toxicsugarninja: I'M ALIVE!

Sorry for the extended delay. (*looks sheepish*) I seriously meant to update soon, but this chapter was really stumping me. I changed it about three times and I've finally got it to a decent length. I also have some medical problems going on right now and that on top of college is really wearing me out. Thankfully, in May, this will all be resolved and I won't be disappearing for weeks at a time without updating. (With the intention that this fic WILL last until May.) I have chapter four already written and tweaked so you won't have to wait a millenium for the next chapter. :) It should be up Wednesday/Thursday. And please excuse the cheesey chapter title.

Chapter Four: You've Got Mail

Yamato Ishida was used to the unexpected. But somehow, things still managed to catch him off guard. One second he was sprawled across his couch lazily watching a soccer game with his friends and the next thing he knew, there was trouble in paradise once again.

Matt sighed as Izzy barreled through their small get together, not really minding as much as his guests. Sports were okay, but in all honesty, he was glad he wouldn't have to sit through yet another forty-five minute game.

The redhead, still panting, dodged an empty soda can being launched at his head.

"Aw man! I missed the shot! Izzy!"

"Izzy, you're blocking the TV! What's going on?"

"My popcorn!"

Finally able to recover his breath and damning his horrid athletic abilities, Izzy glared at the three teenagers sprawled across the floor. Davis was scrambling to pick up the spilt bowl of popcorn, Veemon "helping" as he shoveled wad after wad of the white fluff into his mouth. TK appeared a bit miffed, but seemed genuinely interested more than anything. It wasn't until Izzy's eyes rested on Tai's glowering form that he knew who chucked the can.

Exasperated, he threw his hands in the air, straining to raise his voice over the distracting cries of the televised fans. "You guys, this is serious! I got an e-mail from the digital world."

A collective sigh hissed through the group, human and digimon alike.

Matt resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he flipped down the volume and sat up, giving Ken more room on the couch. "So what does Gennai want this time?"

The computer whiz scratched his chin, a slight tension in his brow. "That's just it. The e-mail I received didn't have a sender. But it definitely doesn't sound like Gennai."

Ken, who had been quiet for a majority of the time, seemed to have struck an idea. "E-mail…"

Wormmon knew that tone of voice. He eagerly looked up from his place on the boy's lap. "Ken?"

Davis gave up on locating all of the popcorn kernels and plopped down on the couch right between Matt and Ken (much to their discomfort). "How do you know it's not just spam?"

Izzy smirked. "It was addressed to the digidestined. Unless the spyware is getting that intrusive, I don't see how any advertising company could know that information.

TK scratched his head. Forgetting that Patamon was perched on top his head, he was surprised when fingers met fur. "Oh, uh, sorry Patamon." However, his apology wasn't needed. The little digimon was sound asleep. TK shrugged and continued his train of thought. "Maybe it's Diaboromon again."

Ken nodded, the same thought having crossed his mind as well. But the look of unease on Izzy's face gave him doubts.

"I don't think so. It seemed far too cryptic, even for Diaboromon. And besides, Diaboromon would technically have an e-mail address if he's part of the internet. If you remember, that's how we were able to slow him down the first time we fought him. This, however, was just sent right out of the blue."

Hmm, so that theory was out. Ken's eyes narrowed. The ex-boy-genius really didn't like having to pry for information, but he had learned a long time ago that he had to be patient with this group. "So what did it say?"

"I could show you guys if you want. I forwarded it to everyone's inboxes just in case."

A sudden burst of cheering snapped everyone's attention to a dancing Agumon and Veemon. "Goal! Goal! Haha!"

Tai grumbled to himself. He missed another shot. Why couldn't he just have a normal life now? "This had better be good."

Cleveland, Ohio. 4:21 AM

Jayden Giovanni Rossi Crippen was handsome. His hazel eyes were a rich mix of earthy tones, even if they were glazed over and outshined by pulsing red sclera. His rebellious, raven-feathered hair was stringy with perspiration and rain, sticking to his sun-kissed skin wherever it could. Artist's fingers fumbled with a set of keys. His brow knotted in concentration. Finally able to stick the key into the lock, a smirk crossed cupid bow lips. He stumbled into the apartment. Yes, Jayden was beautiful. Even when he was drunk off his ass.

"RACHIE!"

He teetered into the apartment, leaving the front door wide open. He winced at the volume of his own voice. The hum of the computer was all that answered him.

He shrugged, musing that she must be sleeping. With a devilish grin, he quietly closed the front door. He would surprise her once his hangover wore off.

Curious as to what she had been doing, he allowed himself to shake the computer mouse. He was a bit confused when his e-mail account popped up on the screen. What was she doing going through his stuff?

Glaring against the harsh glow of the computer, Jayden seated himself at the desk. Hangover or not, he was going to find out what the hell was going on.

He scrolled through his in-box, straining to remember what letters he had opened already and what might have been tampered with. He stopped as he came across an un-opened message with the subject "Egg." He blinked, flabbergasted.

"This belongs to you." He smirked and clicked on the attachment. Then he went to seek out something for his damned headache before the file loaded.

Returning a few minutes later with a bottle of Nyquil, Jayden was all set to plop back down before the computer… until he noticed the large egg in his seat. He stood for a moment, completely shocked. He looked at the bottle of Nyquil, then the egg.

"Uh… what the hell did I drink and why hasn't it worn off yet?"

He set the bottle on the desk without even cracking it open. Hesitantly, he picked up the egg. Even in the dark he could see that it was in fact what appeared to be a large Easter egg. It was white with intricate purple designs of suns and moons all over it. What the hell was going on?

Still dumbfounded, he looked back to the computer screen, searching for some kind of answer. Only two words met his eyes.

"Rub me?" Jay shook his head, laughing. "Rub me? Seriously?" He chuckled and carried the egg with him down the hallway.

"Okay, Rachie! Funny. What is this? Some kinky Easter joke?"

When he didn't receive an answer he barged into her room, expecting to see the blond smirking at him.

Papers were scattered all over the floor and the bed. Her guitar was leaning halfheartedly against her nightstand. It had looked like a small whirlwind had blown through the room.

Jayden blinked.

The room was empty.

"Rachael?"

He entered cautiously, hoping that at any moment she would jump out and surprise him.

Nothing.

He swallowed thickly, unnerved by the knot forming in his stomach and the suffocating darkness that seemed to flow from the corners of the room. Absently, he picked up a purple teddy bear that had been carelessly tossed on the floor. Lucy. She wouldn't have left it out. She hated it when he teased her about the stupid thing.

He let the bear fall to the bed with a soft thud. His fingers absently brushed over the egg's shell as he let it all sink in. He had gotten a weird e-mail. He found a giant egg. His migraine was killing him. And to top it all off, Rachael had seemed to have vanished.

He sighed, unaware of the spiderweb of cracks that began to form underneath his fingers. Was he really that drunk?