Prologue:

Orimoto Izumi, or just Zoë as everyone called her, led an almost perfect life. She was loved by everyone at school and her parents obliged in anything she asked them for. She was a good student and a gifted cook; she could make any recipe you gave her, and adding her own special touches made it even better, kicking it up several notches.

She had made many new friends after her visit to the Digital World, but her best friends were Fujimoto Myakka and Ghala Lili, or just Mia and Li as everyone called them. Zoë had swooped down from her majestic pedestal and for some reason unknown to everyone other than Mia and Li themselves had taken them under her wing and had made them both exceedingly popular, just because they hung out with the great Zoë.

They attended St. Rita's Convent together, an all-girls school filled with girls bursting with hormonal imbalances locked up in a cage unable to exercise them on the opposite gender. That was soon about to change, however, as university was just around the corner.

Zoë was approached by many male and female admirers alike, but she turned them all down. No one knew what she was really after or what it was exactly that she was looking for.

One evening, as she sat on her laptop typing an essay, she had a sudden call on her cell phone. Thinking it was probably Mia calling to brag about the wonderful essay she had written, she picked it up with her usual purr of, "Helloooo?"

There was some static and then a voice came on the line.

"Orimoto Izumi?" the voice said.

Izumi sat up a little straighter, eyebrows pulling together.

"Yes, who is this?"

There was some more static and buzz before the line dropped. Izumi scoffed. Some people should really afford a better connection. She checked to see if it was a number she recognised, but surprisingly, there was no number. Izumi shrugged, dismissing the episode and went back to her essay. Whoever it was will probably call again or meet her at school tomorrow. It was no doubt another one of her stalkers. She had been unable to tell if the voice was of a male or a female.

The next day at school, Zoë was hanging out with Mia and Li telling them about the weird feeling she seemed to be always having now of being followed for the last couple of days when the topic came to their previous adventures they had shared together. Perhaps it was a premonition.

"You know, I miss the others," Li says. By the way she said "others", it was clear to Zoë and Mia who she was talking about.

Li was the exact opposite of Zoë. Where Zoë was all ladylike, Li insisted on acting like a slobbering tomboy/gothic chick. The sisters and teachers in their school all failingly tried to turn her into a proper lady. Previously, Li had preferred to hang out alone because she had felt no one was worth her time, or that they could never begin to understand her. She was hungry for power and appreciation for what she did as she next to never received it. This was what had triggered her to be the future evil Warrior, Mercuremon of Steel. She was wise in many terms and held knowledge, but sure didn't act that way coz her grades were a mere average. She read lots of fiction novels and preferred to live in her own fantasy world where everything went her way.

Mia nods. "I know. I wish we could meet up with them again."

Mia was somewhere between Li and Zoë. She was a lady with wild interests. She was a diplomat sort of person with wild mood swings. When she wanted to act wild she hung out with Li, and when she wanted to talk about clothes and boys, she hung out more with Zoë. When they got in trouble of some kind she bailed out fast. Mia was the same girl Izumi had helped back in their camping trip when she had sprained her foot and which had then kept her from matching the other's pace. She had then later invited Zoë to join her group, except none of them had wanted her to sit with them. And Mia had ended up going along with them. And then Zoë had called her a liar to begin with. This was what had transpired her to be the future evil Warrior Ranamon of Water, and her rivalry with Zoë. The truth was Mia was a liar for her own selfish interests sometimes.

Zoë shakes her head at both of them. "We promised to stay in touch, but we each got busy with our own lives and showed our true colours. Thank God at least all the girls are together."

"I don't even know that much about the others either," Li said. Mia and Zoë looked at her like she was joking. It was seldom that Li didn't "know" something she could get her talons on.

"Ok, I at least know from that all Kōji that his brother and the guys except him go to Jiyuugaoka High," Li admitted.

"You still talk to him?" Zoë asks, shocked, determined to hide both her jealousy and amusement. She used to like Kōji a little.

"Even if I do or don't, so?"

"Well," Mia says gently. "For one thing, you know it's unethical."

"Ok look, whatever. I don't want to start another debate on it," Li says, determined not to get them speaking of the past and the taboo. "So have you heard about your application yet Zoë?"

Zoë tries not to let her disappointment be too obvious. "No not yet. But I know I'll be hearing from them soon. Everyone agrees I am the best cook here and my credentials were totally off the charts."

"You really think you'll win that internship in Hong Kong Leading Chefs?"

"She does stand a good chance," Li says.

"Well, they haveto accept me, they just have to."

"But what about university?" Mia asks. They were only a week from starting.

"Look, you know as well as me that I'm not interested in making a career out of solving equations or proving theorems. Cooking is what I want to do. Someday, I'll be internationally recognised. You'll see."

"Good luck," they both say in unison, trying not to crack a smile.

Izumi noticed this and fumed. One day, she thinks determinedly, I'll show them all.

Kidnapped:

The day of the Farewell Party was here, and everyone was begging for Zoë to sign their yearbooks and let them sign hers. Soon, Zoë's year book was littered all over with scribbles, not even leaving a centimetre of space. Mia was supposed to give the parting speech soon, and Zoë stood waiting with Li for her. She wished it'd be over soon, she was aching to enjoy all the festivities and take part in all the celebrations which their juniors had organised for them.

Mia finally came to take her place in the podium and cleared her throat, and began with her speech. It was a success. Everyone cheered loudly as Mia stepped off the stage blushing, the colour of a ripe beetroot. They joined the celebrations taking place. Li was being a wet blanket, moaning and complaining about in this hellhole everything will remain boring.

At 5 pm, beat and spent, Zoë and the others took off for home. Zoë looked behind her shoulders curiously. She had that feeling of being followed again. Nerves, she thought, thinking she was just really tired from all the dancing.

"I'm home!" she called out, before remembering her parents had left to enjoy their second honeymoon since this morning. They'll be away the whole weekend. Zoë sighed. She wasn't really in the mood to cook for only her own self. But she didn't want to spend two more nights on leftover pizza as well. Thinking of postponing this thought, she went up to her room and took a long hot bath, reading a fashion magazine.

She didn't know when she fell asleep, but when she woke up, it was dark. She got up, wincing as feeling in her cramped back and neck returned. Drying herself, she stepped out of the bathroom and stood in front of her closet, deciding which night suit to wear. Not really deciding, she booted up her computer to hear some songs. She combed her hair while it booted up and logged on the internet and opened her ID. Just then, as if by magic, she got a new e-mail.

Curious, she opened it, and her eyes widened more with every word she read. There was only one sentence.

Would you like to start? Reply with Yes or No.

She re read it, thinking it was a hoax. She shook her head. Of course it wasn't. The same thing had happened to them around seven to eight years ago. She replied with Yes.

Almost immediately, she got another mail. This one was supposed to be giving her the instructions to get on which subway. She frowned while reading, for it carried more detail.

Reach the Shibuya Station at 10:00 pm. A train will be waiting for you. This time the Adventure will take much longer and for that Real Time will pass unlike before. It can be days to months. Leave a note explaining to your family the logical reason for your disappearance.

Zoë looked at the clock. It was 9:15 pm. Plenty of time if she thought things over carefully. How would she explain her disappearance for maybe a few months? Just as she was thinking it, she got another e-mail. There, her problems were half solved. She quickly took out a paper and pen and began copying it down, inserting a few of her own words to make it look more personal.

~ Dearest Mamma and Pappa,

I tried calling you, but was unable to reach you where you are. There may be a network error or signal problem. I hope wherever you are right now you are enjoying a lot and making most of your time as you have to return by tonight! I have some very exciting news for you! I heard from The Hong Kong Leading Chefs yesterday! I have been accepted as an intern! They have a ticket waiting for me at the airport and everything and I am just on my way there to pick it up and the plane will be departing immediately. I am taking little with me because I plan to shop till I drop there. I will be using my credit card of course. Just so you know it is currently Sunday, 01 April, 5 pm right now. No, I am not April fooling you! LOL!

I am so so so sorry I couldn't have wished you a more proper goodbye. I promise to call you online as soon as I reach there and once more when I'm settled in my room to give you the details. But I'm running late as it is!

Lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses! Ciao!

~ Your Zoë

It wasn't Sunday right now, but Saturday, the day of her graduation, the 31st of March. Obviously, the intention must've been to show she will leave tomorrow, the night of her parent's return to avoid further suspicion. Otherwise her parents might think she secretly eloped or something. Ha! As if she even had a boyfriend to elope with in the first place.

She hurriedly dressed while she nuked a piece of the leftover pizza before leaving to eat on the way. Who knows when she'll be eating again? Besides, she was hungry. She then swiftly packed a few more essentials in her all-purpose backpack and stuck the note on the fridge. She was late.

She hurried out of her house, locking the door behind her and putting the key beneath the front mat. She looked right, and then left.

If she moved right, she would hit the streets and come across the downtown traffic, cars honking madly, lots of lights and many people squeezing their way around and past each other.

If she moved left, she would come across a long, narrow alleyway, which was a shortcut to the subway station, and the route she used to take on her way to school every morning. It escaped to the main road, and the advantage was she can avoid a lot of pushing and shovelling against random people which will save time. But it was dark right now, and the alleyway would be completely deserted with only one dim streetlight lighting the whole thing. She didn't want to go there so late.

Making a quick decision and shaking her head at her stupidity, she hurried off to her left. What could she do? She was late and it was a faster and rush-free route, even if less secure.

She reached the alleyway, and began jogging across it. A few minutes later and as the downtown lights came closer and closer, her pace increased. She looked at her cell phone. She was going to make it! But just then, a shadow appeared and blocked the lights from around it, refusing to let any pass through it like a black hole. She suddenly stopped, her breath catching in her throat. Could it be the same person who had been stalking her the past couple of days? No, it couldn't be, that was all a figment created by her over active imagination. It was probably someone else crossing the alleyway to get to the other way across, the one from where she had just some. She might even recognise them if it were one of her neighbours.

The dark figure started walking toward her, and Zoë started getting more and more nervous. There was only one way to confirm if that person was after her. She turned around and started walking away, trying to look casual. She glanced behind her shoulder and saw the figure was approaching more quickly now. She began trotting, and the figure started running. She felt as if the ground had vanished from beneath her. That person was after her!

She started to run as fast as she could, but the figure was approaching closer and closer. It would outrun her! It was much faster. She continued to run, sobbing, not giving up. Maybe it was just a mugger after her money. Maybe it was a cell phone snatcher. Maybe it was a molester who raped young girls and left them dying in an alley. He would torture her to get more turned on.

Strong hands gripped her arms. She tried pulling the fingers loose but they just tightened more. They felt like they belonged to a boy. A sweet smelling cloth was hugged against her face, smelling like a strange, sweet mixture of a cough syrup and essence of vanilla. She held her breath, being positive it was chloroform, knowing that if she inhaled it she would be knocked out that much faster. She struggled. But that only earned her a punch in her abdomen, causing her to take a sudden, sharp intake of break. It was like a punch to the neurons in her brain, she was suddenly dizzy and unsteady. Her struggles grew weaker, her muscles started to feel heavy, her eye lids drooped. She fought to stay awake, but in a few seconds, welcomed the pressing darkness surrounding her and pressing at her sides in an overly covert embrace.

When she opened her eyes, she couldn't remember where she was. She remembered having a strange dream but she couldn't quite remember what it was. She started to get up, but winced as she tried to move her stiff, cramped neck from the wall of the bath tub. Her eyes had trouble adjusting and she failingly groped for the towel. Not finding it, she groggily got up, wanting to kill a few hours on the net. But as her fingers entwined around the doorknob of the bathroom and turned it, she found it was locked. Frowning, she tried it again, once, twice, thrice, pushing herself against the door. Now, as she grew more and more awake, she couldn't even remember closing the door of her bathroom, let alone locking it. And she noticed the room was dark because it really was dark, and not because she was moving with her eyes were closed. She noticed her eyes were wide open.

Suddenly, she remembered bits of her dream like a rushing sweep of déjà vu. She looked back to see that it wasn't a bath tub she had gotten up from, but a makeshift bed with musty sheets. Her bag was lying beside the mattress. The room was otherwise barren. She couldn't see the colour of the dusty walls and floor. From the little she could make out of it, she couldn't recognise the room at all.

Panicked, she pushed herself against the door, struggling to get it opened. She started banging and screaming against it. Soon, her hands were sore and she couldn't scream anymore. She threw herself on the bed, beat and spent with angry tears in her eyes. She gripped her hair tightly with both hands, but they weren't doing her any good so she let go of them slowly, each strand escaping between her fingers.

She didn't have enough time to feel sorry for herself. She bolted upright when she heard a noise outside the room, of a creaking door like of that in a set of an horror movie. Then she heard the noise of the door slamming against its frame. Did someone hear her screams? Was it someone who had come to save her? Or was it merely her kidnapper returned, to induce further torture on her?

A bolt was removed from outside the door of her room, at least, that's what she thought it was by the sound. The door pushed open slowly as she held her breath to take her first look at her assailant.

Someone slowly stepped in, but it was so dark that like before, she could only make out the shape. The person stood there for a few second looking at her, and Zoë stared back. Then the person stepped out of the room and came back with a candle stuck on a ceramic plate, which threw feeble light across the whole room, creating long shadows across the length of every wall. When the person put the plate down on the ground and sat down facing her and she could see him clearly, she had another rushing sense of déjà vu, leaving her dizzy and senseless. She had a sudden flow of flashbacks, one after the other racing through her mind reminding her of memories she had long since buried and only revived them in the darkness of her own room when she lay down to sleep. She remembered another situation like this, a long time ago, when a much younger Zoë, who was really Izumi at the time, roaming around a darkened place with a younger reflection of the boy sitting in front of her.

She didn't have to struggle to remember his name or reach for it in her clouding subconscious. The name had always been echoing in the chambers of her brain since all the years they had not seen each other and been apart. When she was feeling especially lonely and depressed, she whispered his name out loud to the night when she lay down for bed every night, covers pulled up to her face so that anyone unannounced who came banging in would not immediately notice the tears which always accompanied the name. She knew that one day, she would see him again. And that day was now.

"Takuya…?" She whispered out into the night again.