Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Another chapter for you guys! It's going pretty good lately, so I will try to write and update as frequently as I can. I'm really loving this story, so I hope you will all take the time to send me a review and let me know if you're enjoying it too!
Trinity
Chapter 24: First Impressions
Willis
Willis crept very slowly towards the computer room, his footsteps hardly making a sound, and flattening himself against the wall, he shifted slightly for a better view and quietly stuck his head around the door, his icy blue eyes searching for any signs of movement.
Immediately, his gaze settled on the older boy seated at one of the computers, and edging a bit further into the room, he let out a small sigh of relief. Currently, Izzy was the only occupant in the room, and Willis was pleased to have timed his arrival perfectly.
Davis must be holding the other four up again. I'll have to remember to thank him later.
Willis had been hoping for a chance to catch Izzy alone, since there were a few things he wanted to discuss with the computer expert, and as a result he had spent the day shifting restlessly in his seat while classes were taking place, wishing desperately for the final bell to ring. For him, the hands on all the clocks had crawled through the minutes at a ridiculously slow place, and growing impatient, he had begun to feel that urgent need to talk with someone building slowly in his chest until he felt like he was going to burst from the pressure.
There were so many things bugging him about the current issues involving the Digital World, he knew he needed to hash it out with somebody, and Izzy was usually the best choice when it came to any and all matters relating to science, technology, history, and anything Digital World related. Thus, the computer expert was clearly the most obvious person to speak to, and though perhaps nothing had changed since the day before, it was still worth a shot.
Like I told Kari earlier, we can ask Davis and the others about Eden once we're in the Digital World, but there are also some other things I want to talk to Izzy about, and for that I'll need a little more time. Especially since there are a couple things I want to ask him without Eden hanging around...
It was easy enough to pull somebody aside and ask about Eden while the lavender-haired girl was preoccupied in the Digital World, but it wasn't so easy to carry on a full conversation without her trying to listen in, and that was something he didn't want to happen. After all, one of the things he wanted to ask Izzy was if the computer expert had come up with any new theories since last night, and if he had, that wasn't something Eden needed to hear.
At least not yet. Not while I still don't trust her.
And since he was planning on talking to Izzy anyways, he figured he might as well ask the computer expert's opinion on Eden all at the same time.
I'm definitely interested to know how he feels about her showing up out of the blue like that.
The idea to speak to Izzy had occurred to him during his first class just shortly after he had raced into the room with Kari before the final bell ended, and because of his quick thinking, he had been forced to dwell on the matter all day. It was then that he had formulated his plan to sneak into the computer room ahead of the others, and knowing Izzy would be early, since the computer expert was always present and accounted for long before anyone could consider him late, there was a good chance there would be plenty of time to catch Izzy before everyone was due to arrive.
Having set the plan into motion, he had spent the rest of the day trying to distract himself from looking at the clock by studying T.K.'s every move, and he was extra attentive to the blond's presence in the classes they shared where Kari was also present. Though he should have been taking notes, he instead chose to study the behaviour of his two friends, and hoping Kari would let him copy her work later, he made a show of pretending to write while concentrating his efforts on studying T.K.'s profile.
For the most part, the golden-haired Digidestined had kept his head down throughout the day, a pen held in his hand as if he was diligently taking notes, but Willis had seen the other boy's eyes stray in Kari's direction several times, and the look he had seen in that bright blue gaze was enough to spark his curiosity. The obvious embarrassment was still present on T.K's handsome face, and more than once the blond studied the dark-haired girl's slim frame, his eyes searching for something that only he could see. In T.K's hand, the pen moved across the page, but the words looked more like random scribbles rather than reflecting what was written on the board.
Looks like we're both going to have to rely on Kari for notes later on...
Thankfully the female Digidestined was sensible enough to continue working without indicating there was anything out of the ordinary going on, and Willis couldn't help admiring her resilience. Though her eyes strayed in T.K.'s direction several times, she still had a set of neatly copied notes in front of her, which was a lot more than what Willis had managed to accomplish all day.
It frustrated him that T.K. and Kari had a habit of looking at each other just as the other had turned away, but unfortunately there wasn't anything he could do about it. As much as he wanted to help them, their relationship was something they were going to have to work out for themselves, and in the meantime he needed to be there to support them both.
Only how am I supposed to do that when T.K. seems further away than ever from me...
It wouldn't have been so bad if it was just him, but he could sense that T.K. was also drifting away from Kari, which was the last thing he wanted to happen.
At least I'm used to it, but that's not something she's ever experienced to this extent before. I mean, I know they've had their issues. I could sense that through our bond. They have become a little more distant over the last four years, but it was never quite as obvious as this...
Was that something he could also contribute to Eden?
What is it about her that bothers me so much? Is it just cause she's new, and I feel like she's ruining the dynamics of the team? Is it because of my crest? Or...or is it something else?
Regardless, he couldn't deny there was something about the American girl that really turned him off, and watching T.K. blush every time the blond looked in Kari's direction, it had made him feel both frustrated and amused.
There had also been several times when he had felt T.K.'s eyes on him, and ignoring the awkward tension the blond was giving off in waves, he had refused to let himself rise to the bait. Instead of returning T.K.'s gaze, he had simply allowed the blond to study him in peace, and ignoring the eyes that were traveling over his body, he had resumed his efforts to think of a way to reach Izzy before the others did.
As soon as the final bell had run, he had immediately leaped out of his seat and headed straight for the computer room, and thanks to his quick thinking, he had managed to arrive well before the others. Chances were Kari, Davis, and T.K. had probably noticed his hasty exit and the way he hadn't spoken to any of them before leaving, but he wasn't too concerned about that right now. Luckily nobody had decided to follow him, perhaps thinking he needed some time alone or that he had forgotten something, which meant they had most likely chosen to meet up with Yolei and Cody.
Wherever the rest of the group was, he knew he probably didn't have too much time, and as a result he needed to be quick about his conversation with Izzy.
Well, here goes. Let's see what Izzy has to say.
Taking a deep breath, Willis quickly stepped into the room, and pulling up a chair, he sat down next to the computer expert and said, "Hey, Izzy. How's it going?"
Izzy, who had been absorbed in whatever was on the computer screen, looked up in surprise, and as their eyes met, the computer expert's face quickly softened into a smile of recognition. "Hey, Willis. You're a bit earlier than I was expecting any of you guys."
"Well, I came prepared, so I didn't have to stop at my locker. I'm sure the others will be along in a few minutes."
Izzy nodded, and turning slightly to face him, the computer expert said, "It looks like we're going to have a long afternoon ahead of us. I hope you got lots of sleep last night."
"Enough. Say, Izzy...can I ask you something?"
"Sure, of course. What is it?"
Willis hesitated, and unable to look at the computer expert, he quickly averted his eyes and said, "I was just wondering if you managed to come up with any new theories last night."
"Not yet," Izzy replied, his tone indicating that he wasn't particularly concerned over the issue. "To be honest, after what happened yesterday, it might not seem like the most plausible theory anymore, at least not with the new evidence we received from Eden, but I haven't entirely given up on my old theory yet."
Willis had to admit the response surprised him, and leaning a bit closer to the computer expert, he said hopefully, "Really? So...you think there might still be some kind of connection with the three celestial crests?"
"Technically it's still a possibility," Izzy said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest, a thoughtful look on the computer expert's face. "I still don't think it's a coincidence that those three particular crests appeared all together in a city that used to be a home for celestial digimon. Not only that, but the statues that the fountain was constructed out of matched with the three crests, as they were digivolution forms that are possible with each of the three digimon who coincide with those crests. The setup is too convenient. I'm sure there was a hidden message there, and having listened to what Seermon had to say, I'm more convinced than ever."
"But...last night you said..."
"I know what I said, but after giving it some thought, I think maybe I was a bit too quick to give up on my own theory," Izzy countered, giving him a slight smile. "But after having had a chance to really think about it last night, I'm not so sure it would be a good idea to dismiss my original ideas so easily."
Willis couldn't help feeling a small spark of excitement in his heart, and sounding a bit more optimistic, he said carefully, "But what about Eden? What about her crest?"
"Well, there's no denying the evidence, but just because Eden has a crest, that doesn't necessarily mean it has any relation to the three celestial crests," Izzy explained, growing more animated as he delved deeper into his theory. "The existence of her crest might not have anything to do with the sudden appearance of your crest. I assume with Eden, the crest was given to her to help us in our efforts to figure out what's going on in the Digital World. She seems to know more than we do, at least in that regard. Because of that, it's possible Azulongmon sent her to us as a guide, and as a result she was given a crest to aid her on her journey. The Digital World obviously sent her to us for a reason, and judging from her earlier hints and the way she has insisted on showing us something she found beneath Infinity Mountain, a guide would seem like the most logical explanation."
"And my crest? What about the Crest of Faith? Why was it given to me, and what was the reasoning behind its creation?"
Izzy frowned, and shaking his head, the computer expert said, "I don't have an answer for that yet, but...I get the feeling the reasoning behind you receiving a crest has a lot more significance than the reasoning for Eden's crest."
If that's true, then maybe I'm not quite as useless as I thought I was? Is there still a chance that a special connection does exist between T.K., Kari, and myself?
He was trying desperately not to get his hopes up, and fully aware of the crest that was concealed in his pocket, he hesitated before blurting out, "What do you think of Eden?"
Izzy sat quietly for a moment, his eyes fixed on the computer screen, and resting his elbows on the desk, the computer expert said slowly, "She's an interesting edition to the team. Her story is plausible, and it does sound like something Azulongmon would do, but even so I still have some questions. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Gennai was somehow involved, as well, and yet Eden didn't mention him at all. I don't know. I just...If my theory is correct, and she was chosen to be a guide, the question is why?"
Willis immediately perked up at the hesitation in Izzy's voice, and glancing carefully at the computer expert, he said slowly, "What do you mean why?"
"Well, think about it. Why go to the trouble of choosing a new Digidestined just to act as a guide? Every Digivice, digi-egg, and crest created has an impact on the Digital World's barriers, since some of that power is needed to create the tools for digivolution. And since there are already plenty of Digidestined around to take on the role, why risk the Digital World's barrier just for that purpose? Why didn't Azulongmon come to us himself and just tell us what we needed to know, or if that wasn't feasible then why not send one of the other already existing Digidestined? Whatever Eden wants to show us, we could have found it ourselves if Azulongmon had sent us in the right direction. Why send a go between, especially when there were so many other Digidestined available already to do the job?"
It was a good question, and unsure of how to respond, Willis thought about what the computer expert had said. Thinking on the matter now, Eden's role did seem pretty insignificant. Azulongmon could have come to them himself or sent one of the other international Digidestined to help them. The need for another new Digidestined simply wasn't there, so why spend the time and effort? Why take the risk?
Unless whatever she learned didn't come straight from Azulongmon. Did something happen to her back in Denver, and because of that the Digital World had no choice but to take her on as a Digidestined? Maybe she saw something she shouldn't have seen, or...if the barrier between the two worlds is already weak, then maybe something crossed over and she was a witness? At that point I could see her becoming a Digidestined, especially since giving her a crest and a Digivice wouldn't have quite as big of an impact on the barrier if it was already weak enough to bridge the two worlds. Having another Digidestined would be an asset then. Maybe whatever she saw is somehow connected to what's happening here in the Digital World. Maybe it's a direct result of the strange events we witnessed yesterday. That kind of information would make her a useful guide, and it would mean there's still a chance for my crest to have some sort of special meaning...
"Looks like you're starting to understand what I'm getting at," Izzy said, nodding his head in approval when he didn't immediately receive an answer to the question. "Unless something happened to Eden back in Colorado that somehow affected the barrier between the worlds, I see no reason why she would have been called as a Digidestined."
"But if something did?"
"Then that would make her sudden appearance a lot more believable."
"Okay, but how are we supposed to find that out?"
"By asking her, of course," Izzy said easily, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm sure she won't mind telling us more of her story, and if she does...well..."
Willis stared at the computer expert, and all of a sudden he could feel his heart beating painfully in his chest. "Izzy, are you saying you don't trust Eden?"
"I'm saying I don't think we should assume anything yet," Izzy said pleasantly, reaching out to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Let's just wait and see what happens in the Digital World today before we start jumping to conclusions. I don't want to make any judgments one way or the other until I have more information."
"I guess that's only fair."
Interesting. He won't say it outright, but...I have a feeling he's not entirely sold on Eden either. Just like Kari and I...
"Anything else?" Izzy asked, smiling slightly.
"Huh?"
Izzy gave his shoulder another squeeze, and leaning towards him, the older boy said mildly, "I hope I've managed to put at least some of your fears to rest."
Willis stared at the computer expert in surprise, and blinking in confusion, he said, "I-I...what?"
Izzy continued to gaze quietly at him, and looking sympathetic, the computer expert said, "I wouldn't give up just yet, if I were you."
"B-but I..."
"I might not always be the best person for advice when it comes to personal matters, but even I can figure out why you needed someone to talk to," Izzy said simply, patting his shoulder. "I'm just happy that person was me, and I'm glad you felt like you could trust me. It's nice to be the one chosen once in a while."
"Izzy..."
Willis quickly put his arm around the computer expert, and as they smiled at each other, he was surprised to find just how much better he felt. Right from when they first met, Izzy had done so much for him, and Willis was grateful for the computer expert's constant support. If it hadn't been for Izzy, he probably never would have met the others in New York, and if he hadn't met them, who knows what might have happened to him and Kokomon? Thanks to Izzy, he had ended up with a great group of friends from Japan, and as a result he knew the older boy's friendship wasn't something he could take for granted.
"It really is good to see you," Izzy said, smiling gently at him.
"Same to you. I'm glad you're going to the Digital World with us again. Somehow, I feel like it just wouldn't be the same without you there."
Izzy looked a bit surprised by the warmth in his tone, and scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, the computer expert said, "I'm always happy to come along. Any excuse to see Tentomon works for me."
"And you feel the same about me, right?" Willis teased.
"You know I do," Izzy replied, looking a bit flustered.
Not even Izzy can escape my charms, no matter how much he pretends to act immune to matters of the heart. And if I can make Izzy lose interest in his computer screen, then there's no way Kari and T.K. can brush me off so easily...
Willis would have teased the computer expert a bit more, since he knew Izzy was never one to miss out on an opportunity to spend time with him or to experience more of the Digital World, but before he could open his mouth, the door burst open and the rest of the crew came hurrying inside, all of them looking a bit out of breath.
Catching sight of him, Cody straightened up, and looking a bit confused, the younger boy said, "There you are. We were wondering what happened to you."
"Dude, you could have warned us. Why did you go rushing off like that?" Davis complained, crossing his arms over his chest.
Willis quickly put on his best smile, and once again draping his arm around Izzy's shoulders, he said boldly, "I thought you might end up holding everybody up, like usual, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to spend some quality time with a very good friend of mine."
Davis stared at him, and looking even more flustered, Izzy said quickly, "We were just doing a bit of catching up."
Thanks, Izzy. I can always count on you to have my back.
"You're not going to say anything?" Cody asked, looking at Davis.
Davis slowly adjusted the goggles on his head, and looking a bit sheepish, the leader of the Digidestined said, "I'm still trying to figure out if I was just insulted or not."
"Chances are, you probably were," Yolei shot back, looking impatient. "Are we all ready to go?"
Willis could feel Kari's eyes on him, and letting go of Izzy, he quickly leaped out of his seat and moved over to stand next to the female Digidestined. Leaning close, he said discreetly in her ear, "I'll tell you later."
"Okay," Kari replied, reaching out to give his hand a grateful squeeze.
Willis glanced at T.K., who was sort of hovering behind the others, and watching the golden-haired Digidestined closely, he realized the other boy hadn't even seen Kari grab his hand. In fact, T.K. wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to either him or Kari, which was unusual considering the way the golden-haired Digidestined had been staring at them in class. Instead, T.K. was gazing unseeingly out the window, a distracted look on his face.
That's odd. It's like the closer we get to visiting the Digital World, the more he's starting to withdraw from the rest of us...
With the way Kari kept glancing at T.K., he was sure she had noticed the same thing, and moving over to give Davis a friendly nudge, he said, "It's all in good fun. I'm ready to go if everybody else is."
Izzy quickly stood up, giving Yolei room to move into place with her D-3, and looking a little amused, the computer expert said, "Now that Davis has managed to avoid detention, we should get going. Tai and the others promised to cover for us if we end up having to stay late. As we planned earlier, Tentomon and the rest of our digimon will meet us at the gate, and we'll catch up with Eden and Ken, as well. Sound good?"
"Sounds good to me," Yolei said, her D-3 starting to glow. "Now let's go find out what Eden wants to show us. Digiport open!"
Holding out his own Digivice, Willis quickly closed his eyes to block out the bright colours swirling around him, and as he was pulled through the gate, somehow this time he managed to stay on his feet, stumbling only a little once he reached the other side.
Giving himself a mental pat on the back for his efforts, he took a moment to orient himself, and glancing around quickly, hoping to catch a glimpse of his partners, he spotted them almost immediately, their long ears swaying gently in the breeze. The digimon were all huddled around Ken, who was feeding them some snacks, and spotting their flashy entrance, the former Emperor waved, a hesitant smile on his face.
"Dude, finally someone to back me up!" Davis called out, grinning as he raced over to Ken's side. "You really have to convince your parents to move to Odaiba. I need someone to be on my side for a change."
Ken's normally subdued expression softened into a smile, and straightening up, the former Emperor said, "Hey, Davis. Looks like you managed to stay out of detention again. I'm impressed."
"Not you, too!" Davis groaned, giving the former Emperor a friendly cuff on the shoulder.
Ken's soft laughter floated towards them, and following after the goggle-headed leader, Willis quickly crouched down next to his partners, both of whom immediately jumped into his arms, their fluffy ears obscuring his vision for a moment.
"Willis, you're back!" Lopmon cried, cuddling against his chest. "I missed you!"
"I know there's some shady stuff going on in the Digital World right now, but I like going on adventures with you," Terriermon said happily, the rabbit digimon's ears curling around his forearm. "We've never been to Infinity Mountain before. I bet this is going to be fun!"
"And scary," Lopmon shuddered, burying his face against Terriermon's shoulder.
"Any sign of Eden yet?" Izzy asked, tucking his laptop into his bag.
Tentomon shook his head, and hovering next to Izzy's shoulder, the rookie said, "If I had to guess, I'd say she's probably waiting for us right at the entrance."
"Dude, are you telling me I have to walk?" Davis complained, making a face.
"Relax, would you? It's not far," Gatomon shot back, shaking her head at the goggle-headed leader. "It only takes a few minutes to get there on foot."
"You didn't see Eden at all, did you?" Cody asked, looking at Ken.
Ken quickly shook his head, and glancing at the peak of Infinity Mountain, the former Emperor said, "Not yet. Only our digimon were waiting here when I arrived."
"We didn't see her either," Hawkmon confirmed, exchanging a look with Gatomon.
"She must have got here before our digimon then," Yolei surmised, frowning as she adjusted the glasses perched on her noise. "If that's the case then she's probably waiting for us at the entrance."
"What entrance are you talking about exactly?" Kari asked curiously, leaning down to stroke Gatomon's ears.
Once again, Izzy was in his element, and nodding towards the peak, the computer expert said, "I had Tentomon scout the area for me last night. Turns out there's a small entrance on one side that leads right into the heart of Infinity Mountain. Presumably it leads underground."
"Underground?" T.K. asked, speaking for the first time since arriving in the computer room. "That doesn't make sense. There was never an entrance into Infinity Mountain before."
"Do you remember Spiral Mountain?" Izzy asked, looking excited. "I suspect the entrance on Infinity Mountain appeared sometime after the Dark Masters and Apocalymon were destroyed, once the Digital World was set right again. It could have been a possible data mutation that resulted from the shifting of data on such a massive scale. Regardless of what happened, there's an entrance that exists there now, and I think that's probably where Eden is waiting for us."
"Sounds suspicious, doesn't it?" Patamon asked, looking down at his partner.
T.K. reached up to absently stroke the little rookie's soft fur, and nodding his head, the golden-haired Digidestined once again proceeded to stare unseeingly at the peak of Infinity Mountain without answering.
It was like T.K. was lost in some lonely world of his own, and the golden-haired Digidestind's strange behaviour was starting to make Willis feel a tad bit concerned.
He's not even acting all nervous and flustered around me or Kari anymore. At least, not like he was this morning and all throughout the day. It's strange, but now that we're in the Digital World, it's like the two of don't even exist to him anymore...
"I guess this means I'm going to miss my afternoon nap," Armadillomon said mildly, standing at his partner's feet. "Are you ready to go, Cody?"
"I am if you are."
"I hope it's not really dark down there," Wormmon said, looking anxious. "I'm really not a big fan of the dark."
Ken quickly picked up his partner, and cuddling the little digimon against his chest, he said pleasantly, "Just stay close to me and you'll be fine."
"There's probably nothing down there anyways," Davis said cheerfully, giving Wormmon a thumbs up. "Ain't that right, Veemon?"
"Well, I don't know about that..."
"Veemon, dude. First Ken and now you?"
"Er...right! Piece of cake!" Veemon quickly corrected himself, plastering on a fake smile. "It'll be a blast down there, I'm sure of it!"
"No need to go overboard," Davis snorted, quickly moving to take the lead.
Willis moved to join the back of the group, and shoving his hands into his pockets, he stopped for a moment to allow Lopmon the chance to climb up onto his shoulder. Terriermon had taken up his perch on Kari's shoulder, who was walking beside them, and Gatomon strolled next to Kari, her eyes alert and watchful for any sign of danger.
T.K. was walking at the front of the group with Veemon and Davis, and gazing at the goggle-headed leader with a worried expression on her face, Kari said quietly, "So what were you and Izzy talking about earlier?"
"Well, Izzy didn't say it in so many words, but I don't think Eden has convinced him yet with her story."
"I thought you were going to wait to ask the others about Eden," Kari said, looking surprised.
"That's still the plan, but with Izzy, there were also a couple of other things I wanted to ask him."
"What other things?" Kari asked, reaching out to scratch Terriermon's ears.
"We want to know, too," Lopmon piped up. "What's this about Eden?"
Willis quickly told the female Digidestined and their partners about his conversation with Izzy, and once he was finished, he could tell right away that Kari's expression seemed a bit lighter. The crease in her forehead was gone, and instead of looking so somber, her eyes were shining with a faint glimmer of hope. "So...Izzy thinks there might still be a chance that the three of us are connected somehow?"
"That's what he said."
"I...that's good," Kari said softly, looking away from him. "It...really upset me to think that his theory might be wrong."
"Same," Lopmon said softly. "I want all of us to be connected."
Willis gave his partner a quick hug, and looking away as well, he said, "I can't argue that. I was...getting used to the idea of the three of us and our partners sharing something...special."
"Is that really something you would want?" Kari asked, refusing to look at him.
Willis could once again feel his heart rate speeding up, and knowing he was stepping over a barrier that at one point he never thought he would be able to cross, he said quietly, "I think that's something I would like very much."
"Willis..."
Before he could react, Kari's arm was suddenly around his waist, and briefly resting her head on his shoulder, she said gently, "That's something I think I'd like myself."
After all those years I wasted, and it's really just as simple as that. I know there's still some awkwardness between us, and there's a lot we need to work out with T.K., but I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. It might take us a little while to get completely comfortable with each other, but at least it's the start of something, and everything has to start somewhere.
"The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of being close to Gatomon and Patamon," Lopmon said shyly, looking at Terriermon. "Don't you think that sounds nice?"
"For sure!" Terriermon agreed, looking confident. "I mean, I know I'm not a celestial digimon like the rest of you guys, but I know none of you would ever leave me out just because of that."
Willis nearly stumbled at the comment, and realizing all of a sudden what his partner was talking about, he swiftly pulled Terriermon into his arms and said with feeling, "Of course we would never leave you out! Not ever! This crest is every bit as much yours as it is Lopmon's. You're a part of this too, Terriermon. You'll always be a part of me, no matter what."
"Relax, Willis. I know that," Terriermon said easily, curling against him. "I'm every bit a part of this as much as the others. I have my own place, and that place is right here with you and all of our friends."
"As long as you never forget that," Willis murmured, burying his face against his partner's ears before allowing the rookie to slip free and resume his perch on Kari's shoulder.
"Whatever happens with Lopmon, it'll happen with Terriermon," Gatomon said firmly, her whiskers twitching. "I can't say I object to the idea of being close to Terriermon, Lopmon, or Patamon anymore than I object to partnering with Hawkmon for DNA digivolution. Truthfully, I'm not concerned about any of us. It's T.K. I'm worried about. He's barely said two words since he got here, and something about him seems a bit off. What's going on?"
Willis exchanged a look with Kari, and taking turns speaking, they quickly explained to their digimon the events of what had happened the night before. Willis also told them about the way T.K. was behaving earlier that morning, minus the dream part, and once he was done, Terriermon cocked his head to the side and said, "So T.K. isn't sleeping well."
"And he seems distracted and nervous," Gatomon added, frowning at the grass beneath her paws as they walked. "That doesn't sound good at all. Do you think Patamon has noticed?"
Willis turned to glance at the digimon perch on top of T.K.'s head, but unfortunately they couldn't see the little rookie's face, since the golden-haired Digidestined was walking ahead of them.
"Patamon will have noticed," Kari said quietly, her face a mask of concern. "He's always in tune with T.K's emotions."
"Is there anything we can do?" Lopmon asked anxiously, also looking concerned.
Willis slowly shook his head, and letting out a deep sigh, he said, "Not right at this moment. There's still too much going on with him that we don't understand, and until we do, we're pretty much only guessing what's going on inside his head."
"But, he seemed fine yesterday," Terriermon protested, his ears twitching in the slight breeze.
"Or he did until Eden showed up and we had to fight all those Harpymon," Gatomon said bluntly, glancing at her partner.
Kari looked properly startled, and staring at the feline digimon in surprise, she said, "You noticed it too then?"
"Of course I did. I know how important T.K. is to you. Do you really think I don't keep my eye on him all the time?"
Kari blushed at the obvious meaning behind her partner's words, and yet despite her embarrassment, she smiled softly at the champion and said, "Thank you, Gatomon. I really do appreciate it."
So even our partner's have noticed. I know Davis and the others are also concerned about T.K., but we really haven't had any time to talk about him as a team. Makes me wonder if there's anything they know that we might not know yet.
"Eden seems like a strange human," Terriermon commented, looking thoughtful. "She's all mysterious and stuff, and Mikemon doesn't strike me as the type of digimon who likes to have a lot of fun. Maybe T.K.'s just wondering about them, like I'm sure all the rest of us are. You have to admit, Eden appearing out of nowhere like that was kind of shady."
"I can't deny it was a bit sudden, but that doesn't mean T.K. feels the same way," Lopmon argued, shaking his long ears. "And even if he does, how are we supposed to find that out?"
"Easy," Gatomon said simply, her whiskers twitching, "Just ask him."
"Won't that be a little obvious?" Terriermon said dryly, looking amused.
"Not if we make it a general question," Kari said slowly, an obvious idea beginning to form inside her head.
Willis smiled, and glancing at the female Digidestined, he drawled, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Well, we wanted to ask the others about their opinions on Eden right from the start," Kari replied, nodding in agreement. "And since we have everyone together now, there's nothing stopping us from taking advantage of the situation. Instead of meeting us right at the gate like I assumed she would, Eden must be waiting at Infinity Mountain. That makes our job a while lot easier."
"I still don't see how this whole thing isn't going to look suspicious," Terriermon argued, shaking his head.
Willis reached out to give his partner's ear a playful tug, and winking, he said, "Luck is on our side today, Terriermon. It would be a shame to let it go to waste. You guys let me handle that part. I'll be back in a minute!"
Handing Lopmon over to Kari, Willis quickly hurried to catch up to the others, and passing Izzy and Tentomon, who were conversing with each other in the middle of the pack, he gave them a brief wave.
Izzy's response was to give him a curious look, and nodding his head towards the others, he said airily, "Just getting the general vibe on Eden."
For a moment Izzy simply stared at him, and then nodding slowly, his dark eyes filling with sudden understanding, the computer expert said, "That might not be a bad idea. I'm curious myself."
"I'll let you know then."
Trying his best not to look suspicious, Willis casually stepped in between Ken and Yolei, and putting an arm around each of their shoulders, he said playfully, "So what do you guys think of our newest team member? She's got quite the pretty face, and I can't say I'm opposed to the idea of having another female on the team, especially since our resident two ladies seem taken."
"I-I...pardon me?" Ken gasped, going bright red in the face as he glanced at Yolei.
"Dear me," Hawkmon said, looking amused.
Yolei looked positively flattered by the statement, and beaming at him, she said, "Aren't you full of compliments today."
"Let's just say I know when to cut my losses," he teased, tugging playfully on her lavender hair before turning to wink at Ken and Wormmon. "And while I don't expect the two of you to take your eyes off this lovely lady here beside me even for a moment, I was wondering what you might think of my chances with Eden? She's even from the same hometown! It's almost like fate, you know?"
Ken was still blushing profusely, and refusing to look at Yolei, he said, "S-she seems nice enough. We still don't really know much about her, though, so it's hard to say. But even so, I'm sure she'll be a great help to us."
"I agree with Ken," Wormmon said, sitting comfortably in the former Emperor's arms. "If it hadn't been for her, we could have ended up in a lot of trouble yesterday."
"She also has great fashion sense," Yolei added, glancing hopefully at Ken before once again turning her attention to him. "I'm kind of jealous."
"There's nothing wrong with your fashion sense," Ken protested, earning himself a sympathetic look from Wormmon.
"But she's so pretty and graceful," Yolei argued, making a face. "In fact, now that I think about it, she reminds me a bit of Mimi that way. All charming and gorgeous."
"But you're all of those things, too!" Ken blurted out, obviously not liking the way Yolei was putting herself down.
Yolei's cheeks turned pink at the unexpected praise, and realizing what he had said, Ken turned so red in the face that for a moment Willis thought the former Emperor might pass out. Due to that, he kept his arm around Ken's shoulders just in case, and laughing, he said, "I wholeheartedly agree with Ken on that point. Anyways, I was just curious about my romantic prospects. Think I stand a chance with her?"
"Oh definitely," Yolei insisted, still glowing pink and looking very pleased with Ken's reaction. "You're a great guy, Willis. What's not to love? You'll never know if you don't go for it, right?"
"I see no reason why she wouldn't be interested," Ken agreed, clearly grateful for the change in subject. "She seems like an easy person to talk to."
"I think she and I will get along quite well," Yolei added, not looking the least bit concerned.
"I have no objections either," Hawkmon agreed, hovering next to Yolei's shoulder. "She seems like a well-mannered human, and I'm sure she'll respond favourably to your advances."
Hmm...Well, they don't seem particularly concerned about Eden. Though Ken is right, we haven't really had a chance to get to know her yet. Maybe I am being a bit too harsh? I wonder if they noticed the way T.K.'s personality seemed to change once she showed up. They didn't hint at it. In fact, they didn't mention T.K. at all. Then again, I get the sense everyone is sort of avoiding talking about T.K. because they're still not yet sure what to make of his behaviour this morning.
Not that he could blame then. He still wasn't sure yet himself about T.K.
Let's see what the others think.
Since Yolei and Ken were sneaking shy glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking, Willis decided it might be best if he made his exit and left the two of them alone for a while. Perhaps it would give them a chance to work out their obvious feelings for each other, and thanks to his successful efforts to bring them closer together, he felt like a metal congratulatory pat on the back was completely justified. Thus, he discreetly left the two lovers to their own devices before sliding up next to Cody and Armadillomon, who were chatting pleasantly to one another. Davis and T.K. were walking close enough ahead that he was almost stepping on T.K.'s heels, and knowing the other two boys would be able to overhear him, he said nonchalantly to Cody, "Is it just me, or does anyone else smell love in the air?"
"Dude, what are you talking about?" Davis asked, turning around to give him an incredulous look.
Willis cheerfully nodded at Ken and Yolei, who were walking behind them with their digimon partners and their heads bent close together, and grinning, he said, "I got the sense from Yolei's emails that she might have a teensy little crush on our handsome boy genius here. I've seen the looks those two have been giving each other since I got here. Would I be correct in assuming they have a thing for each other?"
T.K. had been staring aimlessly at the peak of Infinity Mountain earlier as Davis rambled on about some soccer game his team had coming up against a rival team, whose star player really annoyed him, but at the mention of Ken and Yolei, the golden-haired Digidestined immediately grew more alert, his bright blue eyes slowly coming to life. Turning back to look at him, T.K. suddenly blinked, as if waking from a dream, and smiling, the blond said, "Oh, you're definitely right about that. They've been running circles around each other for a while now. Yolei's not exactly shy about it, but Ken's still a bit uncertain of himself. We've been trying to convince him to ask her out, but he hasn't quite worked up the courage yet."
"Personally I think it's best to stay out of it," Cody said, a hint of disapproval in his tone. "They'll eventually work things out for themselves."
"But what if they don't?" Patamon asked curiously, looking a bit put out.
Walking next to his partner, Armadillomon said, "I agree with Cody. Some things are best left to develop naturally on their own."
"Poor Ken, though," Patamon said, shaking his head.
"Better him than me," Davis snorted, earning himself a hearty whack from Veemon.
"Ouch, what was that for!?"
"No tact at all," Patamon scolded, shaking his head in disgust.
"Come on, guys! You know what she's like. It's his funeral if he wants to hook up with her!"
That comment earned the goggle-headed leader another whack, this one from Cody, and rubbing his injured arm, Davis shouted, "Dude, I was just joking!"
Willis couldn't help laughing at their antics, and giving them all his best smile, he said, "Speaking of girls, what do you guys think of our lovely new team member? She seems pretty interesting, if I do say so myself."
"Huh?" T.K. asked, looking startled.
"You mean Eden?" Davis asked, scratching at his dark hair. "She seems cool in my book. I like a girl who knows how to have a bit of fun, and she isn't constantly threatening to assault me all the time like some girls I know."
"Maybe you come on a bit too strong?" Veemon suggested.
"Dude, I'm talking about Yolei!" Davis groaned, bopping Veemon on the head. "This has nothing to do with my love life."
"Or lack thereof," Cody muttered, earning himself a small smile from T.K.
"Why, you thinking of maybe trying your luck with her?" Davis asked, grinning as he suddenly caught on.
"What?" T.K. said sharply, his blue eyes narrowing into a deep frown.
Ignoring the blond, Willis casually shrugged his shoulders, and giving the goggle-headed leader a suggestive smile, he said, "Maybe. We're both from Denver, so it isn't too much of a stretch to think she'd be interested, wouldn't you say? But a guy likes to have the opinions of his friends first before he makes his move. So what do you think? She seems like a nice enough girl, and those eyes are to die for. I'm thinking the two of us might have a lot in common."
"Well, I can't say I'm all that experienced myself," Cody said calmly, sounding very grown up for his age, "but she does seem quite nice, and she is a Digidestined. I think that alone is a good testament to her character."
"Very true. History has shown us that we Digidestined are a pretty good group."
"She's friendly," Patamon helpfully added, beaming at him. "I like her."
"Seems like she'll be a good addition to the team," Armadillomon added, yawning for effect.
Veemon gave him a thumbs up, and smiling, the rookie said, "Go for it, Willis. She's okay in my book!"
"Don't you think you're jumping into things a bit too quick?" T.K. asked, sounding a tad subdued. "We barely know anything about her yet."
"Which is exactly why I should take this opportunity to get to know her. Do you catch my drift?"
"But..."
Willis raised his eyebrows, and gazing confidently at the golden-haired Digidestined, he said, "Why, is there a problem?"
"Huh? No, not exactly," T.K. replied, looking a bit flustered. "I just..."
"Don't you like her?"
T.K. seemed unable to look at him, and shrugging, the blond said, "I like her well enough. She seems nice, and her digimon partner obviously trusts her. It's not that..."
Willis couldn't help smiling, and stepping closer to the blond, he said in a teasing voice, "Are you worried about me?"
T.K. flushed, and giving him a rather defiant look, the blond said, "I know you can take of yourself, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to worry."
For some reason that comment made Willis feel oddly warm inside, and placing a hand on the blond's shoulder, he said simply, "Then I'm allowed to do the same."
T.K. obviously got the hint, and looking embarrassed, the blond ducked his head, though he didn't pull away.
At the moment, Cody was frowning at T.K., and though Davis looked curious, neither chose to ask about the golden-haired Digidestined's rather confusing response.
Davis, Cody, and all of the digimon seem fine with Eden, but T.K. seems...
It wasn't that T.K. was showing signs of dislike towards Eden. Oddly enough, it was more like T.K. didn't want him to pursue Eden.
Which doesn't make any sense at all, especially considering his feelings for Kari. But the way he reacted...Did he behave like that out of concern for me because he doesn't trust Eden, or is it because he'd prefer to get closer to Eden himself? And if that's true, what could that girl have done to make him turn his eyes away from Kari, even for just a moment?
Willis didn't like that thought at all, and crossing his arms over his chest, he said lightly, "So do I have your approval then?"
"You can do whatever you want," T.K. said shortly before turning away again. "It makes no difference to me."
"T.K.!" Patamon scolded, frowning at his partner.
Willis had not anticipated the possibility that T.K. might grow distant from him for showing interest in Eden, as he had firmly believed the blond was head over heels in love with Kari, and as a result, he was caught momentarily off guard.
Though there was still time to abort the plan, he knew he had to stick with it for Kari's sake, even if it meant putting his own relationship with T.K. at risk, but what was he gong to do if it turned out Eden did have feelings for T.K. and the blond was starting to show an interest? If T.K. ended up returning Eden's feelings, there was no telling what might happen then.
Impossible. I felt T.K.'s feelings through our bond. He's definitely in love with Kari, so why...Could Eden possibly have done something to him that I don't know about?
It was ridiculous to think so, since they had only just met the American girl the day before, but stranger things had happened in the Digital World. Then again, Eden hadn't exactly had much time to talk to T.K., but even so, Willis couldn't help feeling like she was somehow responsible for the blond's sudden change in attitude. Regardless, though, he didn't like leaving things as they were, and reaching out to once again put his hand on T.K.'s shoulder, he said, "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with this morning, would it?"
"No," T.K. said a little too quickly, unable to hide the conflicting emotions written all over his face.
"What are you guys talking about?" Cody asked curiously, glancing between the two of them.
"Yeah, let us in on it," Davis added, looking suspicious.
"It's nothing," T.K. hastily replied, giving him an accusing look.
Willis sighed, and leaning close to the blond, he said in his ear, "I'll get an answer out of you eventually, one way or another."
With that, he quickly moved off to join Kari again, and realizing the female Digidestined and their partners had been anxiously watching the whole exchange, he said, "Well, from what I can tell, Ken, Yolei, Davis, Cody, and the other digimon don't seem particularly suspicious of her, including Patamon, and as for T.K., well..."
"What did he say?" Kari asked quietly, her tone sounding rather subdued.
Willis frowned, and unsure of how to respond, he said slowly, "T.K. really didn't say all that much about Eden. I wouldn't say he was quite as eager as the others about her, but he didn't seem overly suspicious either. I think he's interested and wants to know more about her, but it's hard to say how he's feeling exactly. He definitely wasn't giving anything away. That much I can tell you for sure."
"Which doesn't really tell us anything," Kari sighed, looking concerned. "Are we maybe only just imagining things?"
"I don't think so. I mean, Izzy seemed to think something was a bit off, as well, and if Izzy's saying it then there has to be some truth to what we're feeling. Remember, we haven't had an opportunity to spend much time with her yet, and first impressions aren't always accurate. Maybe once the others have a chance to talk with her more, their opinions might change a bit."
"Or ours will," Kari countered, shaking her head. "Maybe they're right, and we're the ones who are being unfair. It's possible we could have just read Eden wrong. We can't rule that out yet either."
It's so like Kari to say something like that. She's always giving others the benefit of the doubt, even if they might not deserve it. I should tell her about T.K.'s reaction to the way I was taking an interest in Eden, but...I just can't bring myself to do it. I don't want to make her worry even more. If she starts to believe that T.K. might forget about her in favour of Eden...
He still didn't believe T.K. would do such a thing, but right now Kari's heart was vulnerable, and there was a good possibility that she might allow herself to give in to the doubt that was festering deep inside her soul if he was to give her such terrible news.
"Also, I couldn't really tell if Patamon was concerned about T.K. or not. He did scold T.K. once, but I don't know..."
"Sometimes Patamon doesn't always give everything away," Gatomon replied, frowning. "Maybe I'll have to talk with him later myself."
"Probably a good idea," Kari agreed. "If anyone can get the truth out of Patamon, it'll be you."
"I'm on it."
"I think I see her up ahead!" Davis suddenly called out, waving for them to hurry up. "There's an entrance there alright, and it looks like it goes right inside."
Now that they were so close, Willis could see the peak of Infinity Mountain towering above them, and squinting up ahead, he spotted Eden sitting on a large rock near the entrance, Mikemon at her side. The girl was watching them with a playful smile on her face, and as they approached her, she called out in that musical voice she wielded so effectively, "I see you've all made it. I hope you're ready to face the darkness."