OOC: All this is so exciting! I should have started writing a long time ago.

I do not own Digimon or anything associated with it.

Chapter 2: How to change plans frequently

"Took you long enough, gogglehead," said an irritated Rika.

"I thought we might have a little lunch so I brought some bread," chuckled an out-of-breath Takato. He'd ran all the way from his parent's bakery. In his hands was a picnic basket, complete with picnic blanket and plates. After they had all received their meager meal, and were stuffing their faces with fresh, scrumptious bread, they heard a familiar voice.

"I hoped you saved some bread for me," said a surprisingly cheerful Yamaki.

Even with his mouth full, Takato still managed to speak unhindered, "Mr. Yamaki!"

Yamaki smiled as he said, "Yes. Mr. Yamaki at your service. I just came to tell you that the Monster Makers are building another Ark. They say it might be finished in less than three days."

"Three days?!" yelled an obviously impatient Kenta. "We've been waiting all this time and now you're telling me we have to wait LONGER!"

Yamaki returned to his normal serious self, "Would you rather be stuck in the Digital World forever? They're working as fast as they can."

Henry spoke up, "It might take us a few days to find them. Wouldn't you say it's reasonable to leave today?"

Yamaki thought on this for a second. Henry was right. It most likely was going to take a few days to locate their partner Digimon… "I don't see why not. Get your things ready, and then meet back here at…"

Yamaki was cut off by an intruding Ryo, "You weren't planning on leaving me behind, were you?"

Kenta shouted, "RYO! It's about time you showed up!"

Ryo laughed, "Well, at least someone's happy to see me. So, when are we leaving?"

Rika said, "As soon as we get our supplies ready. Is that quick enough for you?"

Ryo just smiled and shrugged.

Yamaki returned to his unfinished sentence, saying, "Meet me back here at three. Is that enough time for everyone?"

The Tamers all nodded their heads in agreement.

"So you told them that they could leave today? Have you gone mad? We aren't finished yet," said Janyu. He just couldn't believe that Yamaki would do something like that. Yamaki had always seemed to be the voice of reason…

"Did you think they would seriously wait three more days? Besides, it might take them that long to find them. I was trying to keep them from going without our knowledge that they left," sternly replied Yamaki.

Janyu calmed down a little as he returned to his work.

Shibumi realized something just then. "Wait a second. Who's going to protect the children till they find their Digimon?"

Every person in the room stopped what they were doing. You could have heard a pin drop.

Ryo had decided to go with Rika back to her house. He didn't have any real reason to go with anyone at all. He was already packed to go. He just liked to annoy Rika. However, they didn't really say much of anything until they neared her house. Ryo decided to break the silence as he looked around at all the nice-looking houses, "I didn't realized you lived in such a nice neighborhood, Rika."

Rika didn't say anything. She wasn't paying much attention to Ryo and seemed to be lost in thought. Ryo was a bit confused. Rika never just completely ignored him. She'd either poke fun at him, or say something snide. She never just…did nothing. Something had to be wrong with her. "Rika, what's up with you today?"

Rika snapped out of her inattentiveness, "It's…nothing." She looked toward the ground like she was ashamed of something.

Ryo knew there was something wrong, but if she didn't want to talk about it then that was alright with him. He'd try again later.

Rika suddenly stopped and Ryo almost collided with her. She said opening the gate to her house, "We're here."

As they stepped inside, Ryo could not help but look around. Rika's house was nothing like his. Her's had a flair of elegance to it, while his was more of the "run-of-the-mill" variety.

Rika's grandma was sitting at the computer in the front room. She noticed Ryo and got up to greet this new face. "Oh hello. Rika, who's your friend?"

After introductions were over, Rika noticed that her mother was not around. She asked her grandma, "Where's mom at?"

Her grandma thought for a moment, and said, "I think she said she was going to a quick photo shoot. She left some time ago, so she should be here any minute."

Ryo didn't know much about Rika's personal life, and didn't feel like intruding. He kept quiet when he wanted to ask what her mother did. He wouldn't want someone poking around in his business, so he tended to stay out of other's.

Rika thought she would wait for her mother to return before telling them that she was leaving today. She decided to go pack in the meantime. She whispered to Ryo, "I'm going to pack. Cover for me." Ryo nodded in reply.

As Ryo sat down in a chair, he noticed that Rika's grandma appeared to be thinking about something. She must have worked up the courage to say whatever it was because she asked, "You wouldn't happen to be…going with Rika…to the digital world…would you?

Ryo replied with a bit of uneasiness, "Yes."

Her grandma looked out a window. "I thought as much."

Ryo could tell that Rika's grandma was worried. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her."

Her grandma turned back to Ryo with tears shining in the light. She asked, "You would do that?"

Ryo smiled as he said confidently, "Of course."

Takato was trying to figure out if he had everything packed that he needed. "Cards?" he thought aloud. He reached down to his cardholder. "Check. Clothes?" He looked down at his duffel bag. "Check. Bread?" He turned towards his bulging backpack. "Check. Okay, that's everything. Now to go…"

His mother opened the door to his bedroom. She took one glance at the backpack and duffel bag, and she gasped. She looked towards the floor, and began to ask, "Are you…leaving today?"

Takato joined her gazing at the floor. He muttered, "Yes."

She slowly crept over to her son, and enveloped him in a hug. She started to sob loudly. "I…don't want you to go." Tears were hitting the floor.

Takato protested, "But I have to."

His mother said, "I know." The tears had now shifted to dampening Takato's shirt as his mother shifted positions. She slowly started to stand back up. She looked her son straight in the eyes, and said, "Promise me…that you'll come back safe."

Takato simply said, "I will."

With that, he gathered his things and headed for the park.

Henry was talking with this mother.

"You're going back?" she queried.

"I have to get Terriermon and Lopmon back," said Henry.

His mother stared out the window of their apartment. You could tell that she was deeply distressed by this. She asked calmly, "When are you leaving then?"

Henry replied just as calmly, "Tonight."

"I can't take all this stress anymore." She took off her glasses and began to cry. With a sudden rage in her voice, she said, "Just…come…back…safe."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," said a crying Henry.

Finally, after three hours, all the Tamers were back at the park, anxiously waiting Yamaki.

Kazu impatiently said to no one in particular, "What's taking him so long? We could've been there by now…"

As if on cue, Yamaki could be seen waling up the stairs to the shrine. He was not alone however. The entire Monster Maker team was with him. Yamaki stood out although. He was carrying a large backpack and a small plastic briefcase. They all looked cheerful, yet there was something about them…

They all entered the now cramped hideout. When they eyed the portal, a few of them gasped, namely Curly and Dolphin.

Kazu continued his impatience, saying, "What took you so long?"

With a serious tone in his voice, Yamaki began, "There's been a change of plans. I will accompany you in the Digital World."

The Tamers were shocked. Henry voiced the group question, "What for?"

Yamaki continued, "Two reasons. One, I will be studying the Digital World itself. Two, I will protect you until we can find your Digimon."

Rika asked, "How can you protect us when the army itself can't even hurt a Digimon?"

He bent down and opened his briefcase. "With this." He took something that resembled a large taser. "This isn't a normal weapon. It fires a smaller, less deadly version of the Yuggoth program. It will act like a taser if it hits a Digimon. It should be enough to scare any hostile Digimon away."

Takato began to protest, "But…"

Yamaki sternly commanded, "No buts. I'm going, and that's final."

Ryo said, getting to his feet, "Well, it's settled then. Let's go get our Digimon back!"

Janyu interrupted, "Not so fast. Aren't you even going to tell us goodbye?"

The Tamers all yelled at once, "Goodbye!"

Henry looked at his father and said, "Momentai."

So, with everyone in high spirits, the Tamers (and Yamaki) all rushed into the portal.