Disclaimer-I don't own Digimon. In fact, I don't own a lot of things.
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Those Who Wait
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"So…what happened?"
"Yumena told me Baku got him an excuse. Lucky kid."
"Were the hits that bad?"
"I was asleep. Ask Yumena."
"Oh, sure!" Arata snapped. "If Daisuke had been there, he'd have actually been of some use!"
"What? By getting her some popcorn?" Itsuma retorted.
Arata just shook his head, not wanting to argue any longer. "At least he would've watched."
"Would, shmould." Itsuma let out a sigh. "Did anyone tell you when he's going to wake up? He's already missed two days."
A shrug was his answer. "Takuya's giving me strange looks, and so is Kouji. I don't know what anyone else might think," Arata murmured thoughtfully.
"Hotaru practically tackled me yesterday. I had to use…evasive maneuvering."
Arata's eyes widened a bit. "Oh…you mean…"
"Only slapped twice. Hey, I even got a date for the upcoming dance! It's an improvement!" Itsuma insisted.
He was ignored. "I wonder if his parents know…" Arata trailed off, placing his lunch down in the grass and staring up at the sky thoughtfully. "We've been pretty lucky so far."
Itsuma nodded his head in agreement.
"Too bad you aren't lucky enough."
Both boys turned to the speaker, eyes widening at the sight of Kouji. "Oh…h-hello," Arata squeaked, rising to his feet, hands snapping to his sides. "S-sorry if w-we…uh…took your spot…"
"Enough with the lies! You know perfectly well why I'm glaring at you."
Itsuma looked up at Kouji calmly. "Do we?"
"Where's Kouichi? He hasn't been in school for a week already–"
"Two days," Itsuma corrected.
"Whatever! The point is I'm sick of the excuses I have to make up!" Kouji spat.
Arata and Itsuma exchanged uneasy glances. "W-well," the younger of the two began, "we were filming for Itsuma's project…and he…sort of…"
"Knocked himself out!" Itsuma concluded. "The skateboard went real crazy…"
"Would've worked if he hadn't jumped on it–"
"Big mess."
"Hit his head."
"LIARS!" Kouji hollered. "TELL ME THE TRUTH!"
"Just what is going on here?"
Not her, both boys thought, letting out groans. Then, brightening, the two pointed to Yumena and shouted in unison: "HER FAULT!" – and then ran off, as fast as their legs would take them.
That left the confused (and even more so annoyed) Kouji to turn around and look at Yumena. "Uh…hi…" he said, feeling stupid because he sounded so awkward, reddening, just because…Sumi! Kouji, you like SUMI! Sumi! "Um…" He cleared his throat and tried to glare at her. "S-so…what happened to Kouichi?"
"Twins…how…cute." Yumena smiled cutely at him as she took his hand in her own and shook it lightly. "I'm Yumena."
"K-Ko-Kou-Kou…"
"Yes…?" she asked smoothly.
SUMI! Kouji yanked his hand away as if Yumena was poison ivy. "Minamoto Kouji. Uh…so what happened to my brother?" he asked, managing to maintain a serious look.
"You're cute…but you're taken, if I remember correctly."
What is she blabbing about? Kouji scowled. Impatient for an answer, he snapped. "Look, are you going to tell me what happened to Kouichi or h-huh?"
She had wrapped her hands around his neck, forcing him to lean down ever so slightly. "Sorry," Yumena said with a sigh, "but that isn't for you to know…"
"Then let me go," Kouji murmured in a low voice, pressing a finger against her lips when she tried to pull him closer.
She withdrew her hands and let out a dramatic sigh. "Such a party pooper, like your brother. I just thought I should let you know that your dear brother won't be seeing you for the rest of the month."
His eyes narrowed on her angrily. What gave her the confidence to talk like that to me…? "What…?"
"See, it's part of a deal we made, and he can't go back on his word. Too bad, Minamoto Kouji," she laughed.
"Well, Yumena, if you'd like to keep that deal, I suggest you make sure that I see him tomorrow, unless you'd like to face death."
She took a step back in shock. "Y-you wouldn't…"
"Not me," he scowled. "It pays to know violent girls! Hotaru's ready to tear apart anyone who might know anything about Kouichi's whereabouts. And I suggest you let me go if you don't want me to call her right now!" His scowl deepened, his distasteful gaze falling on Yumena's hand, which grabbed a hold of his wrist.
Yumena's eyes were focused on the grass below their feet. "They…they aren't together, are they?" she asked, squeezing her eyes shut in anticipation.
But he just snorted and shrugged, gently prying her hand off. "How would I know? My own twin is more of a mystery than my kendo instructor," he snapped. Koji turned around, slipped his hands into his pockets. "I was serious when I said I expect to see him tomorrow. I'm not the liar of the family, and I don't plan on lying anymore than necessary. I do have the resources necessary to get rid of you."
Yumena merely watched him leave, taking several steps back until she was against the tree. He better be okay tomorrow. There's no way Baku will cover for us again.
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"He what?" she screamed. Yumena missed the days when she came back from school into a quiet room to do her homework. She missed those days where Itsuma would be her only worry, where Daisuke would accidentally make a mess in the kitchen, where Arata would cause books to fall from the smallest of bookshelves. She missed those days dearly.
She wasn't a babysitter. And she wasn't about to baby-sit older children. That wasn't why she was here.
Heima, however, kept calm as he drew the cup of tea closer to his lips. "Now, now…he'll come back. It seems he left a little note," he informed the girl, taking a small folded paper out of his sleeve with his free hand and handing it to the girl. "Here. We expect him to hold true to his word."
The girl snatched the paper and fell back in her seat, scanning each and every word. "Her," she suddenly spat, grip tightening on the paper in her fist. "It's always about her…"
Sipping his tea, Heima merely watched as Yumena slowly tore the paper into strips, letting them float to the floor. Baku never expected this. It seems I've lost another two hundred yen. He frowned at the look on Yumena's face. Yet I can only wonder why…
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Ah…after school. The scent of freedom. Kouichi slowly inhaled, letting out a sigh at the gentle breeze that welcomed him. It's good to be alive. First stop! Hotaru's house! He stopped in front of the said girl's house, reluctantly shuffling his feet as he approached the door. Goodbye, freedom. Hello, Hades. He frowned for a moment at the thought of Greek, but quickly pushed the thought away and instead reached out his hand to ring the doorbell.
Kouichi paused when nothing happened immediately. All he could hear was silence. Not even the birds were chirping. Something's wrong, he realized, reaching instead for the doorknob. Just as his fingertips brushed against the cool metal, the door swung open, revealing a teary-eyed Hotaru.
Her eyes widened, and fresh tears began to fall.
Kouichi bit back a curse.
"G-go away! Illusion!" she cried, wiping her tears and pushing him aside.
Oh, not again, Kouichi thought, taking a step away from the girl as her eyes grew even wider.
Hotaru grabbed his hand and began poking at it viciously. "Y-you…! It's really you!" she whispered in awe.
"N-no!" Kouichi yelped as he fell to the ground, red-faced as Hotaru, crying, threw her arms around his neck. "Get off," he growled, failing to add the menacing tone. "Come on, you're killing my reputation!" Yet despite his protests, Hotaru still clung to him.
Someone else groaned. Footsteps approached them, and Kouichi shut his eyes, afraid of who might see them. "Why did you run out on–YOU!"
"YOU!" Kouichi echoed mockingly, eyes opening. Yet the look of disbelief was still evident on his features. "What–"
"-are you doing here?" Kouji finished, glaring at his twin. "Hotaru! Get off of him!"
I've done it now, Kouichi thought miserably. I'm doomed for sure.
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"Tea? Cake? Cookies? Maybe dinner?" Hotaru asked, running into the kitchen.
Kouichi shook his head. "For the third time, I'm fine," he snapped, folding his arms. He and Kouji were seated side by side on the couch. Kouji glared at his brother while the older twin's eyes darted around the room, examining pictures, plants…anything that wouldn't let him face his brother's wrath. However, not even Kouichi could keep his ground for long, especially with Kouji cheating.
"Start talking!" the younger twin suddenly snapped, pinching his brother's cheek and yanking it towards him. "I'm sick of lying! Tell me the truth, you useless–"
"Cake, do you want some Kouji?" Hotaru growled, forcing a piece of cake into the unsuspecting Kouji's mouth. She set down the plates and gazed down at Kouichi. "Where were you?" she demanded, a fierce glare forming, gathering intensity.
Several times, Kouichi opened his mouth, wondering if he would regret the words he wanted to speak. Finally: "Next door." He even tried to put on his most convincing look, too.
But Hotaru stared at him with wide eyes. Her gaze dropped to the floor, her bangs fell in front of her eyes. Kouichi only focused on her clenching hands. "Y-you…you're lying," Hotaru said, voice low and quiet. Almost calm, but Kouichi's gaze was on her fists.
"Uh…oh," Kouji muttered, shuffling around as he tried to get out of his seat.
"YOU'RE TRYING TO TEASE ME!" Hotaru cried, looking up at the older twin now, tears streaming down her face.
Oops. I forgot. She likes him. Way to go, Kouichi. "I didn't mean it like that! I was tutoring Arata!"
"Liar," Kouji muttered under his breath.
Kouichi let out a small sigh. "Just…give me until the end of the month," he said, looking thoughtfully at his feet.
"No!"
"What…?" Now annoyed, he turned to his brother, eyes narrowed into a murderous glare, intensity only matched by the glare that Kouji returned. "Say again?"
"I'm not going to lie for you anymore. Tell me what you did. Get into trouble with a gang? Were you gambling under Dad's name? Huh? Well, were you?"
Kouichi was astonished. "Wow, where do you get ideas like that?"
Scowling, Kouji stood up, arms folded. "Don't play dumb with me!"
"I don't ever play dumb with you, Kouji. Why would I reduce myself to your level?" the older boy snapped.
The younger twin paused to consider what had just been said. Then, nodding, he told his brother, "That girl, Yumena…"
"Ah! Stupid girl? Don't listen to her. She just hates me because I'm making her life a Hades!" Kouichi laughed, stopping when he remembered his new distaste for all things Greek. And his mistake. He couldn't forget his mistake. "Uh…yeah. I…I mean in class. Her…and Mr. Kanemaru…" Yeesh, that old man'll be on my case all month for being absent. Stupid Eri. "Just give me till the end of the month, okay?"
"I told you, I'm not going to lie–"
"Right," Kouichi said, rising to his feet. "Sorry for that trouble. I'll go tell Dad."
Kouji watched his brother head to the door. "You mean you'll tell Dad, but you won't tell me?" he asked, sounding slightly hurt…only slightly.
But Kouichi turned around and grinned. "Tell him? The truth? Nah, lying is easier for me than you. You know that."
"Where did Mom go wrong?" Kouji moaned to himself.
Hotaru and Kouichi glared at Kouji. "That isn't funny!" Kouichi snapped, a dark look on his face.
"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it!" the bandana boy snapped. "How can you just…just…do that!" Exasperated, he waved his arms in the air, trying to get his meaning across.
Kouichi frowned. "Come again?"
Seizing the moment, Hotaru translated quietly, "How can you lie so casually?"
"Oh…is that it?" Kouichi laughed, smirking slightly. "Easy." He turned around, walking forward until the cool metal of the doorknob was in his hand. "I…live my life through intricately weaved lies. And nobody knows…and nobody will ever know." His free hand rose up. "Thanks, but now it's time I threaded another one. Can't have anyone figuring out my pattern yet. That would cramp my style."
"What…does he mean?" Hotaru asked, watching in confusion as Kouichi walked out of the house, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.
"He knows we won't tell," Kouji translated. "I don't know how, but I'll figure out soon. I'm sure he'll be done soon. And you know, he totally had that line planned. And what was with 'That would cramp my style'? He sounded like…like…like a girl!" The boy coughed as he swallowed his laughter, but reddened, when he looked at the annoyed look Hotaru was giving him. "Uh…right. So, like I was saying, I need a crafty way to give Sumi her present…?"
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A/N-
(SUPER) Short chapter! Sorry. I didn't expect it to be this short. Next chapter will make up for it. Misconceptions and Pendulum are going to take a while. I was going to work on them today, but my mom dragged me off to her work, and I got to chase around after little kids to make sure they behaved.
Yeah. I know it's been focusing more on OCs and Kouichi than Takuya and co. I have a reason for this, sorry.
Thank you: CrestOfHealing, anna, TrialAndError123456
Please Review or Flame!