1 SAGA 1: The Firefly

2 EPISODE 1: Arrival

Keika got off the plane and sighed.

"So far, so good," she muttered under her breath. "Maybe Japan won't be so bad after all."

She played with the brim of her white bucket hat as she waited for her ride to get there. Her long flaxen hair that came to her lower back swished in the breeze of the AC unit, and she wiped the bangs out of her clear, blue eyes. Her ears popped from the pressure change.

"OW!" she exclaimed. She set down her purple cargo backpack on a chair and rummaged through it for a quarter to see if anything was keeping them.

"Hey Keika!" yelled a familiar voice.

"TK?" asked Keika in disbelief.

"Yep, it's me. Your favorite cousin! Followed by your second favorite!"

"Hey Matt! How's the band?" inquired Keika as she hugged her older cousin. "Mmmm.not bad. Although we could use a chick to sing vocals, if you catch

my drift." Keika laughed and replied

"Maybe. I'll have to think about it." "Who said we needed you!?! I just said a chick." Matt laughed. Keika frowned and jabbed him in the ribs.

"So, TK. What's been going on with Kari so far?" asked Keika, jokingly.

"What do you mean?" TK asked, bewildered.

"Oh, come on! When I'd email you from home, she was all you talked about!" "Anything I need to warn Tai about, TK?" joked Matt.

"I don't get it." said TK trying to cover up his past over-blabs.

"Well, we probably need to get going anyway. My mom told me that until she gets here, which will be about a week, I'm gonna live with TK in Highton View Terrace. She said that there's a lot of kids around my age that live there. To her, around my age is probably about 8!" said Keika.

The three laughed as they walked to the luggage claim.

"Good Lord, Keika!! What did you pack!?! Your whole house!?!" asked Matt. "No," she said "I just brought down enough stuff to last for about a week and a half. My mom's having the rest Fed-Exed over a few days after she gets here." "Oh, yeah. Forgot. Mimi lives in America, too. Did you ever see her?" asked Matt.

"Okay, Matt. A)I don't know who Mimi is by sight. You've only told me about her. B)She lives in NY, I lived in Texas. There's a good chance I didn't see her." replied Keika. "Sorry I asked," said Matt.

They walked out to Matt's car and brought everything to Highton View Terrace. On the long drive over, they caught up on old times. They talked about everything! Everything, that is, except for the Digital World.

They got everything out of the car and up to TK's apartment. They were met at the door by TK and Matt's mom.

"Keika, you have grown SO much. It's been SO long since I saw you last!"

"I'm surprised she can talk, she's hugging so hard." said TK.

"Ugh! Yeah! It-has-been-a-long-time! UGH! Has-n't-it? Now-could-UGH-you- please-put-me-down!?!" gasped Keika.

"Sorry, dear. Sometimes I get a bit.out of control." said TK's and Matt's mom. "By the way.when's you mother going to get here?" "Oh, in about a week, she said," replied Keika.

"Okay, well, um, we can just put your stuff in the closet. You can have TK's room until you move." She said.

"Oh, no! I'll take the couch and TK can have his room. I'm used to couches. Zander's always jumping on my bed and breaking it!" Keika laughed.

"Yeah, how is that over-grown mutt doing, anyway?" asked Matt.

"Pretty good. We still haven't figured out what breed he is. Some kind of Great Dane/Malamute/St. Bernard thing. The day we found him, he was the size of a full grown normal dog, and the vet said he was only a puppy!" answered Keika.

***********************5 HOURS LATER********************************

"Man this time change is wicked!" said Keika, between yawns.

"Aw, c'mon! It's only 3 in the afternoon!" said TK. Matt had left a few hours ago.

"I'm going to bed. I can meet all of your friends in the morning. Right now, I need my beauty sleep." retorted Keika.

"Got that right!" said TK. Keika playfully took off her white bucket, identical to TK's, and hit him upside the head with it.

"Night, night! Don't let the Digimon bite. Oops!" said TK, realizing his mistake too late.

"The what?" asked Keika. "The digi-what?"

"Oh, uh, nothing. It's uh, well, uh, it's slang!" sputtered TK.

"Slang?" said Keika, dubiously.

"Yeah. Slang at our school for bedbugs." said TK.

"Uh-huh." said Keika.

"Good night, TK. I'll watch out for those Digimon."she mocked.

*******************IN THE MORNING***********************************

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!

"SHUT UP!" screamed Keika as she slammed down the alarm clock button. "Huh-wha-huh? Keika, are you okay?" asked TK, genuinely concerned.

"Stupid alarm clock. Yeah, I'm fine. What time is it?" she asked.

"I dunno, maybe you should try the alarm clock." said TK.

"Oh, yeah. 8 AM!?! I slept for 18 HOURS!?!" she exclaimed.

"Man! Were you tired or what!?!" laughed TK.

"Leave me alone and go put on some clothes!" yelled Keika. TK looked down at his boxer shorts and blushed. "Yeah *nervous laugh* clothes." He said as he ran back to his bedroom.

*****************AROUND NOON*****************

"Remind me again why we have to walk all this way!" demanded Keika.

"Well, this is in the middle of where all my friends live. 2 live in the same building as me, Cody and Yolei. One lives in another district, that's Ken. Davis lives in the same district as us, just another complex, and Kari lives in another complex, too." Explained TK. "Ookay, when we get there, you'll have to re-introduce me, cuz I have an awful memory!" said Keika.

"Hey, look! I think I see TS with some girl. Hey ,she's kinda cute!" announced Davis. He was standing on the back of a bench like Washington on the Delaware, one hand over his eyes and all.

"TK! Over here!" said Kari as she waved her hands in the air.

"I'm guessing that's Kari." said Keika. TK just laughed nervously.

"Hey everyone! I'm Keika, TK's cousin!" Keika said with her best first- impression smile, something she learned doing drama and public speaking.

"Okay, let's see. Keika, this is Davis." said TK.

Davis = hottie! I love his goggles!thought Keika.

"Hi Davis" said Keika as she started to shake his hand.

Man, she's cute for TO's cousin though Davis.

"I'm more of a hugger," said Davis.

"That's understandable," said Keika.

Davis hugged her and she nearly squeezed the life out of him. After about 5 seconds, TK said "Okay, guys. Come on."

"Oh, Sorry!" said Davis.

"Don't be." said Keika. "It was a great hug."

"Anyway, this is Ken." Interrupted TK.

"Hi, Ken." Said Keika.

Is it just me, or does he really look like a girl? He's kinda cute, though. thought Keika.

"Hi Keika. Pleasure to meet you." Said Ken with his usual quiet voice.

Davis was right. She is pretty cute. thought Ken as he shook Keika's hand.

"And this is Yolei." TK continued.

"Hi Yolei." Said Keika.

I wonder if Davis likes me.He did act kinda weird. He was the only one to ask for a hug.thought Keika.

"Hi Keika. Do you wear glasses? You strike me as a glasses-y person." Asked Yolei.

"Yeah, sometimes. I wear contacts most of the time, though." Smiled Keika.

"This is Kari." Said TK.

"And finally I meet the infamous Kari. TK talks about you a lot. He speaks very highly of you." Said Keika.

"Really?" asked Kari as TK blushed.

Keika seems nice, but I wonder what she meant about how much TK talks about me.wondered Kari.

"And last, but not least, Cody." Said TK, glad to be finished.

Keika bent over and said "Hi Cody." Said Keika.

"Hello, Keika. It's nice to meet you." Said Cody in his level but not monotonous tone.

She sure does seem nice. Most people I meet try to give me a lollipop.thought Cody.

"Matt'll have to take you to meet his friends later. Right now, you're hanging out with us!" said Yolei, always eager to make anew friend.

"Actually, they're all meeting here in about 20 minutes." Said TK.

"Well, that sure doesn't give me long to get acquainted with you guys!" said Keika.

"I get the first question!" blurted out Davis. "Are you single?" he asked, trying to act cool.

"*chuckle*Yeah, Davis, I'm single. Why do you ask?" replied Keika.

"Oh, no reason."he retorted.

"What part of America did you live in?" asked Cody.

"Texas, actually. And, no, I won't say 'howdy'."said Keika.

"What sort of activities were you involved in at your old school?" asked Ken.

"I figured that you'd ask that kind of question, Ken." Said Keika.

"How so?" asked Ken.

"Well, my teachers used to tell me that I'm pretty good at reading people. You had a sketchy and dark past, didn't you? Kindness wasn't always your strong suit, huh?" said Keika.

"Wait, a minute, I'm the one who's supposed to be asking questions, OK?" joked Ken.

"Well, I had my own band, which seems to run in the family. I played the piano and guitar as well as the harmonica. I sang in my band and choir. I was ranked #1 in all my classes. I was in the drama club, spelling team, and prose team. For a few years I did debate. I loved to play soccer! So much fun! I also played tennis and was a cheerleader." Said Keika.

"Wow! Did you go to a small school?" asked Yolei.

"No, I'm just an over-achiever!" answered Keika.

"What kind of band did you have?" asked Yolei.

"Rock, mostly. Some ska, but not much. We sing juiced up versions of old hymns and new praise songs at our church. In the summer, we'd go around the youth camps and do concerts. We finally got off the ground, then I moved! My luck!" said Keika.

"What you said about reading people."said Kari as Ken tensed up. "How do you do it?"

"Well, um, gosh, I, well, I never really thought about it. With Ken, I could just tell. There are clues to people's pasts hidden in their behavior. You, for instance. You're the typical "Suzy High School." Everyone loves you. Little girls want to be like you. Boys have crushes on you. You're a cheerleader. You walk in the light. Unlike Ken, you've never even dabbled in the dark. You are pure." Said Keika, wowing the Digidestined once again.

"Oooh! Oooh! Do me!" said Davis.

"Davis, you are interesting. Brave, courageous, full of valor and true love for your friends. You stick to your guns and friends and never give up. An athletic whiz, when you make conquests, you get an inflated ego. But that's okay, because you are good, and good always prevails over evil." Keika concluded.

"Wow!" said Ken "At all those genius camps I used to go to, I'd meet people who could tell me vague details, sorta like the ones you find on fortune cookies. All they could do was spout cloudy proverbs!" laughed Ken.

"I just look at people and make assessments from what I see. You are hard to figure out, Ken. That's about all I get from you." she said.

"Hey!" interrupted TK. "I think I see Matt and the others!"

"Okay, everyone," Matt said, "I think I've already told you that you are going to meet my cousin. Just remember to be nice! Everyone got it?"

"Yeah, we got it." Tai said.

Man, Matt sure it edgy about us meeting his cousin. I wonder if she plays soccer? thought Tai.

"Hey. Matt!" shouted TK "Over here!"

Matt, trying to maintain a cool ambience about him, kinda nodded and did a two-finger mini-wave.

"That's Matt alright!" said Yolei "No mistaking that wave!"

"Everyone, I'd like you all to meet my cousin from America, Keika." Matt announced.

Tai, Izzy, and Joe all three stood dumbfounded, jaws agape and eyes open wide.

"Keika, this is Tai, Izzy and Joe. The guys." Matt said.

The three snapped out of it at the sound of their names.

When Keika came by to shake Tai's hand, he knelt down and grabbed her hand.

"Pleasure to meet you," said Tai with an arched eyebrow as he kissed her hand.

Man! Why didn't I think of that!?! wondered Davis.

"Charmed! Viva la France!" Keika replied.

Oh, brother! thought Sora.

"My ame's Nizzy, I ean Mizzy!" attempted Izzy.

"Izzy.Izzy.Izzy? Oh, right! Matt told me about you! You're the computer fanatic, right?" asked Keika, trying to break the ice.

"Ya-huh." was all Izzy was able to muster.

Kari, Yolei, and Mimi giggled.

"And I'm Joe." Said Joe.

"Hi, Joe! I really like your hair!" said Keika as Joe blushed. "No, I seriously do! There was this guy I used to know in America who tried to pull off that haircut, and it didn't work! It looks REALLY good on you, though!"

"Th-th-thanks." He replied.

"And these are the girls. Mimi and Sora." Said Matt.

Before taking even a step in Keika's direction, Mimi asked "Do you like shopping?"

"Oh, yeah! It's so m-." said Keika, before being cut off by a bear hug from Mimi. Afterwards, she apologized.

"I'm sorry. I just get a little carried away when it comes to shopping!" smiled Mimi.

"And I'm Sora." Said Matt! No, just kidding! Sora said that!

"Hi Sora! Matt told me about you, too. I hear you play soccer." Keika said.

"Yeah. I'm the only girl who does." Replied Sora.

"Not any more! I sent in a tryout tape, since I wasn't going to be there in time for real try-outs, and I made the team!" Keika said.

Great! thought Sora More of an excuse for her to be around Tai!

"But I'm not sure if I'm on Davis' team or Tai's."said Keika.

"They're all on the same team this year." Said Ken. "I checked the roster."

"How about you, Rocket? Will you be joining us?" asked Keika.

"I'm thinking about it. The Tamachi team would really suck without me, though!" laughed Ken.

"Hey!" said Davis. "I have another question!"

"Shoot." Said Keika.

"Do you know how to dance?" he asked.

"I can do cheerleading dances." She replied.

"Can you do one for me? I mean-us?" he asked.

"Sure. Kari, Mimi, I'm gonna need your help. It's the 2001 Advanced Dance. Do you guys know it?" asked Keika.

"I do. I taught it to Mimi, so she does, too!" replied Kari.

"Great. Me middle. Kari, right. Mimi, left." Ordered Keika.

"Good thing I always carry my NCA dance CD. It has good music on it, too!" said Keika.

"My car has a CD player! Well, my dad's car does." said Joe.

They started the dance. It was full of Britney Spears-ish moves, but the guys seemed to like it!

Tai leaned over to Davis and quietly said "My favorite part was when the music went 'edit-edit-e-e-e-edit' and Keika shook her butt really fast!"

"I have to disagree compadre," said Davis" the best part was the clip from'She Drives Me Crazy' when they do the little raise the roof move!"

"I liked all of it!" said Ken.

"Pr-pre-*ahem!*prodigious! Great choreography!" commented Izzy.

Keika's bag, all of a sudden started moving.

"Keika? Is your bag okay?" asked Davis.

"CRAP!" she said. She rushed over to her bag, unzipped it, and started whisper-shouting at it. No one could see anything, because her back was facing them.

"That's weird!" said Yolei. "It sounded like her bag was barking!"

Not a chance! thought Izzy But maybe.

"Hey, Keika! Did you shrink Zander or something!?!" asked Matt, jokingly.

"Not exactly." she said. She then turned around.

"What the."said Tai.

"Everyone, I want you to meet Demijubimon." Keika said nervously.

The critter looked like Demiveemon in body shape, but she was purple, and had floppy ears instead of horns. One ear had a star on it, and so did her forehead. She had a small bushy tail, and tiny white wings.

I thought so. thought Izzy.

"When you made that comment about Digimon, TK, I figured it was okay to show her to you guys." She said.

Matt glared at TK.

"What!?! Why do you always look at me.or Davis!?!" demanded TK. "It slipped! I was going to say 'don't let the bedbugs bite' but I said 'digimon' instead!"

"So, Keika," said Izzy "How long have you been Digidestined?"

"What's that?" she asked.

"How long have you had your Digimon?" he asked, more simply this time.

"Almost a year. In fact, it'll be a year when school starts!" she said.

"That's when we got our Digimon!" said Cody.

"Well, I'm gonna go get some more Cokes. Who wants to come?" asked Yolei.

Sora, Mimi, Kari, and TK went, and they dragged along Matt, Tai, Izzy, Joe, Cody and Ken, who all wanted to stay with Keika. As for Davis, they drew straws to see who would get to stay with Keika, and he won.

"Hey, ya wanna meet my Digimon?" asked Davis.

"Wow! I didn't know EVERYONE in Japan had Digimon!" joked Keika.

"Well, not just anyone can get a Digimon." Davis explained. "You have to have special qualities, like courage, for example. Or friendship!"

"I wonder what my special quality is?" Keika asked.

"Don't worry! I know you have a special quality. There are so many that I can see just looking at you." Said Davis.

Keika turned her head and looked him straight in the eyes.

"That is possibly the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me!" Keika said, without taking her eyes off his.

"Thanks." Said Davis, then he scooted closer to her.

"So." he said, like people do when they're nervous.

"So." she followed up.

Forget this! she thought. I've wasted too much of my life not taking chances!

She turned then and kissed Davis.

*play Chevette*

This kinda surprised him, to say the least! After about 4 or 5 seconds, they separated.

"Well."said Davis.

Keika put 2 fingers to her lips and giggled, something she usually did not do, softly.

"So." she said. "That's what a first kiss feels like."

"I guess so." said Davis.

"Well, I think we should do it again sometime." Keika said.

"How-" Davis cleared his throat "how about now?" he asked.

"Sure." said Keika, and the "couple" went in for their second kiss.

*Play song Chevette*

Davis remembered to close his eyes that time, not being as shocked. About 3 seconds into it, the rest of the group turned the corner and saw Davis and Keika kissing. It was a little more than an awkward peck. Davis had his hands on Keika's face, and Keika's hands were in back of Davis' head.

"AHEM!" said Matt.

*scratched record noise*

The two didn't stop kissing, but opened their eyes, and slowly turned, lips still touching, and faced Matt and the others.

"You go, girl!" exclaimed Mimi.

"Finally, someone who can get Davis to stop bugging me!" said Kari to TK.

"Anyone care to fill me in?" asked Matt.

"It was.a moment."said Keika.

"A moment, huh?" mocked Matt. "And in this moment, did you go braindead!?!"

"No," said Davis, still gazing at Keika "Actually, I feel pretty good."

"Keika, I trust your judgement.sometimes.but you barely know him! Yeah, Davis is a good kid---"

"And a good kisser." said Keika.

Matt glared at her and continued "BUT! You haven't known him for even an hour!"

"1 hour, 13 minutes, 22 seconds, 23.24.25." Keika trailed off, still looking at Davis.

"Gosh!" said Joe "American girls move fast!"

"Not really American girls." said Keika "not just me either. Something about.us."

"Okay, Keika. Since you seem to like him so much, we'll call it a truce, okay? But if you do kiss him again, don't get all 'into it'. That was creepy to walk up to my cousin in the park and see her REALLY kissing one of my friends!"

"Truce!" said Keika, eager to get that cleared up!

"That was scary! And I'm not just talking about Matt!" said Davis.

"Yeah." said Keika, concentrating on his warm brown eyes "I know what you mean!"

"Are we gonna have to throw ice on them or something!?!" joked Yolei.

"Lost and gone forever!" said Tai, as he plunked down on a rock and held his head in his hands.

"Don't worry, Tai! According to this fortune cookie, their relationship will only last a week." said Cody.

"REALLY!?!" asked Tai, perking up. "CODY! All this says is 'you will live long and prosper!'"

"Just trying to help!" he said.

"Hey!" said Matt. "This just might work! I can tell Jun that I can't go out with her because my cousin is dating her brother, and that would just be too weird!"

"I dunno." said Davis. "You may have to think of something better than that! My sister may not be that smart, but she's no Einstein!"

"Davis.sweetie.you just said the same thing twice." said Keika.

"Maybe, but they're both true!" was his reply.

"Uh-oh!" said Izzy, typing frantically.

"'Uh-oh!' what?" demanded Mimi.

"'Uh-oh!' meaning we got a message from Gennai!" said Izzy.

"I met one of his counterparts once! I think it was in New York! Wasn't his name.Benjamin?" asked Keika.

"Yeah!" said Matt. "I forgot all about you when we went! I should have given you a call!"

"Matt, do you mean ton tell us that you've had a cute blonde FEMALE cousin in America, who happened to be in New York as the same time as a few of us, and YOU NEVER TOLD US!?!?!?!" demanded Tai.

"Tai! Calm down!" said Sora.

"You think I'm cute!?!" asked Keika.

"Well, yeah. You are kinda pretty. Blonde hair, blue eyes, tall." Tai went on.

"Hey! Don't be scammin' on my honey!" joked Davis.

Keika laughed. "Oh, man! *laugh* That *laugh* sounded *laugh* sooooo *snort* fun-eeeeeeee!"

The others laughed at Keika's snort!

"Okay, that was extremely dorky!" said Davis.

"What!?! You can't have a girlfriend that snorts when she laughs!?!" asked Keika.

"No, I meant dorky as in cute!" said Davis.

"Back to business!" said Izzy "We need to get down to the school so we can get to the Digital World!"

"I have my dad's car!" said Joe.

"I have my old 'stang." said Matt.

"Let's pile on in!" said Yolei.

When they got in their cars, Davis unzipped his bag and said "By the way, this is Demiveemon."

"Aaaaaaaawwwwww! He's sooooo KA-YUTE!" exclaimed Keika.

"Pleasure to meet'cha! I'd shake hands, but mine are kinda stubby!" said Demiveemon, grinning afterwards.

"I'm Demijubimon! Nice to meet another Demi-." said Demijubimon.

"What's your Digiegg?" asked Demiveemon.

"Oh! I haven't found mine yet! But I will some day!" replied Demijubimon.

"We didn't get our Digimon until we lifted our Digieggs! Except for TK and Kari, of course," said Yolei, in the back seat of Matt's car with them. TK and Kari were sharing the front seat.

"This is Poromon." said Yolei.

"Hello!" said Poromon.

"Howdy doody!" said Demiveemon.

"Ha ha! He said 'doody'!" laughed Demijubimon.

"She can be a tad immature at times, but then again, so can I!" said Keika.

"That's a constant problem with Davis!" said Demiveemon.

"Who asked you to talk!?!" demanded Davis, grabbing Demiveemon by the shoulders and shaking him.

They all drove up to the school and snuck in.

"I feel like a commando!" said Keika.

"We do this just about every Saturday!" said Kari.

"Yeah, it's our daily thrill!" said TK.

They got inside safely, and walked up the few flights of stairs that led to the computer lab.

"Keika, all you do to open the Digi-port is yell 'Digi-port OPEN!' Ya got it?" asked Tai.

"Yeah." said Keika as she pulled out her purple Digivice.

"Digi-port OPEN!" she yelled, and her and everyone's Digimon, along with their bags and Izzy's computer, were sucked through the screen. They were spat out in the middle of a jungle-like setting. Vines crept up the trees and hopped from branch to branch in the thick canopy.