Digimon belongs to Toei! *sob*

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Shi-chan: I had half a chapter of this sitting around from when FFN was down over the summer! Forgot to upload it. ^^;; Enjoy!
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Love Is
Part 3
~By Shimegami-chan
Warnings: Kensuke! Yay!





What we refer to as 'country' in Tamachi is a stretch of land, not far from there or Odaiba, with a few trees and a lake and some picnic tables. It's more like a large park than the actual wilderness, but in this part of Japan it's as close as we can get.

Dai parked the Mazda in the lot beside the lake, pausing to watch the light reflecting off it. "Wow. That's really pretty."

"Isn't it though." Hikari stared, captivated.

Daisuke motioned to open the driver's side door. "Well? Are we going to get out?"

Ayumi waved her hand to brush him off. "No, it's cold out there. Let's just sit here...awhile."

"Sure." Daisuke turned the car off and sat back to watch the rippling water. After a moment Hikari scooted over and leaned her head on his shoulder. A twinge of jealousy ran through me, followed by guilt. Those two were meant for each other, I shouldn't be feeling this way!

I didn't care if I was alone. Not having a girlfriend just didn't bother me, I guess it was because I'd never really had a real one. I supposed if I knew what I was missing I'd be a little more anxious, but just then it really wasn't a big deal. Hell, other than Daisuke--and the occasional checking out of some nice ones I'd met--I wasn't even interested in guys>

But Daisuke...oh God, Daisuke was the one person I just couldn't ignore. Everything he said and did drew me closer to him. I wanted him more and more, and I couldn't have him. It was as simple as that. He'd liked Hikari for years, and now all of his devotion was finally paying off. I couldn't screw this opportunity up for him, not over my own stupid confused feelings.

Ayumi, to my great dismay, had somehow removed both our seatbelts while I was spacing out and was now curled up next to me. I was still watching Daisuke, sitting half-frozen, a look of shock and wonder on his face as Hikari snuggled closer. This was his dream come true...

I let out a sigh that expelled all my doubts, finally able to feel happy for my best friend. This was the way things would be best for both of us. I felt safe, at peace. He was happy. It would be all right. It would be all right...

"Ken-chan..." Ayumi murmured, looking at me in the moonlight. "I really like you, you know that?"

Oh, here was a problem. I wasn't going to lie to her, that was for sure. "Yutaka-san..."

"Please, call me Ayumi."

"Ayumi-san, I don't think--"

She hushed me, touching a finger to my chin and pressing her lips to mine in a soft kiss.

Shock ripped through me. It wasn't supposed to go this far! I wasn't sure what to do; pull away or go along with her? Kissing on the first date was okay, wasn't it? Even if I didn't intend to go out with her any more?

I didn't have time to think, the most logical answer fixating in my mind. One kiss doesn't mean commitment. It's a test. You can handle this, Ichijouji.

Seeing that I wasn't actually responding, she slipped her tongue into my mouth. "Don't," I warned, pulling away from her.

Ayumi had the audacity to look insulted. "What's wrong with you?"

"I don't kiss on a first date," I mumbled, staring out the window.

"I knew you weren't normal, Ken-chan," Ayumi sneered. "I bet you just don't know how. Loser."

Even coming from her, the comment stung. "Go to hell."

Her mouth the dropped open. "What did you say to me?"

Daisuke turned around, incredoulous. "Ken!"

"Ken, that's mean! You're not acting yourself today," Hikari accused.

"I guess I'm not the person everyone thinks I am, am I?" Anger bubbled up inside me like a volcano. The whole night had been a total waste of time and money and effort. And who knew what Ayumi would tell the school by Monday!? My heart fell into my shoes. "Well!?"

"Guess not," Hikari said snidely.

"K-Kari-chan!" Daisuke squeaked. "You really shouldn't--"

Hikari turned away from him, looking angry. Daisuke turned white.

"I'm sorry, Dai," I whispered, wrenching open the car door. "You guys go on."

"Wait! Ken!" I closed the door, shutting out Daisuke's pained voice.

"Forget it, don't bother." Ayumi's voice drifted through the back window.

"Ken!"

I ran.


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



I heard Daisuke calling my name long before he was anywhere near me, giving me plenty of time to hide deeper in the bit of shrubbery I was using for shelter. It had begun to rain; warm at first, but turning bitterly cold as the first hour wore on.

I played with the possibility of letting Daisuke find me, and then with the idea of letting him pass. Knowing Dai it was rather likely that he'd look all night and pass out on the ground before leaving this damned forest. On the other hand, I didn't want to explain why I'd gotten so worked up over Ayumi.

Again, I wondered if it was possible for a human to become asexual.

Then, I wondered just how much my mind had deteriorated in past years to even think such a thing.

I would have thought some more, but Daisuke ambled past, and I was saved the trouble of making my decision by a cruel twist of fate. The rain having taken its toll, I let out a violent sneeze.

"Ken!" I heard a rustling nearby and cursed quietly. I was faster than him...wasn't I? I toyed with the idea of making a break for it, alternating with climbing the tree that I was leaning aganist. Neither won. Daisuke's face appeared in the blackness. "Ken?"

"Konbanwa, Motomiya-kun," I laughed merrily.

He scowled.

Whoops. "Sorry, I took so long, Ichijouji. I had to bring the girls home."

"Wouldn't stick around to help you look, eh?" I said bitterly.

His expression softened. "Aw, geez, Ken. I was just kidding. Are you okay? What happened back there?"

"Nothing." I would not look in his eyes. I would not look in his eyes. I would not.

His chocolate-brown gaze met mine. "You're lying." He settled on the grass beside me, sitting Indian-style. "Come on, Ken. I'm your best friend. You've gotta tell me about these things."

"No. It's really personal, Dai. Really personal."

"Well, at least you're calling me by my name! Guess you're not mad."

"Iie."

"Well, are you gonna tell me?"

"Iie."

"Can we go back to the car at least?"

"Iie."

"Can't you say anything but 'no,?'"

I shook my head in reply.

He laughed for a moment but sobered at the sight of my expression. "Ken...come on, please. I can't help if I don't know what's bugging you."

"I don't need your help."

"Is this about Ayumi-chan?"

"No."

"Some other girl?"

"Hell no."

"Family problems?"

"Nope."

"Failing Math?"

"Nuh-uh."

"You're gay and you want a sex change?"

I didn't answer.

"You lost yo--wait, what?"

I stared at the leaves by my feet.

"Ken, please deny it."

"Why? Are you homophobic? Is it really going to matter at this point? The whole school will know by Monday anyway, thanks to Yutaka." I glared at him. "Spill, Motomiya. I need to know whether to bother coming back to Odaiba."

His jaw was still hanging open. "You--you're--huh-huh-huh-huuuuh?"

I nodded.

He took a deep breath and attempted to collect his wits before speaking again. "Okay...I can handle this. My best friend's...um...gay. I will get used to saying that. My best friend's gay. My best friend's gay. My best friend's gay."

I glared at him.

He glared back. "Do you want me to get used to this or what? All right, I'm okay." He let out a long sigh before giving me a genki grin. "Okay! Everything's good. Should we go back to the car now?"

"You're taking this awfully well," I commented dryly. "There's more."

"More? More. Ah. I see. And what would this 'more' be?"

I found my spirits lifting just a bit. He didn't hate me! He wasn't totally disgusted! Yet. I coughed. "I think I should perhaps just spill it all know. The better to hate me with, ne? I like someone. However, that person is--as far as I know--perfectly straight. Not to mention somewhat attached. Um, yeah."

Daisuke continued to grin. "Good enough. I bet it wouldn't be that hard to turn someone though, right? 'Cause...people turn gay all the time. I'm sure the person you like could do the same."

"Daisuke, you don't 'turn' people into homosexuals."

"You know what I mean, stop being so nasty, Ken! I'm trying to help here!"

"Right."

"Okay, so who's the lucky guy?"

I grimaced. It sounded so...feminine...when he put it that way. He stared at me expectantly, eyes wide. I grinned. I had dreamed of this moment a thousand times; most of them during Hikari and Takeru's whirlwind relationship. Now, he was just out of my reach; so close and yet so far.

I caught his chin with my fingers and forced him to meet my stare and keep it. Leaning over with my weight supported on one arm, I brought my lips to his in a soft kiss. "It's you."

Daisuke stared at me incredoulously.

Then, he fainted.





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Author's Note: Like this story? Want to know when it'll be updated? e-mail me or leave a review and I'll send you an AuthorAlert whenever the next chapter goes up! ^_^
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Conan: Nothing I like better than a good plot!
Seki: And you ain't seen nothing yet!