Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon nor any of its characters.


Unreliable Walls


Real World - Three weeks after the Battle of the Firewall

Mimi pouted as she fixed the tie in a knot she learned from her father. It was simple and elegant, just perfect.

"Are you sure about this Mimi?"

"Of course I am Joe. Trust me, I know about these things" She told the boy who had his chin up, waiting for her to finish.

"It seems a bit too much don't you think?"

"Joe Kido! Do you want to win this girl over or not?" She pulled away, narrowing her eyes at him.

Joe thought for a moment looking around the room. There were clothes scattered all over the place consisting of outfits Mimi had rejected. He had started to regret asking the girl for help.

"I'm ridiculous!" He said. "Girls don't like guys like that!"

"But that's who you are Joe, the old reliable who dresses all grown up… There's nothing wrong with that."

He heard a weird tone in her voice, like she truly meant it. Well of course she did, Mimi was the bearer of Sincerity!

"I feel like I'm going to school."

"Well you're not" Mimi said turning him towards the mirror and finishing the tie "Have a look."

He did.

It was him all right. Joe was wearing a pair of slacks and a white shirt. The tie was a little loose, but firm and above the shirt he had the top part of a suit.

"See? What girl could resist you now? Certainly not the bike girl."

"Her name is Yui" Joe argued weakly. "I don't know if this will work out."

"You just need to have fun Joe" She told him.

"Shouldn't I be more... Cool?" She heard the boy say in a nervous voice.

"You're a cool Joe!" Mimi exclaimed. "At my hands you're probably the best dressed man that a girl will ever know! Besides from what I've seen of her, she isn't miss popularity herself. I'm telling you to stop worrying and have fun."

"I don't want to just have fun Mimi" Joe spoke sitting on the bed. "I don't have as much experience on this as you do."

"And what experience do you think I have?" Mimi crossed her arms and Joe let his shoulders fall slightly. "I had two dates with Michael and that was it ... I'm just giving you a female opinion for a change."

"Then why do you keep talking about how to have fun doing it" Mimi shrugged.

"I'm just trying to ease the tension, but now I think Gomamon would have more luck with you." She told him walking to the door, even though she thought Joe kind of funny, sometimes he was just plain annoying.

"Mimi wait ..." Joe said before she left the room. "Thanks, but ... It's not like I know a lot about romance, and I don't want to go out just for fun! I want to… like her."

Mimi finally recognized what Joe was going for. He was thinking about something serious with the bike girl. Inadvertently she felt a little jealous, but shook the thought away quickly, it was just that she felt proud of how well dressed she made him be. He would be perfect if it wasn't for the hair.

"Something tells me you already do"

"But it's so soon… Right?"

"Joe." Mimi said looking into his eyes, her hand took his gently. "Listen, love is complicated ... You can't expect to study and prepare for it ... It happens... And if it does, you can't win any points by trying to be cool" She pointed out. "Love is like... "She circled a finger in the air trying to come up with an answer. "Well, it's like us, with our friends and digimon... Tell me, did you expect to ever be so close to Gomamon at first?"

"Not really" Joe nodded with a small smile. "I was more scared than anything"

"So... But you got to know him slowly; it was the same for me and Palmon. Love it's not something that comes out of nowhere..."

"I'm know that, it's just that I feel oblige to like her, it's my first date and I always thought it would be somehow special, you know."

She nodded, wondering if one day someone would be like this before dating her.

"I understand Joe..."

"What if we have nothing in common?"

"I thought she wore glasses" Mimi said, giggling at his grimace. "Ok sorry... But listen, Love it's not made because you share some much in common, it's more than that Joe. You got to feel happiness, anger, disappointment and contentment all at once because that person just becomes so important to you" Mimi got a dreamy look on her face as she said that, increasing Joe's curiosity.

"Where did that came from?"

"A Book" She said, making Joe chuckle. "So you see, you can't force yourself to like her, you must feel it"

He kept smiling and she retreated her hand from his, feeling her palms all sweaty.

"Now let's get up"

He stood up and Mimi started to fix his clothes one last time, just to be sure. Joe looked down at her just in time to catch her eyes again for a glimpse. Quickly Mimi looked down, and fixed some imaginary wrinkles on his shirt.

"Now go, before you drop something on my outfit."

She pointed to the door, Joe smiled.

"Thanks Meems"


Digital World - Now

"I don't believe it! This Apocalymon guy turned you all into data?" Jun marveled listening to the story.

"Aham" Mimi agreed. "And it was not nice at all, I still have chills thinking about it."

Mimi, Jun, Kari and Yolei were taking a bath after dinner. In Mimi's mind there was nothing better than relax with a full belly.

"Why do you think Piximon didn't show us this place before?" She wondered.

The bathtub in Piximon's house was practically a swimming pool with hot water and space for a good amount of people. The water was renewed at all times by a small waterfall, smoke and steam never stopped flowing. At the time they were on the far side of the falls, where the temperature was milder and comfortable, doing wonders to sore muscles. Mimi flexed her toes in the warm water letting out a sigh as she leaned against the edge, her hair falling in waves of light brown.

This is life.

Gatomon and Palmon were also with them, the first glaring at the water as the later sighed alongside Mimi. Biyomon was relaxing as well, swimming in her back, Mimi had being worried for Sora's partner, but she seemed okay, listening to the conversation around. She smirked thinking about her answer to Sora's whereabouts.

On the other side of a wall they could hear the boys laughing as water gushed everywhere. Davis was a fan of cannon balls and they could hear him and Veemon screaming from the other side. Izzy was complaining loudly, while Tentomon threatened to electrify the water. Davis complained that they were no fun as he asked Ken for support.

Mimi saw Yolei look at the wall separating the two parties when the boy answered.

The purple haired focus was there for some time, mouth slightly open while daydreaming. Mimi smiled at Kari and Jun, pointing to the girl.

"Thinking about Ken, Yolei?" She asked at the oblivious girl, who didn't seem to be listening. "Yolei!?... YOLEI!"

"What?" she snapped out of trance. The three stared at her for a few moments, Jun and Mimi smirking with themselves before the later giggled. Yolei blushed right away, only glaring at the laughing girls before her.

"It not like you two aren't thinking it!" She screamed at them, before sinking a little in the water, her cheeks burning red.

"We don't get all dreamy about it" Mimi pointed out.

"Really? Joe and TK? Matt?" Yolei smirked at the three. Kari blushed and looked away as Jun just shrugged not even bothering to answer. Mimi had more of a reaction.

"Why does everyone say that!?" She asked at mention of the boy's name, Yolei opened her mouth. "No! Don't say a world or I promise I'll drown you right here"

"She will" Palmon nodded, eyes always closed.

Yolei thought about it, tempted by the idea, but if Palmon actually warned her, well, she wasn't about to risk her life. The other girls also kept quiet letting the only sounds around be the running water and the mess from the boy's side. Mimi tried to go back to her relaxed state, finding hard not to wonder about herself and the bearer of Reliability. She didn't want anyone to know about her failed efforts; luckily she was subtle about it.

"Anyway." Kari started filling the silence. "Is there anything else you're curious about Jun?"

"Not really" Jun began in a low voice. "You know, those adventures you guys went through… And Matt, well I can't see him doing something like that."

"He was in a bad place at the time, we all understood" Kari explained.

"I know, but even so... And then the fights you had to go through... How did you get to do this for so long?" Jun asked them as Davis announced another cannonball. Mimi looked at the girl who was actually the oldest among them. Jun was absently running a hand through the water's surface.

"What are you talking about Jun?" Kari asked, and the bit her cheek.

"Is just that I took part in one battle and I was having nightmares for months ... How do you guys keep doing this?"

"It's the same for us." Mimi said, to this day she had nightmares about Chuumon and Whamon dying in front of her, however she had learned a long time ago that running wasn't the answer for these kinds of problems. "But we are still DigiDestined Jun, is our responsibility to protect this world."

"And we fight for you and our home" Biyomon complemented.

"I know, but ... How do you get ..." Jun stopped there when a water splash hit her face, Yolei was grinning from where she was.

"Stop being so depressing Jun" She told the other girl. "We have a job to do and we do it, if you don't want to do it than feel free to go home." Jun stared at the other girl for a long time before smiling.

"You're right besides..." Jun turned to her and Kari, making Mimi raise a eyebrow at her. "I thought those dark skies before were bad, but what you went through. You guys are really awesome!" She completely ignored Yolei as she said that.

"Are you saying we weren't?" Yolei asked.

"I'm just saying that you didn't get turned into data" Jun defended.

"We all had hard times" Kari tried to intervene, while washing her hair. "This isn't a competition, you know"

"Serious Kari? Well you were there on both times so I think it's easy for you to talk" Jun said smiling. Kari blushed, staring at the wall while Yolei crossed her arms. "You must be like twice the hero Yolei is."

"I know what you're doing Jun, It's not gonna work" Yolei said. "In addition as much as their adventure was more dangerous, we had a Davis with us."

"Fair enough" Jun agreed.

"Wasn't him whom saved your asses in the end, when you guys were at that weird dimension?" Mimi asked winking at Palmon.

"That's ..." Yolei stopped opening and closing her mouth, the others laughed around as Yolei tried to convince then she could have done it if Davis hadn't being there but after getting nothing but skeptical stares she raised her arms frustrated "Oh fuck this!"

She said throwing water around. Jun shouted even though they were all wet already. The war began when Yolei hit Kari unintentionally, and soon the three were running around the pool, giggling and stumbling in the water. Biyomon joined soon after, flying to escape and attack, laughing the whole time.

Gatomon quickly ran away so she wouldn't get wet.

Mimi just watched them and relaxed on her corner.

"I hope they let us out of this Palmon." She said with a small grin, which the digimon reciprocated.


Kari wished everyone a goodnight as they passed by her. Davis answered with a wide smile, as he ran to his room alongside Veemon.

When TK passed by though, he answered mildly, smiling at her in a sorry like way. Kari smiled at him too, watching the boy make his way to his own room, with Patamon flying beside him.

She took a step towards the door, briefly glimpsing the room ahead of her where, according to the Geckomons, Tai was housed.

After leaving Mimi alone, she had put on comfortable clothes and was ready for sleep. The thought of wishing goodnight to Tai passed briefly through her mind before she remembered the other absence at dinner. She saw Biyomon entering in a room alone and shook her head smiling.

A single memory of a Tai with swollen eyes and barely hidden tear marks showed in her mind's eye, together with other images of him laying depressively on the couch or practicing soccer to exhaustion.

She always knew Sora was special to him...

And this year the girl seemed to realize the same about her brother… Kari just wondered if the feelings went deeper then friendship… And where Matt was in the situation… TK would likely know, but…

Even after apologizing the boy was quite distant from her, like he was afraid of something. Glancing at his door which was wide open, Kari bit her lip, walking slowly.

Gatomon saw her partner moving and stood beside the girl.

Curious, Kari walked to take a quick glimpse inside the boy's room. The first one she saw was Patamon, resting above the bed. TK was sitting on the floor meanwhile, biting on a pencil as he stared at a blank notepad. She smiled softly and took a step forward.

When he noticed her, he was surprised, even more when she went to sit beside him as Gatomon went for the bed, where she and Patamon watched the two.

"Having trouble?" She asked facing the notepad.

"A little bit" TK said, looking down.

"Can I see it?" The girl shyly extended her hand. TK hesitated for a second, before handing the notepad to her. Kari read the few lines briefly feeling the boy's gaze upon her, somewhat apprehensive.

"I'm not sure of how to do that" He explained lamely as the notepad suddenly appeared in his line of vision. Weirdly enough TK knew everything he wanted to say, but as he thought about it, every word seemed weaker than the last. It was like no matter how he said it, it would be lame and stupid.

"You should just write as it goes, and see how it feels" Her voice sounded like a bucket of icy water on his mind. TK brushed a few stranded hairs from his forehead, and turned his head to her soft brown eyes. To see how it feels? He knew how it felt, and he didn't want to feel it again. When he had started to make notes over their adventures, he never expected to have these kinds of troubles, now he had tried to take notes of what happened with Devimon, his feelings exposed in a page that he wasn't so certain about...

Kari said nothing after reading it though, so he made himself say it.

"I'm so sorry Kari" He told her "I should never have called you that… Again… I… I just didn't want you to get hurt"

"I know TK" Kari knew him too well. See had seen how sorry he was the moment the words left his mouth. To read his notes was just to be sure of it. "I know what Devimon means to you... To both of you" She complemented glancing at Patamon.

"Then, you know that he is dangerous…"

"I know that too" She agreed. "But still, you lost control and Patamon lost it with you this time… I was just sad that you didn't listen to me"

Kari looked down, waiting. That was what had hurt the most after the 'stupid'. She and TK were friends for almost as long as Tai and Sora, and it hurt her when she couldn't help him out.

"I'm sorry for that" TK said in a low voice.

She remembered what Davis said earlier. How nice it was to know that TK could be angry and make mistakes, and how she wasn't perfect either. Kari guessed he was right, and she couldn't hide that the blond meant a lot to her.

"TK?" He looked up, she smiled sadly. "Don't you ever do that again please, remember that I care about you too…"

She saw him gulping and looked down hiding her blushing cheeks. She could see out of the corner of her eye that he was nodding, and she sighed, getting up and pointing to the notepad in his hands.

"I know you shouldn't worry about that either... You're human after all"

He looked at her a little surprised, but all she did was smile at him, earning one in response. They would be just fine she knew then.

Conforted by that thought. Kari looked at Gatomon and Patamon. The two digimon seemed to be glancing at each other for a while and then both of them jumped from the bed leaving the room together and disappearing without saying anything.

Kari frowned and looked at TK.

The grin they shared was there before they knew it.


Joe glanced into the bathroom with a firm hold on the towel around his waist. Through his poor vision, without the glasses, he could see there was no one amongst the clouds of steam.

"See Gomamon" He said stepping inside. "Now we have the place just for us"

"You will have to learn to be less shy in the future Joe!" Gomamon spoke passing in front of him, his fins easily slipping by the wet floor.

"It's good to have a little privacy from time to time" Joe said, dropping the towel on the edge. He touched the water carefully, and slowly sank into it, the temperature relieving his tense muscles.

"Be as you wish, but this contradicts everything I've been trying to teach you."

"And what exactly have you tried to teach me?" Joe asked sarcastically.

"To be more relaxed of course" The digimon said jumping into the water, Joe protected his face in vain, only to find Gomamon floating before him, belly up.

"Let's try further from the waterfall" Joe remarked, noting that there was so much steam, his vision was one big blur. He swam there leaning against the wall, the warm water was much more comfortable on that side too. "And I have learned this lesson, thank you. I'm not the mass of nerves that I used to be."

"But you still worry" Gomamon was saying swimming around, his mouth making a small fountain as he closed his eyes.

"That's disgusting! You're basically spitting in the water"

"See, what am I saying!?" Gomamon chuckled.

"Whatever, you can't take everything for a joke." Joe tried to explain, but the sight of his quiet digimon soon made him close his eyes. "But this here is very good I have to admit."

His partner hummed in agreement.

For a moment he was able to forget this adventure that only got more dangerous each day. For Joe, to take part in a battle, find an old enemy, go through another battle and then find out that a friend was prisoner of a demon Digimon for months were still far from his worst expectations. Tai was alive after all ... He just hoped they could all be safe once this was over… He knew he wouldn't let anyone be hurt without helping them.

Quickly he remembered a certain girl screaming at Tai for wanting to make them leave. This attitude had worried him a little and made him confused.

First she had come to complain a lot lately, as much as she did in their first adventure and then she explodes at the thought of abandoning the Digital World. He knew Mimi, she was more than she appeared to be and she would never stop fighting... If not for this, the time they spent together was enough to show just how much there was to know of a girl who pretty much showed herself truthfully for all to see.

"Gomamon?" He opened his eyes.

"Yes Joe?"

"I'm a little worried about Mimi" Joe spoke hoping Gomamon wouldn't turn the matter into a joke and give him useful advice. "Did you notice how she's acting lately? Is she in trouble?"

"How so?"

"Well ..." How could he explain his problem? "Is just that she's complaining a lot and I know she is strong Gomamon, but maybe she's stressed about something? Why would she be so whiny? And then the way she talked to Tai, I know someone had to do that, but…"

The digimon's focus turned from where he was looking towards Joe. The boy could barely see without glasses, but Gomamon's smile was always obvious.

"I think you are the one who doesn't understand things right Joe" Gomamon winked at him.

"What?" Joe asked, alarmed. "I'm just worried about her, and that's all."

"She looks a lot at you, did you know?" Gomamon explained, swimming closer to him. She was looking at him? Impossible, although, he had been too busy trying not to stare at her to notice anything "Talk to me Joe. I'll be your Doctor of Love."

"Doctor Of ... What are you talking about?" Joe said in a nervous voice.

"Well, you two live together don't you? And humans that live together seem to like each other a lot"

Joe stared at Gomamon who smiled with the confidence of a scientist that just about discovered the secret of the universe. He sighed ... Maybe he should have sought someone else to talk about it ...

"That's it Gomamon, I'm not letting you spend your day in front of the TV after this" He said, not answering the question.

"That's all I have to do when you study!" The digimon cried throwing water around, Joe shot some back, shaking his head and smirking at the childish display. Gomamon became confused. "Why aren't you seeing that bike girl anymore?"

"Her name is Yui" Joe spoke "and that is personal."

"Personal? I am your partner Joe!" Gomamon rolled in the water putting his fins in the air. "What did I just say about relaxing?"

"I stopped relaxing when you declared yourself my Doctor of Love!" Joe complained loudly and then he heard a noise almost like a laugh from somewhere. The boy inspected the wall behind him briefly, but soon Gomamon took his attention gain.

"Come on Joe!"

Joe looked at the Digimon.

"Is this really the best time?" Joe asked lowering his gaze to the water. On instinct he reached to fix his glasses just to be reminded that they weren't in his face.

"Would you rather speak in the middle of a fight with lots of dark digimon around us?" Gomamon asked. "Cuz I don't care, I can fight and talk! I'm multi-task!"

Joe quickly debated with himself whether it was worth to keep avoiding the subject. Knowing Gomamon ... It was better to give up.

"All right, you want to know I'll tell you." Joe crossed his arms looking at the ceiling. Piximon had a nice place indeed, those lines and reliefs were amazing. "Everything was fine between us until Yui asked if she could live with me just like Mimi..." Gomamon had two fins behind his head while he floated in the water. "Well I didn't want Mimi to leave... Then Yui asked if I liked Mimi and I-I froze... All right? It was Just a second but I think she got jealous"

Joe paused grunting. "How is someone even jealous of me Gomamon? I'm not a magnet of women for God's sake! Then suddenly I lose a girl like that! Why is it that these things happen to me?"

"But couldn't you three be together in the same house Joe?"

"With you and Palmon? She didn't know I was a DigiDestined, remember?"

"Why not tell her?" Gomamon said. "You could do it over lunch and I would be there to break the ice!"

Joe sighed, throwing his hair back. The water was not so comfortable anymore.

"I didn't want to tell her ..." Joe said, when Gomamon asked why, he just shrugged. Not even he was certain of the reasons. Usually he was a reasonable person and thought of everything before acting, but this last year seemed to have done a number on him.

"Is it because you like Mimi?" Gomamon rubbed his chin, he had seen Ken and Izzy doing that a lot and it always seemed to help. "You looked like you did when we were fighting the dark masters."

Joe could find no other explanation.

"Yes Gomamon I ... I think so" Joe said without bothering to hide it. Gomamon was looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"For real then?"

"What?" Joe asked as Gomamon still looked puzzled. "You doubt it! Why have you been asking me about this since we got to this bath Gomamon!" Joe shouted indignantly. Gomamon raised his fins defensively.

"Calm down Joe, I was just being sure. Usually you're more stubborn than that". Joe sank in the bathtub groaning.

There was silence between them as the boy plunged trying refresh his mind, the water was suddenly too hot again.

"So what are you going to do Joe?" He heard Gomamon asking.

"I don't know Gomamon... These things are very complicated."

He remembered how after Tai, he was willing to take risks again, the first date he had was a result of it. He had decided that life was just too short not to live it, but after the results, he was back to try and figure everything out before taking a step.

How nice to be me.

"You should do that thing when the guy takes the girl in his arms and kiss her."

"Serious Gomamon, soap operas are not a great source of wisdom."


Izzy had let Tentomon sleeping in his room. He was about to close the door when Mimi passed by him in a rush, muttering 'oh my god's repeatedly, followed by a struggling Palmon, who apologize quickly for the girl's behavior as the door was slammed shut.

Izzy cringed hoping nobody got their sleep interrupt by it and made his way to the kitchen holding his laptop. He was just passing by so he was a little surprised to see Sora eating a bowl of hot soup at the table.

Izzy cleaned his throat to announce his presence. The girl looked at him and smiled through the dim light.

"Can't sleep Izzy?" She asked.

"Gennai asked to see me, something to do with my computer." He explained quickly, looking thoughtfully at her. "You lost dinner"

"Yeah" Sora agreed.

"And you seem happy too" Izzy watched as Sora agreed "So things were good?"

"I think so" Sora left her smile die for a brief moment. "He hasn't told me anything about what happened, and when I said Agumon's name I thought he was going to jump off the balcony to escape"

Izzy hesitated not knowing if Sora was just venting or asking for advice.

"Maybe he could talk to Kari" Sora was already shaking her head.

"He'll do no such a thing Izzy."

"Why not?"

"Because he will want to protect Kari of what happened to him" Sora smiled sadly. "I know Tai"

"You do don't you?" Izzy said almost laughing to himself. Sora took a spoonful of soup and swallow it, smiling at the taste.

"He may come to you Izzy" Sora warned. "I'm sure he's done it before."

"He knows I'm not good with these things" He pondered for a second. "Maybe Matt?"

He saw Sora grimace.

"Maybe, but I don't know if it would be a good idea, Matt has his own problems to deal with and I'm not sure Tai will want to go to him either."

Izzy looked around noticing how the kitchen seemed lonely. He should know better than to mention Matt. Whatever was going on between the two was none of his business, and Sora already had assured him of them working together.

"I've been thinking if we could bring Agumon back" Sora wondered. "Tai needs him."

"I thought about that too. Did you see how he reacted to Tai's crest? Gennai said they could contain the Dark Spore and I mean to ask him about that"

"Do you think it would work?"

Izzy nodded, frowning when she brought her hand to her chest, holding something inside her shirt. He averted his gaze, not wanting to be accused of staring at her breasts and got himself to think about the everything, getting to a conclusion he knew to be true.

"So that leaves you." He said then. Sora frowned at the sudden change of subject, placing her hand back on the table. "You know him… Maybe it's you he's going to need."

"I told him that I would be there" Sora said with a small smile. Izzy looked around the kitchen as Sora vanished to her own mind, finally fixing his gaze at the door when he felt she wanted to be alone.

"I'd better go. I don't want to keep Gennai waiting"

"Of course"

Izzy got up from the table and made his way to the room where Gennai saw them before. The old version of him was leaning on a table when Izzy came, his smile appearing behind the mustache.

"Hello Izzy, I'm sorry to have you awaken so late"

"It's not a problem Gennai."

"Really? Great..." Gennai moved his hand and Izzy took a seat next to him. "I wanted to ask you to lend me your computer Izzy, there are some modifications that will be useful in the mission."

"Of course ..." Izzy took the laptop from under his arm. "You won't tell what those modifications are, will you?"

"Hhm, I would rather keep the surprise."

"Okay." Izzy was about to give his computer, but hesitated suddenly, narrowing his eyes. "Wait Gennai, will there be any useless information like last time?"

"Useless information?" Gennai seemed legitimately confused by the term.

"Digimon dancing kankan?"

"Hhh, I thought you would find it as funny as I did" Gennai said a little surprised, Izzy frowned. "Do you really think it was useless?"

"Perhaps a little bit?" The boy said trying to sound polite.

"Okay Izzy, no useless information this time around."

Gennai smiled a friendly smile and Izzy's eyes narrowed again. This time though, Gennai already had his computer in hands.


After Izzy left to find Gennai, Sora stayed where she was, gazing at the empty bowl before her, her stomach full she was finally starting to feel the sleep coming, so slowly she retrieved the bowl and the spoon, washing both quickly in the sink. After that, she made her way back to her room, avoiding bothering Tai again for the night even though she was curious if he was back asleep.

Well, if she wasn't sure about Tai, she was about her digimon. Biyomon was sleeping silently her wings lightly spread in the rather huge space the bed had for her. Sora had thought about waking her up to show the crest, knowing how happy her partner would be, but to see the digimon so peaceful after knowing about Agumon changed her mind right away.

Instead Sora sat down and faced her, much like she had done with Tai until the nightmare woke him up. She had made sure to tell him, she would be there to help, but just after talking to Izzy, she realized how difficult that could be.

That hesitation she felt from him at first had her worried that even though he should come to her he would avoid doing so. Sora knew him, and knew how stubborn he could be which made her wonder if she should tell him everything and force the subject, besides there was another problem she felt guilty about.

Making up her mind the auburn haired girl went to the hallway and walked by a few doors before stopping in front of the last one, knocking lightly. Sora waited and almost too quickly the blonde showed his face at the door. She frowned, he probably wasn't even sleeping.

"Sora?"

"Hi Matt" She made herself comfortable to peek inside. Gabumon was sleeping in the bed. "Can we talk?" She was afraid that he would refuse, but he simply nodded following her to a corner out of earshot.

"What is it?" He asked without any emotion, making Sora sigh.

"I know you're angry" She said in a low voice, almost a whisper. He looked at her and she could see something like resentment burning in his eyes, but it was mixed with something else too. "I know that you're trying, but please be sincere with me, no more walls or masks Matt"

Sora said that and waited. Knowing Matt, she could see how much he was hurting and deep down, she blamed herself for it.

"What are you asking exactly?" The blonde inquired, looking up at her.

"Hear me out" She told him, hoping to say the right words, hoping she could solve this and maybe fixing some of what she broke. "Matt, I know you are not ready to have this conversation, but I want to before…"

"Before you go help him" He said suddenly, not seeming the least surprised.

Sora gulped then, but still held her gaze.

"Don't be like that Matt, I know you…" He frowned and she hesitated. "Look, I told Izzy before we came back that no matter what, we were still Tai's friends and we would bring him back... But I know you're angry and if you're angry at me please, be done with it before you hurt someone else"

"I'm not angry at you dammit!" He said quite loud, surprising Sora. He seemed to realize what he did and stopped himself leaving her silently watching him clenching his fists, his shoulders going up and down, before he let go of a long breath, calming himself, it didn't seem to work because Matt still took out a cigarette dealing angrily with his lighter. The cigarette lit finally and he blew the smoke to the air. "I'm not angry at you... I'm not… It's not you Sora" He said, frustration showing in his voice.

"It's not you either Matt" Sora told him, stepping forward. Slowly, she took his hand in hers, trying to say that she still cared for him. Matt took her hand in his, and she squeezed lightly, watching his face change for something a little more appeased. "Are we still friends?"

Sora waited patiently for his answer, which, when it came, was a quick nod.

"We really are done aren't we?" He asked after that.

"Yes" Sora said simply and sadly. "Are you angry at Tai?" This question was important she knew, and she could wait forever until he gathered his thought, but surprisingly the answer came quick.

"Honestly Sora." He started taking the cigarette from his mouth. "I'm not sure who I'm angry at really, but I did got upset when you didn't show up at dinner" She smiled softly at the boy she had believed to love, and that in a way she still did. "But it's not you."

Sora had known when Izzy started to list the people Tai might need, that she wanted to be there. But eventually she couldn't just let Matt go without this, without trying to mend things a little. Maybe it was a crazy idea that she wouldn't be able to be there for both of them at the same time, and yet it was what she felt would happen no matter what she tried.

"Tai is very luck" Matt said making her stop when she was about to get back to her room.

"He was alone for four years" She told him truthfully. "He needs his friends now Matt... All of them"


Outside Piximon's house at the top of the stairs, there stopped two Digimon letting the moon cast tall and lean shadows of both of them.

Gatomon just sat like any feline while Patamon stood looking in the opposite direction of the sky. They stayed like that for a while, one with her neutral and patient facade, the other nervously flapping his wings again and again.

There was silence as Patamon watched Gatomon out of the corner of his eye. They had agreed that just like TK and Kari they should talk things out, but how do you do that when you can't even think alike?

"Can we just agree to disagree?" He blurted out the question in a rush.

"What?"

"It's what TK says when he and Matt can't agree on something" Patamon explained landing next to her. "You don't want anyone around you, but you talked to me after Devimon... You won't tell me why, but I think I know."

Gatomon nodded. "Was it my fault?"

"Kind of…" Patamon recognized trembling at the thought of Devimon saying he was weak. "But not all of it... Last year I wanted to have helped TK, but I couldn't..."

" I…" She started thinking about how she went through the same with Kari. Patamon looked at her conveying that he knew how she felt. The two spent hard times with their partners. "I want to protect Kari with all that I am Patamon."

"And I want to do the same for TK"

They held each others' gazes for a moment. Patamon knew that she wouldn't open up to him, but still he wanted her to know that he wouldn't give up and she did that narrowing her eyes in recognition. It wasn't a full blown understanding, but it was a start. Sometimes Patamon got himself wondering why he cared and fewer times he only got to come up with examples.

"It's funny how TK got all irritated at Kari this year." Patamon commented, a little curious himself.

"Kari was the same, she complained when TK came to see her then complained that he stopped."

They stood there, suddenly forgetting their problems and thinking about their partners. Not long ago, their help was meaningless until the two humans talked to each other. Patamon himself was always impressed remembering how Kari had being the one to get into TK's nerves as Gatomon thought the same of Kari… As the night made its silent presence upon them with a sudden breeze, he made up his mind.

"Gatomon?"

"Yes Patamon?" She asked a little curious.

"I think you irritate me just like Kari does with TK" He pointed out without blinking.

Gatomon thought about that briefly, joining the pieces of so many confessions that Kari had made to her in the past. She looked away from Patamon.

"I guess you do irritate me a little like TK with Kari"

The two stood there, none of them refuting the truth of it.

The moon was big and bright above the two Digimon as both sat a little closer to each other in a silent agreement. The silence was comfortable and there was no rush to be back inside.


Matt woke up with the sun on his face, warm against his skin.

He turned around, looking at the still sleeping Gabumon and smiled slightly. Apparently even with an almost sleepless night, he couldn't help getting up early. His conversation with Sora had brought him to think too much and Matt didn't even remember closing his eyes.

His bare feet walked the wooden floor without much fuss. As quiet as possible he put on a shirt and left the room. Glancing at some closed doors by the hall, until slowly he made his way to the balcony that faced the inside of the coliseum like house, seeing several Geckomon and Otamamon busy with cleaning.

Unceremoniously he took out a cigarette and lit it. It was better to start the day like this, so he could better his breath later brushing his teeth.

He blew the smoke in the air feeling the morning's peace. At least for now they were safe and didn't need to worry. The sun was shining, the Digimon moved around and there was no sign of dark clouds. He could almost forget himself in a morning like this.

"You smoke now?" Matt jumped, finding Tai beside him with his typical lopsided smile.

"Thanks to you, I would say." Matt told him, looking down. His good mood suddenly ruined.

He could see some Digimon in the courtyard, talking and walking. Smell of food could already be felt in the morning air. Yesterday he hadn't paid attention, but now it was clear the high number of refugees around.

"I know" Tai admitted. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be, I got used to it"

Matt took the cigarette from his mouth using this as an excuse to watch Tai slightly. The hair looked like a palm top, still wet as the goggles hung from his neck. He seemed weirdly nervous, but better than the walking frown from the night before who wanted to make them go away.

"How are you man?" Tai asked suddenly, Matt frowned.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that question?" He rebuted with a touch of sarcasm as he recalled what Sora had told him. Tai just shrugged in a weird way, like he was fighting to say something.

His ex-girlfriend had been right of course. Compared to Tai, his problems were meaningless and his own fault too. Yet it was hard to talk to the brunette beside him, he had spend too much time blaming Tai for a lot of stuff.

"We didn't talk much you know… Not that I wanted to talk but…"

Matt made a face as he heard that. The last he wanted was to get sympathy from him, he had enough of that already.

"What is there to talk really?" He said. The only thing he could think of was to ask how it was to be a prisoner of Daemon, and that was by far a sensitive subject. "So did you gave up of that stupid idea from yesterday?" Matt asked dryly.

"I did, sorry about that..."

"Don't start..." Matt rebuked, bluntly.

"Dude what's wrong with you?" Tai asked, and Matt cursed himself thinking of an excuse.

"Sorry, I didn't sleep to well" Matt tried to be nonchalantly about it

"Neither did I" Tai said in the same tone. "Honestly, what bit you? Why don't talk to Sora about it?" Matt narrowed his eyes, but when he saw the surprised look on Tai's face he knew the other boy was as oblivious as ever. The brunette opened his mouth to say something, but close it immediately.

So Sora hadn't told him? Matt quickly debated whether he should say something or not, Sora's voice came back to him, telling how much Tai must have gone through, then he remembered how Sora looked so certain the night before. Maybe she was right and he would be needed, not that he liked to bring the issue out in the sun... Quickly Matt threw the stub of his cigarette into the courtyard below, watching the small stump hit the ground.

"Sora and I are no longer together." He said turning to dumb looking Tai. He really didn't know then. Matt thought about how he should say the last piece, knowing it could help or make tings worst, it wasn't the first time he had to take risks though "The others don't know yet because we choose to hide it, but I think that maybe you should know"

The other boy gained a scared look on his face, but Matt didn't give it much thought, quickly making his way back inside, before he was forced to answer more questions and remember his mistakes…


Joe was sitting at a long table with room for all the DigiDestined and Digimon.

Gomamon was on his side lying on top of the table while everyone settled down.

Matt didn't sit; rather he kept himself leaning against the wall. TK and Kari sat side by side. Tai though, seemed to be having deep thoughts about something. He briefly looked at Mimi when her voice caught his attention, trying to be discreet as the girl spoke lively with an Otamamon, trying to convince the digimon to stop with the princess thing.

"I told you guys before, you can call me Mimi"

"But that's what we are doing Princess Mimi" The girl groaned and then grinned exasperatedly, kissing the Otamamon who blushed deeply.

"Okay then, but please keep it to a minimum" The Otamamon nodded walking away dreamily.

"I wouldn't mind being called a princess" Yolei commented.

"Neither would I" Jun agreed glancing at Gotsumon, who shook his head immediately.

"No chance"

At the end of the table, waiting was Gennai with Piximon floating beside him. After a moment letting the conversation go on the old man finally cleared his throat.

"Digidestined, we have dire news" Joe adjusted his glasses. The cracked lens was a bother, but he supposed he would get used to it sometime. "Daemon moved his army out of his territory and is attacking the Digital World as we speak."

Typical. Joe thought as he let his shoulders down.

"I should go back" Tai stood up harshly right away.

"No, you should not" Piximon countered. "We are already evacuating all Digimon we can while trying to delay Daemon's army. What you DigiDestined must do is recover your crests!"

There was silence as they accepted that, it was the race for the crests again, except this time they actually had a time limit.

"Izzy" Gennai carefully returned Izzy's laptop, a cable running from the computer to the ... Table? "I programmed your digivice's locator to search for the energy signatures of the crests; thanks to your program the reach can envelop the whole Digital World."

"Really? That's..."

"Prodigious?" Tentomon asked earning a glare from Izzy. "What? I wanted to try and say it just once"

Izzy smiled as everyone but Tai laughed. The red haired perked up as he turned his computer on and the table shined suddenly, revealing Izzy's computer screen before them. Joe quickly took Gomamon off the table.

"I was watching closely!" Gomamon argued.

Izzy took control of the cursor, spinning the little arrow around.

"What is KanKan2.0?" Davis asked. Izzy glared at Gennai who took a sudden interest in ceiling.

Turning back to the laptop, the red haired clicked on a map icon and then the Digital World appeared before them.

"Now place your Digivice in the computer." Gennai instructed and, as soon as Izzy did that, a small purple dot began to glow at the top of the screen.

"Is that my crest?" Izzy asked and Gennai nodded in confirmation.

Tai moved his hand to the centre of the map and to the east placing his finger in the center of eastern Server.

"We are right here" He said, moving his finger east, towards the purple dot. "This is Server's desert, and is MetalEtemon's territory."

Joe swallowed hard, remembering what had happened the last time he had seen that cheap imitation of Elvis.

"He is alive?" Palmon spoke fearfully.

"Leomon told us about some of our enemies coming back" Izzy pointed out.

"MetalEtemon is a mega level digimon, it means that crest will be hark work" Joe said, trying to sound confident.

"You will need more power" Gennai agreed.

"Let's see where the other crests are" Izzy said asking everyone for their digivices. Hands moved all around the table, until... "Sora?"

"I don't need to know" She spoke for the silent room.

Everyone watched the girl in curiosity, everyone but Tai who was looking at the table the whole time. Gennai had a small smile on his face. Then they gasped almost in unison, everyone surprised when Sora showed them her crest, as good a new, with the red heart glistening against the daylight.

"Tai was keeping it"

"I took it with me when I ran away." The boy in question quickly explained.

Biyomon looked at the crest at the girl's hands, and jumped on Sora's lap beaming towards the girl.

"That means that I can digivolve to Garudamon again!" She said and Sora nodded at her as the two shared a brief hug.

Matt watched that with a cool face, as Tai had a small smile on his lips.

"Awesome! So now we have just six crests to look for" Davis exclaimed.

"Tai! Why don't you have my crest too!" Mimi complained winning a lopsided grin from Tai.

"I think I forgot it Meems."

When the other dots emerged on the map, however, Joe made sure to watch Tai as he slowly let a frown form on his face. First he pointed to a gray dot on the screen that made Joe lean forward finding a blue part of the map between Server and File Island.

"Here is the territory of WaruSeadramon" Tai explained quickly. "He is more powerful than a MegaSeadramon, though he isn't a mega" Joe nodded to himself, remembering a MegaSeadramon he defeated before. Tai's finger went to another dot, a yellow one, resting on File Island."This is Devimon's"

TK and Kari shifted uncomfortably where they were.

"Will he..." TK started looking at Kari and then to Patamon. Girl and digimon waited and the boy sighed before scowling. "Can he be of any help, since he obeys you Tai?"

"Maybe... Just as long as there aren't any witnesses" Tai warned the younger. He quickly pointed to a pink dot at the end of western Server "Here is where LadyDevimon stays. Of course it will be our last trip since it is bound to be the more dangerous one, with Daemon wanting Kari dead."

Kari nodded to herself, trying to be calm about that, but soon felt a hesitant hand touch hers below the table. She looked up at TK, who still had a scowl on his face, and took his hand seeing him relax a bit as she comforted herself too.

"Here is MetalPhantomon" Tai pointed to a green dot in the forest where they had supposedly come from, then he went to another forest to the south where a blue dot shone. "And this is Cherrymon's forest."

They all seemed to look at Matt at the same time, the blonde's blue eyes were piercing the place in the map where the crest of Friendship was supposed to be, but he offered no comment on the matter.

"So what is the strategy?" Hawkmon asked.

"Against this bunch?" Tentomon. "We can take them down together."

"Almost all of these Digimon are ultimate" Ken said with a hand on his chin. "Devimon is a champion and Metal Etemon is a mega."

"You can't think in those terms Ken" Tai quickly explained. "If that was the case Leomon could have destroyed MetalPhantomon a long time ago... They are more powerful than a normal ultimate."

"Then we must attack them together." Davis told them. "It's the only way this works, all of us together we can take on a mega no problem."

"Blackwargreymon was a mega Davis" Joe told the boy who sank in his chair.

"But as Ken said, they are not exactly mega level" Izzy pondered.

"And one more thing" Sora spoke above them. "The longer we take, the more the Digital World will suffer."

"The Digital World can recover itself once this is over." Tai spoke leading them to silence.

Joe looked at Gennai, waiting for the old man to say something, but it was Piximon who spoke."Two groups can do the job as well as one large group, and you won't need to be alone as Daemon wants."

"We are already doing what he wants by going after the crests" Tai told the fairy digimon. "All of these places are traps to try and get them with a Dark Spore, and I doubt the generals will be our only enemies."

"With the mobilization of the army I doubt they'll have many dark digimon with them"

Joe looked at the two wondering whether to enter into the discussion. His friends and Digimon seemed equally confused, but even seeming troubled Mimi stood up.

"How many Digimon will die if we are too late?" She asked around the table. Joe stood beside her on whim.

"We can't leave them to it Tai." He stated. "If there's a chance we can help as fast as possible, we should take it"

"Wow, and I thought you were the careful one Joe" Yolei remarked.

Sora was smiling from where she sat, nodding in agreement while Tai bit his lip muttering something under his breath. He still kept his gaze on the table as he flexed his hand.

"You guys are as stubborn as I remember" Tai said soberly. "Our forces are too limited."

"Not as much as you think." Gennai gestured to a confused Izzy who quickly turned off the computer table. Tai frowned as they left the house and the old man guided them towards the courtyard. Slowly three familiar forms took shape before them and Mimi was running before they even got there.

"Monzaemon!" She cried hugging the giant teddy bear.

"Mimi, children" The bear smiled at them.

Leomon just nodded at the sight and Andromon knelt to greet Kari and Izzy who happily followed suit.

"What are you doing here?" Tai asked puzzled. "You should be with the army."

"Gennai called us to a most important task Bearer of Courage." The children moved away seeing a Digimon they didn't know that looked like a purple and yellow tiger with wings on his back. He traveled his gaze around all of them bowing ceremoniously all the way.

"Huh... Who are you?" Palmon asked.

"This is Mihiramon" Gennai told them. "He is the last survivor of Azulongmon's servants."

"Are they here to help us?" Cody asked.

"That's what we are here to do" Leomon stepped forward. "At this time we are most needed here. Piximon will command our army while we are away."

Everyone turned to Piximon who nodded briefly.

"You should have told me" Tai said.

"They were volunteers Tai" Gennai said. "And now you have the power to confront the generals if the worst is to happen."

"Then we're going to split up" Izzy said, nodding. "Tai?"

Joe looked at their leader, who was looking at the ground and continued doing it so as he spoke, obviously he had been thinking about teams for a while now.

"We should go after Sincerity and Friendship first, they are closer to each other and we can help the other group just in case." He looked at them briefly, his eyes stopped at Sora for a moment, before he licked his lips; "I'll take Mimi, Izzy, Jun, Kari and Yolei ... Leomon and Andromon are coming with us."

He spoke with finality.

"Why is that?" Joe heard Sora asking, he raised his eyebrows at the girl, but was curious himself for an explanation.

Tai didn't hesitate.

"MetalPhatomon is a machine digimon, then maybe Izzy and Andromon can beat him without a fight, and Yolei can help" Tai looked at the computer boy. "I want to keep my eyes on Kari." He said simply. "And Leomon can go mega when we go after Izzy's crest."

The explanation made sense, so much sense that Joe was surprised to have come out of Tai's mouth. He did notice though that the boy had no explanation for Jun's presence in his group.

"Mihiramon knows Cherrymon's forest, and you will need a guide and Monzaemon may be able to fight Cherrymon's illusions once you guys met him" Tai looked at Sora. "Garudamon can be a surprise factor."

"Tai?" Izzy said. "Are you considering that Cherrymon is more dangerous than MetalPhantomon?"

"What gave you that idea?" Tai asked.

"Well, there are five ultimates in Matt's group."

"It's nothing like that Izzy trust me" Tai said waving his hand around. "Let's get ready; we have no time to lose"

Joe looked at the others and went inside. On the way, Mimi bumped in to him. She turned around and smirked at him for no reason. He frowned at her behavior, glancing at Palmon who just shrugged.


Sora was thinking.

She was thinking hard, because… Well she had to decide what was for the best. Tai placing her in the other group wasn't a surprise for her, she had expected that in the back of her mind, but wasn't sure how to take it.

Thinking, she took her backpack in her hands and opened a sided zipper, taking out the little treasure she had brought.

The damn hairclip.

She held in it her hands briefly, taking mental notes on past situations when her best friend insisted in annoying her, and at how much she was glad in some of those situations.

Making a decision, Sora got up from her bed letting the hairclip back in its place. She informed Biyomon that she needed to speak with some people, ignoring the tiny smirk of her partner. Sora made her way across the hall to TK's room.

Knocking, she waited as the boy found her at his door, a little surprised.

She smiled and signaled for him to follow. Sora heard the boy telling Patamon to wait for him and then went to Joe's room, to find the boy and Gomamon checking his stuff before departing.

"You didn't even open that backpack Joe!"

"I still have to be sure Gomamon" Joe said counting his bandages.

Sora cleaned her throat and approached Joe, closing the door once TK got in. The older boy glanced at TK for answers, but the blond could only shrug. She looked at the two boys, knowing they were the right people for the job.

"You know why you'll be going with Matt?" She asked, earning some confusing looks.

"TK is obviously his brother" Joe said confused.

"You two are going because Tai thinks you can keep his head in place against Cherrymon" She explained, sometimes she was surprised at herself for knowing what Tai was thinking. TK frowned looking at her.

"That's a reason for you to go too, right Sora?"

"I won't be of any help TK, I don't know what Tai was thinking, but he doesn't know what happened between me and your brother" She sighed, knowing she couldn't keep this any longer. "Matt and I broke up a few weeks ago"

None of the two seemed surprised by that.

"I knew it had to be something like this" Joe said, shushing Gomamon before he could make any comments.

"I am sorry Sora, but why?" The younger boy asked with sad eyes. Sora knew how TK always looked at her like some big sister, and how he had been one of the most enthusiastic about her and Matt getting together.

"It's complicated TK, but… We just didn't love each other anymore, not like that at least" TK nodded absorbing the information, nothing new to him.

"I guess that makes sense, Matt really hasn't being himself these last months"

"It's kind of my fault he is like that too" She confessed in a low voice "and I'm sorry for that."

Sora had never felt like this apologizing to Matt, she was sorry but never so much as she felt it now talking to TK. She knew the boy had suffered through one separation before and this shouldn't be any easier for him. Sora then approached hesitantly and, carefully, put a hand upon his shoulder.

"You know that I will always be your big sister don't you?" She told him, waiting until the boy nodded sadly and end up smiling a little. "Now you have to look out for your brother, okay, because I can't help him right now. Keep an eye on him... He is really angry" She tried to say.

"Angry?" Joe asked.

"Not at anyone Joe, I think he is angrier with himself so please be there for him" TK was nodding, as much in agreement as in acceptance. Sora felt a weight being lift from her shoulders at that. Matt would need all the help he could get, facing Cherrymon and this family they had would be there to help.

"Sora?" Joe hesitated fixing his broken glasses on his face, he had a question for her now. "Is it because of Tai?" He asked in doubt.

Sora tensed looking away as she felt her cheeks blush.

The auburn haired wasn't sure how to respond and the silence reigned between them. Joe and TK weren't like Mimi, and she was still defensive about the whole thing.

She was about to find an excuse to leave when TK gasped and the chosen of Love found the boy looking at her with wide eyes.

"You are the ice cream girl!" Sora's reaction was to blink, then blush harder as she realized what the boy was speaking about. "T-Tai told me something, when I-I asked advice about... You know who... And he told me about kissing this girl... "

TK said trailing off, she definitely wanted to go now.

"Was it that story you were telling us two days ago?" Gomamon rubbed his chin, thinking and the girl retreated a few steps towards the door.

"Sora wait… We're really happy for you" Joe was saying before she could get away.

"What?" She looked up, seeing both the boys smiling at her direction. Joe had more of a surprised grin, while TK just shrugged.

"As long as you are sure things are over with my brother."

"It really is over TK" Sora confirmed, surprised with how easy it was to say that.

"For the record you two would be great together you know" The chosen of hope said, and Sora had to chuckle. Of all the reactions this was the best she could have hoped for.

"Now, one more thing, please don't tell anyone about this you two. Matt didn't want anyone to know and if Mimi knows that I spoke to you before I told her" She smirked thinking of her friend. "She is going to freak out"

"Our mouths are sealed… Right Gomamon?" Gomamon just made a gesture like zipping up his mouth, and grinned at her.

"Thanks guys, you're great" Sora told them before leaving.

There was still someone else she needed to see.


Tai was ready to leave.

He didn't have much stuff with himself besides and extra set of copied clothes. All that time fighting had left him with little hesitation, like there was nothing to lose. Even now, with his sister beside him, it was hard to shake that feeling away. In fact he was impatient to be going. At least in a mission he could be certain about what he had to do.

He, Izzy, Kari, Yolei, Mimi, Palmon, Tentomon, Gatomon, Hawkmon, Andromon and Leomon were waiting for Jun to show up. He wasn't sure of how useful the girl could be, but she was a digidestined and that meant something, beside one more champion, he learned, could make quite the difference in a fight.

"Where is that girl?" He wondered looking to the other side of the fields, to where Matt's groups was preparing to leave too. Sora seemed to be the one they were waiting for.

Both the groups were standing just outside Piximon's magic portal, which left them just at the edge of the desert, looking into green meadows and forests. Sora's absence had him worried too, he was sure she and Matt needed to talk things out and that Cherrymon was quite a challenge. Matt's confession had troubled him, even before knowing where the crest of Friendship was.

Having Sora close to him was something he longed for, but didn't dare to reach, even more now that she and Matt had some set back. Besides it was not just about them, but he was trying to protect himself too.

"Maybe she got scared?" Hawkmon wondered bringing him back to the situation

"Jun fought with us at the Firewall's Battle" Kari remembered. "I doubt that's what is keeping her."

"Sora is missing too" Mimi remarked.

"Hhm, I wonder…" Izzy started. Tai opened his mouth to question him when Yolei called out Jun's name.

Tai saw the girl then, leaving the portal alongside Piximon and Gotsumon. Jun waved at them and then, like it was no big deal, turned towards Matt's group. Tai frowned and then widened his eyes just as Sora and Biyomon left the portal obviously coming towards him.

"W-what is this?" He stammered oblivious to everyone but the girl. He was so stunned he didn't notice Izzy, Mimi and Kari smirking beside him. The only one surprised was Yolei. After a few moments of hearing his heart beating slightly faster than normal Sora arrived, stopping a few steps away. "What are you doing?"

"Joining my group Tai" The auburn haired girl said coking her head to the side. "Why? Don't you want me?"

He gulped, hoping the question meant nothing of what he thought for a second. He looked away from Sora.

"Jun was supposed to come with us."

"Jun said she didn't want to"

"Did she?" Tai asked challenging her, but just then he heard a sound and looked to his side. Piximon already had enveloped Matt's group in an energy sphere and shot them towards the south. Sora came closer to him, and watched the energy sphere disappearing in the distance together with any chance of changing her mind.

"Maybe I kind of convinced her a little bit" Sora said, lightly.

"Why?" Tai asked. Why couldn't she just follow his plan? He was pretty sure she knew what he meant to do, so why was Sora ignoring his decision?

"I don't know Tai… Maybe I just felt like it"

He changed his glance to her, as Biyomon grinned and his heat skip a beat for a second in an awkward mix of joy and annoyance before Piximon appeared.

"All right all of you, you know the drill! My sphere will take you above the enemy lines straight to the forest. Hopefully you will get there before dawn… Any questions?"

Yolei looked to her right and to her left, saw that Piximon made no move to join them in the sphere, then opened her mouth to...

"Good, no questions! Now get ready!" Piximon screamed and the sphere engulfed them.

The digimon brought his staff behind him with his good arm then hit the sphere…Yolei was screaming as soon as they left the ground


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