Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon nor any of these characters. This work is purely made for entertainment.
Odaiba July 31, 2004
The sunset light came through the window giving an eerie atmosphere to Sora Takenouchi's bedroom.
The girl in question was sitting on her bed, gazing at an old photo of her friends. The picture was taken in 1999 in a, what now seemed, very distant summer. In the picture there were eight children, their digimon partners and some friends they had made along the way, amongst them a white haired old man and a green fearsome looking digimon.
Her eyes glanced at the brown haired boy, whom she missed every day and was lately her biggest regret.
She had nothing else to do but wait for Mr. Ishida's arrival to pick her up. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to stop staring around.
She looked at her packed clothes. A winter coat, desert clothing, canteens... Skirts were far from appropriate for this mission so she choose to wear an old black jeans and a red tank top.
Her backpack was all ready, but her eyes kept scanning the room, the old photo still in her hands.
An old helmet like hat sat atop of her stand, Sora had several of those she wore until three years ago, but that one was the most special to her. Maybe it was the child within herself or maybe it was the idea of success that the hat passed.
In those times everything had turned out well for them.
Sighing, she also remembered the first time she had considered to let go of those hats and just let her hair show. Her mother didn't complain one bit. In fact Toshiko Takenouchi had been ecstatic by her daughter's more feminine likes.
Sora stood up and walked over to her dresser.
She took a small box, neatly carved with soccer balls and flowers, where she kept her meager accessories. She opened the box and her hand came back holding a small hairclip with a floral design. Sora held the small gift in her hands for a long time, until finally a frown came to her face.
Throwing the hairclip on her bed, Sora slung the backpack around her shoulder and left the room.
Thirty Two Minutes to Midnight
July 31 2004 A Few Hours Later...
Koushiro Izumi was never good with words. After the digital world however he found himself paying more attention to his surroundings and eventually even surprised himself to find friends there. So yeah, he regretted this flaw he had.
Sometimes he wished that problems would be as easy as a computer virus, not that it was completely easy to get rid of a virus, but he always knew exactly what to do, and if he didn't, he knew how to figure it out.
He wished that now more than anything as Mr. Ishida's van went through the last curve to where they were headed.
Mr. Ishida had his eyes glued to the road, while Matt sat with eyes fixed forward. Izzy looked away. Sora sat looking out of the window with Biyomon on her lap. Izzy had Tentomon with him while on his side sat TK and Gabumon, Patamon resting on the younger brother's hat. The Kamiyas were sitting behind him with Gatomon, Cody and Armadillomon.
The silence that consumed the passengers was almost unbearable to him.
He really wouldn't have minded if Davis had come with them or Gomamon for that matter, those two had a talent to end such awkward silences. Izzy would normally have his computer to be distracted, but he could do nothing with Tentomon in his lap.
Finally the van parked after climbing a long aslope road.
Izzy stumbled out of the van and smiled at the sight, but tightened his coat around him because of the night's chill.
It had been cold too on that summer five years ago. It seemed the Digital World had a thing for bringing cool winds to this place whenever they came here. The big house was still the same as always, just as the trees around the camping park.
It seemed just appropriate that the portal would open where it all began. After all, the DigiDestined were going to get their leader back.
Long ago he would not believe what was happening, he had almost lost hope until the miracle of last August.
Smiling he looked at his watch, which marked 11:28 pm of July 31.
"You think we can trust?" Matt asked. He was leaning against the van while lighting a cigarette.
"Wizardmon would never lie to us" Gatomon said, narrowing her eyes.
"It doesn't change the fact that only you saw him, plus he could be wrong." Matt stated, blowing smoke into the air.
"Matt!" Sora rebuked before Gatomon could say anything.
The two looked at each other for a moment, the blond boy with the cigarette's light upon his face and the girl with ruby red eyes. Matt grunted an excuse and turned away, walking to lean upon the van's hood beside Mr. Ishida.
At the same moment they heard a second van coming up with Shuu Kido on the wheel. The second vehicle stopped close by and Cody stepped forward to greet them.
"So when will you kids leave?" Mr. Kamiya asked.
"We arrived half an hour earlier Dad" Kari explained to her father, who nodded.
Tentomon scratched his head.
"So we have to wait" Tentomon said "Izzy can we have a snack?"
"I supposed there's no problem, we also have to disembark our backpacks."
They would not go unprepared to the Digital World. Izzy and everyone had plenty of food with them. Other than that all of them had flashlights, ropes, emergency flares and what else they might need. Izzy smiled wondering what Joe must have brought.
He quickly withdrew a candy bag and handed to the digimons, until he got to Gatomon who had a disturbed look on her face.
"Why doesn't Matt believe me?" She asked frowning.
"Well it's complicated" Izzy answered. He himself had had his grudges against the bearer of Friendship this last year.
"Matt's got a lot on his mind Gatomon" Kari assured her.
"But everyone else believes me about Wizardmon! Right Izzy?"
He was a little surprised by the question. He looked at Sora who had an unreadable expression upon her face, then at the Kamiyas who now talked to each other a little apart and finally found Kari smiling encouragingly.
"W-well, it's easy to lose faith when things go bad Gatomon. I just keep remembering myself that those kinds of things happen to us a lot" He explained. "I, personally, have this weird feeling about this... A good feeling"
"I thought you were some science man Izzy" TK chimed in.
"Well, I don't know if I can explain it."
"I know what you mean" Kari helped.
Izzy nodded and looked to the side where the rest of the DigiDestined landed. Joe, as expected struggled to take a giant suitcase down from the van, with Shuu trying to help.
"Hi Mr. Ishida. Hello guys, how have you been?" Mimi came running to them with Palmon beside her.
"Hi!" Said the digimon.
Sora and Kari hugged Mimi, while the boys smiled. Mimi was wearing a pair of pants and a long pink coat that ended upon her ankles. Her hair was stuck on a ponytail that weaved around as she walked.
"Is Shuu coming with us Mimi?" TK asked glancing at the others.
"No, he said he didn't have experience to handle this kind of thing" Mimi smiled tilting her head. "I wish Jun could be that way."
"Jun?"
"Yeah, they argued about it the whole trip!" Palmon complained.
Izzy looked back at the other van, Ken and Yolei were landing their own bags while Davis and Jun ignored each other. Davis was saying something to a seriously looking Cody.
"I better check it out" TK said going there with Patamon upon his hat.
Izzy looked sideways at Matt, who ignored everyone. Maybe his travel could have been worst.
"Are you okay Sora?"
"I'm okay, Mimi" Izzy frowned with the automatic response. He looked at Mimi and the girl did not seem to like it either. Luckily Mimi had more attitude than him to deal with these kinds of problems.
"Let's talk!" She said taking the girl's hand. The two moved away, one girls basically pulling the other by the wrist. Biyomon and Palmon exchanged a look and followed suit.
"Hopefully she will put some sense into it" Kari said, she had taken a small package out of her bag and was watching the other girls.
"Maybe, but we still have..." Izzy didn't say more as he took a glimpse of Matt, the blond was away enough not to hear anything. Izzy saw the worry on Kari's face and smiled. "Sorry, we are going after Tai and everyone seems to have their own problems"
"I'm not worried Izzy."
"You're not?" Gatomon asked.
"Well just a little, but ..." Kari smiled at her partner. "Things have not been easy in the last year, for anyone."
"This always seem to happen when Tai disappears" Tentomon said. "What?" He asked when Izzy glared at him.
"It's true that Tai has a talent for keeping people together, maybe that's what some of us need" The DigiDestined needed their leader, that was true, but they couldn't be helpless without him, otherwise how would they even rescue him if that becomes the case once they crossed the portal.
"Some more than others" Izzy frowned. Kari was still watching Sora and Mimi with something like guilt. Then she took a hair out of her face and gave a small grin "Thanks for the talk Izzy."
Kari started walking to the other van where Cody, TK and Davis talked.
"Wow, did you see it Izzy! I keep telling you it's not that hard to be supportive!" Tentomon flew near the boy.
"Don't look so surprised" Izzy replied, still absorbing the curious look Kari gave the other girls. "I need to think a little."
"And what's new about that?" The beetle digimon sat down and opened a pack of sweets.
"So how are you?"
"You already asked me that Mimi" Sora recalled.
Mimi looked at Biyomon who shook her head.
"We will find Tai, you'll see" She said, this must be the problem for sure.
"I know that Mimi" Sora frowned. "I know he is alive"
"You know?" Mimi was surprised now, Sora seemed so sure, like she saw Tai yesterday or something.
"How do you know Sora?" Palmon asked.
"It's hard to explain" The red haired said, her eyes were glued to the floor as her hands hugged her body. Sora shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Mimi felt tempted to press her about it, but it felt wrong with her seeming so vulnerable about the subject.
"Is it about you and Matt, then?" Mimi asked impatient. "Come on you know you can tell me!"
"It's complicated."
"Sora! You're on a relationship, of course it's complicated!" Mimi raised her arms in exasperation, she didn't have much experience on the matter but if her much more simple problem seemed complicated to her, she could just wonder what was up with Sora "But we are about to enter the Digital World, I'm sure you guys could talk it out before that! Couples fight, but you love each other then there is no reason to worry..."
Mimi's voice died as she stared at the wide eyed Sora, her own eyes widening. They stayed silent, one processing the information, the other waiting for the repercussions.
"What's wrong Mimi?" Palmon asked oblivious while Biyomon gestured at her to be quiet.
"Oh Gosh" Mimi finally managed "You don't ..."
"I don't know" Sora cut her, but she didn't hesitate to say it either. Her gaze went to Matt, who still stood leaning against the car. Instead of doubtful or desperate, Sora just looked sad, and sadness was, at least, something simple to solve. Without hesitating Mimi stepped forward and hugged her friend. She felt Sora stiff at first and then she relaxed returning the hug.
"Thank you Mimi".
"At any time and when you're ready to talk you'll come straight to me, understand?" Sora nodded, and Mimi felt satisfied. "And what is this about Tai... Okay okay, when you're ready."
She raised her hands at the sudden glare and both the girls giggled at the joke. Mimi had wanted to talk about her own problems when she saw Sora from the window, but they didn't seem so important right now.
"I still think you're overreacting" Cody explained with his calm expression.
"Overreacting!" Davis screamed, and would continue to do so until he saw TK and Patamon approaching.
"What is the problem?" Patamon asked.
"Jun wants to come with us!" He held out his arms as if the problem was obvious. His fingers pointing to the subject whom at the current time was ignoring him.
"So what?"
"This is serious TL!" Davis complained. "What's wrong with you people! We don't know what we'll find, and if something bad happens we shouldn't need to worry about amateurs getting in the way!"
"She fought well against the Dark World's army" TK said with his arms crossed.
"I told him that TK" Cody said. "I told him that she did a good job too."
"She got hurt." Davis replied.
"Not as much as you Davis" Veemon said, looking up at him.
"You're not helping!"
"Thank you Veemon!" Jun shouted from where she was, she turned her head flashing Davis her tongue and looking away.
"That's none of your business!" Davis shouted over his shoulder. He couldn't believe this! Why was no one helping him?! He should be the leader of the new DigiDestined, but now he would have to worry about his sister screwing up!
"Think Davis" Cody started. "Jun will pursue us whether you liked it or not. There is really no reason to argue."
"Remember when she chased Matt all the way to Lake Yamanaka when we brought down Ken's base?" TK reminded him.
"And when she got Matt to go on all those dates?"Cody helped.
"She did make me take her out four times before losing interest, and I do believe it was only because of that horrible battle we had been through" Shuu completed as he passed by carrying some of Joe's bags. Penguinmon nodding as he followed.
"She's as stubborn as you." TK completed.
Davis stared at them. His brain working hard to get an answer he hoped would be smart enough to shut them up. Finally a phrase came to his mind.
"You take that back!"
"What's going on?" Kari asked.
"Davis doesn't want his sister coming with us to the Digital World" Armadillomon explained and stopped on his tracks. "Is that... Food?"
Everyone looked at the other van for a moment where Tentomon and Gatomon seemed to be having a lively meal while Izzy sat in the open trunk typing on his computer.
"Tentomon was hungry" Kari explained.
Armadillomon looked furiously at Cody "You said we aren't allowed to eat rations until we arrived in the Digital World!" The boy sighed
"All right Armadillomon" The two moved away to find some food. Veemon looked at Davis who shrugged, still with his face stuck in a frown.
"Wait for me!" Veemon shouted following them.
What a great partner. Davis thought to himself. He looked at Kari and TK unwilling to talk.
"You're worried that Jun will get hurt aren't you Davis?" He looked up.
Kari always had that gentle smile plastered on her face. She also always had a talent for talking about people's problems without hesitation.
"How do you know?" He spoke before looking around, he had to make sure that Jun wouldn't listen. He then realized what he had asked and felt ashamed. "Sorry, I should have been thinking."
"That would be a first time" TK said. Davis could have been angry, but he just smiled when Kari laughed at the joke. He sighed, burying his hands in his pockets, he saw a stone on the ground and kicked it away.
"What if she does gets hurt?" He asked.
"Do you remember what we talked about? You can't take responsibility for everything" Kari said putting a hand on his shoulder. "In addition, have you thought about what Jun must feel seeing you all hurt? She is your older sister."
"Believe me, we understand" TK said, Davis sighed.
"All right" Davis agreed resigned, after all this was his was his secret thought. Davis Motomiya cared about his sister. He hated the idea that something could happen to her in the Digital World. After the way he felt about Tai getting left behind, the idea of having someone else he could disappoint was almost too much. "Maybe I should relax a little. But never on the promise I made to you Kari, I'll bring your brother back"
"Thanks Davis."
She shifted the weight from one foot to the other. Only then he realized she had something hidden behind her back, Davis asked what it was, but Kari looked nervous until TK put a hand on her shoulder. He saw the look they exchanged, as if they could communicate without words. Davis left aside the little jealousy he felt for not having something likewise with Kari.
He forgot about it when he saw the goggles
"I thought you would need a new pair"
"Kari, you didn't have to." He said studying the goggles, they had square lenses just like his former pair and the elastic had a hot orange color that was almost red at the edges. "Thank you"
"TK gave the idea actually."
"Then thank you too TR!" He looked at his pair of friends and smiled, hugging them. "Well now I am officially ready to kick some ass!" The three laughed excited, until they were interrupted.
"Kari!" They turned to see Mrs. Kamiya with a thermos in hands. "Do any of your friends want a hot healthy beverage?"
"Now that would be go..." Davis didn't get to finish, thanks to TK's hand covering his mouth. He looked at his surprised friend while Kari laughed and walked towards her mother.
"No mom, they dined before coming and..."
"Believe me. You don't want to try that." TK said.
Davis nodded. He had heard stories about Mrs Kamiya famous healthy cooking, but honestly, it couldn't be that bad, right?
"Wow, I can't wait to go back, it's been two years since we saw our world!" Patamon said.
He and the other digimon were all in front of Izzy, covered with empty containers and food crumbles. At first there were only the sounds of chewing, but now Patamon wanted to get rid of the little silence.
"Two years" Palmon said beside a sleepy Armadillomon. "I hope the Sovereigns have destroyed Daemon."
"Of course they have! Daemon must be a lot of data at this point!" Gomamon said.
"Still" Biyomon began discouraged. "I don't even like to think of the damage he may have caused. And what if he did something to Agumon?"
"Or with Leomon, Meramon, Orgremon..." Palmon sighed.
"Well, If he's alive Davis and I will finish him!" Veemon jumped to his feet, fists high and chocolate dirtying his face.
"How if you can't digivolve to Imperialdramon without the digicore's power?" Hawkmon questioned him, crossing his arms.
"We'll find a way, right Wormmon?"
"Huh?" The small green digimon, looked at him with worried eyes, a reddish tint appeared on his face when he realized the other digimon looking. "Of Course!"
"And we can help too!" Palmon said.
"Yeap!" Biyomon agreed.
"You fools!" Gatomon said from where she was resting. "You're not going to do anything, the only ones who can fight Daemon here are Patamon and I."
"We'll do a DNA digivolution" Veemon argued without losing heart. "We will try until our last breath!"
"And you will lose" Gatomon said annoyed, without word she got up and walked away, leaving behind a sad and confused Veemon.
"What did I do?"
"Nothing Veemon, she's just having problems" Patamon said.
"It's true" Biyomon agreed "Jus sit with us, she'll be fine, you'll see".
Veemon seemed less worried and started to dig around the significant smaller pile of food.
"No use worrying, when we get there, we'll see what happened, whether we like it or not" Tentomon ended the conversation taking the last chocolate bar which had flown from the food pile and took a bite. Veemon heard it, saw it and shouted falling to his knees.
Izzy notice the despairing blue digimon and rubbed his head smirking.
The new chosen sure did a number on their digimon's sweet tooth. He looked around, everyone had gotten used to the waiting it seemed. Matt was alone by the car with a faithful Gabumon to keep him company. Sora talked in rushed whispers with Yolei about something.
Meanwhile Cody, TK, Kari and Davis were sitting by the Kamiyas with Mr Ishida, Izzy took interest in that group for a while since Davis was choking about something, but when he coughed and swallowed, forcing a smiled to compliment the food Izzy lost the worry and chuckled. Mrs Kamiya was asking if the boy wanted more, as Kari and TK were fighting to hold their own laughter. Cody just looked scared of the food placed amidst them while Mr Ishida seemed pale. Izzy shivered remembering his own experience; particularly he didn't found Yuuko Kamiya such a bad cook, the real problem were her experiments... And the results of those same experiments.
Diverting his attention he found Joe and Mimi had closely sat on the house's stair. Izzy had to smile at the two, as Mimi kept talking to a silent flustered Joe.
Shuu and Jun seemed a little more serious, sitting with their digimon in the other van. Izzy understood things there a little bit. He hoped Jun would be okay.
He frowned though as he got to Ken. The boy was never talkative; in fact, Izzy kind of indentified himself with him. But today, Ken was acting lonelier than ever, walking around the main house and keeping it to himself.
Izzy wondered if he should ask Wormmon what the matter was, but grimaced. He wasn't that close to Ken and surely the boy had a better mind than most of them here.
Izzy resumed to type on his computer.
Patamon heard the cry, but his eyes were glued on Gatomon who walked up to a tree. The cat digimon went up and to lie on the branch stretching herself.
Patamon flew there and stood in front of Gatomon.
He knew she knew he was there. So he waited until she talked, hoping this would make things easier.
After a few moments of waiting Gatomon opened her eyes, looking angry "What do you want?"
"I don't know, but you didn't have to speak like that with everyone" Patamon explained, he was not very good with this sort of thing. Maybe he should ask TK what to do when you are worried about a friend. He knew what to do when TK was feeling down, at least recently, but Gatomon was different.
"I had to" Gatomon disagreed. "It's like they are just keeping themselves happy without been ready for a war"
"And what is the problem in been optimistic?" Patamon asked being a optimistic himself, so different from the digimon that didn't believe to be capable of digivolving.
"What's the problem?" Gatomon looked up. "That's the problem, you are so naive! This is not like the other times! If Daemon is there we have to take it seriously. I am a warrior and I know what I'm talking about."
"The Dark Masters, Apocalymon and Malomyotsmon seemed cruel and unstoppable but we beat them, it's the same thing." Patamon explained unable to see what his friend was talking about. "Is this because of Wizardmon?"
Gatomon narrowed her eyes, looking dangerous. Patamon swallowed and waited.
"It's not about Wizardmon!" Gatomon said turning her face away. "They can't digivolve! How can you not see that! Even we won't last more than a minute before the last of Azulongmon's blessing runs out. This is different! And no, it has nothing to do with Wizardmon!"
"Alright then" Patamon said. "I just wanted to help"
Gatomon lowered her ears and turned her back on her friend.
"Go away Patamon" The small Digimon wanted to have stayed, but the look on Gatomon's face made it clear that there would be no further discussion. He lowered his wings and floated down.
When TK was feeling down before, he had failed too; it seemed he didn't learn anything at all from that experience.
Joe heard Mimi talking, hoping he hadn't heard right.
"You want me to..."
"I want you to talk to Matt, now!" Mimi said pouting, arms crossed.
"But..."
"You are his friend Joe!" He winced at this. Of course Matt was his friend and it was not like he didn't want to help. But Joe felt skeptical about… Well about everything lately. If it hadn't been for Mimi...
"I know Mimi, I just don't know if he'll want to talk to me about anything, I'm not exactly an expert on relationships."
"How is that?!" Mimi was angry now. "You were in a relationship up until last week!"
"And now I'm not" Joe said pulling at his collar and blushing. "I don't think it helps my case."
The girl sighed "Is not that Joe, you just need to make him feel better. Look at him! It's like our first adventure all over again, he'll isolate himself again if we leave him to it!"
Joe looked at Matt, who had stomped his cigarette a while ago. Gabumon had not left his side the whole time they waited, once in a while the two had exchanged some words with Mr. Ishida, but otherwise there had been no sign of life coming from Matt Ishida.
"Why can't you talk to him?" He asked rubbing the hair he had grown in recent years.
"Because I'm friends with Sora! It's a conflict of interests!" Mimi explained as if she was some kind of teacher. "Take him some coffee"
"All right" Joe gave in.
He took a cup of coffee and waited looking at his friend. He didn't felt secure enough to deal with this. Somehow people always felt safe going to him for conceal, but he never really knew what he was doing. He just said what sounded right to him and somehow that gained that horrible nickname. Old' Reliable. Matt did look miserable though.
Joe gathered his courage and swallowed his nervousness. Damm it, he did basically stole his now ex-girlfriend's bicycle once, he could talk to his friend. It's not like he would be screamed at... Like that time with Izzy...
Matt saw him heading in his direction and seemed to take it as a sign to pull out another cigarette. That can't be good, Joe Thought.
"Those things will end up killing you, you know?" He said as a joke smiling amicably.
"Thanks doc" Came the dry answer. Maybe he started badly. He looked behind himself, but Mimi was talking with Yolei now. All right, he shouldn't give up so easy.
"Here" He said handing one cup.
"What is it?"
"Coffee" Joe said and leaned against the van next to Matt "So how are you?"
Matt didn't answer, taking a sip of the coffee. Joe glanced at Gabumon, but the digimon wasn't of much help either.
He recalled briefly their first adventure. Matt never spoke freely about his feelings, but Joe's memory of the time they spent working for Digitamamon was enough to tell that Matt had enough of those.
"Matt, you don't need to act that way." He started, watching for any reaction. Matt grimaced, taking the cigarette from his mouth.
"What way Joe?"
"That way" Joe spoke pointing to Matt as a whole. "We're your friends, you know that"
Matt turned to him. They stared at each other for a while. Joe swallowed hard, not even all the security he gained in recent years helped him when those stare contests came by. He pushed his glasses up nervously as Matt brought his eyes to the ground. The blond blew smoke into the air and sighed.
"Thanks Joe, seriously, but don't worry about me. I'm just thinking about some things I don't want anyone to know about"
"Like what?" TK asked joining the two. "Joe's right Matt, you have to trust us with your problems sometimes"
"They're personal problems" Matt said. "But thanks for asking."
"It's okay Matt" Joe said, with a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"We are here if you need" TK completed. Joe glanced at TK, grateful for the reinforcement. The boy stared back.
"What about you Gabumon? Don't you want to eat anything?" Joe asked.
"I'm fine thanks."
"All right."
Joe and TK were silently close to Matt but on the opposing side of the smoke. Joe felt doubt within him once again, but he also felt it was right to just stay close and not speak for now.
Matt watched them briefly, feeling a little of his anguish cooling down. They both knew that for now they only needed to be around. Matt smiled to himself, Sora wasn't the only one that understood him and he didn't know if he should feel happy or sad about that.
Yolei crossed her arms as she walked towards the dark haired boy. Ken had been acting weird during their travel, and now he was still acting weird and Yolei was worried.
She had thought long and hard If she should ask something. She had even expected Davis to do it for her, but her idiot friend was too busy with his own problems of sibling rivalry and food choking.
So it was up to her to find out... If she wanted, of course. Yolei was sure Wormmon and Ken could talk about these things, but at the same time she knew she had issues about which she preferred to keep secret from Hawkmon.
Ken sat on the floor, clearly thinking.
Yolei never had trouble talking to people, but Ken was a little different. She was actually conscious of everything she said to him.
Yolei took two steps. There was no movement. She gave five more steps and stopped. The girl held back as part of a meaningless strategy, but quickly shook her head and took a few more steps, sitting heavily next to a scared Ken.
"Hi!" She said aloud. She noted a few stares been drawn to her, a few smiles too and blushed. "T-that is, hi Ken."
"Hi Yolei?" He asked, clearly confused.
"So... huh? You are acting huh" She cleaned her throat "You're acting… K-kind of strange" Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"I know" Ken said turning his confusion to a thoughtful expression. "I'm just worried about my parents"
Yolei watched him for a moment, seeing his natural confession and the way he seemed to stay put, waiting for a few 'don't worry's' and 'they will be fine's'. But that was stupid. She knew a few things about Ken, not much, but enough to know exactly what he was thinking with those words. The comprehension came, and suddenly all of the awkwardness disappeared, replaced by recognition. Licking her lips she spoke softly.
"I know what you mean."
She waited, as Ken debated something with himself, munching on her words. Then he grimaced and looked away. "When I saw the Kamiyas here with us ..." Ken looked at the ground, hiding his face with his hair.
Yolei felt herself back home again, covering her ears as her sisters looked around for their digivices.
"You are not selfish Ken." She told him.
"W-What?" Ken asked, surprised. Yolei swallowed feeling her face grow hot.
"When we fought against the Dark World's army..." Yolei licked her lips, weighing her words. "I mean, I always thought that if anything happened to me in the Digital World, there would be no problem, I mean my parents have three more children!" She complained, looking askance to Ken, he seemed to be paying attention. "But when we fought against those dark digimon, I left my sisters with Joe and suddenly I wanted to be with them you know? I didn't want my parents to suffer... And today! Today I actually had to hide their digivices so they wouldn't even think of coming! S-so yeah I..."
Yolei felt that lump returning, it was good to talk about that. But she was nervous about what Ken might be thinking. That she was the one selfish, that she was blabbering, that she should be helping instead of going on about herself. But he was simply again immersed on his own thoughts, until he nodded, his expression softening.
"Thanks" Ken said.
"Sure!" She said loudly, trying to hide her blush. "Anytime!" She basically shouted, feeling more stares at her direction, even Ken looked kind of confused.
Damm it! She thought.
"How much long Izzy?"
"Five more minutes" He saw that Sora was not looking at him, the girl sat by his side in the back of the van and sighed, head on her hands.
To bite the bullet or not bite the bullet? Izzy wondered with himself. The digimons were back to their partners, but Tentomon and Biyomon were close by, waiting in silence.
"So what are you doing there Izzy?" Sora asked pointing at the computer.
"I'm trying to increase the reach to our digivice's signals, maybe we can get to Tai quicker" He stopped typing. "It's not easy though"
Sora nodded. "You're the smartest of us Izzy, I'm sure you can do it"
He accepted the compliment and wondered again. Sora's smile was kind of weird.
"I know it's none of my business, but what happened between you and Matt, I mean, I had my problems with him too and... You know..."
"Mimi already talked to me Izzy" She told him, distracted.
"All right then" He nodded going back to typing before he made everything weird. He could have made some progress in dealing with personal relationships, but this seemed far above his level. He suddenly remembered another time he snatched personal information from someone and chuckled to himself.
"What's so funny?"
Sora was frowning at his strange behavior and Izzy had to stop think for a moment before answering her question. He remembered Kari's weird words and stares earlier and decided that there would be no harm in telling.
"You and Tai" He looked up to see a baffled Sora staring back at him. "When we fought against Diaboromon for the first time, it took Wargreymon been defeated for Tai to tell me about the fight you two had."
"He told you about that?" She asked a little embarrassed.
"Of course, he looked so desperate blaming himself and everything" Izzy remembered. "I found it funny later on"
"I was an idiot" Sora said to herself.
"You two were, but Tai still wins the cake" Sora laughed, Izzy took that as a good sign, preparing to speak "Listen Sora, are you and Matt good for this mission? I worry that something might go wrong"
"Izzy" Sora smiled at him, still giggling a little. "No matter what happens between me and Matt, we'll both do everything to bring Tai back to us. He's our best friend"
Izzy smiled.
"Thank you, I'm much more relaxed now" He looked around himself, and up, before glancing down at his watch. "It's time to go"
"How long?"
"Three minutes"
"Please be careful" Kari heard her mother telling her with teary eyes and hoped her own tears wouldn't come.
"We love you more than anything dear, and the same goes for your brother" Her father spoke, with one hand on her mother's shoulder. "Tell him that".
"I'll do that Dad" She nodded with both hands on the handles of the backpack. "I'll bring Tai back home"
Her mother nodded, still in tears "You be sure to come back too though."
Kari nodded and hugged the two quickly, fearing that a longer hug could falter her resolve to leave.
"I'll protect Kari with my life, don't worry" Gatomon said solemnly, determination blazing in her eyes.
"Thank you Gatomon" Kari saw her mother kneel and embrace the digimon. She laughed at the look on Gatomon's face, clearly not used to the affection coming from other people "But make sure to come back to us you too" Gatomon nodded wordlessly, the grave expression she had been wearing vanishing, Kari was glad for it.
She laughed softly when the two walked to join the others.
"Was it nice?" She asked, Gatomon nodded again still feeling weird.
The eleven children were ready, their backpacks prepared and their digimon by their sides.
Izzy had his laptop open "I'm getting something" He warned the others.
"How long?" Yolei asked.
"Ten seconds" Ken replied looking at his watch.
"Wait for me!" Davis turned seeing Jun approach with her own backpack and Pagumon on her arms. He groaned.
"Damn you're stubborn!" He yelled at her.
"And you're clearly an idiot if you thought Shuu would leave me trapped in the car!" Jun smiled. Davis grimaced. So much for listening to Veemon's brilliant idea.
"You shouldn't come"
"Let her Davis" Matt spoke, Davis didn't notice that the boy was around, hell, he had barely noticed Matt at all until now. "If she wants to go it's her choice"
"Thanks Matt" Jun thanked the blond who nodded, exchanging a brief look with TK.
Davis sighed and pulled the D3 from his pocket. Fuck this then.
August First 2004 - 00:00 am
Suddenly everyone turned to the sky. Lights took shape suddenly, dancing in dozens of colors against the night, like and upside down ocean.
TK saw Patamon beside him and frowned, kneeling next to his digimon. The two exchanged a wordless look and Patamon let go of his grim expression, flying and landing on top of the boy's hat.
Jun felt her palms sweaty as she grabbed the backpack's straps, memories of a distant battle being her own source of fear. Pagumon jumped into her lap, staring at her.
"We won't turn back now, will we?" She smiled at her digimon and swallowed her fears.
"Of course not"
Mimi and Palmon held hands lightly, hopefully.
Joe had Gomamon on his shoulders. They were both staring at the lights in the sky with the same haunting fear of the unknown, although the digimon could hide it well with a smile.
Matt and Gabumon only recognized each other's presence quietly; a barely perceptible look was exchanged between the two.
Yolei and Ken almost without realizing stood really close to each other, earning some confused looks from their digimon.
Cody took a deep breath once as if preparing for a battle, and he held his head high trying to bring confidence from his posture, which Armadillomon imitated.
"Are you ready Tentomon?" Izzy asked his Digimon as he folded the laptop under his arm.
"Whenever you are Izzy"
Sora held her breath, the lights were so beautiful, they always were.
Then there came to her a vision of a brown haired boy asking the digivices to take them to the Digital World. How many times had she seen those lights? And Tai had always been there.
Someone nudged at her side startling her. Biyomon smiled at her and Sora nodded, pulling her digivice.
"Get ready!" Sora warned.
"Hold your digivices!" Izzy shouted.
The twelve children and twelve digimon looked at the lights, waiting... Twelve lights started to shine on their own hands, flying towards the sky.
"Goodbye!" Shuu was screaming at them. "Good luck!"
"Bring Tai back! And be careful!"
"You can leave that to us Mrs. Kamiya!" Davis shouted decided. He would redeem himself as a leader no matter what, he knew that. Grinning broadly, Davis turned around getting ready to say something encouraging to everyone.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" He screamed instead as he saw a giant wave coming out of nowhere straight towards him.
"Ken!" Yolei grabbed the boy's arm.
Jun was screaming and Cody took a step back.
The other seven however all grinned as the wave finally crashed down.
Hiroaki Ishida watched the wave covering the children and the digimon, not at all surprised. He took out a cigarette and lit it, carefully looking around.
At his side he realized the Kamiyas hugging each other with downcast looks on their faces while the Kido boy and the penguin on his side still looked to where the wave had been.
Their children were risking their life's yet again.
The last time this happened one of them hadn't returned and he wondered if he would be in the Kamiyas' place this time around.
He also imagined that he was not the only one dreading his children's choices.
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