Part 2
Created By: Jason Wong
Sixteen year old Yamato Ishida sat at a table surrounded by images of his late brother, Takeru Takaishi. He had chosen the third choice and had come up with his own plan. Legally he was a Kamiya now, but he retained his name and lived with his parents, who had come back together. However his parents were now both working, leaving Matt all by himself. they had come to the mutual agreement that Matt shouldn't be home along and appointed a babbysitter, or a guardian for the day. Though it wasn't his parents first choice. Matt convinced them to appoint Tai as the daytime guardian. It was hell getting this all done legally, but it was done and everyone was happy.
"Oh Matt, lunch is ready. Get your ass out here now!" called Matt.
Matt smiled, his parents had fooled him. They'd actually wanted Tai to 'care' for him. Now he was stuck. Life with Tai in charge wasn't much different than life in the digital world. But it was a nuisance, not being in charge when he was in HIS house.
"Coming DAD." replied Matt, emphasizing the dad because Tai didn't like that title. It annoyed him greatly.
"I keep telling you. Don't call me that. Why can't you-- wait, you know this already. You just want me to get mad, don't you." came Tai's reply.
True to his word, Matt had been trying to pick a fight. They were great friends but there was always that tension. And Matt knew just how to provoke Tai when he wasn't on guard. It got harder by the day, but Matt still had a few tricks up his sleeve. The problem was, much as re was Tai's rival, Matt had discovered Tai's other side. The one never before presented to Matt. The part of Tai that TK had worshiped. Matt was having a difficult Time not worshipping Tai himself. He fought to get rid of those notions.
"You should let me cook sometime." said Matt.
"Why?" asked Tai curiously.
"It is my place you know. You are the guest." replied Matt. This wasn't really Matt reason. Tai cooked well, and for some reason, anytime he ate Tai's cooking, his spirits lifted. It was hard to not want to crown Tai as his god.
"Well, I guess so." conceded Tai. "Why not. How about tonight's supper?"
Matt melted with relief. He'd been sure Tai would have exercised his authority to deny Matt. 'Hey, why not invite the rest of the gang too.' he thought. he voiced his opinion to Tai who agreed quite readily.
"Great idea Matt. I haven't seen some of our friends in ages." said Tai.
Nearly instantly Tai was on the phone, calling up all their pals and doing the planning. Matt quietly slipped out to fetch cooking supplies.
Later, Matt was cooking while Tai just sat on the couch with a goofy grin on his face. You see, while exploring the cupboards, Matt discovered a jar of antidepressants that Tai had been putting in his food. Tai put up some defense about doctors and his parents, but Matt was too upset to listen. Looking back, he realized he probably overreacted. He also regretted it. In his stupor, Matt couldn't convince Tai to help. He was too happy, and Matt hated the fact he had to do 'All' the cooking alone. Eventually he did manage to finish and re managed to pull Tai out of his stupor as the guests arrived.
"Hi Tai." said Sora. "You look awful. Are you ok."
"Genius boy here loaded me on antidepressants which his parents told me to slip him. I can't remember the past four hours and I have this killer headache. Of course I'm ok." replied Tai sarcastically.
Matt studied the floor as Sora glared at him. Slowly everyone else showed up. However, during the party, Izzy pulled Matt aside. He locked the door and began explaining something that was both painful and joyous for Matt.
"I can talk to TK?!" exclaimed Matt.
"Well mabey." replied Izzy cautiously. "When Apocolymon reduced us to data, it altered our physical selves. I believe that TK's spirit may remain in some form in the digital world. You may in fact be able to retrieve him."
"Let me guess." said Matt. "There's a problem."
"Well, you'd need to goto the digital world.... But I don't have the faintest idea of how to open a gateway, and I know how you feel about the digital world." said Izzy.
Matt frowned. The digital world had taken all that he loved and held dear. He had vowed to never return for fear of losing more. He walked out of the room and was mysteriously silent for the remainder of the party.
Late that night, Matt was ready. He'd packed food, water, some clothes and tools. He was all set for a journey. Now all he needed was the instrument to create the portal. Matt quietly opened Tai's dresser and rummaged trough it.
"Where is it. Where'd he put it." whispered Matt. "It has to be here."
"Going somewhere?" called a voice quietly behind Matt.
"N-No." stuttered Matt in a totally unconvincing voice.
Instantly Matt was blinded as the lights came on full. When his vision cleared he saw Tai standing along with the object he needed. The only problem was that it was in Tai's hand.
"I'm sure you aren't." said Tai. "That's why you're packed for a journey and were looking for my sword. Did you know that even if you found it, only I can open the portal?"
"N-No." stuttered Matt.
"Izzy didn't think you'd work up the courage to go back alone...." Tai let the words hang in the air. "Izzy didn't think you'd go, but I know you too well."
"If you think you can stop me." threatened Matt.
"I'm coming with you." said Tai casually. "I have business there and I know where the realm of death is."
"Realm of death?" asked Matt.
"It's where us humans go when we die in the digital world. I thought Izzy told you." said Tai.
"No, but I thought...." said Matt.
"Look, there is a small section of the digiworld that is set aside for the dead." said Tai.
"Oh...." said Matt
"Oh well, goodnight." said Tai.
Matt watched Tai roll over and fall asleep. They'd entered the realm of death for nearly two hours ago and had found a wasteland and no sign of TK. For nearly the past hour Tai had been acting kind of odd. He moved rigidly, as if unused to something. He gazed into the fire looking for peace. He continued to gaze deeper and deeper until finally....
"Matt!" called a voice.
Matt jolted out of his trance and looked around. He couldn't see anyone at first. But then slowly he noticed a whispy person standing in front of him. TK!
"TK?" quavered Matt.
"Matt, beware Tai. He isn't himself." said TK.
"Huh?" asked Matt.
"Here." said a voice. Matt noticed someone else next to TK. Tai! "Some spirit drove me out of my body. You've got to help me."
Tai was much fainter than TK, nearly invisible in the moonlight. If Matt hadn't seen him before, he wouldn't have noticed him at all.
"The bond between Tai's spirit and his body is weak so another spirit took over." said TK. "But since Tai isn't dead, his spirit is fading. He needs a vessel to reside in until he can regain control of his own self."
"And you want that vessel to be me?" asked Matt.
"Well, unless you see someone else around, yes." replied TK. "Then I can do battle with this enemy spirit on the astral level."
"Can't I fight?" asked Matt.
"All you could do is hurt Tai's body. Now lie down." said TK.
"Umm, a question. Will I still be me?" asked Matt.
TK smiled. "Don't worry Matt. You'll still be you. You'll just aquire some of the stuff Tai knows. Mabey some skills and memories. And of course you'll still be able to communicate in your head, privately. You'll still be two separate people."
Matt closed his eyes and waited. Suddenly he felt a rush of energy as their souls connected. There was a rush of random thoughts, but one stuck out. It explained why Tai was so weakly linked to his body and what his business in the digital world was. It was an unpleasant secret and Matt believed it could easily change their plan of attack.
What is this secret that Tai holds? Will he get his body back? And will Matt be able to get TK back to the land of the living? What other surprises are in store for them and who is this mysterious spirit in Tai's body? Find out this and more as our story continues in "Recovery" part 3.