Chapter 2

Impmon followed Kaori all over the city. She intrigued him. A human that was not afraid other than the tamers? Odd, that's what it was. He had a strange feeling when he was around the girl.

He followed her down a full-housed street with narrow roads. "This place seems familiar…"

"You've probably been to the bakery then. The food there is the best."

"Bakery?"

Kaori led Impmon into a bakery with the house for the people inside on top. "Quaint."

The girl walked up to the counter and rang the bell. Impmon walked along the shelves of bread. "I've been here before I know it…" He spotted a reddish type of bred with wing ears and a long nose. "Definitely been here before."

"Hello Kaori. What'll it be today?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't have the money that I needed for the last bunch of bread Mr. Matsuki. Here…" She pulled out a lot of money. "There you are. I think that should cover it."

"I'D SAY THAT'S MORE THEN ENOUGH, KAORI! Where did you get this kind of money?"

"Worked for it. How else would I?"

"It's just that this is a lot for a kid your age to be paid for a part-time job."

"My job has a high risk level so I tend to get paid a lot."

"Are you sure that's ok for someone your age?"

"Trust me. I'll be fine Mr. Matsuki."

There was a loud bang from up the stairs behind the counter. Mr. Matsuki went to the bottom and called up. "Takato, you and Guilmon ok?"

"Fine dad! Guilmon no!"

Guilmon's childish laughter could be heard echoing down the staircase. Kaori smiled. Impmon gapped. "This is Takato's bakery?"

Guilmon came running down the stairs with a lamp over his head.

"Guilmon, come back! You can't see!" Takato ran after him and was able to jump on top of the monster before he collided with a customer that had just walked in the door. The woman stared down at the boy and his Digimon. She smiled.

"Try to be more careful please."

Takato stood up and bowed. "Yes ma'am."

"Ma'am? You're being all formal now Takato?"

Takato turned around to look at the source of the voice. "K…Kaori! What… a surprise."

"Aren't you glad to see me?"

He nodded his head vigorously. Impmon smiled and snickered. "What are you so happy about Impmon?"

"Oh, it's nothing…"

"Hey wait. What are you doing here?"

"Just passing through with Kaori."

"You too know each other!?"

"Somewhat." Kaori turned on her heel and went for the door.

A certain thought came to Takato's head and he ran for the doorway. "Wait Kaori!"

"What?"

He leaned in to her ear and whispered something. Impmon tried to hear but, sadly, he could not. "What are you telling her?"

Takato pulled away, blushing, and looked down. "Oh," he said in a mocking voice. "It's nothing…" He smiled and then went, with Guilmon, back up the stairs.

Kaori left the bakery and was halfway down the street before Impmon realized she had gone. He hurried down the road and caught up to her as quickly as he could. She was so silent when she walked. He could hardly hear her even when she took a step. The sound of her foot touching the ground was so subtle that it was near inaudible. Not even Terriermon would have heard it very clearly. It would have been like he heard a fruit fly buzzing around his head.

"What were you and the tamer talking about? And how do you know one another?"

"Like he said, it was nothing. I know him from a very long time ago although… I don't think he would remember me very well." She looked down at him. "You sure didn't…"

Impmon stopped. "What do you mean I didn't? I've never seen you before… At least… I don't think I have… It's like I have seen you but it was years ago…"

"Bingo!"

"What?"

"Never mind. It doesn't even matter what it is that I say because no matter what I mention no one would be able to comprehend the sounds that I emit. You're no exception, I am sorry to say. The minds of people lack the intellect because they are always living in the present and are too wrapped up with what is happening. They no longer concern themselves with the past and so… Memories of past people are discarded like a torn photograph…"

"…"

Kaori smiled. "Like I said. It never matters what I say!"

Impmon and her continued in their tenuous walk through the city. Kaori led him to the train station and as they passed by she stopped. Impmon tried to find what she was staring at. He did not.

"Kaori? Kaori? Are you alright?"

Her eyes were the deep crimson they had been when he first met her. She gazed off into nothingness. Impmon was a little worried at this point. She wasn't moving and it looked as though… She wasn't breathing!!!

"Kaori!" He grabbed her pant leg to try and shack her a little bit. But he stopped before he made another movement. What is this… I… can't move. Kaori… what the!?

Differing visions passed through Impmon's mind. He saw the tamers fighting against the D-reaper. The digital world. A temple. A purple and black D-arc. Data floating aimlessly with no body to move into. Tears. Evil laughter. Megidramon. Beelzemon. Takato and Guilmon's bio-merge. The images flashed before his eyes so quickly. He was lucky to know what they were at all as they passed.

The final image came into view. It was fuzzy and blurred. It look like him but… was different. This Impmon had a tuft of fur that protruded from the top of his head and he had a black jacket on. It was just like Kaori's…

Impmon was thrown backwards by the sheer force of reality coming in again. The last thing he saw was a field with digi-eggs all around and a figure under a tree… Crying.