Chapter 10
They were walking by the middle school during Davis's soccer practice, and Yumi said, watching his sliding block, "I could do better than that." "Yumi, we all know you're a great soccer player, now stop being like that." Tai said. The soccer coach saw her, and waved. She waved back, smiling, when he beckoned her over. Holding Iinomon to her chest, she ran over. "Yumi, being part of the champion team before, do you think you could help the team practice? It would be a big help." "I'd love to, coach." She said, smiling. He called the team over, and told them that their first scrimmage was against last year's champions, led by Ken Ichijouji.
He put a hand on Yumi's shoulder, saying, "And we have our own champion here to help us practice. Yumi was captain the last two years she was at this middle school. A soccer legend." Davis seemed dumbstruck, and said, "I didn't know you played soccer." "I do plenty." She said, making Iinomon stay still in her arms. They went to the computer lab and looked him up. It said he was the captain of his soccer team, and scored an amazing 45 goals last season, almost breaking Yumi's record of 47. "Like he'll break my record." She said. "Oh, be a good sport, Yumi." "I am a good sport, Tai." She retorted. Davis could hardly wait for Saturday, and Yumi trained the whole team tirelessly until then.
Everyone went, and were sitting in the bleachers as Davis and his team stretched, awaiting the other team. Iinomon was fast asleep, and Yolei was eager to meet Ken in person. Yumi just wanted to know if her training had paid off. The team came, but Ken wasn't there. Davis was disappointed, but played great the first half of the game. They had a one-point lead, and Davis was on top of the world. "Davis, they could still win. Be careful." Yumi warned. "What? It's not like Ken's gonna show up." At that moment, a taxi pulled up, and Ken stepped out. Davis's jaw dropped, and Yumi said, "You were saying?" Ken spotted them, and stopped.
Iinomon's nose twitched, and she perked in Yumi's arms. Yumi looked at him closely, while Yolei was going crazy. Iinomon thought he smelled like…she must be crazy! That can't be him! Can it? Davis went back on the field and everyone went back to the bleachers. The game took a drastic turn, with the other team winning. "Whoa! He's good!" Tai said, amazed. "I could beat him." Yumi said, glaring at nothing in particular.
Ken was about to score the final goal, but Davis did a sliding tackle. The game ended, and Davis went to apologize for Ken's leg. "If I had been out there, our team would have won!" Yumi pouted. "Why don't you challenge him? See who's better?" "I guess…Fine, I'll ask." She got up, Iinomon in her arms. She went towards Davis and Ken, and said, "That was a great game." Both boys nodded. "Ken, I was wondering if you'd want to play a little one-on-one. Just for fun." After a moment of thought, he agreed. Iinomon was looking at him untrustingly, and Yumi said, "Davis, can you hold her for me?" He nodded, taking Iinomon. She got a soccer ball, and walked onto the field. No one except Tai, Kari, T.K., Yolei, Cody, Davis, and the Digimon were there, and everyone wondered how it was going to turn out.
It was a heated game from the start, neither person holding anything back. In an hour, it was a tied game. Both were tired, and Yumi said, "Next person to score wins." Ken agreed, and she ran, getting to the ball first. She was nearly at the goal when he tried to tackle her. She kicked the ball up, jumping over him, and did a high kick, making it fly into the net. She was breathing heavily, and smiled, saying, "That was a good game." He nodded, breathing heavily. She looked at her watch, and said, "It was nice to meet you, Ken, but I need to head home. Maybe I'll see you again sometime."
He nodded as she walked to Davis, taking Iinomon, and waved at him. As they were heading home, Davis was amazed by her playing, and asked if she could personally train him. "Maybe. I'll have to think about it." He seemed downhearted, and she smiled, saying, "I'm kidding! Of course I will. You're my friend." Davis's spirits were lifted, and she said, "Someday, you'll be as good a player as I am." "Really?" She nodded.
The next day, Cody was on the computer, and found a Control Spire in a once clear area. It was in the Forbidden Valley of No Return. "Well, we should be heading there, then." Yumi said, tired. They were soon in a desert, and it reminded Yumi of all the times they'd had to walk through a burning hot desert. Miharumon would have complained if she hadn't learned self-control. "We need to be quiet, or we'll loose the element of surprise!" Yumi said, putting a finger to her lips. Suddenly, Yolei and Hawkmon were dragged into the sand. Yumi stopped, shocked, and asked, "What happened?" Suddenly, the others were dragged into the sand, and Miharumon started digging, with Yumi beside her. "Where'd they go?" She questioned, digging frantically. "We need to find them before something bad happens." "Too late." She heard the Digimon Emperors voice say. She was on her feet in a moment, yelling, "What have you done with my friends?!" "Come and see for yourself, if you dare!"
She started running towards the voice, with Miharumon beside her, and she saw him on a hill, and her friends and their Digimon bound on a strange piece of rock. "Let them go!" She demanded, and Miharumon snarled. "I don't think I will." He snapped his fingers, and a huge Digimon appeared behind her friends. "Deltamon." Miharumon said, still snarling. "I'll spare them…only if you promise to come with me quietly." Yumi had her pride, and she never gave in without a fight. "I won't promise anything to you." She said, a dangerous edge to her voice. Miharumon's snarl shot up in her throat, backing up Yumi's statement. "Then they'll be eaten." Before he could enforce the order, she said, "Stop! I'll…I'll go with you quietly, just…just don't hurt my friends." "Fine." Miharumon knew this was the only way.
When Digmon appeared, followed by the other Armor-Digivolved Digimon and their partners. "But…how?" She questioned, shocked. She looked at what she thought had been her friends and their Digimon, and they turned into Bakemon. She glared at the Digimon Emperor, and said, "You tricked me! That'll be the last thing you ever do!" Obana got off Masahiromon's back, and said, "You'll pay for what you've done!" Yumi held up a hand, saying, "I'll take him on. You guys destroy the Control Spire." She smirked. "He's about to meet an old friend of mine. Haramon."
Obana understood, and took Masahiromon to destroy the tower as the others fought the Bakemon. Miharumon snarled, shooting a Howling Inferno, but Wormmon got in the way. She said, "If you wanted to lose, you could have just told me." Miharumon ran up at him, shooting a Howling Inferno. He dodged, and Yumi came at him from the side, tackling him. They started sliding down the hill, and she pushed him away as they reached the base of it. "You're just like us! Why do you think you're superior?" Yumi demanded. She noticed some blood on his leg, and remembered how Davis had cut Ken on accident when he did that sliding block. "It…can't be."
Miharumon said, "I thought that they were the same person! I should have destroyed him when I had the chance!" "I see you've figured it out. Yes, I'm Ken Ichijouji." She stood up, saying, "And I thought you were a normal kid. I can't believe I…considered making you my friend." "I don't need friends!" "Then you'll never truly live!" She snapped back as he jumped onto a large flying Digimon. "And I thought…you were a good person. Maybe you were…once."