Dark Side of Empathy

Part One: Mismatched Eyes

By Debbie (Dai-chan)

I sighed, resting my chin on my hand. I glared hotly at my black phone, wishing the kid on the other side would see it, and slammed it down on the receiver. Gently. I also glared at a thin red book on my desk, tons of all the numbers on the papers staring back at me tauntingly. I shut it close and sighed again. I leaned backward in my chair, watching the curtains swaying in the gentle breeze from my half-closed window. Normally, I would not get upset about anything (get nervous, more likely), but my voice was surprisingly bitter as I muttered, "No ninth child in Izzy's address book here."

I whirled around in my chair and took a gaze inside my room. Kimika was sitting cross-legged on the floor, two books in front of her, one of them open. With a press of her thumb, she shut off her black cell phone. Quietly, she closed the blue book and leaned back against the bedpost of my bed. She looked over to me with the soft brown eyes and shrugged. "He's not in Matt's, either."

I drummed my fingers impatiently on the chair's arms. All day we have been calling every number in our friends' address books in hopes we would find the Ninth Digidestined. But so far, we found nothing. NOTHING! I counted off my fingers, saying, "He is not in Matt's, Izzy's, Mimi's, and Sora's. The only address books left are mine, yours, and Tai's. I cannot believe I volunteered for this. My fingers are all cramped from the dials. My voice is hoarse. It's so boring, and our friends probably have fun right now . . ." I stopped in mid sentence.

Kimika was silent through my complaints, but I noticed she was smiling placidly, her eyes remarkably restful as she gazed at me. I remembered she was timid. We were not that close. Often she was seen in the company of eager Tai or cheerful TK, or alone when she took pictures with her precious camera. I liked her, anyway. She was generous, kind like Sora, but Sora was more concerned, a worry wart like me. Kimika was more patient, accepting what would happen.

"What?" I felt my irritation evaporating, now curious why Kimika was smiling at me like that.

Still smiling, Kimika shyly shook her head. She wrapped arms around her long legs and said, "It's kind of funny to hear you complaining about the calls since you volunteered for it."

I grinned down to her. "I would complain a lot more if I wasn't so lucky to have you help me. When the kids gave me their address books and left, I thought no one would ever help me. Then you just came."

Her smile widened. "Always willing to help, Joe. Do you remember when you cried that Tai's didn't give you his book?"

I nodded, remembering. "I thought I would cry with joy. And what did Sora call him?"

"'Mr. Generous!'" she mimicked Sora's voice cheerfully.

We both laughed. I was surprised at us. We didn't laugh together that much. Sure we did, but with the others. Not alone. I laughed at her when she tried to cover her giggles with her hands. I liked the way her eyes squinted into laughing slits. Then she laughed at me because my glasses were at the point of sliding off my nose.

Then we looked up at the sound of a door opening. I saw my mother smiling at us, her dusky eyes soft. She was the only one in my family who was traditional, preferred to be clothed in a purple-white Japanese kimono at home. Her black hair was coiled into a tight bun, revealing a merry, rosy-cheeked face. She was short; I was only a few inches shorter than her. Many people said Mother and I looked alike, but I don't believe it.

"My," Mother spoke, "When I heard laughter in here, I thought you must have fun. Are you having fun, Jyou?"

I nearly cringed at my name. Mother always called me by my Japanese name. I don't hate my name, but I think Joe sounded better than Jyou. Besides my friends always called me Joe, anyway. I answered politely, "Yes, Mother."

"Jyou, why won't you ask Kimika if she would like to stay over for supper? We have nice noodle stew."

I shot up in my chair, blinking in surprise. "Supper? Already?" I turned to look at my black digital clock on my desk. The bright red numbers displayed 6:47 in the evening. I didn't realize that we were busy that long. "Gosh!"

I heard Kimika saying, "I wouldn't mind. I would love to stay."

I turned to her, a little surprised. That was the first time a girl would like to stay over at my house for supper. I was too shy to even ask Mimi to come over, but Kimika seemed fine. "Are you sure?" I asked. She answered with a nod.

I heard a teasing voice calling form outside my room, "And maybe you can ask your girlfriend to stay over for the night!" A booming laugh followed after.

My face went scarlet. My older brother was so brainless! He loved to tease me badly about anything. Yeah, that was what an older brother was for. Since I have Kimika over at my house, he began to call her my 'girlfriend.' I would like Mimi to be mine, but Kimika was only a friend. I let my voice grow louder. "Back off, Jim!"

"Make me, Joey boy!" Jim called back.

I again opened my mouth, but Mother's sharp voice but through. "Enough." She gazed at me sternly until I blushed, lowering my eyes. She then turned to my brother, probably glaring at him. I heard silence from him. Mother rarely got angry over anything, but if my brother and I ever attempt to argue, her sharp face and voice always have us shut up. Her voice was calm. "My sons don't fight in front of a guest."

Unsurprisingly, Jim and I spoke in perfect unison, "Yes, Mother." Then we fell in silence. I pushed up my glasses, feeling sheepish in front of Kimika.

Kimika smiled at what happened and turned to Mother, asking politely, "Is it all right if I would stay here for the night, Mrs. Kido? I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind."

I gazed at her in puzzlement. Her, wanting to stay over? Why? It was a surprise to me because I never have anybody stay over for the night. Why would she want to stay? Maybe it was a chance for us to know each other better. Kimika didn't see the puzzlement on my face.

Mother grinned warmly. "Why, it would be wonderful. Why won't you call your parents to let them know?"

"Mother, is it all right if Kim and I eat our supper in here?" I asked. I assured since Kimika was modest, she would be comfortable if she ate alone with me.

Mother appeared surprised, her dusky eyes on me for a moment. It was the tradition to her that the family should always eat together. Then she nodded. "Sure, Jyou. I must see to my stew. I'm glad to have you stay for the night, Kimika." She turned to leave, and then stopped. I heard an amused chuckle from her.

"Mother?" I said, wondering what made her laugh.

She turned to us, pointing to my bed. "You know, your dolls look so adorable together."

Both Kimika and I looked at each other in astonishment, and then looked over to my bed. Our Digimon were sleeping peacefully, oblivious to their surroundings. They were so boring with us calling all day, so they chose to sleep, mainly in order to restore energy rather than eating. Iyumon curled herself into a ball, her paws burying her snout. Gomamon laid by Iyumon's side, stretching out his small body, his head resting against her head. Thankfully, they were not making any sound, such as snoring or mumbling, that might reveal them as real creatures, not dolls.

Usually, I would stammer, not knowing what to say, but Kimika saved my life by answering calmly, "Thank you, Kido-san."

Mother again smiled and left my room, closing the door. I exhaled in relief, glad Kimika acted quickly to avoid any suspicion. Also, I was feeling sheepish because my mother was traditional. Kimika might be not used to that, her family being modern and all. I gazed to her apologetically, saying, "Sorry, Kim. I guess my mother is a little old-fashioned."

Her brown eyes met my gaze, and she shrugged. "It's all right, Joe. You shouldn't be too concerned."

Something in her voice made me look at her in perplexity. She didn't see my reaction, dialing on her cell phone, appearing calm. But the way she said that I shouldn't be concerned . . . she sounded sad? Or lonely? Watching her, I wondered.

***

That night, I didn't sleep. Unlike my friends, I was nocturnal, liking to stay up while the others slept, alone with my thoughts. I loved to watch the stars. I didn't realize how much I missed stargazing until we came back from Digiworld. Back in the Digiworld, the stars were in meaningless groups. There were not patterns to them. I couldn't find the North Star, which was my favorite star. It was strange, but I got used to it until I got back home. Since that, I would love to stay up all night, remembering the familiar star patterns.

I sat in my chair, my elbows on the desk, my head on my hands. Through the closed window, I watched the stars, silently twinkling in the night sky. However, this time, my thoughts weren't on stars. They were about Kimika.

Looking over my right shoulder, I saw Kimika sleeping in my bed. I let her sleep on my bed as I slept on the floor. Iyumon was also sleeping under the blankets, her face and horns the only traces of her peeking out. Gomamon was all tangled in my blankets, softly snoring. He was the reason I couldn't sleep with him rolling around.

I watched Kimika. The faint moonlight pouring out from the window radiated her tender face, silver against her tan skin. I noticed that she was looking a bit disturbed in her sleep, her eyes tightly shut. Her hands were clenched into fists, tucked under her chin, her body rolled up into a tense ball. I often wonder if I was the only one who noticed this. Often I noticed something different in her eyes whenever she glanced over to Tai. Something that made her appears sad. More like guilty. I noticed that it happened every time when she was with Tai. I could see guilt in her eyes, but I wondered why haven't Tai notice that. I wonder why she would be guilty about something. But, then, I don't know very much about her. We were not close.

I turned away, my eyes on the outside. The only moment I could remember that brought us close was when we found our crests together. Our crests were carved in the same rock, side by side, as if there was a purpose for our crests to be together. Also, our crests were in similar colors. Mine was dark grey as her crest was light grey, more like silver. I wonder if there was a reason for us to know each other better than the others. I wonder . . .

I heard a soft shifting and turned to find that Kimika was awake. She sat up from the bed, careful not to wake her Digimon. She was clad in my old tan pants that seemed a bit too loose for her, and a black shirt. I was clothed in another tan pants and a blank white shirt.

She walked up to me, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Couldn't sleep?"

I grinned back, kind of teasing. "How could you guess?"

She smiled at my joke. "Your mumbles woke me."

"Oh, sorry." I know I had a bad habit that I talk to myself, and I didn't know I was waking her.

She shook her head gently. "That's all right. I'm a light sleeper, anyway."

I nodded, knowing she always wakes early before sunrise. I found myself quiet, and I turned to watch outside to the twinkling stars.

I heard Kimika coming to my desk and sat on it. She was light in weight, and she pulled her legs up into a sitting position beside my left side. I could feel her concern. "What's the matter?" she asked.

I shook my head reassuringly, my eyes still on the stars. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"About us."

I heard her laughing lightly. "What are you getting on, Joe?"

I gazed up to her, smiling. "I was wondering why did you choose to stay here for the night?"

She appeared astonished, and then shrugged, her brown eyes lowered to her entwined hands in her lap. "Well, maybe to be away from my family for a while. I feel more comfortable being with you than with my family." She gazed up, seeing the confusion on my face. "You know, after all those adventures together in Digiworld."

I leaned back in my chair, meeting her eyes with my dark eyes. "Kim, can you remember any moments that occurred with only you and me?"

She looked obviously confused. "What do you mean?"

"The only moment I can remember is when we found our crests together. That's it."

Kimika's eyes went unfocused as she tried to remember. "You are right. Not very many adventures together."

"We didn't really talk with each other, did we?"

"Well, we are now."

I leaned forward to her, trying to see her eyes in the faint moonlight. They looked kind of strange. With the moonlight shining on one side of her face, one eye seemed pure silver as the other eye was pitch-black in the shadows. Mismatched eyes. Trying to ignore the sudden, cold shiver in my body, I continued, "I mean, I don't know very much about you. All I know is that you adore photography."

"And all I know is that you are a worry wart."

Her teasing voice made me blush. I know she was not teasing me badly. She was not the one who would be mean to anyone. In her voice, she sounded like she liked my nervousness, my concern for the others. She liked the way I am. She then laughed softly and rested a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Sorry, Joe. It's not usual for me to joke. I am more serious."

I understood. It seemed that she was the only one who didn't underestimate me, unlike the others. I smiled back to her and turned to stare out the window. A warm, comfy silence fell upon us, and I heard Kimika shifting so she would face the outside and watch the stars with me.

"You love stars?" I heard her asking after a long moment. I answered with a nod, my eyes still staring out. She continued, "Can you tell me what is that?"

"What?" I turned to her.

"That moving star." She pointed toward the night sky.

My gaze followed to where she pointed. I saw a moving light drifting across the night sky. It was moving too slowly to be a comet or a shooting star, and it was blinking slowly in a pinkish-white hue. I never have seen such a star like that. "It's not a star, but what is it?"

Suddenly, without a warning, a shrill beep came out of nowhere, but really in my room. I turned around in my chair, wildly looking around as Kimika nearly fell backward off my desk in alarm, but caught her balance in time. Where did the beep come from? We saw a faint silver light blinking from Kimika's pile of clothes and back bag near my bed, the repeated beeps also responding to the blinks. Kimika seemed to move in a silent flash. She dove for her clothes near my bed, and dug in. Arriving to her side, I saw her grabbing on her Digivice - the source of the beep.

"Quiet it!" I nearly hissed. "It will wake up my family!"

Kimika tried to cover her Digivice with her hands, but it didn't work. The beeps still came, annoying and shrill, the light blinking from between her fingers. Looking around, I grabbed my pillow and covered the Digivice, muffling it. Kimika and I held on the pillow over the Digivice until it finally stopped.

I heard yawns and turned to see that the Digimon were waking by the beeps. Gomamon was yawning, struggling to get out of the blanket tangle. He looked over to me with the lively pale green eyes, asking, "What happened?"

Kimika was getting her Digivice from under the pillow, looking curiously at it. "My Digivice beeped."

Iyumon was sitting at the edge of my bed, her paws dangling in front of her. Her ruby eyes were bright even in the dimness. "How come?"

Kimika didn't answer her Digimon. She was gazing at her Digivice in her hands, wondering. I stood, walking over to my window. I looked out, searching for the strange star. It was gone. "Well, that moving star is gone now." I turned around.

Kimika was gazing up at me, her eyes pondering "Joe, what if it's the ninth child?"

"Huh?"

"Remember Izzy said that he got a reading on his Digivice from something that could be the ninth child?" I nodded to her. "If it is true, then my Digivice must get a reading from him. Come on! We have no time to lose." She turned to reach for her yellow boots.

I gazed down at my Digivice on my desk. It didn't do anything since we got back to our home world. "If it is true, why only your Digivice? Not mine?"

She paused in tying her boots and gazed over her shoulder to me. Her voice was gentle and a bit exasperated. "Can't we worry about it later? We must go out and find him." She stood and went for the door.

"Now?" I said, still hesitant.

"Joe!" Her voice seemed to boom as she whirled to me. I blinked in astonishment. Never had she had her voice that loud, not even when she was upset. The Digimon were gazing at her in surprise. She seemed to blush, ashamed, her eyes lowered. Her hand on the doorknob slightly clenched, then loosed. She gazed up to me, an apologetic glint in her eyes. Her voice was low. "You don't have to come."

I felt my face frowning. "Of course I am coming! I am responsible for you." At first, I thought I saw a flash of great sadness passing over her face, but it was gone in an instant as she lowered her head to gaze at her feet. Still confused, I wasted no time putting on my shoes and getting my Digivice. We all tiptoed out of my home. We picked up our Digimon in our arms so we could run downstairs. Our Digimon have short legs - in Gomamon's case, flippers, and they couldn't run fast as we can. Finally, we got out the apartment building and putted down our Digimon. Kimika took out her Digivice and waited.

The weather was pleasant with a cool breeze coming from south. The moon and the dim streetlights were the only lights we have at night. I looked around in uneasy caution. There were no people walking around. Usually, people would be busy at night than at day, but now we were alone at the sidewalk.

Iyumon gazed up to her partner, her eyes concerned. "Kim, I'm worried. What if it is a trick?"

I nodded, turning to Kimika, who was still waiting for her Digivice to beep. "She may be right. We have to be cautious -"

A beep cut me off. The Digivice was blinking with the beeps, the light illuminating Kimika's face. She looked triumphant. "Yes! Got him!" She then broke in a run toward her right.

"Kim! Wait!" I ran after her, the Digimon running by my side. She ran faster than me, but finally, I saw her stopping at the entrance of a huge park. I remembered I used to play there when I was little. When I stopped at her side, I bent over and panted hard as she lightly panted. Man, I was not used to run that hard! I heard the Digimon arriving, also panting.

Iyumon tried to speak through her pants. "Why . . . would the child . . . be here?"

"Taking . . . a walk?" Gomamon answered.

I shook my head in disbelief. "In the middle of the night? Look, not even people are busy at this time." I stood up straight, inhaling a fresh breath.

Kimika putted her Digivice on her belt. "I lost the reading, but he must be in there." She began to enter under the stone arch that led to the park. But I stopped her by holding on her arm.

"Wait, Kim. We must be careful. Anything can happen there anytime, even evil Digimon."

"But, Joe," she said, "It would be our only chance to find the child."

I sighed at the brown eyes. I gazed down to our Digimon, saying seriously. "Guys, be ready at everything, and be ready to digivolve if anything goes bad." Gomamon and Iyumon obediently nodded. Nodding in satisfaction, I looked up at Kimika. She was smiling back.

"You are a very good leader," she said. "I'm fortunate you are concerned about me, but you don't really have to. I will be fine."

Perhaps her softness and modesty were her weaknesses, making her vulnerable. No wonder I felt a strong sense of responsibility to protect her. I thought I felt strange warmth on my chest, coming from my crest, but it was gone. I spoke gently, "I just don't want you to get hurt. Tai would get mad." I knew Tai was fiercely loyal to her like a protective brother.

Kimika shook her head. "Oh, forget about him. This's about you and me. This's our chance. Hey, it would be an adventure together."

"Say, are you coming or not?" We turned to the annoyed voice of Gomamon. He and Iyumon were already inside the park. Together, we entered the park. We walked on the stone walk that entwines through trees, creating a puzzling, stony maze. I enjoyed walking it because it let me think as long as I want, the walk seeming never run out of paths. Everything was so quiet; even the breeze was silent as it moved through the branches.

"It's peaceful," I heard Gomamon saying in awe from my side.

"Too peaceful," said the usual cautious Iyumon. "Usually, a Digimon would appear any time and attack us."

Kimika shook her head to her Digimon. "It's not Digiworld, Iyumon. Compared to Digiworld, this world is quiet."

"Nevertheless, we must be alert," I spoke. I do like the night, but only for stargazing. Otherwise, I don't like to walk in the darkness. I don't fear the darkness, but something in the dark made me scared. "Who knows what lurks in the night?"

Kimika glanced sidelong to me, an eyebrow raised in a questioningly slant. "You think the night is dangerous?"

I let my voice grow darker into a false spooky voice that you heard in cheesy haunted movies. "It's the time for evil to come out."

Kimika smiled. "You are so pessimistic, Joe. I believe the night is peaceful, protected, where no one could harm me. Where no one could find me."

I saw something in her face. Deep, immeasurable shame in her face. I saw her eyes went too soft, as if they were going to shed tears. She turned away from me a bit too quickly. I saw her shoulders begin to shake silently. I thought she was going to cry. "Kim?"

"Hush!" I head Gomamon whispering. Looking down to him, I saw him raising one of his long, wavy ears to listen for something. His eyes darkened. "I heard something."

Iyumon also looked cautious, tilting her head, seeming to listen. "Me, too. Out there."

We waited, also trying to hear, but heard nothing. Gomamon had the keenest hearing of all Digimon; Iyumon's hearing was close to his sharp hearing, and they can hear noises further better than we can. Then we heard a soft, whispering beep. It came from Kimika's Digivice.

"Well, at least it won't wake anybody," I muttered quietly.

Kimika took a look at her Digivice and said, "I received a reading from northeast."

We followed her across the grass, following the Digivice's beeping. I wonder why someone would be here in the park in the middle of the night. Suddenly, out of nowhere, we saw a black crow flying toward us. It went in frenzy, attacking us with flaps of its wings, sharp beak, and slashes of its talons. Kimika buried her face from the beak as I tried to scare it away with my arms. Iyumon uncurled her tail, and spikes shoot from the club at the tail's end, scaring away the crow. The crow made a shrill caw before it flew away in a fuss of black feathers. In the moment, when I gazed to it, I thought I saw something familiar in its talons. It was a –

"Oh!" Kimika shuddered as she brushed away feathers from her shoulders. Her eyes were wide. "Why did the crow attack us? I wonder if we disturb its nest."

I straightened my glasses, staring at where the crow had disappeared in the trees. "I swear I saw . . ."

"Joe?" I head Kimika saying in worry.

I shook my head, uncertain. "Nothing. I must see things. Come on, Kim. I guess we aren't finding the ninth child this time."

Before we even made a move, we head faint creaking from our far right. We froze in motion, our eyes wide. I felt Kimika creeping closer to me. "What was that?" she whispered. Then we saw a strange, tan carriage rolling out of the mist that surrounded it. It was moving on its own, without horses or anything. It was coming closer at a slow rate.

"Get away!" Gomamon hissed to us. "It's Myotismon!"

We didn't hesitate to his warning. I grabbed Kimika's hand and pulled her behind a huge oak tree. We bundled together, our backs on the trunks. I saw Gomamon and Iyumon also hiding under a bench, small enough to be well-hidden. I could see their eyes, pale green and bright scarlet, glowing in the moonlight from under the bench.

I could hear more creaks, the opening of a wooden door, then silence. I could hear the rustlings of a heavy cloak. An ominous feeling grew in the air, so strong that I could feel it crawling on my skin. I knew this feeling very well. I experienced it many times that I know the feeling of that like I know my name. Even without looking, I knew Myotismon was present, near.

Then I heard his voice, so pure dark with evil. The voice always made me shudder, and I tried not to show it to Kimika, who nestled near me. "Hmm . . . You kids should not wander around during the night. Not safe, you know."

I held Kimika closer to myself in order to protect her. How did Myotismon know we were here?! Unless . . . it was all a trick! Myotismon would have tapped on Kimika's Digivice to make false readings and bring us all here so he would destroy us. Curse him! I wish there was a way to stop him so we could escape. But how? I was too cowardly to fight him, and Kimika was too vulnerable to be able to face him. Kimika was shivering in fear, burying her face in her hands.

I heard stiff footsteps toward us, as if Myotismon knew where we hide. "Come out, Digidestined, so I can see you," came the dark, creeping voice. "Tell me all you know about the Ninth Digidestined. Then I shall destroy you."

I heard two growls from the bench and looked around to see our Digimon glowing.

Gomamon, digivolve into Ikkakumon!

Iyumon, digivolve into Rianmon!

Because of his massive size, Ikkakumon tore the bench from its hold in the ground, sending it flying out of the way. Ikkakumon bared his long fangs, his sharp ice-blue eyes glowing intensely at the unseen Myotismon. Rianmon stood by his side, her masked head lowered, her spiked tail waving warningly.

I realized that they were trying to get Myotismon's attention away from us so we could escape. I whispered in Kimika's ears. "Come on, Kim! We must escape!"

She turned to me, her eyes wide. I saw something in her eyes. Guilt, but stubbornness. She began to shake her head violently. "No! I won't leave Rianmon! No!" She tore herself from my hold and ran from behind the tree to her Digimon, not realizing her mistake. I ran after her, grabbing her arm, and together, we stopped in our tracks. We looked up at the dark snickers of Myotismon. I quickly pushed her behind me, fearfully meeting the icy cold gaze of the vampire Digimon. He smirked darkly.

"So, that's where you hide," he spoke and drifted after us.

"Harpoon Torpedo!" Two horn-like torpedoes shot out from my Digimon's horn and soared toward Myotismon. Silently, simply, Myotismon raised his hands, palms facing forward. The torpedoes halted in midair. He then clenched his hands into fists, and the torpedoes exploded as if they were squeezed by Myotismon.

Myotismon turned to Ikkakumon, slightly aggravated. "Grisly Wing!" Tiny bats that seemed to be born of the darkness flew from his wide scarlet cloak. The bats attacked Ikkakumon with their poisoned fangs, harming him as he tried to fight back as much as he could. I heard a pained howl from him, and Ikkakumon collapsed to the ground, unmoving as the bats kept attacking.

"No! Ikkakumon!" I yelled, and then I saw a lavender tail sweeping over his head, attacking the bats at once. They immediately disappeared in the darkness, unable to resist the powerful poison in the spikes. Rianmon leaped in front of my Digimon, paws spread into a fighting position, her golden eyes blazing at Myotismon.

Myotismon quietly raised a thin eyebrow and sneered. "Rianmon, always willing to help. How pathetic. No wonder there are few of you." Kimika and I were bewildered. There were few of Rianmons? She was rare? But something Myotismon said about Rianmon . . . 'Always willing to help' . . . I remembered! That's what Kimika said about helping me make calls. I looked down to her to see if she remembered that. She was glaring at the vampire, her fists clenching.

Myotismon still spoke tauntingly at Rianmon. "You may be strong, Rianmon, but your heart is too soft to withstand the hardships."

Shockingly, I heard two sudden same growls coming from both Rianmon and Kimika. Kimika's voice rang out, calling to her Digimon. "Don't listen to him, Rianmon! Attack!"

Obedient, Rianmon opened her mouth and bellowed, "Bomb Blaze!" A sphere of orange-white light emitted from her mouth, speeding toward Myotismon.

Unmoving, Myotismon calmly blew the sphere away as if it was nothing but a mere candle flame. He floated higher until he floated above Rianmon. "Crimson Lightning!" A long red lightning was like a whip as he struck it in Rianmon's face. She groaned in pain, and then dropped to her knees, struggling to resist the pain.

Kimika made an anguished yell and broke herself from my hold on her, running toward her Digimon. "Kim!" I called after her, and then realized, with a terrified shiver, I was alone without any protection. I whirled in fear to Myotismon, who laughed, the horrible laughs seeming to shatter in the night air.

His blue eyes glinting darkly, Myotismon hissed in amusement, "Vulnerable! Crimson Lightning!"

All seemed in slow motion. I froze in my tracks, watching the blood-red lightning soaring toward me . . . I heard my name being called. . . I looked away . . . Kimika ran toward me . . . She pushed me away . . . I fell to the ground . . . I heard a pained yell . . .

I whirled to see Kimika surrounded by the red lightning. She seemed to float in the air, her face in deep pain, her woeful eyes on me as the lightning crackled around her. She didn't scream at all. Just staring at me. "NO!" I hollered. The lightning faded away, and Kimika swayed on her feet, collapsing toward the ground. I caught her in my arms, holding her to myself, angry and guilty at myself for not able to protect her. She was unharmed, but unconscious, her head lolling to my chest. Then I saw something glowing from under her shirt, illuminating my face. Her crest!

Rianmon, digivolve into Nightrianmon!

I have heard of her, but I never have seen her. Holding Kimika, I stared in awe as Nightrianmon floated in the air several feet away from Myotismon, the same height as him. She was clad in a form-fitting uniform of dark purple and a clock that was made of the night sky with tiny silver stars speckled all over, holding by a gold brooch shaped as a star. Her calf-length boots and arm-length gloves were golden. Two golden horns slanted forward from her hood. There was a red stripe running down the middle of her forehead. Her face was womanlike with red marks under her huge golden eyes and white pupils.

I noticed that Nightrianmon and Myotismon made no move toward each other, silently hovering, dark golden eyes meeting icy blue eyes. What was going on? Why didn't Nightrianmon attack as she was supposed to?

Then Myotismon smirked hatefully. "Hello . . . Sister."

To be continued . . .