(Untitled)

[crimeas_hero]

[Ike is sitting on a bench. He's leaning forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped in front of his face. His eyes are closed, and he bears a somber expression

Comments

[onwingsofhope]

. . . Hello again. You don't look too good, Mr. Guard.

[crimeas_hero]

[Ike opens his eyes, and sees the same young boy that he met before.]

Oh, uh. You don't need to worry. I'm all right.

[onwingsofhope]

Oh.

[Takeru and Patamon stand there motionlessly for a few moments before the boy solemnly turns and begins to dig around in his pockets]

Candy always makes me feel better. Here!

[crimeas_hero]

[Ike visibly flinches. He hasn't forgotten what happened when BB was in his body for a week.]

Er! Uh, no thanks. I...don't like sweets.

[onwingsofhope]

. . . Huh? Really? Do you have die-a . . . die-abeetles, Mr. Guard? I don't know anyone who doesn't like chocolate.

[crimeas_hero]

Er...what's that?

[onwingsofhope]

I think it's a disease. When you eat sweet things, you explode.

That sounds scary.

Yeah, doesn't it?

[crimeas_hero]

[onwingsofhope]

So it doesn't have anything to do with beetles?

. . . Huh? I don't remember. Maybe it does. Maybe when you eat sweet stuff, you turn into a giant bug instead. That prolly explains why some people are such jerks.

I guess that sense. But we don't want Mr. Guard to turn into a giant bug, 'cause that'd be scary, too.

OK. Do you want some potato chips instead, Mr. Guard?

[crimeas_hero]

[Ike has no words. He decides it's just best to ignore all but the question directed at him.]

No thanks. I'm not hungry right now.

[onwingsofhope]

Oh. OK, then. Should I do something else to cheer you up instead?

Ooh, ooh! I can sit on your head for you, Mr. Guard!

Yeah!

[crimeas_hero]

No, that's...quite all right. Really. Probably the best thing to do is talk to someone, but I don't want to trouble someone like you.

[onwingsofhope]

It's OK, Mr. Guard, I don't mind. Grown-up stuff is usually too complicated for me, but I can listen if you want. I give good hugs, too.

[crimeas_hero]

You can call me Ike, by the way.

Anyway...you see, two of my closest friends here just vanished. One had been here longer than any other person I've known here, and a guy I'd have trusted my life with if I was in danger. The other...was a girl who could always put a smile on my face.

[onwingsofhope]

[Takeru clambers onto the bench next to Ike as he talks and as promised, listens attentively. Patamon sits quietly in his lap.]

Ohhh. I'm sorry, Mr. Ike. I'd be sad if my friends left, too. But that means they beat the game and went home, right? So you'll definitely see them again once you go home, too.

[crimeas_hero]

I wish. We were from different worlds.