Thank you again Jenny for the review on the last chapter. I am so glad you have enjoyed the story thus far! Here is chapter 4. Here we will have some Ken and Yolei interaction. So I hope you are enjoy it.
And now the disclaimer. I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 4: Ken meets Yolei
After a very hectic week in the Digital World everyone decided to take a couple days away. It was Saturday and Davis had soccer practice and T.K went with Matt to his bands rehearsal. Cody decided to make up his Kendo lesson with his grandfather since he missed it earlier in the week. Kari was spending time with Tai and Yolei was working at the store to make up for the food she took on the picnic.
Davis' team had a big game tomorrow. He found out his team was playing against Tamachi and he was happy to have the chance to go play Ken. Davis was practicing his hardest so he would hope to have the chance to beat him. When coach called practice over Davis was sad. But he also knew he couldn't tire himself out to play against "The Rocket". He changed and walked home
"Hey Davish can I come watch you play soccer?"
"Sure you can pal! That way you can witness me beat Ken."
"Do you think you can beat him?"
"Of course I can! I just wish everyone could see me do it."
Davis was remembering the two more people he met this week. Joe and Mimi. Mimi had gone back to New York and Joe had a weekend exam on Sunday. Sora had tennis practice and Matt had band practice. But Tai said he wouldn't miss it for the world! Izzy was working on a map for the Digital World and keeping an eye on how many more black squares would pop up. The Digimon Emperor had starting making Black Spires so his Black Rings would be stronger.
"Hey Davish I am sure Tai will tell Mimi all about your big win!"
"Ha yeah you are right! No need to be down about everyone not being there. I am sure I will be put into the paper if I beat him." Davis stood tall with his chest out.
"So Davish when is lunch?"
Davis looked at Demiveemon and without fail his stomach had let out a loud growl. "Heh guess I am hungry too. Lets go check out the kitchen."
Yolei was standing behind the counter with a little TV on. She had the news on just has background noise since it was so quiet in the store. She had barely any customers this morning. She knew where everyone was. The Mathematical Olympiad was today so everyone was there watching Ken. Yolei was just waiting for her sister to come relieve her and she shift would be over.
"Hey Yolei."
"Oh, hey Suki." Yolei looked up from the TV. Suki was her lab partner in science. She wasn't the smartest and was happy Yolei was her partner. She didn't really have to do much.
"What time are you off?"
"I am just waiting for my sister to come down."
"Well do you want to come to my place and study? We have that test on Monday."
Yolei looked up surprised. She had forgotten about the test. She was so busy with the Digital World she hadn't even studied at all. "Sure. I just need to tell my parents where I will be."
"Of course. I can just wait for you and we can go."
"Okay."
Finally Yolei's sister had come down. Yolei had told Momoe that she needed to tell her parents that she probably wasn't going to be home for dinner. Momoe just nodded at her and told her that they were upstairs in the living room watching TV and reading the paper. Suki just waited for her outside the apartment building.
"Yolei was it busy today?"
"No not really. Everyone is at the Olympiad. It is taken place here in Odaiba and Ken is in town."
"Oh yes that is very true."
"But I just wanted to tell you I will not be home until later. A classmate of mine stopped in the store and asked to study together. We have a science test on Monday."
"Oh okay dear. Do you want me to save you a plate from dinner?"
"No mom that is okay. I can get something later."
Yolei walked to her room and told Poromon that he had to stay here. He didn't look to happy but she told him she was going to a classmates house to study for a test. Poromon nodded in understanding. Yolei left the room for a minute and came back with food and something to drink for him. Poromon was happy with the food. Yolei grabbed her books and left.
Yolei and Suki were walking. They never really talked outside of class. Suki was more in the popular crowd and Yolei was just well Yolei. She didn't really have a crowd she was in. Suki looked over at the girl walking beside her.
"So any guys you are interested in Yolei?"
"What?"
"Any guys? Come on there must be someone?"
"No not really. I don't really have the time to look for boyfriends." Which wasn't a lie.
"Oh please. Everyone has time to date. Do you wanna know who I find cute?"
"Sure." Yolei was not really interested in this conversation.
"Well I think that new kid T.K is cute! And to know that his brother is in a rock band makes him cuter!"
Yolei just rolled her eyes. She was beginning to think agreeing to study with Suki was a bad idea. She was beginning to think this was going to be the entire afternoon with no studying what so ever.
Ken of course won the Olympiad. As he was leaving he building with his parents they walked by the enterance registration table where they signed in and got their name tags. There was only one name tag left on the table. Ken stopped and picked it up. 'Yolei Inoue' he read to himself. 'She must be the person who everyone thinks is the same level as me. HA no one is in my level. Everyone else is insignificant compared to me.'
"Ken honey are you coming?"
"Why don't you both go on without me. I will have interviewers outside waiting for me. Who knows how long it will take. I will take the train back alone."
"Are you sure Ken? It might not be safe for you to be alone."
"Mother you tend to forget that I am a black belt in my Jiu Jistu class. I am sure I can take care of myself."
"Okay Ken if you are sure."
"I am."
Ken watched as his parents walked out of the building. As the doors stayed open for a few seconds he knew he was right. He saw all the reporters just waiting for him. All he could do with sneer at all of them. 'Incompetent fools' all Ken could think of before throwing on a fake smile and walking outside. Then all the camera flashes and questions came at him like a ton of bricks.
"Ken how do you feel about winning?"
"Ken do you think anyone had a chance a winning?
"Ken how do you practice for this event?"
"Ken do you think you would have won if the girl who stands in the same level as you was here?"
Ken put his hand up to stop all the questions flying at him at once. He put on the best fake smile he could muster at a time like this. 'Of course they would bring her up.' "Of course I am happy about winning again this year and I feel everyone tried their best today. As for practicing I really don't. I just remember everything I have learned over the years. And if Miss Inoue would have been here then I might have a had a little more of a challenge since you say she is 'same level as me' but she wasn't here so I am not concerned."
Tai and Kari were watching TV and saw the interview with Ken. Kari's eyes widened when he hd said 'Miss Inoue'. "I had no idea Yolei was supposed to be there. She didn't say anything to any of us."
"Well maybe since she didn't go she didn't feel necessary to tell you."
"Yeah maybe you are right. But still this is a huge thing. She was invited to it. That is huge news."
"Especially since she is apparently compared to him."
"I will have to call and talk to her. Ask her why she didn't go. I would have loved to watch her beat him."
"Come on Kari. You are giving her a lot of credit. Do you really think she could have beat him?"
"Of course Tai. I have the up most faith in my friends. If they say she is a good as she says she is with her not being there then yes."
"Okay then."
Kari picked up the phone and dialed Yolei's number. As the phone rang she wondered if her asking was a great idea now. Maybe she was too busy to go and bringing it up would upset her. Kari didn't want to do that to her friend. As she was about to hang up someone answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Oh hello my name is Kari and I am a friend of Yolei's. I was wondering if she was home?"
"Oh no I am sorry she is at a classmates house studying."
"Oh okay well I will talk to her tomorrow then. Thank you." Kari hung up the phone.
"Well that was a short conversation Kari."
"She wasn't home. Probably for the best. I don't want to upset her if she wasn't able to go for some reason."
"Good idea Kari."
"That means tomorrow we don't bring it up to her at the soccer game."
"Deal."
Yolei left Suki's place and it was starting to get dark. Of course she was more interested in talking about boys and relationships than studying. But they did get some of it done for the test Monday. Yolei decided to put her earbuds in and turn on her mp3 player to pass the time walking back home.
Of course walking from the other direction heading towards the train station Ken was contemplating the events from today. It had been an easy win for him. They were all idiots compared to him. They had no right competing with him there. They should have all stayed home. But of course with the chance to beat the great Ken Ichijouji they all came thinking they could do it. Oh how they had been wrong. Ken had closed his eyes and smirked. Just as he rounded the corner be bumped into someone else. He heard the faint sound of book falling to the ground. He was about to turn around and tell the person to watch where they were going when he looked down. The girl was picking up her books.
"Oh my gosh. I am so sorry." Yolei never looked up to him when she apologized. Ken then bent down to help her.
"No it is my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going." Ken said picking up a notebook. It had opened and he saw the inscription on the inside cover. 'Property of Yolei Inoue. If found please return.' Ken then looked to the girl. They had both stood up by that point. He looked down at her. He was a little taller than her. He couldn't believe it was her. He also noticed that she had been one of the kids destroying his black spires in the Digital World. He knew she couldn't know who he was.
"So you are Yolei. It is nice to finally meet the person everyone says is the same intelligence as me."
"I don't know about that. I am pretty sure you could beat me at anything."
"My name is Ken Ichijouji by the way." He held his hand out. He didn't really want to shake her hand but his parents did teach him some manners when dealing with girls.
"I know who you are." Yolei took his hand. When their hands touch they pulled away almost immediately. They both felt a small spark. Ken looked at her face. She had a slight blush on her cheeks. He couldn't help but smile at her.
"How would you like to get something to eat? I would love to go over your notes with you."
"Um...sure. I mean my notes are nothing. It is just science. I have a test on Monday. I was doing a little studying earlier."
"Let me be the judge of that."
Yolei just nodded in response. She really didn't want to be mean and refuse his invitation. So as they were walking to a cafe that was close to where they were Yolei took out her other earbud and turned off her music. Ken watched her movements. Her slender fingers turned the small device off and the way her hair moved from behind her ear to the side of her face. He saw her put everything in her pocket. Ken opened the door for her when they go there. Yolei just blushed and walked through. They sat down at a table that was a little secluded from everyone else. They ordered a drink and waited for them to be brought over.
"So what were you listening too?"
"Oh um...It was a song called "War of Change" by Thousand Foot Krutch. I have a little bit of everything on my mp3 player."
Ken just watched her sit there. Her hands in her lap and she refused to look him in the eye. "Do I make you nervous?"
"No. Not so much you. Just you looking at my notes. It is probably something that would be super easy for you to understand."
Ken then opened the notebook. Her handwriting was neat and composed. Almost like his. Her writing style looked almost poetic. He could tell that she cared about her school work. Much like himself. As he looked deeper into her notebook he saw advanced chemical equations that even he had to applaud her for. He finally saw what everyone saw. He even had to admit she was very close to his level.
Yolei just watched him. He had no emotion as he went through her notes. Just flipping through the pages. His eyes never left her pages. Her heart rate was out of control. She usually never let anyone read her notes. Mostly because no one would understand them. Being in the Advanced Science Class even the kids in her class didn't fully understand. But she did. Probably why Suki was partnered with her and everyone else was sad when they weren't.
Ken looked up at her through his bangs. She looked away from him. Back down to her hands in her lap. With the lighting in the cafe her cinnamon colored eyes seemed magnified by the glasses and they were definitely the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Ken quickly shook his head and pushed those thoughts aside. 'I have no time for thoughts like that. She is my enemy.' Ken knew she was waiting for a resonse from him.
"Well I must say this is quite impressive. Almost matches my notes."
"R-really? You think so?"
"Of course. I don't just compliment anyone. You, Miss Inoue, are quite the genius yourself."
"Please call me Yolei."
"Fine, Yolei."
Ken handed Yolei back her notebook. As Yolei was grabbing for it she saw the time on her watch. She stood up almost immediately. Ken was surprised but her sudden movements. Yolei was saying something like 'I need to get home.' and 'My father is going to kill me.' Ken slowly stood as Yolei grabbed her belongings. He put money on the table for the server. Yolei quickly walked out of the cafe and Ken was right behind her. She was getting ready to run home when Ken quickly grabbed her hand and stopped her. Yolei turned and looked at him.
"I'm sorry to leave in such a rush. I promise to pay you back for the drinks. I don't mean to come off as rude-" Yolei was hushed by his finger to her lips.
"No need to apologize. It should be me who is sorry for keeping you. If you'd like I could walk you home and explain to your parents-"
"NO! I mean no thank you Ken. That is sweet of you but there is no need."
"Only if you are sure." Yolei nodded at him.
"Well I would like to see you again. Maybe compare our notes together."
"Um...okay sure. I will be at the soccer game tomorrow. My friend Davis plays against you tomorrow. Maybe we can talk then."
"Sounds like a great idea."
Yolei then turned and started to run towards her apartment building. Ken watched her go. The smile he had earlier disappeared. He almost wished he didn't have to fight her in the Digital World. She was a smart girl. Pretty close to his equal. If they went to the same school he was sure she would be right beside him or a point under him and that is what impressed him most. Maybe as long as she never knew who he was in the Digital World he could still see her. He then continued on his way to the train station.
Cody was standing outside on the balcony getting air after his Kendo lesson. He happened to look down and saw Yolei running in. He decided to go meet her. He hadn't really talked to her and was still wondering if she was planning on going to the soccer game tomorrow. He also wanted to know how her day was. He knew it was a hard day for her with the Olympiad today. Cody wanted to make sure his best friend wasn't too upset.
Yolei was about to go inside her apartment when a voice stopped her. "Yolei."
"Cody. How are you?"
"I am okay. How are you? I know today must have been difficult for you with the Olympiad today."
"Oh that. No I am okay. I worked at the store and went to studied with a classmate for out science test on Monday."
"Are you sure you are okay? You're cheeks are a little pink."
"Well I was running home. I didn't want to be late."
"Oh right. Well are you still going to the soccer game tomorrow?"
"Of course I wouldn't miss it."
"Okay great. Well see you tomorrow Yolei. Have a good night."
"You too Cody."
Cody left to go back down to his apartment. Yolei slowly turned the doornob and walked into hers. She could hear her parents in the living room. She looked at her watch and realized she just made it home in time. Yolei let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey Yolei."
"Oh hey Momoe. Did it get busy at the store after I left?"
"A little. Did you get all your studying done?"
"Yes I did. I am ready for the test on Monday."
"Well that is good. Not that you would really have to study that much."
"Of course she does. If she wants to get into a University she needs to study. Isn't that right Yolei?"
"Yes dad."
"You were almost late. Anything you need to tell me?"
Yolei blushed a little bit more. She put her head down so he wouldn't see. "No. Suki and I just got caught up in studying. I lost track of time. I ran all the way home so I wouldn't be late. I'm sorry."
"Well it is okay this time since you were studying. I just want you to know how proud I am of you."
"Thanks dad. I am tired so I think I am going to head to bed."
"Okay. Have a good night."
Yolei just walked away towards her room. She walked in a saw Poromon sleeping in his little make shift bed she made with a basket. He was complaining she squeezed him too much in her sleep. Mostly when she was having a bad dream. So she made the bed for him. Yolei changed her clothes and got into bed.
Ken was just getting home and his didn't take long for his mother to fuss over him. Asking where he was, why he didn't call for a ride home, how they should have waiting for him. Ken quickly silenced her and told her he was okay. He said he stopped and got something to eat and that is what kept him. That seemed to be enough to make his mother smile at him. He walked past her and went to his room. As he shut and locked the door he looked down to his hand. The hand that shook her hand. The hand that stopped her from leaving so abruptly. The hand that made her stop apologizing. He remembered how her soft her lips felt against his finger when he silenced her. 'Damn it. I can't let this affect me. I have work to do. She is just a girl and nothing more.'
Okay that was chapter 4. I hope you like it. Please let me know. The next chapter will be the soccer game and a trip to the Digital World.