The Friends of the Stones

by Debbie Dai-chan

Finally, the Stories of the Ten Digidestined and a new enemy that has a role to play . . .

7. 7 The Search for the Friends

The Friends of the Stones:
Part Seven: The Search for the Friends
By Debbie (Dai-chan) and Chicobo, too!


Sora shivered under her new cloak, wrapping it around her arms to protect her exposed skin from the coldness. The blizzard has abruptly stopped during the night, and the coldness has been heated up a few degrees. The snow were still fresh, and Sora could hear the crackle under her shoes as she hiked through the snow-covered shrubs. Takeru and Koushiro were behind, silently following, clothed in their warm cloaks.

The cloaks were gifts from Vesamon for warmth. All the kids protested at the gifts, but Vesamon insisted, saying that he was pleased he had the chance to meet the famed Digidestined. The cloaks were very warm, having the characteristic protection of wool, yet it had a smooth, almost silky touch to the fabric. Sora noticed that Vesamon had some sort of knack to the cloaks as he sewn them during the night. All the cloaks had the colors of a dark olive green, night blue, and umber brown mingled together, naturally to be camouflaged even in snow, but each of them had its own hem in a different color.

Sora's cloak had blood-red hem around the edges, Takeru had golden yellow hem on his cloak, and Koushiro's cloak hem was deep purple-blue. She wondered how could these colors be so powerful, especially to the Digimon. Maybe she would find out someday. Sora carried a knapsack that carried the other kids' cloaks; that if they ever find them. it could be difficult, especially in the snow.

Sora was torn between finding the friends or searching for the temple where Vesamon said the curse originated from. Both Sora and Takeru wanted to search for the rest, but Koushiro pointed out that going to the temple and stopping the curse somehow could save Kimika, Jyou, and him sooner. The kids left Vesamon on many thanks and headed north, which was among the mountain range. They decided to save time to stay on the mountain rather go around it.

The timberland was thick, even on the range, and they had a challenging time to keep their balance on the shaky rubble that was the cause of the bear-snake Digimon's attacks a couple of days. Sora was again worried about Taichi, Yamato, and Kimika, but she had the feeling they were alive and were somewhere safe. She didn't know how, but she trusted her feelings.

She was suddenly hit by something cold on her hand. Turning around in alarm, she then grinned at a giggling Takeru, crouching as he rolled a snowball. Koushiro was behind him, a faint smile on his lips.

"Come on, Sora-chan!" Takeru appealed blithely. "Let's have a snowball fight!"

Sora shook her head, fighting an temptation to play to lighten her mood. "Iie, TK, we need to move on -" She was cut off by a snowball striking her chest. She grinned widely, hastily packing snow in her hands. "You asked for it! Watch for your head!" She flung it at the small boy, who ducked, giggling. The duo went into a mock battle, laughing and screaming, as Koushiro took a safe haven behind a thick tree, watching them.

He enjoyed watching Sora getting 'snowed' by Takeru. It continued for a while until Koushiro caught a glimpse of white in the trees, not the reflected sunlight from the snow, but the flash of white cloth. He then saw someone standing in the trees, spying with piercing green eyes.

Koushiro ran to Sora, holding on her arm with his good hand, which was ready to throw another snowball. She blinked in surprise, then noticed his wide gaze at the trees at their right. Sora turned and gasped at the giant humanoid clothed in flame-lined white. They stepped back, but Takeru, at the first glance, recognized who he was.

"Akemimon?" he murmured in astonishment, dropping the half-made snowball. "What are you doing here? Are you following us?"

"TK, who is he?" Sora whispered in caution.

Takeru answered, "Tai, Frankie, and I met him several days ago. He said he needs my help."

Akemimon was watching Koushiro, emerald eyes dimming for a brief second. Koushiro was gazing back with clear distaste on his face. Akemimon scowled briefly, then turned to Takeru, kneeling down on one knee. "Savior, would you please listen this time so you would understand why I need your help?"

"You promise you won't hurt my friends?" Takeru asked, worried.

Akemimon then smiled, so gentle for the powerful giant, gazing down to the boy. "I never have any desire to harm you or your companions. I apologize for the earlier encounter. However, I simply warned you, and you refused to listen."

Takeru gazed over to Sora and Koushiro, who were still watching the Digimon with doubt. The boy asked him, "Can I ask you if you know where our friends are? We got separated. Have you seen them lately?"

Akemimon looked reluctant, but then answered, "They're alive and safe. To find them, head north."

Takeru wondered how could he know, but removed it from his mind. "Then why do you need my help for?"

The Digimon bowed his head, his face taking the visage of sadness. "My sister is being trapped by the dark side. I need you and the Saint to return her back."

"How can Kari and I do that? I don't even know where she is, either."

Akemimon was silent, still bowing his head. Takeru looked over to the other kids, who were waiting patiently. But, for some reason, Koushiro glared darkly from under his hood, his onyx eyes even blacker than the dimness cast by the hood over his face. Takeru recalled about something, and he quickly asked, "Akemimon, I remember one thing. Before, you said that three of our friends will betray us. Who, and why would they? We are very close."

Akemimon said nothing, scowling lightly, then Takeru was shaken by a sudden, pained scream. They whirled around to see Koushiro recoiling on his knees, his good hand clutching on his right shoulder. Sora was trying to calm him down, her face contorted in worry. Koushiro's face got even paler than before, but Takeru saw a suspicious, odd glint in his black eyes, as if he was . . .

Then they were startled at a soft rustling in the bushes. Takeru saw Akemimon stepping back, his face glazing with alarm. "She is here," he whispered.

***

Yamato struck on pebbles repeatedly near a pile of wood, his face tense. The rocks were wet from under the snow. He thought he could start a campfire with these stones he found, hoping that they were flint stone. He found the wrong kind of stones, and he tossed them aside. He had the wood aflame during the night, but he, who were on the watch, has fell asleep, perhaps from exhaustion, and the flames have smoked off. The cavern was becoming chill. Yamato wished he had some borrowed matches from Mimi.

He gazed up to Taichi and Kimika. Kimika was still slumbering deeply, her fever gone. She was being like that for nearly a day, and Taichi was getting distressed by the minute. He never left her side. He tended to her all day. Yamato was worried, too, but he knew Kimika was strong in heart and only needed rest to restore her strength. Taichi seemed not believing his words, his eyes haunted by some inner anxiety.

Yamato sighed and crawled to Taichi's side. Taichi was so concerned about his friend that he didn't notice him. Yamato gently rested his hand on his shoulder, and Taichi blinked, as though in a daze, then looked over.

"Come on, Tai-kun," Yamato said with a half-smile. "Would you help kindle the wood? I know you are warm by your power, but Kim and I are freezing here. We need fire."

"Oh, yeah." Taichi went to the wood. Yamato became awed by a miniature flame appearing, humbly twinkling on Taichi's right index finger. He touched the wood, and soon the cavern was lightened by a gentle orange-yellow glow.

Yamato rubbed his hands near the flames, welcomed the heat wave. He glanced sidelong to Taichi. He was staring down in the flames, his face and hair taking in the colors of the fire. He was unusually quiet. The boys rarely spoke to each other, not since Kimika was ill.

Yamato wanted to brighten his mood, easing down the worry. "Tai, listen, I'm saying this for the last time. Kim will be fine. She is strong, able to stand anything. She will be all right. Even you know that."

Taichi ran his hands through his disheveled dusky hair, his eyes closed. "I know, Matt, but I never have seen her so pale like that."

Yamato took a glance at Kimika, who slept at the far side of the small cave. He never has seen her so haggard before, too. Beneath her tan skin, the color was very white. Her lips were even bluish-white. She didn't look sick, although.

"It's not always this I'm worried about," Taichi was saying, hugging his arms around his legs. "I haven't told you this, but when Frankie, TK, and I searched for that presence I sensed, we met up with a Digimon named Akemimon. His words didn't make sense, but he said that three of us will be betrayers."

"What do you mean, Tai-kun?" Yamato said. "None of us would betray us at all. We all are close-knitted."

"He said that the betrayers are already marked by his sister."

"Marked?" Yamato just remembered something. He pulled off his gloves and exposed his palms to Taichi. "You mean these marks?"

Taichi gazed in surprise at the burn marks of the Crest of Friendship's symbol on Yamato's palms. "Yama-kun, what happened to you?"

Yamato looked down at his hands, shaking his head. "I don't know how. My stone burned those symbols on my palms. This happened to Sora and Kari, too." He gazed up to see Taichi watching him with uncertainty. "Tai-kun, you know I would never betray you and the others."

"I know your valuable loyalty to us, Yama-kun," Taichi murmured calmly. "But why do you have these marks?"

A weak groan got their attention to Kimika. They hasted to her side and tried to lull her down. It was the first time she ever stirred since her fever. She groaned in quiet agony, then silent, falling once again in stupor.

Taichi rested his hand on her forehead, worried. "I wish I know why she is in pain."

Yamato watched the girl's face, a thought appearing in his mind. "I could enter her mind and find out."

Taichi gazed at him in surprise. "Matt, you can do that? How?"

"My power is connected with spirits, remember? I can enter minds and see thoughts, emotions, similar to Kim's."

"But . . . what if you get hurt?"

"I won't. I'm not that easy to get hurt."

"Have you done that before?"

Yamato didn't answer, having the faintest smile on his lips. Taichi shook his head stubbornly. "I can't let you do this."

"Don't you want to find what's wrong with Kimi-chan?" he said calmly.

"Not if you get hurt doing this!" Taichi snapped, his eyes flashing.

Yamato was silent, but he was a bit surprised at him. He didn't realize Taichi really cared, especially for him. His heart warmed at the concern, but he had a point. "It might be the only chance. Who knows if she wouldn't wake at all?"

Taichi's pale tan eyes just darkened into sooty black. "Be careful, would you?"

Yamato reached to hold on Kimika's hand and focused to enter her mind. He never did this before, but the routine came to him so easily that it surprised him. He could feel his aura around him, almost like a second skin. He allowed a thin streak of his night power to traverse through his hold on her hand, like a bridge where he could cross her mind. The moment he was sitting beside her in a cavern, then the next moment, he found himself in somewhere else he couldn't recognize. He no longer felt the warmth of the fire in the cavern; the atmosphere was rather cool and stable.

Opening his eyes, his gaze met with dull black-grey mist drifting around. The first words he thought up to describe this place was the dreamland. That were all he could think of. It was a barren area with a few saplings scattered. Did Kimika always dream like that, dark and hazy? Or was it the way the dreamland being seen as? He stood and took an alert scanning. From the corners of his eyes, he thought he saw golden glimpses, but when he turned to see what they were, they vanished. However, he thought he saw a faint golden small beast watching from afar, some sort of a wolf or a canine.

Yamato looked at his hand and saw that it was shielded by his night blue aura, slightly lighter than the black-grey mist. Interesting. He could almost touch it, like it was more like a kind of fabric, form-fitting, like another kind of skin. It felt like, very oddly, silky fur, like the soft pelt of a canine. It really did feel like that.

Suddenly, he heard a mumbled voice that he recognized as Taichi's, calling his name. He received a very gentle shaking on his shoulder, as thought someone was shaking him awake, but it was so soft that he thought it was nothing but a creeping touch. He waited, however, to make sure, but the voice was gone, and there were no more shakings or anything like that.

Yamato turned to the hazy glow of muted silver from within the black mist. He got a surprising experience. The very moment he thought to get over there to the glow, instantly he was there, like he simply . . . transported from one place to another. Yamato shook his head in muddleness. He should watch how he choose to think; the dreamland might work in puzzling ways. The glow was radiating from Kimika nearby. Eyes closed, she was sitting cross-legged on the ground, whatever it was. He couldn't see the ground exactly; all he knew was he was standing on something solid.

"Kimi-chan?" Yamato knelt by her and touched her shoulder. He could feel her silver aura, too. It was more shadowy. To his surprise, his fingers almost, but not quite, passed through her body. Her body did have solidity, but it seemed less dense. "Kimi-chan, it's me, Yama-kun."

"Why are you here?" she finally spoke. Her voice sounded hollow, no usual gentleness .

"Tai and I are really worried about you. You somehow sleep too long. Are you all right?"

"Help me."

Yamato's heart jolted with alarmed dread. "Nani? What happened to you? What can we do to help you? Onegai, Kimi-chan, answer me!" He wished he could embrace her and tell her it will be all right, but much to his dismay and irritation, his hands kept on passing through her body.

Kimika opened his eyes to him, her eyes having the faintest agony. "Tai's in trouble. Go to him."

"Nani?" Yamato gasped.

"If you delay, he will die. Go to him."

Yamato hesitated, but quickly thought himself abandoning her mind across the streak of his power back into his body. The next instant, he was back in the chilliness, bitterly cold than the coolness in the dreamland. Yamato opened his eyes, quickly rubbing his arms to warm up. His teeth were already chattering.

He was back in the cavern, but he noticed that Taichi was gone. Kimika was still sleeping, shivering quietly under the thin blanket. The wood was cold; the flames weren't kindled for a while. But how could it be possible? He was gone for only a few minutes. To his surprise, his stomach was rumbling with hunger, as if he hasn't eaten anything for days.

Yamato crawled to the entrance. The woodland and rocks were still covered by snow, but the clouds remained above, now snowing as well. The temperature was wintry, he noticed, and the coldness bit on his exposed arms. The day was cast with the faint light; that meant it was morning, to his astonishment. And he found footsteps leading from the entrance, slightly covering by the falling snow. He recognized the size and sole design as Taichi's shoes.

What was Tai doing in the snow for? Yamato went outside, following the footsteps. He couldn't believe that Taichi would leave him and Kimika alone, both vulnerable and helpless. He will find out as soon as he found him. He would like to give him a piece of his mind, too.

Yamato braced against a sudden gale of chilliness, shivering, his teeth violently chattering. As soon as he found Taichi, he will have to gather more wood to warm up the cavern. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of blue against the snow. He stared at it momentarily, then gasped. Taichi's shirt! He dashed over to find Taichi laying on his side, partly covered by the snow.

"Tai!" Yamato rolled him to his back, sweeping off snow. Taichi was trembling from the intense chill, whimpering under his breath. His skin has turned on an unhealthy blue hue. His power wasn't developed strong enough to keep him warm any longer. Kim was right, Yamato thought, Tai was in trouble, but then why was he outside for? He then saw several broken sticks of lumber scattered nearby, barely seen from under the whiteness. Tai was gathering wood. But in such a short time?

He needed to get him warm fast. Placing his hands under Taichi's armpits, Yamato strived to lift him. "Man, you need to get on a diet!" He gingerly heaved Taichi over his shoulder and hasted toward the cavern through that cursed blinding gale. Once inside, he laid Taichi down close to the wood. Yamato was worried; how could he make fire? Taichi was now limp, his breaths wheezing and terribly weak.

Without any logical thought, Yamato grabbed on Taichi's hand, shoved it in the wood, and fired a slim stroke of his power through the clutch, somehow provoking on the boy's untrained power into a reckless, violent energy. The wood caught fire, the orange flames roaring loudly, bursting into a wild bonfire, nearly burning his and Taichi's hands before Yamato hastily jerked them out. Yamato gawked at the savage flames, the tongues of red licking the ceiling, and then took on Taichi's hand. This time, he allowed a streak of his power to contact the fire power with gentleness, and almost instantly, the flames eased down into a harmless blaze.

Yamato wondered how could he be able to call on another's power, but he had no time to figure it out. He needed to get him warm.

"Come on, Tai-kun!" Yamato coaxed, rubbing on Taichi's arms and legs to heat up his blood. "Get your power to warm yourself!" He heard nothing but trembles from the boy. Taichi won't get warm fast enough from the fire alone. He tried to recall about when he was partly frozen back on File Island. Gabumon used his fur coat to warm him. But he didn't have a fur coat, and Kimika's thin blanket wasn't helping very much, either.

He had to use his own body heat to warm Taichi. Yamato hesitated, biting on his lower lip. He wasn't sure he wanted to do it, but Taichi would die if he won't. He gazed at Taichi's face, which was still blue, slightly contorted with suffering. Sighing, Yamato laid down beside Taichi and placed his arm across Taichi's chest, keeping on rubbing his arms.

"Get warm soon, would you, man?" Yamato muttered. He kept on warming up the frozen boy, and soon he grew drowsy, then fell asleep beside Taichi.

***

Mimi quickly held her hat on her head to keep it from being blown away as a sudden winter gale rushed through the marsh, chilling the four kids. Jyou had his arm around her, trying to keep both of them warm as possible. Frankie was carrying Hikari on his back, using his own body to shield her from the wind.

All the four kids' faces were flushed red, the sign of frostbite. Mimi's face was sore, and she often rubbed her face to warm up. Frankie's body also felt sore, but not as much or as painful as the others, probably because of his power. The weather changed too quickly. The marsh was covered by fresh snow overnight, the winds growing bitter and rough. She almost wished they didn't leave the grass dome. That shelter was perfect to dwell from the coldness.

The kids were heading for the mountains where they hopefully could find their missing friends. Mimi was deeply worried because the others, especially Taichi, Kimika, and Yamato were trapped underneath the rubble. They have to be alive. Mimi just knew it.

Mimi glimpsed something strange in the distance. A glitter of pale green sparkled beneath some sort of bush. She slowed down, trying to see the sparkle again.

"Are you okay, Mimi-chan?" Jyou said, slowing down as well. Frankie stopped nearly, putting down Hikari.

"Oh, I thought I saw something over there." Mimi pointed over the distance.

The three kids turned to look. There was puzzlement upon the faces. "I don't see anything, Mimi," Hikari said.

"I know I saw something." Mimi headed for wherever she was sure she saw the green sparkle. She sloshed through the thick mud and snow. She loathed mud, and her dress was already stained around the hem. Soon she arrived and gasped in awe.

A single rose sprouted from the damp muck, its pale pink petals budded, its small leaves curled to be protected from the wind. She knelt and reached a finger toward it. The rose slightly leaned toward the finger as if the finger was a ray of sunlight it was starving for.

"Is it beautiful, Jou-kun?" she said as he arrived at her side.

Jyou gazed at it with caution. "It's strange, a rose growing in a marsh. I don't know roses can grow here, anyway."

"Well, that's the Digiworld for ya. Hey, what's thatt under the plant?" Frankie pointed underneath the blossom.

Mimi saw an odd-shaped stone laying idly under the rose. It wasn't covered with snow or muck, as though someone has laid it down only a few minutes ago. The stone was shaped remarkably like a heart-shaped leaf with realistic veins, along with her crest symbol of a teardrop on both sides. It was like the other kids' stones, and Mimi paused to touch it, not knowing what would happen.

She was reaching to take it, when it was suddenly veiled by a sheen of soft green. She gasped, stepping back, as the stone arose up in the air, its glow illuminating the four kids' faces. She heard a vague command in her head, sounding familiar, and Mimi silently closed her hands around the leaf stone. Suddenly, the stone grew too hot, and she received a sharp prickling tingle on her palm. She released the stone and caressed her hands, a few tears of agony streaming down her face.

"What happened, Mimi-chan?" Jyou whispered, gently pulling off her peach gloves. She saw the burn marks of a teardrop on each of her palm, raw and red. Her gloves weren't damaged as well.

Frankie touched on her burns, grimacing lightly. "I have those burns, too." He showed his palms, revealing the healing burns of a moon-comet on both. "I found a stone like yours, and it burned those symbols on my palms."

Mimi gazed over to the rose and was horrified at the unseen aura of evilness radiating from the rose. It seemed to grow larger, its petals turning into an odd color of greenish pink, sprouting until it stood at ten feet or more. The kids stepped back in alarm as the rose blossomed its petals to reveal two rows of salivating rugged fangs. The leaves wrinkled into what looked like claws, vines flourishing from the thorny stem.

"Do you often get attacked by plants here?" Frankie muttered in disbelief.

"Well, the plants are pretty hostile here," Jyou said back.

The rose abruptly aimed a whipping vine toward them, and they quickly leaped out of the way. "Stay away, Mimi!" Jyou commanded as he was surrounded by his misty aura. He made a shield dome as the vines pummeled against it, attempting to weaken it. Jyou was too weak lately, and it didn't look like he will succeed.

"No!" Mimi heard Frankie yelling, and his voice sounded like a small, but ferocious beast. She whirled to see Frankie outlined by his white aura, which was growing brighter by the minute. Hikari ran to her, both shielding their eyes from the blinding light. Jyou lost his shield and toppled to the ground, gasping for breath. Mimi knelt beside him, holding him, her eyes tightly shut from the light.

The white light abruptly vanished, and the girls looked up to see a small vulpine creature, its fur sparkling pure white, standing in place where Frankie has been. Mimi had an odd feeling that the fox was Frankie.

The fox moved very swiftly, almost a white blur as he ran forward the rose. The rose again targeted several vines toward the fox, but he was too agile. He dodged and dashed under the thrashing vines. He leaped upon one vine and sped up it, easily balancing itself upon the slinky vine. The white fox opened wide his jaws and bit upon the thick stem, his deep hazel eyes fierce.

The rose gave out a roar, the stem jerking in order to jostle the fox off. But the fox was fastened on tight. Two vines reached for the fox and encircled themselves around the fox's flanks, tightening. He let go of his grasp and yapped frantically, clawing at the vines. There was a sudden flash of white light, and Frankie replaced the fox, now struggling in the vines.

This must stop! was her only thought as the burns stung on her palms. For a brief moment, her mind was not of the mortal mind of Mimi Tachikawa, but of the mysterious, terrestrial psyche of the Guide. The aura of green shielded Mimi, glowing humbly. Her face changed into a visage of perfect calmness, along with a simple smile. She began to speak out, her voice not her own, but of a comely, almost pure, voice. "By the Power of Earth, I, the Guide of Truth, command you, Heart-Flowers of Mine, to blossom."

From the ground behind her, a plant sprouted, budded with simple but magnificent pinkish-white petals, rising until it stood several feet above the Guide. The flower was pretty massive, its head as big as her head. Slowly, the flower blossomed modestly, opening wide, sparkling petals one by one. The killer rose turned its blossom toward the girl and bared its fangs, growling. Frankie gazed wide-eyed at her.

The Guide opened her hands toward the rose, as though she was humbly giving away some sort of gift. And the gift was lethal. One by one, the petals unleashed from the flower's head, and they flew through the air, looking - for a brief moment - like razor-sharp throwing daggers. The petals cut through the vines, one by one, the rose blaring in agony as it lost its limbs. A wide petal effortlessly slashed through the last vine, which was grasping Frankie. Frankie, along with the cut vine, tumbled on the mud. Shaken, Frankie wriggled from the vine as it twitched with death reflexes.

The last petal soared for the base of the rose, and effortlessly severed through the thick stem. The rose suddenly stiffened in shock, then twitched weakly as it vanished into particles just before it could collapse. Its command done, the bare flower sank back into the ground. Mimi stopped glowing, and began to sway, her hand going for her head, blinking. "Uhh . . . How . . . how did this happen?"

"That's what I was going to ask you," Jyou murmured, his dusky eyes full of admiration and awe at his girl.

***

He roused a bit back to dazed consciousness. He remembered that he was outside gathering wood he could find in the coldness, then he became so cold unlike before and . . . Odd, he couldn't remember anything after. But now he could sense that he was in surrounded heat, and a warmth radiating from a body beside him. A kind of warmth that seems to come from the night. Taichi drowsily opened his eyes. He saw that Yamato was sleeping near him, his cheek warming his shoulder as his arm laid across his chest.

"Matt . . . " he mumbled quietly, stirring a little. The movements aroused Yamato, and he raised his head, yawning and blinking his eyes. He turned around to Taichi and smiled sleepily.

"Hey, you're all right, Tai."

"Yeah. Now why were you sleeping with me?"

Yamato sat up, rubbing his eyes. "You were frozen cold, so I had to use my body heat to keep you warm."

"Frozen?" Taichi closed his eyes, trying to remember. "Oh, yeah."

"Tai, what were you doing out there? It's freezing outside," Yamato asked as he went to check on Kimika. He was crestfallen that Kimika was still slumbering. He couldn't think how she got in any trouble, after she spoke to help her.

Taichi groaned tiredly and leaned against the rock, pulling his legs to his chest. "I went outside to get more wood. You were in a trance for two days."

"Nani?" Yamato looked up in astonishment.

"You heard me," Taichi muttered halfheartedly, burying his head in his arms.

Yamato glanced at the girl's face. He remembered that in the dreamland, he recalled Taichi's voice calling for him, and Taichi trying to wake him, but he didn't respond. "It's strange. I thought I was gone for several minutes or so. I guess time goes differently in the dreamland, or whatever it is."

He heard silence from Taichi. Looking up, he saw Taichi resting his head on his arms, shivering a bit in the coldness, even though the fire was radiating enough heat. Yamato could hear the hopelessness in his voice as Taichi spoke before, and he wondered what's the matter.

"Hey, man, are you okay?" Yamato asked gently, crawling toward him.

Taichi shook his head, looking up. He saw great despair in his tan eyes, and he looked haggard as if he bore too much weight on his own shoulders. "Iie, I'm not okay. It's everything, man. All is going wrong. We don't know where are everybody, and Kimi-chan is sick. I don't know what can I do."

Yamato never knew that Taichi was that disheartening. He was the one who always encouraged everyone. He had the strongest determination, and now he seemed ready to give up. Yamato didn't like what he saw in Taichi. He grabbed on Taichi's shoulders, saying, "Come on, man, slap out of it. You just can't give up. We need you."

"Exactly!" Taichi now looked caustic, his brows knotting bitterly. "You all always look up at me, expecting me to do everything for you. Don't you ever think that I can't be always up to your expectations?" Taichi leaned his head back on the wall. "I don't want to the leader. It's too much for me."

"Tai . . . I have no idea." It was the first time he saw Taichi as what he really was, just a boy full of energy, but solemn seen himself as a leader. The others chose him as their leader because he had the enthusiasm to be one, but Taichi hesitated to be one, even after they reminded him of his successes. Taichi never volunteered to be the leader; he had to be because the others weren't courageous enough.

"That's why you chose me to be the next leader," Yamato softly spoke, removing his hands from Taichi's shoulders.

Taichi watched him with hooded, weary tan eyes. He didn't say anything, then gazed over to Kimika, worry appearing on his face. "You didn't find anything wrong with her?"

Yamato bit on his lower lip, lowering his eyes. "She said 'help me.' I don't know how did that happen." Taichi was looking terrified, and he went to the girl's side, straightening her blanket.

He abruptly received scents that nearly overwhelmed him. He could smell three scents that were familiar to him. He didn't know how can he smell and taste colors, but it came natural. One smelt like pure golden, very sharp. The second was tasting like blood, deeply red, and the vivid purple scent was the strongest, electrifying. He recognized them as three of his lost friends.

"Matt?" Taichi saw the hope brightening in his face.

Yamato grinned. "I smell them! Sora, TK, and Izzy! They are near!"

"Really?" Taichi faintly beamed. He then wondered how did he not sense their body warmth just now.

"Yeah, stay here with Kim," Yamato was crawling toward the entrance. "I'm going to get them."

"Be careful, Yama-kun," Taichi's voice held him back. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Yamato winked confidently to him and went out into the coldness. The sky were dim, the sun already sank for its night slumber. Have he and Taichi really slept all day? They must have been so fatigued. The scents came from upwind. Like a wolf, he explored for a brief minute until he saw a lump of dark green laying in the snow, a head of fiery red reaching out.

"Izzy!" Yamato recognized the hair. He knelt by him, sweeping snow off. A sort of cloak, colored dark green, flapped around the small boy in the gale. Koushiro's eyes were closed, his face full of tense weakness. He noticed that Koushiro's cheeks were tinged with redness. Yamato touched his cheeks, and Koushiro quietly groaned at the touch.

Koushiro was feverish, but where were Takeru and Sora? Yamato gazed around carefully, then looked down to the boy. He could small Sora's and Takeru's scents on Koushiro. So that meant Koushiro was with Sora and Takeru for awhile, their scents rubbing on him, then got separated. How and why? Yamato checked on Koushiro gingerly. He was badly hurt with the fever and his left wrist, which was wrapped with a dark violet cloth. Yamato feared that it might be sprained or broken.

"What have you been through?" Yamato whispered to Koushiro as he took him in his arms. Taichi will not be so happy when he heard what happened. He carried him back to the cavern, where he saw Taichi waiting outside, looking hopeful.

When Taichi saw Koushiro in Yamato's arms, his face twisted into a visage of anguish. "What happened? Man, he is sick like Kim!"

Yamato was remorseful, too. "I found him like this. Sora and Takeru aren't here. I smelt their scents on him. He must have gotten separated from them somehow."

Taichi sullenly took Koushiro in his arms and entered the cavern as Yamato gathered snow. They repeated the same thing they done for Kimika, tending to Koushiro's fever as long as they can. Koushiro's fever was a bit obstinate, unlike Kimika's yielding fever, and eventually, the boys finally eased the fever down, releasing Koushiro from the agony. Koushiro settled down into an undisturbed slumber, sighing with faint relief. The air in the cavern were gloomy, and Yamato knew that Taichi suffered the most, now having two companions to worry over. Taichi was so dark in his mood that Yamato felt that he needed to be alone.

Yamato stepped near the entrance and sat in the shaft, watching the landscape, hoping to see any evidence of Sora or Takeru. He wished to lighten up the mood, letting Taichi know that Koushiro and Kimika will definitely get better, and they will find the rest of the kids and the missing Digimon. They always did that before many times. Why must this be any different?

He soon heard soft cries from inside. It was the third time he has heard Taichi crying; the first time was at Etemon's Pyramid, and the second time happened during the battle with Alonmon. "Tai?" he softly spoke, crawling back inside. In the flame's light, he saw Taichi hurriedly wiping tears from his face, averting away from him.

Yamato remained at the end of the tunnel, saying softly. "Onegai, Tai-kun. Have some hope. We will find our friends, and Kim and Izzy will get better. I know it. I hate seeing you so sad."

Taichi was quiet for a moment, then leaned back against the wall, hugging himself, his eyes lowered. "Yama-kun?" he spoke so quietly. "Why won't you play your harmonica? It's a long time since I have heard it."

Smiling inwardly, Yamato got out his harmonica and began playing a soft, neutral melody. He missed playing his instrument so much, and the melody lightened up his glum mood. When he finished the melody, Taichi had already fallen asleep, his head lolling to one side, breathing quietly.

To be continued . . .