Okay, so in the five-and-a-half years since I've started writing this series, my writing style has changed quite a bit, and I've made significant revisions to my Return to the Digital World universe. As such, I have re-written all three parts that I've already put up, to keep with the consistency. The original versions will stay up, if you find that you prefer those. Part IV will be coming some time after I've finished this.

For those new to the universe, this series is set five years after Frontier, with the main six being joined by four others to save the Digital World yet again. This has nine fics planned, the original versions of the first three are still on my profile. I also have the basic concept of two multi-chaps fics set ten and twenty-five years after this, respectively, featuring our main characters as adults and the next generation.

I have added and removed characters, and completely redesigned the new Legendary Warriors' Digimon forms. I also will feature an alteration to Tomoki's Chackmon form, since he's now in his early teens and a cute little teddy bear wouldn't suit him anymore - remember, the other five were all older and their Digimon forms are all adult-sized.

I have also altered and in some cases (like Kyōsuke and Lexi's intro scenes) completely replaced some scenes. At least two have been removed entirely. This is because between the time I first wrote these scenes and now, I've made significant changes and developments in character development and in overall plot.

The alterations to the newer Warriors' appearances will be more closely related to their evil counterparts, pretty much more heroic versions of the evil Digimon.

I'm hoping this all will result in a better-quality story, one that WILL eventually be completed. Please tell me what you think.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon or any of its characters

WORD COUNT: 1868

Saturday, April 7th, 2007

A group of four teenage guys was lounging around a pair of park benches, garnering a few dirty or suspicious looks from passers-by. They were generally dressed like slobs, one had a cigarette sticking out of his mouth (the one sitting blatantly next to the 'no smoking' sign), and a bag containing what looked suspiciously like beer bottles rested by their feet. It also didn't help their case that they were catcalling and overtly hitting on any female between the ages of fifteen and thirty that passed by. One particular blonde around their own age had just caught their attention.

"What's up, babe? Haven't seen you before." One, wearing a suggestive grin, got up and moved to stand in front of her, blocking her path. "You new in town?"

The girl in question narrowed her green eyes slightly, not cowed in the slightest. "So what if I am?"

He responded with a lascivious look, his eyes trailing up and down her body. The action wasn't missed as she frowned deeply, but he seemed to neither notice nor care. "Well, we can't have a pretty thing like you getting lost, now, can we? I can give you a tour, show you around. And you and I can get to know each other a little better."

"No thanks," she replied in a falsely sweet tone, "I can find my way around just fine." She turned to move around him, but he grabbed her by the wrist.

"It's not just knowing your way around that's important," he breathed in her ear. She stiffened at the invasion of her personal space. "There are the spots where the real shady people hang out. We wouldn't want you running into those places all by your lonesome. You should have someone by your side. I'll stick real close to you."

She pulled back, though he still had a grip on her wrist. "I can also take care of myself just fine." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "And unless you let me go right now, I'll be more than happy to demonstrate."

The idiot only chuckled and leaned in even closer. "I like my ladies feisty."

"Hey!"

The guy looked up at the new voice breaking into the conversation, and the girl used the distraction to wrench her arm free and punch him in the face. He stumbled back and landed flat on his ass, nearly crashing into the new guy on the scene. The guy blinked his light grey eyes in slight surprise before turning to face the rest of the gang, who had all gotten to their feet.

"You shouldn't have done that, bitch," one spat, "Now we're gonna hafta-"

"What?" the stranger interrupted harshly, stepping between the girl and them, "You do remember the last time you thought you could mess with a lady around here, don't you?" One of the less tough-looking gang members hesitated and took a half-step back. The first one staggered to his feet.

"You think you're so tough, Miura," he growled, "One day, you're going to regret tangling with us."

"You say that every time. Now run along, unless you'd like to make a scene in front of all these people."

The guy's eyes flicked around to the people walking by, either slowing down to watch the brewing confrontation or hurrying along to avoid getting caught up in it. This seemed to change his mind, and he backed off, still scowling. "You'd better watch yourself, Miura. One day, I promise, and you're never gonna see it coming." Then he turned tail and ran.

The boy glared after them before turning to face the girl. His face softened in concern. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, "They didn't hurt you or anything?"

She shook her head. "Nah, I'm fine. They would've gotten more than a fist to the face if they'd actually tried anything. But thanks for the assist."

He ran his fingers through his shaggy, dark brown hair. "No problem. Though now I'm not sure you really needed it. That was some right hook." He stuck out his hand. "I'm Miura Kyōsuke. Are you new in this neighbourhood?"

She shook his hand back with a small smile. "Orimoto Izumi, and yes, we just moved in two days ago. I was just walking around to get a feel for the place."

"At the risk of sounding like that creep, I could show you around, if you want." He offered her a shy grin.

"Sure, I think I'd like that."

"Tomoki! Pass it over here!" The thirteen-year-old looked over across the field, seeing that his buddy Kagura Sasuke was wide open. He kicked the ball to him and paused for a second as his partner received it and, with one strong kick, sent it flying past the goalkeeper and between the two stumps at the edge of the local park, which marked the makeshift goalposts.

"Goal!" Tomoki shouted, pumping his fist in the air, "Game over!"

High-fiving each other, the two boys and the rest of their team cheered, while the other kids argued.

"I told you we shouldn't have picked that new guy," one boy stated, "He's a total klutz!" A Hispanic kid with dark hair and a purple sweater vest turned sadly and began to walk away. Noticing this, Tomoki broke off from his team and followed him.

"Hey, wait up!" he called. The boy stopped and faced him. "Don't listen to Tetsuji, alright? He's a sore loser. Besides, he screws up more than everyone around. Don't tell him I said that, though."

The new kid smiled a little. "Thanks," he replied in somewhat clumsy Japanese with a Spanish accent, "I'm Juan Cortez. My family and I just moved here from Spain only two days ago." His brown eyes had the look of a kicked puppy, but they brightened up as Tomoki spoke to him.

"I'm Himi Tomoki. You know, there's this new skate park that just opened across town. We're gonna check it out. Wanna come?"

"I would, but my Mamà doesn't want me to try anything like that, and I promised I'd come right home after the game. Thanks anyway."

"Shin'ya, how many times do I have to tell you?! No basketball in the house!"

"Sorry, mom! I mean, we're not breaking anything, but sorry, anyay!" The tanned young teen tossed the ball to his friend Matsuno Mami, but missed. Instead, it bounced off the head of an older boy, Shin'ya's brother, lying on the couch talking with his girlfriend on the phone.

"Listen, Yuki, how many times do have to say I'm- Ow!" Takuya yelped, "Shin'ya!" The daggers in his brown eyes sent the younger ones running for cover. "You two are so dead!" He snatched up the basketball and lobbed it after them, also falling short of his target.

CRASH!

"Takuya!" his mother shouted, "Tell me that wasn't the lamp!"

"Beans!"

Fingers were tapping on the steering wheel of a plain, black car by the time a dark-haired teenager finally emerged from the kendo dojo. "You took your sweet time, Kōji," an annoyed voice nagged him, "Now we only have five minutes to return all these books." The driver gestured towards the back, where several books of various sizes were scattered all over the seat and floor.

"Hey, it's not my fault you check out two dozen books at once, Nii-san," 'Kōji' retorted as he slid into the passenger seat, allowing his blue duffel bag to join the books and straightening his worn bandanna as it slipped over his long, dark hair.

The boy driving looked exactly like his brother, only his hair was shorter. He gave him a look and a dry laugh.

"Ha ha. Just for that comment, you're helping me carry them." He started up the car and drove in the direction of the local library. As he stopped at a red light – and groaned in frustration – both of their cell phone text alerts went off.

The redhead stared down at the piece of paper in her hand. A 56% glared back at her in red ink. Stupid language barrier. Now she'd have to face her mother's lecture again. At least when she was doing it over the phone, she didn't have to hide her facial reactions, didn't have to play meek and repentant. Her plan was slowly going downhill, and she was running out of time. Only a few more months before she would be sent home, and the past seven had turned up nothing.

An observer would see her rolling her brown eyes and twisting a lock of her long red hair in frustration as she argued with her mother in English. "I know, Mother, I'm trying! … But- … Yes, I understand. … No, I'm not rolling my eyes! … Yes, Mother. … I know. I love you. 'Bye."

She hung up with a huff, leaning against the subway station wall. Her cell phone buzzed with a text alert, and she checked it. An eyebrow rose, and she muttered: "What in the hell is a Digital World?"

The classroom was half-filled with about a dozen high school students, ranging in demeanour from desperately attentive to bored out of their minds. One tall boy near the back kept flicking his brown eyes to the clock, as if he could will the next five minutes to just fly by, and impatiently scratching his head with the eraser end of his pencil.

Whoever it was that came up with the brilliant idea of holding extra-help history lessons on Saturdays, he wanted to shoot them. Preferably with some wicked lightning bolt. Heh. As if he could do that anymore. So for now, he had to settle for imagining his evil-and-out-to-get-him World History teacher getting electrocuted repeatedly.

His cell phone suddenly started vibrating in his sweatshirt pocket, giving him something to pay attention to – besides the Greek emperors, or were they talking about the French now? He wasn't really listening. Of course, that attitude was what had landed him here in the first place. Carefully, he pulled it out and looked at the screen under his desk. He'd received a text message, from an unknown person:

'The Digital World is in need of the Legendary Warriors once more. Go to Shibuya Station and take the elevator to the basement by six o'clock today.'

Junpei felt a grin spreading on his face, along with a spark of excitement in his chest. That summer he'd gone to the Digital World, it'd been the best and most life-changing experience of his entire life. Wait a minute, six o'clock? He had less than half an hour! When was that stupid bell going to ring? Oh, never mind; he'd almost forgotten that Shibuya Station was only a ten-minute walk away from the school.

So yes, you can see that I've completely changed Kyōsuke and Lexi's intro scenes, and I've taken out the original one featuring Kōji. This is because I know squat about kendo and I have no idea if I wrote it right.

And as stated in the original version's A/N, I paired Izumi with an OC because I want to stay far, FAR away from the shipping wars.

Next week, we have our heroes, old and new, going to the Digital World. Those of you who've read the original know what happens next.

Until then, Spectre out!

PS: Review please! I can't make improvements if I can't find out what needs fixing.