I find myself swallowing hard as everyone turns their attention back to Daisuke. And I wonder if I’m the only one who actually noticed that Iori practically stuck his tongue down my throat. Wait, I take that back, I wonder if anyone paid any attention at all to what just happened.

Catching my bewildered gaze Yamato winks at me and I feel myself blushing deeply.

This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

"I think we should play… strip poker!"

"No, no! A drinking game!"

"Naw, I don’t want anyone getting drunk or naked. But who here is hungry?" Daisuke says, silencing the almost obscene suggestions.

Even after all this time he’s still our leader, though I don’t find it hard to believe. After all, he is who he is.

I smile quietly to myself and relax a bit. Overreacting just isn’t my style.

Daisuke is up and ordering pizza, I don’t worry about what the pizza will have on it, I know I’ll probably like whatever he gets for us.

Everyone breaks up the circle and mills around. I stay where I am, content to just bathe in all the familiar voices and sounds.

I missed everyone so much. Its not like I didn’t keep myself busy.

Once I left I went and got myself a job as a book editor. It pays well, and I guess there was enough work for me to try and burry myself in. but I always dream about things from our past. I miss patamon sometimes. But mostly I just miss Iori.

I sigh deeply. Why did I agree? After all this time, why did I come back now?

"Takeru. Are you having a good time?"

I blink open my eyes and look to my left, she’s talking to me. How amazing. She acts like she never dumped me so she could go after someone else. Someone she never told me whom. She speaks as if we’re still the best of friends.

God how I hate that. I can’t believe what she’s like.

A sharp twang in my mind, an old wound.

I blink back the memory. She’d been getting distant from me before she stated it outright. Always to busy, always off with someone else. Always tired or not in the mood. Then she just turned around and stated it. ‘I don’t want to see you.’ I figured she was in a bad mood that day anyway, but her emotional problems just got the better of her.

But it still hurt.

I shake myself and plaster a smile on my face, I can’t help how fake it looks, nor the way it doesn’t reach my eyes.

"I’m having a wonderful time Hikari. This place brings back so many memories." I say, my voice is overly sweet, as if I’m silently calling her all the bad names I know.

She pretends not to notice.

"Oh, that’s so good to hear. I was wondering… do you want to hook up later tonight?"

I stare at her for a minute. What is she trying to do. Frowning and glaring just a bit I shake my head.

"I’m sorry but I have plans. Actually… I should be leaving now, I have to get wake up tomorrow and my boss wont be happy if I’m late."

Actually I’m twisting my words. I don’t have work until Monday and I do have to get up tomorrow, whenever I feel like getting up tomorrow.

I state my words firmly, and a little loud enough so it carries. Dai, who has finished ordering the pizza turns and pouts with his puppy dog eyes at me.

"Your leaving us so soon Takeru?" he whines. I know I’ve disappointed them.

"Yeah, I really should get going."

"But I thought you were having a good time? Surely you can’t stay and chat with us?" Hikari asks.

Damn her and her wicked bitch of the east telepathy. She knew I was stretching my words. I hated that. We were such good friends.

I feel angry. How dare she try and make me feel uncomfortable! She was the one who screwed me over in the first place. Clenching my jaw I glare angrily at her. Everyone in the room is silent, I think they’ve noticed the tension.

I realise that they think we were still an item.

She didn’t tell them.

She never told them.

What right gave her that? She should have told them, because it was the right thing to do.

But she wanted to keep that air of how much of a good little girl she was, how faithful, and how bad Takeru is because he went off.

Well fuck her.

If that was how she’d done it, probably the only people aside from herself and me, were Yamato and Taichi, and of course, they respected our privacy.

Fucking little bitch.

I feel a burning anger swirl in the pit of my stomach and I lash out with my words, I want everyone to know.

"Oh I was. I almost forgot you were here. After all, life would be so much better if you weren’t."

I spit the words at her angrily and hear the whole room gasp slightly. How un-T.K like.

Iori speaks what they are all thinking. And I can’t help but notice how un-shocked he is about everything. He probably guessed long before anyone else knew. He’s always been so smart.

"T.K would you care to explain what you mean by that. After all, you’re the one who left the rest of us for eleven years. We’ve all been quiet and respected your wishes not to tell us why and where. But I think now is the time you told us."

I blink and sigh.

My anger leaves me in mere seconds.

I knew this was coming.

"I left after Hikari broke up with me. I found out something, and I couldn’t deal with it with everyone else hovering over me. I’m sorry I got angry just then. I just realised Hikari didn’t tell any of you that she broke up with me so she could go after some other guy, it makes me so mad when people omit stuff for their own goals."

Hikari makes a noise like she wanted to slap me, but she remembers where she is and clenches her fists in restraint.

I wrap my arms around my legs and draw them to my chest. I made myself so mad when I did what she’d done. I hadn’t told them everything, but I’d told them a bit. And that was more then she had.

I felt like I could hear their thoughts of mute astonishment.

Iori was still unfazed. "Well, I think that now that’s all sorted out. Takeru, I’ll walk you to your car while everyone else talks to Hikari."

I blinked up at him, frowning in slight concern.

"What’s there to find out? She dumped me, I left. There’s no need for interrogations." I feel bitter saying such words.

After all, I am talking to the reason I left.

Iori shrugs. "Still, I think it would be for the best."

I sigh in defeat. I almost feel sorry for Hikari. But then… she deserves their unhappiness.

I get to my feet and slander out of the room, picking up my coat and putting my own shoes back on. Pretty much forgetting that Iori was right behind me.

I open the door and am halfway through when a warm hand on my arm stops me. I blink and turn back to look at Iori. I open my mouth to ask what’s wrong when he suddenly presses me against the doorjamb, he leans against me. Hands on my wrists holding me in place as his breath is suddenly against my lips. Eyes lulled with a dark gleam of some unknown emotion.

"Wha-" I try to ask a question, not sure what question… but a question none the less.

My words die on my lips as his lips press against mine. Not some innocent foray of a little peck, but rather something more determined, demanding, and furiously passionate.

I instinctively try to move my hands and find that he really has me pinned against the doorjamb.

His lips are like molten fire against me. Not some soft little petals of youth. I want to cry out, to moan. But all I can feel are his lips, and a smooth tongue dancing inside my mouth. I don’t remember my mouth opening, but somehow during my initial surprise he must have opened it for me.

He’s still a bit shorter then me, but I feel so dominated by his presence.

I feel like I’m been eaten alive as his tongue duels with mine. I shiver and its not because my body is cold from the outside wind. Its because I want this. I want it badly.

I want to feel him on me, around me even in me. But I cant, because I’m not allowed to taste the forbidden fruit.

Yet I find myself kissing him back, my arms relaxing as he presses forward, fingers stroking my wrists suggestively as he eats away at my mouth. I know he can feel my next shiver. And I know he realises I’m aroused. I expect this information to send him away; his little joke played terribly on my feelings. But instead I’m pushed harder into the wall, his head moves so him can suck on my lips better. I’ve never had such a weird sensation, as if I’m being devoured.

I make some sort of small noise in the back of my throat and his hands around my waist, dangerously low and kneading.

I want to fall into his arms, my knees feel weak.

Then he pulls back just as suddenly as he had attacked. The trace of cinnamon rich inside my mouth. He licks his lips and pushes me through the door, I’m too stunned to resist.

My tongue flicks out, and I shiver as I mentally trace the way his tongue had felt inside my mouth. Gods.

I hear the door close and know that I’m alone with him now.

Alone with Iori.

I don’t know what he’s doing to me. I don’t know why, it’s like I’m asleep and when I wake up I’ll be alone again.

Strong arms wrap around my stomach, pulling me against his body while he whispers huskily into my ear.

"Which way is your car Takeru?"

I do actually whimper this time vaguely nodding in the left direction.

"What are-"

He starts us walking toward my car, one hand slapping my rear in a most undignified manor.

"Shh, no questions. Just do it."

I don’t understand how out of character he’s acting. Surely eleven years couldn’t have done this much to him. We get to my car and I stand there, not knowing what to do, I’m at a loss. I turn around, my back to the car so I can see him.

I’m taller then him but I find myself backing up. I hit the metal of the car door and I swallow. My throat suddenly dries. He leans forward hands resting against the car door, effectively trapping me.

"Something wrong T.K?" I swallow and shake my head. He smiles boyishly at me and leans closer, I try to lean back but I don’t get very far. He pouts slightly.

"You know, everyone really missed you when you left. Especially me…"

I want to speak but I can’t form anything in my throat, so I keep quiet.

"It was so sad, I had to avoid a lot of unwanted attention, especially from girls. But It really bugged me that I couldn’t go to you for advice. After all, our digimon DNA digivolved. And I always thought of you as…" he paused, as if thinking about his next word.

His lips came forward and brushed against mine, erotically sending jolts of want through my body. I had to fight to stay still as he barely brushed my lips, enticing a small, unwanted whimper from my throat.

Damn my body and its natural reactions.

"Iori, I-"

He continues, ignoring my slight protest, his mouth so close to mine.

"… As more then a friend. It’s all right. I talked to Taichi-san and Yamato-san, they told me everything. Though it took me several years to work up the courage to ask them. Then they helped me learn what I’d want to know… so I could confront you. It’s hard to believe it’s been eleven years. You’re so…" one cool hand trails down the side of my face and I part my lips in intoxication.

He brushes his lips against mine, harder this time, crushing my mouth like he’d done when we were playing spin the bottle. Feasting on me. This time it’s quick and harsh, claiming a territory and sending a warning. There was no way to run from this.

"Lovely. Why didn’t you ask me eleven years ago T.K?" He frowns, as if he wouldn’t understand why unless I told him.

"You don’t object now, but you ran away from me all those years back. Why? Wasn’t I good enough for you then? Not dominate enough?"

And its right then that I realise I’d hurt him. He’d wanted me almost as much as I’d wanted him, and yet, he wasn’t allowed to have me because I’d run away. I’d screwed us both over.

I don’t know weather to laugh at the irony or sob.

Love is many a thing.

I swallow hard and try to let him know, all those years ago what I’d been feeling.

"You were just a kid back then. You’re different now. I can tell in the way you act. It was wrong back then; no one knew what they wanted. But it’s different now. We’re both adults. I-i… thought you were straight."

He snorts, eyes becoming angry.

"You left me because I was just a kid! I knew exactly what I wanted, how I wanted it and how much I wanted it… I wanted you! Did I really seem like the straight kind of boy? Well?"

He slaps my face.

It stings. His shoulders shake and he grabs hold of me, crushing my mouth to his again, a fleeting kiss, as if he wanted to make sure I was really here. I feel tears welling up in my eyes.

What a fool I’d been. For eleven years, eleven years of happiness wasted because I didn’t know what to do about my feelings.

I wondered if I should laugh or cry at the situation. But he pulls back, holding me, hugging me.

He’d hugged me before. Years ago. And I will never forget the sensation. But unlike the unfamiliar feeling inside my stomach those years back this sensation is not all bad. This sensation is one of mutual understanding. I’d screwed up... but he would forgive me.

I think this is where I started crying. A single tear rolling down my face.

Years of heartache, all for nothing.

So… silly.

Even though I was an adult now, I couldn’t help but feel so silly.

We both were starting to shiver. It was pretty cold. He glances inside my car.

I blush deeply, realising if I don’t do something, I might never know…

Know what? A little voice in my head asks.

I don’t know... but I want to find out.

I square my shoulders, blushing deeper.

"Do… do you want to… I mean, would you like to…" I stammer over the words, feeling uneasy as to what I should be doing.

He smiles softly and pulls me closer, sealing my lips with a hot kiss. I feel warmer from the kiss.

He rubs his cheek against mine. "I’d love to."

I breathe out in a rush of air and turn, opening the door with my keys I manage to fumble out from my pocket. I go around and open the passenger door for him. He slides into my car with barely a word, but I do feel something ghost along my thigh.

Briefly I have images of crashing the car at some moment if he chooses to do ‘something’ while I’m driving.

As I hope in and turn on the heater almost full blast. The icy air that seemed to have been clinging to us is instantly thrown back and I turn the heater down to a more sane temperature. I click my seatbelt on and shove the keys into the ignition.

So far so good.

He leans across so he can talk to me while I drive.

We pull off the curb and I change gears automatically. Eventually I plan to get an automatic, but the manual keeps me awake.

He cocks his head at me and I glimpse out of the corner of my eyes his rich brown hair cascading down his shoulder.

I just know I’m hard again. Its hard to fight back images of the car crash now, ‘officer, I swear, it wasn’t my fault, my friend was looking too hot for words and I just wanted to fuck/ be fucked by him. It was an easy mistake.’ I somehow didn’t think the police would buy such a pitiful excuse.

"So, what HAVE you been doing these past years T.K?"

It takes a moment for me to realise he just asked me a question. I think a bit about the answer.

"Well, when I moved away I got a job as an apprentice basketball coach. And I moved into my apartment. After a while I was offered a position as a book editor and I took it. Now I have my apartment and my work. I have a few friends at work. But we don’t talk much."

He toys with some of my hair at the back of my neck. I can’t help but think he’s waaaay to close.

"What about your hat?"

I blink and smile sadly.

"It sort of died a bad death… moths." I comment. Shrugging uneasily.

He chuckles slightly and sinks back a bit.

"I see. So, you’re a book editor now huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well that’s interesting."

"I guess." I’m feeling incredibly uneasy now… he’s laughing at something, but I’m almost afraid to ask what.

The car turns another corner and I know its just another street till home.

"Iori…" I trail off, not knowing what to say.

He doesn’t seem to have heard me and he chuckles, a bit more sinister this time.

"I didn’t know book editors had to work weekends. At least that’s what you told Hikari."

It’s my turn now to snigger evilly.

"Ah, but did I?" I ask.

He blinks and thinks about that for a moment. Before he smiles.

"You told her that you had to get up and that your boss would be angry if you were late."

"Yes, exactly. I do have to get up… eventually. And my boss would be angry if I were late, when I go to work on Monday."

He laughs. It’s not quite like the Iori I used to know. The Iori I used to know would never find something so bad funny. He hated lies back then. I wonder briefly if he still does.

"Very clever T.K, you managed to avoid her without lying. I was worried you had… lying is so… bad." He sighs and leans back. Closing his eyes.

I guess I got my question answered.

Not everything, obviously, had changed.

I sigh as the car rolls to a stop. Unbuckling my seat belt and turning to him, about to ask something. I don’t even get a whimper off before he’s sitting on me, hands in my hair and hot wet mouth on mine.

I groan as he presses against me, eating at my mouth. Our tongues slipping against each other in a none to innocent pattern. He seems to be trying to crawl through my very body, hands running over my arms as he makes a soft whining sound.

Finally we pull apart, if only to breathe openly through our mouths. He groans in annoyance.

"Dammit… it’s too uncomfortable in the car. Take me up to your apartment." It’s not a request, but more of a demand.

I nod and he somehow untangles himself off of me. We got out of the car and stumbled into the ground floor of my apartment complex and, walking hurriedly over to the lift.

I waited till he was inside before clicking the button for the ninth floor. As the lift goes up he wraps one arm around my neck and pulls me closer, licking at my mouth while his other hand goes down and under my shirt, I gasp slightly a the new sensation of his flesh on mine.

The lift door opens and we stumble out parting long enough for me to open my door and close it behind us, he turns and clicks the lock into place before shoving me roughly against the wall, trailing hot wet kisses down my throat, pulling my jacket back.

I had a single confession to make. It nagged at my thoughts and I groaned, not happy to make it.

"Iori… I… I’ve never done this sort of thing before."

He stops moving.

I seriously hope he’s not mad. Because he’ll have come a long way only to be let down if he is.

I don’t want to let him down though.

~ To be continued.

Sweet notes: incredibly OOC. I have to admit. But it’s hard to keep a character’s mould when it’s set in the future. I hope I didn’t stuff it up too bad. Lol, I just realised its more like a drama then much else. Anyway, I hope this helps answer any questions anyone had toward the plot. ^^ Please review!! ^^