2.
The new kids are furious, and they shout at Yamato and Taichi both. Hikari doesn't say anything at all. She's watching the Kaiser, not with wariness. There's a strange, dull sheen to her eyes.
Takeru can't care. His Patamon is left behind, a smiling maniac. What is he supposed to do now?
Have hope, obviously. Whatever that means.
The Kaiser sleeps on, oblivious. Without the regalia, ugly as it is, Ichijouji Ken looks shrunken, weak. The Wormmon is even smaller. He had followed them somehow, and was curled protectively on Ken's stomach. Iori shoots him anxious looks, like he's afraid the caterpillar will do something. Takeru wants to tell him that he won't, because the Kaiser is all the Digimon ever cares about. He is always in his shadow. The Chosen Digimon care about their partners more than the world, at least they should.
Takeru stares at the Kaiser's sleeping face and is almost overcome with the urge to punch it. If it weren't for him, Patamon wouldn't be like this.
But then the boy stirs, and the urge is gone. The whole room goes silent.
The Kaiser opens his eyes and looks befuddled. It's not an agitated look either, but it is raw and afraid. He expects something, but what is that something?
"Ichijouji Ken?" Daisuke's voice is quiet.
Ken licks his lips. "Yes?" He shifts himself to look at Daisuke. "Who are you?"
"Ken-chan!"
Wormmon's voice is nearly a shriek that cuts them all off and he hugs his partner with all of his pods. Ken's confusion fades and he pulls his partner to him. It's a kindhearted reflex, one that doesn't suit the dictator monster they all know.
The surreality of it all causes Takeru to sink back into his chair.