Yuka wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to think about what was going on. She hadn't heard any news about Ik-nii or Chika-neesan in weeks and it was starting to worry her. From what she had been able to overhear from some of the DATS agents the fighting in Yokohoma was over and the Virus Busters were gone. So where were they?

She must have been fidgeting or something, since Ai put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, you're going to do fine on the test. Sure it's, well, in two days, but really. You're awesome."

Yuka turned to Ai and frowned a bit. She knew Ai was just trying to make her feel better, but the fact that her girlfriend didn't know her enough to know it wasn't the test that was bothering her mad her feel, rather upset actually. Of course, they've only actually been together for about a month, so she really shouldn't be expecting anything remarkably deep right now but still... "That's not what's worrying me," she admitted. She couldn't be upset with Ai for not knowing that if they didn't talk about it at all, right?

Ai frowned a bit and pulled away from her, turning away a bit. "What's wrong?" she asked, the light from the setting sun basking her face in an orange glow.

Yuka looked down at her hands. "It's just... I haven't heard anything about my brother in weeks, but I have heard that the fighting was over where he was dispatched. I'm... worried."

Ai suddenly hugged Yuka, the older girl's arms wrapping around her waist as her head was pressed against the older girl's chest. "Ai!" Yuka sputtered out in protest.

Ai just kept hugging her. "Don't worry right now, just relax."

Yuka mumbled something, but she didn't argue. She didn't even know how long they were like that before she finally moved away. "I..."

Ai smiled. "Like I said, don't worry about it. We only have another day to relax before the big test. We should go and do something fun!" Ai said, grabbing Yuka's hand. "Let's go!"

Yuka didn't even try to resist, although she was hoping this wasn't going to be another shopping trip. She was almost broke now. She really had no idea where Ai's mass supply of allowance came from.

.o0o.

Broken Dreams

Written by Custom_Magnum

Chapter 34: The Final Night

.o0o.

Chika was bored.

She wasn't used to being bored, at all. But even so, there wasn't really much that she could do around here. She and Piyomon couldn't train, after all, they were living in a city. Why couldn't Takeru have brought them to a safe house in the middle of the country?

She sighed. That was just being selfish. Just because she didn't really like watching movies or TV that much and lost interest in video games when... her life basically became a really horrible RPG didn't mean she could rightly be upset about that, after all.

Takeru must've noticed something from his spot in the kitchen, cooking what was going to be dinner. She hadn't really felt like asking, really. "You okay?"

Chika sighed and lay sprawled out over the couch. "Yeah, just bored really. I guess I'm more like Masaru-niichan like I thought. I just can't stand waiting when I know when something big is going to happen. I mean... that's why I joined DATS back in the beginning anyway."

She heard Takeru laugh. "Yeah, I know what you mean. But even so, there's not much we can really do here. I'm sorry about that. I had these set up more for safety than entertainment in mind."

Chika smiled. "Can't really blame you there," she said. "But... even so... I just wish there was something to do. We even rented some movies, but I can't really get into them." She sighed and turned over onto her stomach, staring at Takeru's back as he prepared... something. "I mean, you aren't even letting me cook!"

Takeru chuckled. "I didn't think you liked cooking that much, honestly."

Chika pouted. "Well, it'd be something to do. Besides, Ikuto can't cook at all."

Takeru laughed. "How'd you think I got so good at it?"

Chika giggled a bit and sat up, turning away from Takeru again. "Still... there's nothing to really do here. Well, besides each other anyway..." She heard Takeru gasp and stumble a bit. "... but that's not something I'd do because I'm bored, Takeru-kun," she finished, barely managing to hold in her giggles. She turned back to look over at him. It seemed that Takeru had gotten his wits back together fairly quickly, as he was putting something into the oven.

A few more seconds passed, and Takeru soon walked back over to her, sitting down on the couch next to her. "Dinner should be ready in a couple of hours," he said, leaning back a bit. "And Ikuto went out to go get some more food, since we're running low."

Chika sighed, although that explained where he went and why he wasn't there. "I just wish that Franz would contact us soon. I'm tired of waiting like this. Any longer and when it finally does come time for us to fight again I'll be so rusty and I'll be useless."

Takeru frowned and moved closer to her, his arm going around her waist. "You won't be."

Chika pouted. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

Takeru shook his head. "I'm not. I really believe that."

Chika pulled away. "Sorry, I'm going to go find Piyomon. I really haven't spent much time with him at all. Then again, there's not much we can do here together."

Takeru smiled a bit and got off the couch. "Maybe get him and Patamon over here so we can watch a movie while we wait?"

Chika was about to say something against that, since if she wanted to watch the movies she wouldn't be complaining about boredom. But something that sounded like a loud cellphone going off distracted her from mentioning that.

Takeru and Chika both looked at each other, already knowing what that was.

Takeru then almost immediately started walking over to where he had put the device that Franz had given him weeks ago.

Looks like it was finally time.

.o0o.

Yuka smiled as she realized where Ai was dragging her. A restaurant. Food. No shopping. She wouldn't be surprised if she had already started drooling.

Ai turned around and giggled. "You that hungry?" she asked... before she stopped moving to poke her in the stomach. "You're lucky that you're so active, otherwise..."

Yuka pouted. "Hey!"

Ai giggled. "What, that's a compliment!" Her eyes were practically sparkling as she said that. "Besides, this place is awesome. You're going to love the food here!"

Yuka smirked. "Oh really? How can you be so sure about that?"

Ai giggled again and this time she pulled Yuka over to her with the arm that was still grasping her. "Oh trust me, I know you really well! Now come on!"

And with that, she was dragged into the rather busy restaurant, there were people all over the place. Yet even so, an waitress came over to them rather quickly and led them over to a nearby booth table. Most of the booth-seats were taken up by groups of more than two people after all.

Yuka stared at the menu for a moment, just boggling at the price. "This... everything's expensive as... god, I can't even think of how expensive it is."

Ai giggled. "Don't worry, I can afford to pay for both of us."

Yuka frowned and took a moment to listen to the nice, soft melody coming out of the speakers positioned throughout the room. "Ai... you don't have to do that. Just look at menu, how can you afford it?"

Ai giggled. "I had a part time job silly. I've been saving up my money for when this massive training session we've been going through started, just so I'd not have to worry about it. Still have plenty left, so don't worry."

Yuka pouted. "But still! Have you actually looked at this menu!"

Ai giggled. "Yup. Plenty of times."

Yuka didn't really know what to say. "I still don't like this."

Ai giggled and leaned in closer to Yuka. "Oh, don't worry about it. If it makes you feel any better, once you pass the exam and are a DATS agent you'll have enough money to take me out on dates and pay."

Yuka still pouted. "Okay... fine," she said, before smiling. "I'll try to make sure you don't regret paying for me.

Ai smiled at that. "Oh, don't worry, I won't."

.o0o.

Ai stared at her receipt from the restaurant. "Do you and Tsukaimon have a shared stomach or something?"

Yuka giggled... but then pouted a bit. "Look, I'll pay you back for it, okay?"

Ai looked at Yuka for a moment as they walked. "Oh, don't worry about it. Trust me, I still have more than enough. I just... didn't think you could eat that much. Seriously, those portions they give are massive as hell."

Yuka just let out a nervous giggle. "Well... it was so yummy that I felt like eating more."

Ai just stared. And stared some more. It was getting to the point where Yuka was seriously thinking of giving Ai all the money she had right there to lessen the financial blow that she had made her girlfriend go through.

And then Ai started laughing. To the point where she was nearly doubled over on the ground.

Yuka's eyes widened a bit and she moved over to her girlfriend, who kept on laughing and pretty soon Ai's arms were wrapped around Yuka's body. Oh, and she kept laughing all the while. "That... sounds just like you," Ai finally managed throughout giggles.

Yuka frowned. "Well, I am me." She didn't think that was funny at all though.

Ai smiled. "Oh, come on, you know in my position you'd be laughing your little butt off as well."

Yuka blushed a bit. "Well, maybe..."

Ai sighed and leaned up again the wall. "Sorry about that, I think I'm better now."

Yuka smiled. "You sure?"

"Oh, I'm positive. Don't worry about that," Ai said, pulling Yuka closer to her and quickly placing a peck on her lips.

Yuka sighed as Ai pulled away. "So... after the test, wanna go do something?" she asked. "I mean, we're probably not going to have as massive of a case of Makino-sensei trying to kill us when we're not students anymore."

Ai smiled at that. "Oh, of course. Did you think I was going to say no?"

Yuka blushed a bit and moved away from Ai. "No, I didn't. But I... still wanted to ask. You know, so we know in advance and all. I think we'd be better off just hanging out though. Besides, we're probably going to be really tired to do much of anything that involves running around." Well, that and Yuka wouldn't feel so bad about Ai spending more money on her.

Ai just nodded and smiled some more. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

Yuka smiled. "Okay! Awesome! So... see you soon then?"

Ai pouted. "Aww, you're not going to let me walk you home?" she asked, reaching out and grabbing at Yuka's hand, squeezing it softly.

Yuka blushed a bit. "Well... ummm... if you want?"

Ai giggled and pulled Yuka closer to her again. "Oh, I want, don't worry."

Yuka smiled as the two of them started walking over towards her apartment. Yuka just hoped that her mother wouldn't take this badly. Although thinking about it, her mother probably already knew anyway.

.o0o.

Chika sighed as she stared out the window. It was hard to believe, that it was finally time to act.

"Chika?" Piyomon asked, walking up next to her. "Are you okay?"

She forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. It's just..." Okay, smile was gone now. "I... you think its going to be able to work? That we're actually going to be useful?"

Piyomon nuzzled at her side, his head rubbing up against her. "Of course we are. We're not useless, remember?"

Chika giggled a bit and placed her hand on Piyomon's head, rubbing it softly. "Yeah. I mean, I've been begging for this to come for a while now, but now that it's going to happen? I'm afraid. Just forgetting about the strength that we have at the moment, Relena's going to hate us more than she already does. After she finds out about Franz, what really happened..."

"It's probably better for us if we stop worrying at this point," Piyomon pointed out. "Relena's made her choice... and we're not going to be able to convince her to come back. If anyone's going to be able to do that, it'll probably be Touma. Maybe."

Chika frowned and pulled Piyomon closer to her, wishing for a moment that she was younger again. They used to be the same height and hugs were much easier. "I guess, but even so... this is my fault. I can't pretend that it isn't."

Piyomon sighed. "You've never pretended that it isn't, but you aren't responsible for Relena's choices."

Chika didn't say anything in response to that. She really couldn't, even though she knew that he was right. Even so, it sure didn't feel like it.

Piyomon stayed with her for several moments, before finally pulling away. "We should probably start resting early. We start heading to the rendezvous point tomorrow morning, right?"

Chika nodded. "Yeah, we do." Even so, she wasn't really feeling that sleepy yet. Of course, the fact that it was still early evening probably had something to do with that. The sun was just setting.

"Okay. See you in the morning," Piyomon said, turning around and walking back into the one of the other rooms.

Chika sighed and kept staring out the window. Despite what Piyomon had said though, Chika knew that there was no way she was going to be able to get to sleep anytime soon. And yet again, they were heading into a dangerous situation. There wasn't any guarantee that the six of them were going to come back from this one. It was just pure blind luck that Chika had come back from Yokohoma in the first place.

She heard the door open again and two people step inside. "Chika-chan?" Takeru called out. "Something wrong?"

Chika sighed and turned around to face both Takeru and Ikuto. "No, just thinking. About the next mission and everything."

Ikuto frowned and walked over to her. "If you don't think you're up to it Takeru and..."

"I'm going," Chika said, cutting him off, glaring at him a bit. "I have too. It's just..." She looked away, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "I'm..." She shook her head. This could be their last night together. There...

"I think I'm going to head to bed," Chika said, turning around and walking towards the bedroom. She stopped and turned her head to look back at Takeru and Ikuto. "You two coming?"

.o0o.

Chika's body tingled as she let out a scream, before rolling off of Ikuto and into the space between him and Takeru, the sheet sorta sticking to her nude body as she panted. "Oh god, that was..."

Takeru's arm wrapped around her waist and soon his lips were pressing against her neck.

Chika smiled and closed her eyes. "Sorry Takeru-kun," she managed to squeak out. "I think I'm done for the night.

Takeru's lips pulled away from her neck, while at the same time she saw Ikuto move over to grab the discarded blanket, pulling it over the three of them. "So, does that mean I'm not allowed to kiss you?"

Chika giggled. "Not on the neck," she said, heck, practically sang as she turned to face Takeru, planting a quick kiss on his lips before pulling away, resting her head on a pillow. She smiled as she felt Ikuto's hand start rubbing her leg, giggling a bit. "Didn't you hear what I just said?" she teased.

"Yep!" Ikuto answered cheerfully, not moving his hand from her leg at all.

Chika giggled some more, before sighing and closing her eyes. "If only this could last forever..." she mumbled.

Takeru and Ikuto both laughed at that.

Chika sighed again. "I'll be honest. I only asked for this because I was afraid that one of us won't come back from the attack on Norstein's base..." she began, trailing off a bit.

"Chika..." Ikuto said, pulling himself closer to her and Chika could feel him pressed up against her back now as both of his arms wrapped around her. "That's..."

"Don't tell me it's a stupid fear," Chika interrupted. "I... look, you know what happened in the last battle at Yokohoma. You guys know how it is. But... both of you, promise me you'll do whatever you can to make sure that doesn't happen."

"Chika-chan..." Takeru trailed off. "That's a stupid thing for you to make us promise. We're going to do that no matter what."

Chika sighed. "I know, but I just needed to hear it. I... did this because I was afraid we wouldn't get another chance. But... I don't want to even think about this being the end. I want more nights like this, I want all of us to be there. I want us to be able to tell our family what's going on with us; I want to be able to start our own family someday." She felt both Takeru and Ikuto's arms tighten around her when she said that.

"Chika, we will. We'll be able to do all that," Ikuto said. "That's a promise."

"Same with me," Takeru added. "I..."

Chika closed her eyes and leaned back a bit. "Thank you, you two. That means a lot." She let out a sigh. "We should probably get to sleep..." she said, yawning a bit. "If only I could use both of you as a pillow at once."

Takeru laughed and moved closer to her. "Not sure how we'd pull that off, honestly."

Chika smirked. "I know, I know." She felt Ikuto's lips on her neck again briefly, but soon was yawning and fell to sleep without even mentioning it.

.o0o.

Author's Notes:

Okay, yeah, I know. Late, late, late.

I figured I owe all of my loyal readers an explanation for it, so here it goes.

I lost my job back in the summer, and things = hectic to the point where I'm searching for a job.

I've had no luck in the months that I've been searching. Now, I know that this should theoretically make me have more time to write this, this hasn't been the case. There's a lot of days where I'm just plain not in the mood to write anything, and most of my writing period used to be done on my lunch breaks at work. Money being tight is also an obvious problem that leaves me drained to the point where I can't really focus on writing anything.

But, on the days that I do write, I have other stuff too. I'm working on an original novel at the moment, and it's taking my attention away from Broken Dreams most of the time when I want to write. And on the days where I do want to write, I feel like if I can get it out I need to work on the original stuff because there's a chance of money coming from it. However small that actually is.

But I haven't given up on this fic, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to dedicate at least some writing time to it in the coming months so I can finish it before I get to work on any of the other long-term project ideas I have floating around in here.

Oh, and I have stuff for the Digimon Frienship challenge coming soon also, so at the very least you all have some things in the future to look forward to from me.

And hey, the Romance Plot Tumor of Takeru X Chika X Ikuto is finally done interfering with the main plot of the fic, meaning that we're getting to scenes that I've been waiting to write for a good long while now.