Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Flash ❯ 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Notes: eh heh… did I say that updates would be coming quicker? Yeah, my bad. Damn all the illnesses of the world! Damn them all to hell! Although, being unemployed leaves me with some free time… We shall see. Enough of this, I'll get to the fic.

Warnings: Daisuke has issues of the foul mouthed and homosexual kind, Ken has issues of the bitchy wife and confused sexuality variety, Miyako is finally going to make an appearance, Jun is crazy and fun lovin', and the rest of the Destined seem to be pretty fucked up about life. I think that covers it.

Disclaimer: If I owned this show it never would have run as part of Fox Kids. Look at what I've done to them for god's sake! They've got more problems than you can shake a stick at!

Flash- 5

Mimi and I are walking down the street, heading back towards Jun's place. The scene in Ken's office got a little hectic and Takeru is being all kinds of sketchy. He's way too into this for my liking. All those questions about my past. Biting my lip I glance over at the woman beside me.

"Mimi?"

She sighs and doesn't look at me. "Yeah, Dai?"

"Does it bother you? What I did, I mean. Takeru seems pretty revved up about it and Ken's all bent out of shape. That's why I was gone for so long, you know. It's kinda hard to find a way to tell everyone that you were working for the Japanese mob scene." I've stopped walking so I can asses her reaction. Something about her posture still seems off to me.

Mimi seems to think about my words for a few minutes as she chews on her bottom lip- it's a nervous habit that friends everywhere seem to share. "It bothers me a little," she finally admits. "But, it's not like it was unexpected. Taichi and I… when we were looking for you a lot of big deal yakuza names came up that generally brought us to dead ends or whatever else. So, after a while we just stopped going down that road." Her words run dry and she looks at me. Amber eyes so brilliant and shimmering with emotion. "Seven years is a little excessive, don't you think?"

Shrugging her off I merely nod, more or less to myself. "Call it what you will. It is what it is and I can't change it. If I fucked up, well then I guess I fucked up and I'll pay for it. Shit, I'm already paying for it." Giving her an emotional stare of my own I add, "You saw how Ken reacted."

The office wasn't pretty after the Chosen Child of Kindness had time to think.

"Daisuke," his voice was so soft. "I expected a lot of things from you. A broken heart- most likely over some woman I would never meet. Illegitimate children perhaps, or even jail time. But this… Drug running, Dai? What were you thinking? I mean, were you even fucking thinking? Did you even plan to come back at all? Because now it looks like I'm going to lose you all over again, and I can't take that." Ken sighed and looked down at the floor. After his initial catatonic reaction he had dismissed Takeru and Mimi leaving me alone with him. Honestly, I had expected him to be angry with me. Disappointment was something I hadn't prepared for.

"Ken, if I had come back any sooner would it have made a difference?" I watched him ponder over this question and spoke again before he could answer. "If I had known then how you feel about me of course I would have come back. But, really, I thought you looked down on me just like everyone else did. They all thought I was some clueless child and without realizing it you did the same. It hurt, Ken. And I can't make that memory fade."

When he looked up I saw the incredible stream of tears flowing down his perfect, angular face. "How could you ever doubt how I feel about you?" His voice was broken, nothing more than a shattered whisper. That question did it. I knew I had hurt him in almost an irreparable way.

"Because you turned your back on me," I answered. "Even when I begged you not to, when I pleaded for your help you walked away just like everyone else." Believe me, I've tried to forget the past, to let it go. But some things cannot be forgotten no matter how much you do or how far you run.

Ken swallowed the buildup that had gathered in his throat and studied me for some sort of vulnerable spot. Seven years of living on nothing but whatever strength I had to get by destroyed whatever vulnerability had once existed in me. That weak spot he sought was nowhere to be found. And I wished I could have given it to him. "I think I need to be alone for a little while," he whispered. "Here," Ken handed me a pager before I walked out. "I'm the only one with the number for this thing. When I'm ready, I'll call you, okay?"

His eyes more than anything else told me that he desperately needed it to be okay. He needed it to be all right. He needed everything to be all right again. Time had reminded me that nothing ever would be again. But, whatever gods may exist have got to help me- because I lied to him. I smiled and touched his smooth perfect skin and whispered to him, "Of course it's okay, Ken." After kissing him on the cheek, I left.

I wish I had a magic wand to make things all better. Shit. Seems I left it in my other pants. Dammit, never a break when you need one…

"Mimi," I say again breaking our little reverie. "Why don't you head back to your place and I'll call you later. Right now I think we all need some time to sort this shit out."

Eyeing me she laughs a little, but it's dry and bitter. "Sure, Daisuke. You've had seven years the rest of us have only had a few hours to deal with the things you've done-"

"Don't even fucking start that bullshit with me," I cut her off. "You know better than anyone that it won't work. Besides, it's not like I'm going to take off again." We stand in an odd face-off that I never thought I'd get to see.

Mimi nods. "You're right," she replied. "I'm sorry, Dai, it's just rough dealing with this now. It's kinda sudden, you know?" Tears give way to laughter, which in turn gives way to a hug and a bidding to take care of ourselves. Watching her walk away I remember how close we used to be and I can't help but wonder what else she's been up to.

Resuming my mission, I turn to keep walking and have to stop again. Oh god dammit. Why? Did I do something so bad, really? Honestly- am I just cursed? Will I never be forgiven? Plastering the biggest phony grin I've got on my face I step forward as my stomach drops out. "Hello, Miyako," my voice is even. "Guess those rumors you heard about my death weren't true after all, eh?"

Corrective lenses are still required, I see. Eyes bulging behind the modern frames, hair swept up in a soft tangle, and an obviously pregnant belly protruding from her mid-section she glares at me. Sincerity at it's finest. "I wish they were," Miyako says in greeting. "Daisuke, Daisuke… why the fuck aren't you dead? You know that would have made my life so much easier?" Her eyes narrow, looking deadly. Well, as deadly as a pregnant woman can ever really look.

Without being able to control it, I can feel my eyes rolling at her. "Give it up, Miya. I just came from the hubby's office, okay? Not to mention that Takeru filled me in on a few things as did Mimi. So spare me the pity routine. You aren't going to find any here- not from me, never from me." Letting my eyes narrow I give her a glimpse of my own deadly side and smirk as she backs up a step. Sighing as I watch, I act on autopilot. "Come on," I grip her wrist and tug her towards me. "Ken wouldn't like it if you were wandering in the street and got hit by a car. Plus I think he'd deny me forever for killing his wife."

"What the fuck do you care?" Miyako's voice is icy. No, strike that. It's downright arctic. "You were always such an egotistical son of a bitch. And I hate you, as I'm sure you've guessed. Since you haven't died it looks like I'll just have to kill you myself at some point." Wrenching free of my grip she all but spits at me. "I fucking hate you, Daisuke. I wish you would just fucking… disappear or something! Why did you have to come back? Why couldn't you just stay dead to us? To Ken…?" Her words are losing venom quickly and dissolving. A fine trembling is running across her shoulders and I know she's trying not to cry.

"Resurrection's a tough gig, but I get by," my quip is scathing and has the desired result. Miyako lunges at me and in a move that's all too easy I grab her arms and restrain her. "Hey, settle down. I'm not going to hurt you, okay?" She keeps trying to land a punch or a kick but I'm not letting it happen. Can't give her that satisfaction after all. "Miyako…" She can't hear me. She's beyond hearing anything now. "Miyako," I yell, "stop it! Get a fucking grip on yourself. You're out in public and you're acting like a child. You're a mother now, an adult. There's no room for you to be pulling this baby crap so just fucking get over yourself." And dammit if it doesn't take every ounce of control I've got to NOT hit her as punctuation to my statement.

Shoving me back she sniffles and wipes her nose. "Fuck you, Dai," she mutters.

"Aw, come on, Miya-babe. You love me, I know it." Trying to peer into her eyes I give her a smile.

"No really," she shoots back. "Fuck you."

"Why?" Sticking out my lip I give her a pout this time snickering when she glares at me again.

"You know why."

"But I would feel so much better if I heard you say it."

A sneer curls her lips and she spits at me with distaste. "I will never give you the satisfaction, Motomiya. Not in a god damn million years."

"Nonsense," I tell her. "Somehow, I think you will. Sooner or later you'll realize you don't have a choice." Of course I expect her next move and catch her wrist as she tries to slap me. The look on her face barely changes, but I catch the subtle widening of her eyes. Good to know I've shocked her. Always good to know when you get the better of your enemies.

"You're nothing but a fucking homewrecker. Go back to the filth you came from." Pulling free she stalks away leaving me to stand and bask in my tiny victory. True, I've already won the war, but watching the other side pick up the pieces afterwards is always so enjoyable. Probably because I'm a sadistic bastard.

Dusting off invisible particles of battle I head to Jun's in good spirits. The rest of my journey passes with little to no event and all too soon I find myself at my sister's door remembering that I have a niece and nephew waiting at daycare for their mother. Funny, I had forgotten about them in all this mess. I wonder… if they'll have to deal with the stigma of having a gay uncle. If they'll be made fun of for having me in their family. It would be sad really. I hope they don't get treated the way I was.

Pushing the door open there is no sound but shifting of the air current as I enter. Ah yes, Daisuke the stealth master. Excellent. I'm going to need some of those old skills in the days to come, I think. Wandering to the guest room I spot a slumped over blue bundle on the bed. "Hey Chibi," my words are soft. "You feeling better?"

The little digimon turns to me and fixes me with a gaze that almost bleeds it's so red- from crying as well as natural pigment. "No," he sniffles. The tiny lower jaw quivers with that distinct knowledge that there are still more tears despite thinking they had run dry ages ago. "I just want him to love me," Chibimon whispers. "But more than anything, I want him to be happy."

Shit. I had forgotten about him too in my trip to see Ken. Maybe I am the selfish prick everyone thinks. "Hey," I pull the blue dragon into an embrace. Hushing him, I whisper all sorts of soothing nonsense. "If it makes you feel better, I think he does love you. With all of his digital heart. He's got to, Chibi. He's got to love you as much as you love him."

The child-like voice is muffled, but I can hear the question. "How can you be so sure?"

With a secretive smile I lower my mouth to his ear. "Because Ken told me he loves me," I whisper. "And I have a feeling that if Ken was hiding the truth, Wormmon was too."

All sobs come to a halt. Crimson eyes stare up at me. "Really?" For the first time in so many years I see a spark of hope in those depths as I nod in confirmation. "Oh Daisuke! That's the best news ever!" He's gone from borderline suicidal to psychotically cheery in seconds. If I wasn't capable of it myself I'd find it creepy. Shame Takeru can't manage these kinds of mood swings. "Wait a minute…" Chibimon backs up a minute. "Ken told you he loves you?"

"Yeah," my smile is fragile from the sheer wonder of hearing someone else say it. "He did. But some other stuff happened too while I was out. I ran into Takeru and Mimi-"

"Oh! How's Mimi? Did you tell her I missed her? Because I did, almost as much as I missed… well maybe not quite as much-"

"They know why I left, Chibi. They found out everything."

That one stops him. "Oh," he's quiet for a while. "Did you tell them?"

"Only after seeing some old familiar faces." Placing him back on the bed I stand and begin to gather my stuff. "We might have to leave again…" I don't like saying it, but there's no harm in being prepared.

"But we just got here," he whimpers.

"I know, buddy," there's a sadness in both our faces. And it kills me to have to say this to him, but it needs to be said. "And I don't think they can come with us either."

"But-"

"They could get killed, Chibi." It isn't fair to have to do this. No one should have to do this. All that hope that was just reborn dies again right in front of my eyes. A fresh batch of saline leaks out of his eyes.

"How long do we have?" That's all he asks me. And I can't even give him that.

"I don't know." The words barely leave my lips when there's a knock at the door. What the hell? No one knows I'm here… except for the few people I've seen. Unless Jun forgot her key or something. Or what if… oh shit. No, they couldn't be looking for me already. Not now, not now…

Then I hear a voice. "Dai, come open the fucking door before I break it down. I've waited seven years to kick your ass and I'm not going to wait another seven seconds so get your ass out here and open the fucking-"

I throw the door open. Two men stand before me. Two fully grown men that I had only known as youths at most, boys at least.

"Door…" Taichi finishes his sentence. Then he stares at me. Brown eyes lock with mine and he tries to give me a hard glare but it cracks as a watery smile breaks his face. "I didn't think you would really come," he whispers. "I didn't even think you were really here. I didn't want to hope…" Then I'm caught in a fierce hug that's part relief and part bittersweet happiness. "Welcome home…"

Yamato stands there and I can see a quick flash of something pass through his eyes. No, he can't be… jealous? "Relax, Yamato," my voice is even despite the emotional reunion. "I'm not out to steal your man. Plus I think he knows that I'm kind of interested in someone else."

Sapphire eyes widen nearly cracking his icy veneer. Apparently, while Takeru told them I was home he forgot to mention some of the finer details of our visit. "You could at least invite us in," the blond finally speaks.

Tai elbows his companion in the ribs. "Way to be friendly, Yama."

Muttering about goggleheads the taller man steps inside moving like a cat past me and towards the kitchen. "Where does she keep the glasses? I'd like some water."

"Uh, fuck if I know, man. I've only been here for a little over a day. Help yourself though. Jun will go ballistic when she finds out you were here." There's a teasing note in my voice, just to fuck with him. To see how much they really know.

Coughing and the sound of sputtering water comes from the kitchen. "She can't still have a crush on me!"

Glancing at Taichi I offer a satisfied smirk. "I didn't mean that kind of ballistic," I keep my voice between hard and bitter.

Closing the door I lead Tai into the kitchen area where Yamato has decided to help himself to not only water, but some food as well. "Ballistic how?" Taichi questions me, never one to let anything get by.

I shrug, being my cool nonchalant self. "How do you think, Taichi? Why would I say that?"

Anger. That's all it is. Pure rage that's been unchecked for seven years. Ducking a right hook I kick his legs out from under him and pin him to the floor. Glancing at the blond I smirk again. "Guess you're a lover not a fighter, huh?"

"You motherfucker!" Taichi is struggling beneath me. But I'm too strong. Always too strong. This is getting old for me. Everyone I see wants to beat the shit out of me for one reason or another. Why did I even come back in the first place…?

"Stop it, Tai," my voice is tired. Everything about me is tired. Tired of putting up with people I wanted to forget, tired of putting on shows for everyone I see, tired of running, tired of trying, tired of life…

The brunette stops fighting as I get up and gapes at me. "Jesus, Dai," his throat must be dry, the words are scratchy. "What happened to you?"

"A lot of things," I chuckle and nod to Chibimon who came into the room a few moments ago.

"I heard fighting," the digimon offers.

"No worries, I'm fine."

Watching as the blue dragon nods, part of me can't help but smile when he says, "I'm staying anyway. Just in case."

He's spent too much time on the run with me. I never should have exposed him to some of that stuff. But shit happens, or so they say. "Thanks," my smile is bitter.

"Don't mention it," he raises an eyebrow at me and knows we'll continue this conversation later. Sometimes he still has trouble understanding human reactions to things. Digimon would have never had the emotional hang-ups the Destined have acquired.

Yamato decides to make himself useful. "Takeru filled us in on a few things. He didn't tell me that you knew about Tai and I though. But it's nice to know we won't have to pretend." The same weariness is in his voice and it makes me wonder about some things.

"How long have you guys… I mean, I know you aren't together because as far as I know you've never cheated on your wife…" Blue and brown eyes almost fall from their sockets and I hear Chibi snicker in the background. He likes getting the drop on people too.

"Where the fuck do you get your information?" Tai stares at me like I've sprouted not just an extra head, but a couple spare bodies. "Only Mimi and Takeru even knew about us…"

"Yeah, Mimi mentioned that, I think," everything is so bland when I explain it. Giving them a recap I explain the lunch and our trip to Eye Spy and… Ken. "Now I'm back here and it looks like I might have to take off sooner than expected. Sucks, you know? I'm home, what, twenty-four hours and already I've got runners after me for that last favor I owe. And I can't turn them down because it's my ass if I do. Not to mention what they'd do to everyone who knows… or anyone they think knows. Did Takeru even tell you about this part?"

For his part, Yamato laughs a little. "Yeah, he was amazed at your tattoos. Seven of them, Dai?"

I nod and he whistles as Taichi shakes his head.

"Well I have eight, so there Pretty Boy." He sticks his tongue out at me.

"Only Ken gets to call me that, Tai. And why are you all inked up? Mimi would've told me if you were into the same mess I'm in." Settling into small talk is nice. It almost makes me forget that Jun will return from work soon and she'll have two little people in tow.

"Nah, mine are just for show," he laughs. Maybe he's psychic, or maybe it's having the same crest locked in our blood. "When does Jun get back?"

"Soon," I say. "We really shouldn't be here when she does either. Unless you want to meet my niece and nephew…" Letting in dangle I watch them process.

"When did she get married?" This from Yamato.

"She's not," I tell them.

"So who's the lucky daddy?" Taichi now.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I rub my face and laugh a little. This day has been loaded with bittersweet goodness for me. It's starting to catch up.

In sync they say: "Try me."

Lo and behold… who walks in the door then? Jun. And Yume. And Tenshi. Precious little twins. They really are darlings.

"Hey, Dai," she calls somehow knowing I'm here. "You'll never guess who I ran into…" When she enters the kitchen she stops cold. I have to give her credit; she doesn't freak out or try to kill me instantly. "Or maybe you would." She turns to me. "Can I speak to you for a moment?"

"Oh sure." I know it's rude but I'm really trying not to laugh as she all but drags me into the hall. Especially when she skewers me with her next question.

"What the fuck are they fucking doing here?!" Teeth clenched, hissing through her jaw… she's a monument towards all things angry.

"Relax, Junny-Jun," I try and comfort her. Looking around for the twins I hear them in the kitchen talking to our visitors. "I ran into Takeru and Mimi who called these two. Oh and Ken too. And it turns out he loves me, just like I had always dreamed. Nice, huh?"

She still looks non-plussed. "Yeah, that's ducky. So, why are they here again? And congrats on the whole Ken thing." Hands on her hips she's got one eyebrow up and isn't going to let this one go.

"They wanted to see if it was true." I give her a thin smile hoping it will do. Miracles can still happen… sometimes.

"Uh-huh," her jaw quirks. "Just don't let them overstay their welcome, all right?"

We proceed back into the kitchen and the tension is thick enough to choke on. Taichi is studying the children with acute sensitivity. His eyes are understanding and pained. He knows, of course he does. Looking at me he sighs. "You're right. I wouldn't have believed you."

Yamato nods in agreement and asks the question to end all questions. "So, Jun, um… when did you hook up with Koushiro?"

A sickly sweet smile on her face she turns to the blond. "Right before he started fucking your wife."

Then the pager in my pocket goes off. And all hell breaks loose.

*************

I know that's an overused last line, but I couldn't help it. So, we didn't get to the problem solving and not a lot happened, but I hope this fits the bill. Eventually I swear I'll get this done quicker. Promise! Review or critique as you like I'll love you just the same. ^_^