma fell quiet and gazed at his feet. "Funny story, really."
I could relate, Hotaru thought, gazing at the ground pensively.
"Aha! There you are!"
"Eh?" Hotaru whirled around in shock. "K-"
"Kouichi…" Itsuma looked up and frowned.
Eyes wide, Kouichi stopped in his tracks. "I-Itsuma…uh…s-so, I see you two met…" The boy swallowed. Great. Itsuma isn't the type to spout, but if Yume got to her…no. She doesn't seem weird in any way. Just confused, he thought, breathing a sigh of relief at Hotaru's expression. "Sorry I couldn't introduce you two earlier. This is Itsuma, Hotaru. Takuya's brother and his are buddies."
"Oh, yeah, I could use another week," Itsuma told Kouichi suddenly.
"Done." Whether goggle likes it or not. Kouichi hid a smirk. "So, how'd the talk go."
Itsuma gazed at his feet. "Tell you later. I gotta…talk to Yumena first."
"Too bad she's a girl," Kouichi muttered, glaring at the floor. After a moment of silence he noticed Itsuma's confused gaze and Hotaru's look of disbelief. Kouichi scowled and explained, "To punch her, you perverted girl! To punch her!"
Red-faced, Hotaru snapped, "I didn't say anything!"
"You don't have to! I can read your mind!"
The two continued bickering, completely forgetting the boy who was studying Hotaru intently. "So she is…" Itsuma trailed off thoughtfully before looking to Kouichi for a confirmation. When the younger boy nodded, Itsuma inclined his head in Hotaru's direction. "In that case, it was nice meeting you, but I'm sorry to say I hope we never meet again," Itsuma said regretfully and quickly, hoping Hotaru hadn't heard. "Later, Kouichi."
Hotaru watched as Itsuma ran past her. There was an unshakeable feeling that they were hiding something from her. The way the two boys acted around her was just the beginning of the proof. "Okay…" Hotaru murmured. "That was…odd."
"I told you it was too risky."
"Don't start with me! I'm not talking to you anymore!" the girl declared, turning away from Kouichi and folding her arms.
Kouichi sighed, staring at Hotaru as he scanned through his options. If she wants it, he thought with a smirk, spinning around and shoving his hands in his pocket,. "Okay, catch you later." …she gets it.
A shocked Hotaru looked over her shoulder, gaping at Kouichi as he walked away. "W-wait!"
"Say what you mean," Kouichi told her. "But sorry. My lunch minutes are up. Have to help Arata with math. I'll tell him you said 'hi'."
"What? NO!" Hotaru yelled, running after Kouichi (who had broken into a run himself). "Don't!" Trying to keep her pace, she followed him around the corner, only to halt in confusion. "Wh-" Hotaru slowly regained her normal breathing pattern as her eyes darted side to side.
Where did he go?
---------------------------------------------
A/N-
Wada Kouji is one year older. Makes me happy to know I'm not that old yet. May he have a digimonified rest of the year.
Chapter titles for this chapter and the last have been switched. This chapter seems lacking somehow. Probably because it just isn't clear about Hotaru, "Kae," and the Security Goons. Next chapter clarifies and confuses. I think it's also the big chapter where I can FINALLY tweak the story title.
I posted an experimental Takumi up. It's purely experimental. So far I've been getting the results I needed. Hopefully with the help of you guys I can make it into a neatly written Takumi.
Review or PM or Flame if you will.