A/N: here it is!

A chapter explaining a little more about Therra. and... I tried to stuff in more 'original character development'. I'm sorry for pushing away/not writing the actual battle, but it will be here, I promise, next chapter.

I got about.. I dunno, 3 reviews for two weeks (one today) and this kind kicked me from behind. I told myself, "these people want chapter 25. write it already!" LOL. yeah. for what it's worth, I hope my writing has become a bit better... and that my grammar has improved! (...do let me know if I forgot a word or something again, tends to happen).

I'm not going to say "I hope the next chapter won't take long", because I have no idea ;^; I have ideas, this No25 was actually my huge problem to begin with, but we'll see what happens. I WILL FINISH THIS THOUGH, EVEN IF IT TAKES ME LONG. Please don't abandon me? D:

BTW, a song that fits our dear Takumi is "One week" by Barenaked Ladies~

and, if you want to see how some of the characters (mostly Yoma), look like + other DF02 related stuff, go to my main page. there's a pretty link I'll add in a few moments 8D

25. In Between/ Preparations

Zoe and Takuya were left alone: Tommy wanted to go help prepare 'them gold-and-silver shooters' as Jared called the guns.

The plan was to leave as soon as everything was ready ('even if they aren't as many as people think, there are still around 50 Magicians there, plus their followers. We'll need everything we can get.')

"Yeah, and we didn't even get the chance to sleep much." Takuya yawned.

They were silence for a while.

"it's just so weird… one day we're fighting Digimon, something we're familiar with, and the next here we are, on a planet we barely know, about to help win something that's not even for us." Zoe said.

"…we?" Takuya raised an eyebrow. He stood up. "You're not coming."

[...]

"Alright." Zoe took a deep breath. "I'll tell you what we'll do. You look after Tommy and yourself, and pretend I'm just not there."

"I can't—"

"Iam also going to do the same. Because you know what, Takuya? I don't think I can even look at you anymore!"

How many hours had passed? Six? Seven? Twelve?

Takuya didn't know.

He was sitting on the seat next to Tadao, in a pickup truck, staring at the landscapes outside. He didn't remember when they left and he didn't care. Half of is mind was busy with trying to figure out a good fighting strategy, while the other half kept reminding the first about his fight with Zoe.

The two hadn't spoken since - she was avoiding him as much as it was possible and as soon as the preparations were done, she took off in another car. He had shouted 'good luck!' to her - she was a part of breaking in squad, who had to get to the Magicians' Tower (located on their lone island) earlier - but no response was received.

Tadao and Takuya were assigned to deliver the weapons to the Western Shore, to the docks - a place that was one day away from Point City (it appeared that either Therra's one continent wasn't as big as it seemed... or Point City and Tokihota were on the west side)

"Are you still upset with Mr. Amaryllis? Or with Miss Zoe?" asked Tadao, taking a left turn.

"I'm not upset with anyone in particular, just the situation we're in." the boy answered, eyes still pinned outside. "it's not that I'm so selfish as to hating the idea of helping you guys, it's just-..."

"I understand. Don't worry." The man cut him, smiling lightly. "By the way, how did you two get here? Double J said something about a phone-booth...?"

"That's where we ended up when we landed here." Takuya said, then added, "The story of how is pretty long, though."

"We got time."

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to share everything ... at least it would get his mind off things for the time being.

"Should I start from the reasons or just the way we came?"

"Everything you consider important," Tadao took a left turn.

"Are you alright, Zoe?"

The question was directed from a man called David - a part of the 'break-in' team the girl was assigned to.

She looked at him and bit her lower lip before saying, "yes, just tired. Sorry."

David smiled at her then turned to look around.

The group was consisting of David, Zoe, two brothers by the names of Edgar and Timothy (Tim being the eldest), a woman called Esther and a man everyone called Bullet (he was replacing Zora for unknown reasons).

Zoe wasn't very comfortable at first to be in a group of people she didn't know and who were much older, but she reminded herself that this is how she spent the first week in the Digital world - among people she didn't know at all. She tried to observe her new companions, find out something about them, of their daily lives, but she far she had no luck.

As a start, he brothers were quite puzzling, as Zoe discovered after one hour in their company.

Edgar and Timothy were sometimes mistaken for twins - when they were younger, they had the same height and styled their hair the same, often spoke the same as well. They did it to joke around with people. And the habit stuck: even though now Edgar was clearly younger, they still had the tendency of exchanging looks as if they knew something no one else did. They still had similar gestures.

Esther was ... a different type of woman, quite unexplainable. There was something about her that made a person notice her.

She was usually serious, devoted to the Resistance (Zoe guessed that perhaps she'd suffered of the Magicians more than the rest?), and a good shooter. Her hair was short, very light blond, and her eyes were dark brown. David told Zoe, in secret, that before Esther had a long, wavy hairstyle, framing her face and making her one of the most attractive members of the Resistance. But then she'd cut it, claiming it was in the way.

David... Zoe smiled in amusement whenever she thought of him. He knew everything. At times she wondered if he could even tell the future: he did know everything of anyone, and looked like the type who would say anything just for fun (but Tim assured the girl that David wouldn't betray them)... Zoe had the feeling that he knew everything about her as well; although how he could have found out was a mystery.

The only person she couldn't figure out at all was 'Bullet'. David told her that this was his last name, but wouldn't reveal his first (Zoe was certain David knew it, though). He was... undefinable. Like a shadow, serious and quiet. He was a little scary, even, but the girl guessed he must be a good fighter too. More than that she couldn't get out from his image.

Right now, the team was by a harbor, waiting at the docks. Esther, Tim and Edgar had gone missing for the moment. Bullet and Zoe were sitting on a long wooden box, him trying to light a cigarette (apparently failing due to the strong wind). David was looking out to the sea.

Suddenly, a green light fell on the three - it was coming from the front of ... what was this...? It took Zoe a few moments to adjust her eyes to the light and see that what was behind it was what seemed to be a small seiner.

A figure was waving at them. The green light blinked and faded almost completely, but still stayed on enough so the vessel was visible. It approached the dock and , made a turn and stopped. A ladder went down with a soft sound.

"Come on," David whispered, standing behind Zoe and leading her to the ladder. Bullet, after throwing away burned out match and an unused cigarette, followed them.

Once on the seiner, Zoe looked around curiously.

"Everything alright?" A female voice asked. "I hope no one saw you."

"Thankfully, no." David confirmed, "This thing is one of yours, isn't it?"

"Thanks to our father's will." Edgar said irritably.

"They were all confiscated by the Ms," David shared with Zoe, "except for the ones belonging to the brothers."

"Once again, you know more than you should, Dave. ...We managed to hide this, along with a few more." Timothy said with a smile, then looked towards Zoe, "are you familiar with the plan, miss?"

She had been buried in her thoughts, and didn't hear him at first.

"Miss Zoe!" Tim said, a it louder, patting her head.

"ah! wa... what?" the girl blinked at him. "oh. the plan, right... well, we need to wait here until the weapons show up, right? Then sail to that tower and create a safe entrance."

"Correct." Bullet's voice was deep and kind of scary when he spoke. "Although I do not know what use you will be of..."

"She's here in case we're discovered." Esther told him.

"what a story!" an hour later, Tadao was staring ahead with wide eyes. "How... extraordinary!"

"It... yes, I suppose it is." Takuya rested his chin on his hand and looked outside. He didn't know if he should be relieved to finally tell everything, or worried that he shouldn't have. Well, it was too late anyway...

"We're almost there." Tadao announced cheerfully.

It was true: the docks could be seen not too far ahead, swimming in the golden light of a sunset.

"Why aren't there any ships?" Takuya asked when they drove pas the empty waters.

"The Magicians confiscated them ten or so years ago." Tadao explained, "so people would not be able to get anywhere outside of the continent. They are still in making, but only Ms are allowed to use them."

"This is ridiculous!" Takuya cried, "Are you telling me that people aren't allowed to go fishing here?"

"Not by the Borders. Only in rivers and lakes inside the continent, preferably close to cities."

"What about sea trips? You know, for fun?"

"Fun? Here?" The tone was enough to clear everything up.

Takuya stared darkly ahead, "I suppose planes are out of the question as well."

"Planes..." Tadao murmured, "They were flying vessels, right? Amaryllis was rambling about 'planes' not too long ago, he even showed me plans. tch... didn't quite get it..."

The boy quietened. For the first time, he felt that these people really did need help - a ban on ships, planes, traveling... 'Enough is enough!'

The water was sparkling beautifully, nothing upon it but a seiner at the far far end. "That's us." Tadao pointed.

"Took ya' long enough!" Bullet said, jumping down from the seiner. Tadao apologized and opened the back of the truck, revealing a set of long boxes. With Takuya, Bullet and Edgar's help, they carried them all one by one to the water vessel. Tim, Esther and Zoe pulled and carried them to the small deck at the front (Zoe having quite a bit of trouble, as the weaponry was heavy).

Takuya stretched and looked to the clear horizon, "Are we the only ones taking part in this?"

"No," Edgar explained, "Mr. Amaryllis, along with others, will be joining us at the very Tower once entering has been secured. We will contact them as soon as that is done."

"So we're the ones risking our asses out there?" Takuya murmured to himself. "Nice."

"Don't worry, kid, " Tim grinned, "Everything will be alright."

"Do you know if Tommy's with Jared?" The brown-haired boy asked, shooting glances at Zoe every now and then. She was standing by the seiner's rails, looking in another direction.

"Your friend, the young boy? I think so. He expressed his wish to take part in the main battle. Just like double J," Timothy laughed, "but I don't know if his father will agree to this. Time to get on, everyone! Tadao, we will let you know once this is done."

They exchanged a handshake, and Takuya exclaimed, "Wait, you're not coming, Tadao?"

"Wish I could, kid. But I have to take the truck back to the main base... Amaryllis's orders. Besides, someone has to stay behind and make sure we're not discovered. Take care, you." He gave him a pat on the shoulder, "and make up with your girlfriend as soon as possible. Fighting a battle while in a fight with a close person isn't recommended." Tadao smiled widely, a smile full of reassurance and energy. "You are so much like me, so I know you'll manage it all."

Tadao waved at everyone else and got on the pickup truck. Takuya stared at the trail of dust as he drove away.

"Come on, lad." Edgar pushed his back lightly, "Jare gets angry if we take too long to do things."

The next day, early evening. They were still traveling, the water seemed endless. Takuya was starting to wonder if Timothy even knew the way (he was the steersman). When he asked, the young man replied, "If I've got it wrong, we'll find out soon enough."

They had contacted Jared the evening before, as soon as they got the radio working and made sure they weren't listened to. His orders were to keep to the plan and make sure they aren't spotted.

The brothers (and Bullet) were the ones who knew in detail what to do, and seemed most familiar with the procedure... Zoe nor Takuya didn't ask what they were going to do exactly. The two were just ready to pull out their digivices whenever needed.

...Takuya was sitting on the end of a twisted rope, his mind blank and his eyes closed.

"Takuya," a voice made him jump and he half-fell backwards in the hole that the rope was forming when twisted this way. Zoe waited until the boy managed to get out and fall forward on his knees. Nervously, he stood and brushed himself off.

Zoe's hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she'd also changed clothes: leans, boots and a simple tank top. She looked as good as always, the boy noted to himself.

"Takuya," she started again, then paused. "I've been meaning to talk to you. Look, once this plan sets into motion, we'll have to think of our positions. You know, who helps whom and so on, so we won't be too close together, and-"

"I'm sorry!" He blurted out suddenly. Zoe stopped and blinked at him, a bit puzzled. "I'm sorry!" He repeated, "for telling you what you can and can't do. Trying to order you around and everything. But when battle is here, I don't want to be forced to stay away from you!"

"Taku-"

"No, listen! I'm worried, and terrified, that something might happen to you! I'm terrified that ... we might end up in a situation like Kouichi and Yoma's! I wouldn't... I don't know how he can do it. But... it was no excuse to talk the way I did, I was really-"

"We both overreacted." Zoe cut him, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "And we're both to blame. I'm sorry too." She peeked at him, "But... I assure you, I can take care of myself. And... I won't... it won't happen, what you're fearing."

"I ... hope... not."

Silence took over.

The boy rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, smiling at her. "But we're okay now, right?"

"Yes. Yes, we're okay."