The Challenge: Part Seven I can not help but think back to what I told Daisuke all those years ago and hate myself for it. It was a threat made in the heat of the moment. I was mad. Mad at Daisuke for feeling as worthless as he did, mad at everyone else for pushing him to it, for not showing him just how great he was, and mad at myself for being unable to convince him otherwise. When I told him that the decision would always be up to him, that I would not fight it, I was just being boastful. In reality, I was just saying I know you’ll never actually do it. *In reality*, I was offering up the challenge to him, not the other way around. I wanted to know just how far he would go to punish himself.
But one look at his face down below and I knew that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. And for me, that’s really saying something.
I slammed the door shut. I do not even know if I remembered to lock it, but I doubt I did. I had to talk to Daisuke right now and there was no way he was coming back to talk to me. That much had been obvious. When he had looked up at me I could see the good bye in his eyes. I made it down the stairs in record time and started down the street after him thanking anyone I had ever heard of that I was faster.
However, it soon became very readily apparent that this was not going to end so easily. After a few blocks I was in the busy business district, a fact I had loved before, but now openly cursed. Normally, it might not have been so hard to find Daisuke’s burgundy hair in the sea of black, but then he was not normally avoiding me. That, and the hundreds of people moving about made my pace decidedly slower.
Daisuke watched as Ken pushed his way through the crowds. He kept his eyes pinned on the older boy the entire time, half-hoping and half-afraid that his stare would draw Ken’s attention. Ken’s glance did flicker in Daisuke’s direction for a moment, but missed the boy in the shadows of alleyway. Daisuke let out a pent up breath. ‘Coward’ his mind laughed, ‘The least you could do is admit she was telling the truth. But no, just continue to hide, that is so much more like you.’ Daisuke sighed again. This was getting bad. Ken used to make the taunting stop but now was the cause. And, damn it! He was not a coward.
“Ken!”
The Challenge: Part Seven
Daisuke could see Ken trying to claw his way through the steadily moving crowed. He could not tell if the grimace on Ken’s face was from trying to make it over to him or from what Miyako had told him. Daisuke had been waiting for bus back to their apartment when he had seen Miyako come running up, waving. Daisuke had smiled, happy for the company and they quickly began rehashing some of their favorite old stories from the digi-world and after, then:
I saw Ken on campus the other day.
Yeah he was give a lecture on something or other
Yeah, its kinda funny really.
What?
All the girls. They just think he’s the best thing. Smart. Handsome. None of them have a clue that he’s, you know, with you.
So?
So how do you know he really loves you? I mean, with the choices he has, why you?
He loves me.
Well I’m sure he thinks he does anyway.
What does that mean?
Well, maybe it was lack of choice. I mean, face it. Ken was really screwed up. And then you were there.
And?
I mean, who is to say that if you weren’t there he wouldn’t have made some other choice?
Huh?
All I’m saying is that you’ll never *really* know.
Daisuke rolled his eyes at her and gave a laugh in the barest attempt to hide the pain gnawing away at his heart. He smirked at her unsure face before standing up on the bus bench, and calling out, “I’m Motomiya Daisuke and Ichijouji Ken loves me!” He smiled down to where Miyako sat; fully expecting her to laugh, but instead was met with a look of horror.
“God Daisuke!” she said pulling him back down, “What are you trying to do? Ruin Ken’s life?” ‘Ok, so that may be a bit harsh,’ she added to herself.
Daisuke looked around. There was a grade school girl snickering behind her hand and a middle-aged man in a suit who looked decidedly uncomfortable, maybe even a little ill. Everyone else just looked at him as if he were absolutely loony. But more than anyone he could feel the way Miyako was watching him. Like he had just told everyone about Ken’s deepest and darkest secret. Himself.
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