A/N: Apologies for the lateness of the update. As I'm sure everyone knows, things are a bit hectic at the moment. Everyone stay safe out there. There's some bumpy weather going on.

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Digimon Trinity

Chapter: 143/ Episode 21: Hidden Truths

"I'm not sure you should go."

Jeri glanced up at her bedroom door where Shizue, her stepmother, stood, an uncertain expression on her face.

"Your father… He's very worried about what might happen if you go to Shinjuku today," she continued. "And…And so am I. All those digimon attacks…"

"Oh, I'll be fine," Jeri replied, putting on a smile that somehow felt falser than her sock puppet. "I'm only going to check in on a friend."

She paused in consideration for a moment at her desk before sweeping up her cards, stuffing them into her skirt's pocket. After not having any yesterday to assist Takato and the others with, she felt it would be a good idea to keep them close by.

It's not like Miki and Ayaka are going to hurt me any more than they already have, she thought, hurriedly brushing by her stepmother.

"But…couldn't you call them instead?" Shizue asked. "I'm sure that they'd understand with how dangerous things are getting."

"I have to run a few errands while I'm there." A half-lie, or perhaps a quarter-lie. She wanted to buy some of that delicious bread and creampuffs that the Matsuki Bakery sold. A little comfort food went a long way and it gave her an excuse to visit Takato as well. She wondered how he was doing. Ms. Kamiya had said that there wasn't anything to worry about – that his fainting spell from all the fighting wasn't dangerous – but she couldn't help but worry all the same.

"Can't they wait?" Shizue pressed. "At least until you know it's safe?"

"I'll be fine," Jeri said, making her way down the stairs and toward the door. Glancing briefly over her shoulder, she flashed Shizue a quick, false smile. "I'll see you when I get home."

"Jeri…" Shizue began, reaching out for her, but the girl didn't give her a chance to finish. Moving quickly, she slipped on her shoes, opened the door that led outside and slammed it shut behind her.

But not before Jeri saw Shizue's hurt look on her face. Her heart clenched at the sight, and she stood there for a second, pressing her lips together tightly before hurrying off, doing her best to put the rather terse conversation behind her.

I'm awful, she thought to herself, her pace quickening. She pushed the thought away, turning her focus instead on something that mattered more.

Takato… Kazu's right. Those evil digimon are getting stronger. Can they really keep this up? Fighting to protect the city? The world?

The memory of Takato's unconscious form, surrounded by his two fellow Tamers who were likewise experiencing Feedback, came to mind and she bit her lower lip uncertainly.

I wish I could help, she thought miserably.

###

Takeru entered the lab where the Monster Makers were now headquartered, the sounds of their furious typing echoing loudly within. He regarded each one dispassionately before coming to a stop in front of Janyu. The man wore a frustrated look on his face and appeared somewhat disheveled as well. He wondered how much sleep he had gotten last night, or if he had even slept at all.

Perhaps he's finally realized what he and his friends let loose upon the world, he thought, only to frown at himself at the rather nasty thought. No, he reminded himself. This isn't their fault and they undoubtedly lost more than enough sleep over the years because of the War.

Takeru had to remind himself that everyone had their own demons to wrestle with. Not just himself.

"What's your status?" he asked.

Janyu's frown deepened and he clenched one hand into a fist. "We need more time," he said simply.

"More time?" Takeru asked, lifting a sardonic eyebrow. "The Dark Ocean can only be so accommodating, Mr. Wong."

"I understand that, but Shibumi's research isn't that simple and neither is your program. There are limits to what we can do. It's not as simple as copying something from the side of a cereal box. Shibumi's code alone – it's encrypted and highly complex."

Takeru folded his arms behind his back and frowned. He wanted to say something else. Something biting, to remind Janyu that every second counted. That just wasting his time telling him that they needed more of such a precious resource – something that they might not be able to get if the Dark Ocean had their way – was an hour closer to chaos and destruction.

But people didn't work like that. He remembered that from his youth. They couldn't be whipped into action and perform well. Excellence needed a different touch.

"I'm sure you couldn't even imagine the power to completely control the Network back in your days," Takeru began carefully. "But that goal is almost within our grasp. I will do my part, but don't depend on miracles. The Dark Ocean won't wait for us after all, Mr. Wong. Every day, people in the city go about their business, blissfully unaware of the danger that is to come. We are their silent guardians; their only protection against the digital menace. But the key to destroying the Dark Ocean lies in the code you're working on, Mr. Wong. For the sake of your children…decipher Shibumi's code quickly."

At the mention of his children, Janyu's expression tightened, but he nodded. Wordlessly, he returned to his work and Takeru left him to it, his fingers pressing against one another fastidiously, as if wondering where his father's lighter was.

Decipher Shibumi's code… he thought to himself. It certainly was a harder task than it sounded for the Monster Makers, and they had worked with him. The ideas that went into the AI were far beyond even some of the best minds today. Even he, as well versed as he had become in computer programming, had been forced to admit that with regards to digimon, he only scratched the surface.

Even Izzy, for all his research, still has much to learn about digimon. He sighed mentally, exiting the Monster Makers' lab, pondering his options. At the current rate, it wasn't likely that Juggernaut would be ready again for some time. Days… Perhaps even weeks at best!

He wondered if he had been too hasty with earlier decisions regarding Ken and Davis.

No, he thought, his hands tightening about one another. Those two were becoming far too much of a problem. I can't afford them using Imperialdramon to stop me. As long as they're at the Champion level or below, their options are limited. Still… I need something that can tip the balance in our favor if the Dark Ocean chooses to strike before we are ready.

His mind trailed to the Tamers as he approached the elevator. Hitting the call button, he considered them for a moment.

Their prophecy remains, he thought. His lips thinned at the ding of the doors opening. Stepping inside, he pressed the button that would take him back to his office floor. He hated the idea of the prophecy that Gennai mentioned about them. Yet the words – the last words Gennai had relayed to him concerning that prophecy – came to him.

When two hearts change to zero and merge together,

Then you'll understand,

The meaning of your meeting.

Takeru's hand found his lighter and he flicked it open. Taking out his cellphone, he hit the dial button.

"Ichijouji," he said as the other end picked up. "What is the current location of Kari Kamiya?"

"Kari?" came Yolei's response on the other end. "She's…uh…huh." There came a sound of typing. "It looks like she's on her way to Odaiba."

Takeru's lighter snapped shut with a loud, angry click.

###

Kari sat in her seat as the train raced along the rails, Salamon in her lap, both doing their best to ignore the stares they were receiving from fellow passengers. Adjusting the strap of her purse, Kari focused her attention on her phone, tapping on the screen to check for any news updates. She ignored her social media account entirely. She doubted that there was much there she would like to see or read in the aftermath of yesterday's battle.

Her phone buzzed again and she scowled upon seeing Mori's number crop up yet again. This time as a call and not a mere text message.

"He's not giving up," Salamon mentioned. "Maybe it's something serious."

"It's never anything serious where Mori's concerned," Kari said, dismissing the call and having it go to voicemail. She would delete it later.

"Hmmm…" Salamon lowered her head, bringing her chin to rest on Kari's thigh. "Still, he's never been this persistent before. Usually he goes away once he realizes he's being annoying."

"Only for a little while." Kari's eyes lifted as the train began to slow down. Salamon hopped down to the floor and Kari got to her feet. Before she could get very far however, her phone rang again. Before she could swipe it, she realized that the number on the caller ID was one she didn't recognize. Something…some instinct…told her to answer, and hesitantly, she hit the reply button.

"Hello?" she asked, the train squealing as it ground slowly to a halt.

"Hello, Ms. Kamiya."

"TK?!" Kari gasped, almost dropping her phone. Her heart sped up, machinegunning itself into her chest. The train, by contrast, came to a dead stop, causing both herself and her partner to lurch slightly in response.

"I apologize for calling you out of the blue like this, but circumstances have forced my hand." A pause, and Kari found herself waiting with baited breath. "I'm…sorry to hear about your recent circumstances. How are you doing?"

"I…" Looking about, Kari hurriedly left the train and its glaring passengers, Salamon following swiftly behind. "I'm going to the Wizardmon Memorial site," she said. "I needed to get out of the apartment. TK…"

She chewed her lower lip in thought. What am I going to say to him? What am I supposed to say?

She found herself at an utter loss for words. What was there to say? He rarely contacted her unless he needed something and was constantly lost in his own work. Increasingly, that work left him in an adversarial position towards those he once called friends.

Towards her.

"I have made arrangements to see to it that your finances are cared for," Takeru said, picking up the threads of conversation as she found herself still fumbling for something to say. Kari lifted an eyebrow at this. "It's a little early, but the government has developed a program to care for its veterans in the event that they find themselves either unemployed or dealing with difficulties. It's the least that can be done for the saviors of Japan and the world."

Kari frowned, not sure what to make of that. Did something happen?

Mori's all-morning buzzing sat in the back of her mind now, seeming to stare meaningfully at her.

"Um… T-Thank you," she stammered out. "TK, I…I don't mean to sound rude, but…did you want to talk? Or…Or meet up? I…It's been so long and you…we…" She ran her tongue over her lips, suddenly finding that her saliva had dried up.

"I'm afraid I'm busy at the moment," Takeru replied. "But there is something you could do…for your students. The Tamers. A message from Gennai. Tell them…their hearts need to beat as one if they want to grow stronger."

Kari blinked. That was all? That was what he wanted to talk to her about?

"I…I see," she stuttered, finding herself stuck between a flash of anger and a rapidly sinking heart that had been hoping for something…more than this.

"I'm sorry," Takeru continued. "I have to get back to work now. Take care."

With that, the Head of Hypnos hung up, and Kari lowered her phone, her eyes glazing slightly, her mind unable to believe that this was all she had been reduced to.

"Kari?" came Salamon's voice as she followed behind. "Is everything all right? What did TK want?"

"Just to have me send a message," Kari scowled, thinking about what he had said earlier about her finances and situation. Thumbing the screen, she went over to her voice mail where Mori's message lay. She hovered over the play button before hitting it, bracing herself for the bad news.

"Ms. Kamiya…" came his broken, sobbing voice. "I…I'm sorry. You probably heard already, but…I had to try and talk to you. About what happened. The principal and the superintendent… There was a meeting and… A…A lot of things were talked about before the decision was made to cancel school and… I'm sorry. I tried to make them change their mind but…"

He trailed off, weeping softly before delivering the bad news. Kari hung up, not wanting to listen to the rest of his sobbing and apologies. She was being fired. That was all she needed to know.

At least I won't have to deal with Mori anymore, she thought dazedly, her mind struggling to rationalize the news. Of course. She should have expected this. Her file was quite thorough and it wouldn't have taken much to determine that the Ophanimon that had caused such a ruckus in the city and not only killed innocent people – however accidently – and had gone so far as to threaten one of her students was the one her partner digivolved into.

When it rains, it pours. But…at least I deserve this.

Her shoulders sagged. She was out of a job. Her job. The one she worked so hard to get and now…what was she left with? An apartment and a pension. Retired before her time.

All those years of complaining about my work…about all the students I struggled to help and dodging Mr. Mori…and I'm…going to miss it.

Sagging, her face felt as though age was being etched into its skin.

"Kari?" came Salamon's pleading voice again. Hitching a sigh, Kari adjusted her purse again and started off.

"Come on," she said. "Let's go see Wizardmon."

Oh, but first… Opening the message function, she tapped out a quick message to Henry regarding Takeru's message to her. At the very least, she could still do something.

###

The door to the Matsuki Bakery slid open, welcoming Jeri inside where she was greeted by Takehiro's warm smile.

"Well, hello there, Jeri!" he called out from the register. Jeri beamed happily back at him, this time, more genuinely than she had with her stepmother.

"Morning, Mr. Matsuki," she chirped. "Creampuffs sure look good today." She giggled, and her voice took on a bit of an excited stutter. "Then again, they always look good."

Taking up a small tray and a pair of tongs, she snatched up a few choice rolls and some creampuffs before taking them over to Takehiro. As he began to tally up the cost for her, she took a look around. The store was rather quiet – empty even – but it was still early enough. That wasn't quite her main concern however. Focusing on Takehiro, she leaned forward, her voice lowering to just above a nervous whisper.

"Is…Takato…here?" she asked tentatively. Takehiro paused in his work to look up at her before a small grin crossed his features. Unlike Mei, he wasn't entirely sure that the relationship between his son and the girl named Rika was at all like anything his wife believed it to be. True, she stopped by often enough and was quite easily flustered by Mei's probing's and Takato's rather awkward, but goodhearted nature, but he didn't detect anything remotely that struck him as the pair being a couple. Yet where Jeri was concerned… He had a sneaking suspicion that there was something developing there. The way she asked for him, so quiet, as if she were afraid of being found out… It rather reminded him of Mei, back when before they started courting.

"No," he said apologetically. "He's out right now."

"Oh." Jeri's eyes dropped at that and she dug the toe of her shoe into the tiled floor. She supposed she wanted to feel good about that. Him being up meant that he was doing better. Yet…she had hoped to see him before leaving back for home.

I'm sure he's got more important things to do, she thought, thinking back to yesterday's battle.

"Okay," she said, digging into her skirt's pocket and taking out some money. "I was just a little worried. I mean, with everything that's been going on, you know…"

"Yeah…" Takehiro nodded in agreement, his tone becoming grim. He returned to ringing her up. "Hard to believe that's all starting back up again. But I'm sure everything'll be fine. The Digidestined will take care of it like last time."

"Y-Yeah," Jeri smiled, though that sense of falsehood felt strong upon her face. Thinking about Takato and his friends' desperate attempts to defeat Indramon yesterday and how victory had nearly overwhelmed the goggle-wearing boy… She couldn't help but wonder again how much longer they could keep it up. She saw that Takato was often troubled by what was going on. He wouldn't talk about it, but she could read it in his eyes.

That was one thing she liked best about him. His eyes always spoke so honestly and was full of heart.

She paid Takehiro what she owed for the bread and creampuffs and with a quick bow, she departed.

"Thanks, I'll tell Takato you dropped by!" Takehiro called after her. Jeri swallowed nervously, wondering if she should call him later to chat, but before she could go very far with such thoughts, a voice hailed her from down the street.

"Hey Jeri!" Turning, the brown-haired girl saw Kazu and Kenta swiftly approaching her, the former waving her down. Coming to a halt, she lifted an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"Were you…looking for Takato?" Kazu asked as the two boys came to a halt before her. Feeling a little self-conscious at his question, she nonetheless nodded. Surely there wasn't any harm in her looking for him, right?

Don't be silly, she berated herself. You're…You're a friend that's worried about him, just like they are. Why would there be anything wrong with that?

"What a coincidence," said Kenta. "So are we!"

"Come on!" Kazu crowed excitedly, suddenly bursting towards her. "Join our posse and we'll track him down!"

Before Jeri could even react, both boys were on her. Snatching her by the arms, they proceeded to half-drag her down the street.

"Kazu!" she protested in sudden alarm, struggling to break free while simultaneously keep from being dragged along. "Wait a minute! Where are we going? You're squishing my creampuffs!"

Ohhh… And they looked so good when I bought them! she moaned inwardly.

###

Takato and Guilmon made their way through the park path, the crimson dinosaur looking at his partner worriedly.

"Are you okay, Takato?" Guilmon asked. Blinking, Takato turned toward his partner questioningly.

"Uh…yeah, of course I am. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering," Guilmon replied. "You've been quiet ever since you talked with Renamon. Is it because of Rika?"

Takato blushed lightly and stuffed his hands in his pockets, where he became all too aware of the card that rested atop his deck.

"N-No. I mean… A little, I guess."

"I'm sure she'll like whatever you do for her," Guilmon smiled. "Hey, maybe you should sing for her! I bet she'd like that!"

"Somehow I don't think so," Takato laughed, scratching at the side of his face. Remembering how she sounded last night made him blush again. Yeah, there's just no contest. The way my voice is, I'd probably break a window.

"Maybe you should make her Rika Bread?" Guilmon offered. "You could use cinnamon for her hair! I bet she'd like that!"

Figures he'd have food on the mind, Takato chuckled mentally. "I'll…keep it in mind," he said evasively. Sensing that he wasn't entirely sold on the idea, Guilmon shrugged.

"Well, either way, I'm sure whatever you do, she'll be fine with it as long as you follow Renamon's advice."

"I wish I felt confident that it was as easy as that," Takato admitted. "I kind of make her mad a lot without meaning to."

"Maybe she's just not used to having friends?" Guilmon suggested. "That's how it sounded when Renamon was talking to us this morning."

Takato nodded, frowning slightly as he remembered a conversation they had not too long ago, when she had thanked him for keeping his dream about her a secret and asked if that was what friends do. It struck him then as a curious thing to ask, but now that he thought about it…

Renamon said she appreciates honesty from her friends. People she can count on to have her back. Did she not have anyone like that before?

He pondered that for a minute as they turned the corner and there, arriving at the stairs that led up to Guilmon's hideout, was Rika. She blinked in surprise upon seeing him, apparently having not expected to find him down here. She looked up in the direction of the bunker and then back at him questioningly before shrugging.

"You're on time for once," she said, folding her arms together.

"Ah… Is something going on?" Takato asked, scratching the back of his head questioningly.

"Henry called," Rika replied, shrugging indifferently. "He said that your teacher messaged him. Something about how that Takeru guy gave her a message to give to us." She frowned slightly. "You didn't know? He said he was going to call you."

"We were visiting Mr. Kido."

Rika shifted her footing and her hands tightened their grip about her arms. "And?"

"Takato's doing good!" Guilmon beamed happily. "Mr. Kido said he has a good bill of health! Oh, what does a bill mean, by the way?"

"Moving on," Rika said, relief flooding her voice. Taking out her phone, she quickly fired off a message to Henry, informing him of Takato's location. "Glad to hear that you're doing fine." Her eyes flickered up toward Takato's, meeting his crimson gaze. Her expression softened a little. "I…uh…"

She pressed her lips together, seemingly at a loss for words. They stood like that for a moment before Takato's eyes lit up and he quickly dug into his pocket.

"Oh! I…I remembered something that I was supposed to give back to you! You dropped it back at the construction site. Remember, when we first fought Mephistomon? I thought about it today after thinking about how much stronger the Devas keep getting and…well… Sorry for not returning it sooner. It…probably would have helped out a lot."

Taking out the card, he held it out for Rika. Her eyes grew wide as she recognized it as the BlackWarGreymon card she had lost – knocked out of her hand by Henry.

Back when Renamon couldn't digivolve and I was too stubborn to admit that using this might have killed her, she thought, turning it over. She thought about whether it would be wise to use it even now. Mega level was still Mega level after all, but Taomon was more powerful than Renamon. Perhaps she could make use of it and not have any problems with it?

We need every advantage we can get, she thought.

"Well…I guess where you're concerned, it's better late than never," she said, pocketing the card in her deck box. Their eyes met again and Rika offered the boy a small smile. It felt odd on her face. She wasn't used to smiling at him or anyone. She could tell that Takato wasn't either, as his eyes widened and a light blush glowed upon his cheeks.

"D-Don't get any funny ideas," she warned him, starting to feel a little uncomfortable. Her smile slipped away as quickly as it came, and Takato jerked, his blush darkening.

"F-Funny ideas?" he stammered out. Rika scowled darkly. Oh, if they weren't on his mind before, they most certainly were now.

"Don't play dumb with me!" she said. "You goofy little Gogglehead! I know what you're thinking!"

Guilmon looked up at Takato in alarm. "I don't think she's going to like Rika Bread, Takato."

"Rika Bread?" Rika gave Takato a pointed look that demanded an explanation and no attempts at trying to dodge the question. Takato groaned and palmed his face.

Well, at least he didn't bring up singing… he thought, counting his small blessings.

8