Digimon Adventure 08: Vaccine

by YukiraKing

Moments after the finale of 'Digimon Adventure 07: Virus' the core group of characters are faced with internal struggles of coping with the horrors they have finally escaped from. For some, the nightmare continues, and for others it is impossible to forget, but they will have to work together to move forward and face their newest and final foe.

20. Homecoming

Y/N: This was the chapter I was most excited to write. I looked forward to this one for ages, wanting to just get to this point so that I could start looking forward.

U/N: So this is finally the end of the first arc, which was obviously pretty long, similar to the first arc of 05 except this chapter doesn't involve nearly as much Arkadimon drama, and is much more conclusive I feel. Anyway, I only wrote one of the three parts of this chapter, but all of them are super important I think because the characters all really needed this to happen. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this and I hope to post more chapters at some point.

Title: Digimon Adventure 08: Vaccine

By: YukiraKing and UrazamayKing

Disclaimer: We don't own Digimon or its characters.

Part 1: Incomplete

Chapter 20: Homecoming

Kiyoko Izumi:

The Veemon were quite a handful. They had decided to make the move from their hidden forest home to the larger village where the Wizards and Fallen Angels now lived together. I hoped adding a third clan to the mix didn't cause any further strife, but I couldn't say no when the Veemon asked to come.

Gravimon didn't even say no, and I would've expected it from him.

The Veemon were lonely though. They had only each other to talk with most days, and they always had the same view: trees and more trees. They wanted freedom. And I wouldn't deny that. I wanted freedom too. They could at least have it, since I couldn't.

Gravimon was walking ahead of us, gently moving the tree branches and bushes aside for the small blue digimon to walk through. They were grinning and smiling. They weren't running in terror like they usually did. I supposed their longing for more was powerful enough to overcome their fear—except for their youngest. DemiVeemon was not happy to be walking a long way through the forest with the "forest monster" as their guide. Instead, he was clinging to Norn as she held him.

Norn was quiet today. I didn't know why. Usually, she was so full of energy. Mostly, I thought it was overcompensation. She didn't want the rest of us to feel sad, so she went out of her way to shower us with only happiness. But there was something off now. She kept tilting her head, and having to get DemiVeemon to repeat himself. It was like she was listening to something in the distance. Her eyes would become unfocused every once and awhile too.

"I'm worried," Lalamon informed me. She too was watching over Norn with confusion and trepidation. She was still wearing her ratty cloak, and it was dragging on the ground behind her, raking up dead leaves and fallen twigs. She was practically glowing in the forest. The plant life had really begun to flourish, and she was happier because of it. She finally would have a chance to build a garden to remember Mari by. The plants would live now, if she planted them.

"Me too," I admitted. "I don't know what's wrong."

"Maybe nothing is wrong," Lalamon pointed out. "Maybe she's just lonely."

"We're all a little lonely," I told her.

"Yeah," Lalamon agreed. "But Norn doesn't usually show it. She's been there for us to lean on when we need support, but she's never asked for the same in return. I should have offered, I think. I feel guilty."

"I don't think she would've accepted it," I whispered, worried that Norn would hear us and realize we were talking about her. I didn't want her to feel like we were attacking her or something. But she just stared off into the distance, ignoring the pestering of the tiny digimon in her arms. "She's the overseer of all worlds. I doubt she thinks she's allowed to show weakness."

"That's silly," Lalamon said, looking more concerned now than ever.

We continued walking for another ten minutes or so, sending worried glances Norn's way whenever she wasn't paying attention—which was so often, we were actually pretty much staring at her the entire time—before Norn simply stopped walking all together.

"What's wrong?" DemiVeemon asked, fear colouring his voice. Obviously, his mind jumped to the worst possible conclusions—though I didn't know what he was afraid of. Gravimon was the scariest thing in the forest now that Gaia was gone.

My heart stopped.

Gaia.

"What is it Norn?" I demanded. I felt guilty about the way she flinched, but she was back with us now. Her eyes were sharp and focused instead of distant. She turned to me and tried to offer a hesitant smile, but the corners of her mouth fell. "What's happened?"

"A door, I think," she whispered.

That single whisper seemed to echo around the forest. The Veemon started scrambling, tripping over everything in their paths. DemiVeemon started wailing in Norn's ear, causing her to wince. My hands were trembling, my heart was pounding, and my eyes were starting to water up. It was stupid. I didn't have any reason to be crying. I shouldn't have even been scared. Gaia wasn't coming back. She wasn't. She hated this world. She didn't care about Astamon.

It wasn't fair.

Why did Gaia come back for Astamon? Why would she take the time out of her probably busy schedule to do that for him?

Why didn't Sigma ever do it for me?

I'd thought I found a kindred spirit—no matter how mean and cruel Astamon was. But I guess I didn't. The realization that Gaia could care for her minion in a way that Sigma never did cut me deep. I was worth less than a cruel, murderous digimon that took pleasure in paralyzing newly healed girls.

"Kiyoko?" Lalamon asked. Her voice was trembling as well. I tried to shake off my sadness. I shouldn't have been feeling it anyway. I didn't care about Sigma anymore. I didn't. I shouldn't anyway. He was dead and gone. He left me. I cast him out. I was strong. I was my own person. It had been my plan that killed him. He wasn't worth my tears. I mattered—maybe not to him, but I mattered. Lalamon cared about me, and Willis. Rei and Gravimon always had my back, and my Wizards were solidly in my corner. The Fallen Angels even tolerated me now—to the point that they sometimes took my opinions into account.

I liked to think that even though I had been gone for four months—and would stay that way forever—that I still mattered to Mari, Warg, Melga, Neo, Dracomon, Tapirmon and Hideto too. They were my family—along with Koushiro, who was actually family, and all of Team Mom. I hoped that I mattered to them.

I had a lot of people that supported and cared about me. I shouldn't be feeling pain over the old news that Sigma didn't care for me at all. I was just a meat sack to him, a mind to manipulate and a body to control. He wasn't worth my tears.

"ENOUGH!" Gravimon shouted. His voice boomed through the trees and the Veemon all froze in place. Their heads turned all at once toward Gravimon. Their teeth were chattering, and their eyes were wide. They were legitimately terrified.

"We don't know that it's Gaia," Lalamon reminded us.

"She's the one with the key," I pointed out. It was a rather convincing argument, but I felt guilty for having made it. Gravimon and Lalamon both looked at me with pointed looks. They weren't pleased at the way I'd managed to actually increase the Veemon's fear. DemiVeemon was shaking like a leaf in Norn's hold. He looked ready to pass out with the amount of fear he was displaying.

"It doesn't feel like Gaia though," Norn said thoughtfully. "I'm not saying it isn't her, but the presence doesn't feel inherently evil like she did."

"She did feel that way, didn't she," I muttered more to myself than anyone else. I had known that from the moment I'd met her, but it was over the course of all of our meetings that I really felt the evil resonating off of her. When she'd taken my key and the key to Witchenly, even Willis and Rei had to admit to what I'd known all along. I just wished I could feel proud that I'd been right while they were wrong. I didn't though. I didn't want to be right.

Being right got us stuck here forever.

"Wait…" I murmured. "If the key opened the door, then reason stands to believe that the key is back. Only an idiot would willingly go into another world without a key to get them back."

"You, Willis and Rei did it," Lalamon said slyly.

"Inescapable circumstances," I said, discrediting her words as I waved them off with my hand. "That means theoretically, that there is a second key out there somewhere, doesn't it?"

"We can go home," Lalamon realized.

"Potentially," I felt the need to point out. "This other key could just lead us to another world."

"Theorize to your heart's content," Gravimon said. "But only exploration will get you the answers you seek." He motioned with one of his impossibly long arms to the trees that stood between us and the village. My heart stopped again.

"Rei," I gasped. "Rei can't run. If it's Gaia, she's going to need our help."

"We have to hurry," a Veemon decided. They were all incredibly fond of Rei, after having met her even just the once. She's told them stories of a brave Veemon warrior that helped to ensure the safety of all the worlds. The fact that all those stories were true and that Rei had admitted to knowing this warrior pretty much cemented her a permanent place in their tribe.

"Shall I lead?" Gravimon wanted to know.

"N-no," I decided, trying to find the courage that Gravimon had instilled in me. I found enough of it to steel my resolve. I took a deep breath, and stepped forward. "I'll go first. Whoever it is could spot you from a mile away."

"Very true," Gravimon agreed, sounding a little put out by it. He was the strongest of all of us, but he was also the least conspicuous.

We moved slowly through the trees, pausing every once in awhile to listen. When we didn't hear anything, we continued forward. We continued like that until we made it to the edge of the forest. I could see the village huts from where we stood.

"My turn," I decided, sounding less than thrilled. Lalamon squeezed my hand, and I smiled at her the best I could before slipping my finger from her grasp—her hands were rather tiny and cute. I tried to focus on her, and keeping her safe. I would never want to face Mari again if anything happened to Lalamon because I wasn't brave enough to protect her.

My heart was in my throat with each step I took, but I needed to protect Rei for Neo, and Lalamon for Mari. Kurayami needed Norn, and Terriermon and Lopmon needed Willis. I had to keep everyone safe for the sake of those we left behind. If it was true that Gaia had come back, and we did have a chance to go back home, then I didn't want to risk anyone.

But if Norn was wrong, and there was no door, I wasn't sure I would be able to live with the realization that whatever hope was growing inside of me was doomed to fall apart.

The town seemed deserted. The moon lit my way, and a cool breeze swept through the empty streets, swirling the dust around. The air was cold and stale, like always. The smell of rotting fish was less prominent than usual though, so there was something to be happy about.

I felt incredibly vulnerable, walking through the barren streets. I was highly visible. There was nothing I could do to conceal myself. Every step I took could be the one that drew an enemy's attention to me. My palms started sweating at the very thought. But I could do this. I had to do this. I wasn't going to break down and cry, like I had only months earlier. I was a stronger, braver person now. It was time that I put those improvements into practice.

There was just a part of me that wished it wasn't so hard.

A scoff and the sound of a rock skidding across the ground made me freeze. I looked slowly to my left, and found nothing but an extinguished fire. On my right however, a rock rolled into my vision. The sound of footsteps followed after it, and I started to question just how much braver I'd really gotten. My hands were soaked with sweat, and my knees were threatening to knock together. But I swallowed my fear, and curled my fingers into fists, before walking towards the sound. I crept along the edge of the nearest hut, and jumped out at the unknown person, letting one of my fists fly.

"Watch it!" Phelesmon shouted in surprise.

I was a little put out. I'd scrounged up all that bravery for nothing. Not only was Phelesmon an enemy, but I'd missed when I went to punch him. It was pretty embarrassing. Thankfully, the moon's light was dim enough to hide my flushing face. I looked Phelesmon over, trying to decide whether he'd encountered the enemy or not. He looked fine.

"What's going on?" I asked him quietly. I didn't want the enemy to hear me. "Norn said a door opened. Who was it?"

"It wasn't Gaia," Phelesmon said bitterly. "I saw the door, and I raced to get everyone, and it wasn't her. Now everyone's laughing at me, because I was wrong."

"But who was it?" I demanded, not in the mood to listen to his sob stories. He had done the right thing though, going to get everyone else when the door opened. I'd probably try to admonish them later, but I doubted they'd listen. They never did.

"Two humans," he sighed. "The girl called herself Hikari Yagami, and the boy said his name was Neo Sa—" I didn't let him finish. My eyes were wide and my heart was beating fast. This time though, it wasn't because of fear. I'd never been so excited to hear Hikari's name in my life, but to have Phelesmon follow it up with Neo was just more than I could stand.

"Everyone else is at the forest edge," I told him quickly, before he even had a chance to finish Neo's name. "Tell them it's okay. Tell Lalamon Neo's here. I have to go."

"What if I don't want to?" he whined. But I had taken off. I knew he'd do it. He was always eager for approval. I would've done it myself, but the idea that Neo was here, that he had come for me was too much to ignore.

I should've probably asked where to find them though.

Racing through the houses, I knew exactly where I was going to start. I didn't know if Neo knew Rei was here, but if he didn't, Rei needed to be told that he was here. She was going to flip her lid! Rei's hut had candles burning brightly inside of it. I spotted them before I saw the crowd of people waiting around it. Tactimon, Zanbamon and their combined task forces were waiting outside.

"What's going on?" I asked, fear suddenly back in my voice. "Rei's okay, isn't she?"

"She's fine," Arukenimon assured me. "The digidestined are in there with her."

"Hikari and Neo?" I asked, but I didn't really need clarification. I didn't wait any longer. I had to go inside. I didn't care what Tactimon and Zanbamon were planning now. I didn't even care how Neo and Hikari got the key to Witchenly at all. I just wanted to see them.

I pushed aside the curtain that served as a door and slipped into the hut. The glow from the candles made everything inside look softer, and warmer, thanks to their golden glow. The memory of that exact moment was seared into my mind. The way the candles made Willis' hair glow, and the way his eyes were glistening even as he smiled brightly down at Hikari's crying face. She was so happy, and I hadn't realized just how unhappy Willis must've been until I saw that megawatt smile. I pretty much burst into tears—no, I literally did burst into tears, when my eyes were finally pulled from Hikari and Willis, because Rei was crying her eyes out as Neo tried to hug her. He was wearing a sling, but I couldn't bring myself to ask. I just sobbed.

"Kiyoko!" Willis called happily. His smiled didn't diminish even a little at the sight of me crying on the ground. He was so happy. I was too. The tears weren't from fear or sadness. I was just so happy that I couldn't contain myself anymore.

"N-Neo," I cried.

He looked away from Rei for the first time since I came into the room, and he looked so relieved to see me. I didn't want to know what had been going through his head. He probably figured I was dead or something. I stumbled forward, and collapsed onto Rei's bed, next to him. I apologized for jostling Rei, but she was crying too hard to even notice. She had her brother back.

Neo's eyes were wet too, I noted.

I'd never seen him cry before.

He reached out with the hand that wasn't in the sling and ruffled my hair. I couldn't even pretend that I didn't love it. I just grinned through my tears and lifted my hands so that I could take hold of his. I had to prove to myself that he was real.

Hikari hugged me from behind, catching me off guard. She was still crying. I could feel her tears dripping down my neck. I didn't know why she was hugging me though. We didn't really know each other. I didn't know if we'd ever talked.

"I'm so glad you're not dead," she whispered into my ear with her watery, tear filled voice. "Gaia said you were. I shouldn't have believed her. I'm so sorry."

"Gaia?" I asked sharply.

"They met her," Willis informed me. "Hikari stole the keys back. Both of them."

"You have my key?" I said surprised. I turned to look at her, not wanting to let go of Neo, but knowing I would twist his good arm if I didn't. I didn't want to hurt him. He'd come to save me. Again. He'd saved me from the streets when even Sigma couldn't do that. He saved me when I'd run away from home before I'd even met Sigma. Neo was always saving me.

"We know where it goes too," Hikari said, nodding. She was wiping her tears away, but I knew she was going to start crying again, with the way she was looking at Rei. "We've been there. It's an endless white maze. Koushiro called it Theta, because the world is made of her, or something. He wasn't very clear when he was explaining it."

"I don't recommend it," Neo said. "Not that I remember much. It was a rather hazy experience for me."

"You were shot," Hikari said, excusing him from his lack of clear memories.

"You were shot?" Rei asked, eyeing the sling. I had figured it was a sprain personally, and from the surprise in Rei's voice, she had been thinking similarly. He nodded, and glared at his sling. "I was shot too."

"Who?" Neo asked, his voice coloured with a growl.

"Astamon."

We all turned to the door, where Lalamon and Norn stood. Lalamon was going for a dramatic reveal again, as she had her hood pulled over her face. It had been her who spoke. Neo and Hikari eyed Lalamon warily, but the rest of us were smiling at her. We knew she wasn't a threat—now anyway. She'd really scared us when we first saw her though.

"Norn," Hikari gasped, finally letting go of me. "You were trapped here too?"

"Gaia held me prisoner," Norn told her plainly. Hikari winced, but I didn't ask why. I still didn't really know her, and I was too interested in seeing their reaction to Lalamon, whenever she finally revealed herself. DemiVeemon was still nestled in Norn's grasp, and was looking up to her, concerned. He probably didn't like the sounds of Norn being a prisoner. He was also a toddler at best, so there was a chance he didn't really understand what she was saying at all, and was just reacting to the tone of her voice. I didn't know. I didn't really care. I was too busy being on cloud nine.

I turned back to Neo and just stared at him. He was getting uncomfortable with the amount of attention, but I couldn't look away. He was here. I was still having a hard time believing it.

"We can get you home, Norn," Hikari promised.

"Me too?" Lalamon asked from under her hood. "You won't leave me, right?"

"We'd never leave you," Willis assured her.

"Not in a million years," I agreed, looking away from Neo. He reached over the bed and squeezed my shoulder. I smiled at the touch. It was more proof that he was really here.

"Sweetie, you don't need to wear your cloak indoors," Rei told Lalamon with a wink. Lalamon deliberated, and finally nodded. She reached up and took her hood off. Hikari's gasp alone was worth the wait. Neo just stilled. His grip grew tighter on my shoulder, and after a quick glance in his direction, I could see that he was just lost in his disbelief.

Willis and I started laughing. Lalamon skipped over to Rei's bed and pulled herself into my lap. "Did you miss me?" she asked Neo. She said it lightly, but I could hear the genuine curiosity in her voice. Neo nodded, unsure of his voice at the moment.

"Look at you!" Hikari squealed. "It's another miracle. Are you working overtime, Willis?"

"Nah," Willis said with a snort. "That'd be Alice, if anything."

"We have to get back to the Temple," Hikari continued, excitedly. "Everyone's going to be so excited to see you."

"We can't go yet," I said. The happy bubble that had been growing in my chest popped. I was back to reality. "Not everyone is ready."

"This isn't everyone?" Neo asked wryly.

"No, we promised," I said. "Gravimon promised he'd come with me."

"And we agreed to bring the Wizards and Fallen Angels with us if we were ever freed," Willis added sheepishly.

"We can't just bring people along," Neo said, rolling his eyes. "This is their home, isn't it?"

"We promised," I repeated, looking to Neo, pleading with my eyes.

"Me too," DemiVeemon added. Neo didn't even acknowledge the little guy.

"Hikari," I said softly. "Neo. These people didn't choose to live in Witchenly. They've been trapped here since the world was created. They never wanted to be here. And we swore that in the unlikely chance we got to leave, that they could leave too."

"Neo," Rei said. "I'm not leaving without them. If you won't bring them, then you can just get out of my house right now."

"Me too," Willis added. "I really want to get out of here. But I agreed to take them with me."

Rei and Willis turned to me, and waited. I sighed. I didn't want to go along with their plan. What if Neo really decided to just leave us here? I didn't think he'd leave Rei behind, but I didn't want to take that chance. I wanted to go home. They continued to stare at me though, and they wore down my resolve.

"Me too," I said, not sounding serious at all. I looked to Neo with tears in my eyes again, pleading for him to not leave me here.

"Fine," he sighed. "You have ten minutes to get everyone ready, or we're leaving without you."

A cheer broke out outside of Rei's hut. The windows didn't exactly have any glass, so the entire conversation had been heard by the assembled digimon. I heard them rush off quickly, to alert the rest of their tribes. The entire Veemon population was still waiting when we went outside. They'd already been prepared to move today, so they didn't have anything that they wanted to grab. Willis was holding Rei in his arms. Neo looked angered that he couldn't, but with his sling it just wasn't a possibility. I clung to his free hand, so that he wouldn't be alone—but mostly because I just wanted to hug him. I didn't think he'd appreciate it too much though, so I just held tightly to his hand, and didn't plan on letting go until he told me I had to.

I hadn't seen the village so full of activity before. Phelesmon was muttering to himself as he flew off to Gaia's old house, and Karatenmon was busy stuffing a bag with all the shiny objects he could find. Mummymon was trailing after Arukenimon, collecting everything she asked him to—not noticing that Arukenimon was sneakily collecting his most prized possessions that he seemed to forget about in favour of doing her bidding. Witchmon was chasing after Salem, who had suddenly got cold feet about the move, and Reapmon had collected his most prized possessions: a lumpy pillow and a tattered blanket. That guy really appreciated his sleep. NeoDevimon was lurking near the Veemon, scaring the crap out of them with only a look.

Zanbamon and Tactimon were shouting orders for the rest of the village's inhabitants. The Strabimon and Flamemon's were tripping over each other. The various wizard digimon were scrambling like mad. Wisemon was mediating, awaiting our departure. There was so much to see, that I didn't know where to look at first. But my eye caught sight of Gravimon, who was hovering at the village's border. He saw me staring, but didn't make a move to come closer.

"Go to him," Rei suggested, from Willis' arms on my left. I looked down to Neo's hand that I was still clinging to. "Neo, go with Kiyoko," Rei ordered him. He didn't look like he wanted to leave Rei's side, but he agreed—probably because he'd thought she was dead, and had never imagined that she would ever tell him what to do ever again.

I dragged Neo with me to Gravimon, casting him apologetic looks every few seconds until he sighed with annoyance. "Neo," I said proudly. "This is my friend Gravimon."

"Your friend?" he asked, not able to keep the shock out of his voice.

"Mine," I agreed. "Gravimon, this is Neo."

"The one that gave you a home," Gravimon said, nodding knowingly.

"He's here to bring us back," I told him. "You're going to come too, right?"

"I am unsure," Gravimon said, hesitating.

"But you promised," I reminded him. "You said you'd come with me if I got to go home."

"Kiyoko," Neo warned, but I paid him no mind. He didn't know Gravimon. He could only see his scary exterior, just like everyone else did when they first met him.

"I don't want to say goodbye," I said pitifully, looking up at my giant friend.

"You can always come back," Neo pointed out. I was pretty sure he was talking to me, but he caught Gravimon's attention with his words. "We've got the key now. It's not like you can't come visit."

"I will visit your world," Gravimon decided. "If I do not like it, I will return to my forest."

"You won't want to come back," I told him, believing it wholeheartedly. I didn't ever want to say goodbye to him. He was so important to me, even though I'd only known him for four months. He'd done more for me in that short time than I thought was possible. Everyone else just put up with my cowardice and timid nature, but he pushed my boundaries and made me push passed them. I wanted to share him with the other people in my life. I wanted Hideto to know him.

Hideto.

"Neo," I asked, nervously. "Hideto and Mari…they made it out, right?"

"You, Willis and Rei were the only ones unaccounted for," Neo assured me. I heaved a sigh of relief. I'd been anxious that I would get to go home only to find out the people that made it home were gone.

"I want to see them," I whispered, fearing that if I spoke too loudly, that the tears would return. I wanted to see them now so badly. I wanted to see Tapirmon, and I wanted to tell Hideto my speech. I tried to run through the words I wanted to say, repeating them on loop, until Neo finally declared it was time to leave.

"What's everyone doing?"

"Porcupamon," Willis said with a grin—it was forced. He felt guilty for not having remembered to go and get him. "Glad you're here buddy. We've got to say goodbye."

"We're leaving?" Porcupamon asked.

"We are," Willis told him.

"Well, if you're twisting my arm, I guess I can go too," he replied with a sigh. "I've got my best toys with me." He did have his arms full of toys, even if they were all broken. He must've been coming to visit with Rei. Willis shrugged.

"You can come if you want to," Willis said. "You'd be alone if you didn't."

It was true. Everyone was collected in the centre of the town. Zamielmon was even holding the lone Dolphimon that had lived in the river. He looked rather happy to not be surrounded by rotting fish at the moment. After a quick headcount—and waiting a few extra minutes while Phelesmon shouted from the distance to not leave without him—we were ready to go.

Hikari tried to offer the honour of opening the gate to someone else, but Willis' arms were full of Rei, and I was clinging to Neo too tightly to even try. In the end, Norn took the opportunity to open the gate before Tactimon and Zanbamon could relight their old feud and fight over the chance.

I held my breath and memorized the look of the glowing gate as Norn opened the door. It was the most beautiful gateway I'd ever seen.

And then we were walking through it.

The Veemon and Norn went first—since she was carrying one of their own. And then Neo took the initiative to drag me through behind him. I heard Hikari volunteering to stay until the end, before I was travelling between worlds. I closed my eyes tightly, and when I opened them again I was in the hallway right outside the Council room. Daisuke's partner had been chatting with Dorumon about potential changes he could make to the Knight's training, while eating a donut. His donut fell to the floor as he took in the sight of so many Veemon.

"Whoa," he said, stunned.

"Is that him?" one of the Veemon hissed to a friend.

"I think it must be," his friend replied.

Willis and Rei came through the gateway behind us, and Rei squirmed until he set her down. She jumped up and down, and her eyes watered up over being able to stand once more. She smiled at her brother, and wrapped her arms around him, showering him with her happiness. "It is him," she told the Veemon with a sunny smile.

"I knew it!" the first cheered. DemiVeemon hopped out of Norn's arms, and ran over to Veemon, who was still stunned at seeing so many digimon that looked just like him. I'd almost forgotten that we once thought Veemon was the last of his species.

"You're a hero," DemiVeemon accused Veemon. Veemon was too shocked to do more than nod. Norn laughed and walked over to Veemon. The sight of her was enough to shake him from his stupor.

"Norn," he gasped. "Kurayami was afraid something terrible happened to you."

"Something terrible, did happen to me," she told him. "But it's over now. I'm home. Do you know where Kurayami is?"

"Not right now," he said. "She'll be home later though, I know that much."

"Maybe I can go to my home and put some things in order before seeing her then," Norn mused. "You wouldn't happen to have a key, would you? I sealed it off, even to my own powers."

"I'll take you to get the key," Hikari offered her. "I have to return these ones anyway."

Veemon followed after her, excited to have her back in his life. DemiVeemon jumped back into her arms, and stuck his tongue out at the rest of his tribe, because he got to go with the hero, and they didn't.

It took about five seconds before they all started tripping over themselves to catch up to them.

"Perhaps we could go outside?" Gravimon suggested. I smiled sheepishly as I realized just how cramped this hallway was. Not only was it filled to the brim with digimon, but it wasn't nearly tall enough for some of them to stand in.

"I'll lead the way," Willis offered. "I can't get to the training room from here anyway. Do you…do you think Lopmon and Terriermon are there?"

"They should be," Neo told him. "Providing they follow the schedule I have posted."

"Okay, well, it wouldn't be surprising if they... weren't there," Willis said, bubbling with nervous excitement. Gravimon nodded to me, before starting to follow Willis outside.

"I'll come see you really very soon," I promised. "There are just some people I have to see first."

"I understand," he told me. And then there were just the four of us: Neo, Rei, Dorumon and I.

"Dorumon," Neo said. Dorumon jumped to attention. "Find Taichi, he's bound to be around here by now. Send him to the Council room. Tell him it's absolutely unavoidable. He has to come ASAP."

"What's in there?" Dorumon asked.

"Tell him it's a surprise," Neo ordered. Dorumon saluted Neo and disappeared down the hallway. Neo turned to his sister, who was bouncing in excitement. She seemed to know what his plan was. "You can talk with him now, but promise me you will visit a hospital."

"Of course," Rei assured him.

"And perhaps we could have dinner at a later date," he was trying to seem sophisticated but he wasn't fooling anyone. He was giddy and joyous like the rest of us.

"Absolutely," Rei said. "But, you know, I haven't had a chance to cook in awhile. Maybe we could all have dinner together—you, Dracomon, Taichi, Agumon, Pal, Pul and me. Doesn't that sound fun?"

"You and I have a very different definition of the word fun," Neo drawled. But he didn't say no either. Rei winked and slipped into the Council room. Neo sighed as the door closed and turned to me. "Let's get you to Hideto," he decided. My heart was pounding; I was so excited to see him. I wanted to see Tapirmon too, a lot, but Neo would've suggested it if he happened to know where Tapirmon was. He knew where Hideto could be found. That meant I could see him faster.

I was done with waiting.

Neo pulled his arm free from my own and pressed a few buttons on the computer next to the gate to Earth. In a flash of light, I found that the Temple hallway had been exchanged for a dusty office. It looked like we were in Mimi's restaurant. And Hideto had to be here too—Neo would never come here voluntarily if there wasn't a reason for it.

"Stay here," Neo told me. I nodded, even though I didn't want to. Neo sure had a thing for dramatics it seemed. I hadn't known that about him. He opened the door and looked around. When he spoke again, his voice was much louder. "I see the construction team left."

"Yeah. I was just about to leave myself. What're you doing back?"

I couldn't help the silly smile that spread across my face. I could hear him. I could hear Hideto! I wasn't happy with just hearing him though. I wanted to see him. I wanted to touch him. But I couldn't. Neo told me not to. I wanted to pout, but the sound of his voice just made it impossible. I'd forgotten just how deep his voice was. I'd forgotten, and I didn't like that I had. I very nearly followed Neo out the door, but I was sure the wait would prove to be worthwhile.

"I thought of a few people I could add to that stupid list of yours," Neo told him.

"You gave me seven, that's all I asked for," Hideto said, sounding confused.

"But I like to go above and beyond," Neo said sounding ridiculously full of himself. It was true though, or Neo wouldn't have said it. "I'm not mediocre. I can do better."

"Let's hear it then," Hideto challenged.

"Lalamon," Neo said. "Rei. And Kiyoko."

"Is this your way of trying to change my mind?" Hideto asked, sounding more than a little annoyed. He almost seemed angry. I didn't like that. I missed the happy tones he was using earlier. "I'm not celebrating his death. I'm not getting Kiyoko a gravestone."

I didn't like that he thought I was dead. I didn't want him to think that anymore. I slipped out of the office, even though Neo told me to stay put. Hideto's back was towards me, but Neo just smirked my way. Apparently I was still going along with his plan.

"I don't think I'd know what to do with one, if you gave it to me," I told Hideto.

I watched as his shoulders tensed up, and he stilled. Neo nodded to him, and then gestured towards me with a quick nod. Hideto slowly turned around. My mind was repeating the words of my speech once more. I needed to say it. I needed to get it out. But when he finished turning around, and his eyes met with mine, my mind went blank. Nothing mattered to me at all anymore, except him. He was there, and he was alive, and I was alive. We were together once more. I was vaguely aware of Neo excusing himself, but it wouldn't have mattered if he stayed.

Hideto bridged the gap with a few long strides, and he lifted me into the air. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, and he spun me in a circle. I meant to laugh, but it came out in a choked cry. "You're alive," he said. As he spoke I became aware of the raw emotion in his voice. He placed me back on my feet and looked down at me. He was crying too. "I thought I'd lost you. I missed you. God I missed you so much!"

"I love you," I told him. That was the only part of my speech that would come to mind. So I just repeated it, over and over. "I love you. I love you. I love you." It was like I couldn't stop. He laughed and cupped my face with trembling hands.

"I love you too," he whispered. It was like a breath of fresh air to hear him say it, to know he felt it. He wiped the tears from my face, and smiled down at me, through his own tears. I put my hands over his, so happy to know that like Neo, Hideto was real. Hideto was here. Hideto seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Let's get you home, Kiyoko."

"Yeah," I said, feeling truly peaceful for the first time in a long time. "Let's go home."

Rei Saiba:

The anticipation was killing me.

It was like my mind couldn't cope with everything that was happening around me. I couldn't come to terms with the fact that I was tapping my foot under the table, or that I was seated at this table at all. This was the Council's meeting room. I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be holed up in a hut made of clay and dead grass. I was supposed to be watching Porcupamon play with his creepy toys, and wallowing in self-pity. I was supposed to be dreading the day when the canned food ran out, and we'd have to resort to eating what the land provided.

But I wasn't doing any of that.

Instead, I was sitting at a table I'd never thought I'd see again. I was waiting to see my boyfriend, who I'd feared was dead. I had just been rescued by my brother and my boyfriend's sister. I was no longer trapped in a world of endless night. The sun was shining warmly behind me, warming my back through the window. I knew it had to be setting, but it was bright enough in my opinion. My eyes weren't used to the harsh light after having only moonlight to light my way for the past four months. If we'd come back during midday, I might've been blinded by the sun's rays.

The anticipation though, was starting to get to me.

When Neo had sent Dorumon off, I figured that meant Taichi couldn't be too far. But I'd been waiting for an hour, and Taichi still wasn't here.

And because I had nothing to entertain myself except for my own thoughts, I was starting to think things I didn't want to think.

What if Taichi wasn't here because he didn't want to come? What if Dorumon told him I was waiting, and Taichi decided there was somewhere else he'd rather be? I didn't want to doubt him, and I tried not to, but as the seconds continued to pass me by, the more convinced I became.

My foot was tapping, and I was practically bouncing in my seat. I was trying to focus on all the good things. So what if Taichi didn't want to come? That was fine. I had Neo back, and that was amazing. I could walk while in the Digital World still—which I had honestly doubted because it was rather selective of what it could heal some days (paralysation was no problem, but a paper cut was impossible). I could go back to not seeing my mother, out of choice. I could hang out with Pal and Pul, and finish knitting my Christmas presents. I could find something else to do as a hobby…I could maybe even find something I wanted to do for a job.

My mind was full of possibilities, but my heart kept coming back to square one.

I bit my lip and looked to the door longingly. Where was Taichi? I sighed a sad sigh, put my elbows onto the table, and buried my face in my hands. There had to be something to be happy about, something that could overcome this self inflicted misery. I didn't even know if Taichi was avoiding me. For all I knew it could be a figment of my own imagination. But I didn't see Taichi swooping in to chase the thoughts away either.

I felt so stupid to be miserable about a boy. Yes, he was the man I loved, and yes, I really thought we were solid enough to find our forever. But he was still just a boy. I was free from the prison Gaia sealed us in when she stole our exit. I was able to walk on my own two feet. I had two digimon that meant the world to me. I had my brother. I had the rest of Alias III too. It didn't matter that Taichi didn't drop everything to come and see me.

Except it did matter, because I'd gotten my hopes up when Neo made the suggestion to Dorumon, and I'd ran through several scenarios in my mind, and not one of those scenarios involved Taichi not showing up. He was always there. He was always happy.

Maybe it was just presumptuous of me.

It had been four months since we'd last seen each other. Hikari and Neo had thought I was dead. They had a small sliver of hope left for Willis and Kiyoko, but they didn't even have that much left for me. Everyone thought I'd been out in the virus and ended up alone, lost in a cloud of purple, and disintegrated into nothing.

To be honest, it was one of the most horrifying things I'd ever heard.

But it had been four months since that demise, and Taichi and I had only been dating three years. Sure we were friends for a long time before that. Sure I had thought of him as my future half the time. But three years wasn't really that long.

I didn't think I'd overestimated Taichi's feelings for me…but maybe he'd had enough time to come to terms with living without me. It would really suck, but I'd put him through so much without even knowing it. I didn't intend to have everyone think I was dead. It wasn't something I thought would be a fun thing to do. But I had left the Coliseum when I didn't really need to, just to find him.

This was my homecoming though…

I breathed deeply, almost managing a smile at the smell of the air. It was a little dusty in the Council chamber, but there wasn't even the tiniest hint of rotten fish. That was another blessing to add to my list. I could breathe without wanting to vomit. I'd come dangerously close to being used to the feeling, but I was so happy that I didn't have to.

I moved my arms from beneath my head, and let my nose touch the table top, and I breathed in deeply again. I could smell paper, and spilled ink. There was a subtle hint of something floral, and I wondered for a second if I was in Babamon's chair. The door opened while I was running my nose along the table, sniffing like a crazy person.

"I can come back later, if you'd prefer?"

I pulled my face off of the table sharply, whipping backwards so fast that I nearly knocked my chair out from under me.

"Careful!"

I was shocked to see Agumon there. It wasn't Taichi, but it was a close second. I'd missed him too. His eyes were sparkling and he had a big toothy grin on his face. I couldn't help but smile back. The moment I did, though, I burst into tears. I just couldn't control myself anymore. He looked shocked, his wide eyes looking at me panicked. I shook my head, trying to calm him. It wasn't his fault—well it was, but it was a good sort of crying. I held my arms out and waved him over. He stopped freaking out and ran to me, collapsing in my arms. I cried more as I hugged him close to my chest.

"Pal and Pul will be so happy," he said. "I'm so happy."

"Agumon…where's…where's Taichi?" I asked hesitantly.

"In the labs," he said. "Dorumon's trying to get him to come out. But Koushiro didn't come to work again today, so Tatum and Taichi are trying to fill his shoes. It's not working very well. If he knew it was you that Dorumon wanted him for, he would've dropped everything Rei. He misses you a whole lot. We all missed you a lot. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"And I didn't think I'd ever see you," I said, trying to smile and only broke into heavier sobs. Agumon cried and I cried, and it was just a mess of tears as we clutched at one another. We were both so happy. It was nice, to know that Agumon cared about me as much as I cared about him.

I didn't even know how long we stayed there like that, curled around one another, crying our eyes out. But it was very therapeutic. I cried about all the happy things that had happened just hours ago. I cried about Gaia's betrayal, which I'd internalized so that I could help the others deal with their own emotions. I cried again about the unfairness of losing my ability to walk for a second time. I cried because we'd left Astamon in a cage in the middle of a now abandoned town, and no matter how little I cared for him, I didn't want him to die alone that way.

The tears just didn't seem to ever want to end.

And oddly, I was fine with that. There was nothing wrong with crying. It was soothing to actually get all the emotions out. It wasn't healthy to lock them inside. I'd locked some inside while in Witchenly, for the sake of the others. And I was making up for it now, with Agumon.

"Alphamon this is ridiculous!"

"You won't come any other way," Alphamon said solemnly. I was confused, for a moment, before realizing that Taichi was being his usual stubborn self, and refused to be drawn away from whatever project he'd been working on. Dorumon had to digivolve into Alphamon to get him to come.

I didn't know whether to be insulted or not.

I chose not to be, because he didn't actually know it was me that Dorumon had been trying to get him to see.

"I can walk," Taichi said bitterly. "I'm not a sack of potatoes. Put me down. People are supposed to respect me. How can they respect a sack of potatoes?"

"You're annoying," Alphamon informed him, before opening the door and tossing him inside. "Have a good reunion," Alphamon said as he closed the door behind him.

"What're you talking about…?" Taichi wondered. It took him all of three seconds to figure it out. Agumon and I were still crying our hearts out. We weren't being quiet about it. He looked to us, and blinked twice, trying to clear his vision. He didn't seem to believe what he was seeing, so he rubbed his eyes. "Agumon…?"

"It's Rei!" Agumon cheered, pulling away from me, only to run to Taichi and fling himself into Taichi's arms. Taichi caught him, but didn't look away. His eyes were looking over every inch of me, and suddenly I felt exposed, vulnerable. I wiped my face, even though the tears were still coming, and I tried to fix my hair. It was no use though. No amount of fiddling could make me look any less like a crying mess.

"Tai—" I tried to say, but I didn't managed to get any further than that. I just couldn't form any more words. Taichi's eyes were filling with tears, and it broke my heart to see just how much pain he had been in. I got out of the chair and made my way to him, and he shifted Agumon to one side, using his free arm to pull me close. Together we held Agumon in the air, holding each other, drawing strength from one another.

"Rei," he cried. His voice broke and he sounded so lost. I felt my heart shatter even further.

"I'm here," I told him in a tear filled whisper. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Not again. Never again." The long howling cry that tore from his throat was painful to hear. He was broken and I didn't know if I could put the pieces back together again.

There was a soft rapping at the door, and when it opened I saw that it was Neo. He very pointedly made no comment on Taichi's crumpled state. He didn't even look longer than a cursory glance. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Rei, you need to get to a hospital," he informed me. "You need to get that wound checked out. It might be fine here but it could be festering some sort of infection that's just waiting to rear its ugly head when you step foot through the gate to Earth."

"What wound?" Agumon asked, looking up at me with huge, curious eyes.

"I was shot," I said, whimpering once again for what Astamon had taken from me. "It paralyzed me." He looked even more curious now, but I didn't feel up to explaining it just yet. Taichi didn't ask about it. I wasn't even sure he'd heard a word that Neo said. He was too overwhelmed with his emotions. I could understand that. Minutes before he arrived, I was in the exact same place.

I tried to plead with my eyes for Neo to give me even five more minutes, but he wouldn't budge. He cared more about my health than Taichi's wellbeing. I sighed, and kissed Taichi's forehead. His head was resting on my shoulder as his body wracked with sobs.

"Come with me," I told Taichi. He nodded, though I still didn't think he knew what was going on around him. I flushed bright red, embarrassed when Agumon whispered to me that Taichi didn't want to lose sight of me, not wanting to find out that I'd just been a figment of his imagination. Neo didn't seem impressed, and started to look impatient, so I slowly guided Taichi and Agumon to the door. Neo looked to Agumon, questioningly. "He's coming too," I told him. "I don't care what the nurses say."

"You'll find less resistance now, actually," Neo said. "But it's not gone altogether yet."

"I'll take what I can get," I told him. "Now get me to the doctors so I can go home. I miss my home."

"….it's a little messier than you remember," Agumon admitted sheepishly. "Taichi and I were reorganizing…."

"Well, I miss being able to clean my house," I said brightly, even though it wasn't something I was particularly thrilled about. I had a feeling it was going to take awhile at the hospital anyway, especially since Taichi didn't seem to be able to walk on his own anymore.

It was going to be a long night.

But I'd never been happier.

Willis Kennedy:

I wanted to take things slowly. I wanted to maybe lie down and allow the reality of the situation to slowly sink in, but it didn't seem likely that I would be given the opportunity. I had been gone and trapped for so long—not just in Witchenly either, since Director Arnold had kept me concealed in his underground monster factory and then I'd been forced to keep myself locked away inside the Temple laboratory—that it just didn't seem realistic that I had been granted freedom.

And yet, as I stepped into the open air of the outside world, I knew I had been given just that. I squinted in the light of the sun and stood at the top of the flight of stairs for just a moment, letting the freshness of the air wash over me, but I knew it would be cruel to make those who had chosen to follow me wait any longer. With Lalamon in tow I began my journey out into the freedom of the Temple, aware of the others following closely behind.

The Temple itself was just as I remembered it being. Grand, majestic and larger than life. The yellowish stones kept a sense of joy and wonderment concealed within the walls, and the beautifully patterned tiles of stone that made up the ground were quite the sight for sore eyes. Everything here was magical and in a much different, perhaps refreshing, way than everything in Witchenly had been. The one thing I could admit to being a little bitter about was that there was no one around to help the magic really come to life. The streets were bare and the air was silent. The air was still fresh, and the sky was still beautiful in its many shades of orange and pink, but the magic really wasn't there.

But I could live with that. I could live with that as long as I was allowed to bask in the sunlight as my skin relished in what it had been craving. The moonlight of Witchenly, as well as the beautiful star arrangements were astonishing, but still it wasn't right. Sunlight. That was all I had been asking for. No, I'd also been asking for freedom, fresh water, comfortable arrangements, warm water, a working toilet and my closest relatives and friends. But sunlight was still one of the things I'd been craving, and now I was here, standing in its rays. Somehow I'd always found sunsets to be more refreshing than that of a typical day, and I knew there was some magic at work there.

And I was happy that Lalamon was here to share it with me. I was happy that everyone from Witchenly was able to experience this feeling of chains and shackles being removed. Metaphorically of course. I was watching the others now as they took in a world that they could barely remember. Tactimon tried to remain poised as he stared toward the large voluminous clouds that made their way across the sky while Phelesmon stood nearby with his jaw genuinely hanging open in shock and amazement. Karatenmon was with Witchmon in the sky stretching his wings as his friend and her loud feline friend spun around him, laughing all the while, but somehow her cackle didn't have the same spooky effect without the full moon to harmonize with. Reapmon had dropped his pillow and didn't seem to care one bit as he made his way toward a nearby food stand that looked to have been long since abandoned. NeoDevimon had little reaction, but he prodded a flag that had been hastily stuck into the ground with his finger and watched as it fell limp again. Zamielmon was rushing to everything he could find while the look of joy stuck itself in place on his face, but Zanbamon, who he was trying to drag with him was staying firm in his place, despite looking quite pleased as well. I was glad they were happy, because otherwise it wouldn't have seemed worth it. But if they didn't like their new home, it wasn't impossible to send them back. And maybe this time we would leave the door open, so they didn't have to be trapped in a cage anymore.

"Can I keep this?" Porcupamon asked, catching my attention. He didn't wait for an answer and scooped a half eaten baked potato into his pile of broken toys. He wasn't a very expressive digimon, at least not outwardly, so I was not sure if he was pleased to leave the place he had found comfort in, but I could hope for the best. Gravimon stood over him seeming to be highly out of place against the much cheerier background. He stood taller and looked over the walls of the Temple, spotting some trees and without a word began to make his way toward them.

It was when I heard a whimper from my arms that I realized it was time that I got myself back into gear. I looked down to see tears falling from Lalamon's eyes. She hugged me close, not bothering to hide them and I immediately felt a response. My heart lurched forward and my throat tightened. It was time to get moving. "Okay," I said loudly to everyone. "Make this your home for now. It doesn't seem like anyone else is using it, and whenever Taichi shows up he'll tell you what to do I'm sure."

"Who is Taichi?" Tactimon asked. "Is he your god?"

"Ah, no," I said thinking my answer through carefully. "Not so much a god, but he is our leader. He kind of rules everything around here, but he won't admit to it."

"A humble ruler," Phelesmon scoffed. "As if."

"No seriously," I said, but I decided I didn't have time to argue with him. "Make yourselves comfortable. I have to go." Over his shoulder I could see Mummymon helping Arukenimon up a flight of stairs to the top of the castle wall. I wondered if they would bother to stick around or if they would continue their hiding from the Digidestined—from me. I hoped they didn't go. I would miss them.

"Where will you be off to?" Tactimon asked in a low voice.

"I have people to see," I told him simply. "I'll come see you soon, I promise."

"We will make do in your absence," he told me kindly, and weirdly—though I couldn't see his face—it sounded like he might be smiling. "Go, Willis." I nodded, feeling rather sentimental with the goodbye even if it was less permanent than anything I'd experienced emotionally lately. With a small sniffle from Lalamon I took my leave, heading to where I knew the knights would usually train.

I hugged Lalamon closer to my chest and she held tighter. She was pulling at every piece of my soul here with her emotions and I had already felt tears stinging my eyes. I felt tortured being away from Terriermon and Lopmon as long as I had. It had been six months now—that was half a year. That was a long time to be away from someone who made up the better half of yourself. Lalamon had experienced that same fate, but for three years. I'd lived through that before, I'd been forced to say a 'final' farewell to my partners when Gennai decided he was done with us, and it was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. I knew how Lalamon felt, and I was going to make sure she got back to Mari.

"Willis," Lalamon said in a quiet voice. "I'm scared."

I looked down to her in shock and stopped moving. "What are you talking about?"

"What if Mari has accepted my death?" she asked in a very direct and yet timid voice. She had been thinking about this a lot, that much was certain. "What if she has moved on and can't find an opening in her heart for me."

"You don't need to worry about that," I promised. "Letting go of a partner isn't that easy. She loves you, Lalamon, and she would never forget that." She nodded, but seemed worried still and she hugged me again. "I'll bring you to her soon, I promise." She nodded again, but as I took a step to keep moving she pressed on my chest and looked up. "What's wrong?"

"Can you wait just a minute," she pleaded. "The sunlight feels so nice." I smiled and silently agreed, turning to look back to the beautiful sky above us. Lalamon climbed out of my arms and hovered in the air, still wearing that heinous cloak that she loved so much and yet she finally decided she was warm enough to remove it, or so it seemed. She undid the button keeping it together and it fell to a heap on the ground. She remained air born for a moment with her arms stretched wide, absorbing the light from the sun. "I'll never sleep in again," she said in a relaxed voice. "I'll never miss a minute of the sun's light."

"You say that now," I told her with a grin. "But just wait until you stay up late tonight talking to Mari, you'll sleep all day tomorrow."

"Not a chance," she said with a little giggle at the prospect of spending that time with her partner. I was a little jealous that Lalamon would be so easily accepted into Mari's life again, when the last thing she'd said to me was that she didn't love me and didn't believe she ever would because she didn't think love existed at all in the romantic sense. That sucked for me because I disagreed. I knew I disagreed because whatever love really meant, I felt it for her. But whatever tiny seed of jealousy that was threatening to grow inside of me was nothing compared to the sheer delight at having my freedom back, and seeing Lalamon's expression as she waited in the sunlight. She suddenly turned to me and closed the distance between us. "But we'd better get going. I'll bet Mari would love to watch the sunset."

I agreed, but said nothing and instead hurried along. Lalamon's talk was exactly what I needed to give me the courage and drive to keep moving forward. It didn't stop my heart from beating faster and harder with every step I took. My throat was still tight as I tried to shake off the nerves and weakness that was taking over my body. I could feel sweat building up on my face and I was suddenly aware of how disgusting I probably looked.

But I kept going anyway, because this was important.

I pushed gently on the door that was propped slightly open and peered inside.

"No, that's not right," Centarumon was saying. He was standing facing toward the door where I had come but he was at the other side of the meadow-room. The grass that made up the floor was softer and greener than I remembered it being. The vegetation in Witchenly, though still a wonderful change of pace for the damaged world that it was, could not hold a candle to the grass I saw now. Even the ivy and leaves that made up the outer walls of the massive room caught my attention by their complete beauty. Everything seemed surreal now, having been in a world with such little life. "You need to become more fluid."

"I am fluid," a small voice said, tugging at my heart. My stomach flipped at the sound of his voice and I looked down to see him standing with his back to me. "I'm fluid like water."

"Like frozen water," Centarumon corrected. "You will never win a fight if you cannot glide between your foes."

"I've won loads of fights, you overgrown donkey," Terriermon spat.

"Terriermon," a higher voice prodded gently. I looked to the brown and pink rabbit digimon as she moved to console her brother. My heart fluttered at the sight of her. "No need to be rude. He's not wrong though. You're moving like a board." Wizardmon snorted into the bottle of water he was drinking from and spat some of that water onto the nearby Andromon who sparked at the contact and both digimon stared to the flying lights.

"Why don't you do it then, if you're so majestic," Terriermon offered. "You're obviously better at being a ballerina."

"No one is asking you to be a ballerina," Lopmon snapped. "You just need to take constructive criticism more constructively."

"Fine," Terriermon said in a daring voice. It was then that I noticed just how wide my smile had grown. My legs were shaking from excitement, nerves, hunger and exhaustion and the rest of my body felt just as weak and hollow, but my chest was filling with such a feeling that I could barely comprehend. I watched with a very wide stare, afraid to blink in case I were to wake up in Witchenly to discover it had all been a dream. I could not let them out of my sights. Not again. Lalamon squeezed my arm gently and I noticed that maybe a tear or two had fallen from my eyes, but I ignored them in favour of Terriermon taking another attempt at his lesson. He crouched down and leapt into the air, flipping over Agumon's head and landing firmly next to Gabumon before spinning smoothly and getting around the second digimon and then all at once he spun back and took a fighting stance. He stayed stationary for a few seconds and then shrugged. "Well?"

"Better," Lopmon said, but it didn't sound very convincing.

"Just tell me what to change!" Terriermon growled.

"It's fine," Lopmon said sharply. "You did fine."

"I think your ears may have gotten in the way," I offered with as strong a voice as I could muster. "Or maybe you're just not the ballerina I always thought you were." My excitement had gotten the better of me and I had simply blurted out my words. All eyes were on me and my weakness got the better of me. My legs gave out and I had fallen to my knees in the soft ground. Terriermon and Lopmon were the only ones that mattered at that moment, and even though everyone was staring at me, the way they were doing it seemed much more real.

Their confusion turned to fear, but that was where they differed. Lopmon's fear quickly turned to relief and she rushed across the room toward me, while Terriermon fell to his own knees, mirroring me in whatever he was feeling. I pulled myself to my feet and met Lopmon halfway. She leapt into my arms and let out an ugly sob. I didn't even care, because I knew I was an ugly crier too. She hugged me with her eyes shut tight and it just seemed to change everything. I didn't fear waking back up in Witchenly because I knew that this was a reality. I knew that the softness of Lopmon's fur against the palm of my hand was something that could never be conjured up even by the cruelest of dreams. When I looked back to Terriermon I saw that he was crying, but trying his hardest not to.

I didn't bother waiting any longer and I made my way over to him.

"Willis," he said in a very choked off voice. "Where the hell have you been?" I snorted and reached to him with my free hand and dragged him into the hug. Terriermon scrunched up his nose and pushed himself further into the hug. We remained still and silent—other than the array of disgusting cries—for a while until the stares of the others started to feel more pressing and valid.

"We can't stay here long," I told them in a quiet voice. "There's something important I have to do."

"More important than being with us?" Terriermon asked, cocking one brow upward.

"No," I assured him, ruffling the fur on his head. "You're coming with me, but this might be just as important."

Lopmon sniffled and pulled out of the hug, looking up to me. "W-what is it?" I looked back to the doorway where Lalamon was standing nervously, peeking around the wooden door to our moment. Lopmon punched me as hard as she could in the arm and I gasped, jumping back from the sharp pain, "Sorry, I panicked!" Lopmon said in a loud voice "Why are you still here? What about Mari? Oh my god! What happened? Where were you?" She was looking to me with wide excited eyes and her voice was getting higher and her words were coming quicker. "Don't you dare answer that—we have to go!" She looked up to Centarumon and waved. "Seriously we're leaving. Right now." Centarumon nodded his understanding and Lopmon grabbed Terriermon's hand.

"You're going to answer the questions eventually, right?" Terriermon asked, grabbing my pant leg as if he were afraid I'd leave his side.

"Absolutely," I promised, reaching down to lift the two of them to my shoulders. "I told you, you're coming with me everywhere from now on. You don't have any idea how much I've missed you."

"Well since you're crying," Lopmon said, rolling her eyes.

"And I mean, we were away from you just as long," Terriermon joined the drawling sarcasm his sister had tossed out.

"Okay, so maybe you do."

"But we don't understand as much as you do," Lopmon said, and it wasn't a question of who she was talking to. We had reached Lalamon and she was looking up to the three of us. "I think it's time to get to Mari," Lopmon suggested. Lalamon was immediately responding with too many emotions to count or to be fully aware of. My weakness and nervousness had gone—though the elated feeling of excitement and the intensified emotional state I was in weren't going anywhere—but Lalamon had still not met up with that release. She was still here, waiting for her reunion. It was selfish of me to choose my partners before hers. But there was nothing standing in her way anymore.

Not a single thing would stop her and Mari from seeing each other again, and that was an amazing sensation. Mari had waited a long time to feel something good—and sure I'd been gone for four months, but it didn't seem likely that with the assumption that Kiyoko was dead she felt particularly good about life. I wanted to think that maybe my loss meant something to her too, but that was selfish again—selfish and horrible because I didn't want her to feel sad, especially not on my account.

But we would soon find out the truth.

The sun had fully set now and we were walking through darkness, and while that should have sent chills down my mind and rushed bad memories into the forefront of my mind, I couldn't forget where I was and what I had just experienced. I would never forget the joy of seeing them again. And I wasn't kidding when I said I'd never let them leave my side again. But I was sure that would fade soon enough.

Lopmon was assuring Lalamon that she was going to be okay, even though she was shaking again, and Terriermon was cracking jokes, trying to cheer her up, but nothing seemed to be working. I knew what would work though. I was quick to program the door to the library, knowing that was where Mari would be, and soon we were stepping into the streets of Ebisu, staring up at the beautiful building that Mari now lived in.

"What's this?" Lalamon asked in a worried voice, looking around for the dingy apartment that Mari used to live in. "Why are we at the library."

"Mari lives here now," Terriermon explained. "So I guess that means you do too."

"Welcome home, Lalamon," Lopmon said with a bright voice. Lalamon looked to her and nodded, though she seemed more worried than anything. And then we set off, moving toward the doorway. I didn't bother knocking because the lights were out. If she was home, she would be in her room likely. I didn't know where that was, but I was sure we'd find it eventually.

I held the door open for Lalamon and looked out to the empty streets shining the faint light of the tiny moon up in the sky. I closed the door gently and turned back to the entrance hallway. The excitement that I'd felt coming up to Terriermon and Lopmon was back, even though the two of them had chosen that moment to climb off of my shoulders. I was excited to see Mari again, sure. But I was more excited for Mari.

I was walking faster than the others, and I was somewhat aware of that, but it didn't seem to matter to me. I just wanted to see her; to be sure she was alive. It was different to hear the truth than it was to see the truth.

It didn't take long to find out though.

As I came around the corner I saw her standing there. The lights were out everywhere in the building aside from the light pouring across the kitchen from the open refrigerator. Mari was standing in the light, bent over slightly as she looked inside. There was total silence in the air now and I moved toward the gate that led to the wooden kitchen floor. I didn't think twice about anything either, I simply wanted to see her face, and I wanted her to see mine.

When my clunky boot stepped down on the wooden floor Mari cocked her head slightly and her bushy ponytail fell over her shoulder. "Oh good you're back," she said. "I haven't any idea what to cook."

I didn't respond. I didn't know what to say. There were so many things flying around in my brain, and most of them involved me leaving right now. I'd heard her voice. That was enough. It wasn't fair for me to be here when Lalamon deserved the moment more than I did. I was just turning to leave when Mari, seemingly confused as to why she had received no answer, turned to face me.

Her entire body went stiff as the door to the refrigerator slammed shut. Her eyes were wide and her hand was hovering in front of her, frozen in place. I'd never known Mari to be at a loss for words.

"Oh Mari," I said in a wavering voice, deciding that the best course of action would be to quote her when she'd rescued me from Arnold's prison. "You're here? I totally didn't know—" Mari had already closed the gap between the two of us and placed her hand on my face, feeling my skin with her gentle touch. I swallowed thickly and the stinging in my eyes was back. Mari tried several times to form words, but instead her lips pursed and tears welled up in her eyes.

I pulled her sharply, closing what little distance was left and hugged her. She nervously threw her arms around my neck and waited. A feeling I wasn't familiar with began flooding through my body in a way that I could not grasp, but it did not come alone. The warmth was traced with guilt and anger at myself, and I knew that this moment that I wanted to last forever, could last not a second longer. I pulled away and pushed her back. "Mari," she still didn't say anything. "I missed you... but there's someone else you should see."

"Kiyoko," Mari breathed in a hopeful voice, but as I stepped back she turned her sights to the darkness of the living room. She stared as her eyes adjusted and Terriermon and Lopmon stepped aside to reveal Lalamon. Mari's hands both grabbed my arm tightly as shock and anger shot through her. I winced at the touch but did not object. And then her hands had fallen, and whatever was holding back her tears before had dissipated, because she was crying now. Her breathing was hasty and choppy and she turned her sights on me and in a very firm voice she simply said, "No."

"Yes," I assured her, taking her into my arms and staring into her watery eyes. "I know it's crazy. I know it's insane—but that's her." Mari shook her head again and her breathing quickened again until it seemed she might fall into a full blown panic attack, but she turned from me again and looked back to Lalamon who was crying now.

Mari took one step forward, but it was clear she was having trouble. Her legs shook and she caught herself on the counter before rushing forward, not caring about her balance. She fell, but it didn't matter because she had come close enough. She was next to Lalamon and she held her face in her hands for a second, staring at her in disbelief, but the moment Lalamon had reached out to stroke Mari's shoulder she had begun to cry loudly.

My heart reeled with many emotions, but I knew it would never do justice to Mari's feelings now.

Lalamon was entirely weeping now as she held onto the woman who she had longed for longer than she should have been able to. Both showed no signs of speaking, only crying, and when I caught sight of Terrimon, who was consoling a crying Lopmon, he motioned to the door. He was right. We had no right to be here anymore.

It was time to go and leave Mari to be alone—alone with Lalamon, like she'd always wanted.

I slipped past her and nodded to Terriermon who began leading Lopmon down the entrance hallway, but I felt a hand on my wrist and I turned back to see Mari, her eyes filled with tears. "Wait," she said, her voice thick. Lalamon's hand was held tightly in Mari's because she wasn't going to let her go just yet. "Willis," Mari took a long uneven breath and wiped her face. "Waiting sucks." That was all she said before she leaned forward and kissed me full on the mouth.

Again my heart fluttered and I kissed her back, realizing that this was something I'd been wanted for a long time. A moment later my hands were in her hair, and around her waist, but it did not last nearly long enough. She had pulled back and looked me in the eyes. Her eyes shifted to Lalamon for a moment and then a smile broke out on her face, and soon laughter overtook her.

Lalamon nervously joined in, creeping toward Mari to hug her. Terriermon was stifling his own giggles behind me, and soon a smile had worked its way onto my own face as well. Then Mari turned to me with a very serious expression. "You can go now. Go see your mother. Tell her I'm sorry."

"Oh—r-right," I said not fully understanding, but turning awkwardly anyway. Mari stopped me though, grabbing my hand and holding it for a moment. I looked back and saw the tears staining her cheeks. I smiled back and her and understood. She needed this time. I would give her that. She deserved that much at least.

And besides. It was able now to spend time with Terriermon and Lopmon—I'd waited six months for this moment.

Next on Digimon Adventure 08: Now that the Witchenly team has finally back in the world of the normal, the team is all back together and the true darkness is preparing to show its power.