"Do you think you can make your way home from here?"
Ken stares at her, puzzled. He looks around. "I can if I get to the train station."
His voice is so small, and it makes Hikari's heart hurt. This isn't the Kaiser. Or at least, it's not all of him. This is the part that knows the purpose of a Chosen Child, and knows what he should have been doing, and that he wasn't doing it.
But he's still the Kaiser in there somewhere. She can feel it. Even if it's not really him.
"I can walk you there," she offers. Tailmon stiffens in her arms. It's not part of the plan. He should still go home. He's a kid, like them.
"I'll come with!"
Daisuke's run in, not bothering to hide that he had been listening in. The difference between him and the others. Takeru-kun's face is a mixture of things. She isn't sure which she likes the least, but she doesn't confront him. Not yet. He'll find his way. If he doesn't… well, her brother might be able to help Matt there. He has more experience with angry blonds than she does.
"that'd be great, Daisuke-kun," she says when she sees Ken tense. She can't put her finger on what it is, but she knows these actions. Fear of being snapped at. "Wormmon has to come too, he'll be able to learn from Tailmon and Chibimon in how to behave on a train."
"Perhaps Chibimon would be a bad example," Tailmon mutters near her ear.
Chibimon pouts. "I like trains!"
Hikari giggles and Ken actually smiles. It was surreal.
But she's handled worse, so she leads Ken out the door before anyone can say no. Daisuke's running after her and soon they're out in the close-to-summer weather. Ken looks around, eyes wide. He mumbles to Wormmon and winces. He wants to touch his neck again, she can feel it. It's an angry red. He mumbles again and Wormmon shakes his head.
"Don't be silly, Ken-chan." How can the caterpillar just be okay? If anyone has suffered, it is this little creature, but it sounds so happy, she wonders. "Your parents won't be mad at you."
"Osamu-nii-san wouldn't get lost," Ken replies in a set little voice that reminds her of every time she made Taichi help her with a lost kitten.
"Your brother barely went outside, Ken."
Hikari glances at Daisuke, who is grumbling at his shoe. He's heard. She knows that look in his eyes. He glances at Taichi and gestures with his head. Taichi looks irritated but he steps back.
Have to love soccer players and their non-verbal communication.
They're off within minutes and Hikari feels Takeru's eyes on them the whole way out.
They are only halfway to the train station when Hikari hears her D-Terminal beep in her pocket. She pulls it out and flips it open. There's a new message. The contents make her ill. She shuts it, drawing Daisuke from his somewhat one-sided conversation with Ken about soccer (when did they become friends?).
"Hikari-chan?" He's looking too perceptive again.
Hikari smiles. "It's nothing important." She pretends the message isn't there.
"I want to play with Takeru again!"
So childish. So cute.
But that isn't Patamon.
A/N: I hate being busy. Everyone pray it won't rain tomorrow! I have errands to run tomorrow! Anyway, please leave a review if you enjoyed! Or even if you didn't!