THE LINK

Disclaimer: I do not own anything about Digimon.

CHAPTER FOUR

AFTERMATH

Tai spent the rest of the Saturday in agitation. He refused to sit back, allowing Izzy and Yolei to be the only ones working on Sora's location. Tai kept running through all the conversations and signs. They had been there but he had been so caught up in Sora and Matt and Sora and him that he failed to see the real answer.

Somewhere along the line, Matt had come to pick up that something had taken place between his best friend and (ex-)girlfriend. He was cold and aloof, making a point to contradict and undermine Tai. The others noticed the change and reacted to it. A couple, Cody and Joe, agreed with Matt on not rushing in.

Tai felt conflicted on how easily the team could split up. In the old days, there had been arguments, but they all ended up following their leader in the end. He had gotten them through okay, hadn't he? Tai thought he had done a pretty good job. No one died after all. But now he had never felt so unconfident in himself. No one had been under his guidance in years; probably thought they didn't need him now. It made Tai feel slightly worthless at his position. As everyone grew older, they began to have more of their own ideas, believing them to be the right answer despite all evidence. Tai felt sure he wasn't as bad as that. Right?

Stop it! He scolded himself. He wasn't allowed to start doubting himself. It was about Sora now. Only she mattered. It didn't lift his mood as Tai trudged through the apartment complex that was his home. He went by Kari's room, formerly an office until the youngest Kamiya child had grown too old to sleep so near her brother, and heard TK's voice. Tai paused, his guilty conscience not yet catching up to him.

"-do something. We rely too much on Izzy's computer. If anything were to happen, we would be finished." TK was saying.

There was wistfulness in Kari, "You're right. Though I'd like to think Izzy can take care of everything and we swoop in to finish with an attack."

"Kari," TK began pressuring, "what are we going to when-if-it comes to a serious divide between Matt and Tai. They're both our brothers. I really don't think I can choose."

"We shouldn't have to!" Kari burst out. "This game they play to get to Sora first is ridiculous. Nothing works unless we're a team."

There was a pause and the sound of footsteps crossing the room. Tai leaned in closer, peering through the slightly ajar door. It was open enough for him to see in and not be seen.

TK had navigated through the room, bending his head and placing a kiss on Kari. She returned it. They broke off after a few moments and TK settled himself on the bed where Kari was, resting his forehead against her head. She relaxed at his touch.

"We'll stay together, Kari." The boy promised. "As long as you want to, anyway."

She shoved him lightly in the shoulder. "You say that like I'm going to drop you next week."

TK chuckled, moving in for another kiss. Tai retreated back when it became apparent that this one was going to last a while.

He continued over to his own room, tossing his self carelessly on the bed and tucking the pillow underneath him. Tai hadn't really been paying attention to Kari in past days. True, he had asked Sora about her but when he found nothing wrong with his sister, decided to believe her words. He honestly wasn't surprised to see the teens together.

Unknowingly, Tai was having the same feeling Sora had felt about TK and Kari's new status: jealous. Jealous of the easy relationship they were allowed to have while everything came difficult for Tai. He tried dating a while back, but it ended when he was caught continuously staring at Sora.

There had been Amaya-beautiful and sensitive. Tai had been interested enough in her to find out that her name meant "night rain." When Amaya had discovered the varsity boys soccer star was talking about her, she had been infatuated immediately. At the end of a soccer game, Tai had spotted Amaya and hastened to catch up to her before she left. He pulled a few jokes, got her laughing, and they had gone out for coffee.

Tai brushed back a strand of dislodged hair, his face burying deeper into his pillow as he recalled the date.

"No, no, I swear!" He was laughing. "Twenty bucks for a plain hamburger. Worst deal of my life!"

Amaya shook her head in disbelief, giggling. "You would fall for something like that."

Tai grinned, tilting his head to the side. "You know what else I fall for?" He leaned across the small coffee table, brushing his lips lightly across hers. It was a light, chaste kiss that still made the girl blush as they pulled back.

"And here I thought there was more to you," Amaya arched an eyebrow.

Tai narrowed his eyes slyly and the two met in a full-on kiss. The door dinged open as they again pulled apart. Tai happened to look up and his hand clenched at the sight of Matt and Sora together. He jumped up, slapping money on the table, and snagging Amaya's hand as he tugged her out of the house.

Now Tai once again opened his eyes, dropping the memory of the date. He and Amaya had gone strong for several months until the guilt of betraying Sora ate him alive, even though Sora had been the one to encourage the relationship and suggest double dates.

A month after the breakup, Tai found out that the junior Mari had a crush on him. He had embraced the chance fully. Mari was completely different than Amaya: rebellious, loud, bold. Tai ended up going further in with her than intended, pulling out at the thought of taking her virtue at such a young age. Granted, it was only a year. Mari herself grew tired of playing tease and dumped Tai after a disastrous outing when they had crossed the couple of Matt and Sora.

Not much happened after that. Tai tested a few girls if any showed interest, but none of them fit the bill. He needed someone exactly like Sora. He needed Sora. After a while, everyone heard enough rumors that Tai was enthusiastic about none except for Takenouchi. Which meant he was off the market.

Tai flipped over onto his back, fighting back emotions that were tempted to burst free as his nature called for him to be out there finding Sora, or suffering along next to her. The best excuse they had come up with for Mrs. Takenouchi was that her daughter was spending time with Mimi, who had dropped in for a visit from America and was lonely in her hotel room. The lie was far-fetched; Yolei and Kari had quickly fled from the house before questions could be asked and the messengers shot.

"Tomorrow's Sunday. I'm taking Agumon to the Digiworld. If we don't find anything, then I'm not leaving until we do." He spoke in a flat voice to himself, glaring at the ceiling as though it defied his decision.

But Tai was not the only one desperate to bring Sora home. The whole team-everyone-snuck into the middle school and met up. Izzy stepped up, pronouncing that there was no fix on Sora's Digivice with his program. He then pulled up a map of the world.

"We should split up into partners and spread out in the most common areas," Tai decided. He tensed briefly, relaxing only when it seemed his idea was accepted. He was about to ask Izzy to be his partner when Cody spoke up first.

"Izzy, if you would not mind, I'd like to be your partner for this mission." The boy spoke formerly, bowing slightly, despite already knowing Izzy.

"Of course I don't mind, Cody." Izzy smiled.

TK merely had to look over at Kari to get his partner; Yolei wasn't so lucky, having to outright ask Ken, who did accept. Tai quickly snagged Davis for himself, not wanting to be left with Matt. However, that meant Joe was to be with Matt.

"Cody and I will take Sector One, TK and Kari can have Sector Five, Ken and Yolei with Sector Fourteen, Tai and Davis for Sector Twenty-Two, and Matt and Joe will take Sector Twenty-Five," Izzy said without looking up from the computer. He seemed to consider something and pushed back from the desk. "We really don't have a way of contacting each other since only the new kids have email access. Lets all meet up at Sector Two in two hours' time." He pointed it out on the screen.

Davis leaned over to get a better look. He nudged Izzy with an elbow. "Man, you just chose that because it's close to where you're going!"

Yolei, on the other hand, looked disgruntled, "New?"

Izzy cleared his throat. "Yes, well, we need to get going. Matt and Joe can go first." He pulled up their region, with Davis popping open the gate. The action was repeated several times until only Izzy and Cody were left.

Izzy pulled up another window, typing in Mimi's email address:

'Mimi,

Please come to the Digital World as soon as possible in two hours from receiving this email. There has been a disturbance and we need everyone's help. Come to Windy Plains.

Izzy'

He clicked 'send' and then pulled the gate back up; Cody waiting patiently all the while. "Let's go, Cody!"

Tai and Davis arrived in a rather non-fashionable way; but they were greeted with open expressions of pleasure. Davis clapped his hand down on Veemon's head, saying, "No matter how many people hate me, this is one little guy that won't."

Tai wiped off his pants, nodding to Agumon, before looking around. "Okay, I give. Where the hell are we? Besides 'Sector Twenty-Two.'"

Agumon piped up, "This is Mangrove Forest, Tai!"

Forest, indeed. Large, thick trees jutted from the ground, there roots spreading out-a death trap waiting to happen-and fog covered the ground and air. The trees were full enough that the sun barely penetrated through the canopy, blocking it from also burning up the fallen cloud.

"What a place," Davis said, also glancing around the forest. "I don't see life signs anywhere."

"Oh, there are Digimon here, Davis," Veemon promised. "They're not to fond of strangers and are kind of weird. Not many outsiders come here."

"Figures Izzy would send us then." Tai started down a path that had been cleared away. He started to doubt his sense of sight when he saw dark objects dart around-only to be revealed as misplaced rocks and twigs. He turned to his partner. "Agumon, are you guys sure there are others here? It feels like we're just wasting time."

"Keep walking. You'll see there's a reason they cut a path here." The Digimon replied stubbornly. Somehow it made Tai more apprehensive.

The group of four must have been walking for no less than twenty minutes when a beacon of light shone through the mist. Davis pulled down his goggles (which he still wore) and Tai covered his eyes with one hand as they stepped through-all the way to a circular inlet that was the end of the road and made of mangrove trees.

The light source was no where to be seen, but an unusual silence was placed over this spot, more so than in the rest of the forest. On the far side of the circle were a cluster of Gekomon and Otamamon. One Gekomon stepped forward, an angry glint in his eyes.

"You humans are not welcome here!" It slithered.

Tai held up his hands in a calming gesture. "Please, we just want to know-"

"Want to know the secrets of our forest!" The Gekomon interrupted, spitting.

"No, no, you have it all wrong!" Agumon said quickly. "They're just looking for a fellow human. They mean no harm."

Gekomon didn't relax, but it didn't seem to about to attack, either. "We'll give you any information we know if you promise to leave without touching anything."

"Deal," Davis agreed.

"What about this human now?"

Tai quickly recited how Sora had begun acting strange, disappeared, and the threat they received. He finished by retelling the clue. "So now we're going all around the Digiworld to see if anyone understands this."

Gekomon fell back to his comrades and they spoke in hushed voices for a couple of minutes. He emerged after coming up with his answer. "We do not know anything about your Sora; however, we have heard legends of a place hidden to all Digimon unless chosen. It seems there is a rite of passage to get in, but if you fail, you are killed."

"Do you know where it is?" Tai asked, though it was hopeless.

"Didn't I say it was hidden? It's somewhere here on the world itself, not a moon or anything. You're just walking and you seem to walk through it-you just get to the other side without realizing it. Now get lost." Gekomon was back to being irritable.

Tai inclined his head as thanks, backing away. He gripped Davis's shirt, tugging him along as the younger boy was ready to start arguing. "Come on; we should get to this Sector Two."

It wasn't easy, and every pair was easily late to Windy Plains, but they all managed to get there. And they were greeted by a smiling girl in pink. A Palmon at her side. Mimi Tachikawa had gotten Izzy's email. The groups shared their stories, each paralleling the others', and were in a stump.

"There has to be something on this place. Obviously the Digimon have basic knowledge of it, which means they must have learned it from someone." TK mused, pulling at pieces of grass.

Everyone was seated on the ground, each trying to come up with something. Tai stared harshly at the ground, but all his mind drew were blanks. "The human you may seek…," He muttered, thinking over the poem-clue. He looked up. "The clue-it was addressed to us, the humans, not the Digimon. I think we have to rely on their brains instead of ours for once. We could find where this rite of passage thing happens and send one of the Digimon in."

"For all we know, the rite of passage could be a lie, fed to Digimon to keep them content," Matt argued.

Tai angrily stood to his feet. "Man, what is with you? Everything I say you make a point of contradicting."

Matt stood up as well, folding his arms across his chest. "Because, Tai, I'm tired of you thinking you're still a hotshot who can save us all and be leader. Look around you for once-everyone's all grown up. We don't need you to hold our hands. Or be our leader."

Tai swore loudly, about to lunge at him when TK and Davis grabbed him, holding him back. Matt watched with contempt. "Still using your fists?"

Tai yanked free of TK and Davis, but lowered his hands. "Then I guess we know what happens now." He retorted, his fists unclenching as he turned away from Matt. "We won't be in the same group to search for Sora."

Matt nodded and relaxed his muscles too. He looked over at the watching Digidestined. "You guys are free to go with whoever you want."

Yolei looked confused, while Izzy was deep in thought. The announcement really didn't seem too much of a surprise. He put his hand to his chin and considered his options. He quickly came to an answer. He stepped towards Tai.

"You know I've always supported you and wanted to help, even if you wouldn't let me." He was referencing the second battle with Piedmon, where Tai had refused to let anyone but WarGreymon fight.

Tai gave him a small nod as Joe made his decision.

"I'm sorry, Tai, but I think Matt would be the most successful here." The oldest boy walked over to Matt, who gave him a small smile.

The rest of the teenagers were more conflicted. Tai know had the techy on his side, who could locate anything in a word made of data. But on the other hand, Matt had the doctor with him, who would be helpful if they found Sora in bad condition. The most undecided remained to be TK and Kari as the others came to their decisions.

Davis trotted over to Tai without a second thought, while Ken and Yolei went to Matt. Mimi glanced uncertainly at Palmon, and then Joe, but decided on Tai. Cody walked silently over to Matt's side. Now only TK and Kari remained, and they been whispering to each other, and as they became the last two to have to decide, TK nodded. They faced the watching groups, their hands brushing each other.

"Kari and I aren't going to chose between our brother and their best friend," TK announced, much to the surprise of the male figures of the Digidestined. The girls understood perfectly.

Kari spoke up as TK paused. "We're doing this so we don't end up fighting and making the situation worse. We have qualities of both Tai and Matt in us and we know we can make it work."

Davis looked like he was about to join them, taking a step forward when Mimi grabbed his collar. "Oh, no you don't. You would just make things worse."

Davis grunted, glaring at the older girl as she released him. Tai looked slightly hurt, but hid it. "Very well. We won't hate you or anything for this."

"Yeah, same for me," Matt added.

The three groups faced each other, only two people actually wanting to be apart. They looked at each other for a few moments before Tai made the first move, turning around and walking in the farthest direction from Matt. Matt did the same with his group until only TK and Kari remained. They looked each other, their hands now firmly entwined.

"I really don't even think Izzy can find Sora." Kari confessed. "She started acting so weird these past few days and was avoiding everyone. I went to her house and her mom even said that Sora was even staying away from her."

TK squeezed her hand comfortingly, pulling her closer to him. "Don't worry. As soon as we find something, we'll send a message to Davis and Yolei so they can tell Tai and Matt. I have a feeling we're going to need everyone to rescue her."

Kari sighed, wrapping her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You make it sound as if we will find something. But I'm not so sure."

TK couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "You forget, but that's the thing I'm best at- hope."

Kari smiled, pulling back so she could fully take him in. "You're right. And standing here won't help Sora." She turned, still holding onto TK. "Gatomon! Ready to go?"

Gatomon trotted forward from her perch on a stone with Patamon following more slowly. "Ready."

"Then let's go," Kari pulled out her D3 and it immediately lit up. TK did the same.

Gatomon and Patamon were engulfed in a bright light as their partners shouted, "DigiArmor Energize!" The light faded, and Nefertimon and Pegasusmon now stood tall. TK and Kari jogged over to them, mounting their Digimon and taking off.

Matt had the same idea as he called his group to attention.

"We don't have much time, so half of our Digimon need to Digivolve. Gabumon, Armadillomon, and Hawkmon will." He told them. The partners of the selected Digimon nodded once, lifting their D3's as Matt raised his own Digivice. In a matter of seconds, Garurumon, Ankylomon, and Aquilamon appeared.

Yolei mounted Aquilamon, while Cody went to Ankylomon. Joe followed close behind the younger boy along with Gomamon.

"Hey Cody, can you give us a lift?" Joe called up to him.

Cody looked surprised. "Of course, Joe. Gomamon is welcome as well."

Yolei glanced over at Ken, smiling brightly at him. "You can ride with me, Ken! Aquilamon won't mind."

"Thank you, Yolei," Ken said quietly, picking up Wormmon as he made his way over to her.

Matt made sure everyone was in place before he sent Garurumon forward. Hold on, Sora. I'll be the one to find you and bring you home.

Elsewhere, Tai's group was making slower progress, but they weren't bothered by this. Tai had never led them astray and they had Izzy if things went wrong.

"Wait! I'm coming with you."

Everyone turned around, and from out of the bushes, a pink bird appeared, flapping her wings as fast as possible. She landed in front of Tai and had to stop for a second to catch her breath.

"Biyomon? What are you doing here?" Agumon asked in his slow voice.

Biyomon straightened up, looking up. "Please let me come with you, Tai. I really want to find Sora!"

"Of course you can with us, Biyomon. You're Sora's partner after all. I don't know, you might have an inkling of where she is." Tai replied.

Davis snickered behind him. "Inkling?"

Palmon went forward, putting her arm on Biyomon. "Don't worry, we'll find Sora. We always get there just before something really bad happens. It won't be any different this time."

Biyomon looked at the plant in horror while Tentomon said, "Oh, dear!"

Izzy on the other hand, looked doubtful. "It doesn't work quite like that Palmon. Besides, if any of our three groups happens to find where Sora is, I bet they'll be contacting the others so we can all join in."

"Alright, but I'm just saying-"

"Palmon!" Mimi shouted, hushing up her Digimon. The group went on.

Izzy hung back, slowly taking in his surroundings. "I'm worried about Tai, Tentomon."

"Why do you say that? He looks pretty heathly."

Izzy shook his head. "No, not that kind of worried. It's just- do you remember when we were facing Machinedramon?"

Tentomon shuddered. "How could I forget? It was also when young Kari got sick. Is that why you think old Tai is getting unhealthy?"

"No, no, it has nothing to do with Tai's health; he got really upset and wouldn't listen to me when we got blown into the tunnels. I'm worried that he is going to become like that again."

"Your concern is admirable, Izzy, but Tai is older now. He has learned things throughout the years and won't make the same mistakes again. Besides, Kari is related to Tai, Sora is a friend." The Digimon replied calmly.

Izzy was still reluctant to accept that. "I don't know. If he becomes desperate enough, he might slip." The boy sighed. "If it happens, we just won't be able to risk the safety of everyone else. Tai will have to be on his own."

The large screen in front of Sora flickered off as Izzy's last words echoed around here. As it did, a voice cackled.

"Charming, aren't they? As Tentomon put it, admirable," Kingsmon laughed again, not bothering to be quiet as he filled Sora's ears.

She looked down stubbornly, refusing to respond.

Kingsmon ended his laughter to keep talking. "But do you really think they would be so unselfish? TK and Kari maybe, but certainly not Matt or Tai. Two boys fighting for the affection of a locked away damsel. Whoever gets here first is crowned hero."

"You're wrong!" Sora finally cracked, struggling vainly against her chains. "I don't care about either them. They're both stupid if they can't see they need to work together."

"We're not arguing with you there. But it makes us feel better to know that we don't have to lift a finger to destroy the Digidestined. Well, besides taking you."

Three panels lit up and Sora stopped her struggles to peer into them. It was the three groups. More panels came on, showing everyone individually, except for TK and Kari. They were always shown together. Sora looked away.

"What's the matter, my prisoner? Jealous?"

Sora closed her eyes, willing all of this to just go away.

"Too bad it just doesn't work like that. Though we really do get a laugh from all those wishes. The others were just the same." Kingsmon sighed exaggeratedly. "They didn't survive their trial. Couldn't take reality as it was shoved in their face. But you're different from them, aren't you? At least, you would like to think so." He laughed again, fully and evilly. But this time it faded away and left Sora to her despair.

Tai's group continued their walk, and after a while, even Davis fell silent. Mimi kept up a constant stream of sighs. On their first journey, she had had Sora as her only female companion, someone who-even though she was a jock-could sympathize with Mimi. And now that she lived in America, Mimi had tons to gossip about, but no one to share it with. She doubted any of the boys would be interested in hearing that she was still dating Michael and the two were getting closer. She sighed again.

Palmon looked up at her. "What's wrong, Mimi? You keep sighing."

"It's nothing, Palmon," She reassured her partner.

"Are you getting tired? We have been walking for a while."

Mimi shook her head stubbornly. "No way. I was the one always slowing us down on our first journey, and I'm not going to do that again. Especially now that Sora is at stake. It might take a while to find her, but I'm confident that we can reach her." She said brightly. "Besides, we always get there in time and save the day, like you said earlier. It shouldn't be any different this time."

"Not exactly, Mimi." Izzy called up, again, typing away at his laptop now as they walked.

"Huh?"

"Well, you see- while your logic is ideal, it is far from realistic." He paused in his typing to look up. "When ever it comes time to defeat the bad guys, we always come together as a team, whether through attacks or spirit. One or all of us manage to make our crest's powers manifest and give us more energy. So it's a team effort all around."

Izzy continued talking, but Mimi only looked down at Palmon, blinking. "Manifest?"

"It sounds like a guy word," Palmon replied, thinking.

Tai glanced over his shoulder, hearing Mimi and Palmon confused and Izzy still droning about how in the end everyone always came together as a team. Tai closed his eyes and let out his own sigh, coming to a stop.

Agumon kept walking, but turned around, trotting back. "Something wrong, Tai?"

Everyone else stopped, gathering around their leader with curious faces. Tai shook his head. "No. I was just thinking of where we should start looking. We need to keep moving though." He pounded his fist in his open hand as an idea came to him. "Here's what we're going to do. Our Digimon will have to Digivolve, but, say, every half hour, we'll stop and rest ten minutes and see if we can find any answers." He looked around. "Agreed?"

"Fine by me!" Davis responded, giving him a thumb's up. Izzy and Mimi nodded in agreement as well.

Tai looked down at his partner. "Ready, Agumon?"

The dinosaur nodded just before he was engulfed in a bright light. "Agumon Digivolve to…. Greymon!"

"You, too, Palmon!" Mimi shouted as her partner began Digivolving along with Veemon and Tentomon.

"Palmon Digivolve to… Togemon!"

"Tentomon Digivolve to… Kabuterimon!"

"Veemon Armor-Digivolve to… Raidramon!"

Tai pulled himself up on the even larger dinosaur. "Awesome, Greymon, I missed seeing you."

Togemon lowered her fist for Mimi to sit on, while Izzy and Davis mounted their respected partners. As Kabuterimon took off, Tai shouted up to them, above the noise.

"Izzy, you'll have to keep a lookout for where's a good place to stop!"

Izzy waved his hand to show that he had heard. "Sound's good, Tai!" Kabuterimon lifted him higher in the air, while the other three remained on the ground.