Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. That's Toei Animation, not me. This fic has been a long time coming. Digimon 02 was the series that first got me into Fan Fiction. In fact, I first found this site while Digimon 02 was still premiering in America. I was frantically searching for good stories where Davis wasn't portrayed as a jerk. :P It took me a while to gather up the courage to post stories of my own, but eventually I became an author here. And with "Digimon Tri" just around the horizon, I felt it was now or never to write this. So this story is loosely based off of one idea I had long ago. Since even after all this time, there's hardly any T.K. and Davis friendship fics, I really wanted to take the time to write this.

It started as a one-shot, but pretty much became a three part story. The whole thing is already written out, and I'll be posting a new chapter once a week for the next two weeks. While this is being posted, I will be working on the first chapter of "Yes, Naruto, Propose!" for those of you waiting.

This takes place two months after the defeat of MaloMyotismon. Rated 'T' for like four swear words. Hope all of you like it! Now on with the fic!

~Ramen Soup for the Soul~

~By: Mists~

~Lessons in Friendship~

"Bye, Mom!" called out Davis as he hastily threw random books and pens into his backpack. "I'm going over to the Ishida's to study with T.S.!"

"T.K., Davis," she corrected from the kitchen. "Honestly, he's your friend. Can't you at least get his name right?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," mumbled Davis as he dug his hand under the couch searching for his other shoe.

"Why are you studying over at the Ishida's today?" Mrs. Motomiya asked in return.

"Kari's sick this week, and T.K.'s mom is out on assignment. So Matt and Mr. Ishida are letting him stay over," answered Davis as he dug further under the sofa.

"And don't tell Jun I'm over there!" he stressed. "She'll use any excuse to try and see Matt!"

"I know, as if I would do that to the poor boy!" she exclaimed and then quickly added, "Remember to thank them for having you over. I'm so glad the three of you have started studying together. Your grades have really improved lately."

"Yeah, sure, Mom," Davis grumbled back absentmindedly.

When the goggle-head finally pulled out his hand, he unfortunately only found his calculator. With a quick shrug, he carelessly tossed it into his bag with the rest of his stuff.

"Ouch!" exclaimed DemiVeemon as he angrily popped out of the book bag. "Watch where you're throwin' stuff!"

"Oops, sorry man," Davis apologized with a sweatdrop as he scratched the back of his head. "Forgot you were in there."

"I'm almost always in here!" a red-faced DemiVeemon countered, while shaking a little blue fist at his friend.

"I know, I know, chill dude," pacified Davis, holding up his hands to his small friend. "You know I'll make it up to you."

"Well you better," warned the blue digimon with a small huff as he indignantly crossed his arms across his chest, "because I expect timely payment in the form of rocky road ice cream!"

Davis just snorted at this and shook his head. "Sure, whatever you say dude," replied Davis in a teasing tone.

The teen then decided to search behind the television and low and behold, found his lost shoe.

"Sweet! Finally!" Davis declared as he quickly slipped it on and tied it. He then leapt to his feet and grabbed the strap of his bag. "Eep!" squeaked DemiVeemon as fell backwards into Davis's books.

"Okay, I'm off, Mom," yelled the goggle-head as he ran towards the door. "I'll probably be back kinda late."

"Just be careful out there!" she called back. "I know you have DemiVeemon for protection, but you never know!"

"Yes, Mom," replied Davis with a sigh as he exaggeratedly rolled his eyes. "See yah!"

And with that, the goggle-head was off.

Meanwhile over at the Ishida's, T.K. was frantically running around the house trying to make it look presentable, and not the laid-back bachelor pad it usually was.

"T.K., seriously, it's just Davis. Why in the heck are you freaking out about cleaning up?" asked Matt as he looked up from reading a text on his flip-phone.

"Mom always says the 'who' doesn't matter, you just simply should when someone comes to visit," responded T.K. as he threw a bunch of clothes into the hamper.

"You do realize most of those were clean, you know?" asked Matt with a sarcastic grin.

"Yes, because yours and Dad's system is very 'accurate,'" said T.K. making air quotes with his fingers.

"Hey," said Matt as he pointed to his nose, "never underestimate my sense of smell."

"Whatever," answered T.K. with a roll of his eyes. "How are Gabumon and Agumon doing in Primary Village?"

"Good," replied Matt with a smile. "Elecmon's really grateful for their help with the influx of new digimon being born."

"Cool," said T.K. as he found another loose sock. "And you've got band practice tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be back kinda late, I guess," the blond rocker responded with a shrug. "Dad's picking me up after work."

"Davis will probably be here pretty late, too," replied T.K. with a slight frown. "Especially since Kari isn't here to help rein him in."

Matt snorted at this. "Yeah, well she is hoping to become a teacher, right? Having a nearly endless supply of patience comes with the territory."

"I suppose..." answered T.K. with a laboring sigh. In truth, he was much more concerned about the fact that Kari wasn't going to be there to act as a buffer between he and Davis. Even after all they had been through, T.K. still felt a bit distant from the goggle-head as a friend. Honestly, their first meeting hadn't helped the matter, when Davis used to butt into his conversations with Kari every chance he got. Acting overly obnoxious and possessive about someone, doesn't leave a good first impression.

"Grr..." grumbled T.K. under his breath as he went back to collecting the laundry. "Sometimes he still rubs me the wrong way."

And it took a lot to spark T.K.'s ire. But then again if Davis was one thing, it was definitely persistent.

"T.K.?" questioned Matt, noticing his brother's odd behavior. "You okay?"

"Why does Matt always seem to know?" thought T.K. ruefully. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" he inquired back with a tense smile.

"Takeru, it's me," stated Matt coldly as he put his phone away in his pocket. "Cut the crap, will you?"

The blond rocker, then kicked the chair next to him to slide out from under the table. "Now sit your butt down and tell me what's eating you," he demanded, watching his brother with determination in his blue eyes.

"Fine!" conceded T.K. as he walked over and plopped down into the offered seat. "It's just... still complicated... between Davis and I. And honestly... I don't know what to do to make it better, Matt."

"What'd yah mean?" asked the blond rocker with a concerned frown.

"I don't know how to explain it," confessed T.K. with a shake of his head. "But there's still this disconnect and I haven't a clue how to bridge it."

Matt just sat there quietly, allowing his brother to continue.

"I mean, sometimes Davis still gets under my skin. Like how he never seems to take anything seriously! He just shrugs problems off like it's nothing. It's like he has the emotional depth of a kiddie pool most days! And then when Kari's not here, we just end up lashing out and biting each others heads off!" yelled T.K., looking at his brother desperately. "Everybody keeps saying we act like you and Tai used to. And I thought that by now, we'd have something like that... and we don't and I just..." drifted off T.K., letting his last sentence hang in the air unfinished.

Matt simply reached out and placed a supportive hand on Takeru's shoulder.

"T.K.," said Matt deadly serious, "I want you to listen to me, and listen good."

"Okay..." he replied uncertainly.

"The first thing you have to do... is stop underestimating Davis," said his brother with absolute certainty.

"I, what?!"

"You're letting the mask fool you, T.K. And if you continue to let it, your friendship will never go beyond this point," stated Matt with a frown.

"Mask?" asked T.K. incredulously. "What, mask? Davis wears all his emotions out there for everyone to see."

"Does he now?" inquired Matt with a raised eyebrow. "Well that's news to me..."

"Matt, seriously, I haven't a clue what you're talking about," said Takeru with an exasperated sigh.

"He fooled me at first, too, T.K." admitted Matt solemnly. "So I wouldn't beat yourself up over it. I get the feeling... he's gotten very good at it over the years."

"Matt-" growled T.K. in irritation, having come to the end of his massive amount of patience.

Matt stared at his brother for a moment in thought, before finally asking, "T.K., who do you see when you look at me?"

"I- w-what?" stammered Takeru in confusion.

"When most people meet me, they think I'm cold and dismissive. So I'm asking you, do you think that's the real me?"

"I- of course not!" shouted T.K. in shock. "But what does-"

"Everyone doesn't wear the same type of mask, T.K.," explained Matt simply.

"So wait, what are you saying?" challenged back Takeru.

"I'm saying that Davis is a lot more like me, than you realize. He did inherit my crest after all... And from what I've seen, he does certainly deserve it."

"But, Matt-" exclaimed T.K. as his brother's cell suddenly buzzed to life in his pocket. The blond rocker pulled the phone out of his pants, flipped it open, and checked the message.

After a few seconds, Matt closed it again and said, "Sorry, T.K., but I have to get going. The band is waiting for me."

"But you still haven't told me what to do!" exclaimed T.K., throwing up his hands in frustration.

"I'll leave you with just one more thing," said Matt as he grabbed his guitar case hanging off the back of his chair. "Do you really think Davis could have reached Ken and brought him back to our side, if that was all there was to him?"

"I..." whispered T.K. clearly stunned. He had never thought about it like that. But it was true... Ken always said that he owed Davis everything... but never really the reason why.

As Matt headed toward the door, he added, "Ken and I had a little talk when we were in Mexico. You and Davis are a lot like oil and water, but deep down you both care about the same things."

He then turned the doorknob and stepped out into the hall, concluding, "Davis just goes about it in a different way. Stop fighting with him so much and really listen to the things he says... But especially to the things he doesn't say. Because let me tell you, when I finally did, I learned a lot."

And with that, Matt closed the door behind him, leaving T.K. alone to ponder his words.

As Davis made his way to the Ishida's apartment complex, he thought about many things. Mostly about the recent talk he had with Ken about his relationship with T.K.

"If you really want it to get better, Davis, you're going to have open up more," explained Ken as he passed the soccer ball to his friend.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," huffed the goggle-head as he accepted the pass and ran towards the net. "It's just- not as easy- to talk to T.P.-"

Davis then launched the ball at the goal. "As it is with you," he finished with a gasp of breath.

"Nice shot," complemented Ken as he ran up and placed a supportive hand on Davis's shoulder.

"Listen Davis, the two of us are Fusion partners, so of course forming a friendship was easier for us," pointed out Ken gently.

"I know, but what if-" replied Davis hesitantly as he glanced away. Only Veemon, Kari and Ken really knew his true self, and in the past, Davis had been burned by friendship many times before. It was hard to let people in after... well anyway.

"Davis, look at me," said Ken sincerely.

With a small sigh, Davis turned and faced his friend again.

"You are the bravest person I know," he whispered, causing Davis to furiously blush in return. "You can face this, and the only way you'll be able to get closer to T.K. is if you open up first."

"Yeah, and why's that?" asked Davis with an embarrassed snort.

"Because if there's one thing you both have in common, it's being stubborn as hell," replied Ken with a satisfied smirk. "And since he won't be the first one to do it, you're going to have to."

"Damn it," said Davis with a sigh as he continued walking. He really didn't want to be the one to take the first step. He didn't tell Ken, but the truth was Davis still found T.K. a bit... well... intimidating.

The goggle-head always felt like the blond was looking down on him or judging him. It didn't help that on the surface, T.K. seemed so freaking perfect. The dang 'Golden Boy,' who just did everything right, and had everything Davis had ever wanted fall right into his lap. He had a brother who clearly adored him, got great grades with barely any effort, was a star of the basketball court. Not to mention, that T.K. hardly ever lost his temper or was ignored by the other students in their class. And if Davis was truly honest with himself... a part of him was still jealous of T.K. for simply being all the things he wasn't.

And that was the biggest hurtle Davis had to overcome. But how could he get past that?

"Maybe the first step is apologizing about the way I acted around him and Kari," pondered Davis aloud as he stared down at his feet. He knew now what an ass he had been back then, and Davis had already asked Kari for forgiveness years ago. The google-head knew she had never been his, but... he had just been so scared of losing his only friend that he...

Davis bit his lip as he tightened his grip on the strap of his book bag.

"Hey, Davis?" asked DemiVeemon as he popped his head up out of the bag. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," replied Davis, trying to push away those negative thoughts.

"No, you're not. I can tell," insisted the blue digimon as he rested his head on Davis's shoulder. "Is it about T.K., again?"

Davis simply grunted in reply.

"Yeah, it's T.K.," reaffirmed DemiVeemon as he nodded his head in certainty. "The only time you get this grumpy is when you're thinking about him."

Davis only grumbled and quickened his pace walking.

"I really don't understand what's wrong with you guys. Patamon and I are great friends! Why can't the two of you, be too?" asked DemiVeemon with a frown.

"It's just... a bit more complicated for us," admitted Davis as he came to an abrupt halt and stared up at the Ishida's apartment building with determined eyes. "But I'm going to try, and hopefully... T.K.'s willing to as well."

T.K. had just finished shoving the last of the empty takeout boxes into the garbage, when the doorbell repeatedly rang.

The blond simply rolled his eyes. Why did Davis have to be such a goofball all the time?

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" called T.K. as he swept up one last stray sock and shoved it into his pocket.

The person at the door then switched from the bell to the knocker, yelling, "Yo! T.C., you in there?" After which, then started back on the bell again.

"Grrr!" growled T.K. as Patamon laughed atop his head, saying, "I love how Davis is the only one who can breakthrough your calm exterior."

"Oh, quiet up there in the bat-wing gallery!" exclaimed T.K. with a poke to Patamon's side.

This just made the digimon giggle even more. "If I'm a bat, then technically wouldn't I be in your belfry?"

"Hush up, you! If anyone's crazy around here, it's clearly Davis," teased T.K. with a smirk as he made his way toward the door.

"No, no, he's the cause of insanity," corrected Patamon with a shake of his head. "And trust me, that's a very big difference."

"Whatever you say, Patamon," replied T.K. with a snort as he pulled open the door.

"There you are!" exclaimed Davis as he quickly ducked into the apartment. "Felt like we were waiting out there for hours!"

"Hi, T.K.!" shouted DemiVeemon as he hopped up and down in Davis's bag. "Hi, Patamon!"

"Yeah, well, I kinda wanted to clean up a bit before you got here," said T.K. embarrassedly as he scratched the back of his head. "It looked like a bomb hit it. I'm warning you now; if something pops out of nowhere and eats you, I take no responsibility for it."

Davis just snorted at this and replied, "Yeah, sure thing man... You do know you didn't have to do all that for me, right? Messy stuff like this doesn't bother me..."

"Yeah, I know," said T.K. with a shrug. "Just... kinda wanted to."

"Why did I do all this? Was it really because of Mom, or did I want to impress him?" thought T.K. as he waved Davis into the kitchen.

"You're so weird sometimes," laughed Davis a little awkwardly as he followed and plopped his school bag on the table.

"Well, look who's talking," the blond countered as Patamon flew off T.K.'s head and swooped down to grab DemiVeemon from inside Davis's backpack.

"Gahh! Flying golden pig attack!" cried DemiVeemon as he tried to hide deeper in Davis's school supplies.

"'Flying golden pig!'" yelled Patamon indignantly."Just for that, you're getting twice the tickle attack!"

"AHHH! NO! ANYTHING BUT THAT!" screamed DemiVeemon dramatically as he leapt up out of the bag, and ran off into another room.

Patamon immediately flew off in hot pursuit of his quarry.

"You guys have fun, but keep it down, okay? We're going to be studying in here!" called T.K. at their retreating backs.

"We know!" they both replied in return, before breaking off into fits of giggles.

"Yeah, T.J., you really showed them," teased Davis with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Eh, shut it, you! Let's just get started," grumbled back the blond as he opened up his textbook and quickly got down to work.

About an hour and a half later, Davis threw down his pencil in frustration. "Gahh! I don't get this, T.A.! Math's just too hard!"

T.K.'s eye twitched for a second, as Davis once again got his name wrong, before he replied, "Look, it's easy you just have to-"

"No! Stop right there!" Davis declared. "It may be easy for you, but it isn't for me, man. Just because I don't get it doesn't mean I'm stupid."

"I never said-" responded T.K. in annoyance. He really hadn't meant it that way. Was that the way it sounded to Davis?

"Oh, never mind!" he exclaimed and angrily crossed his arms over his chest. "When the heck am I ever going to need this in real life anyway?"

"Well... you said you wanted to start a noodle cart, right? You've got to use math in order to handle the finances..." added T.K. uncertainly.

"Yeah, basic math, not this crap!" complained Davis, brandishing the worksheet in his right hand.

The goggle-head then let out a sigh and slapped the paper back down onto the table. Davis then proceeded to lament, "I wish Kari was here. She always finds a way to explain it so I'd understand."

"Yeah, me too," agreed T.K. with a sad sigh as well. Without Kari, the two of them never seemed to quite work. "She really is good at that. She'll make a great teacher one day..."

"Yes, she sure will..." whispered back Davis, as he stared out the kitchen window in thought.

After a few moments of silence, the goggle-head finally spoke up again, "Hey... T.L.? Can I ask you something?"

"You just did, and you were only off by one letter in my name that time, good for you," replied the blond in a condescending tone.

"Yeah, yeah, always so literal," complained Davis with a roll of his eyes.

"What did you want to ask, Davis?" inquired T.K. with a dramatic sigh.

"Well... you saw Kari yesterday, right?" asked Davis almost... hesitantly.

"Odd," thought T.K. with a blink of his eyes as he replied, "Yeah, Matt and I went over with our father, why?"

"It's just... did she seem- alright to you?" questioned Davis in a serious tone. One that T.K. rarely ever heard from the other teen.

"Well... yeah, why wouldn't she be?"

"I mean, you don't think she's becoming sick, sick, right?" asked the goggle-head nervously.

"Sick, sick?" teased T.K. with a strained grin. "Is that a technical term?"

"I'm being serious, man," stated Davis coldly. "Did she seem unwell or not?"

"Davis, honestly, she seemed fine to me. Kari hasn't gotten sick like that in years," stressed T.K. as he saw how really worried he was.

"I know, but that doesn't mean it can't happen again," replied Davis with raw concern as he wrung his hands together.

"Look... I've seen Kari really sick before, when we were all trapped in the Digital World. It's nothing like that, trust me," reassured T.K., trying to calm him. "Kari's tough, she wouldn't want you worrying about her like this."

This unfortunately had the opposite affect on Davis, he slammed his hands loudly onto the table and said, "Well excuse me for caring about my friend! I may not have been there with all of you that time, but let me tell you something! Seeing Kari breathing through a tube, while hooked up to a sporadic heart monitor is no cakewalk either!"

T.K.'s eyes went wide. When on earth had Kari been that sick? She never told him!

Seeing T.K.'s shocked face finally snapped Davis out of his anger and looked horrified at what he had just done.

"Dude, I-"

"When was she that sick?" asked T.K. coldly.

"I-"

"When!" demanded T.K. as he stared Davis down. "Tai... or even Matt never-"

"That's because Matt doesn't even know," groaned Davis, knowing he had just let the dang cat out of the bag. "Nobody, but Kari's family and mine know... She just- it all just hit her so fast. I went to see her everyday when she was in the hospital. After she got better, she made all of us promise to never tell another soul. She didn't want to be seen as burden."

"Davis... I-"

"Please, don't tell Kari that I told you," he begged, looking at T.K. desperately. "She'll never forgive me!"

"Davis... of course I won't tell her," replied T.K. full of sincerity. "Your secret is safe with me. I promise."

"Thanks T.C., I appreciate it," said Davis with a relieved sigh.

T.K. simply clicked his tongue disapprovingly at him and commented, "If you truly were, it would be a nice gesture to at least attempt to get my name right."

"You're right, my apologizes..." corrected Davis as his grin became positively wicked, "Takeru."

T.K.'s eyes went cold as he leapt up from his chair and dove at Davis.

"Yikes!" yelped the goggle-head in surprise as he ran from the normally docile blond. "And you say, I'm the one with issues!"

"Get back here and take your tickle punishment, Daisuke!" cackled T.K. as he ran after Davis in a friendly chase.

"Hey! Those are fighting words, man!" laughed Davis as he merrily dodged his friend like a soccer pro.

Patamon and DemiVeemon then came out from the other room and decided to join in the fun as well.

The four tumbled around on the carpet like a couple of preschoolers, and Davis and DemiVeemon had actually gotten a hold of T.K.'s hat for a while.

Once they were all done goofing around, Davis and T.K. plopped back into their chairs and once again, got grudgingly back to work.

To Be Continued...

Author's Notes: Well, there you have it guys! Part 1 is complete and only 2 more left to go. I really hope all of you liked it. Even if I get barely any feedback from it, I'm glad I finally took the time to write it. Please let me know what you thought! It will really make me super happy to know I brought you all joy. Thanks for taking the time to check this out. More to come soon!

Always remember to read, fav, and/or review!