A/N: An early chapter as an apology for a horrible chapter… My brother's doing handstands in my room? He's six. ^.^' Love that little guy… I feel like I'm losing readers. A ton of you guys don't review anymore, and it makes me feel really skittish about my writing.. D: I'd love to know if there's anyone out there still, even if it would be your last review… Well, enjoy this chapter. Once again, I'm sorry for how horrible the other one was! D:

Review replies to chapter 24:

GirlsLikeeBoys: You have an amazing use of adjectives… xD I went through and didn't really see any errors… I didn't have a beta though. You love Izumi, you just don't want to admit it. Finally somebody acknowledges Mister Boots! :D Tamotsu would top Kouji. Just saying… But thank you for the review and I hope you like the next chapter!

PurpleViolin: You're crazy if you like this chapter. O.O Hehe, I'd love to watch Kouji and Tamotsu fight. They're too cool. xD That's just not a good combination. Yeah, I snuck the pirate ship right in there, hehe (Keiko!muse: She totally did it by accident…) Shut up Keiko muse, or I'll kill your character along with- (KM: Shut up! Don't give it away!) Ahem, sorry. But yeah, we'll see Bokomon and Neemon again, don't you worry. Yep, Kouichi and Keiko are together now. But will it last? I'm so happy you liked the chapter (even if I hated it…) and I hope you like this one just as much!

Empyrea: I totally agree with you, this chapter is lacking something that the others have. Don't worry, I'm reverting back to my old methods and this one will probably be a lot better, as well as the next ones. You'll understand the Kouji thing soon enough. I promise. :D Thank you for taking the time to review! I appreciate it a bundle! I hope you like the next chapter.

"If I had one marshmallow wish…" Keiko said as she pulled her marshmallow out of the fire. "It would be that I have good luck in high school." She popped it into her mouth, closing her eyes at the sweetness. "Mmph," she mumbled around the white ball of sugar. "Marf-mewwows."

Kouichi, who was next to her, sharing a blanket with the brunette, laughed softly, pulling his marshmallow out as well. The two of them, along with the other digi-destined, Tamotsu, Michiko and Asashi were all sitting in Keiko's backyard around a big huge bonfire. It was June, and they were all going into high school in a few short months.

"My marshmallow wish," Kouichi said, "is that all of us stay friends through high school." He ate the marshmallow off the stick, enjoying it, although not as much as Keiko had.

"I want my wish to be that I find a cute boy that likes me!" Izumi exclaimed happily, smiling and eating the marshmallow.

Junpei grinned and pulled his marshmallow out next. He was already in high school, so he decided not to make a school related wish. "I wish that I could fly." And with that, he popped it into his mouth.

"That's a silly wish, Junpei," Izumi said, tilting her head to the side. "People can't fly."

"Duh," Junpei replied. "That's why I'm wishing that I could fly. Jeez, you're so naïve."

Izumi shook her head and looked over to Takuya. "Alright, it's your turn."

"My marshmallow wish is that I make the soccer team," the brunette said with a smile, eating the marshmallow. "And that I kick some ass later in the year."

"Good wish," Kouji muttered. "I wish that my teachers aren't nutcases, like Izumi."

Said blonde sputtered indignantly. "I'm not a nutcase!"

Kouji nodded and took off the marshmallow, staring at it and pulling his arm back to throw it away.

"No!" Takuya cried, grabbing the half melted marshmallow. "You know the rules! If you make a marshmallow wish, you need to eat it!" He pushed it into his face. "Go ahead!"

"I don't particularly like sweets," Kouji grumbled.

"Eat it!" Takuya snapped and Kouji sighed and complied.

"Jeez, Kouji. You act like it's torture or something," Kouichi said with a laugh, pulling Keiko a little bit closer to his side, as the air was rapidly cooling.

Kouji smiled and looked over at Asashi, who the blonde was comfortably sitting on. He had offered to 'keep her warm'. Who was she to turn down such a nice offer? "Your turn Asashi."

The brunette smiled and pulled his marshmallow out of the fire. "My marshmallow wish is that I stay safe all year," Asashi said, smiling as he ate the marshmallow.

"Umm…" Michiko pulled her marshmallow out of the fire and tilted her head to the side. "I guess I wish that we all have a fun year," she said.

"Good one," Tomoki said, smiling. He wasn't a kid anymore. He was now eleven, the same age most of the Digi-Destined had been when they went to the Digital World. His voice was deepening and he was starting to grow much taller. "I wish that Middle School is fun for me." He popped the sugary square into his mouth with flavor.

"I guess I'm last," Tamotsu said, pulling his marshmallow out of the fire. "I wish that I don't fall up or down stairs this year. It'd be embarrassing," he said with a shrug, eating the marshmallow off of the stick.

They were all silent for a while, staring into the fire as they all huddled under their blankets. Takuya lazily dropped his head onto Kouji's shoulder, grinning when the slightly older boy raised an eyebrow at him. Nonetheless, though, the raven haired boy pulled the blanket tighter around the two of them.

Tamotsu and Michiko were sharing a blanket, as well. The two of them were close together, trying to keep body heat. Junpei and Tomoki were close together as well, rubbing their arms as the air cooled down.

Asashi wrapped his arms around Izumi's stomach and blew hot air through the back of her shirt in an attempt to keep her warm. Izumi felt her face heat up, but she gripped Asashi's hands in hers, rubbing them to make sure they didn't get too cold.

Keiko was wrapped up in blankets with Kouichi, and the teenager made sure to keep his arm around her so that she didn't freeze. He noticed the goosebumps all over her arms, and kissed her neck, trying to warm her up. If anything, more goosebumps appeared to the brunette's embarrassment. Kouichi thought it was extremely adorable.

"Can we go inside now, guys?" Izumi asked. "I'm extremely tempted to just stay and sit on Ashi's lap, but I'm about to freeze my buns off…"

"Ashi?" Michiko asked.

Izumi nodded, looking back at the brunette she was currently on top of. "Nickname."

Tamotsu laughed. "That's pretty epic."

"Your mom's pretty epic," Asashi muttered, standing up and lifting the blonde up with him. "Well, if you're so tempted, Izu, I'll just carry you back." He made sure the blankets were tucked over her and began to walk to the mansion, whose lights were shining at the top of the hill and past the small wooded area.

Keiko stood up as well, grabbing the bucket and dumping it's contents, water, on top of the blazing inferno. The fire dimmed down until there were small embers on the logs and twigs.

With a proud smile, Keiko walked back over to Kouichi, who slung the blanket back over her shoulder and led her back up the hill with the rest.

"I swear my toes are going to explode," Keiko said as she sat with Izumi in the large bathtub in the bathroom connected to the brunette's room. The two were in their bathing suits. Izumi was spending the night, and the two of them decided to try and warm up with the powerful jets in Keiko's Jacuzzi tub.

"Mine aren't," Izumi said, grinning cheekily. "I had Asashi to keep me warm."

"Yeah?" Keiko replied, shifting slightly. "Well, Kouichi's arm is only so big."

Izumi laughed. "I think it's sweet. You two totally seem right for each other."

Keiko nodded. "Uh-huh… I just don't want to mess up our friendship if we ever break up."

"I doubt you will," Izumi said, stretching. "You're both pretty chill."

"Enough about me," Keiko muttered. "What about you and Asashi? He seems like he really likes you."

Izumi smiled, sinking lower into the water. "We're… I don't know. We're in the game process, right now. But I think something may happen."

"Has he kissed you yet?" Keiko pressed, her ears perking up.

Izumi grinned. "Actually…"

"What?" Keiko cried. "And you didn't tell meeeee?"

"Sorry, but you never asked!" Izumi said, laughing lightly.

"Not funny. Well, come on, let's hear it!"

"Fine," Izumi sighed. "A few weeks ago, during that big rainstorm…"

Izumi looked up at the sky miserably as she sat under a big tree with Asashi, who was just getting off the phone with his mother. "It just had to rain, didn't it?" Izumi asked with a sigh.

Asashi shrugged. "Oh well. It happens, I guess. It'll stop."

"Yeah…" Izumi muttered. She looked over to the brunette boy and tilted her head cutely. "What time did your mom say she was coming?"

"She'll be here in ten minutes. We live a little farther away." He smiled. "When we get home, I'll make sure that you get some warm clothes. My sister wouldn't mind."

"Sister?" Izumi echoed. "You have a sister?"

Asashi nodded. "Yeah. She's a year older. She's okay. She manages to get on my nerves sometimes, though." He shrugged. "It's whatever. Nobody's perfect, right?"

Izumi smiled. "Right… You're too cool, Asashi?"

"Huh?" The brunette looked at her. "What do you mean, 'cool'?"

Izumi giggled and looked up to the sky, which was darkening. "I admire you. You're so laid back and cool, but you're sweet and understanding at the same time."

Asashi smiled. "You're funny, Izumi." He looked at the ground, blinking. "I guess that's just how I am, you know?"

Izumi smiled back at him. "I'm uptight a lot. I wish I could be more like you."

"I don't," he said. "You're perfect just the way you are."

Izumi looked over at him, her eyes slightly widened. Asashi put a hand to her cheek and moved over, pressing his lips to hers. It was gentle, yet passionate. Izumi wanted to melt.

Asashi pulled away and smiled at her, laughing softly. "You okay, Izumi? You look a little… flushed."

Izumi's mouth twitched and the fire spreading through her face ignited again. "I'm good. That was, um…" She laughed awkwardly. "Sorry. I'm a little nervous right now."

He laughed and pet her hair softly. "It's alright," he said almost soothingly. Somehow it made Izumi feel better and less like she was choking. She leaned into the touch and they smiled at each other.

Headlights shone on them and Asashi laughed. "My mom. You ready?" Izumi nodded, grinning as he took her hand and helped her up.

Keiko was smiling slyly at Izumi, who was staring back with a red face. "What?" the blonde asked. She got annoyed when Keiko just kept staring, her lips quirked. "What?" she cried, splashing her friend in the face with water.

Keiko wiped the water out of her eyes and shrugged. "Just wanted to get on your nerves," she replied, laughing. "I think that it's really sweet, Izumi. He's not a lot like you in personality, but the two of you just work."

Izumi flushed and lowered herself into the water. "I guess…"

Keiko sighed and grinned. "I love you, Izumi," she giggled.

"Math is not boring, because…" Takuya said, gesturing for Kouji to continue.

"No, math's really boring. I hate it. I'm just really good at it," Kouji replied.

Takuya rolled his eyes. "You know, you and Keiko are the only freshman getting into eleventh grade math."

"Eh, I didn't really think about that," Kouji muttered, picking at his fries. "It's not like it's easy though. I barely got 80s all last year. Keiko's just really good at math."

"She got a 98 on the final," Takuya said grudgingly.

Kouji nodded. "I know."

Takuya sighed and laid his head down on the table. "You know, we only have another month until school. Then the torture starts. God, I hate school."

"Doesn't bother me that much, I guess," Kouji said softly. "But what does bother me is - AH!!!"

Kouji gripped his head, falling to the floor. Flashes of white and black and small fragments of figures fighting danced in his head. It was excruciating, the strain on his brain, he felt like he was going to be sick. Kouji dropped off of the barstool and hit his kitchen floor, twitching and whimpering.

"Kouji!" Takuya yelled, dropping to the floor. Kouji's German Shepherd, Kiba (xD), skidded into the room running to his master and whimpering. Takuya managed to pull the thrashing boy into his arms, trying his best to comfort him through something he had no idea about.

Kouji wailed and shut his eyes tightly, clenching his white teeth and clutching his long sable hair. "Stop!" he screamed.

"Kouji!" Takuya cried, holding on tighter to his shirt. "Kouichi! Help me! Hurry!" he yelled loudly, hoping more than anything that Kouji's older twin would be able to do something.

Kouichi, along with Keiko and Izumi, who Takuya had forgotten were in the other room, ran into the kitchen. Kouichi gawked at his screaming brother and skidded over to his twin, getting onto his knees and clutching his hand.

Kouji was still curled up in Takuya's arms, writhing in pain and screaming as flashes went through his head. Suddenly, he seized up and went limp, completely unmoving in his best friend's grip.

"What happened to him?" Izumi whimpered.

Footsteps came from down the hall and two tall figures walked in. One of them was in a large cape and he smiled deviously at the other, who was a beautiful female in a long black dress, although she had one decaying arm sticking out.

"Wonderful job, Lilithmon," the male said, grinning.

Izumi stood in front of Kouji defiantly. "What did you do to him?" she demanded.

"Simply messed with his mind," the male said. He tilted his head to the side. "Such children, you must remember Lilithmon and myself, Barbamon. Rivals of Love and Wind?"

Both girls glared and Keiko stood up as well, right next to Izumi. "Get out of here, now," she said venomously.

"So rude," Lilithmon replied, lifting a hand, nails growing longer and sharper within seconds. They were at least two feet long on each finger.

"I'll be going," Barbamon said. "Just like we agreed on. Since Beelzemon can't handle them, we'll see if you can. No mercy." And with that, he walked through a dark portal.

"We'll take care of this," Izumi said, looking back to the boys. "You two get Kouji to safety."

The boys nodded and Takuya threw his arm over his shoulder, Kouichi getting onto the other side and holding him up. "Will you two be okay?" Takuya asked, looking between the girls.

Keiko nodded. "We'll be fine."

"More than fine," Izumi said. "We'll take care of this piece of garbage easy."

Lilithmon laughed. "Don't underestimate me, Wind."

"Too late," Izumi snapped. "I already did."

Kouichi and Takuya carried the unconscious Kouji into a different room and up the stairs.

"I've beaten the two of you as a team before," Lilithmon said. "I'll do it again."

"We've never even fought you!" Keiko exclaimed.

"Not in this life," Lilithmon replied. "Humph, looks like you don't know anything, after all." She lifted her hand in the air and light gleamed off of it. "I guess I'll just have to educate you!"

I'm trying to make the chapters as good as they were before. It's not all about the romance my friends, and trust me, just because some people are dating, it doesn't mean this thing is over. Heck, it's far from over. Read and review, please! PS! READ LAST CHAPTER'S ENDING NOTES! IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!