It's been a while. Sorry, I didn't come out with this sooner. I got overwhelmed with homework and whatnot. Then I broke my leg which didn't make anything better. Now, that I'm Christmas break, maybe I'll be able to get some chapters out. I hope so.

Disclaimer: I only own the Digimon that I have created myself. I do not own anything else.

Chapter 9

Kyon's eyes flashed open. He continuously heard a whisper next to his ear. He stared in the direction to find that nothing was there. The whispers grew louder and louder as the seconds passed. He covered his left ear with his right hand and tried to dig his right ear deep into the pillow. His body shook trying to free himself from the loud noise. "W-what is it…"

{You know what to do…}

Kyon's shaking immediately stopped. He weakly sat himself up and hesitated before he stood up from his makeshift bed. His eyes looked over to Koji who still dwelled in slumber and then over to the cell door. He took a couple of steps forward over to the door and just stood there. His eyes were a duller shade of their sapphire color. "Open."

The door swung open, and the torch across from the cell immediately lit up. Kyon's eyes avoided looking directly into the flame. He staggered through the door and did not succumb to the usual transformation that the others were forced to go through. His eyes glanced around and quickly closed as a shot of pain ran up his left arm. His teeth gritted together. "St-stop it…"

His legs shook as he walked unsteadily down the hall. His right hand felt along the cold stone wall and pushed against to keep himself moving forward. Torches flickered on acting as a sort of motion sensor to the dungeon when he walked by them. He soon came to a stop and looked to the cell just opposite of him.

Just as he pushed himself away from the wall, the door to the cell forced itself open. Kyon walked in and looked to the only occupant. "Are you awake?"

"What are you doing here?" Taki's voice weakly growled. His eyes flashed open and stared over at the other. "Did you come here to claim this as your new room?"

Kyon's bottom lip quivered. "I'm here…to see what you saw…"

Taki's eyes grew wide. He sat up and ignored the pain that was pulsing through his right arm. "Y-you stay the hell away from me!"

"I have no choice. I was given the order."

Taki staggered to his feet and made sure to keep his distance from Kyon. His eyes looked to the open cell door. He took a step toward the door and froze. Fear crept up his spine.

"You know better than to step out of this cell willingly. Just what do you think Bravermon is going to do? Do you believe that he will run away just to benefit you? You're a host body just like the others. Lucemon is in control, and what I came here to do is nothing compared to what I did to that light spir--" Kyon collapsed to the ground. His entire body shook as he tried to compose himself.

Taki narrowed his eyes. "You're one to talk. You're in no condition to leave that cell. I believe that's what Nightmaramon informed everyone. Lucemon doesn't care about us. We're disposable. Don't think that because that spirit of yours is different that you're any better than us!

"Here."

He knelt down and held out his left hand. "This is the only thing I feel like offering at the moment. Be quick at looking at my memories, but if I find out that you deleted any, I swear, I will find a way for Bravermon to kill you."

"I understand," Kyon whispered. He slowly raised up his right hand and took the other's hand. "I promise not to steal your memories."


Kouichi slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the fire that blazed at the center of the group. He was the first to wake. He noticed that the rain had lessened and caught sight of the sunlight that tried to fight its way through the dense leaves of the tree everyone was under.

A yawn escaped from his mouth as he sat up and rubbed at his eyes. His eyes looked around the pleasant area, and he jumped immediately when he saw something standing near the group. He let out a sigh once he realized it was only the battered Digimon. "You scared me."

"I apologize." The battered Digimon looked at Kouichi with his robotic eye. "We should head out as soon as we can."

"Why are you helping us? You haven't told us your name since we started to follow you. How do I know that you're not leading us into a trap and that this Eldermon you mentioned isn't just an excuse you made up to get us to come along with you. Those lines you wanted us to memorize, what do they mean?" Kouichi questioned. He looked away from the Digimon's inhuman eye.

"I truly believe that you want to save this world. You lost to Lucemon and yet, here you are, ready and willing to fight off those that he has gotten to join him. Your leader risked his life for you. You are not a selfish group." The battered Digimon walked over to Takuya's side. "My name is irrelevant. It has served no good to those who have learned it. As for Eldermon, he will be the one to judge you when he meets all of you. He will be the one to explain what he can and can not do for you."

Kouichi stood up slowly. He stared back into the battered Digimon's eye and nodded his head. "I see…"

"You're brother is still alive."

Kouichi's eyes widened. "H-how--"

"The dark spirit within you would have felt its brother spirit disappear from this world. You two have a bond stronger than most. Don't forget that. Never forget what you know."


Nightmaramon pulled his spear from the ground which slowly caused the dark barrier to disintegrate into thin air. Small drops of water continued to fall to the ground but that did not seem to faze Nightmaramon anymore. He stared at the somewhat comatose Digimon and snatched him by his arm. He placed the young Digimon over his shoulder and looked back at the human boy who continued to sleep.

"Wake up."

The human twitched at the dark Digimon's words but continued to keep his eyes closed.

"What makes you think that I'm going to actually believe that you're asleep. Now, get up, Akira!" Nightmaramon's mouth slowly began to reveal his teeth. He raised his hand which held on to the spear into the air and struck it down just inches from the human's face.

The human jumped wide awake and quickly crawled away from the spear. "W-w-what!?"

Nightmaramon pulled his spear from the ground and spun it causing it to disappear into nothing but black light. "We're leaving. I doubt you want me to carry you."

"N-no, I can walk," the human boy quickly said. He staggered to his feet and wiped off the dirt and mud that clung to his clothes. He shook his head as a layer of rainwater began to drench his hair and shoulders. "Will this rain ever let up?"

"No…" Nightmaramon started to walk away through the thick, tall grass. He paused for a moment when Akira had not followed and looked back.

"I-I'm coming." The human boy took off running after the dark armored Digimon. His eyes darted around as if he was looking for a way to escape easily and quickly.


Koji's eyes flashed open as if startled from a dream. His eyes looked over to Kyon's makeshift bed and found that it was empty. He quickly sat up and looked around to find the cell completely empty. His eyes noticed the open cell door. "Kyon?"

After a moment of silence, he crawled out of his bed and stood just before the door. His body shook hesitating before he ran out of the cell. He stood there in the hall for a moment before looking at his arms. "I didn't transform…"

He looked around and jumped when the cell door slammed shut. The sound echoed down the dungeon hall.

"W-what was that?"

"Oh, Kyon's just at it again. Nothing to worry about."

"In his condition?"

"He has no choice, Eri."

"The poor thing."

Koji was about to walk in the direction the voices came from but then decided against it. He walked left from his cell and hesitated each time he passed by a cell. Two of the cells he walked by held inhabitants that were still sleeping. He walked by the third cell and froze once he heard a voice.

"Who are you?"

Koji looked into the dark cell and caught sight of a boy slightly older than he was sitting at the far corner staring at him. He looked around and let out a small sigh, "Come on, Naota, you know who I am."

"I've never seen you before this very moment." The older boy turned his face toward the wall as if hearing a whisper in that direction and nodded his head. His golden eyes looked back over at Koji and a smile plastered on his face. "Or maybe I have. It's been a while--" He stared back over at the wall for a mere second. "Koji. You look completely different from the last time that I saw you." He let out a small cough.

"When was the last time that we saw one another?" Koji questioned. He looked around once more and struggled to remember certain memories.

"You know, it was--" Naota looked to the wall once more. "A while back. You're always with…Kyon and Ryun that you never have any time for…any of us." He let out a muffled laugh.

"Do you know where Kyon is?"

"Hmm? Have you lost him?" Naota tried to conceal his laugh once more. "I did see him…earlier."

"Where?" Koji had his full attention on the other. "Do you know where he went?"

Naota staggered to his feet and tried to brush off the dirt that clung to his clothes and skin. He walked over to the bars and smiled at Koji. His dirtied face was revealed by the torchlight. "Come here…get closer to the bars. You don't want everyone to know where he is, now do you?"

Koji took a cautious step towards the bars and jumped when Naota reached out and snatched a hold of his collar. "W-what are you doing, Naota?"

"It's not fair that you can walk outside these bars normally! I despise you Light Spirit! I hate you!" Naota yelled. His hand held on tight to Koji's shirt. "It's not fair. After everything you've done to them, why are they the ones to suffer?"

"Naota, let him go."

Naota's eyes quickly locked on to the new figure. He tugged Koji closer to the bars and growled, "I despise you, too, Kyon. You aren't plagued by your spirit like everyone else is to theirs." He forced out a yell and shoved Koji away from the bars. "Get out of here."

Koji stared at Naota and watched as he walked back into the shadows. Naota's eyes continued to stare directly at Koji.

Kyon clung to the wall and struggled to walk. He weakly placed his hand on Koji's right shoulder and forced on a smile. "Do you think you can help me walk to Lord Lucemon?"

Koji's body tensed at the sound of the name. A speck of anger appeared in his thoughts. He shook it off as he looked over at Kyon and whispered, "Yeah, ok."


"This rain just won't let up." Zoe hid under the protection of a big leaf she used as an umbrella. She kept close to the battered Digimon's side and made sure that Takuya was continuously safe in the mysterious Digimon's care.

"This area is cursed to mourn a thousand mourns. The length of each is unknown," the battered Digimon stated. He stopped for a moment and looked around.

A clearing was just ahead. Kouichi noticed the opening and walked passed the battered Digimon. He was cautious once he walked free from the tall grass. A huge lake rested before him. He looked around at the clearing and noticed that the side of the lake that he stood on consisted of plants that looked alive. The other side looked dead and overrun with moss.

"Green on one side, and icky on the other…" Patamon flew over to Kouichi and landed on his head. "It's one of the lines! It's one of the lines!"

"It was referring to the plants. What's the next line?" Kouichi looked back at the others and waited for a reply.

"It's wet there! It's underground!" Lopmon and Salamon cheered.

"A waterfall," Kneemon pitched in.

"It's very cloudy." Bokomon stared up at the dark sky.

"Don't fall in the mud." J.P. scratched his head in thought.

"The cave is dark," Tommy spoke up.

"'Cave'?" Kouichi looked around the area. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the water. "Where is the cave?"

"There isn't even a waterfall. You sure these clues aren't bogus." J.P. walked over to the edge of the water. His eyes grew wide right when he stepped into the watery mud. "W-what the--"

"J.P.!" Kouichi and the others quickly ran over to their friend. They kept their distance from the mud and tried to reach out as far as they could.

"I shouldn't have opened my big mouth," J.P. muttered under his breath. He struggled to reach for the incoming hands but realized that his struggling caused him to sink faster. "Come on, guys. Grab a stick or something!"

The battered Digimon watched as the humans and the smaller Digimon ran around looking for a sturdy enough branch. He looked to the ever sinking J.P. and noticed the fear that began to grow on his face as he was now chest deep in the mud. "Stop moving!"

J.P. froze and looked at the battered Digimon. "I-I did…"

"You should never take the lines lightly otherwise this will happen."

"I-I get it. I'll take them seriously from now on," J.P. said. His eyes frantically looked around. A smile quickly appeared as he noticed a sturdy stick coming his way. "Come on. Hurry, hurry."

Kouichi ran over to the side of the mud and struggled to hold out the large branch. "Grab it before I lose my grip on it."

J.P. waved his hands around trying to reach for the branch. His movement caused him to sink even further into the mud. "I can't reach it. Just a little closer."

Kouichi took a small step forward and fought against his arms to keep from dropping the branch. "Grab it, J.P.!"

J.P. flung his weight towards the branch and snatched it. "I got it! Pull me out!"

Kouichi's entire body shook as he tried to pull the branch back. His legs were about to give when Zoe and Tommy grabbed a hold of the branch and helped pull J.P. out of the mud.

J.P. crawled on the stable dirt and tried to catch his breath. "Never…again…"

"Now that that's settled, we can scratch off another line," Kouichi sighed as he sat down on the ground.

"I think it's safe to cross out 'it's very cloudy' as well. We've been experiencing nothing but cloudy skies," Bokomon stated. He walked over to Salamon and tapped his chin. "Salamon, do you mind repeating your line."

"'It's underground.'"

"Suppose the cave is underground. There is no entrance as far as we can see and uh--" Bokomon grew silent. "Perhaps in the lake?"

"The lake?" Kouichi stared at the water and then looked up at the battered Digimon. "Is that where it is? Is the entrance to the cave underwater?"

"If it is, then your friend will not be able to continue forward in his condition." The battered Digimon's eye closed while the other eye looked towards the lake.

"What? But Eldermon has to heal him," Kouichi quickly stated.

"Then you will have to bring Eldermon here unless you would rather his wound gets worse."

"Of course not. There's no way I wou--"

"Kouichi," Zoe interrupted catching the other's attention. "First, we have to be sure that the cave is located in the lake."

"Yeah, I'll go check it out." Kouichi got to his feet and cautiously walked over to the water. He did not want a repeat of what happened just minutes ago. He slipped off his shoes and hesitated a bit before he pulled off both his green shirt and red long-sleeved shirt. He took a deep breath and ran into the water.


Nightmaramon paused once he finally caught sight of the lake through the icky plant life. He pulled the Digimon off his shoulder and held him in front of his face. "Will you cooperate? Where do we go now?"

The human-type Digimon opened his right eye and stared at Nightmaramon weakly. "It's…underwater…"

"Here. Watch him," Nightmaramon ordered. He threw the Digimon at Akira causing the two to fall to the ground.

"What was that for!?" Akira yelled. He struggled to get back up and pushed the Digimon gently to the side.

"Be quiet and stay there. If you try to run, I will find you." Nightmaramon walked towards the lake and froze once he was at the edge of the plant life. He caught sight of the group standing on the other side of the lake. "The Digidestined."


Kouichi took in a deep breath before he went under the water. He looked around the clear water and noticed that it was extremely deep. He forced himself to keep swimming downward and finally came to a stop when he noticed a huge Digimon swimming along the sides of the lake. Fear overtook him as he quickly swam to the surface. He gasped for air and looked around for the others noticing just how far he had swam away from them. "W-what was that?"

"Kouichi, did you see anything!" Zoe yelled. She waved her hands into the air to try and get his attention.

"N-not yet!" Kouichi looked around at the water before he took another breath and swam down. His eyes darted to any little thing that moved. {Where did it go?}

{Where did what go?}

Kouichi quickly turned around and found himself face to face with a serpent-type Digimon. He tried to swim away but realized that the Digimon had completely surrounded him with the rest of its body.

Its front claws were at either side of Kouichi, and it had no back legs. Its stared at Kouichi with eyes that slowly changed to different colors. {What is it that you're looking for?}

**END**

I decided to end it there because I really wanted to finish the chapter and let you know that I didn't disappear. Please review! I love to read what you think of the story. Until the next chapter!

--Noi