The Illness

by N i g h t W a v e

The rest of the digidestined have fallen ill but little TK. WIll he be able to help them?

2. Perromon Returns

Perromon Returns

by: Dol Daughter of Light

Chapter One

~*~

"It's hot." Mimi whined. It was true, the digidestined had to agree. The hot, flat, desert they were walking in was quaking with heat. The fur covered digimon were panting heavily.

"Let's take a brake." Joe suggested. He didn't have to say it twice. The group sat, all getting a good survey of their environment.

The desert was vacant, and as said before, hot. The blazing sun was in the center of the sky, beating down on the weary travellers.

"Oh, my feet hurt." TK whined. They all were whining, except for "Too-Cool" Matt, and "Fearless-Leader" Tai, though they were in the heat, too.

"I wish there was some shade." Matt commented. After a few more minutes of rest, they once again began to travel. TK was red in the face, wheezing. His hat made a sweat ring around his head. He didn't feel good. Patamon, who was riding on his partner's head, noticed they were slowing.

"What is it, TK?" Patamon asked.

"I don't know. I just don't feel good." TK stopped, resting his weight on his knees. Patamon hopped off.

"TK," The digimon started, but before he could finish, the boy collapsed. By then, the others had realized he was missing. They ran over.

"TK!" Matt exclaimed. He helped his brother sit up. TK coughed, looking up at him with large blueish-grey eyes. Matt pressed his palm to his brother's head. It was hot and sweaty. He turned to the others.

"He has a fever." Matt said softly.

"That's not good." Mimi commented.

"We need to get him out of the sun and give him fluids if he's sick." Joe informed. His father is a doctor, so he knew. They all were grim.

They were grim because they still remembered the happenings of just last week. A digimon named Perromon had made all the digidestined horribly ill, all except for TK Unaware it was Perromon who made the others sick, TK took up a deal with the digimon, in which all the illness would go into his small body, to make the others well. When it did, the poor kid almost died, but somehow his crest saved him with a mysterious white light. TK was still recovering, but the others were now aware of the fragileness of their youngest member.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Sora asked him.

"It just happened." He told her. He began to cough hard. Matt patted his back, giving awkward stares at the others.

"Let's find some shade." Tai concluded. They all began going to who knows where, Matt giving his brother a piggy-back ride. Tai hung back from the group, Agumon with him. Kari and Gatomon slowed to his side.

"What is it, Tai? Are you getting sick?" Kari asked.

"No." Tai sad in a thoughtful tone.

"Then what is it?" Agumon asked.

"TK" He said before thinking. He didn't want to scare his sister.

"What do you mean?" She asked, stopping and looking at him with wide eyes.

"Nothing. Just worried 'bout him." Tai said quickly.

"You really think something really wrong?" Kari asked, now worried.

"I hope not. He hasn't fully recovered from the last incident." Gatomon commented. Kari gulped, worried about her friend and connection. He knew how she felt most the time, so they were semi-close. Plus they were about the same age and has bonded.

"I'm sure he's fine. Come on." They caught up with the group. TK's normally rosy coloured skin were pale, and he was coughing hard. Izzy and Sora had scouted ahead, looking for shade, with Tentomon and Biyomon. They walked in silence, except for TK's coughing. Patamon flew close to TK's head, worried.

"Hey! Guys, over here!" Sora yelled from a large distance ahead. "We found a forest!" TK leaned his forehead on Matt's shoulder. His stomach churned, making him feel miserable. Matt felt his shirt dampen, his brother's head warm and sweaty.

They ran over, Matt falling behind. Sora was right, but it was actually like a jungle. Mimi and Sora quickly gathered ferns and leave, laying them in a small rectangle. Matt layed his brother on the bed. TK murmured a meagre thanks and fell asleep immediately. An uneasy silence fell over them.

"Sora, is there any water around here?" Joe asked.

"I don't know." She said, doubtful.

"I'll go up and take a look." Biyomon offered. She took off.

"I hope it's just a cold." Mimi said optimistically. "Kids get colds, right?"

"Whatever." Matt mumbled. He kneeled beside TK, who coughed weakly, moaning. He rolled onto his side, holding his stomach. He looked really little and vulnerable, innocent. It scared Matt. He hadn't seen his brother in that way since they were little kids. It truly scared him.

~*~

Perromon watched with interest as the digidestined watched his prey. His grudge against TK hadn't always been a grudge, but revenge to Lord Myotismon. But he had made it a grudge, that damn TK, Perromon thought. Now he's mine, for keeps. And those digidestined can't stop me.

"Pachamon!" He snapped. The tree he was standing in wiggled as his henchman scrambled up. "It is time TK is mine."

"Yessir." Pachamon agreed. She was a small, purple, raccoon like digimon, with the attack of Pain Punch. It is weak, and is usually a henchman of a more powerful digimon.

"Now, we watch. Now, we watch." Perromon cackled.

Chapter Two

~*~

"Here, Joe." Sora handed Joe her hat, filled with cold water. Tai moved, making a space for him in the circle around TK . Matt sighed ruefully.

"Hey TK" Joe urged. He moaned, blinking. He finally opened his eyes. They were dull, no longer joyful and perky.

"Hi." TK said weakly.

"How 'yah feeling?" Joe asked.

"Okay. Not too good, not too bad." He replied. Joe took a cloth from the medical bag, soaking it in the water. He placed it on TK's forehead, then gave him a drink. TK fell asleep soon after. They got up, backing away.

"So now what?" Tai asked Joe.

"Now we wait. We'll let him rest." Joe said softly.

"We can't do anything?!" Tai demanded.

"It's not like there is a hospital around here." Joe snapped back. "Anyway, he just needs rest. I hope." They glanced at the sleeping boy, with a little girl kneeling beside him.

"I guess we stay here for the night." Tai concluded.

~*~

Night came quickly. They created sixteen beds, a large fire, and had a meal of berries and leaves. TK wouldn't eat anything, despite the other's coaxing. He was slowly getting better, at least that's how he appeared.

"You sure you don't want anything to eat?" Matt asked one more time. TK shook his head no. "Well, you look better."

"I feel better." He responded. Patamon landed on his stomach.

"That's good." The relieved digimon chirped. TK scratched him behind the wings.

The rest of the group were sleeping, except for Izzy, who was typing away on his laptop. He and Matt had the first watch, Tai and Sora second, and so on. Kari and TK didn't have watches. They never lasted the whole watch, no matter how hard they tried.

"Can I get up yet?" TK asked.

"No. At least not till tomorrow." Matt said in a warming tone. "Now go to sleep, squirt."

"But-" TK started to protest.

"Takeru, Now." Matt said patiently. TK sighed deeply.

"Good night." He said humbly. "Night Izzy!"

"Night." Izzy answered absent mindedly. Patamon snuggled against TK, as the two dozed off.

~*~

Joe and Mimi had the final watch. The sun was rising, and Mimi was whining. Another normal morning. Perromon watched contently.

"We need to give him one dose of this stuff, and that should do it." Perromon laughed to himself. He called for Pachamon, handing the little digimon a blue vile.

"Here." Perromon ordered. "I don't know how you do it, but get that little brat to drink this."

"Yessir." Pachamon said obediently, taking off.

~*~

"Let's get going!" Tai said energetically. The others followed. TK was much better, and very hyper. He, Kari, Patamon, and Gatomon sprinted ahead, stretching their legs.

"Slow down!" Matt said in a tolerable tone. He was glad they were back to their high spirited selves.

"At least their back to normal." Sora sighed. The others nodded in agreement. It was peaceful. . . . . for about ten minutes.

"TK!" Kari's voice rang out, followed by a yelp.

"Uh-Oh." Mimi stated.

"Let's go!" The group ran forward, entering a nearby clearing. Angemon and Angewomon were in full battle. TK and Kari weren't in sight.

"Look Out!" Angemon yelled. A ball of fire came at them. They screamed, jumping back. It came from a weird looking digimon, like a six-legged centaur.

"TK! Kari!" The brothers yelled. A ball of fire came at them again. They nimbly dodged it.

"Celestial Arrow!" Angewomon yelled. The arrow pierced the centaur, disintegrated it. Silence, for about two seconds.

"Kari! TK!" Sora noticed a tough of hair sticking up from nearby bushes.

"Do bushes grow hair?" She asked Joe. He shook his head no. They rushed over, pulling the bushes apart. Kari was kneeling over TK, covering her face with her hands. TK was laying, stomach down, lifeless.

Tai pushed threw, Matt at his side. He grabbed Kari's shoulders, scaring her. She jerked, turning.

"Tai!" She exclaimed, hugging him. "I, oh no." She was crying.

"TK!" Matt exclaimed, kneeling beside the lifeless boy. He feared the worse for his little brother. Joe took TK's pulse.

"He's alive." Joe said, his voice thankful. Matt rolled his brother onto his back. TK was unconscious, with a large scratch on his forehead.

"What do we do?!" Matt asked, kind of shrilly. TK coughed, groaning weakly. His breathing sped up, then relaxed.

"What happened Kari?" Tai asked his crying sister. She shook her head no. "Tell us to help TK"

She inhaled deeply. "Well, we ran ahead, faster than our digimon, and TK was a lot faster than me." She started. "It was fun till a digimon came."

"It was Pachamon. A small digimon, usually a henchman for a more powerful digimon." Gatomon informed. "It's only attack is Pain Attack, but his has sharp claws."

"Anyway, I thought it was cute, till I got close. From afar It looked like they were just talking," She choked back a sob. "But it was really hurting him. Pulling him down." Matt squeezed his brother's limp hand.

"By the time we got there, the little jerk was gone." Gatomon finished. "Then Centapeedmon attacked."

"I pulled him away, but he wouldn't wake up. He threw up some blue stuff, and they were fighting, and, oh." She covered her face with her hands. Tai hugged her. Matt pulled his hair back in distress. Sora gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"Wh-why would a Pachamon want to hurt TK?" Joe stammered.

"It didn't. Whoever ordered it to, did." Izzy informed. TK groaned, coughing, spitting up blue liquid. Matt rolled his brother onto his stomach so he wouldn't choke. His heart was racing. Why TK? He was already weak.

"What should we do?" Kari asked weakly, still pressed to her brother's body. Matt felt his brother's forehead, which was scalding. And his hands were like ice. His breathing was ecstatic in intervals. Joe pulled a cloth from his bag, handing it to Matt. He wiped TK's mouth. The jungle suddenly got a lot scarier.

"We need to get medicine." Joe told the group. "Or some kind of civilization." They all murmured in agreement.

"Look!" Izzy said suddenly. He was pointing to TK. The outline of the boy's crest was shining threw his sweater.

"I don't think that's good." Joe commented. Patamon collapsed.

"Patamon!" Gatomon cried out. Gomamon reached the digimon first.

"What is it, Patamon?" He asked.

"TK-so weak." Patamon wheezed. Tai picked him up.

"What is it, little guy?"

"I-TK, Ohh." The poor thing was to weak to speak.

"Looks like their both sick." Izzy said softly.

~*~

"Perromon!" Pachamon skittered up the tree. "Perromon!"

"What is it, you little. ." Perromon started.

"Sir, I gave it to the kid, sir," Pachamon stammered. "but he only drunk half of it, sir, sir, he threw up the rest, sir!" Pachamon flinched, waiting for the punishment.

"Why only half? Why didn't" The digimon said in a steely tone.

"Centarumon attacked!" It yelped, covering it's head. Perromon exhaled slowly.

"Well, this time, your excused." He said Cooley. "But this time, if he doesn't get a whole dose, your as flat as a digifly."

~*~

The group began to search for civilization. They feared it was life or death matter for TK and Patamon. Matt carried TK, and Tai carried Patamon. It was hot and humid, the jungle dense. Izzy and Joe scouted ahead on Kabuterrimon.

Patamon weighed seven or eight pounds, no problem to carry for long periods. TK, on the other hand, weighed about forty-five pounds, almost half of Matt's weight. The boy was running ragged. Not that he would admit it. He hid it well.

"I hope we find someplace soon." Sora said wishfully. She slowed down, allowing Matt to come to her side. "How's he doing?"

"He hasn't stirred, but he's alive." Matt said ruefully. He was sick with worry. TK coughed, wheezing. His hands were clasped on top of his stomach, Matt carrying him like a baby.

"He'll be fine." She said with fake confidence. "Really."

"Sure." Matt mumbled.

"Guys, we found a Tsnemon village!" Joe suddenly ran up to them, panting. "They said they'll help us."

"Tsnemon?" Matt asked. "Isn't that the first evolution after your digi-egg?" He asked Gabumon.

"Second, actually. " He answered. "They will surely help with TK and Patamon." He said happily. Joe lead the way to Kabuterrimon. Tai, Izzy, Kari, Mimi, and their digimon were already on board. soon they were on their way.

"Is that it?!" Tai asked over huge flapping wings. He was pointing to a large clump of greenish huts about a quarter mile away.

"Yes." Izzy replied. "The Tsnemon seem friendly." Tai nodded, not finding weird to be riding a very big digimon.

"Hang on, you guys!" Kabuterrimon warned. "It's going to be bumpy descent." Bumpy was the slight way of putting it. The whole group almost fell of as Kabuterrimon dove. Kari grabbed her brother's arm, alarmed.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Joe whined. Finally, they were on solid ground. Before they climb off Kabuterrimon, he returned to Tentomon. They fell in a heap.

"Ow." Mimi whined. Tentomon shook his head, coughing in the dust. They got to their feet, except for the ill members. They were taken into arms.

"Tsnemon," A squeaky voice yelled. "attack!"

"Huh?" Sora started, then was knocked off her feet. She hit the ground hard, almost knocking the air out of her.

"Tsnemon, stop!" Gabumon ordered. The fur balls froze at the familiar voice, but the digimon were tense. Tai pulled Sora to her feet, as Biyomon jumped ahead of them.

"Who are you?" A Tsnemon asked. Izzy stepped forward.

"Hi. Don't you remember us?" He asked as Tentomon hovered over his head. "We were here just a little while ago."

"Oh. You were?" It asked. Izzy nodded, coaxing the whole group into nodding. "oh. Sorry. Come on!" The Tsnemon escorted them to the village. The green huts were actually small, about Joe's height.

"These seemed a lot bigger up high." Kari noticed. Tai moved to Matt's side, checking in on TK Nothing had progressed in the boy, but Matt was out of breath and wheezing.

"Are you okay?" Tai asked him, knowing he would say yes.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Matt said half heartedly.

"Is this the digimon "TK" you asked us to help?" A small Tsnemon asked, indicating the boy in Matt's arms.

"He's not a digimon. He's a human. All of our friends are humans." Gomamon informed.

"Yeah. He's sick." Mimi said softly.

"Ohhhhh." They murmured as if they understood, which they obviously didn't. "This way." They lead them to a hut. Inside was a small bed, and a small chest of drawers. Matt layed his brother down on the bed, Patamon curling up beside him. Matt and Tai covered them with a wool blanket that was on the foot of the bed. TK moaned weakly, rolling onto his side.

"We will find food." A perky Tsnemon said happily. "Are you hungry?" They all said yes, except for Matt and Kari, who shook their heads no. Sora gave them side long looks.

"Come. We will eat." It lead them away, Matt and Gabumon remaining. Kari hesitated, but followed her brother.

~*~

"This is good." Joe commented. "Though I am probably allergic to it." They were eating something like oatmeal, and some kind of fruit. The Tsnemon were watching contently.

"I wonder what it is." Tai said, letting a piece of it splat into his bowl. Sora sighed, setting her bowl at her feet. She was worried about TK and Patamon, and Matt. Though he isn't sick now, he will if he continues to be so selfless, she thought.

"Sora?" Biyomon asked.

"Oh, yeah Biyo?" Sora answered, waking from her thoughts.

"You okay? Don't tell me your getting sick." She asked.

"I'm just fine. Tired, I guess." Sora told her, smiling.

"Stop it, Tai! Stop!" Kari yelped between giggles. Tai was tickling her, laughing.

"I knew I could get you to smile." Tai told her. They all laughed as Kari began tickling him. An uneasy silence swept over them. Izzy took out his laptop, beginning to type.

~*~

The digidestined spent the rest of the day helping the Tsnemon either collect food, or transport things from one side of the village to the other. Night came surprisingly fast.

The Tsnemon set the group up in two huts, side by side. Exhausted, they fell asleep as soon as the sun set.

Chapter Three

~*~

Tai woke. It was late. A dim candle lit his hut, making eerie shadows.

"Oy." He sighed. He turned to Kari-who wasn't there! Tai sat up quickly, alarmed. Gatomon was missing too. He got up, walking out of the hut. To his surprise, Sora was standing in the doorway of the hut across the way.

"Sora?" He asked.

"Shhhh." She whispered. "Look." He walked over, peering into the hut.

TK was lying asleep on the bed, Patamon sleeping on his head. Matt had one hand on his brother's chest, the other clasping his harmonica. Gabumon was leaning on his shoulder, also sleeping. Laying across his legs was Kari, Gatomon beside her, halfway under the bed. Beside them was a melted down candle, and three barely-touched plates of food. They all were peacefully sleeping. Matt looked totally innocent and scared, his shield of come backs and stealth thinking down.

"I know Matt is going to make himself sick. Gabumon does as Matt, and Kari blames herself for TK getting sick." Sora whispered. "And-and I'm afraid TK and Patamon aren't.."

"We need to think positive." Tai cut her off. "I-TK has to pull threw. He's strong. If he wasn't, he would've been gone long ago." Tai leaned on the door casing, looking away. Sora sighed.

"Tai," She started. Suddenly a little creature ran between them into the hut.

"What the. . . ." Tai asked softly. They entered quietly. The purple creature had skittered onto the bed, and was leaning over TK's head. "Hey!"

"Get away from him!" Sora cried. Matt woke up at the noise, getting up. Gabumon was alert instantly.

"It's Pachamon!" He exclaimed. Matt grabbed by the scruff of the neck.

"This is. ." Matt started. The Pachamon reached up, clawing Matt's hand. "Ow!" He dropped it. Gabumon grabbed it. By then, The whole group was awake. Mimi, Joe, Izzy, and the digimon stormed in. Kari held her knees, watching in confusion. Gatomon stood beside her.

"What are you doing here?" Gabumon demanded. A faint drip was heard, and only Sora detected it. It was a drop of Matt's blood hitting the wood floor.

"Matt," She rushed over. "Look at your hand." Three, two centimeters wide, incisions ran from the edge of his pinky to the center of his palm. His whole hand was covered in blood.

"What happened?" Joe asked. He saw the blood and turned white.

"What is that?" Agumon asked. The other digimon were wondering the same thing. Tai saw the blood.

"Joe, get the medical bag!" He ordered.

"It ain't that bad." Matt murmured, still half asleep. The Pachamon struggled. Too worried about Matt to care, Gabumon shoved him into the top drawer of the chest, shutting it tight.

"Oh, ew." Mimi repeated. Sora sat Matt on the foot of the bed. Joe came with the bag, handing it to Tai, who handed it to Sora.

"Oh Matt." Sora told him. They formed a semi-circle around them.

"Really, Sora it's-OW!" Matt started, then yelped in pain. Sora wiped the cuts. "I repeat, ow!

"What is that stuff?" Gatomon asked.

"What stuff?" Kari asked her.

"That red stuff."

"That's blood." Kari told her. "It's what's in side us humans." This was the first time any of the members had gotten badly wounded, at least with blood.

"Why does it hurt him?" Gabumon asked. "The blood."

"Ow! Sora, not so hard." Matt was now wide awake, and whining. Sora was trying to wrap the wounded hand, Matt not helping. But she tolerating it. At least he stopped being so selfless, she thought.

"The blood doesn't hurt." Izzy explained. "It's the getting of the blood that hurts. It's the body telling us that blood belongs inside. You get it so far?" Izzy asked the digimon. They remained silent.

"Uh. . . . . new approach." Izzy tried again. "Your skin is on the outside, and there's wires and stuff on the inside, right? Well pain is a way your body tells you to not do that again, right?" Once again they nodded. "Well, blood, for us, is saying don't do that again."

"Okay, but what about TK?" Biyomon asked. Everyone was listening now.

"What about TK?" Izzy asked.

"Well, he hurts, and he's not doing anything to not do." She asked.

"Uh. . . . . . ." He looked to the others for help.

"It also hurts when our bodies are fixing themselves." Sora supplied, tying off Matt's hand. He flinched.

"A lot." He mumbled. As if on cue, TK began coughing loudly. TK groaned, Patamon wheezed. Matt placed his good hand on his brother's forehead. "It's actually lower, I think."

"What happened to that Pachamon?" Gomamon asked.

"Oh." Gabumon opened the drawer, taking out the struggling digimon.

"Let me go!" It hissed. A tube of blue liquid fell from it's fur. "I must obey my orders."

"What are your orders?" Kari asked, picking up the tube and stepping forward. Gatomon pulled her back as Pachamon swiped, almost hitting her head.

"That's confidential." It pipped.

"Hey, this is the stuff TK threw up!" Kari realized, holding the tube up.

"Who is your boss?!" Tai demanded.

"I'm not telling." Pachamon sniffed. Gatomon flexed her claws in front of his face. "M-m-maybe I will."

"Well?" Gatomon purred.

"Master Perromon." It rendered. "He ordered me to give him another dose."

"Dose?" Matt asked.

"The blue liquid. Perromon calls it a dose." Izzy took the vile from Kari.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I don't know." Gatomon raised an eyebrow "Really!" It said nervously.

"You mean he's already had a dose? Is that what's making TK sick?" Joe asked. It nodded.

"Why is the name Perromon so familiar?" Sora wondered aloud.

"Da ja vu." Mimi agreed.

"Because that was the digimon who almost killed TK last week." Matt said solemnly. TK coughed blinking. They watched, hoping he'd wake up and smile innocently. He didn't wake, but rolled over onto his stomach.

"Well," No one knew what to do. They were all exhausted. In the end, Pachamon was in a cage, Matt laying on the bed with TK, and everyone else on the floor.

~*~

"Ohh." Patamon groaned. He rolled over onto TK's face.

"Patamon, get off." TK whined, rolling over. The sun was just rising and the air was chilly. TK rolled into Matt, who was in a deep sleep.

"Oh, it's impossible to sleep now." TK whispered. Patamon agreed. They quietly crawled off the bed, amazingly not waking any of the fifteen others. TK picked up his shoes and hat and sat in the doorway.

~*~

"Where is that Pachamon?" Perromon wondered aloud. He watched as the sun got ever so higher in the sky. He sighed. "I guess if I want it done, I'll have to do it myself."

~*~

Tai rolled over into Sora, his head two inches from hers. They opened their eyes symotaniously. They sat up, uttering embarrassed chuckles.

"Patamon, if you want to wear my shoes, I think you need bigger feet." TK's voice was heard. They turned to the doorway, and the shadows of a young boy and digimon.

"You think so?" Patamon asked.

"If their too big they give you blisters." TK informed.

"Blisters?"

"I don't know exactly what they are, but they hurt a whole lot."

"Oh." Patamon quirked.

"TK!" Sora cried. "Your all right!" She and Tai walked over, waking the others.

"Of course I am." TK said as if they were crazy. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"TK!" Matt hugged him as Mimi rubbed his head.

"Guys, what's going on?" He asked. "Did I forget something?"

"Yesterday you were sick, remember?" Joe asked the confused little boy.

"I was?" He asked.

"You were, and you don't remember?" Izzy analysed. "How odd."

"Really." A new voice agreed. They all turned, Matt and Tai grabbing their siblings. The digimon stepped forward. "What, you don't remember me?"

"Perromon!" TK gasped. Matt held him tighter.

"What do you want?" Izzy asked, stepping forward.

"Just for you to meet a few of my friends." It cooed. A blade covered digimon entered the doorway. It was twice the side of any of their digimon. It approached Izzy, who was separated from the group. He froze. Sora noticed and pulled him back as Tentomon jumped ahead of him.

"It's Blademon. His blades could remove your head from it's body in seconds." Agumon informed. "It's a mega-digimon." Two more Blademon stood behind it, and more behind that.

"Blademon, attack! Bring me the youngest, alive or dead!" Perromon ordered.

"No!" Tai yelled. All the digimon digivolved to the next level, almost crushing the digidestined. The hut crumbled.

"Couldn't you have waited till you were out of the hut?" Joe asked Ikkakumon, climbing onto his back.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"Aah!" Kari yelped. A blade was coming at her. TK slammed into her, pushing her out of the way, barely missing it himself. Angemon dove, grabbing them.

"Angemon!" TK cried happily. Battle raged below them. He dropped them off wards from the fighting. Matt and Tai saw and ran over.

"The two of you find some place to hide." Tai ordered, panting.

"But" TK started to protest.

"But nothing! Go!" Matt ordered tersely. TK hesitated, but took Kari's hand and began to run. They ran as fast as they could.

Garurumom ran over, changing into Gabumon.

"Gabumon!" Matt yelled. He sat him up.

"I'm to weak. . . ." Gabumon panted. Blades landed on either side of them. They looked up.

"Look out!" Izzy yelled to them from on top of Kabuterrimon. More blades.

"No!" Tai yelled in terror. Gabumon and Matt dove, one blade pinning Matt's shirt to the ground.

"Gabumon!" He yelped.

~*~

"Where are we going to go?" Kari asked. TK sighed.

"I don't know." He told her. "But there hasta be somewhere." She tightened her hand's grip on his. "Don't worry, Kari. It's going to be alright." TK sounded more confident than he was.

The forest was getting deeper and denser. The leaves on the ground were going up to their knees. It was hard to walk threw.

"Someone should rake these." TK commented.

"Really." Kari agreed. They became silent. Kari tripped over something, but managed to keep balance. "Watch~"

"Aah" TK fell.

"Out." She finished.

"Ow!" TK yelped. "Help me." She kneeled beside him. "It hurts." She pushed the leaves away. A hunter trap was clamped on the boys foot. It made a blood rim around his ankle.

"Oh my~TK!" She gasped. She pressed the sides, releasing his foot. He fell flat on his face.

"Ow." TK stated. Kari pulled him up, catching as he lost balance.

"Can you walk on it?" Kari asked.

"Yeah." He told her, putting pressure on it. He cried out in pain. "No." He said sheepishly.

"Here. Lean on me." She offered.

"You sure?" TK asked.

"Come on she urged." He wrapped his arm on her shoulder. She did the same to him.

"Okay. One, two, one." TK counted. They stepped in tune, going deeper into the woods.

~*~

"Aaah!" Matt yelled.

"Nooo!" Tai screamed.

"Agumon, warp-digivolve to. . . . . . Wargreymon!" Suddenly a protective shielded arm blocked several blades from Matt and Gabumon. Gabumon lifted the blade from Matt's shirt, freeing him. A blade got by.

"Gabumon, warp-digivolve to. . . . . Metelgarurumon!" The knife shattered into a million pieces.

"Way to go!" Matt exclaimed, climbing onto Metelgarurumon's back. The Blademon ran.

"Yeah!" They yelled and cheered.

~*~

It was late afternoon. TK and Kari was getting worried. Where was their brothers? And the others? TK kept telling himself to be brave for Kari.

"We'll find a place soon." He told her.

"Okay." She answered with no confidence at all. They walked a little longer, coming to a cave in which the entrance was covered with bushes.

"Told ya." TK pipped. They pushed threw, struggling with the bushes.

"Oh, it's cold in here." Kari whined. TK agreed. They sat two-thirds of the way in, huddling together. "So now what?"

"They'll come looking for us, and find us. They told us to hide, didn't they?" TK told her. She nodded. TK brought his knees to his chest and hugged them.

"Listen!" Kari suddenly snapped. They froze. Footsteps were coming closer. Kari grabbed TK's arm. They could see red eyes glaring at them.

"Oh no." TK whispered, his blue-grey eyes large. They shuddered as the creature stepped out of the shadows. Both of the young children had their eyes closed tight. A strong hand grabbed TK's arm, lifting him from the ground, still sitting indian style

"TK!" Kari yelled.

"No, let me go-Leomon?!" TK yelped. His pounding heart slowed. The familiar digimon chuckled.

"Sorry if I scared you." Leomon apologized. Kari kept a firm grip on her companion, as she had never met Leomon personally before.

"Leomon, what are you doing here? In a cave?" TK asked.

"This is my home, TK. What are you and. . . .isn't it Kari?" Leomon asked. She nodded shyly. TK explained how they had gotten there. Leomon wrapped TK's ankle with a thin cloth.

"I hope they find u~" Kari started. Suddenly a blade crashed into the cave. They shrieked, Leomon growling. TK stood up, ten feet from the others.

"TK!" Kari screamed. She watched in horror as stones fell all around the boy. She ran over, grasping his arm. Rocks crashed beside them.

"TK! Kari!" Leomon yelled.

~*~

"How far could they have gone?" Gatomon demanded. They kept walking, calling Kari and TK's names. They had been missing for many hours. Matt and Tai had began to be mute. They both had guilt and worry on their backs. Sudden screaming and crashing came from ahead.

"Kari." Tai stated.

"TK." Matt echoed. Gatomon and Patamon took off. After a moments hesitation, the rest.

~*~

"TK! Kari!" Leomon yelled. The cave was collapsing. The children screamed. Two angels suddenly zoomed in.

"Angewomon!" Kari yelled happily. TK, who was watching their surroundings, shoved her out from a falling stone as it crashed down.

"TK!" Angemon yelled. He grabbed him as Angewomon grabbed Kari. The five of them narrowly escaped, as the cave crumbled down.

"That was close." TK exulted. They flew high in the sky. Below the digidestined cheered below.

"Yes!" Matt yelled. Then he noticed a shining blade coming toward the group in the sky. "LOOK OUT!"

"No!" Sora cried. Biyomon digivolved into Birdramon, but it was to late. The blade struck Angemon in the stomach, instantly changing him to Patamon.

"TK!" Patamon yelled. TK fell from the sky. "No!" The little digimon took off after him.

"Cawww!" Birdramon screamed. She stopped the coming blades with her Meteor Blade.

"Ahh!" TK continued to fall. Patamon grabbed the boys book bag, but his weight pulled him down. They screamed.

"Aahhh~umf!" They crashed into Angewomon, who nimbly caught them. Angewomon suddenly changed to Gatomon, and they all fell, crashing into the back of Ikkakumon.

Chapter Four

~*~

"Ohh. Ow." Kari moaned. She opened her eyes half way. Her back hurt a lot, and she had a killer headache. A warm palm brushed the hair from her face. She opened her eyes, seeing her brother staring down at her. "Hi."

"Hi Hikari." He said warmly. Kari calked an eyebrow. Tai never calls her by her full name.

"What is it?" She asked. Kari sat up. They were in a cave. The others were watching them bleakly. Gatomon sat beside them. "What?"

"Well~" Tai started. Patamon flew in, panting. He collapsed into Mimi's arms.

"No-no sign of either of them." He whimpered.

"Poor Patamon." Mimi cooed. Kari looked around. Matt, Gabumon, and little TK was missing.

"W-where's TK and Matt?" Kari asked in a wobbly voice.

"They disappeared." Izzy said softly.

"What?" She asked in disbelief. "They can't be." The others remained silent. She knew it was true. She bit her lower lip, wanting to cry. As if her knew, Patamon flew over, slamming into her. She hugged him tightly.

~*~

"Ow. Gabumon, where are we?" Matt asked. They were in a dark place. A very, very, dim light was in the corner. You could barely see it.

"I don't know." Gabumon answered.

"Is anyone else here?" Matt asked.

"Uh-huh.." A voice answered. Matt recognized it.

"TK?" He asked.

"Where are we?" TK sounded as if he had been crying. "Where are the others?"

"It's okay, TK." Matt reassured. "Is Patamon with you?"

"No. I'm by myself." He sniffled.

"No your not, TK." Gabumon stated.

"No one else is in here with me. It's so small." TK's voice was soft a wavering.

"Where are you?" Matt demanded. He was getting scared. 'Small in here'? The room was pretty roomy. Where was the poor kid?

"I think it's a cage." TK answered. "I'm, I'm really scared. It's so cold."

"Hold on, TK." Matt urged. Then to Gabumon: "We need a light." Suddenly a blue flame lit the room. Gabumon handed Matt the newly created torch. He got up, looking around. He spotted TK in the corner in a small cage.

"Matt!" He yelped. Matt rushed over, grabbing the lock. It was a combination lock. He wouldn't be able to get it unlocked for hours. Gabumon walked over.

"Allow me." He stated. In one twist of his arm the lock was gone. Matt pulled his brother out. They hugged.

"Where are we?" TK asked.

"I really don't know." Matt told him. "Gabumon, you have any idea?"

"No. I wonder how TK got in there." He wondered.

"Last thing I remember is falling with Kari and our digimon." TK remembered. "Then I woke up here."

"All I remember is watching you fall." Matt told him.

"Me too." Gabumon agreed

"Oh, how touching." A voice cooed. Matt raised the torch in the direction of the voice. No one was there.

"What the~" Matt started.

"Ahh!" TK exclaimed. Matt turned, seeing his brother jump forward. The startled boy moved close to Matt. The cause stepped from the shadow. It was a larger, more metal covered Perromon.

"Perromon!" Gabumon growled.

"That's Metalperromon." It corrected.

"You digivolved." TK exclaimed.

"Thanks to you." Metalperromon hummed. "Namely, your digivice." TK felt his book bag strap.

"It's gone." He gasped. The boy felt his neck, pulling out his crest. "At least this isn't."

"It will now." Metalperromon snapped, stepping toward him. Matt stepped in front of TK.

"Don't worry TK. Got you covered." Matt told him. Gabumon stepped ahead of them.

"TK? Your parents didn't even give you a full name. Hah." Metalperromon laughed. TK snuffed, holding his crest tightly. He inhaled deeply, and stepped forward, next to Gabumon.

"For your information, I do have a full name." He said softly.

"TK." Matt warned. Sudden pain, horrible pain, engulfed the boy.

~*~

Sora and Izzy watched the children sleep. The rest of the group was searching for food. Both TK and Kari were knocked out in the fall.

"Aaah!" Kari sat up, gasping. Seconds after, TK did the same. They both held their bodies tightly.

"TK! Kari! It's alright." Izzy said over their gasping.

"Where's my brother?" They said in unison.

"Matt, Tai, get in here." Sora called from the cave's opening. Both of the young children were sweating and wide eyed. Matt and Tai came in.

"Kari." Tai hugged her. He could feel her body trembling. Matt noticed the same in TK as he held his shoulders.

"Guys, it's okay." Matt reassured. They quickly told about the dreams they had, which were amazingly the same with swapping of characters. Matt noticed they kept holding their chests. He asked if it hurt.

"Yeah." TK said softly. The boy was holding his knees so tight his knuckles had turned white. Both older brother's could tell they were badly frightened.

"It was just dreams. Perromon didn't digivolve, and we're all together." Tai reassured. They looked up at him with large, fear-filled eyes. Eyes with no sparkle or cheer. "Just a dream." They remained silent. Tai turned to Matt.

"Come on, guys. It's okay." Sora told them. Kari held her knees TK style. They were more scared than ever before.

"Hey guys, I think I figured something out." Izzy said from his laptop. "Why TK and Kari have been connecting." They group walked over, Tai and Matt pulling their siblings along.

"Tell us." Joe said, cleaning his glasses.

"Well, I believe their first related threw their digimon. Not at their normal level, but as Angemon and Angewomon. They are the same creatures almost, except for genders."

"What does that have to do with Kari?" Gatomon asked.

"Well, when we are scared or in danger, our digimon knows without us telling. You feel it. So if we can be part of our digimon, we can be connected to another threw that digimon." Izzy explained.

"Then how come this is starting now, and not then, if you know what I mean." Mimi asked.

"Well, if you let me finish." Izzy said in a annoyed tone. "Well, when Perromon had his first attack on little TK~"

"I'm not little." TK interrupted.

"~he was saved by a bright white light. It was very familiar and I've finally remembered where I have seen it before." Izzy continued. "Kari. Kari was engulfed in the same bright light at the battle of Machinedramon, remember?"

"Oh yeah. It made me stronger." Gabumon remembered.

"Well, I hypothesize that since Kari used her crest to save TK, which were originally supposed to be just for Kari and Gatomon, she and TK had been entwined into one crest/digimon team, like a crest of "Hopeful Light" or something like that." Izzy typed a quick line and sighed. " So I fear if TK and Patamon gets ill, so dose Kari and Gatomon. So if Perromon attacks TK, it may affect Kari as well. Hopefully we never find out, for the sake of Patamon, Gatomon, Kari, and TK."

"I don't get it." Sora stated. "We've all saved TK at one time or another. Why aren't we connected?"

"We, as person and digimon, have saved him. Kari did with out thinking or on her own free will. Her crest did it naturally." Izzy explained. TK looked down at his feet, his mud caked shoes. It's all my fault, and I dragged Kari into it. It's my fault, he thought to his self. His crest began to glow dimly. Izzy immediately noticed.

"Look." He stated. "Last time that happened it wasn't good." A brighter light came from Kari's crest. It made TK's crest look dull. At least she's stronger.

"Well, I don't feel any different." Kari told them. "How 'bout you TK?" He didn't answer. I can't believe I'm the cause of it all. "TK?"

"Huh? What?" TK asked. Matt immediately placed a hand on his forehead. Tai did the same to Kari.

"Fever." Matt stated.

"Faint one here." Tai agreed.

"I feel fine." Gatomon stated.

"Me too." Patamon agreed. TK coughed, pulling away from Matt. He rested his weight on his knees. He suddenly felt horrible. Kari became worried instantly.

"TK?" Matt asked. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." TK stated. Nobody believed him. The boy was pale quickly. Matt had him sit down. He held his knees, and Patamon landed on his head. The poor digimon didn't know what to do for the boy.

"Come on. It's the best for the both of you to rest." Joe told them. A loud crash suddenly came from outside. They all froze. Another crash.

"What is that?" Kari asked.

"We'll find out. You guys stay here." Matt stated. "And Patamon and Gatomon."

"But~" They protested.

"Stay." All the others said in union. Kari sighed, sitting, the older children leaving.

"Sorry." TK mumbled.

"It's not your fault." Patamon told him. Gatomon and Kari nodded in agreement. TK grabbed his stomach as it burst with pain. He groaned weakly.

"TK!" Kari forced him into laying down. He looked up at her with soft blue eyes. She stroked his hair as he started to drift from consciousness. Light came from behind them. Patamon and Gatomon jumped ahead of them, fighting stance. It was a projection.

"Sorry if I startled you." A familiar voice stated.

"Genaii!" Kari asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to warn you. How is TK?" Genaii asked.

"He's sick again. He's unconscious." Gatomon told him. A see threw hand stroked the boy's head. He groaned weakly. Patamon sighed.

"I think I know what the elixir has done to this young digidestined." Genaii stated. "I believe his thought are being fed to his crest." They gave him confused looks. "He has the crest of Hope. I believe he's running out of hope, and positive thinking. That's what's making him ill." Genaii sighed.

"You means his guilty thoughts are-are making him sick?" Kari stammered. "What if he keeps thinking bad? I mean, guilty."

"I don't know. This is the first group of digidestined I've associated with." Genaii told her. "Hopefully the elixir will wear off." Kari pulled a vile of blue liquid from her pocket. "The elixir."

"Well. if TK going threw this, he can't be by himself." She stated.

"Kari! NO!" Gatomon cried, diving. It was too late. Kari had swallowed it all, and passed out. "Go get the others! Now!" She ordered Patamon. He flew. She turned to the side-by-side children. "Kari! TK! Come on guys, wake up! Please? Come on!" She shook them in vain. Kari coughed, vomiting the liquid. Gatomon rolled her onto her stomach. Kari opened her eyes, suddenly awake. She coughed, turning to TK.

"TK? TK!" She cried out. She pushed the boy's shoulders. He groaned, opening his eyes. They were sparkling. "Oh TK!" She pulled him up, hugging him. He cautiously returned the hug, not as strong.

"What happened~TK!" Matt came in, out of breath. TK gave his innocent smile.

"Kari!" Tai came in seconds after. "Your alright! What is Genaii doing here?" He demanded. They stared for a few moments, before they realized they were still hugging. They released, laughing softly. The group ran over, ecstatic. Both brothers placed hands on foreheads.

"No fever! Your better. How?" Matt asked his little brother. TK shrugged.

"Kari, what happened. Gatomon told me you drunk that vile." Tai asked.

"I did." She stated. "But I don't remember anything." She stated.

"Me either." TK nodded. Kari put an arm around his shoulder.

"Okay, your not telling us something." Izzy said in a happy tone. "But I'm pretty sure something happened." They remained silent, but kept smiling. That was it. They began hugging the young children and laughing. Patamon landed on his TK's head and laughed.

A weak and bruised TK and Kari remained close from then on. They never did say just what happened, though the rest of the group asked many times. It was their little secret, the two of them. But there are many more adventures in their future. . . . . . .. . . . . .