Last Time: Kari and Gatomon rushed to get Li to the hospital. Li was taken to the ER while Kari was bombarded with questions. Davis and Madison joined up to search for Sakura and Li and started scouring Penguin Park. Kero and Yue arrived at Eriol's apartment and the incarnation believed danger was ahead, so Yue flew off with Ruby Moon while Eriol got ready to do his own search on foot. And Sakura and Tori were taken to the old clock tower…where Sinestromon was about to open a portal to the Digital World.


Keeping Secrets: Part 5


It was just another night on the job for eighteen-year-old TK Takaishi. He had taken this job to help make ends meet while he put himself through school and that meant he was out on the road again. TK was driving down a Reedington street in his car…making pizza deliveries. Never in his wildest dreams did TK picture himself delivering pizza, but that was certainly the case these days.

It seemed like an eternity, but TK checked his directions and found that he had found the right address. So he parallel parked between two cars and looked to the back seat to find his two pizzas…and a sleeping Patamon. He was peacefully snoozing next to the pizzas and TK could almost see a snot bubble come out of the little Digimon's nose.

TK let Patamon sleep and he picked up the two pizzas. He walked towards the apartment door and was about to call the apartment number when someone came dashing out. It was a boy about his age, wearing glasses and blue robes. He was running out until he stopped and turned to face TK.

"I'm sorry," the boy said. "Are those by any chance our pizzas?"

TK blinked. "The order says 'Two cheese pizzas' for someone named…Ruby?"

The boy shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ruby's had to step out and I'm afraid I have to leave as well. I can pay you for the pizzas but you'll have to eat them yourself."

"Actually, that won't be a problem," TK chuckled. "I know someone who'll eat both of these without a second thought…as soon as he wakes up."

The boy smiled. "Then let me pay you right now." The boy handed TK his payment and tip and quickly dashed away.

TK watched as the boy ran away and just stood there holding his payment. He found it rather strange that this guy would just run off in a hurry, but TK wouldn't ask any questions. He had his payment AND some pizzas. So he calmly walked back to his car. He placed the pizza next to Patamon and the little sleeping Digimon's ears went up as he smelled the food.

"Another delivery, TK?" Patamon asked.

"Actually, these are yours," TK grinned. "The guy had to leave so he just left me the money AND the pizzas."

"Really?" Patamon asked cheerfully. "All right!"

TK walked to the driver's seat as Patamon wasted no time in indulging himself. He was about to open the driver's side door…when he noticed something in the sky…around the clock tower. It looked VERY familiar…and TK felt something turn in his stomach.

"Patamon…?"

Patamon kept pigging out. "Can't talk…eating…"

"Look up there!"

Patamon stuck his head out of the backseat window and looked up at the sky also. He saw exactly what TK was seeing. It was like the sky around the clock tower was opening.

Patamon recognized what was on the other side of the hole. "Hey! That's the Digital World! That…doesn't look like a FRIENDLY part of the Digital World."

"Where have I seen that before?" TK mused.

The other side of the hole looked very dark and gloomy. He could see waves of water and a black sky. There was a creepy fog engulfing the entire place. It looked vaguely familiar to TK and he knew it was something he should have remembered. But it looked like a part of the Digital World he hadn't seen for a VERY long time.

But Patamon finally recognized it. "That's the Dark Ocean!"

TK almost kicked himself for forgetting the one and only Dark Ocean. He would never forget the time Kari was sucked in…and he would never forget how close he came to losing her to those creepy shadow creatures who wanted her to be their queen. The Dark Ocean could not be mistaken. He saw the dark black and white atmosphere. There was no color whatsoever.

"What's going on?" TK asked. "How is that happening?"

The Dark Ocean tried to claim Kari many times. It had brought Kari endless grief for the past six years. But never would a portal to the Dark Ocean actually open. This had to be something different. Something else was happening. Something that he couldn't explain.

But that wouldn't stop TK from trying to find out. He rushed to the driver's seat and quickly started his car.

"Where are we going, TK?" Patamon asked, despite knowing the answer.

"We're going over there," TK answered. "We're going to see what's going on."

And with that…TK drove off, nearly running a red light, and sped off towards the source of the portal. The portal that was hanging in the sky above the clock tower in Reedington.


Kari patiently sat on the bench in the waiting room. She was starting to forget why she was even in Reedington in the first place. All she was concerned with was this boy she had brought to the hospital. She wanted to know if he was ok.

Finally, one of the nurses came into the waiting room. "Excuse me, young lady. Are you the one who brought the Chinese boy in?"

Kari nodded. "Yes I am. Is he ok?"

"We've managed to bandage the wound and he is expected to make a full recovery. However, he lost quite a bit of blood, so he'll need to stay overnight for a transfusion."

Kari's face brightened. "So…he'll be ok?"

"He'll be just fine," the nurse answered. "He says he wants to see you."

"He…wants to see me?" Kari asked. "Oh…sure…I guess."

Kari stood up and let the nurse lead the way. The nurse led Kari through to the elevator that took them up to the hospital's third floor. Kari was then walked through the long hallway where each room's door was open. Visitors filled each room to capacity and the patients were happy to see them. Finally, Kari was led into the only empty room that held the Chinese boy she brought in. The nurse walked out and left the two alone.

The boy looked at Kari with emotionless amber eyes. "You're the one who brought me here?"

Kari nodded. "I…found you at the park…with your sword. I saw you were bleeding…"

"My sword! Where is it?"

Kari gulped. "I-In my car. It's still there and I'll let you have it as soon as they let you out."

The boy's expression changed to a somber one, likely out of seeing the uneasiness in Kari's face. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just…well…I can't stay. I have to go!"

"Not in your condition you can't!" Kari protested. "You still need a transfusion."

"I can't stay here!" he argued. "I have to save my girlfriend!" He tried to get up, but ended up falling back and moaning.

"You can't even move!" Kari exclaimed. "See? You HAVE to stay here! Look…I'm sure your girlfriend will be fine."

"You don't have any idea, do you?!" the boy demanded. "You don't know what I saw!"

"It's ok," Kari said comfortingly. "I'm sure it's not that bad. Look…why don't you tell me all about it?"

"Well…for one thing, I don't even know you."

Kari smiled. "Then why don't we get to know each other? My name's Kari."

The boy looked a little reluctant, but finally loosened up. "My name's Li. Thank you for saving my life…Kari." He fell back and moaned again. "Oh…I feel lightheaded."

"Losing all that blood will do that to you," Kari responded.

But that's when Kari, herself, started moaning. She started to sense something familiar…a feeling she dreaded. It was a feeling that often sent chills down her spine. It was a feeling…of darkness. And she felt the darkness was reaching out for her. It was the feeling…that the Dark Ocean was trying to take her again.

For many years, Kari had tried to fend off the darkness of the Dark Ocean. The inhabitants of that horrible place wanted her to be their queen. And no matter how much Kari tried to resist, it felt like the darkness would just keep coming back…and reaching for her. It felt like the Dark Ocean was reaching out for her again. But this felt different. It felt as if the force was growing STRONGER…and Kari sensed something was coming from outside.

"What's with you?" Li asked. But his voice sounded so distant. Kari could already see the black and white fog surrounding her.

Kari wandered over to the hospital window and looked outside. She gasped in horror over what she saw. A portal was opening up in the sky. It was barely noticeable, but it was getting bigger. And Kari could already make out what was on the other side. It was the Dark Ocean. Just the sight of it brought fear to Kari's heart.

Without hesitation, Kari rushed to the head of Li's hospital bed and sat down. She quickly closed her eyes and hugged her legs. She felt herself shivering. She was in a deep state of fear. The Dark Ocean had tried to claim her many times, but NEVER had a portal actually opened to try and take her away.

"Kari…what is it?" Li asked. "Answer me!"

"Please don't let them take me!" Kari pleaded. "I don't want to go back!"

"Go back where? What's going on?"

Kari clutched her head. "Oh…I can't take it! I can feel the darkness!"

Li put his hand on Kari's shoulder. "Kari…it's ok. There's nobody else here. Nobody's going to take you anywhere."

Kari looked up to see that even in his confusion, Li was still apparently willing to stand by her side. She appreciated it, but in her heart, Kari knew he was just a regular boy. He couldn't defend her from the forces of the Dark Ocean. No one could.

All Kari could do was keep her eyes closed and try to fight the darkness.


Davis couldn't deny it. Still in Penguin Park, he couldn't deny that he still had no idea where he was going. He was definitely lost in this place and he just let this girl, Madison, keep leading the way. But as quickly as they were going, that's how quickly they stopped. There was silence and no movement.

Madison looked up at the sky and gasped. Davis, unable to figure out what was going on, scratched his head.

"Why'd we stop?" Davis asked. "Did you get lost, too?"

Madison pointed up. "Up there!"

Davis looked to the sky…and saw what looked like a portal opening. He couldn't make out what it led to…but he had a vague idea. He hadn't seen anything like it since seven years ago when the evil Daemon did something similar. As the portal grew bigger, Davis started to piece together what it led to. And the thought horrified him. It was a portal to the Dark Ocean.

The Dark Ocean had tried to claim Kari many times in the past. But she was always able to stay out of its reach. But it had never come to this extreme before. The Dark Ocean had never actually opened a portal to try and take Kari. Davis couldn't stand the thought of the Dark Ocean coming for Kari again. He knew he had to do something about it, but to his surprise, Madison was already heading out.

"It's coming from the Clock Tower!" she shouted.

Davis was caught off-guard. "Wait! You KNOW about this?!"

Madison didn't answer and started running out. "SAKURA!!"

Davis knew there was more to this than met the eye. So he followed Madison out…hoping to get some answers soon.


Yue and Ruby Moon had scouted the entire area of Reedington from the sky, but there was no sign of Sakura anywhere. And Yue was starting to lose touch with her. He still sensed she was nearby…but he also sensed great evil.

"Yue! Up there!"

Yue looked ahead around the vicinity of the clock tower to see that a portal was opening up from the sky. And what laid on the other side didn't look particularly inviting. It looked like a world of darkness, shrouded in fog with no color at all.

"I guess it HAS been a while since we've been treated to anything weird," Ruby Moon sighed.

"We had better investigate," Yue said. "I sense that the Mistress is there."

Ruby Moon sweatdropped. "What was your first clue?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Never mind," she shrugged.

Yue also shrugged. He sensed that another sarcastic or humorous remark flew over his head. But there was no time to worry about that. It was time for action.

The two guardians changed direction and started flying towards the clock tower, hoping they would find Sakura there. But Yue continued to sense that great evil. And the sense was growing stronger. He could only hope that Sakura (and possibly even Tori, if he was there) would be ok.


Sakura looked on as the evil 'Digimon' Sinestromon continued working his evil magic on the sky above Reedington. The portal he was opening was growing bigger and Sakura didn't like what was waiting on the other side. It was a world of pure darkness with no signs of color or light.

She couldn't take much more of this. She desperately tried to free herself, but it was to no avail. These 'Sinister Ice Rings' left her arms and legs completely immobile. She looked over to see that Tori couldn't move, either. The Avalon siblings were both stuck.

"This portal leads to our world: The Digital World," Sinestromon said. "But for our master to be restored, we cannot just venture to ANY part of the Digital World. We need an environment where he will thrive and be able to make a full recovery before fulfilling his wish of ruling both the Real AND Digital Worlds. That area…is the Dark Ocean."

"So what are we waiting for?" Psychomon sneered. "Let's go already!"

The strong Savagemon picked up Sakura and Tori and started dragging them towards the clock tower. It looked like Sinestromon was about to work some more magic, but he was quickly stopped by a large red crystal that was thrown to the ground. Sakura looked up and saw that help had finally arrived. It was Yue and Ruby Moon swooping down from the sky above.

"You shall release those two immediately!" Yue said boldly.

Savagemon dropped Sakura and Tori and took a step forward. "And what if we don't?!"

Ruby Moon chuckled. "Don't make us have to get rough with you. You have no idea what we're capable of."

"And you do not know what WE are capable of," Psychomon shot back. "Psycho Laser!"

The spider skull, Psychomon, unleashed his laser attack and before Ruby Moon could even react, she was knocked to the ground. The shot caught her off-guard and she was quickly taken down. And that left Psychomon and Savagemon to surround Yue.

"We are in no need of him," Sinestromon boomed. "Get rid of him!"

Savagemon raised his arm. "With pleasure! Savage Strike!"

Turrets materialized at the big one's wrists and two dark shots headed right for Yue. He wasn't hit completely, but the shots grazed him. But before Yue could recover and counterattack…

"Psycho Laser!"

Psychomon shot his laser attack at the trunk of a nearby tree. The tree collapsed…and fell on top of Yue.

Sakura gasped. "Yue, NO!"

It was too late. Yue was down and out and now there was no one else who could help her. Savagemon once again picked up Sakura and Tori and draped them over his massive shoulders.

Sinestromon chuckled. "Now that those two are out of our way…it is time to go."

Sinestromon waved his arm and they all started floating. They began to float towards the portal…and to who-knows-where. But before they went through the portal, Psychomon suddenly pointed to the ground with one of his eight legs.

"Hey, down there! Is that what I think it is?"

Sakura couldn't turn to see what was going on, but Sinestromon answered his question.

"It is. A DigiDestined. But he is too late."

And with that, everyone went through the portal.


TK quickly got out of the car and looked to the sky. He had arrived too late. The portal to the Dark Ocean was closing. And floating towards it were what appeared to be three evil Digimon. And one of them had two people over his shoulder. Before TK could even do anything, they were all gone and the portal was closed.

"What's…going on?"


Next Time: Sakura and Tori have been taken into the Dark Ocean. What happens there? And who can save them? Too many questions, but there's only one way to get the answers. YOU must come back next time!


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