Okay so I'm enjoying writing this personally so I'm gonna keep at it because it's fun and Taigiru does need a little more love than Tagiyuu although they both need it. Okay either way, here we go. I really want to give a huge shoutout to Hope10032 for the amazing review she gave me and motivated me to write out this second chapter as well as Yua-hime. Love you both, thanks. And yeah, Kotone is Nene and Yuu's little sister in this.

Chapter 2: Puzzling

Tagiru sighed, unable to believe he had agreed to come to this stupid event that Airu was hosting but she had invited some of their friends and Yuu had insisted he come along. He had agreed because Taiki did want him to socialize more even when he wasn't around which really wasn't as fun to be honest. He went over to grab himself a drink as Yuu chatted with Airu and shifted a bit as Hideaki came over to sit besides him.

"Hey," Hideaki said with a smile. "Have you been avoiding me?"

Tagiru tried to smile as well, albeit it wasn't easy. "No, why would I avoid you?" He hadn't had the chance to talk to Yuu about his worries on Hideaki because the other had been busy and he had been training hard for another basketball competition and now he wished he had.

Hideaki shrugged. "I was hoping you'd tell me."

Tagiru tried to shrug it off if only so Hideaki would leave him alone. "It's nothing like that. I just don't really talk to people that much since Yuu is busy with his degree and Taiki-san is overseas. Besides, why don't you hang out with the others? There are plenty of other people here."

Hideaki chuckled and there was something about the look in his eyes that made Tagiru shiver a small bit and before he could leave, the other snaked an arm around his neck, pulling him close. "There are plenty of fish in the sea, but you're the only one I'd like to catch and mount back at my place."

"Shut up Hideaki!" Tagiru pushed Hideaki away from him, backing away and stumbling into Yuu.

"Tagiru," Yuu said blinking. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"No I'm not okay!" Tagiru snapped. "Hideaki's a creep and indecent trying to flirt with me when I already have a boyfriend whom I love very much thank you!"

"Hideaki," Yuu said, expression darkening. "How could you?"

Hideaki rolled his eyes. "What Taiki doesn't know won't hurt him. I'm just having a little fun."

Tagiru bristled, stepping away even further and was relieved when Yuu pulled him behind him. He may be relatively innocent than most but even he knew Hideaki's intentions were skewered. "Get lost, Hideaki. I'm leaving Yuu."

Yuu shifted, concerned. "I'll drop you home. Airu-san, I'll be back ok?"

Airu was looking between Tagiru and Hideaki, her expression a bit alarmed before she finally nodded to Yuu. "Alright. Hideaki-kun, please don't harass people at my party."

Tagiru was still fuming and he felt a little shaken at how forward Hideaki had gotten but he was trying to hide how much this had disturbed him as he sat in the car and Yuu joined him by sitting in the driver's seat.

"Tagiru?" Yuu asked softly. "Are you alright?"

"I was gonna talk to you," Tagiru admitted. "About Hideaki making me uncomfortable but there wasn't time. You got busy and so did I. I told Taiki-san and he wanted me to tell you so someone over here would know considering there's only so much he can do from England…he was worried though."

Yuu listened to him for a moment, face filling with intense rage. "I should have murdered him on the spot…I'm sorry Tagiru. I insisted you come to this party and…"

Tagiru shook his head. "It's fine. You didn't know. I just kind of want to go home, talk to Taiki-san and then sleep." He smiled a bit. "Don't blame yourself, Yuu."

Yuu nodded although Tagiru could tell his heart wasn't in his agreeing with him, not that he could blame the other. He wished he had told his best friend sooner as well but he didn't realise that Hideaki would be so forward. Then again, he probably thinks he can get away with it since Taiki-san isn't around. I won't let him though, I love Taiki-san and I won't let even Hideaki ruin that.

Mourning. Beelzebumon hated the word especially on this day which came every year. Luckily, Shoutmon had learnt enough tact over the years to leave him alone when he was remembering his fellow warriors whom had died because of him. The goddess had come to visit to offer her condolences and words of wisdom but it didn't do anything to take away the guilt he felt over what he had done back then. He might never be able to forgive himself for the crimes he had committed against his own friends.

He was lucky Mervamon was so understanding about it, taking him out on a walk to clear his head. The two were walking in silence when the sky began to darken.

"What on earth…" Mervamon muttered, looking around, wondering what was going on.

Beelzebumon frowned as well albeit tensed as a shrill laugh echoed through the place. He knew that laugh anywhere – it was the laugh he had heard so often in his nightmares when he watched his friends die all over again. "Show yourself Lilithmon, don't be a coward."

The giggle was heard again. "But where's the fun in fighting fair?"

Both digimon pulled into a fighting stance but Lilithmon didn't appear. Beelzebumon gritted his teeth knowing his old rival wouldn't make this easy. He was prepared to defend himself even though he couldn't see but a gasp from Mervamon stopped him in his tracks and he turned to see blood dripping from her lower abdomen and her data flickering. His eyes widened and he rushed over to her.

"Mervamon!" Beelzebumon caught her as she fell into his arms. "Are you alright?"

Mervamon coughed. "You need to get out of here…it's you she's after."

The Demon Lord shook his head rapidly. "I won't leave you to die…not you too." He would never leave another person he loved behind, not again.

Mervamon made to protest but she shouted out a warning as some sort of large metal needle inserted itself into Beelzebumon's back. "N-no! Dammit! Leave him alone!"

Beelzebumon coughed, vision beginning to blur as he collapsed to the side. He forced himself to stay awake but he couldn't. Something in the needle was making him feel dizzy and he struggled as Lilithmon snaked an arm around her neck, wanting to throw her off but the last thing he heard was Mervamon's anguished cry before his world faded to darkness.

"What?" Shoutmon looked thunderstruck about this when Monitamon informed him that Mervamon was dead and Beelzebumon was missing especially since one of those monitor digimon had caught sight of Lilithmon but this wasn't possible…why would she be back now of all times and how? Things had been so peaceful since the defeat of Quartzmon and Kiriha had been keeping in touch with the digital world more than anyone else had really.

Ballistamon moved to Shoutmon's side. "What should we do?"

Shoutmon didn't reply to his best friend for a moment. If they were back in their first adventure, he would have flown into a rage and wanted to find Lilithmon and murder her on the spot. Even now, he was angry. Lilithmon had put Beelzebumon through more than enough and he didn't deserve to be hurt worse than this by her. He knew Taiki and the others would have to be informed.

"We're going to inform Kiriha's partners so Kiriha can pass a message to Taiki on what's going on," Shoutmon said finally. "If Lilithmon's back, something big is about to happen, I can feel it. Plus Beelzebumon needs us so we're probably going to have to split up in order to look for him. Ballistamon can come with me to inform Kiriha's partners while the rest of you should search for Beelzebumon. The sooner we find him, the better. I don't want to think on what that witch is doing to him."

He was trying not to show the others but he was worried. He knew bad Lilithmon was, how cruel she could get and even though, there wasn't actually any solid proof that it was Lilithmon who had taken Beelzebumon away. He watched as the others hurried out and hoped they'd find something before turning back to Ballistamon.

"Let's go then," Shoutmon said gruffly to his best friend.

Ballistamon frowned. "Shoutmon, are you alright?"

Shoutmon shrugged. "I'm the Digimon King. Course I am."

If Ballistamon had eyebrows, he would have raised one right now. "We're best friends, brother. I know you're worried about this whole situation."

Shoutmon sighed. "I'm worried about Beelzebumon. Lilithmon's hurt him a lot in the past, Ballistamon. He doesn't deserve to be hurt anymore. But I'm not sure what else to do other than search for him and let Taiki know."

Ballistamon nodded. "I know. I'm worried too but if Beelzebumon's hurt, we'll need to be strong for him. He needs us to be."

Shoutmon tilted his head, knowing Ballistamon was right and wanted to smash Lilithmon's head in but he pushed the burning anger back and focused on what they needed to do which was give Lilithmon the beating of her life when they found her. "Let's go then." His eyes were blazing with determination.

Akari highlighted passages in her Medicine book so she could memorise things for her theory medical exam which was in two days. Medicine was a hard subject but Akari liked to take care of injured people or people who got sick so she was doing her best to become a professional doctor which was a lot easier said than done sometimes because Medicine was tough.

You've fought alongside Taiki and the others despite not being a General and you can't handle a bit of tough studies? A mocking voice in Akari's head reminded her, sounding almost amused which made the redhead scowl a little. This and that were two different things altogether. Thinking of the Digital World made her thoughts drift to Cutemon and wondered how the little guy was doing. He had always been so sensitive and she hoped he was alright.

It had been seven years since she had seen him or Dorulumon and she wished there was someway she could meet them again but in more peaceful circumstances than there were right now. She didn't want there to be another war but something told her that wasn't possible. She had been feeling something as if dark things were about to start again but had told herself she was simply being paranoid and she needn't bother Taiki or anyone about this, considering Taiki was in another country anyway.

She opened the drawer besides her, taking out her X-Loader and looking at it for a moment considering she was a Hunter now and wondering if she should check up on the digital world herself. Just to make sure everything was alright. Before she could even finish thinking about that, her X-Loader began to glow and her eyes widened. She quickly tried to put it back in the drawer but the light flashed brighter, sucking her into a portal. Nausea filled inside her as she fell into the digital world.

Not exactly what I had in mind… Her head spun as she took in the surroundings of the digital world. It looked alright, although it was certainly a lot more darker than she remembered and sent a slight shudder down her spine. Okay, so I'll find Shoutmon and ask him how things are then get back to the real world if I can. She just hoped this time she could make it back. With this thought in mind, she started forward.