Part 3:

Taichi peeked around the corner of the building. "Well?" Sora asked, beside him.

He turned back around,"No one's there."

"Good," Sora said, putting the fake mustache on him,"Now one will recognize you now."

"Great," Taichi said. He didn't like to hide, he was a knight, not some coward who hides from his troubles.

"Come on," Sora said, grabbing his hand,"Let's go."

She led him out into the market place. She led Taichi down the street, observing the vendors.

They spent the entire day together. The time that they didn't spend looking at each other, was spent thinking about each other. They had just met each other, but they were all ready addicted to one another.

Taichi felt like announcing to the world that he was in love, but, he knew that everyone would chase them away. A knight, in love with a lowly commoner, that was unheard of.

Before they knew it, they day was over. Sora had to get back to her duties, and Taichi had to prepare to leave. Sora told him that she would leave with him. In another kingdom, they might be able to hide Sora being a servant, but not here, where everyone knew her.


Deep in the Digital World, Lord Piedmon, General of the Digital Army, stood in front of the glass communicator, talking to his King.

"King Apocalymon," Piedmon said,"You summoned me?"

"Yes," Apocalymon said,"I have found the location of the Keys!"

"Where?" Piedmon asked.

"Heighten View Terrace," he said,"All twelve are there. You must find them and get them!"

"Yes, sir," Piedmon said as the glass screen shut off.

"Well," Piedmon said over his shoulder,"What do you think we should do?"

"Well," Puppetmon said, walking into view,"We needs those Keys to open the Dark Tower."

"We should attack and capture the land as part of the Digital Empire!"

"Sometimes," Puppetmon said,"Discretion is the better part of valor."

"What do you mean?"

"We can trick them into giving us what we want. If we appear to be frinedly, perhaps they won't be so anxious as to find out what the keys are, or what they are used for. Remember, we have a mole inside the castle."

Piedmon nodded,"Very good. I am placing you in charge of this operation. Take the Undead Squadron with you."

Puppetmon nodded,"As you wish."


Taichi hummed to himself as he sat down at a table with Hikari in the local tavern. They had decided to have one final dinner together before Taichi and the others went back home. She was looking at him strangely. They were just about to be separated for the first time in over ten years, and he was humming?

"Taichi?" Hikari asked.

"Yes, dear sister?"

"What's with you?"

"Nothing."

She sighed at him,"Tai...." she said, using her childhood name for him.

Taichi sighed,"Okay, I...I can't say."

She was hurt. He hadn't hidden anything from her before, why now. "Please? I really want to know."

He sighed. Hikari was his sister, she'd support him, no matter what, right? "Very well," he said,"I....I'm in love."

Hikari's face lit up. "With who? Who is the lucky girl?"

"I....I can't say."

"Oh come on Tai!"

Taichi hesitated for a moment. "Kari," he said, letting her know that this was between them,"I'm only telling you this because you're my sister, okay?"

She nodded.

He sighed,"Its Sora Takenouchi."

"Who?" Hikari asked, confused.

"The daughter of the gardener."

Hikari's eyes widened. "A servant?! You're in love with a servant?"

"Yes," he said.


She stood up. "I can't believe you did this! How could you? Have you no respect for our family name? She's a servant, a commoner! I can't believe you!"

He stood up, towering over her. "I thought that since you were my sister, you would support me, but I see that I was wrong! I'm in love with her, and I don't care what anyone says!"

She was about to say something else, when Cody ran into the tavern. "Taichi!" he cried, running up to him.

"Cody," he said, "What is it?"

"Its the prisoner!" he exclaimed,"He's escaped!"


Ogremon ran down the street, pleased in the fear he was causing the local community. The gate of the town was just up ahead. All he had to do was cross it, then he would be in the country itself. The local guard would surely lose him in the dense forest.

He was almost free, when he saw a figure blocking the gate. "Who are you?" Ogremon asked.

"My name is Taichi Kamiya."

Ogremon chuckled,"You are just an escort for Princess Mimi. Move out of the way, and you won't be hurt."

"I can't do that," Taichi said, taking out his sword.

Ogremon smiled. "Very well then, If you wish to die, I can help you!"

He charged at him with his bone club extended. Taichi blocked the attack. He swung at Ogremon, but Ogremon blocked his attack. They swung again, and were both blocked.

The battle continued this way for the next few minutes. They swung again, and their weapons smashed into each other. Each one decided that they had had enough, and were trying to over power the other.

"Nice job," Ogremon said,"You are truly deserving of your reputation."

"I would like to say the same of you," Taichi said, sliding his sword away from Ogremon's bone club,"But, I don't know your reputation, but, I doubt its a very good one."

Ogremon turned to run, but found himself faced to face with a hundred of Heighten View Terrace soldiers. He grumbled something to himself, then dropped his club. "I surrender."

Taichi slid his sword back into his holding. "Lord Taichi Kamiya," a soldier said, walking up to him,"King Yamato would like to speak with you."

"Great!"Taichi thought as he followed the soldier,"What have I done this time?"


Taichi knelt in front of Yamato. Ken was standing to the left of Yamato, with Jyou in the other side. "You wanted to see me, your highness?"

"Yes," Yamato said,"I did. I wish to thank you for helping in apprehending the escaped prisoner."

"It was my duty as a knight," Taichi said.

"I understand that you will be returning to Odiba this evening."

Taichi nodded,"Yes."

"I would like to ask a favor of you," Yamato said, mentioning to Jyou.

Jyou cleared his throat. "This morning we received a message from the Digital Land. They wish to send an ambassador to negotiate treaties with us."

"But they're the ones that sent the assassin!" Taichi said.

"Exactly," Jyou said,"That is why King Yamato wishes for you to stay until we can see what they are up to."

Taichi was shocked. "I...I don't know what to say. You have your own knights here, why do you need me?"

"Because," Ken said, in a disgusted tone,"You are the best, and King Yamato thinks that our knights are not strong enough to handle this."

"That is enough!" Yamato barked,"Taichi, do you accept? You will be given full authority."

Taichi bowed,"I humbly accept. When will the ambassador arrive?"

"Tonight," Yamato said,"Be here. That is all."

Taichi bowed one last time then left. Running up behind him was Jyou. "Lord Taichi," he said,"Wait."

"Yes," Taichi said,"What is it Dr. Kido?"

"I didn't want to say anything back there but," he said,"I think my fellow Royal Council Member, Ken, isn't all that he appears to be."

"What do you mean?"

"I think he's hiding something. He's up to something, I can tell."

"I'll ask my wizard, Koushiro to look into it."

"Great," Jyou said,"I shall see you tonight."


Hikari sat in her room, thinking. Was Taichi going to leave without saying goodbye? She never saw him so angry.

There was a knock on the door. "Coming," Hikari said, opening the door,"What- oh Tai!"

"Kari," Taichi said.

"Who is it?" Princess Mimi asked, stepping into Taichi's view,"Oh, Taichi, how are you?"

"Very well," Taichi said, kneeling in front of her,"I was just coming to talk to my sister."

"Oh?" Mimi asked,"Are you ready to say goodbye?"

No," Taichi said,"The King has asked me to stay to help him deal with the ambassador from the Digital Land."

"Tai!" Hikari cried, hugging him,"I'm so glad you're staying. And....I'm sorry about earlier. You're right, I am your sister, and I should be supportive of you. Bring her around, I would like to see her."

"Thank you," he said.


Cody grumbled to himself as he followed Koushiro up the stairs to the throne room. "I still don't understand why we have to stay! I can understand if Taichi wants to stay, but why do we have to stay? I want to go home!"

Koushiro didn't turned when he said,"You know how Taichi is. He likes it when his team is together. And besides, you're not the only one who wants to go home. I want to get out of here. Yolei keeps following me around! I hope she's not hear."

Cody shook his head, even though he knew that Koushiro couldn't see him,"She'll be here. Prince Takeru seems to trust her. If we're going to be staying here and working on this Digital Land thing, we're going to have get used to working with her."

"Perfect!" Koushiro said,"Easy for you to say, she doesn't have an affection to you!"

They walked inside the throne room. They scanned the room for Taichi. They found him at the side of the room, talking to Davis.

"Okay," Cody said,"We're here, Lord Taichi."

He nodded,"Good. Davis and I were just discussing...uh...strategies!"

"Thanks, Taichi,"Davis thought,"Embarrising enough that I talked to him about his sister, but it would have been much worse if everyone had to know about it."

"Can I have your attention please!" Ken said,"All hail Puppetmon, Ambassador of the Digital Land."

"Here we go!" Davis said.

to be continued...