Lone Wolf: Thinking about wrapping HKISA up soon. Keeping up three stories is sort of hard and I already have another idea for a Tamers story in my head. Well, thanks to everyone who bothered to review; it was nice to read your comments.


Chapter 9: Return

It had been days, almost a week. Rika had returned home two days after Ryo and she explained everything to the others. He came by every day to check on her and to make sure she was all right.

Alice stayed at Henry's, the pair tapping away on their keyboards, trying to figure out what was going on. Kazu and Kenta stuck together even more than before, finally aware of what was going on after Jeri kindly explained it to them slowly. She was with Takato a lot. No one was taking any chances.

Takato had asked Yamaki if there were any recent emergences; there weren't. Nothing was making sense.

Yamaki had arranged for a trip to the Digital World a week from the incident. The Digimon would return with them for extra protection, just in case. If the thing was a Digimon, then they were going to play fire with fire.

It was time.

The Tamers gathered at Guilmon's old hideout. Luckily, the gate was open. They all slid in, Takato first, Ryo last. They fell through the medium where there was no up nor down, finally landing hard in the familiar desert-like area of the Digital World.

"Let's go," Takato said. Everyone else nodded in agreement. They all took off running. Their partners were near. They could sense it. (A/N: Jeri and Alice are there too but of course they don't have partners. Ai and Mako aren't though.)

No one said a word. They'd been running for five minutes. Kenta and Kazu started to lag behind a little. Suzie soon followed. Rika and Ryo were at the front, Henry not far behind. Jeri, Takato, and Alice were somewhere in between.

Everything looked the same as the first time they had all entered the Digital World. The damage caused by the D-Reaper had long been repaired and everything was thriving again. The data streams still existed as did the rolling clumps of data.

"Takato-mon!" Guilmon yelled happily, running to the goggle-headed boy. "Nice to see you, too," Takato replied, giving the large red dinosaur a hug. It really had been awhile since they'd seen each other, over a month at the least.

Everyone reunited with their partners; Calumon leapt into Jeri's arms. Impmon hung around off to the side. Alice explained the situation and told the Digimon what was going on. "Way to ruin the party," Kazu grumbled.

"A being who can copy another or one who can control minds...I've heard of a Digimon who could copy the traits, personalities, and practically every feature of a Digimon and perhaps, human," Renamon said, "Of course it's only a legend. I believe his name was Fukuhonmon." "But even if he did exist, there's no way he could've crossed over to our world," Henry replied, "It's virtually impossible. Yamaki made sure of that." "You shouldn't disregard the thought. Maybe this Fukuhonmon is so powerful that he could go to the human world whenever he wants," Lopmon reasoned. "But then Yamaki should've seen that something bio-emerged," Henry argued. "You do realize that we're getting nowhere, don't you?" Rika cut in, annoyed.

Takato sighed, "I wonder how long it'll take Shibumi and the other Monster Makers to create that program...thing...that'll let you guys come back and stay with us." "Program thing? It has a name you know," Rika replied. "Yeah, I know. I just don't know it," Takato told her, sheepishly. There was a long silence. "Stop hanging out with Kazu. His stupidity's starting to rub off on you," Rika finally said.

Jeri sat on the ground, watching and listening to everything, bored, with Calumon on her lap.

Why is there so much fighting?

Suzie also sat on the ground unenthusiastically, Lopmon on her head.

Why can't we all just be friends and play?

The two girls both sighed in sync.

"Fukuhonmon exists," Cyberdramon growled, "I've seen his fortress." "Now he says something," Ryo sighed, sweat dropped, and hung his head low. "But you can't see his fortress. According to legend it's like a castle made of mirrors," Renamon replied. "Think about it," Cyberdramon growled again. "Hey, if it's made out of mirrors, wouldn't you see yourself if you're looking at it?" Kazu asked. "Oh. My. Gosh. He's actually made a good point; let's celebrate," Rika said, somewhat mockingly.

There was another long silence.

"Then let's find it," Ryo broke the silence five minutes later. Everyone nodded in agreement. Ryo jumped on Cyberdramon's shoulder and they took off. Renamon and Rika biomerged to Sakuyamon, following. Takato and Guilmon did the same, becoming Gallantmon Crimson Mode. Henry and Terriermon biomerged to become Megagargomon, picking up Jeri, Calumon, Suzie, Lopmon, Impmon, and Alice. Kazu and Guardromon flew off with Kenta; Marineangemon hovered nearby.

"Let's make it a race to the finish!" Guardromon cheered, nearly knocking Kazu and Kenta off. Everyone else nodded in agreement and flew off.

Somewhere else in the Digital World

So they've come at last. Pathetic humans and their Digimon.