After Kimiko and Tai disappeared, many weeks went by. Ayaka never thought for an instant that Kimiko wouldn't come back. She knew that her friend could be stubborn when she wanted, and wouldn't stop something until she did it. The group had long since dispersed, leaving only Matt, T.K., and Ayaka. They had reached a theme park, and Matt said he was going to search the lake with Gabumon, and that he'd be back soon. Ayaka nodded, and he set off. He didn't come back for at least two weeks, and Ayaka always found T.K. at the pier, looking out at the lake for him. Ayaka felt horrible, wanting to help her young friend, when Demidevimon appeared. Guilmon already showed that he didn't trust him, growling under his breathe as he talked to T.K., who immediately doubted what he said, crying, and ran to Ayaka, crying into her shirt. "T.K. What's wrong?" "H-He said M-Matt wasn't c-coming back…because I-I'm a p-pest…" Ayaka was surprised, and glared at Demidevimon before saying, "Matt could never think you were a nuisance…I'm sure he has a good reason for taking so long…maybe the boat broke and he's trying to find another…or he found one of the others and is helping them out…I'm sure he'll come back…" "And this is coming from the girl that's already been abandoned by a friend…"

She glared at Demidevimon. "What do you mean by that?" "That friend of yours…the one without a crest…she left so long ago that I doubt she's ever coming back-." "She's coming back!" the interruption surprised everyone, even Guilmon. "She's coming back because she once told me she'd never leave me behind! When she makes a promise, she sticks to it! She never lies and she never gives up!" she turned to Guilmon, saying, "And she'll come back, even if it's the last thing she does…" She stood up straight, saying, "And if all you're going to tell are lies, then leave!" She led T.K. away, while Guilmon put Tokomon on his back and followed her, snarling at Demidevimon over his shoulder. They went on the Ferris Wheel, and Ayaka sighed, thinking, 'I wonder when they'll get here…' Afterwards, she saw T.K. at the pier again with Tokomon, and sat next to him. "I think I should go out looking for him…" T.K. looked at her curiously. "Something may have happened…I think I'll go look for him…"

She smiled at the young boy softly, "But I'll come back…I promise…" he didn't want to see her go, and she was about to get in the second boat when she turned to him, hugging him tight. "Just promise me you'll never lose hope…I'll come back, if I find him or not…" she smiled reassuringly. "You're like my little brother, and I'd never leave you behind…" She looked around, before saying, in a serious tone, "Stay away from Demidevimon…I don't trust him…" she turned to Tokomon. "Please take care of him for me…" Tokomon nodded, and Ayaka got into the swan boat, and waved to them until they were out of sight, not knowing that Kimiko and Tai would be there the very next day. They went around the whole lake by the next morning, but both got tired, and got off near a diner. "I didn't think there'd be a diner in the middle of nowhere…"

Ayaka walked in, seeing Gabumon and Gomamon, and her face lit up. "Gabumon!! Gomamon!!" both Digimon looked up in surprise, and were knocked over when Guilmon gave them a bear hug, happy to see them. Ayaka ran up to them, asking, "Where's Joe and Matt?" They led them into the kitchen, and Ayaka's smile widened. "Joe!!" she gave him a big hug, making sure what he was holding didn't fall, and failed to notice the blush that crept onto his cheeks. "Where's Matt?" he seemed down hearted as he said, "Oh…he's outside…" Ayaka nodded, and rushed outside. "Matt!" he had been lying on the ground, and shot up when he heard her voice. "Ayaka?" She tackled him, giving him a bear hug. "Why didn't you come back? We were so worried…" "They wouldn't let me leave…what are you doing here? What about T.K.?"

"He's fine…but he was so worried about you that I thought it would be best to find you and take you back…" he seemed downhearted as he said, "I can't go back…not yet…neither can Joe…" she was confused, and Guilmon came out after talking with Gabumon and Gomamon. "They're here to pay for a meal…and since Joe's being clumsy, they have to stay even longer…" she thought about Guilmon's words, and said, "I'll bring T.K. here…then at least he'll know you didn't leave us there for no reason at all…" she stood up, about to go back inside, when a Digimon appeared there, blocking the doorway. "Digitamamon…" Guilmon growled, his pupils narrowed into slits. "Who are you?" he questioned Ayaka rudely. "I'm a friend of theirs…who are you?" "I'm their boss." She sighed, thinking, before saying, "I would be grateful if you'd let them go…I'm sure they've worked long enough to pay for one meal…and we need to go pick someone up…"

Her dark brown crest caught the light as Guilmon stood at her side, his animal instincts keyed up and alert. "…Why don't you come with me into my office…" she was wary, but walked inside after him. "As you can see, I can't let them go. With your friend breaking plates and spilling food, their punishment has been lengthened. Of course…if you were to stay and help them…it would shorten it…"

"Unfortunately, I need to go pick someone up, so I can't stay." "If you don't care about your friends, then go ahead and leave…" she froze, asking, "What do you mean?" "There are many accidents that can happen in the kitchen…you wouldn't want your friends to get hurt, now would you?" Guilmon snarled, his tail lashing from side to side as he bared his fangs. She felt guilty as she said, "Fine…I'll stay…" Guilmon was about to protest, but she shushed him. She was immediately put to work, as was Guilmon, but things kept breaking. Though it was completely frustrating, Ayaka never blamed Joe. She wasn't the type of person to blame people. She's a forgiving person that never holds grudges. But Matt was getting frustrated. Ayaka was used to people who lose their temper, having dealt with Kimiko for so long, and tried to calm him when he seemed ready to crack. When Matt blew up at Joe, Ayaka had just walked into the kitchen in time to see him storm out. "What happened?" Joe seemed shamed, and said, "He just needs some time alone…" That's when a familiar voice in the restaurant pierced the air, shocking Ayaka.

"Gabumon? Gomamon? Guilmon? Why are you guys here? Where's Ayaka?" Ayaka felt joy grasp her heart, and she raced into the restaurant to see Kimiko, Tai, and T.K. standing at the door. "KIMI!!!" She hugged her friend tight, holding back her tears of joy. "What took you so long? Where were you? Are you okay?" questions spilled out of her mouth too fast to comprehend, and Kimiko smiled, hugging her friend. "I'm sorry I took so long…" Ayaka then noticed T.K., and said, "I'm sorry I didn't pick you up…There was…something I needed to do here…" she turned to all of them, saying, "Joe's in the kitchen, and Matt's outside."

She followed them, just happy to have her best friend back, and T.K. ran out back instantly. Soon, everyone was out back, and Matt was surprised to see all three of them. Kimiko smiled broadly, happy to see more of her friends, and said, "We'd better head out, then…we need to find the others…" "I'm not going anywhere with Joe." Kimiko looked at Matt with a confused expression. "He's just trying to keep me here…" "I doubt that very much, Matt."

Kimiko defended Joe, knowing he wouldn't do something like that, when Demidevimon appeared. Kimiko glared, saying, "So you decided to come back and cause more trouble?" Renamon readied herself for battle, and Kimiko glared. "I can't believe you'd lie to a little child and tell him his brother hated him…" she was about to lash out herself when Digitamamon appeared. Renamon Digivolved to Kyubimon, who snarled at him. He closed the crack where his eyes showed at Kyubimon used Dragon Wheel, which had no effect. Digitamamon tackled her into a tree, nearly toppling it, and Kimiko ran to her partner's side. Ayaka glared at Demidevimon, thinking, 'I knew we couldn't trust him…' she turned to an animalistic Guilmon, and said, "It's time to Digivolve!" Guilmon Digivolved to Growlmon, using Pyro Blaster, which also had no effect, but he stopped the egg using Dragon Slash. Gabumon Digivolved as well, jumping at Digitamamon, when Ayaka heard T.K. cry out.

She turned to see Vegiemon holding him above the ground, ready to drop him. "Call of your beasts! Or the kid gets it!" she froze, looking at Growlmon, and sighed in defeat, when Gomamon Digivolved into Ikkakumon, distracting the Digimon as Joe jumped onto him. Vegiemon dropped T.K., but got a hold on Joe instead, squeezing him. "Joe!!" "It's okay…I'm fine…" Ayaka saw the guilt in Matt's eyes, which allowed his crest to shine and make Garurumon Digivolve to Weregarurumon. Weregarurumon hit Vegiemon, making him release Joe, and faced off against both Digitamamon and Vegiemon. Ayaka gripped her crest, whispering, "The Crest of Destiny…" she looked Growlmon. "And I need to believe in it…in order to help Growlmon…" 'Our destinies may be more than we can imagine…but we'll get through it…even if it means that we need to give up something we love…'

Her crest began to glow, and she looked at it in amazement. She looked at Growlmon, understanding flowing over her features. "Growlmon, Digivolve!!" The crests light seeped through her fingers, the deep chocolate brown matching her hair. Growlmon Digivolved into Wargrowlmon, and Ayaka was surprised. "Wargrowlmon…" she shook the surprise away, and said, "Attack now!" Wargrowlmon used Atomic Blaster, making Digitamamon fly away, while Weregarurumon used Wolf Claw, defeating Vegiemon. Wargrowlmon growled at Demidevimon, about to use Radiation Blade, when the cowardly Digimon flew away in a hurry. Gigimon ran to Ayaka, who scooped him up lovingly. "You did a great job, Gigimon!" Tsunomon went over to Matt, who, embarrassed, apologized to Joe.

They went off, following a cliff pass, when their Digivices went off. They decided to split up, Tai, Joe, and Kimiko going one way, and Matt, T.K., and Ayaka going another.

Ayaka hesitantly said goodbye to her friend before following the boys. After walking for quite a while, they saw an explosion further ahead. Worried, Ayaka ran towards it, seeing Izzy and Motimon. "Izzy!" Gigimon ran to Motimon, tackling him, while Ayaka hugged the small computer genius, saying, "I missed you! What have you been doing?" "I've been trying to find Gennai…" After Matt and T.K. caught up, Ayaka sighed, saying, "We need to meet the others at the base of the mountain, remember?"

Matt nodded, and they headed off again, Ayaka eager to see if the others were on their way there already. 'I missed everyone so much…I guess it was destiny that brought us all back together again…'