Last Time: All the coincidences begin to come together. Li's gone out for a walk, Madison's desperately searching for Li and Sakura, and Kero and Yue are seeking out Sakura. Meanwhile, we have two DigiDestined meeting at the ever-fateful Penguin Park. And through all this…Sakura has stumbled upon Tori…in Penguin Park.


Keeping Secrets: Part 3


Sakura knew full well what it would mean if she made that walk. So why couldn't she stop moving towards her brother? She felt as if a force had control of her legs as she just kept inching closer to Tori. She knew this was just like her dream…yet she couldn't bring herself to stop. The thought of revealing a lifelong secret seemed…inviting…and liberating.

Sakura finally reached her brother and waved timidly. "Hi."

"Hey, squirt. I didn't expect to see you out here tonight. ………Let's take a walk."

Sakura didn't know why, but she nodded. She walked right behind Tori and they walked towards an empty area of Penguin Park. There were no people around and it was the perfect place…to reveal a secret.

Tori finally broke the silence…with those eerie first words. "I'm glad I found you tonight, Sakura. And…I'm glad we're alone. There's…something I've been meaning to tell you."

Sakura gulped…and so it began. "And…there's something I've been meaning to tell YOU."

Tori smiled. "I can see it on your face, squirt. You're finally ready to tell me the truth, aren't you?"

Sakura hung her head down. "You knew all along, didn't you?"

"It took me a while to figure it all out," Tori replied. "But…"

Silence.

"You knew about me," Sakura finished for him. "You knew I had magical powers."

Tori nodded. "I knew. But…it's because I haven't been honest with you. Sakura…I once had magical powers myself."

Sakura looked up in shock, just like every other time she had that dream. It still shocked her. "Once? You mean you don't have them anymore?"

Sakura knew EXACTLY where this would lead, so she reached into her pocket. She recognized the familiar warm texture of the Fiery Card and she would unleash it immediately, if necessary.

Tori was about to answer…when the dream started to come true. Sakura heard some maniacal laughter coming from the distance. And just like in her dream…

"Sinister Ice Rings!"

Something came towards Sakura and Tori. Sakura desperately tried to unleash Fiery, but the attack moved too fast. Like she had seen so many times in her dream…Sakura and Tori were both tied by the waist and fell over. And just like in her dream…those three creatures came out of the shadows.


After about an hour of walking around to clear his head, Li Showron found himself walking by Penguin Park. But as soon as he got there, he heard maniacal laughter…followed by a scream. A very familiar scream. It was Sakura. Li recognized her voice anywhere. Sakura was in danger.

So without a second thought, Li reached for his jade charm and released his sword. The echoes of the laughter could still be heard, so he followed the sounds…

…and got ready for a fight.


There was one thing about all this that left Sakura relieved. While she was looking into the faces of a disfigured ape-thing, a frightful skull spider, and a masked creature, she did know one thing…and that relieved her greatly.

"Are these the ones?" the disfigured ape asked.

"Who else have we been watching for so long?" the skull spider snapped.

"These are the two we need," the cloaked being said. "The ones that will help restore the great one. Get them on their feet."

"NO!" Tori shouted. "Take me, but leave my sister out of this!"

"Sorry, but we require both you AND your sister," the cloaked one shot back. "Your sister, the Mistress of the magical Sakura Cards."

Usually, when Sakura had this dream, this would be where Li came in. But Li wasn't aware that any of this was happening. So there could be no way he'd know she was here. That relieved her…until…

"SAKURA!!"

Sakura gasped in horror. It WAS happening. Running in from the distance…was Li Showron in his robes and holding up his sword, just like in her dream. Sakura couldn't bear to look, because she knew what was about to happen, but before she could turn away, the skull spider turned towards Li.

"Psycho Laser!"

The skull spider attacked with its laser beam, which struck Li in his torso. He fell to the ground and, to Sakura's horror, started bleeding.

"LI, NO!!"

Sakura couldn't understand it. She had done everything she could to prevent this from happening. She thought that by not telling Li about any of this, he wouldn't be in the line of fire. But keeping her dream a secret was all for naught. Li still got to Penguin Park…and he was still bleeding…almost dying.

Sakura felt herself being picked up and pushed away, along with her brother, towards an unknown destination.

The cloaked one spoke. "Now…we go…to the Digital World!"

~* Digital World? What IS that? *~


She continued to wait by the pond, but something happening out in the distance got Kari looking towards her left. It was a pair of screams. First it was a female shriek, then a male howl of agony. It definitely got her attention.

"What do you think that was, Kari?" Gatomon asked from up in the tree.

"I…don't know," Kari answered. "Sounds like someone's being mugged."

"You think we should check it out?"

Kari knew Davis wanted to meet her here, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. "Yeah. Let's go."

Gatomon leaped down from the tree and right into Kari's arms. She pointed forward. "It came from over there."

Hoping no one would see her holding Gatomon, Kari ran towards the source of the screams. Maybe it wouldn't take too long. She could always meet up with Davis later, but it sounded like someone was in need of help. Kari had to check it out.

She kept on running, but stopped upon hearing agonizing moans of pain. Kari walked slower to make sure she was going the right way, never noticing how big Penguin Park really was. The moans got louder, meaning she was getting closer. So Kari began to speed up. Then she found the source.

There was a young man, about Kari's age, lying on the ground. He was wearing unusual green robes and there was a sword on the ground next to him. She looked on the ground to see blood staining the grass. He was clutching his side, trying to hold onto a deep wound. Kari immediately thought someone attacked him with that sword, but there was no blood on it, so that couldn't be the case. It had to be something else.

Gatomon jumped and ran up another tree before Kari slowly approached this pained person. She felt pity for him and wanted to help him.

"You need help," Kari said. "Let me get you to a hospital."

"No…" he moaned. "S-Sakura…"

He couldn't get out another word. The young man fainted. Kari gasped and immediately knew it would be up to her to get him the help he needed.

Kari looked up a nearby tree. "Gatomon, don't just hide there! Help me!"

"What if he wakes up?" Gatomon asked.

"I don't think he's waking up anytime soon," Kari said grimly. "He needs a hospital. Help me carry him."

Gatomon reluctantly came down from the tree and walked towards the wounded boy. Kari and Gatomon each picked him up by one arm and started dragging the unconscious boy out of the park.

"Kari, where did you park?" Gatomon asked.

"I don't think the car's too far from here," Kari answered. "Let's get him there."

With a somewhat solid plan in mind, Kari and Gatomon kept dragging this person towards Kari's car. It was times like this Kari wished her mom had given her a cell phone, because this meant she'd have to leave. And that meant Davis wouldn't find anyone when he got to Penguin Park.


After an excruciatingly long walk, Davis could go no further. He had arrived at the entrance to Penguin Park, but stopped at a bench and put his backpack down.

"I'm not THAT heavy, am I?" DemiVeemon asked from inside the backpack.

"But I can only carry you for so long," Davis moaned. "I knew I should have hit the gym more often."

"Running those extra laps would have helped, too," DemiVeemon chimed in.

"Ok, I get the point," Davis growled. "Just…give me a few minutes."

Davis wanted to take a quick break, but knew he couldn't take too long. Kari was already waiting for him and Davis couldn't keep her waiting much longer, otherwise it would hurt his chances. He already wasn't sure the odds of getting a date with her were in his favor after the many events of the past few years. He didn't want to make things any worse. Especially since Kari might still be recovering from the day she and TK…

Shrugging off his weariness, Davis got to his feet and reached for his backpack. Suddenly, Davis noticed someone familiar out in the distance. It was that same girl he bumped into earlier, the one in the trench coat and purple blouse, and she was coming closer. She was looking for someone.

"Li! Sakura! Where are you guys?!"

Davis' curiosity was starting to get the better of him. He walked towards this girl and stood in front of her. "Um…hi. Remember me? Are you…looking for someone?"

The girl was startled upon turning to see Davis. "Oh…hi. I'm…just looking for my friends, they're missing. Have you seen a girl with auburn hair, I don't know what she's wearing, but she's got short auburn hair and she's got the cutest emerald green eyes. Have you seen her?"

Davis shook his head. "I haven't seen anyone like that."

"Then what about a guy in green robes?" the girl asked. "You can't miss him. They're ceremonial family robes. Have you seen him?"

"I haven't seen him either," Davis said apologetically.

The girl moaned. "Oh…thanks anyway. But I've got to go and find them."

The girl ran off in a hurry, leaving Davis alone with his backpack again. Davis just blinked.

~* A guy in green robes? Weird. Must be her boyfriend or something. *~

"Maybe we should help her," Davis' backpack suggested.

"I'd love to, DemiVeemon," Davis said dryly. "But I've already kept Kari waiting. She's gonna be mad at me. I have to meet her now."

With that, Davis picked up his backpack and made that long walk down Penguin Park. Once more, he felt the weight of his Digimon companion pressing down on his back, but he didn't care. He would do whatever he had to do to meet Kari and he couldn't just leave DemiVeemon behind. So Davis kept walking and promising himself he'd hit the gym soon.

"Where DID you ask Kari to meet you?" DemiVeemon asked.

"I told her to meet me by the pond. There's a lone bench there and it's the perfect atmosphere."

"Sounds great. Good luck, Davis. Even AFTER what happened between Kari and TK…I always thought she liked him…but I'm sure she probably likes you."

"DON'T say that!" Davis snapped. He couldn't stand the thought of Kari passing him up for TK…again. If it ever happened, Davis would be torn apart. "I really hope you're wrong, DemiVeemon…because I really like Kari."

"Sorry, Davis. I didn't mean to make you nervous…uh…MORE nervous."

DemiVeemon made a good point. Davis could feel the sweat running down his temples and he didn't need the odor of his sweat filling the air while he was around Kari. So he made a quick stop and opened his backpack.

A blue hand reached out and handed Davis his cologne. "Looking for this?"

Davis sweatdropped. "Thanks." He quickly sprinkled the refreshing fragrance all over himself and handed it back to DemiVeemon.

The blue hand went back in and reached out again holding a small roll. "Mint?"

Davis sweatdropped again. "Thanks." He took a mint and stuffed it in his mouth.

The blue hand went back in and reached out again. This time with a mirror. "Is your hair ok?"

Davis took the mirror and looked into it. He didn't like what he saw, since he thought he saw a some hair out of place. As if reading his mind, the blue hand of DemiVeemon came out again.

"Comb?"

Davis took the comb and adjusted his hair and passed it back. "Ok, that's enough. I'm serious, DemiVeemon. I can't keep Kari waiting." Before DemiVeemon could reach out with something else, Davis closed his backpack. He picked up and went on his way again.

After what felt like an eternity, Davis finally reached the pond. The moonlight shone down upon the water and it would have made for a positively romantic scene. But there was one thing that was missing. And that was…

…Kari.

Davis stood there in amazement. "Kari…isn't here."

"Maybe she's late, too," DemiVeemon piped up from inside Davis' backpack.

Davis breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah…that must be it. She's just late…like me. She'll be here."

Davis just sat on that lone bench and waited for Kari Kamiya to arrive.


Sakura couldn't see where she was being taken. She could see they had arrived towards the exit of Penguin Park and all she saw…was a truck, an eighteen-wheeler. Sakura and Tori were stuffed in the back.

"Who's driving?" the ape asked.

"Don't look at me," the spider growled. "It's not like I have hands."

"I'LL drive!" the cloaked one said. "You two just keep an eye on these two. They are vitally important. With them…we shall resurrect our master."

Sakura and Tori were both thrown in the back of the truck and the ape and skull climbed in. Sakura had to get answers now.

"What are you?!"

The cloaked one climbed in and walked up to Sakura. He got in her face. "That's Savagemon, that's Psychomon, and I am Sinestromon. We are three Digimon…looking to restore our master."

Sakura didn't understand any of this. "Digimon?"

"She's magical, yet she doesn't know about us or our kind," Savagemon the ape thing said.

Sinestromon let out a nefarious chuckle. "She'll soon learn. She'll know about us once we reach the Digital World."

Sakura still didn't understand one thing. What WAS this Digital World they were talking about? But Sakura was worried about something else.

Was Li ok? And was he even alive?


Next Time: We know these three evil Digimon are taking Sakura and Tori to the Digital World, but how are they getting there? Can Kari get Li to the hospital? When will Davis realize that Kari won't show up? Will Madison find ANYBODY? And who else will get into this story? Come back next time to find out!


Dedicated to my friend from New York. You know who you are. ^_~


Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below!