Chapter Two

Author's Notes: - this is sign language-

This is telepathy

-this is finger writing on someone-

This is emphasis on a word or phrase

After dealing with Orochimon and then MadLeomon again the children relax, Sera stayed close to Taiki though she did allow BlackGatomon to climb onto her left shoulder. Sera had enjoyed the festival Shoutmon had thrown in Taiki's honor though she didn't understand why Angie was getting up in arms about Taiki staying and helping. Their help was needed, it was as simple as that. An hour later finds Taiki and Sera sitting on a grassy hill across from each other, their partners close by, - Sera, spill, why'd you want to talk to me?-

- Taiki, it's about time I tell you the full truth about me. My tale is a long one though, so please hold your questions until the end.-

With that Sera tells him about her life as the Moon Princess, every sordid detail and then segue ways into her life as Tsukino Serena, again every detail, she knew Taiki could handle it, as he'd seen her after her father got done with her. Finally she tells him about her current life and when she had started to remember, she tells him the things she hadn't before when they were younger to spare him. Taiki's gray eyes show acceptance, compassion, understanding, and most of all she could see the love still shining through. - Didn't you have anyone you could turn to?-

- Unfortunately no, there was no one that knew everything and I generally have at least one hellish parent. You're the first one to ever accept me and not try and change me. You stayed by me when I needed to relearn how to do everything left handed, taught me how to write with my left hand. I'm fortunate to have you in my life, Tai-chan.-

Taiki was immensely grateful neither digimon knew sign language as he did not want Jeremy to hear about that. Only Sera was allowed to call him Tai-chan. Generally he didn't go into honorifics, he didn't see the point, but with Sera, his light, it was different. She may shy away from human connections and now he fully understood why, but she was still a light in the dark. It was Sera that managed to bring him out of his rare outbursts of anger. - Come here, Sera. I want you close for now.-

Sera was quick to join him, sitting on his lap and snuggling in. It was rare that they could get away with this. They were always very careful about how much intimacy they let Taiki's mother see, though at least when they watched movies they had always cuddled up together so at least when they wanted some snuggling time they could bust out a movie and watch it. Of course, their schedules were getting busier but, that never stopped them from finding time to be together. Shoutmon and BlackGatomon watch over their humans, BlackGatomon at least noticed the subtle nuances to Taiki and Sera's relationship, they may not be mates in Digimon terms but they were courting.

Taiki removes his gloves and stuffs them in one of his pockets, letting the fingers of his left hand ghost up and down Sera's right arm, as long as she had her hair done up he couldn't run his fingers through her luscious golden locks. Instead he'd have to make do. Sera had always preferred skin to skin contact, she hated him wearing gloves all the time, so he generally had them off when it was just them. Later on he wouldn't even remember falling asleep with Sera cuddled into him. About the only time she got a full night's sleep was when they ended up studying in his room with the door open to keep his mother from being too nosy, and fell asleep on his bed, where they generally studied.

Every morning after that happened they'd find their stuff packed up and them covered up, even though sometimes the pillows would have to be moved to the foot of the bed for them to be truly comfortable. Most nights Sera ended up getting a death grip on her burgundy haired friend/boyfriend. Taiki was quick to wake and come alert, gently waking Sera up as well. The blonde would have whimpered if she could. One eye slits open and looks at him inquisitively, " Yes, Sera, you do have to wake up. "

The pair had one other method of communication which she used now, writing out what she wanted to say on Taiki's arm, - Tired, I'll walk after I get some food in me.-

Taiki sighs at this but he knew it was the best he would get. He puts his gloves back on and stands up, carrying the still mostly asleep Sera into the village proper for some food. BlackGatomon woke up Shoutmon and they followed their partners. Once Sera has eaten she yawns, - Too early.-

Taiki rolls his eyes at this, - We never know when Bagra's army will attack next, Sera.-

- It's too early for logic, Taiiiiiiiiki.- Sera signs back.

Angie giggles at this, Taiki had always been a morning person while Sera was decidedly not. It was Taiki that managed to get them to school on time every day. Jeremy just sighs, he didn't know enough sign language to fully understand, but he did know that Sera had somehow managed to whine Taiki's name in signs, he'd seen that often enough. They were standing just outside the village when Shoutmon decides to show them their team symbol. Sera looks it over and shrugs, she could honestly care less.

" Sera, will we be our own team? " BlackGatomon asks.

Sera looks at her partner, No, we'll stick with Taiki, he's the leader. I can't do it again, BlackGatomon. I'll explain more about that later, partner.

Taiki looks at her, -Sera?-

- You worry too much, Taiki. I can't…well, you know why I refuse to be a leader.-

Taiki frowns, yeah, he knew all too well since last night. He gives an internal frustrated sigh, she'd have to let others in deeper at some point, other than him. That was when Shoutmon handed out their squawkers, Sera frowns and takes it with her right hand, putting it on her left wrist while Angie and Jeremy have mini freak outs about Taiki accepting another gadget without thinking it through. Angie claimed that she was perfectly calm and Jeremy justified his freak out with a stomp to the ground. The ground split just as Sera's right arm froze. A big pillar of bamboo shoots up and Jeremy ends up going for a ride. Sera shoots a look at Taiki only his attention was on Jeremy's dilemma. Shoutmon tackles the pillar to try and bring it down only for it to fail miserably and he asks them all to not let him do that again.

Sera walks over to Taiki and grabs his right wrist, giving it a hard squeeze. Taiki immediately got the message and takes his gloves off briefly, letting his fingers seek out the problem area. They set to work on loosening up her locked up muscles, " We need to climb in order to get to Jeremy. I'd join you but Sera needs me right now. "

That was when someone else showed up, a blonde haired boy with a blue fusion loader by the name of Christopher Aonuma. He had a blue shirt on under a white long sleeved shirt which he left open, gray jeans, and Sera was in too much pain to care about what his shoes looked like. Taiki's eyes go up to the new human while his attention remains on working out the cramped muscles Sera was currently dealing with. Sera frowns as she listens to what Christopher was saying, she immediately understood what he was after. Taiki wouldn't fall for this guy's smooth talking.

" I can do this with the help of my friends, thank you. " Taiki says as Sera muscles relax. Sera glares up at him and then looks at his partner, -Taiki, be alert, this guy can't be trusted.-

Taiki nods subtly at her warning, Sera had always been a superior judge of character and now he knew why, other than her gift of empathy. At least, thanks to Sera he was excellent at reading body language. Sera was right, Christopher could not be trusted. At least BlackGatomon had explained about the Code Crowns and why it was important to keep them away from Bagra. Sera grabs her fusion loader at the same time Taiki grabs his, " You won't join me, what about the blonde chick, will you join me? "

Sera's eyes narrow, BlackGatomon, make kitty litter out of that annoying bird.

" Lightning Paw! "

MailBirdramon meets it with his own attack and BlackGatomon smirks before looking him in the eyes and murmuring her next attack, " Cat's Eyes. "

Once MailBirdramon was under BlackGatomon uses her Lightning Kick in combination with her Cat Tail to slam the overgrown pheasant careening into the ground. Christopher's eyes widen as his fellow blonde's partner annihilates his MailBirdramon so easily. He calls MailBirdramon back into his fusion loader and looks at her appraisingly. He supposed that he did deserve that for calling her a chick. His mother would have kicked his ass for that. " Suit yourselves, Lord Bagra's army is coming and he's sent a digimon underground to start up the bamboo early. " With that he takes his leave and Sera sighs silently.

" Guys, the army is here. " Jeremy's voice can be heard through the squawker.

Sera looks at her partner, Work on evacuating the village, all right.

" Got it, Sera. " BlackGatomon says.

Ballistamon, Starmon, the Pickmon, and Shoutmon deal with the Apemon that had appeared and then MadLeomon makes another appearance. Taiki quickly digi fuses Shoutmon and Ballistamon while he, Sera, and Angie go deal with helping BlackGatomon evacuate the village. That was when Angie's friend Cutemon saves one of the terrified villagers. Mere moments later Shoutmon times two slams into a building near them, " Lightning Paw! "

BlackGatomon was there, knocking MadLeomon off course, then she gets slammed just in time for them all to hear, " Drill Bit Blitz! "

Things moved quickly after that, Taiki digi fused Starmon and the Pickmon into the Star Sword and had Jeremy deal with the underground digimon, Drimogemon, which had been under a glowing section of dirt, and the digi fuses Shoutmon, Ballistamon, and Dorulumon, after they couldn't deal with the immensely powerful and desperate MadLeomon, into Shoutmon times three. One use of Varuma Boomerang later MadLeomon has finally been felled and Taiki gets his first Code Crown. After their informative little chat with Nene Amano, whom Jeremy has a massive crush on, they travel to the next zone. Jijimon, Shoutmon, Ballistamon, Starmon, the Pickmon, and Dondokomon all end up in Taiki's fusion loader while BlackGatomon is in Sera's.

Taiki looks at his girlfriend and quirks an eyebrow, she shrugs back and he nods. She hadn't found any digimon that caught her eye in the Forest Zone. They run into the portal and Sera grins, letting herself essentially fly. The others caught on to and Jeremy complained about the ride ending just when he was getting used to the ' awesomely awesomeness'. They had made it to the Island Zone.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Digimon.