Chapter 10

Davis landed back in the hospital with a noticeable thud. Glancing around he could feel happiness dancing the conga inside him. From one look around the hospital he could tell that everything was normal again. The noise of clattering footsteps flooded through the open door, along with the smell of antiseptic and disinfectant. It stung his eyes at the sheer power of it, but he grinned despite that.

Anything was better than the smell of blood. Even Jun's sweaty feet.

He stormed out of the room, this time the Digidestined were going to win! He raced through the building trying to find where the digidestined could be. Did they even know about the impending attack? About the lives that could be lost?

His feet smacked against the hard floor 'Thwack Thwack'. It boomed in his head along with the pounding blood. He ran so fast he saw little dancing spots, gripping the old goggles Tai had once given him in his pocket and the thought of the looming death of his friends kept him going in spite of the burning tearing feeling in his chest (where the wound was).

He was soon out of the hospital in the open space were only an hour ago he had seen death and destruction of his friends. Now it was full of people and buildings.

Davis dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his digivice, clutching it like a lifeline. He didn't have that long. He pointed it forward seeing the dots of light from the others he set of running again, this time no one was going to die.

Tai- Izzy's house.

'So, what is this all about then?' Tai asked drumming his fingers along his legs, typical Izzy ringing him to demand him over then take his sweet time explaining why.

'Give me a second Tai.' Izzy answered eyes glued to his computer screen. Tai wined and threw himself onto the bed pouting in annoyance. 'Stop acting like a child Tai' Izzy said without looking away from his computer screen. 'Ok' said Izzy swinging away from his computer and clapping his hands together.

'Your finally going to tell me what you called me over at nine in the morning for?' Tai said grumpily.

'For gods sake Tai, grow up.' Izzy pulled out his phone and started tapping the buttons in a matter of seconds he put it down. 'I've told the others to come here now, it's important.'

'Aren't you going to tell me?'

'I suppose I could give you an overview.' Izzy rubbed his eyes blearily. 'I got a message from Genni, there is a new evil that has risen in the Digital World and he is on his way here.'

'We can take him.' Tai said confidently his smug look only wavering when Izzy shook his head.

'He's called Atrumvotumon he is much stronger than anything we have ever tackled. Think how hard it was to take down Diaboromon and that was when we had the whole team together!' Izzy explained. 'I mean without Davis there is no imperialdramon and think of the odds Tai!' Tai looked glumly at the ceiling.

'What did Genni say about him, whats the back-story Izzy?'

'Atrumvotumon used to be Votumon. Votumon was a powerful good digimon who could travel through the real world and the digital world granting peoples wishes and desires. But imagine that Tai, being able to grant thousands of wishes and never be able to grant your own? Eventually Votumon got sick of humans and all their selfish wishes and desires. In truth he turned evil very much like a fallen angel but he was trapped by the four guardians of the Digital world but he's been feeding on humans in the digital world dark wishes. And now, he's escaped.'

'Absolutely smashing, just what I need.' Tai growled massaging the bridge of his nose. The door to Izzy's house burst open and the Digidestined of Obidia burst in, all carrying oddly shaped rucksacks on their backs.

'What's going on!' Yolei yelled loudly causing the nearest Digidestined to wince.

'Yeah Izzy, I was in the middle of researching for my medical theory's paper.' Joe said reproachfully, pushing his glasses back up his nose as he spoke.

'I was on my way to the hospital' Kari frowned as she spoke, understanding the importance of this meeting.

'Will someone let me out of this bag!' A voice shouted from Kari's bulging bag, and then all at once the chatter of voices rose to an indistinguishable din that echoed through the room.

'SHUT UP' yelled Tai and at once the voices of everyone, human and Digimon alike stopped. 'You know Izzy wouldn't have called us here without an important reason! When has Izzy ever acted without just cause?' Everyone in the room had the decency to look ashamed, it seemed Tai still had the authority of a leader, and he knew it. In fact, he used it to his advantage. 'Now keep your mouths shut while Izzy explains. He shot a look at Izzy to encourage him to start talking.

'So I've called you all here because we have a new threat to the peace of our own world…' Izzy went on to explain the new threat and the others (as promised ) kept silent. Of course as soon as Izzy finished the questions began to flood in as everyone began to talk at once.

'Why is he attacking now' Matt's voice echoed

'What about Davis?' Ken asked.

'What are our chances?' Cody asked politely.

'Just what I needed, he had to plan this big end of the world thing on my pamper day' Yolei fumed.

'Guy's!' Tai roared and again everyone shut up and looked in reverence to their leader, the one they knew could pull them through this.

Except Tai really didn't want to be a leader today, he didn't have any answers or any way of knowing what was happening. It wasn't like battles they had had before where they had worked up to the battle, this one they were thrown straight into the deep end, and foolish sayings aside it really was sink or swim. It wasn't just that though, Tai was used to being a leader, he was used to hard decisions and questions. He was used to being in control and knowing that any of his decisions could lead to anyone of their deaths. But what he wasn't used to was the absence of another leader, a leader who would also make the same hard decisions making it easier to see that his own decisions were correct. It was hard without Davis.

As Tai observed the room and looked upon the anxious faces staring at him, the hole of Davis' absence was like a hole in his innards, they all needed Davis.

'Okay' Tai gulped. 'Obviously, our first priority is Davis. He can't really protect himself can he?' He needed reassurance but they gave him nothing, he coughed and continued. 'I reckon we need to head Atrumvotomon off.'

'How do we know where he is?' Matt asked.

'We can use my laptop.' Izzy said picking it up of the floor

'The trusty laptop' smirked Matt, Izzy sent Matt a glare and clutched his laptop to his body. 'Woah, I love your laptop, don't worry.' Matt said holding his arms up in defence.

'Getting back on track…' Tai trailed off staring at the door, shocked. Everyone turned to look at the door. There in the doorway, with the sun from the window shinning behind him. Their saviour.

Stood in the door, slightly out of breath, face ashen, clutching his stomach but wearing the largest cheeky grin stood Davis.

'Davis!' Kari yelled standing up to run over to him. Everyone crowded round Davis, clapping him on the back. Smiling. Except Tai. Tai liked to think he knew Davis quite well, and Tai knew for Davis to have run all the way here, when he had no reason to- he must know something. Tai observed Davis' face curiously underneath the bright smile something lurked, fear. Fear at what precisely? And with every hug he received he clutched the person tighter than needed. It could be because he had nearly died weeks before, and had only just awoke. Or It was something else, something worse.

Kari's POV

Davis hugged everyone before moving across the room to stand in front of the still frozen Tai. Davis stuck out his hand to Tai. But Tai (who was never the hugging type) pulled him into a what they would love to think 'manly' hug. But really, I'm sure eye's filled up. Kari saw but couldn't hear Davis whisper into Tai's ear. Tai instantly stiffened and his fingers dug into Davis' back turning white. The boy's released each other and went to join the others in the cramped room. None of the others had noticed it but Kari couldn't help but wonder what it had been about. Tai stepped forward and began to talk, the words he spoke oozed confidence and Kari couldn't help but grin- despite the grim situation- at having her brother and leader back.

'We need to fight this away from the public, we can't have another disaster like Diaboromon. We need to do this without causing fear.' Kari watched as Tai glanced at Davis quickly, as though checking he was still there. There was a crinkle in Tai's brow as he next addressed the group. 'Whoever hasn't already got their Digimon need to use Izzy's computer. Izzy?' Tai questioned.

'Yes Tai, I've set up the portal and we'll send them through in a bit it's a little bit crowded in here.' Izzy said scrutinising the room in which they were sandwiched. The others who already had their Digimon left the room and the others stepped forward eagerly waiting for their friends to arrive.

One by one the Digimon arrived through the portal flying through the air it seemed to their partners arms. I already had Gatomon in my backpack, well actually now she was in the other room. I should have left the room, like Tai had said but I didn't dare. I was scared, scared that if I left the room Davis would disappear. I had spent weeks thinking he was going to die. We all thought he was going to die, especially after him heart stopped when T.K was with him. He woke up for a while then as wel.. Made no sense, apparently he was groggy because of all the medication. We got our hopes up but he slipped really suddenly back into a coma. We all thought he was going to die. Nobody would admit it, but we all knew it was only a matter of time. Now he was here, all of a sudden. It seemed almost too good to be true. Demiveemon was one of the last Digimon out of the portal. He flew through the air like a bird and landed in Davis' open arms.

'Davish!' He cried clinging to Davis. 'I've missed you so much!' Davis' eyes watered as he held Demiveemon even closer, he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. 'Will you get me some Icecream Davish?'

'So that's why you missed me.' Davis laughed his now open eyes glittering with tears.

'No Davish, but I'm really hungry!' Demiveemon rubbed his tummy to emphasise his point.

'Okay little buddy. Whatever you want.' Davis smiled at Demiveemon.

'I did miss you Davish though. Things are really bad without you.' Demiveemon said sincerely and Davis choked looking down and trying to mask his tears.

'I missed you too buddy. Trust me a world without you, is a world I would hate to live in.' Kari turned around then letting the partners have their moment. Kari headed into the other room where T.K was. The whole atmosphere around the place had a sense of doom and with a fight just around the corner she needed him. Like she always did.

'T.K' Kari whispered beckoning for him to step onto the balcony. He followed her stepping onto the concrete only a few seconds after her.

'What's wrong?' He asked worriedly searching her face his own blue eye's full of what she felt.

'I'm really scared T.K.' She addmited looking out to the beautiful views that shinned in the afternoon sun.

'I know, so am I. I think everyone is' He said brushing a strand of hair of her face.

'I just...I don't know I have a really bad feeling.' Kari said softly refusing to look at T.K. 'I'm scared we're not all going to make it this time.'

'Look at me Kari, please.' T.K said urgently, reluctantly she turned to face him. His determined eye's boring into her. 'Nothing will happen to you, I wont let it Kari.'

'It's not me I'm worried about.' Kari said tears building up in her eye's.

'I can't promise you they will all be Okay Kari, I can't. But we have the best Digimon protecting us ever.'

'But look at what happened at school, Davis.' She broke off tears filling her eyes.

'He's fine Kari, he's here.'

'That's not what I meant T.K. Look how hurt he was, from somthing that had nothing to do with Digimon. I never realised how many dangers there was, and I don't want to lose anyone.'

'Come here Kari.' T.K said opening his arms and enveloping her in them resting his chin on the top of her head. 'Everyone will do their best, and everything's going to work out.'

'You have to say that.' Kari sobbed. 'You've got the crest of hope. You have to believe.'

'Kari, look into that room.' T.K turned her towards the clear french doors. Inside the Digidestined and Digimon were talking, planning and laughing. 'You can't look into that room and not believe.' He paused watching Izzy shout at Tai for touching his laptop. 'You are the Digidestined of light. Look in there, Kari, just look.' She did, she observed her friends and allies- the people she had know since she was a young girl, people she had grown up with and shared spectacular experiences with. The people who had saved the world over and over. 'They are good. Your light is fed by theirs, like my hope is. They are the strongest people in the world.' T.K whispered.

'Thankyou T.K.' Kari whispered back turning around to peck him on the lips. 'I just needed reminding.'

'So your not scared?'

'Of course I'm scared, I'm terrified. But I realise that we are the best- no the only people for the job. We are going to succeed, because we have no choice' Kari's jaw was set, her eyes still red had a determined edge.

'We never really had much choice when it came to saving the world. It was destined to us. It's our destiny.' He smiled at his own words 'However corny that may sound.'

'I love you'

'I love you too.' T.K kissed her again, the terror and love interweaved as they kissed. It might not be their last kiss ever, but just in case it was, just in case they never got a moment like this again they were going to make the most of it. They clutched each other like they were drowning, it was desperate it was heart breaking. Neither one dared let go to each other fearing the worst. They stayed there on the balcony, in the sunlight surrounded by their beautiful city just holding each other before the world could fall apart.

Tai's Pov.

'Eurgh! Can't he just put her down!' Tai fumed looking out of the window to observe his younger sister's passionate kiss. 'It's just plain wrong.' He moaned.

'Aww Tai. Can't you see the romance?' Mimi giggled looking out of the window too. 'It's so cute. Why don't I have a boyfriend?' She pouted.

'Because you're annoying' Tai signed looking down at his pink haired girly friend.

'Hmpff, we could also say the same to why you don't have a girlfriend' She fummed flicking her pink hair.

'I don't want a girlfriend.' He explained slowly as if talking to a small child. 'I'm playing the field.' He gave a smug grin and ran his fingers through his hair interrupted by Mimi's laugh. 'What's so funny?' He accused frowning at her.

'Oh my god.' She wheezed. 'You are so in love with yourself.'

'Am not.'

'Are too!'

'Matt!' Tai called, his blond friend walked over to him. 'Am I in love with myself?'

'Yes.' Smirked Matt as Tai scowled darkly at him. Mimi burst into laughter again followed by Matt. Tai crossed him arms in annoyance.

'You look like a girl when you do that.' Sora observed as she walked over to the group and linked arms with Matt. A move that on a normal day would cause the green monster to erupt out of Tai's chest. But Tai couldn't be jealous, not now. They all needed their comfort, he only had to look at his sister and the slime ball.

'He's in a bad mood because of his sister and T.K.' Mimi giggled again at the window were they were still kissing.

'Do you hate my brother then?' Matt laughed.

'He's corrupting my sister.'

'Nah, they're corrupting each other.' Matt smiled.

'You've got to let her grow up sooner or later.' Said Sora softly.

'I know, but it's just like the old day's isn't it. Where I protect her. And people who get stuck in pyramids...'

'Oi! Don't get me mad!' Sora Jokingly warned. Tai rolled his eye's at her.

'It's so sweet isn't it though Sora?' Mimi asked.

'Yeah...' Sora smiled

'Stop it you two you look like peeping Tom's.' Said Matt.

'How do you feel, about the battle?' Mimi asked. Their was a pause while everyone looked at each other.

'I'm just scared, you know? This battle seems so huge and I just feel unprepared.' Admitted Tai glancing at Davis.

'I don't know Mimi. I feel scared, excited but most of all, anxious. I want this over.' Matt confessed.

'I'm more scared for everyone else' Sora bit her lip. 'This is so different from anything we have ever done before.'

'It's lucky Davis is back isn't it?' questioned Matt.

'More of a miracle' Tai muttered glancing again at Davis.

'What's going on?' Sora narrowed her eye's at Tai.

'I can't tell you. I really can't' He continued seeing the others furious looks. 'It's just something he said...'

'You're worried about him aren't you?' Mimi blurted out.

'It just think it's strange that he knew what was going on without anyone telling him, there's something more going on here.' Tai sighed shrugging his shoulders heavily.

'I suppose.' Matt said slowly, his forehead wrinkled in confusion. Sora grabbed Matt's hand and clutched it, holding on before the world fell apart. Before anyone else could question Davis, Izzy interrupted.

'Everyone, Atrumvotomon is here, we need to go!' Izzy's shout alerted everyone and in a matter of minutes everyone was crowded round Izzy.

It was time for the final battle to begin.

A/N I am so sorry for the VERY long delay. First there was exams, then writers block, then holidays and last of all my laptop died (again)

I am very sorry, this chapter was supposed to involve the battle but I got carried away with everyones relationships and such. Battle will be next chapter now. Sorry again!

If you can take the time, please review :):)