2:29 P.M. The second hand on the clock inside of a small classroom at Fox Hollow High School began its final countdown. Sixty seconds left until the first day of school came to an end. And while Mrs. Szalinski continued her history lecture, Ryan anxiously awaited for the bell that would allow him and hundreds of his fellow students' freedom. A single bead of sweat coursed its way down his forehead to his temple while he repeatedly tapped his foot, praying to leave before the boredom reached its peak.

Finally, after an excruciating minute, it rang and was followed by the teacher releasing her students with a very droll, "Class dismissed."

Upon leaving the classroom, headed for the stairwell, Ryan ran into Zack who looked nearly as miserable as he did during the last period. "Don't even say a word. I can tell by the look on your face you'd rather have taken a knockout punch from Mike Tyson instead of sitting through class. What did you have?"

"Algebra…I understood everything but the class is so boring." Zack replied, rubbing his eyes having nearly fallen asleep in the classroom. "That's one day down, a hundred seventy-nine more to go. You want to go grab a slice of pizza?"

"Can't, I promised Rika's grandmother I'd help decorate their backyard for Suzie's birthday. Do you want to come? It's been like three weeks and you haven't been to Shinjuku yet. I'm sure everyone would like to meet you." He knew that Zack was still somewhat hesitant about the entire deal but desperately wanted all of his new friends to meet his best friend. "I promise the teleportation doesn't hurt. You don't feel a thing and it takes literally seconds. Come on, what do you say?"

It took him nearly a minute to contemplate his decision until finally he relented and said, "Okay. But if I turn into the Brundlefly or something I'm melting you first."

After leaving the school, the two teens walked up the block, rounded the corner and entered the park where they found a secluded spot. Ryan looked around to make sure that the coast was clear before taking out the DTD from his pocket.

"Here we go." Upon activation the white energy sphere encased them inside and shrank until it was gone, reappearing moments later just outside the front gate of the Nonaka house in Shinjuku, Japan. "See? I told you. Nothing to…it" His sentence was cut off when he looked back and saw Zack laying on his back taking deep breaths. "Please tell me you're just joking?"

"Ask my stomach that question" Ryan helped Zack up, allowing him to take everything in for a few seconds. "So, we're really in Japan?"

"Yep…well, Shinjuku to be specific, which is a ward of Tokyo." The explanation he gave was met with a shocked stare. "What? I figured if I'm going to be visiting a lot I needed to learn the geography. Otherwise, I'd get lost just by crossing the street."

They passed through the front gate and made their way around the side of the house, which was already decorated with streamers, balloons and pink signs with the words "Happy Birthday, Princess Suzie!", in bold purple lettering, posted up all along the walls. The backyard itself had an even bigger array of decorations including a piñata in the shape of a magic wand, a pin the tail on the donkey game and, last but not least, a bounce castle for all the kids to play in.

Henry and Terriermon were sitting on the deck blowing up balloons. However, the latter, due to his size, became lightheaded and fell backwards, his eyes turning into squiggles. "Oh…I think you'd better handle the rest of these."

"Have no fear, help is here. And I brought a buddy of mine. Zack this is Henry and Terriermon."

"It's nice to meet you. Ryan's told us a lot about you." He set down a balloon in order to shake his hand.

Terriermon sprung back up and shook off the dizziness. "Glad you brought someone to help. I need a break."

"That's his way of saying he's glad to make your acquaintance." Ryan added, whispering to him. "Hey, there isn't a clown coming is there?"

"Yeah, my mom and dad ordered one. Why?" Henry asked, noting the tone of concern.

Ryan's face cringed up a bit. "Ugh…I hate clowns. They're so creepy. My mom got me one for my 10th birthday and this was right after I saw the movie "It" for the first time. Let's just say that I didn't get a sound night's sleep for about a week and I now hate Fun Houses. Say, where are Rika and Renamon? Aren't they helping us out too?"

At that point, the rabbit digimon chimed in. "Rika went to get a gift for Suzie and Renamon went with her. They should be back soon."

"Okay, well, let's get cracking." With that they went back to work, time being of the essence.

Despite nearly being burnt to a crisp two times before, Aurumon was back to spy on the tamers at his masters behest. Both of his mechanical eyes began to glow and zoomed in on the teens as they continued with preparations for Suzie's party. Myotismon watched, from the owl's point of view, and listened in on the trio with gruesome intentions in mind.

"Isn't that sweet? It's one of the tamers birthdays." Devimon, also present, added. "Perhaps we should, as the humans say, crash the party?"

Myotismon, who would have normally been angered by his subordinate taking it upon himself to formulate a plan, seemed to sadistically enjoy the input. "Yes. Some uninvited guests will be our present to all of them. And since that human I despise so much detests clowns, I think we should provide some…added entertainment…just for him."

While Ryan was setting up the tables with plates, forks, napkins, party hats and goody bags, for all the boys and girls planning to attend, when glanced up to see a dozen shadow slayers emerging from the wall across the yard. "Uh, guys? We got some party crashers here!"

"Get in the house!" Henry exclaimed to Zack, who hurried inside, before he and Terriermon stood by their friend's side, ready to battle. "Three weeks, I'm surprised. I expected this to happen a lot sooner. What do you say, four a piece?"

"Sounds good to me…" Ryan got into a fighting stance and groaned. "I knew I hated the first day of school for a reason."

The three of them charged forward with Henry being the first to do combat. He ducked a combo attack from two slayers and spin kicked them both across the face at the same time.

Ryan crescent kicked one of his attackers away, swept the leg of another before being grabbed in a reverse bear hug by the third. For a brief moment, it looked as if he would be skewered by the last one's claw but managed to break free, grab the attack slayers arm, side kick the one that originally had him and then flipped the one he was holding onto its back.

"Bunny Blast…!" For Terriermon it was like shooting fish in a barrel as he easily mowed them down one by one after using his aerodynamic ears to get above them.

Although most were down for the count, a pair of them rose up for a second round. "Looks like they didn't get the hint…" Looking around the yard he spotted a wooden limbo pole leaning up against one of the tables and quickly seized it. "…how about we raise the bar?" Henry nodded, grabbed the opposite end and the two of them together clotheslined the slayers straight back to Myotismon. "And I thought I was bad at this game."

Zack poked his head out, ever so slightly, from the doorway. "Is it…safe? Are they gone?"

"Yeah, we took care of them." Ryan replied, reassuring his friend that the danger had indeed passed. "Is Seiko alright?"

Before Zack had a chance to answer, Rika and Renamon made a sudden entrance that caused the teen to run back in the house again. "Are you guys okay? We were almost here when I got a call from my grandma telling me you guys were attacked!"

"We're fine. It was the shadow slayers again. Just glad this didn't happen during Suzie's party." Henry surveyed the damage done and, luckily, only the table and a few other decorations were misplaced in the fray. "But just in case, we should have all our digimon on guard should Myotismon try anything else."

No words were exchanged but Rika agreed nonetheless. "Can someone help me go get the bags? I dropped them a few blocks away. Hopefully, they're still there."

"Henry, if you want to go help her I'll clean up here." Ryan offered since he arrived when almost everything was already set up. "Zack will give you a hand too."

The two tamers entered the dwelling accompanied by Terriermon, perched on top of his partner's head, while the lone teen remained behind to begin cleaning up the plates and plastic cutlery that was strewn about in the grass. Renamon approached from behind, bending down to offer him her assistance though he tried to pretend she wasn't there.

This was the first time they had seen one another since the celebration of their first victory over Myotismon's forces, becoming agents of DATA and having that dreadful conversation about what he said to her just before the battle with FlameWizardmon.

Although the issue had been resolved, Ryan still felt embarrassed and distanced himself from the vixen for that very reason. "I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?"

"Yeah, sorry about that, I've been kind of busy. My sensei gave me a job managing his dojo a couple of days a week. It pays so I'm finally making some cash." It was too weak of an excuse and not one that she would buy. "And, well…I guess I just needed a break. I went through so much in such a short amount of time; I had to let it all sink in. Sorry about not keeping touch though."

"Would your break have anything to do with what you said to me?" Renamon asked, causing Ryan's eyes to widen in pure horror.

"What? No! Of course not…!" The nervous undertone did not help his case. "Maybe…" She glared right through him with her piercing blue eyes. "Okay, yes! Why do you think I ate all that food so quick and high tailed it, no offense, back to Fox Hollow? I felt so awkward after we spoke but I figured I'd feel different if I didn't see you for a few days or so. Cut to three weeks later, I get a call from Henry inviting me to Suzie's party. And here we are."

Renamon turned away from him in a disappointed fashion. "We've known each other for a long time. You were in a life threatening situation and gave me a sentiment from your heart. There should have been nothing for you to feel awkward about…unless, there is more to it than that?"

Again he had an opportunity to be honest and admit his true feelings for her but, alas, could not bring himself to do it. "No, I said…what I said…because you're one of my closest friends and..." Tear drops began forming in his eyes, streaming down his face shortly after. "…I was afraid to lose you or die, never getting the chance to tell you how much you and your friendship have meant to me. The reason I distanced myself is because I didn't know how you'd react. I'm so sorry, Renamon. Now, look at me…crying like a baby. Ha."

She turned once more, this time with the utmost tenderness, and wiped away his tears. "Listen… it took Rika a long time to admit her feelings as well because she thought it would make her seem weak and, eventually, she realized it only made our bond stronger. You should never be ashamed of telling someone how much you care for them because you think they won't understand. They will…and I do."

"Thanks, Renamon. I'll be sure to keep that in mind." The sounds of multiple children, laughing, screaming and playing, filled the air. "Oh, boy, here we go. I think I'm actually starting to miss the shadow slayers right about now."

An hour went by and Suzie, along with most of her friends, ran rampant through the yard playing tag as well as the party games set up for them. The bounce castle was the most popular attraction to the youngsters as it was constantly filled to the brim with screaming seven and eight year olds.

Riley, who had been attending as a chaperone, saw how dangerous the inflatable structure was becoming and tried to get everything under control. "Hey, there's too many of you in there! It's not safe! Some of you have to come out and wait your turn!" At that moment the entire thing came crashing down on top of her before she could get out of the way. "I need a new job."

A group of kids, all armed with silly string and water balloons, ganged up on Kazu and Kenta, cornering them against the wall. "Dude, whose bright idea was it to give them all of that?"

"Yours…! You're the one who brought the spray cans and the balloons that look like grenades!"

Kazu slapped his own face and ran his palm down it. "What was I thinking!? Next time, do me a favor…STOP ME BEFORE I BRING THAT STUFF TO A PARTY FULL OF CRAZY KIDS!"

Janyu, his wife, Mayumi, and even Mrs. Nonaka were sitting at the table in a daze after having been run ragged by all the other hyperactive children while trying to restore some order which left only Takato, Henry, Rika and Ryan still standing. "Now I know why my parents stopped throwing me big birthdays after I turned eight."

The goggle clad tamers attempt at humor fell flat on its face. "Takato, I'm the king of jokes and one liners and I wouldn't even kid about these kids. This is a nightmare! Let's just hope this is as bad as it gets. Where are the digimon, by the way?"

"Renamon and Terriermon are up on the roof. Guardramon is guarding the front yard along with MarineAngemon. Impmon's up in that tree either watching enjoying the show or sleeping. And Lopmon is, well..." The chocolate flavored bunny was decked out in a party hat and goofy glasses all while pretending to be a stuffed animal. "...you can see for yourself."

Ryan noticed that Henry had left out one of the core members. "And what about Guilmon…?"

"He's in the kitchen…helping Takato's father, mother and my grandmother bake the cookies and cake." Rika replied, closing her eyes and shaking her head. No one else had to say a word. They all knew that it would turn out be either a really good or really bad idea when it came time to sing "Happy Birthday".

The door to the dining room slid open. Seiko stood there; wearing a bright blue apron covered in batter, and cleared her throat loudly to get everyone's attention. "Boys and girls, I have a surprise for you! Skippy the Dancing Clown!"

Standing directly behind the elderly woman, jumping out to surprise all the kids, was a pint sized clown donned in all of the usual attire: rainbow colored hair, big hat, floppy shoes, poke-a-dot clothing and, of course, a giant red nose. "Hey, boys and girls, it's great to be here! We're all going to have a…hopping good time!"

As he started to hop, Suzie and her friends were quick to mimic. Ryan, who could barely stand the sight of him, began walking towards the house. "Okay, that's my cue to skidoo. I'll be in the living room watching TV if anyone needs me."

Fifteen minutes passed…Ryan sat on the couch, flipping through channel after channel trying to find a program that he would enjoy, when suddenly the phone began ringing on the end table next to him. Being that everyone was busy; he took the liberty of picking the cordless off its receiver and pressed the talk button quickly. "Nonaka residence…"

"Yes, hello, my name is Yu. I work over at Hiroki's Party World. I was just calling to let you know that the entertainer you ordered for Suzie Wong's party is going to be a little late due to a problem with one of our vans…" A rush of dread and fright hit him like a tidal wave because he realized that the clown in the backyard was a fake and that all of the young children were in immediate danger. He dropped the phone, jumped over the couch and raced out of the room. "Hello? Sir, are you still there? Hello? Sir, can you hear me? Is everything alright?"

Author's Note: I really do hate clowns. No joke.