A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to leave a review. It means a lot to me.

Digimon Frontier: The Return

Chapter Three: Unspoken Interest and Shadows

"I'm home." Takuya called, entering the front door and closing it behind him with a soft snap. The group had parted ways after an enjoyable lunch and he had just returned from walking Tommy home. Even though the boy was thirteen and more then capable to walk himself, Takuya still shared a deep bond with the youngest member of their group and still viewed him as if he were his second brother-and speaking of brother's...

Takuya grinned evilly and headed towards the sitting room where he knew Shinya was currently residing, as he could hear the television blaring due to some intense action movie that was playing. Their father was at work and Takuya knew his mother never put the volume that loud, so it could only be one person...A person who had sabotaged his older brother's alarm clock that morning and needed to pay.

Approaching his younger sibling quietly, while he was too engrossed in the television to notice, Takuya raised his hands and then jumped upon the unsuspecting teen.

"What the hell! T-Takuya get off me, you idiot!"

Takuya pinned his surprised brother down quickly and stared down at him with narrowed eyes.

"How many times have I told you not to touch my alarm?"

Shinya's surprise and anger faded, replaced by a smug little smile.

"So you figured out it was me. I was wondering how long it would take, seeing as you left in a rush this morning."

Takuya rolled his eyes. He was dense at times (yes, even he could admit to that), but he was not stupid (even if some people thought he was) and after analysing the situation, he had realized what had happened and who the culprit was. The same person had been playing pranks on him throughout the whole vacation period.

"Obviously Squirt."

Shinya's hazel eyes darkened.

"Don't call me that!" He hissed.

"Why? You call me Taki whenever you feel like it." Takuya growled, remembering the day J.P had said that in front of his devious sibling and cursing his friend slightly. "I think it's only fair I get to call you Squirt, since you hate it as much as I hate my nickname."

Shinya sighed, knowing a lost battle when he saw one.

"Fine, whatever you say. Can you get off me now?"

Takuya smirked.

"Uh-uh...You still have to be punished for messing with my stuff."

"Oh really?" Shinya said, looking uninterested with the threat his brother was implying.

There was a moments silence as Takuya just stared down at his brother with a slight smirk playing on his lips, until said brother's eyes widened and a look of horror crossed his face.

"You wouldn't?"

Takuya just grinned.

"Justice must be served Squirt and you're in the perfect position to receive it."

Shinya started to wriggle and squirm, desperately attempting to break free of his older siblings hold, but making no progress.

"What are you two doing?"

Both boys' heads turned to the left, to find their mother standing there with a broom in her one hand and looking at them with a frown on her face.

"Takuya was going to spit on me." Shinya cried immediately, sensing a way to escape his predicament.

"Takuya Kanbara!"

Takuya glared at his younger brother and climbed off him reluctantly to face his mother.

"I wasn't going to spit on him." He declared indignantly and his mother crossed her arms, an eyebrow raised slightly.

"I was tickling him."

His mother stared at him for a while and then shook her head, turning to leave.

"I certainly hope so young man."

A few seconds passed with the two brother's just looking at each other-one feeling surprised that his mother had actually believed him and the other planning his escape-And suddenly Shinya was running, out the sitting room and down the passage that lead to his room.

"Yeah, you better run." Takuya shouted, taking after him. "Because if I catch you, not even mom will be able to prevent what I'm gonna do."

Koji walked quietly with one hand buried deep in his pockets and his brother right beside him. He sighed softly and ran his other hand through his dark locks.

"You're not still upset about your hair, are you?" Koichi asked, slightly exasperated.

Koji thought about it for a moment and then shrugged indifferently.

"Not really, I guess…"

"Is it because Zoe liked it?" Koichi asked with a small smirk in his twin's direction.

"No." Was the clipped reply.

"I saw the little conversation you two had while you were sulking."

"So?" Koji asked with a roll of his eyes.

"I was just wondering." He shrugged casually, while glancing sideways slyly. "I mean, you didn't care when I told you it looked okay-which by the way, wounds me since I'm your brother, but when Zoe said she liked it..."

"Whatever."

"I'm just saying." Koichi grinned.

Koji threw his brother a dark look, but otherwise said nothing to encourage any further discussions of the topic. So what if Zoe had cheered him up and said she liked his hair, it was not a big deal. He had been overreacting about his hair in the first place.

The raven huffed and continued walking.

Koichi chuckled and shook his head, but took the hint and let the subject slide. After all, he had seen Zoe's blush when Koji had thanked her and he knew the blond had feelings for his twin.

Smiling happily, as he placed his hands behind his head, Koichi decided he would let them work it out on their own. Then absolutely say 'I told you so' when they finally got together.

Zoe smiled fondly as she made her way towards her house and felt a gentle breeze waft past her. Even after all these years, she still held a deep connection with her bonded element, and she knew it was the same for her entire group. It was a fact they had appreciated greatly ever since returning from the Digital World- because who wouldn't want to feel connected to something that had changed their lives for the better and brought all of them together like a family. Each of them cherished these moments that brought remembrance and reminded them of what they had learned.

For Zoe, the slightest whisper of the wind made her happy and instantly brought a smile to her face. The feel of the sun or the flicker of a flame made Takuya's eyes dance. Tommy loved winter, capable of playing in the snow for hours or content to just sit and stare at it. J.P's fear for thunderstorms had vanished and they had now become one of his favourite things. Koichi was lucky, as he could sit in the shade of a tree or even close his eyes and feel close to his element.

When it came to Koji, things were a little bit difficult. It wasn't as simple as staring at a fluorescent light or the lamp in his bedroom. Those were artificial and did not even come close to representing the purity his element signified. For Koji, it was the sun rising and illuminating the day or the stars that decorated the night sky like shimmering jewels, something that reminded her of the way Koji's eyes lit up whenever he was happy...

Zoe paused before the front door and blushed at her train of thought. She really had to stop doing that, blushing at every little thought that concerned her indifferent friend.

It's just a little crush, she reminded herself forcefully. Certainly not something to get excited about.

Eventually it would pass and Zoe would be able to get on with her life without ruining a perfectly good friendship. The golden blond smiled and nodded, happy to have reached an understanding even if part of her disagreed vehemently.

Sighing, she unlocked her front door and entered the house.

"Mom, I'm home." She announced, closing the door behind her. Zoe frowned when she heard no reply. Strange, her mother and Ken were usually home at this time.

Walking in to the kitchen, Zoe found a note stuck to the fridge.

Zoe,

One of our suppliers for the flower shop could not deliver our order of roses, so Ken and I have gone to fetch the stock ourselves. We should be back tomorrow. I am sorry for not calling to let you know, as I understand you were out with your friends and I did not want to bother you. Love you lots and see you tomorrow.

Mom (and Ken).

Zoe smiled at the note and silently wished them luck. Ever since they had opened a new flower shop together, things had been tough, but by working hard, they were able to get past every hurdle. She put the paper down and headed to her room, stopping shortly at her door when she heard the music coming from the opposing bedroom.

Staring at the door of Tyler's room sadly, Zoe sighed and entered her own room. She just hoped they did not get in to a fight while their parents were not here. The blond did not have to be a fortune-teller to know, bad things would definitely happen if they did.

A shadowed figure paced the floor of a large room with black, marble tiles and walls made of onyx crystal that twisted its way towards the ceiling in complicated swirls and spiralled designs. He sighed heavily and turned to face three separate crystal statues.

A humanoid being, wreathed entirely in flame, stood nearby watching the figures every move with careful attention.

"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't tried to be all noble, you know. All you had to do was tell me the whereabouts of the jewels and I would have left you alone." The figure whispered in harsh, crackling tones. "Such a simple request that ended up becoming complicated. Pity."

"My Lord, with the Celestial Beings imprisoned, how will we find what you are seeking now?"

The figure turned away from the crystallized statues slowly, a malicious grin forming on hidden features.

"Fear not Meramon. I have a plan and it will be revealed when the time is right."

The flame digimon bowed deeply and then departed.

The shadowed figure chuckled quietly as he turned back to face the statues, running a clawed hand over the frozen image of Ophanimon.

"You think your plan will succeed and those little rats will bring saviours to the Digital World, but I can assure you now that it wont my Lady...It most definitely wont."

A/N: Please review.