Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.

Hikari is just one of those characters that anyone would have a hard time getting mad at. The fact Hitomi does, but Hikari reaches out to her to support her, even though she likes Takeru as well is such a Hikari move. But once in a while, you actually can meet someone like that. You can only hope they don't get taken advantage of once others catch on though. I'm glad Takeru has never been that way taken advantage of her, bur, it's also equally amazing that Takeru, who is the most deceptive of the Digidestined doesn't stand a chance against her charms and she can flip the tables back at him.

I almost ended up calling this chapter beauty and the beast, but it just didn't fit as well as I thought it would. So instead I kind of took a Kingdom Hearts approach. What is with me lately regarding Kingdom Hearts and Digimon references/ties? Ah well, this should be the last of such references (Probaly Not).

Chapter Six: The Heartful and the Heartless

Earlier that morning Takeru had ran into a very nice girl named Hitomi. She seemed cheerful, bright, and also athletic, but there did appear something more to her than meets the eye. She also had this cunningness about her, the way she talked with him as if her conversation had all been planned out regarding what his response would be. The most startling thing about her though is Takeru had been confessed to and rejected so many times, but...

...Instead of confessing she actually asked him out. The way she acted reminded him of a certain girl that flooded his heart with painful memories, sweet, but painful as that is all they would be. Friends walking to school. Close friends in times of danger. Just...friends.

He had arranged to meet with her that afternoon, but, something seemed off. He found himself emotionally stirred ever so slightly as if longing for that girl to have been Hikari. She also had the same eyes, but not as gentle, similar hair, if not shorter and no bangs, and had a sweet smile, but not as sweet as Hikari's.

"Get it together Takeru," he said to himself taking a breath. He noticed a fountain a little ways away from him and refreshed himself with some water. "Come on, get it together," he said trying to snap out of it.

Just then, his phone buzzed, Takeru immediately whipping it out his eyes lighting up that it was from Hikari.

'Can we meet up right now?' the text read.

Takeru went forward to the nearest locker and slammed his head against it. So much for getting it together.

"...Dam."

He found Hikari waiting for him inside the computer club classroom even though classes had already started. He knew Hikari would be late for class, but this seemed very unlike her. Was it so unlike her maybe she was starting to realize maybe she had feelings for him? Takeru swallowed his heart as he entered inside the computer club room, Hikari with one hand on her cheek looking down at the desk in front of her looking radiant as always.

"I got your text," Takeru said a bit breathless, but remaining calm. "Is everything ok Hikari-chan?"

"...You didn't eat lunch," she said her eyes glancing down to the side of her.

"What?" he said a bit startled, his stomach starting to growl.

"Come, sit down," she said Takeru surprised she had taken out a bento box and placed it on the table.

"If you don't eat well Takeru-kun how do you plan on making it through your challenge?" she smiled giggling a bit.

Takeru sighed out and gave in sitting down. "All right you win Hikari-chan," he said. "But you didn't have to do this you know?"

"I wanted to," she said him noticing she shifted as if a bit uneasy.

He took the lid off of the bento box and noticed the most appetizing sushi rolls, skewered chicken, and a side of peanut sauce as well as a fresh salad on the sauce.

"This is the first time…" he smiled, "...That you ever gave me something like this," he said putting both hands on his forehead, his eyes just under them. "Why now...of all times?" he said, controlling the emotions welling up within him.

Hikari seemed so caring right now, if their was ever a time, maybe now would be the best time?

"Are you okay Takeru-kun?" she asked, the pain stinging his heart.

"I'm fine," he said sniffling a bit. "You just...you know me so well Hikari-chan," he said managing to smile grabbing a sushi roll and taking a chunk out of it.

"How is it?" Hikari asked.

"Delicious," he said, his tears crying on it.

"Really?"

"Mhm," he said taking another bite. At this point it seemed he was feeding his own emotions, but he didn't care.

"I've...been thinking about something," she said, Takeru sensing something wrong as her eyes seemed to look down within herself, but kept glancing back at him.

He swallowed the last bite, realizing it did not go down all the way.

"What is it, Hikari-chan?" he asked, praying and hoping the rice would go down.

"Well, I-"

Her face looked over at him in shock. "Takeru-kun?" she said concerned. She must have noticed his condition the way he tried to keep himself together, but he was probably red in the face right now.

"Geez, you could have told me!" she said taking out a thermos of tea and giving it to him.

Takeru without thinking practically engulfed his mouth with the liquid, but that only made it slightly better.

He hit himself in his stomach, Hikari swinging over to the backside of him and hitting his back hard. "Takeru, come on!" she said a bit harshly. "Breathe! Breathe!" she cried slamming one last time, the clump of rice in Takeru's throat finally going down.

He panted heavily breathing out, grateful, but embarrassed beyond belief.

"Th-thanks, Hikari-chan," he said, Hikari's arms on his back quivering.

Hot tears fell down on the back of his shirt. "Hikari-chan?" he said concerned. "Are you all right?"

"If...I ever lost you...Takeru-kun," she sniffed, "If I ever did, I…"

Takeru said nothing realizing just how scared she felt.

His chest hurt him deeply, his throat still a bit enflamed by what had happened.

"Can we just…end it?" she asked, crying.

"The love letter challenge?" Takeru said drinking a little more tea to calm himself.

"Mhm."

Takeru regained his senses trying his best to regain his composure.

"Then what will I do with these feelings I have?" he questioned. "I can't just let them go."

"Then don't," she said. "But, if you really don't mind torturing yourself more maybe you should just be honest with her. Don't make it a challenge or some big extravagant event. She might even want her privacy you know? You have to think about these things."

Takeru nodded his head. "It's funny," he said starting to chuckle. "They say when you're about to die your life flashes before your eyes. But even though I was only in danger for a little bit, the one person I could think about was…"

"...Your brother?" Hikari smiled. "You love him best after all, don't you?"

In her radiant glow Takeru forgot about everything and just looked at her, at Hikari Yagami and everything she was.

"...That's right," he sniffed. "He's the one I like best."

She said nothing and turned around. "I hope both of us can make it through tomorrow," she said. "And I hope the girl you love confesses to you."

Takeru snickered. "Something tells me she still has no idea it's her even after how far down the list has gone. I even gave a partial physical description. What is it going to take for her to see it?" he asked aloud, glancing at Hikari. "Any ideas Hikari-chan?"

"Hmmm," she said closing her eyes one finger on the side of her lip. "Maybe she's afraid you'll reject her instead. You've been so heartless shooting down girls Takeru-kun even though you've been doing it in a nice, polite way. It could be she's afraid to."

Takeru stared away tapping his index finger on his knee. "So you're saying instead of shooting them all down I should reduce the list to 10 or fewer?"

"Mhm," she agreed.

"...Then," he said gripping his fists, "Let's say, just for support on this decision, "Could you join the candidates to back me up?"

She paused for a moment, her voice coming out a bit scratchy. "...Aren't I still already on the list of candidates?"

Takeru immediately turned around, saying nothing.

"So that's it then, isn't it?" she said. "This coincidence of my hair color, my eye color, and everything else, this other girl has those same traits of mine. You're just dragging me along to the end aren't you?" she said turning around smiling a bit upset.

"...But, Hikari-chan," he said, "There is no one I trust more than you," he confessed. "...And I want you to be there with me until the end."

She put her forearm to her eyes wiping away tears. "...If it wasn't for everything we've been through," she said, "I don't think I would be able to say yes. But...no matter what happens I'll support you through this."

"...Thanks Hikari-chan," Takeru said a bit down himself. This was nearly too much for him to handle. He not only had been torturing himself, but her as well. And what would come of it? He started to feel a bit overwhelmed by the whole situation.

"Just promise me one thing," she smiled a bit sadly.

"What is it?"

"I know I'm there for support, but, when it's my turn for you to shoot me down, can you please let me down gently? I don't want to have the spotlight on me like so many others," she smiled practically tearing.

Takeru thought about it for a moment, biting down on his tongue watching his next words carefully. "If at all possible I would like to avoid that. I don't want you to suffer on my account more than I have already made you suffer."

"...But regardless," Hikari sighed, "It's going to change our lives no matter who you choose. I don't want to get in the way of your new relationship," she said glancing away. "Maybe...from now on, wouldn't it be best if I get used to not walking with you anymore?"

"What?" Takeru said defensively.

"Think about it. If the girl you love confesses and you both are happy, I'm sure she would feel threatened and jealous if she saw you hanging out with your childhood friend you know?"

"But you can't decide that!" Takeru exclaimed getting angry. "Hikari-chan," he said burning tears coming down his face. "You can't-"

"-It's for the best..." she said, her face downcast. "...Isn't it?"

With that she walked away, Takeru shivering where he stood collapsing to the ground.

"This is not...what was supposed to happen," he sobbed, both fists on the ground. "Hikari," he groaned trying his best to contain himself. "Hikari!" he cried screaming out into the emptiness. "Auuugh!"

Even though Hikari said such a terrible thing to Takeru she could not deny the reality of this happening. The bento did not work. Heck, Takeru nearly choking and her being for him did not work! She had dressed the best she could, remained true to herself and still it was not enough for him to turn her way, for him to confess his feelings if he had any.

She sighed resigning herself for tomorrow. But, she knew she could not give up even though that reality lay before her. Takeru still had his date tonight. And then tomorrow...everything would be over. She decided it would be best not to follow Takeru on his date even though she wanted to. She needed to give him some distance. Maybe, just maybe he would realize something for her when she was away from him. It was her only hope that she had.

Later on that afternoon Hikari decided to calm her feelings down back at the clubhouse. She entered inside, the others a bit on edge.

"Hey Hikari-chan!" Miyako exclaimed a bit frantic. "We're glad you're here!"

Hikari did her best to smile even though she did not want to. "What's wrong?"

"It's Takeru-kun," Iori said a bit concerned. "I've never seen him like that before."

"Tell me what happened," she said concerned.

"He was acting really weird," Daisuke said. "He kept saying how he deserved to be punished and doesn't think it will be right to go any farther. It's probably about the competition. Did something happen to him Hikari-chan?"

She pondered her response carefully. Sure, that might have been partially because of her, but for the most part this was all on his shoulders. "...I think," she said, "Takeru-kun is finally starting to feel the weight of all the girls he's rejected."

"What, you mean he's actually started to grow a conscience?" Miyako said a bit startled.

"Perhaps observing the pure art of kendo has purified his tainted soul," Iori contemplated.

"Iori-kun is that sarcasm coming from you?"

"Maybe," he replied. "I'm not a robot you know."

"Could have fooled me," Daisuke snickered.

"Back to what you were talking about Hikari-chan," Ken said, "I think that does make sense, though I didn't think it would hit him this hard."

Hikari swallowed a bit, wondering if she should really tell them. "...If I tell you something that happened, would you promise not to tell Takeru-kun?"

Miyako's eyes suddenly developed sinister stars. "Oh absolutely," she said practically drooling. "Tell us Hikari-chan what is this tender secret of yours?"

"I wouldn't call it a secret," she said averting her gaze slightly, "But yesterday, Takeru-kun told me he wanted to keep me as on the list of candidates..." she said, the other Digidestined reacting a bit positively except Daisuke who scoffed and turned his head, "...for support."

But at the mention of that Ken slapped his head, Iori banged his head on the table and Miyako shut her eyes and gritted her teeth while holding her hands clenched together vertically by her heart until she burst out in anger.

"That moron!" she shouted. "How could he say something so insensitive! He deserves it to feel this bad!"

"Yeah Hikari-chan," Daisuke said bull-faced. "If you went out with me you wouldn't have to worry about guys like that!"

Hikari found herself smiling a bit actually entertained by him. "...He deserves it?" she said wondering to herself aloud. "True, but, I don't know think you all can see it."

"See what?" Iori inquired.

"Why Takeru-kun is doing all of this to begin with."

Miyako frowned crossing her arms contemplating her vague response. "I thought it was to get his crush to confess to him. What do you think it is?"

"What I can tell you," she replied, "Is Takeru-kun only started this because he was hurting. He didn't have the courage to confess himself, so he's basically trying his hardest to get a girl to answer him."

"We know that," Ken agreed. "But you think there is more?"

"I do," she nodded her head. "All of this has been preparation...for the moment Takeru-kun gets rejected. And he knows it."

"What?" Iori contemplated.

"That doesn't make sense!" Daisuke said opening his hands and spreading them desirous to know more. "Why would he do all of that just to be rejected like that?"

"-Unless," Miyako gasped, "You know who this girl is?!"

Hikari nodded. "...Someone may think they like Takeru-kun, but once they really get to know him, a lot of times they discover he isn't the wonderful person they think he is. Sometimes we build up an image of someone so loftily in our minds, but, once we actually get to know that person, it can leave us disappointed. That's what's happening right now. This girl is smart to do this before she rejects him in front of so many people."

"I get it," Miyako said staring at her a bit concerned. "But, Hikari, for you isn't that a pretty audacious claim to make? You are childhood friends, but this insight is just, I don't know, you must have been fixated on him for quite a long time to say something like that."

Hikari's eyes lit up a bit reflecting on her words. She stared away slightly not wanting to give herself away. "It doesn't matter anymore," she said. "If it's the girl I think it is, then-"

-Suddenly bursting through the doors a tearful Hitomi ran over, looking for Hikari. "You!" Hitomi scowled, her eyes angry, but crying. "Why? Why wasn't it me?!"

She went over to Hikari and lifted her up by her shirt, much to everyone's shock.

"Why didn't he choose me?!" she shouted. "Hikari Yagami, why was I rejected so easily?!"

"He...rejected you?" Hikari said a bit taken aback.

"Don't play dumb!" she snarled. "You knew! You knew he would reject me! That's why you encouraged me so much! You did it to show me I'm just like all the others!"

Hikari stared at her, her gaze sucking away all the air from Hitomi. She set her down, Miyako's hand outstretched the whole time wanting to intervene, but not able to.

"I really thought," Hikari said, "you would be the one," she said, Hitomi starting to let her down, the anger leaving her. "Your date started just a little bit ago right? I thought at the very end of it you would reject him."

Everyone stared at her, a bit baffled.

"...You really don't understand at all do you?" she groaned. "He rejected me so easily with a smile. I thought at least if he did he would have waited till after the date. But, the way he looked at me. It was like looking at the face of a monster," she said shivering slightly. "...Someone incapable of realizing they were hurting someone...I've never met anyone like that."

Hikari reached her arms over to her and gave her a hug. "...It's ok," she said. "I'm sure that one day you will meet someone who will love you with all their heart. But, Takeru-kun, right now, he isn't capable of it."

Hitomi sniffed, letting herself be comforted. "...Hikari Yagami, aren't you scared?" she asked shaking. "He's rejected so many other girls. Aren't you afraid...the day that he rejects you?"

Hikari nodded her head and let her go. She smiled having no idea what else to say.

"...That is," Hitomi said wiping a single tear from her own eye, "...If he does reject you. But if he doesn't have fun taming...that heartless monster."

With that Hitomi brushed shoulders with Hikari and left them all slamming the door shut.

Miyako walked over to her and put one hand on her shoulder. "...It's just one more day Hikari," she said a bit upset herself. "Just...one more."

Hikari nodded her head. It was quite a shock for Hitomi to be rejected like that, but eventually even if Takeru said 'yes' to her she would have rejected him eventually.

It would be ok, she said to herself staring down at the ground barely able to keep herself together. This pain in her heart hurt her ever so much, but for it to end like that finally...she had to endure it. All she had to do was hold on. Hold on...just a little bit longer.