Finally, next chapter! Kami, this thing's taking me longer than I wanted it to. But I think there'll only be three or four more chapters. Bear with me:)

Yolei and Dria: *still doing the rival thing* Hey, where's Ken? *they both look around*
Yolei: Ken..... Ken..... Oh, Ken, where are you?
Dria: Aw c'mon Ken! I'll put the wig away...
Yolei: Yeah, after all Halloween's long since over.
Dria: *pouting* I'll even put the make up away.
Both: Come out, come out, wherever you are.....



Before he knew it he had finished off all three.
Before he knew it he began to feel fatigued.
Before he knew it he was fast asleep.

The group who was still in the Digital World had no more luck that day, good or bad. And before they felt they had really begun, it was already time to go back home. They all met over at Davis' house to see how he was feeling. Joe had looked at Davis when they got back and told him he needed to have his ribs X-rayed. And he was gonna need stitches in his leg but that he would be fine. Matt took him to the hospital and they had just gotten back when the others showed up.
"So how are you doing, Davis?" Tai asked the second they walked through the door.
"Fine, a couple of stitches, no big deal."
"Now tell them the rest. You know one cracked rib a slight concussion. Oh and what else? I think it was multiple bruises all over, was that it?"
"Like I said, no big deal! What's tomorrow's plan?"
"For you to stay behind!"
"No way."
"Doctor's orders, you stay in bed for at least twenty-four hours!"
"I feel fine." But the fight in his voice was gone and he looked tired. "It's getting late, why don't you all just stay hear. The boys can stay in here and the girls can stay in June's bed room. She's on a school trip and wont be back 'till the day after tomorrow." The digidestined called their parents to obtain permission. Ken was the only one who had trouble getting permission. His parents were reluctant to let him stay away, but in the end they gave in.

That evening, or maybe it would be more correct to say that morning, once again Tai and Kari met in the kitchen. Tai had been thinking over the day and wanting to talk to Kari so he wasn't able to sleep. Kari just gotten thirsty and needed some water. But they both ended up in the kitchen at the same time. Tai took it as a sign, so he decided to ask Kari about her conversation with Ken when they had been alone.
Kari looked worried. "I don't know. It just seems that he wants to give up. Tai I think we're gonna have to watch him."
This, coming from his sister -who usually saw everything on the bright side- scared him. "You think he'll do something stupid?"
At this point they gained an unnoticed visitor who sat listening intently to their conversation.
"Not right away. If he loses hope that TK is doing all right, then maybe. He wanted to give himself up. I think he thinks we blame him."
"That's ridiculous! How can it be his fault? He said himself if Daemon wanted him, he could take him at any time."
"I'm not sure he's thinking clearly."
"Obviously, but what can we do?"
"We have to show him that he's not to blame. Even if we don't blame him, he still blames himself."
"That's not gonna be easy. He wont accept it if we just tell him."
"I know that. But I think there's only one of us who can make him realize he's not the one at fault."
"Matt."
"Right."
Then they went back to bed after having said goodnight.

Matt, the silent listener, gave a start. He was shocked. He decided to go back to bed without the water he had wanted to get. In bed he began to think. 'Me? How can I help?' He turned over in his bed. He just didn't want to think about anything. He couldn't make his mind stop, though. 'Why? TK, why did he take you? How much are you suffering? What information could you give him that he doesn't know?' This was a new thought. What information would TK have that Daemon didn't? Try as he might he couldn't think of an answer. He thought that he'd have to ask Tai about it in the morning, see if he could figure it out. The morning...... what was he supposed to do in the morning? He wondered how he could make Ken feel better when he felt like crap himself. 'That's it! If I try to act cheerfully, maybe Ken will know I don't blame him. Maybe he's been feeding off my negativity' A new plan forming in his mind, Matt went to sleep.

The next morning all of the digidestined except for Davis and Ken woke early. They were all already sitting around the table eating when Davis hobbled into the room. He looked awful. He was black and blue and winced when he walked.
"You are definitely staying home today!"
Davis ignored him. "So when are we going?"
"Davis, you aren't going anywhere today. You shouldn't even be out of bed, yet!"
"Matt, I'm going! I have to."
Matt noticed the serious look on Davis' face. He decided to change his tactic. "Why do you have to go?"
Before answering Davis looked around to make sure the digimon were not around. Luckily they were still in the bedroom. "Imagine what Veemon and the others would feel like if I had to stay home. At this point , I'd really like to stay here. I just can't. I'm sorry, but I am going!"
Matt knew he was defeated. "Okay, but promise me you'll let us know if you need to rest. If you promise that I wont make you stay behind."
"Okay, I promise."
"Davis," this was Tai, "Do you still have your crutches from when you broke your leg last year?"
"Yeah, why?"
"If you're gonna insist on going, you'll need them. You can't even stand without wincing."
While Davis -with Tai's help- went to find his crutches, Ken came into the kitchen. Matt looked at the boy. He saw what the others were talking about. Ken looked worse then Davis had. His cheeks were sunken in. He had bad bags under his eyes. However, the most noticeable was his weight. He really hadn't noticed before, because he was worried about TK, but Ken had lost even more weight. Matt knew he hadn't been eating well, but this was ridiculous. He wondered if there was something else wrong with him. He knew his friend, though, well enough to know that is something physical was wrong, he would tell them. Matt smiled at him. Ken smiled back. It was a simple gesture, but it seemed to bring the younger boy's spirit up. Ken sat down next to Yolei and poured himself a bowl of cereal. He only finished half of it. Matt brought up the subject they had been discussing before Davis walked in.
"So, does anyone have any ideas about what information Daemon wants?"
"Not really. What's happened that's new?" This was Cody.
"What are we Talking about?"
"I was thinking about it last night. I can't come up with any reason why Daemon would try to get information out of TK. What's happened that Daemon would want to know about?"
Ken thought for a moment. "Nothing, but he doesn't know that... or does he?"
Davis, who had just walked back in asked, "What do you mean?"
"Are you saying that Daemon might not be after any information?" Tai was shocked. It hadn't occurred to him, but what if Ken was right?
"If that's true, either he's not really torturing my brother or he is for sick pleasure." Matt looked grim. He was mad and showing it.
"Gomen Nessai." Ken stood up quickly and bowed to Matt. "I know it's my fault. Your brother is in trouble, either way."
"Ken, stand up, it is not your fault. You couldn't have done anything we didn't do the day TK was taken. At least my brother is alive."
Ken was still bowed, "You don't understand. I think Daemon took him to make the dark spore start to grow again. So it's all my fault. I should have known you guys would be in danger. I should have just let him have me."
Matt stood up and walked around the table to Ken. He grabbed the shoulders of the younger boy. He noticed how small the boy in front of him seemed.
"Ken, we all know that being digidestined means that each others problems are our own. We know that you would give yourself up for the sake of others, you've done it once before. What you need to realize is we willingly do the same for you. That's part of being digidestined. It's part of being a member of a group. It's part of having friends. I don't want my brother to suffer. But I would feel awful if you were the one who was suffering, too. Do you understand?"
Ken looked up, into Matt's eyes, "Hai, Arigatou, Matt. What you said means a lot to me. Thanks a lot." Ken smiled, and again Matt smiled at this boy.
Now he knew what he could do to help. He had to keep that smile in his friends eyes. Somehow he had to keep Ken smiling.

The digidestined had been in the digital world almost all day, but nothing new turned up. They were about to give up for the day when Kari got a faint signal on her digivice.
"Hey guys, look at this!" Kari was in the back of the group so everyone stopped when they heard her voice. She showed them her digivice.
Tai was the first to respond. "What's this? It looks like the signal of a digidestined, but we're all hear."
"Not quite,..."
"Matt, what do you mean?"
"It might be TK....... It also might be a trap."
Davis was tired of standing still it was making him realize how bad he felt. "Okay minna, what do we do? We can't ignore this. Matt's right, it could be a trap, but what if it is TK? I say we go find out. How about it Kari, you agree, ne?" Davis had given up the idea that he and Kari might get together. He had actually grown up enough to see that she loved TK.
Kari nodded. She was so afraid that all her hopes were only going to be crushed again. Still, she couldn't help but hope against hope.
Davis noticed her nod and continued. "Let's put it to a vote, then. All in favor of rushing headlong into danger say hai."
There was a chorus of hai's all around and the group set off.

The signal was getting stronger. They were almost there. All of them slowed down, realizing they should be quiet, just in case. The signal was pointing to a clearing in the middle of a group of trees. The group approached with caution. All of them were tense. What were they gonna find? Then they heard a voice.
"Oh no........ who---?"


That's it, for now anyway! Uh, I noticed no one responded last chapter....... If you all think this is boring, tell me and I'll *gulps* stop posting it...... Otherwise, if ya like, PLEASE let me know! This is only my second fic, so I still need to hear feed back!!
*looks back at what she said and realizes it looks like she's begging*
Uh......... oh just R&R!!!