Alternatives
(Started 5/25/01)
(Updated 8/22/01)
The following are scenes that were good enough to make their way onto notebook paper, but were trashed before they could be written into the plot. (This was mainly because the scenes were either corny or horribly written.) Included are some alternate endings to Donkey Madness.
All scenes in here had a purpose in mind when I began writing them. None of the scenes are finished; I usually lost interest in the scene and began something new before I could complete my thought. Some of the memorable moments of the scenes were incorporated into the story, but not very much in most cases.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Scene: The Digidestined have just entered Danger Zone Affection.
"Ah!! Did I go blink or something!?"
Yolei flailed her arms wildly, smacking someone in the back of the head. She winced when she heard a curse from the person she had hit. "Umm . . . who'd I hit?"
"That was me," seethed Ken. "What's going on here? All I see is darkness."
"Yolei? Ken? Where are you!?" came Kari's voice.
"This is weird!" came Davis' voice, just as far away as Kari's. "Is everyone in here?"
Calls from all of the kids confirmed Davis' suspicion: no one was missing. "What is this?" Cody called, his voice echoing.
"This must be a danger zone," T.K. shouted. "I can't feel any sort of objects, so we're not in that forest anymore."
"What do we do?" queried Yolei. She latched herself onto Ken, the closest person to her.
"I know what you can do. . . You can die."
Yolei screamed at the new voice, her piercing shriek followed by the other kids'. She clutched onto Ken, hearing feet hit the floor repeatedly. "Who is that?!" she shrieked.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Scene: The group walk towards the site of the Test of Compassion (to obtain the Crest of Kindness). Ken thinks about his friends.
He ran his hand along the ebony wall as he led the small group through the maze. Cody had taken Wormmon once again, carrying the insect digimon as he followed the other children. Glancing back at his five companions, Ken Ichijouji thought about all that had happened through the testing.
If someone had told me that I'd be getting along with the Digidestined and working with Wormmon before this, I would've thought them insane. But. . .
His gaze fell on Davis Motomiya.
I've found both Courage and Friendship. . .
His eyes traveled to Cody Hida.
. . . I've added to my Knowledge and Reliability. . .
T.K. Takaishi and Kari Kamiya were next.
. . . I've brought Hope and Light into my life. . .
The last under his scrutiny was Yolei Inoue.
. . . And I think I'm falling for Love and Sincerity.
Ken frowned as the thought floated through his head. He concentrated his attention on leading the kids, still running his hand along the wall subconsciously. Unlike past mazes, there were absolutely no traps -- no pitfalls, no ceiling crushers, no fire blasters.
It was actually quite unnerving.
"I don't like this," murmured Kari, glancing around nervously. "It's too quiet."
"No kidding," agreed Davis. "We've taken out Utagaumon and those other Game Lords." (Author's note: This was written before I could decide whether or not I wanted four Game Lords. Even back then, I knew Utagaumon was gonna be a memorable enemy. ^_~)
"There's only Makusumon left," T.K. sighed.
". . . But what can beat the strongest?" Ken whispered. Is Wormmon strong enough. . .?
The little creature had fallen asleep in Cody's arms, worn out from the last battle. "It's not fair that Wormmon has to do all the work," Yolei sighed, stroking the digimon's head. "We need our digimon before Wormmon dies of exhaustion!"
Ken's eye twitched at the thought. Wormmon . . . dying? He couldn't even comprehend that now!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Scene: The Digidestined make it back to the Real World.
Izzy Izumi stepped away from the computer as it lit up, having learned his lesson the last time he got caught by the transported Digidestined. He stared as six figures appeared before his eyes, translucent for several moments.
"We're back!" whooped Davis, pumping a fist in the air excitedly.
"Did you guys forget something?" Izzy queried. "You were only gone a few minutes--"
Six children stared in horror. "What!?"
The Digidestined of Knowledge's eyes found the odd person and his digimon. "The Digimon Emperor!?"
Ken carefully placed space between him and the older boy, clutching Minomon to his chest. T.K. grabbed Izzy's arm as he moved at the former emperor. "A lot's happened, Izzy," he said seriously. "Ken's a Digidestined now."
Izzy stared hard at the indigo-haired child, then crossed the space between them and snatched the tag hanging around Ken's neck. "A tag and crest!" he whispered in awe. He looked to Yolei, Cody, and Davis. "You three don't even have your own crests!"
Yolei hooked arms with Ken, smiling brightly. "Ken's the Digidestined of Kindness. Isn't that something!?"
"I'm getting the feeling I missed out on something important here. . ."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Alternate Ending #1 -- The Digidestined's Test
Scene: Ken has just been driven insane by the Crest of Cruelty.
Author's note: This scene was written before I had any plans for Kari and T.K.'s prizes.
"Ken? . . . Are you all right?"
He smirked. "Never felt better."
Out of nowhere, a whip appeared in Ken's hands. He snapped it out, cracking it loudly against the group before cackling loudly. "Fools! You actually believed I was your ally!?"
"Ken-chan!!"
The whip snapped at Wormmon, but Davis stepped in the way and protected Wormmon and Cody. "Ken, snap out of it!"
"You idiot, I have snapped out of it!" The Digimon Emperor laughed wildly. "Now you shall all die!"
T.K. blocked the next attack, Ken's whip wrapping around his arm. He winced as Ken tried to pull the weapon back, Kari grabbing his waist and helping him keep his balance. The Digidestined of Hope took hold of the whip's length and pulled, yanking the weapon from Ken's hand.
"Ken-chan, please. . .!"
"Insolent worm!" The young emperor stormed forward, his face gnarled in pure rage. Wormmon stared, watching Ken as he prepared to kick him. However, at the last moment, Ken screamed and fell to his knees.
"Ken-chan!"
Wormmon, as well as all of the Digidestined, stared at the boy as he clutched his head in pure agony. "Why does it hurt!?" he howled, clawing at his hair and pulling on it. "I can't stop it!"
Kari clutched onto T.K. as she watched in horror, Cody and Davis stiffly watching the scene. Yolei burst into tears, running forward and wrapping her arms around the screaming boy. "Please, Ken! What's wrong?"
Yolei caught sight of the tag and crest around Ken's neck. The crest was glowing in a sinister way. She reached for it, but was hurled backwards by a powerful force that protected the crest.
"Ken Ichijouji, you have failed."
He screamed again, eyes shut tightly. "No! Make it go away! Please . . . this is torture!"
Ken flailed wildly, one last anguished cry passing his lips as he grew transparent.
"Oh, my God!" Davis' eyes went wide.
"Ken!!" the others shrieked, horror sinking in as Ken faded from sight.
"Y-- you damn jerk!" Davis' hands were tightly clenched as he yelled. "What'd you do to him!?"
"I have rid you of your greatest enemy, Digidestined. Why are you not happy?"
There was no hesitation from the children. "He wasn't our enemy! We accepted him!" T.K. said fiercely.
"Ken isn't the same as before!" agreed Kari. "He's shown compassion -- and we care about him."
"Even though he's done horrible things, he doesn't deserve this." Cody frowned as he spoke.
"He's a friend," Davis growled. "I can't stand how you did that to a friend -- and a fellow Digidestined!"
Yolei was more blunt than her friends. "I love him!" she blured out. "You can't take him away."
". . . Ken-chan is learning to care again," Wormmon wept. "If you take him away, I'll never see what he was before again. I want my best friend back!"
"To love. . . To care. . . He does not know how to do either anymore. He is a lost cause."
"You don't know that!" cried Yolei. "You never gave him the chance. . . Not like we did. . ."
"He is lost to you, children."
"No, he isn't!" snarled Davis. "I'm not gonna give up! He's a Digidestined and a kid -- just like us!"
"He has caused great pain. . ."
"We forgive him," Cody said. "He must regret what he's done."
"He feels nothing."
"Now that's where you're wrong!" Kari shouted. "Ken does feel! He cares about us!"
"How can you say that?"
"He's saved each of our lives -- some of us more than once!" T.K. stated. "If he didn't feel, he'd have let us die!"
Yolei nodded firmly. "He cared enough to open the Digimentals of Friendship . . . and Love."
". . . . . ." Makusumon was silent for a long while. ". . . You have passed your test, Digidestined."
The children blinked. "Test?" repeated Davis. "What the heck does that mean!?"
"Did you not know? You children have been tested throughout this. Your actions have greatly pleased me."
"But . . . what about Ken?"
Makusumon ignored Davis. "Your digimon will be returned to you and you will go free. . ."
"Dammit, you jerk, what about Ken!?" screamed Davis. The kids' eyes widened at his angry obscenities.
"Your apparent friend will go free as well," the Game Lord finally conceded. "He, of course, was your test."
There was a blinding flash then, getting gasps from each of the Digidestined. When the light faded, the pedestal in the middle of the room was gone and. . .
"DemiVeemon!"
"Poromon!"
"Upamon!"
"Patamon!"
"Gatomon!"
The five were sent running, cradling their digimon in their arms. "Do not worry; they are only sleeping."
Wormmon was beginning to grow frantic. "Ken-chan! Where's Ken-chan?"
"Ken Ichijouji is no longer with us."
Again, gasps and cries filled the room. Yolei burst into tears, Kari trying to comfort her. Cody awkwardly tried to console Yolei as well. However, T.K. and Davis reacted in anger.
"You lied to us!" yelled T.K. "How could you kill him!?"
"I did not say that he was dead. . . He is merely gone from the Forgotten Pentagon." There was a pause. ". . . You will join him now."
And with that, and before any of the children could say a word in protest, they were gone.
* * * * *
He awoke to cold mist that spread in every direction, masking everything and creating illusions of ghost trees and shadow figures. Patamon was still sound asleep in his arms, but the others. . .
"Kari? Davis? Cody? Yolei?" he called into the mist. "Where are you?"
His calls were answered quickly, as the other Digidestined came running out of the mist. Kari hugged the blonde with one arm, still holding Gatomon close to her. "Where are we?" T.K. asked.
"I think we're out of the Pentagon," Cody stated.
A whimper came from behind the youngest of the group. "Ken-chan's not here! I can't find him anywhere!"
The group's attention averted to Wormmon, who had gone unnoticed by T.K. until now. "Was Makusumon lying again?" the blonde queried.
Yolei glared. "For his sake, I hope not! I'll go back there and kick that Game Lord's butt if Ken's dead!" Davis nodded firmly in agreement.
"What should we do now?" Kari murmured. "Our digimon are still asleep. . ."
A bright glow suddenly appeared in the distance. Davis blinked. "Maybe we should follow that."
When their leader took off, the rest of the Digidestined followed suit. Davis sped on as he realized the light was fading, pushing onward with DemiVeemon still in his arms.
The source of the light was coming from the top of a sloped hill. Davis and the others stared up at the shimmering light. "What is that thing?" Yolei mumbled quietly.
"'Guess we're gonna find out," replied Davis with a shrug.
He launched himself up the hill, the others hot on his heels. As the slope continued on, the other children slowed until Davis was running a great distance ahead. In doing so, he was the first to reach the source.
Davis slowed to catch his breath, looking for the source of the light. A lone figure sat at the top of the hill, his hands folded calmly on his lap. His hair was neatly combed away from his face, a few rebellious hairs falling towards his eyes. His clothes were a solid gray, a white dress shirt visible beneath his jacket. Around his neck hung a strangely-shaped pendant on a white cord. From within the pendant came an emanating light of light lavender.
"Ken!" gasped the boy. His shock made way for relief. "You're alive! We thought--"
Ken raised his head to look at the new arrival. His voice was listless and devoid of any real emotion. "I feel like I've just woken up from a long nightmare. . ." If he noticed the glow of the pendant around his neck, he didn't say. "Where are we?"
The brown-haired boy crouched next to the taller one. "I think we're out of the Pentagon."
"Davis!!" Yolei called. She was the first up the hill. "Oh, my God! Ken!" Before Davis could stop her, the older girl had tackled the indigo-haired boy. "You stupid jerk. . . Do you have any idea how much I worried!?"
Ken cracked a smile for the girl -- not one of sadism or spite, but one of gentle humor. "Not my fault," he defended, pushing himself back into a sitting position. "I didn't have any choice or control of my actions."
Yolei hugged the young genius tightly. "At least you're okay." She sighed into his shoulder, feeling his arms wrap around her. ". . . I missed you."
Being who he was, Davis got between the two in a hurry. "No mushy stuff!" he ordered tartly.
Yolei sniffed indignantly, turning and waving as T.K., Kari, and Cody came bounding out of the mist. Poromon, the only one of the digimon awake, propelled himself at his partner. "Yolei! You left me behind!" chirped the little pink flying puff.
The violet-haired girl hugged the little digimon. "Sorry! I just thought you could get up here by yourself. . ."
Meanwhile, the three other Digidestined were greeting the missing member of their group. "I'm glad to see you're safe, Ken," Cody said.
"What happened to your clothes?" queried Kari.
Ken shook his head. "I'm not sure. I'm guessing that they were reduced to digital data and deleted."
"You're wearing one of those tags we had in the old days," T.K. noted, pointing at the pendant hanging around Ken's neck. "Where'd you get it?"
The gray-clad boy smiled wryly, cupping the glowing tag with one hand and staring at it. "Honestly? I have no idea. . . I just woke up with it around my neck."
"What kind of crest is that?" Davis looked at Ken's crest in an attempt to look at the glowing source.
"Yasashii," came a new voice. "The Crest of Kindness."
Heads jerked back to the slope, eyes widening as a crying Wormmon finally appeared. "You did it, Ken-chan. . . I'm so proud. . ."
Ken strode forward, picking up his pace as the caterpillar digimon began to fall. He caught Wormmon deftly, cradling the creature as he turned and walked back to the other Digidestined. Yolei smiled sadly and patted the unconscious digimon's head. "Poor little guy. . . He's worked so hard these last few days."
Poromon blinked. "Really? Wormmon really did. . .?"
Cody nodded. "Wormmon was incredibly brave. He protected us all by himself."
"So, Digimon Emperor, what're you gonna do now?" Davis queried, stuffing his hands in his shorts pockets. "Are we going back to the whole Digidestined versus the Digimon Emperor?"
Ken laughed. "You'd want that, wouldn't you?" He shook his head. "No; as far as I'm concerned, the Digimon Emperor died in the Forgotten Pentagon. I'll get back to my base and delete the Control Spire and Dark Ring programs."
Again, Yolei threw her arms around the boy genius. "I knew you'd turn over!" she exclaimed. "I've never been so happy!"
The other children grinned widely, sweatdropping as Ken began flailing for air.
A new beginning. The nightmare was over.
And the future of two worlds had prevailed once more.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Alternate Ending #2 -- Failure
(That last ending wasn't enough sap for you? ^_~)
Scene: Following the storyline of Alternate Ending #1, Ken has just failed his final test.
"Ken Ichijouji, you have failed."
He screamed again, eyes shut tightly. "No! Make it go away! Please . . . this is torture!"
Ken flailed wildly, one last anguished cry passing his lips as he grew transparent.
"Oh, my God!" Davis' eyes went wide.
"Ken!!" the others shrieked, horror sinking in as Ken faded from sight.
Yolei sank to her knees, staring at where Ken had last been kneeling. She shivered and began to hug herself, feeling Kari sink down next to her and hug her as she began to cry. "He's gone. . . Kari, he's gone. . ."
Davis screamed in an awful fit of fury, stomping around angrily and kicking at the walls. Cody stood numbly next to Kari and Yolei, then surrendered to his emotions and clung onto Yolei sorrowfully. T.K. clutched his hat in his hands, looking away to watch Davis smash his feet into the black walls. Wormmon sobbed quietly to himself, standing away from the others.
"Digidestined, I apologize for this waste of your time."
The goggle-wearing leader of the group was the first to snap out a reply, turning from where he was kicking the wall to glare at the ceiling. "Makusumon!!" he shouted. "What'd you do to Ken!?"
"The Digimon Emperor is being returned to his former state."
T.K. frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Everything of this trial will be erased; his progress, his memories. . . He will be exactly as he was before he entered the Forgotten Pentagon."
"What?!" gasped Davis, taking a step backwards in shock. "Why?"
"It has become quite clear that our efforts have been useless. The Digimon Emperor has not learned anything; this test has proven that."
"W-- what are you planning to do with us?" murmured Yolei, unsteadily climbing back to her feet.
"Your memories will be erased of the Forgotten Pentagon as well. It will balance the battles to come."
A blinding light showered down on the Digidestined, and they disappeared as well. Wormmon stood by himself, shuddering as he realized he had no one else with him.
"Unlike the children, Wormmon, I will give you the choice whether or not to keep your memories. We both know that this knowledge will not bring you any closer to helping your partner; he must help himself."
The rookie was silent for a long moment. ". . . I think that I will hold on to these memories, then. Knowing Ken-chan was good for awhile will give me hope."
"You are very strong, my friend. The trials to come will be very difficult for you."
Wormmon nodded knowingly. "Someone has to be strong for Ken-chan. I'm all he has left; I won't abandon him."
"Good luck to you, Wormmon."
". . . Goodbye, Makusumon."
White light filled Wormmon's vision, and he welcomed it.
* * * * *
Kindness will release the Golden Radiance.
"Kindness?" The young emperor's lip curled as he read the ancient prophecy off his computer screen. "There's only eight Crests, and even those are nonexistent now. . . A ninth Crest, perhaps? If there is one, I'll simply crush it." He chuckled darkly at the thought.
"Master?"
Frowning, Ken Ichijouji swiveled his chair and aimed his hooded gaze down upon the lowly insect that dared call itself his digimon partner. "What is it, worm?" he growled.
Wormmon, surprisingly, looked unfazed by the cold words. "The Digidestined are taking out more Control Spires on the western front. Should we dispatch digimon to fight them off?"
The blue-haired emperor turned to face his computers again, tapping on a keyboard and accessing the database filled with ringed digimon. "Hmm. . . Let's send out an Airdramon and some Red Veggiemon to deal with this little problem." He smirked slightly and dispatched the said digimon. Once that was finished, the tyrant accessed another program he had been working on.
From behind the boy, Wormmon looked at the monstrosity distastefully. "You're going to regret using that thing, Master," he predicted, preparing to leave.
Ken ignored him, his eyes fixated on his ultimate creation.
Chimeramon.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Alternate Ending #3 -- Choices and Impossibilities
(The last of my alternate endings, thankfully. ^^;;)
Scene: Following the original storyline, T.K. has defeated Ken via whip war, and Davis has destroyed the Crest of Cruelty. Makusumon has sent off the other Digidestined and is ready to talk to Ken, but something is amiss. . .
Yolei's heart leapt at the thought of seeing Hawkmon again. "Great! When do we leave?!"
"Right now."
And the Digidestined disappeared, streaks of blue, pink, green, yellow, and red faint reminders that they had been there to begin with. Ken found himself standing alone, holding Wormmon in his arms.
"W-- what?" managed the boy, looking around him in utter confusion. "Makusumon, you--!"
"Do not worry, Ichijouji; your friends are safe. . . I must say that I'm a bit disappointed in you."
Ken tensed at the statement. "Does this mean that I didn't pass after all?"
"You have passed because of the bonds you've created with the Digidestined. I was hoping that you would be able to rely on your own strength to pass the final test."
"Makusumon, leave him be."
Ken started at the new voice, turning around to face the hallway that led out of the room. A white-robed figure entered, followed silently by a shorter figure. "Who. . .?"
The taller of the two pulled down his hood, revealing an unfamiliar man. "I am called Gennai, Ken. I am the Guardian of the Digidestined and a servant to the Four Holy Beasts that protect the Digital World."
"I thought that you did not want to make yourself known to them until later, Gennai. . ."
"I have changed my mind, Makusumon," replied Gennai. He focused his blue eyes on the young ex-emperor. "I am here to offer you a choice, Ken."
Ken and Wormmon blinked simultaneously. "A choice?" echoed the indigo-haired boy.
"Are you willing to give up everything you've done here to take back the death of one person?"
Ken's eyes widened considerably at the question. Take back Osamu's death? "Is that possible?" he whispered, unbelieving.
Gennai looked back at him carefully, knowing the boy was seriously thinking about the possibility. "Yes, it is possible. I will not explain how, but it is possible. If you are willing, you can exchange everything you've done -- all your mistakes, all your hardships, all your bonds made with the Digidestined. . ."
Wormmon looked up at his partner. "Ken-chan. . . Ken-chan, are you going to do this. . .?" He could see the longing in Ken's eyes. ". . . If it'll make you happy, Ken-chan, you should do it."
The boy gasped and stared at the caterpillar. "Wormmon. . ."
"You do realize, Wormmon, that there is the possibility that you will not exist in this new world," declared the brown-haired Guardian.
"I don't care. If Ken-chan can have what makes him really happy, I don't care if I have to be deleted and reformatted a million times over!"
Gennai nodded understandingly. "Well, Ken? What is your decision?"
Ken took a deep breath, then nodded sharply. "I'm willing. If I can take back Osamu's death, then I know I would never have turned out the way I did."
At Ken's declaration, Gennai gave him a long stare. "I had a feeling you would think that way." He nodded grimly, a bright portal opening to one side. ". . . The moment you step in that portal, your life will no longer be in the hands of the four Holy Beasts. You will be an extra piece in a puzzle; a piece that could very well decide the fate of two worlds."
Wormmon sniffled, clinging to his partner for several moments before Ken set him on the ground. "Take care, Ken-chan," he whispered.
"I'm sure I'll be seeing you again," Ken said comfortingly, smiling sadly for the blue-eyed digimon. "Wait for me."
Brushing the blue uniform of the Digimon Emperor off, Ken sighed and stood before the portal. "Farewell, Ken," Gennai murmured.
Nodding his own goodbye, Ken stepped forward and into the unknown. Wormmon bowed his head, blinking several times as arms wrapped around him and lifted him up. He raised his gaze to his holder, who looked back melancholically with brilliant, violet eyes. Wormmon knew at once who Gennai's friend was.
He also realized that Gennai's question had simply been a means of getting rid of Ken. For what reason, he couldn't begin to fathom.
~ * * * ~
"Police and citizens of Tamachi are baffled and shocked by the reappearance of famed boy genius, Ken Ichijouji. Ichijouji, who allegedly ran away from home two months ago, was found beaten and unconscious on the Tamachi waterfront. His family has refused to comment on his condition since his admittance into Tamachi General Hospital, but are very glad that he has been found."
~ * * * ~
Ken moaned softly as he came to, his eyes flickering open slowly to the white of a hospital ceiling. A hospital? Why. . .? He tried to move from where he lay, wincing as his whole body screamed in protest. Okay, that explains that. Biting his bottom lip lightly, the indigo-haired boy shifted his gaze to right. His mother sat in the chair closest to him, leaning against his father's shoulder as they both slept.
"Mama. . .?" he murmured, blinking a few times. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Mama?"
Rika Ichijouji stirred at the words, straightening from her sleeping position and looking to the bed she had slept by. Her eyes widened as she slipped from her seat, crouching by her son's side and clutching onto his arm. "Ken! Oh, my little boy's awake! Are you all right, honey? Don't strain yourself now--"
"Mama-- Mama, I'm fine," Ken started, trying to calm down his mother before she suffocated him with her attention.
"Calm down, Rika," soothed his father, gently pulling Rika off Ken. "We need to give him a little bit of air." The dark-eyed Shinji Ichijouji smiled down on his son, brushing back the boy's indigo bangs. "Just take it easy, Ken. We're here."
"Yeah. All of us."
Ken turned his head at the voice, shocked into silence by sight of the wild-haired boy sitting on his left side. Yawning sleepily, Osamu Ichijouji smiled slightly for his younger sibling. "I hate hospitals," he declared simply.
The younger Ichijouji swallowed hard and reached for his older brother, unable to fight back the tears that were rising up. "Osamu. . ."
Osamu caught his hand and held it, looking at Ken with concern. "Are you okay, Ken? Why are you crying?"
"I think it's trauma," Shinji replied for his younger son. "The doctors said there might be more emotional damage than physical." He set a hand on Ken's shoulder to get his attention. "Ken? Do you want us to get something for you? I'm sure the doctors could tell us when you'll eat next. . ." Ken shook his head, still trying to recover from his overwhelming emotions. "How about you, Osamu? We're going to get something to eat."
"No, that's all right, Papa," replied the elder of Shinji's two sons. "I'll stay and keep Ken company."
Rika looked a bit hesitant to leave Ken's side, but was gently ushered out of the room by her husband. Osamu waited until their parents were gone before rolling away from the bed, sighing quietly.
Wait a minute.
Rolling?
Ken scrutinized his brother for a moment, taking in the wheeled seat in which he sat. He blinked hard before speaking. "You're . . . in a wheelchair, Osamu?" he whispered, unbelieving.
Osamu looked at Ken with a raised a brow for a brief moment, then looked concerned again. ". . . Were you hit in the head?" he queried carefully. "I've been a paraplegic for three years, Ken." When he received a blank look, Osamu sighed again. "I was hit by a car. . . You know. . ." He made arm gestures, not really wanting to explain the obviously-painful memory in detail.
The car accident that was supposed to kill him . . . paralyzed him. Ken kept looking at his brother. Is this a fate worse than death?
The older Ichijouji adjusted his glasses again, looking slightly annoyed. "You're giving me that pitying look," he mumbled. "Stop it. I don't need it from you, of all people." He reached into his pocket, pulling out something that highly interested Ken instantly. "I confiscated this before anyone else could find it on you. . . Ken, I've seen something like this before. A long time ago . . . before the crash." He fingered the object, rubbing the tiny screen with his thumb. "It's a different model from the last, but I know I've seen it before."
To Osamu's surprise, Ken smiled broadly in response. Indigo eyes glittered happily and anxiously. "You want to know about it, 'samu? . . . I'll tell you about it."
You know what? I think I really liked that last alternate ending. In fact, I think I'll continue it. If you liked this last alternate ending at all, look up my new fanfic, "Stolen Identity." That would be the continuity.
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