"Festival! Nii-chan! The festival!" Maki burst into Yamato's room and threw herself onto her older brother waking him. "Get up! The festival! Get up!" She fused pinching his cheek until he sat up.

"Enough," he grumbled lightly pushing her hand away, smirking. "I know what day it is."

Her arms fold, "Then why are still sleeping?"

"Because, unlike you, I like growing."

"You're mean!" She cried laughing suddenly remembered something in her room she wanted to show him. "Wait here!"

Climbing down she scurries off to her room and just a door over. Within a few minutes, she was back carrying folds of paper in her arms.

Proudly laid them out on his floor, Yamato did his best not step on any of them as he climbed out bed and made his way over to his dresser where he expected his uniform to be folded and ready, by Megumi which she's done since the moment they became a family and it wasn't there.

Again.

But the smell of burnt eggs from the kitchen was, he heard her sullen sigh and cracking some more eggs to start again. By the sound of it, this was her third attempt. It most likely going to take on the fifth try to get them right, by then another carton of eggs would be needed.

His dad did his best to help, using his job as a journalist to find some leads but he found nothing. The only thing that was found Yamato recalled opening a dresser drawer and taking out his uniform; your place when he and Megumi went was...empty. As if no one lived there, furniture was present from the living room to the kitchen to the balcony, nearly every area was fine...yet Megumi felt something was out of place. He felt it too. Thoroughly they went through to find any something, but it was clean. Meticulously clean. You weren't really that kind of person to have your place cleaned this well. He found no pictures Maki drew tapped to your wall, the fridge was filled with food he never saw before. Looking through every inch they could find, they could cover. Still, nothing, it wasn't until after about an hour or so he stopped looking while Megumi continued and realized the silent message you left in this empty place. After all these years you still did that and he, honestly, hated it. Because of the ramification, it caused, if he could say anything about you, you're an idiot when you did this.

That's what he wanted to shout at you, not out of anger...well a little but because you put him-

"See?" Maki said proudly, bringing him back finding her...masterful artwork spread out of each digimon picking flowers? Jumping rope? He wasn't sure what to make of it and let her tell. "We're in a band! This one here with Birdy."

"Biyomon." he corrected.

She moved to the next one, "This one is me and Kitty winning at the festival!"

"Gatomon."

Carefully he stepped over her artwork to his closet and stepped inside, slide the door behind to change. Knowing if he left her while she was in this mood he wouldn't hear the end of it and most importantly she'd cry non-stop until he made it up to her. Little manipulator, something she learned from Takeru of all people. Quickly he was dressed, the closet was cramped, and came out. Maki was on her last digimon, Augmon or Dino as she called him. She had a name for every one of them.

"Dino and I are sledding! Can Dino's sled?"

He chuckled at her innocent question, as heat flushed through his body. Not from Augmon but for the digimon's partner. Regardless of being best friends Yamato for the better word was pissed at Tai and his aloof if not lack of concern for you. He practically wanted to deck him in the face when he said what he said after Daigo told them of your visit. It was just so...there was not an ounce of warmth, Tai's voice was devoid of emotion, dull really. He never chimed in about you when others voiced their worries. He understood Tai was in some funk, heck even you did after the airport attack and you still, while resting and healing from the injury voiced it. Asking Yamato to watch over him, you cared deeply than you realized he learned to the point it could drown you. Out of respect for you, he didn't deck Tai for treating you, his sister like this. Though Tai asked once if everything was okay when Yamato had to leave to help Megumi at your place, he meant his snap that Tai couldn't do a thing. Because he hadn't shown it. And when Meiko told everyone she saw you, he still didn't react he just remained...quiet and looked away. Izzy showed more concern despite how busy he was with keeping tabs on the distortion and infected, he divided himself to search for you. Though he came up empty, he tried believing he might have a lead.

Yamato really hoped so.

At least others saw how important you were, Yamato knew about what happened between you and Tai form Takeru. He wasn't too surprised but what followed he was, it was a contrast to the times before when you and Tai became something. It was weird but Yamato accepted it. Now, he didn't and he had every right. Again, out of respect and love for you, he held back but his boiling point was reaching its peak, who knows what could happen with you...it could be the end, though highly unlikely and Tai would have to live with the choice he made.

"Nii-chan, can I dance with you on the stage?" Maki asked, collecting her art.

He adjusted his shirt, "Not this time."

"Aww, well are my friends going to be there?"

"No. They have to stay back, they can't come. It'll be too dangerous."

She pouted, "But, that's not fair! They should come!"

"Well, they can't. Don't worry they'll be alright. I promise."

"Well, then I'll win them each a fish. Yeah! Can I do that?"

He was brushing his hair now, "Yeah, sure. I'll Takeru some extra money for that. Okay?"

She smiles pleased, "Okay. Nii-chan will I get my own friend too? Like you and..." her voice dropped a little with this word, "onee-chan?"

Yamato stopped an inch from picking up his bag, honing in on the tearful sadness in the girl's voice. She was trying to be brave, but it misted heavily in her eyes. She even tried to muffle her cries, but he heard them.

"I'm not sure, maybe," he said grabbing his bag and scooping her up in free arm, holding her like a rolled-up sleeping bag. Getting her to laugh. "why do you want one?"

"Yes! Yes! I do!"

Walking out his room, he sets her down. Pats her on the head smiling brotherly at her, "Well, then you need to get dress otherwise you won't get one. Hurry up." He gently shoves her and heads to the kitchen. Megumi with cooked eggs was setting their plates, his father was gone off to work already. Yamato stopped upon entering and watched the torn up woman push through, she was crying again this morning the small puffiness around her eyes told him and twisted his stomach.

"Good morning, Yamato-chan," she greeted him, pouring a cup of juice, "breakfast is ready."

He politely thanked her and took his seat. "It's good."

She mustered a smile, that grew when Maki came racing in and climbed into her seat, happily began eating. "Mommy, I get to go to the festival at nii-chan's school!"

"I know, I heard you this morning. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Will you get to dance on stage?"

Maki's face fell to a frown, "No. Nii-chan said no this time."

Megumi set a cup of juice before her daughter, "Well, next time I suppose. Make sure you listen to your brothers alright? Stay next to them."

"Yes mommy, I will. Are you coming?"

"Good and most likely not. I have two orders to fill. So I might not be able to."

"Aww," Maki pouted and flopped on the table, shaking it a bit. "okay. Can you bring me a cupcake home?"

Megumi chuckled lightly at her over-dramatic daughter, "Yes. If you're a good, girl. I will. Now finish up, you have school soon and I don't want you late."

Returning to herself quickly Maki finished her food, chatting away about...well anything. Until it was time for the three of them to leave, Yamato waved bye and headed off school. Unaware of someone watching from afar.

And afar you stayed, sneaking onto the school grounds unseen. Unnoticed. Stay hidden in the bushes watching as others set up for the festival soon to happen. A deep part of you yearned to enjoy it, as the memories flooded in...it cracked something in you. The music, the food...games. You remember once trying to win a fish and losing terribly, Sora had to pull you away as you felt it was rigged. You would have...done something you couldn't fully recall. What you did was the many pictures Mimi wanted to take in the photo booth that you became...something...blinking fade into the dark for a moment...blink again find yourself in the snow again...and down the path straight ahead of you...Jimmy with Emeraldmon chasing one another under the tree. Blinking once again find yourself back to the present and a sharp headache and pain screaming inside you swallowed down. Resisted against.

Where you really alright to be here? Maiki said it was, yet a part of you felt...no...no you shake your head, you came here for a reason...for a purpose. Quietly you leave the bushes and make your way a set of stairs that lead to the top of the school roof. The cool air against your skin soothed the rising heat inside. Walking over to the edge you stand there, concealing your face and body with your oversized hoodie, look down below.

Nothing.

Until then a heavy sleep, which you tried to fight but...the voice allured you to accept it, find a place, and sleep. Closing your eyes yet again, finding yourself drowned in darkness...surface suddenly, find yourself...alone...in a long dark corridor with an endless draft and creaking floorboards. Opening your mouth to speak find no voice and suddenly drop in snow...and there again...standing by the tree waving to you...Jimmy and Emeraldmon. As happy as you where to see them...feel a roiling in your heart, clench a hand over it, nearly break your nails through skin, drop to your knees catch and keep yourself up with your free hand. Shiver from the chill slowly trembling down your spin, shut your eyes and see it...it flashed through your mind like a flipbook and it was enough to jolt you awake and nearly scream. But you clasp a hand over your mouth before it came out. Stand quickly, nearly stumble-(your body could barely...it could barely...)nevertheless you push through it stand, and walk over to the edge, peer down see that the festival was going on. For how long you, you weren't sure.

Looking at each booth and vender...the savory smells reached you way up here. It most likely tasted delicious...if you cared for that. Right now you didn't, mowing through the many faces on the prowl for someone...something...you hoped to get. So far you didn't see them..you did though spot Yamato playing with his band on stage. There was Hikari with Takeru and...Maki. Your heart stung. There was no sign of Sora or the others. Mimi...you wondered where she was...what did Daigo say? You couldn't remember because it was here...you felt it judder through you. Knowing this move away from the edge and hurry back down. Seconds after you left, Jaspermon formally in a disguise with the other digimon who wanted to come to the festival with Leomon, that failed found herself on stage with the others in a contest for best costume...or she did. Meicoonmon won the contest, she stopped and turned upward where you previously stood.

"Ama-chan?" she wondered, were you here? Her fur stood on end...you had to be..that was the only reason it would...if you were then...she was just about to take off when Palmon grabs.

"Stay close, okay?" she said and pulls her off.

Reaching the last step, you burst out the door and tumble forward. Luckily no one was around to see you, swallowing down that...feeling pick yourself and hone in on where it was, walking away from the festival the sounds became distant find yourself in a sort of secluded area on the grounds, and spot what you were looking for.

Meicoomon.

Sitting all alone. Waiting for someone.

Good.

Quietly you approach her from behind, as you get closer rise up casting a shadow over, reach out unaware of the distortion appearing behind you a few feet away, and-

Meicoonmon turns around surprised to see you, looks up at you, eyes widening, "Amane-san?"