While T.K., Ken, Cody, and all their digimons were playing a game of soccer, Yolei, Kari and their digimons were cleaning up the mess the boys left after finishing their meal. Kari and Gatomon stuffed all garbage into the garbage bag while Yolei and Hawkmon folded the huge picnic blanket.

"I wish all the boys would have some courtesy of helping us clean up this mess," Kari said, grinding her teeth as she dragged the enormous bag to the garbage can.

"Yeah, I see what you mean. Always leaving the dirty work for us women and one gentleman (which is Hawkmon). Davis wasn't even around to taste my cheese-covered sun-bread," Yolei said disappointingly.

As Kari was about halfway there to the garbage can while dragging the huge bag, T.K. stepped in and carried the garbage bag the rest of the way for his sweetheart. Showing her appreciation, Kari gave him a kiss on the cheek. As Hawkmon put the folded picnic blanket into Yolei's backpack, Yolei sat on the grass and gazed into the setting sun.

"Kari, can I ask you a question?" Yolei asked.

"Sure, Yolei. Fire away," Kari responded, walking to her friend. Kari sat next to Yolei, also watching the sun set.

"Kari... how do you know whether or not you're in love?" Yolei asked.

"Well, Yolei... it's really hard to put love into words. You'll just know it when you feel something very special inside. The feeling is so wonderful, so irresistable, you just couldn't put it out of your mind," Kari responded, setting her eyes on T.K. when he returned to the soccer game.

"Why do you ask, Yolei?" Kari asked.

"Kari... I kinda felt that feeling last Friday night. I had Davis stay over at my place to keep me company. When I was with him, he made me feel something I've never experienced before. Once I felt that feeling, I wanted him to be with me all night," Yolei explained, feeling heat heart beat harder when mentioning Davis' name.

Kari stared at Yolei, eyes growing as big as magnafying glasses.

"Did you just say... Davis?!" Kari asked, dropping her jaw out of disbelief.

Man, talk about weird. This is coming from a girl who thinks that Davis is nothing more than an immature jerk, Kari thought to herself.

"Yeah, I know what you're thinkin'. You're thinkin' that Davis is oil and I'm water: totally incompatable. I... I just couldn't help how I felt about Davis. He's not really a jerk as I thought he was. He's honest, very outgoing, and sooooo hot!" Yolei said, smiling and blushing when thinking about Davis that Friday night.

Suddenly, a razor-sharp pain surged right through Yolei's chest. Yolei screamed and clutched her chest, grinding her teeth and breathing heavily as the horrible pain continued. Kari, Gatomon and Hawkmon knelt to their friend.

"YOLEI! What's the matter?" Hawkmon asked.

"... it's Davis! Something's terribly wrong. He's... he's in serious trouble!" Yolei said, feeling the pain begin to subside. As the pain fully subsided, Yolei could breathe easy again.

"Yolei, are you sure? Just take it easy," Kari said, trying to help Yolei up. Out of nowhere, Veemon burst right out of the forest and rejoined his friends. Veemon was resting his hands on his knees, wheezing for breath.

".... Davis.... not being himself... kickin' a tree's ass..." Veemon wheezed.

"Veemon, just calm down and catch your breath. Is Davis under attack?," Gatomon said, hoping there's not another dark force in the DigiWorld. Regaining his breath, Veemon started over his message.

"Guys, I'm saying that Davis isn't himself. When Davis wondered off into the woods, I can tell that something was on his mind. Then, right in front of my eyes, he changed for the worse! He... he wasn't the happy 'ol Davis I once knew. It was as though he was literally possessed by a dark force. HE TRIED TO DESTROY A TREE WITH HIS FISTS, FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!" Veemon shouted, imagining Davis ripping a tree right out of the surface and using it as a baseball bat.

That's... that's why I felt like my heart got ripped... Oh, Davis... Yolei thought.

Then they heard someone calling to them. It was Ken.

"Hey, guys! We just got an e-mail from Davis. You wouldn't believe what he just wrote," Ken said.

"Well, aren't you going to tell us? Don't keep us in suspense," Yolei said.

"It's better if you just read it yourselves."

*****

The whole gang gathered around a large PC that was plugged nearby the picnic area. As they read the e-mail, none of them could believe what he has written.


Dear Everybody,


By the time you read this e-mail, I'm already back in the real world. You see, I need some time to be alone for awhile. I have a lot on my mind, and I think the best way to sort things out is when I'm on my own. Kari, I saw you with T.K. last Saturday night at the Mishima Theatre. When I saw you lock lips with him, my whole world crumbled before my eyes. I wanted to win you back. I wanted to win your heart by beating him at his own game. But I realized that no matter how hard I try, your heart will be beating with T.K.'s, not mine. I wish I could tell you all face-to-face, but I have my reasons for not telling you personally. Again, I need to be alone. Please understand.
Yolei, I want you to take care of Veemon for me. After the way I treated him, I don't feel I'm worthy of being his partner. I'm so sorry I yelled at you, Veemon. While Veemon's in Yolei's care, I need at times to be where none of you will find me.



Davis


"I... I never knew he saw us there," Kari said, holding hands with T.K. Kari gave T.K. a concerened look. T.K. held her hand with both hands to let her know that Davis will be all right. Everyone knew about how nearly obsessed Davis was over Kari. But none of them would expect him to learn about T.K.'s and Kari's relationship the hard way. Kari was intending to tell Davis that she found someone else, but she was too late. Instead of being let down gently, Davis crash-landed.

"...we have to return to the real world. I got a bad feeling that if we don't do something for him, something very terrible's gonna happen!" Yolei said.


*** 3 weeks later ***


The DigiDestined gathered at their meeting place, which was far from getting any public attention. It's been three weeks since Davis made his unexpected absensce from the group. Judging from how they tried to make contact with Davis, it didn't turn out so good.

"Man, I can't believe it. Three weeks, yet he still doesn't want to talk to any of us. He's getting worse by the minute," T.K. said. Everyone nodded their heads.

"Tell me about it. I asked Davis if he would like to have a one-on-one soccer match with me. Knowing that Davis couldn't refuse a challenge, I thought he would accept. Instead, he turned down the match! For cryin' out loud, he actually turned down one of his most favorite pastimes!" Ken said.

"Even at home, he seems to be out of it. Jun came to me a few days ago and asked if we know what's wrong with Davis. I asked why she asked, and she told me that he isn't eating as much as he use to. Usually, he eats like a horse. Now he couldn't finish his meals anymore," Kari said.

"Hearing all this, Davis must be suffering a major case of depression. It written all over him by his actions. Losing appetite, losing interest in his passions, feeling a sense of emptiness frequently, etc.," Cody said, rubbing his chin.

"What are we going to do, guys? We all tried to give Davis a call, but his parents kept saying that he's too busy," Kari asked in a worried tone.

"If this goes on, Davis could get even worse. I learned that if this depression keeps on going, it could take him on the verge of... I can't even say it," T.K. said, thinking of the word 'suicide.' They all knew what T.K. was talking about, and none of them could disagree with him. Hearing enough, Yolei picked up Poromon and DemiVeemon.

"Guys... let me talk to Davis. He may have avoided us over the phone, but I think I know where he hangs out to be alone. If you guys let me talk to him face-to-face, I think I can bring him around. Just go home, guys. Leave it all to me," Yolei said. Leaving no time to waste, Yolei walked home to bring Poromon and DemiVeemon there.

"Yolei, what are you going to do to help Davis out?" DemiVeemon asked.

"Yeah, that's what I'd like to know," Poromon asked.

"I'm going to do... what I should have done weeks ago..."


... to be continued.