Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ For They Shall Be Filled ❯ Issues of Trust, Issues of Doubt ( Chapter 3 )

____________________________________________________________________ __________________

For They Shall Be Filled

The future is only a reaction to the past.

By: Vain (Vainglorious696) 5/31/2001-1/26/2002

__________________________________________________________

I do not own Digimon, Ichijouji Ken, the Digidestined, or the Digital World, nor am I making any money off of this. Kazunori, Sanghee, the Golden Triangle, the Revelationas Arch, all its OC's and original concepts all belong to me.

Please DO NOT use or "borrow" them without my written permission.

Special Thanks goes to Herongale and the Guardian for betaing and thank you's are extended to everyone who reviewed on FF.net, especially Athena, ShinniJekka, KA, Pan-chan, Crew of the Clow, Mink, and Soulfull Ishida.

Because of the FF.net situation, this story will be posted here gradually. The entire fic and its sequel can be found here: http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=91738

Thank you and please read and review.

~ Vain

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find it;

knock, and it will be opened to you.

-Matthew 7:7

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter Three

Issues of Trust, Issues of Doubt

Yolei's eyes narrowed as she heard Ken's words and she flicked her gaze to the box he held between himself and Davis. What are you up to now, Ichijouji?

Davis was the only one who didn't look upset. "Sure!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "What do you need?"

Ken cocked his head to the side again, eyes unfathomable behind his dark hair. He continued his study of an unperturbed Davis for several seconds until the silence just bordered on uncomfortable. When he spoke his sentences were abrupt and to the point. "I have to go away for a few days. My parents signed me up to tutor at some camp and I wanted to know if you would--"

"YOU!"

Ken's head snapped away from Davis to focus on an angry boy just a few years younger than he was. Cody, his brain supplied helpfully. In his arms Cody held what looked like a muddy ball with enormous ears and eyes. That must be his digimon.

The digimon, a very muddy Upomon, took advantage of Ken's momentary surprise and leapt out of Cody's arms, hurling himself towards the former Digimon Emperor with a furious shout. "GO AWAY!"

Someone yelled, "Upomon, stop!" and Ken took a step back, knowing that he couldn't avoid the airborne digimon without falling on his butt and very annoyed at the thought of having to return home to change his clothing.

Fate, however, had other ideas.

As Ken stepped back away from him, Davis saw the top of the box Ken held explode and something small, green, and just as angry as Upomon, fly past in a blur.

Ken, who was obviously two steps ahead of the goggle-wearing soccer player, reached forward after the green thing and yelled out "Stop!" as Upomon collided with the angered projectile. Upomon yelped in pain and the pair hit the ground with a grunt, rolling in separate directions.

Cody rushed forward and dropped to his knees. "Upomon, are you all right?"

"I'm all right Cody, just a little bruised."

The Keeper of Knowledge and Responsibility turned burning emerald eyes to Ken and opened his mouth to yell at him but stopped when he saw what had hit Upomon.

Bouncing up and down in front of Ken with little green flippers extended protectively was an in-training digimon. A very pissed off in-training digimon. He was about a foot tall with a long brown twig of some sort sprouting from his head and his lower body entirely hidden in a spiky-looking cocoon of the same shade. His funny bud-like mouth opened vertically in the center as he glared back at Cody and Upomon. "You better leave Ken alone!" he declared fiercely.

Cody speechless stared at the creature for a moment and then reached a conclusion. "You're Wormmon!"

"What?" asked Matt who, along with the others, had risen to his feet sometime during all the excitement. "Who are you?"

Ken heaved a sigh that seemed to come form the depths of earth and reached out to gently catch his digimon partner in his hands. "Calm down," he told him. "Fighting is not going to accomplish anything."

Yolei cast a piercing look at Ken as he spoke, her glasses catching the sunlight in a bright flash. His voice had sounded different than she had ever heard it before. He hadn't sounded angry or imperious, just . . . tired. Ken sounded unbelievable tired and worn. She had never heard a voice like that come out of a kid her age and the lavender-haired girl felt a small doubt blossom in her soul. Am I wrong about you, Ken? Am I making a mistake? She squeezed her eyes shut to banish the irksome questions. What are you hiding from us? We would help you if you would just let us!

Gently tucking his digimon in one arm, Ken used his free hand to tuck back several strands of unruly hair. "I didn't want things to go this way," he began in a tone of regret, "but I don't really have the time to try and do this right." He turned his attention to Davis, speaking solely to him. "This is Minomon; he's the in-training digivolution of Wormmon. I have to go away to camp for a week and I can't take him with me. I can't leave him at home either because there is no one there to take care of him. I need to know, Davis: will you take care of him while I'm gone?"

Davis stared at him a moment, uncomprehending. Ken felt a sense a dread well up in the pit of his stomach. They were going to laugh at him now. They might even gang up on him. This had been a bad idea. What right did he, the Digimon Emperor--albeit, FORMER Digimon Emperor-- have to ask for favors from the very people who had planned and orchestrated his downfall? Right after one of their digimon had just attacked him, nonetheless. Ken's free hand knotted into a fist. He never should have come. He never should have let himself think that they could--

"Okay."

Ken blinked. "Okay?"

Davis reached up and unnecessarily adjusted his goggles, grinning broadly. "Well, yeah, dude! We're friends now, and that's what friends do for each other. I'd love to spend some time with Minniemon- that is, if it's all right with him." The leader of the new Digidestined looked at the digimon Ken held and opened his arms. "Well, little fellow, what do you say?"

The little green digimon looked up at his partner triumphantly. "I told you he'd do it!" Somehow smiling, he wiggled out of Ken's grasp and leapt into Davis's arms. He waved his arms happily. "Sure! This was my idea! Ken thought that you'd say no, but I told him it would be okay! Just one thing, though: my name is MINOmon, not Minniemon."

Davis returned his smile. "Sorry, Minomon."

Satisfied, Minomon twisted out of Davis's arm and leapt back into Ken's. The pale genius was regarding them both with wide eyes, completely unguarded for just the briefest instant. He had never seen Minomon so . . . outgoing before. Normally his digimon was very placid and sedate and, despite the little twinge of jealousy he felt at seeing Minomon with another, he was also strangely pleased to see him so happy.

Suddenly aware that he had to be staring like an absolute fool, Ken forced down a blush and allowed his expression to close in on itself. "Thank you," he told Davis sincerely. "He's very good and really helpful, too. I promise that he won't be any trouble."

"Pfft!" Davis stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry so much; he'll be fine. He can play with Demiveemon here," he offered, indicating his own in-training partner at his side.

Minomon's eyes followed his gesture to where Demiveemon sat looking at him curiously.

"Hi," said the blue digimon while waving one flipper.

"Hello," Minomon greeted, waving back.

Ken set Minomon down gently and looked back at Davis. He opened his mouth to speak, but his digivice beeped noisily in his pocket. He removed the offending object and looked down at the time with a sigh. "I have to go. My ride is probably looking for me." He returned his gaze to Davis. "Thank you for doing this. It seems I am in your debt yet again, Davis."

"No sweat, man. That's what friends are for."

Ken tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He didn't look convinced. "Right . . . Just make sure that he doesn't eat any chocolate and that you take him to the Digital World if he starts to get lethargic. You'll e-mail my D-3 if there's a problem?"

"Don't worry about it. I can handle this," Davis assured him. "I'm a real pro!"

"If you're certain it's no bother . . . Minomon," he turned to his digimon who was deep in conversation with Demiveemon, "I must go now. Be good and DO NOT eat any chocolate, understand?"

His partner nodded a bit sadly. "I won't." He jumped up, embracing Ken. "Bye, Ken; have fun."

Ken put down Minomon and the shoebox and picked up his case.

"Wait, Ken!" Kari stepped forward. "We've gotta talk."

Ken frowned slightly. "I'll tell you what: meet me in the digital world at Primary Village in five days around 3:00. I'll pick up Wormmon there and you can say what you need to, all right?"

The Child of Light frowned. "Okay. Primary Village it is."

Ken turned away and Kari called after him. "Have fun."

He paused at looked back, uncertain whether or not she was serious. He regarded her coolly for a moment and then bowed slightly. ". . . Thank you."

Davis waved. "Bye, Ken!"

"Don't forget, Davis," the other boy warned, "absolutely no chocolate. It's very important--"

"You worry too much! Your digimon will be fine!"

Ken cast a doubtful glance at Minomon who was happily romping with Demiveemon. His digivice beeped again. "Primary Village," he said, turning to go.

Davis watched Ken's back as he disappeared from view and felt a deep satisfaction. I knew you'd come around sooner or later, Ken. He turned back to the others in triumph. "You see! I told you he's changed!"

"I don't know, Davis," said Cody pessimistically. "How can you be so certain?"

Davis slouched and released an exasperated sigh. "You are such a downer sometimes, Cody. Cut the guy some slack will ya? He's been through a lot lately."

"But I just don't think he can be trusted. People can't change overnight and if you weren't falling all over yourself over him, you'd see it too! What about you, Yolei?"

The tall girl shook her head, looking down. "I think you might be right. Can we risk it? Can we really risk just letting the Digimon Emperor run free?"

"Hey!" yelled Davis angry.

"Uh-oh," Demiveemon whispered to Minomon. "Now it's really gonna hit the fan."

Minomon's eyes widened. "What is?"

The other digimon's response was lost beneath the thunder of Davis's words. "Get it through your head, Yolei: HE'S NOT THE EMPEROR ANYMORE!! What do you think we'd do with him anyway? Have him arrested? For what? Trying to take over a world that nobody else knows is real? Yeah, the cops will love that!"

"Well," interrupted Tai cheerily, "You know what I think?"

The arguing Digidestined looked at him in confusion.

"I think can take you both on the soccer field!"

"Yeah, right!" Davis laughed. "You gotta be dreaming! You can't even handle me!"

"Is that a challenge, goggle-boy?"

"Who you callin' goggle-boy, goggle-boy?"

"That's goggle-man to you," declared Tai, lunging towards the younger Digidestined. The two went down in a laughing heap.

Minomon watched with large eyes. "Are they always like this?" he asked Davis's partner.

"Yep," Demiveemon asserted with nod and an air of wisdom. "This is pretty normal human behavior."

"Oh." Minomon studied them for a few more seconds before turning back to his new friend. "I'm glad Ken isn't normal then; it looks dangerous, all that yelling and fighting. He could really get hurt."

Kari looked down at the two digimon, listening intently. She smiled sadly at Minomon's last words. I wish things were that simple, little one.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*