Chapter 2: A Strange Meeting

"Ah!" Iris jumped away from the TV as Davis and Veemon fell out of it.

"Wh-where did you come from?" Iris cautiously moved around the two to Polarmon.

"Ouch…" Davis stood up rubbing his hind quarters, he glanced at Iris and Polarmon then down at Veemon, who was in the same pain as he was.

"Who are you?" Iris asked. Gathering her courage she stood to her full height and glared at the intruder.

            "…I'm Davis Motomiya, and you are?"

"Iris Yuki… and this is Polarmon." She motioned to the white bear at her side.

            "Polarmon, the Polar bear digimon. She's the fastest swimming land digimon, so she can catch you on land or in sea. I'd watch out for her icicle breath if I were you." Veemon said helpfully.

            "Thanks, I'll remember that…" Davis said sarcastically, "anyway, how did you get in the digiworld, or are you a digidestined?"

            "A what?" She asked, surveying Davis in confusion.

            "You're not a digidestined?" Davis asked, he rolled his eyes back into his head and scratched the back of his head ponderously, "of course your not, only really good people like me can be a digidestined."

            "Whatever…" Iris muttered, "Anyway, where did you come from?"

            "I'm from Japan."

            "You're kidding," Iris replied sarcastically, eyeing Davis dangerously. "What I want to know is how you came into the digiworld."

            "Huh? I used my digivice." He held out his digivice for her to inspect.

            "You mean you can get back to the real world?" She asked, suddenly interested in the conversation.

            "Well yeah, but I don't really want to." He muttered

            "Why not, why would you want to be stuck in this death-trap?"

            "I'd rather be in this 'death-trap' than to face Kari and all the others in the real world." Iris stared, dumbfounded, "You wouldn't understand, no-one does."

            "But, why would you not want to go to the real world?" She asked Polarmon, Polarmon shrugged, "Can you take me to the real world?"

            Iris turned and scooped both of Davis' hands up in her own. Her eyes shone noticeably, but whether from tears or excitement Davis couldn't tell. What was wrong with this girl anyway? He didn't understand what was so exciting about the real world, it was just like the digital world but less interesting.

            "I-I guess so, just not now, I need time to think."

            "I can't believe it Polarmon I'm going back!" Iris grabbed both of Polarmon's front paws in her hands and attempted some sort of strange dance with the unfortunate digimon.

            "But Iris…" Polarmon interrupted, trying her best to remove her paws from Iris' grasp, "If you go I'll never see you again."

            "That's not true," Veemon said, "Digimon can go into the real world, just like humans can come into the digiworld." Iris hopped next to Polarmon.

            "You hear that Polarmon! You can come too, to the real world!" She bent down and hugged Polarmon tightly.

            However, their celebrations were interrupted by a loud beeping noise. While they had been dancing Davis had walked over to the pool of water.

            "Woah, my digivice is going crazy." He exclaimed holding up his digivice. A thin beam of light shot from the digivice and disappeared under the water.

            "What does that mean?" Iris asked walking over and peering into the pool.

            "I don't know but I'm going to check it out." Davis stripped off his shirt and dived into the pool.

            "I can't see him anywhere." Veemon yelled, panicking.

            "Don't worry, look." She plunged her hand into the water and let Veemon observe where the water reached her wrist only the reflection of the crystals remained.

            "It disappeared." He observed.

            "It's crazy hey," she pulled her hand out and dried it on her pants, "It's like a reflection pool."

            Davis' head popped up from under the water, and he gasped for air.

            "This water is freezing." He said swimming over to the edge.

            "What did you find?" Veemon asked him.

            "Look." He placed an aqua coloured digivice on the ground before climbing out himself.

            "A digivice." Veemon pointed out, "I wonder who's it is."

            Davis shrugged and pulled his shirt back into place.

            "Maybe it's hers." He said pointing to Iris.

            "Hey, I have a name you know." Iris pouted.

            "Sorry," He mumbled, "anyway why don't you try it out?" He picked the digivice up and handed it to Iris. As soon as it touched her skin it began to glow.

            "Is it supposed to glow like this, or is it broken?" Iris held it in both hands, her face bathed in the silver glow of the digivice, her blue eyes reflecting the crystal clear light making them glow in return.

            "Try it out." Davis nudged her side. 

            "How?"

            "Polarmon, try to digivolve." Veemon said.

            "How am I supposed to do that?" Polarmon asked staring at the digivice, "You make it sound like eating cake or something."

            "Just gather all your energy, the light from the digivice should help you." Veemon said guiding Polarmon.

            Polarmon squeezed her eyes shut and scrunched her nose comically. She began to glow a faint white light, the same colour the digivice emitted. The light brightened until all they could see was Polarmon's outline against the intense glare.

            "Yes, she's doing it." Veemon exclaimed.

            "Polarmon digivolve to…" the light slowly began to fade, and Polarmon could once again be seen, hunched slightly, her eyes still squeezed shut.

            "What happened?" Veemon asked, confused.

            "I don't know, is that digivolving?" Polarmon asked surveying each of her limbs carefully.

            "Well, no," Veemon said sympathetically, "But don't worry you'll get the hang of it.

            Iris let out a small yelp, as the white light that surrounded her grew until she was completely consumed by it.

            "Iris!" Polarmon yelled squinting against the blinding light," What's happening?"

            "I don't know." Davis shielded his eyes with his arm and groped his way towards Polarmon. The light continued to grow until it took on the shape of a huge bird. It's great wingspan touched the tops of the cave and the silhouette of it's head was punctured by two gaping black holes. It shrieked a most awful sound that shook the very walls of the cave.

            "What digimon is that?" Davis asked, awestruck

            "I don't know… but it doesn't look very happy." Polarmon commented backing slowly away from it.

            "Who disturbs me?" A booming voice asked.

            "Who are you?" Polarmon yelled to the blinding white bird.

            Below the bird Iris walked into view, still clutching the glowing digivice in both hands. Her eyes were glazed and her face pale. She opened her mouth wide and begun talking in a deep booming voice.

            "I am Geniemon." Its voice seemed to come from all corners of the cave, and then echo off each wall making it seem louder and more ominous than it should have.

            The huge glowing bird began to change shape again, and took on the form of a white spirit whose impossibly black eyes contrasted vividly with the purest white of its form.

            "Who wakes me?" Iris said again.

            "Davis, should I digivolve?" Veemon asked frantically gaping at the menacing spirit. Davis immediately pulled out his D3.

            "Digiarmor energize!" Davis yelled holding his D3 up.

            Polarmon watched in amazement as a shock of white light shot from the D3 and surrounded Veemon. The light was so blinding Polarmon had to divert her eyes, Veemon was lost within it.  

            "Veemon digivolve to… Flamedramon, the fire of courage." The light receded and where the small blue dragon had once stood now an intimidating armour plated warrior appeared

            "That's digivolving?" Polarmon asked, mesmerized

            "No time to talk, "Flamedramon said jumping into the air, "Fire Rocket"

            A huge ball of fire appeared in the warriors' hand which he hastily threw at the genie; it recoiled in pain but immediately recovered.

            It glared at Flamedramon with those soulless black eyes and started to change its form again. This time it took on the form of a Flamedramon, exactly like Veemon but with fathomless black eyes and an outstanding white radiance.

            "Fire rocket!" they yelled in unison. Together, they sent identical balls of fire hurtling at each other. The two fire balls collided with one another, causing a ground shaking explosion. Flamedramon jumped back and attacked again, as did Geniemon. Again, a huge explosion resulted.

            "Flamedramon aim for the digivice!" Davis yelled over the ear splitting din.

            Flamedramon nodded at Davis and aimed an attack straight at the digivice in Iris' hands, unfortunately Geniemon intercepted it.

            "Davis, he keeps blocking my attacks." Flamedramon yelled, shooting another attack at the digivice. Again Geniemon blocked, and countered.

            "Just keep fighting!" Davis ran over to Polarmon who was staring at Iris in a stupefied shock.

            "Polarmon!' Davis shouted, Polarmon turned and started at Davis helplessly

            "Iris…" she whimpered, "There's nothing I can do."

            "Polarmon!" Davis yelled over the sounds of battle, "Polarmon, go and get the digivice."

            Polarmon stared at Davis for a moment, the resolve building up behind her eyes. She nodded grimly and bounded into action. Avoiding the two battling Flamedramon's with a catlike grace she leapt into the air and snatched the digivice out of Iris' hands with her mouth.

            Geniemon let out a spine tingling wail as it shifted it's form back to the original wispy wraith. A great wind whipped through the cave and the Geniemon was sucked back into the digivice. Iris' eyes returned to their normal shade before she fell limply to the floor.   

            "Iris!" Polarmon yelled, dropping the digivice and running over to her trainers' aid.

            She nudged Iris' face with her paw, attempting to wake her. She was successful as Iris' eyes fluttered open.

            "Iris, you're okay." Polarmon observed, tears building up at the corners of her eyes, "I thought you were a goner."

            Iris smiled and gave a weak laugh, "You underestimate me." She whispered

            Polarmon nudged the girl with her nose once before turning to Davis and bowing her head solemnly.

            "Thank you, Davis, thank you Veemon. Without your help I don't know what I would have done. We are in you're debt." Davis and Veemon both blushed

            "It was nothing," They said in unison 

            "What happened?" Iris asked, sitting up and rubbing her head; "I only remember being surrounded by this light and then…"

            "It doesn't matter, I'll tell you later, I'm just glad your okay." Polarmon whispered nudging Iris once again with her nose.

            "Hey guys I think I found the problem." Davis said, picking up the aqua digivice and surveying it closely, "I think it's this gold thing." He pointed to a small golden emblem stuck on the back of the digivice.

            "If I can get this off…" He said pulling at the emblem; it came off with a small clink.

            Davis looked it over intently, it was quite pretty. Engraved with small yet indefinable symbols, it glowed with a strange white light. He couldn't read the symbols, yet somehow he could guess what they might have said. It didn't really matter anyway, if he kept it, it might somehow unleash itself again. He ran his eyes across it once more before throwing it into the pool. With a quite 'plunk' the emblem was gone.

**

"Hello Mrs. Kamiya, yes, I was wondering if you've seen Davis? … You haven't…well if you see him could you please tell me… thank you …good bye."

            "Any luck?" Jun asked.

            "No he's not there either." Davis' mother replied

            "Where could that little brat be?" Jun asked clenching and unclenching her fist

            "Jun, do you have idea why Davis would run away like this?" Her mother asked. "Has he been having any trouble at school or anything?"

            "I don't know I don't have any idea why he would do something like this." Jun replied half-heartedly.

            Jun hugged her mother as she started to cry.

**

"Mistress Witchmon, we have destroyed most digimon villages in the area." The Bakemon delivering the news materialized in front of Witchmon's throne.             "Very good." She said in her croaky, ageless voice, "this is exactly what I expected from you."             "But…" The Bakemon continued, "We have learned that the digidestined are also in the area."             "What?" Witchmon asked, her eyes turning from a placid yellow to fiery red, "Why didn't you destroy them?"             "Well… we must be cautious of the digidestined…" The Bakemon trailed off.             "What do you mean 'be cautious' of the digidestined? Are you implying that I cannot defeat the digidestined?"             "No mistress Witchmon… it's just I have learned they are very powerful… and you know what happened to the other dark lords…." Witchmon's eyes lit up with rage.             "So are you saying I am the same as those pushovers?"             "No mistress Witchmon…" the Bakemon was cut off by a crackling sound.             Witchmon had formed a ball of blue fire in the palm of her hand. She threw it at the unfortunate Bakemon. There was a terrible howl and the Bakemon was disintegrated.             "Now let that be a lesson to all you other digimon who try to defy me." She screeched through the halls of her castle. Every digimon in earshot cringed with fear of their powerful leader. **

"So can you tell me what happened before?" Iris asked Davis across the fire.

Davis' eyes didn't shift from the fire when he replied.

            "You were possessed," He glanced at her; from the light of the fire her face appeared a sickly orange and her eyes a murky sea green, "You were possessed by Geniemon. Flamedramon tried to save you but he wasn't strong enough…" He trailed off shifting his gaze back to the fire.

            "So what happened?"

            "Polarmon saved you, she grabbed to digivice out of your hands, and after that Geniemon just disappeared."

Iris looked over to Polarmon, she was sleeping snugly next to the fire, and Veemon was using her as a makeshift pillow.

            "Did she digivolve?"

            "No… I'm guessing Geniemon stopped her, but if you try again it should work."

            They sat in silence for many minutes. Iris broke the silence.

"Are we going to go back to the real world tomorrow?"  Davis didn't answer her, "Davis?"

            "Hmm?" His eyes met her across the fire, his eyes shone with unshed tears. She decided to drop the subject.

            "Nothing… I'm going to go to sleep now, goodnight." She lay down next to the fire, trying the best she could to make herself comfortable.

            Davis watched as she shifted on the hard ground. She somehow reminded him of Kari. Although they look nothing alike, and they acted completely different, he couldn't help but think of Kari every time he looked at her.

            He gave a long, tired sigh. Kari. Of course he would think of her, he had liked her for so long. Three years is a long time to have a crush on someone, especially someone who obviously didn't have even the slightest ounce of respect or love to even consider you. Why did she have to hurt him like that, the way her and TK were so close drove him mad. She said they were 'best friends' but Davis knew better than that. He knew they liked each other, maybe even loved each other.

            She always told him there was nothing there but she couldn't fool Daisuke Motomiya. Although he knew she thought he was dumb, everybody thought he was dumb. The way they had been treating him recently showed how dumb they thought he was.

            They'd always leave him out of their little outings and gatherings. Did they think they could hide it? Every time he'd walk into the room their conversations would stop and they'd all greet him, with their mocking eyes and cynical smirks. No one was that stupid not to notice, not even him.

            Well from now on it wouldn't be like that, from now on he was going to show them his true self. First, however, he had to get over Kari. She was the basis of his demeaning little charade; if he could get rid of her then he wouldn't be bothered by his primitive need to impress her.

            He told himself over and over again that he was over Kari, and he almost half believed himself. That was until he looked over to Iris. Memories of Kari came flooding back into his head. Why was it she reminded him of Kari? Was it because she had the same soft smile? Was it because of the way she talked?

            No that wasn't it at all…

            He thought of all the reasons he liked Kari. She was sweet and caring (to other people) She was beautiful, anyone could see that. She had the softest eyes, softest skin. Her hands were always warm, her smile so inviting.

            On the contrary he didn't know anything about this Iris girl except that she was weird and possibly insane. She could even be dangerous; he wouldn't have the slightest idea. Up close he could see her hands were tough and calloused, from years of hardship. She could have been a farm girl? Her eyes sparkled with knowledge she knew she shouldn't know. With years of pain and blood, and sights she shouldn't have seen. Her smile was thin and devious, almost forced or mocking. Her hair, while it would have looked respectable brushed and washed, was unruly and dirty. How long had she been in the digital world?

            There was evidence, comparing her to Kari was madness. They were completely opposite. If they ever met he was sure they wouldn't get along, not in a lifetime. Maybe it wasn't so much the fact that she looked or acted like Kari. Maybe it was the simple truth that she was the exact opposite of her that attracted him so.

            He glanced at her once, over the fire. She looked a lot better in the sunlight, the orange fire glow made her look sickly and orange. Maybe this is what he needed to get over Kari, a distraction. Iris was the perfect candidate. The exact opposite of Kari, she would do perfectly.

            He lay down in the hard dirt and smiled slightly before sleep overcame him. This is exactly what he needed.

**

"Hey, Yolie, did Davis' mum call you last night?" Kari walked up to the counter of Yolie's shop. There weren't any customers right now but she still managed to look like she had too much to do. It didn't take much for her to get distracted, though, she immediately stopped cleaning the counter to greet Kari.

"Yeah she did actually, he didn't come home last night." Yolie dropped the rag she had been using to clean the counter and took off her apron, "What I want to know is why he would just up and run away like that?"

"I don't know…" Kari mumbled, staring past Yolie in a slightly dreamy way.

"He never seemed like the kind of person who would run away, especially before a soccer game." Yolie continued, removing her bandanna her wiping her forehead with it, "It's not like he has a reason or anything."

"I think I know why he… ran away." Kari started suddenly, blinking owlishly.

"You do?" Yolie surveyed Kari closely. Though she tried to hide it, Yolie could clearly see the guilt in her friend's eyes.

"It's my fault that he ran away." Kari whispered confirming Yolie's suspicions.

"How could it be your fault?" Yolie asked sardonically, "He's probably got some idiot scheme in mind to make us all feel sorry for him. Don't go blaming yourself for Davis' stupidity.

"It's not," She shook her head defiantly "It's all my fault."

Yolie shook her head and laid a hand on Kari's shoulder

"He wanted me to go and watch him play soccer, but I told him I had to watch TK play basketball. It's all my fault." She shook her head again and balled her fists up beneath her chin, "and now he's out there, somewhere. He could be in trouble, he could be dead." Kari's voice took an a slightly hysteric note and her eyes widened

"Don't be stupid Kari, it's not your fault." Yolie said gingerly patting Kari's shoulder, "I somehow don't think he would have run away just because you blew him off for the, what, seven hundredth time?"

"But I can't help feel partly responsible; I've been ignoring him for the past few weeks. I know how badly he wants my attention, he's like a puppy. Doesn't he realise I need my space?" Kari looked pleadingly at Yolie, as if she held all the answers to the universe, "But still, I feel like I've let him down."

"I feel kinda bad myself," Confessed Yolie, "He came in here to help a couple of nights ago and I kicked him out because he was messing up the cash register."

"I guess maybe if we paid more attention to him he wouldn't have done this, I can only imagine how his parents feel. He may be a brat sometimes but that doesn't matter, he's still out friend. I hope he's okay." Kari trailed off and they both lapsed into a ponderous silence.

"We really shouldn't have been so mean." Yolie said. They fell into silence once again.

"I guess we shouldn't really worry, "Kari started after a few painful moments of silence, "I mean, he doesn't have any money, so how far could he go?"

            "More importantly, where would he go?" Again the two girls trailed off into silence. They sat for many moments in the thoughtful silence, both staring mesmerised at the counter top. Suddenly, both girls were hit with an epiphany like lightening. They both looked up from the counter into each others eyes.

"You don't think…" Yolie started

"He could have gone to the digiworld?" Kari finished.

Simultaneously, they smiled at each other and headed for the door at a run. Yolie's mother walked in just as they left.

"Yolie! Where are you going?" She yelled, but they were already out of earshot.

**

Iris awoke the next morning drowsy and exhausted. She had dreamed heavily that night of ghosts and spirits, most were now lost but one remained etched in her mind. She had dreamed of a genie, huge and green, with fathomless black eyes and a deep commanding voice. It had asked her for her wish, and she demanded the spirit send her back to the real world. It had laughed and grown like bamboo until all that was visible were it's golden teeth as it whispered in it's booming voice

            "Impudent child, you will never return!"

            It had reminded her scarily of the bible and the outrageous stories her mother had fed her as a child. It also made her wonder whether she really was damned to this nightmarish hell known as the digital world. She must have displeased God in some way. The thought brought unknown feelings of rage and helplessness to the pit of her stomach.         

            Carefully she sat up from her position next to the black charcoal that was their campfire. Her back popped loudly and her neck was painfully cramped. Beside her Polarmon still slept. Davis was nowhere to be seen.

            A fear as icy cold as death shot through her veins. He was gone, her last chance at returning had left her during the night. The spirit was right.

 So many things occurred to her. She wanted to scream and faint at the same time but neither came to her. Instead she sat in a dazed, stupefied confusion. Had he taken anything from her backpack?   

            Automatically she reached out to the backpack she had carried with her for uncountable years of her life. Everything was still there, the pocket knife, the salted meat, the canteen of water, the matches and her extra clothes. There was nothing he could have stolen but she should never have underestimated him. She should be grateful she was even alive.

            What kind of world had earth become?

            To her right the bushes rustled, her instincts kicked in. With a speed and agility that wasn't usually assigned to humans of the modern world her pocket knife was in her hands and pressed dangerously against the predator's skin. The predator who yelled in terror and shielded his head with his arms.

            "Davis?" She asked releasing him immediately, he crumpled to the ground

"Good morning. " He croaked staring up at her with a mixture of awe and fear,

"I thought you left." She said slowly stepping back from him

"Yeah, to take a leak," He replied climbing to his feet and brushing the dirt off his clothes. Iris blushed

"I'm sorry." She turned her back to him and retreated towards the campfire, "I'm not used to trusting people."

"That's okay," He said, his voice shook slightly and he rubbed the place on his neck where she had pressed the somehow sharp knife, "Just don't do it again."

She smiled shyly. He could see the evidence of years of hardship in her eyes; her smile looked so fake, yet sincere at the same time.

"I'll go get some more firewood." She muttered turning away and starting into the cave

"Wait, don't worry about it," Davis said grabbing her shoulder firmly, "We'll go straight back to the real world once Veemon gets back. I think I've spent enough time here."

Iris' eyes lit up like a child. Davis smiled the first real smile he had felt in what seemed like forever.

She turned from the cave and made her way over towards her still sleeping digimon partner.

"Polarmon," She said shaking the digimon fiercely, "Polarmon, wake up, we're going to the real world."

Davis chuckled at the obvious note of excitement in her voice. She made it sound like she was going to a carnival or something. Polarmon awoke with a grunt.

"We're going to the real world." Iris repeated. Polarmon grunted again and climbed to her feet

"Try not to show too much enthusiasm." Veemon appeared from behind a clump of bushes. His was soaking wet and smiling broadly.

"Well now that we're all together let's get going." Davis said marching into cave.

He couldn't wait to get back and show TK just what he found in the digiworld. No doubt he'd be jealous as sin. And as long as Iris was there to distract him he wouldn't have waste his time brooding over Kari's lack of interest.

Davis couldn't help but smile when he reached the TV that signalled a digital portal.

"Hey Davis won't your parents be wondering where you've been all night?" Veemon asked before Davis had a chance to open the portal

"Nah they won't care, they'll just think I'm at Tai's place." He discarded the idea with a wave of his hand.

            "So how does this thing work?" Polarmon interrupted, surveying the TV curiously

"You use your digivice to get back." He said displaying his digivice for both Polarmon and Iris to see

            Iris opened her backpack and retrieved her digivice, studying it sceptically.

            "Now, all you have to do is hold the digivice up to the screen and say: 'Digiport open.'" Iris watched in amazement as Davis and Veemon were surrounded by an almost blinding white light and erased from her vision.

            "Well," Polarmon prodded impatiently, "Go ahead."

            Gingerly Iris approached the TV held her digivice out. She closed her eyes and muttered the words

            "Digiport open."

She found herself flying through a tunnel with sides showing symbols and pictures. They were familiar, how could she not know what they were, she'd been to so many temples and old digimon ruins she couldn't count them on her fingers and toes. These symbols were everywhere. She hadn't deciphered them yet though

The end of the tunnel was filled with light and as she passed through the barrier that separated the human and digital worlds she had to shield her eyes from the blinding glare. She tumbled unceremoniously from the portal onto a chair with wheels that toppled over from her weight.

"We really gotta put some cushions here." Davis muttered from beside her.

Iris stood up slowly, checking herself for injury. She glanced beside herself where a familiar white digimon stood.

"Snowmon?" Iris stared at her digimon in shock; "You changed?"

"That's what happens when ever digimon come into the real world." Davis explained picking up Demiveemon and placing him on his shoulder

Iris nodded and smiled crookedly. Davis couldn't help but grin, she was more than perfect.

They stared at each other in blissful silence for moments, or was it hours? Davis couldn't tell. Iris broke eye contact and took to staring at the door instead.

            "There's someone out there." She said edging carefully over to the door. Davis found himself blushing slightly.

            "There shouldn't be, it's a Saturday." He mumbled, diverting his eyes from Iris.

            A few seconds later he heard two sets of footsteps echoing from the halls. She was right. How had she known?    

            "Don't they know they're not supposed to run in the halls?" Davis said walking to stand behind Iris.

            The footsteps gradually increased in volume. There were now voices to accompany the feet. Davis recognised them at once and frowned.

            "Do you really think he's in the digiworld?"

            "It's worth a try." 

            "Kari." He said, startling Iris

            "Who's Kari?" She asked innocently, as if she couldn't identify God if his name were spoken.

            However, Davis needn't answer her question because, at that same time tow girls burst into the room. In a flurry of brightly coloured clothes and high pitched screaming all three girls went down in a heap.

            Iris was first to her feet. Her pocket knife had appeared in her hand at some point and her pointing threateningly down at Yolie and Kari, who, in turn, stared up at the blue haired girl in surprise.

            "Who're you?" Yolie asked rudely, untangling herself from Kari and climbing to her feet. She dusted her clothes off and eyes the pocket knife warily.

            "We're not going to hurt you." Kari took her place next to Yolie and extended her hand in a friendly gesture.

            Iris grunted and pocketed her weapon. She turned to face Davis, a scowl noticeably printed on her face.

            "Who are these people?" Her eyes flashed dangerously

            Davis flinched. She wasn't going to turn feral and start attacking them was she? She really must have been in the digital world a long time for her to be so suspicious. Davis carefully picked his words.

            "These are two of my friends, Kari and Yolie." He kept his eyes locked on hers while he gestured noncommittally towards to two girls.

            Iris scoffed again and moved to stand next to him. Again she surveyed the pair carefully, warily.

            "Davis," Kari started after a few moments of tension filled silence, "We've been looking for you."

            "Really?" He replied, laying a hand on Iris' shoulder.

            "Your mother called us last night." Yolie said simply, her eyes were still locked on Iris, "She was worried."

            "We were all worried, Davis. We thought you might have run away." Kari began to advance, gesturing with her hands and capturing him with her eyes.

            "I did." He replied. Kari stopped

            "Why?" She whispered softly

            He didn't answer.

            There was silence again. A long, drawn moment drifted by as the tension built to a point of suffocation. Davis and Kari seemed to be holding a conversation with their eyes while Iris and Yolie silently challenged each other. Yolie broke the silence.

            "Who is she?"

            Davis was startled out of his trance. He blinked owlishly and turned, dazed, to Iris.

            "This is Iris." He stated plainly

            "Where did you pick her up?" Yolie sauntered over to Davis and began nudging him with her elbow.

            "The digital world." He replied narrowing his eyes at Yolie. She ceased, moved to stand in front of Iris and held her hand out.

            "Nice to meet you." She said, taking Iris' hand and shaking it hastily. 

            Iris looked fearfully at Davis, then at Yolie, then back at Davis. He couldn't help but smile slightly, Yolie had that effect on people.

            "Why did you run away Davis?" Kari asked softly, drawing Davis' attention back to herself.

            "I needed some time to think." He replied austerely

            "We were worried about you," She repeated

            "Really?" Davis smiled mysteriously and nodded his head, "I should be getting home. Mum's probably worried."

            Kari frowned and her eyes flicked towards Iris.

            "Who's Iris going to stay with? Does she have any family in Japan?"

            Davis turned to Iris, she shrugged.

            "Not anymore, even if they lived in the same place they probably don't remember me."

            "How long were you in the digiworld?" Yolie asked, dropping Iris' hand.            "Long enough." She replied. Her eyes turned inward and her features took on a serious, melancholy look.

            "You can stay with me if you want." Davis offered immediately. Kari's eyes widened.

            "Don't be silly, she wouldn't want to stay with you." She turned to Iris, "You can stay with me."

            Iris looked pleadingly in Davis' direction. She didn't argue though, with a silent nod from Davis she accepted Kari's invitation.

            "I better be getting home." Davis said suddenly and left the room without another word.

            Iris let her eyes flick from Kari to Yolie and back again. How much had the real world changed in her absence?

            "Well we'd better be going as well." Kari said with a shy smile. She led Iris out of the room labelled 'computers.'

**

"Did you find the digidestined?" Witchmon asked the Meramon that stood dutifully in front of her throne.

            "Well we found them but…" the Meramon trailed off

            "But…" Witchmon chided raising one crooked eyebrow warningly

            "They escaped before we could launch our attack." The Meramon finished quietly

            "Well why didn't you follow them?" The Meramon could feel Witchmon's eyes rolling over its body. It flinched noticeably and Witchmon smiled  

            "They disappeared into a strange device, Mistress Witchmon, we were unable to pursue them."

            "And what kind of 'strange device' might you be talking about?" Witchmon asked cynically

            "We're not quite sure yet, Mistress, I have someone analysing it as we speak."  

            "What do you take me for?" She asked quietly. The Meramon lifted its eyes to meet those of its superiors. It flinched again, her eyes flashed with malice. It could feel the end drawing near.

            It didn't answer.

            "I asked you a question." Witchmon wrapped one hand around the arm of her throne. The other hung ominously above her lap, "Do you defy me?"

            The Meramon didn't answer

            Witchmon smiled, "You have sealed your fate, impudent maggot." 

            The Meramon didn't see the icicles Witchmon fired at him until they were lodged firmly in its chest. Before it died it glanced into Witchmon's eyes, surveying them for any sympathy, regret. There was none.

**

"So how did you get into the digiworld again?" Kari asked Iris.

            Iris was sitting on a desk chair combing her wet hair straight. Her eyes travelled lazily over the bland, under-furnished room. She didn't look impressed

            "It's a long story," She replied simply, refusing to meet Kari's eyes

            "That's alright I'm in the mood for long stories." Kari sat on the end of her bed and stared curiously at Iris.

            Iris began to shift uncomfortably under Kari's stare. She looked ready to deny Kari her story, but instead picked up a sleeping Snowmon from the floor and began patting it on the head

            "Alright…: She began awkwardly, her eyes wandering aimlessly anywhere but to Kari, "It happened when I was about eight years old. My family was on holiday in America. I was with my father at the time…" She hesitated, flinching at the memory, but continued, "There was a tram. I don't know where it came from; there weren't any trams in the street. It hit me. I wasn't hurt, didn't have a scratch on me, instead I found myself in a forest with Snowmon by my side. I've been in the digital world ever since, travelling, trying to find a way out…" 

            "And then Davis turned up in the same place you were?" Kari said thoughtfully

            "Yes…." Iris replied, finally meeting Kari's eyes. Kari couldn't help but flinch at the years that shone in Iris' eyes. Years of struggle, years of knowledge, years of staring death in the face and neither flinching nor relenting. There were years of unshed tears, years of pride, of struggle. She had seen things she should have and she knew it.

            "What is your relationship with Davis?" Iris asked, startling Kari out of her thoughts. The years in her eyes had disappeared behind a mask of pride. Instead Iris considered Kari mutely  

            "What do you mean?" Kari couldn't hold her gaze any longer, she turned away and looked out the window

            "I mean what I said, what is your relationship with him?" Iris replied in the same flat tone she had asked the question

            "We're friends, nothing more." Kari replied, moving her gaze to stare at her fidgeting hands, "though sometimes I think he thinks we're something more."

            Iris said no more. She stood up, clutching a still sleeping Snowmon to he chest and began to exit the room.

            "Why did you want to know?" Kari stopped her; she didn't turn to face Kari, only answered.

            "I've never seen someone look at another person the way he looks as you. I was curious." She left.

            Iris was staying in Tai's old bedroom. It was just as boring and under-furnished as Kari's, Iris found this perplexing. From what she could remember of her room, (which was considerably little) it had been bright and full of bric-a-brac. Useless junk she wouldn't have needed or used in her life. Maybe the real world had changed so much as to discard of that rubbish. Maybe Kari's family were just preservative.

            Iris didn't quite understand why but ever since she had returned she had felt a very ominous feeling of foreboding. More to the point, ever since she had been separated from Davis. It wasn't a great feeling, only a small prickling in her chest. Something big was going to happen soon, something she should take part in.

            She suddenly regretted leaving the digital world.

**

"Ma, I'm home!" Davis called as he walked through the door.

            "Davis?" His mother called running out to meet him. She immediately enveloped him in a hug, "Davis where have you been? I've been so worried about you. You're not hurt are you?"

            "I'm fine." Davis said breaking out of his mother grasp. He could see tears building up in the corners of her eyes. He smiled

            "I'm so glad you're okay, don't you ever do that to me again you hear." She croaked wiping a tear away and sniffing back a sob

            "Yeah…" Davis replied, still

            "Davis you worried your mother so much what were you thinking?" His father scalded him. There were tears in his eyes as well

            "Where were you anyway?" Jun added. Although she wasn't crying she considered Davis curiously. She hadn't been worried had she?

            "I… well…uh…" he trailed off into silence. His family waited expectantly, "I fell asleep in detention and I woke up in the computer room." He blushed at his lie.

            "You stupid boy." His mother said hugging him again. Davis let out a sigh of relief, he'd got away with it this time, but if he were to try that again. He was surprised they believed it

            After his mother had finished fawning over his return he retired to his room. He never got used to sleeping on the floor and his back ached like hell. Unluckily for him he was stopped by Jun. She was vivid was anger

            "I know you're lying, where were you really?" She hissed, her eyes flashed

            "It doesn't matter." He replied, challenging her

            "Of course it matters you little dweeb. Do you know how worried Mum and Dad were about you? They were this close," She held her fingers inches from his face, "to calling the police. You're lucky you're as stupid as everyone takes you for or you would have had your ugly mug pasted over every convenient store for miles."

            Davis shrugged

            "It hardly matters anymore, it's not like I'm dead in an alley anywhere. Why do you care so much anyway?"

            "It's not you I care about, it's mum and dad, they were having kittens."

            "Well it's all in the past now isn't it, you can get over it right?"

            Jun looked close to slapping him. He pushed past her to his room. He flopped down on his bead and almost immediately went to sleep. Well he would have if a small, very muffled voice alerted him

            "Demiveemon!" He exclaimed jumping up and unzipping his bag, releasing Demiveemon.  

            "I saw my life flash before my eyes." The little blue dragon muttered before falling down in a heap. Davis picked up the small digimon and placed him on his stomach when he lay down.

            "There, there it doesn't smell that bad does it?" Davis laughed and patted Demiveemon on the head

            "You're in a lighter mood today, I guess that trip did you good."

            "Guess it did." Davis replied, his eyes turned inward and a small, yet distinguishable smile played across his lips

            "Or should I say, Iris did you good?" Demiveemon offered

            "I don't know what you're talking about." Davis' voice sounded far away and slightly devious. Demiveemon faltered

            "Are you okay Davis?" He asked, taken aback

            "Oh I'm better than alright," His smile widened

            "Okay you're scaring me now."

            Davis sat up so suddenly Demiveemon went tumbling

            "Don't you get it Demiveemon, this is my chance."

            Demiveemon didn't get it; he stared up at Davis in a confused, almost horrified way. Davis smiled

            "This is my chance to get back at them."

            Demiveemon continued to stare. Davis' words churned in his head, slowly, they registered and his face took on a horrified tone

            "You're going to use Iris to blackmail your friends?"

            "Not exactly, there's not much to blackmail them with, they never told me anything. I'll simply make them jealous. You always told me to get over Kari, now's my chance."

            "I didn't mean like this Davis, that's really mean, you know."

            "How so?"

            "Did you ever think about Iris?" Demiveemon crossed his tiny arms over his tiny chest and stared up at Davis with his large eyes

            "Oh I'm sure she wont mind," He waved the subject away with his hand, "And plus, she won't even notice. She doesn't have to do anything except be there."

            Demiveemon looked sceptical

            "How exactly is this ingenious plan of yours going to work?"

            "You leave the thinking up to me little man." Davis smiled again, Demiveemon sighed. He hoped Davis knew what he was getting himself into.