Okay here is Chapter two, as always I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 2:
"Could you just die?"
That was all the warning he got she drew a gun and pulled the trigger, sending a bullet straight towards him. Quickly he jumped away; just managing to avoid the bullet that would have ripped through him as if he were paper. At least I know where she kept the gun. He leaped forward, catching her off guard. He whirled, one leg kicking out, sending the mysterious girl flying backwards. She regained her footing and took out a long sword.
He was not prepared for this and twisted to his side, just missing the blow. She dropped to one knee for an upward strike, but he anticipated it and whirled away from her. She lunged towards him and he caught her thin wrist, effectively keeping the sharp point of the sword from piercing him. It slowly moved towards his chest. She was strong and had him at a weird angle. Just when it looked as if she was going to finish him she suddenly went slack, and fell across his chest.
There above him stood Liz with a large rock in her hands. "We'll have to work on your defensive skills some more." She tossed the rock to the side, and acting like had nothing happened, walked into a nearby tavern.
TK sat up, gently lifting the girl off him, and touched her neck. Once he found the strong pulse he lifted her up into his arms, then walked into the tavern. No sooner had he entered the tavern he heard Liz voice.
"What are you doing?" Liz shouted from her position on a barstool.
"I couldn't just leave her out there." Shifting her weight, he gave the redhead a pleading look. He knew Liz would give in.
"Fine." Tossing a couple of coins on the bar, then grabbing the keys from the outstretched hands of the barkeeper, and walked up the stars with TK close behind her. They entered a room at the far end of the hall where TK laid the girl down on the mattress. Hearing Liz growling something under her breath, he took a final look at the mysterious girl in white. Why did she want to kill me?
Sure a lot of people, to many to count had tried to kill him in the past. For numerous reasons, But usually he knew why they wanted to kill him. He looked at her again more closely. Racking his brain he tried to think of another time he meet her, but nothing came to mind. The other strange thing is that she knew his name. Shacking his head he dismissed the whole thing, it was probably nothing. With that he stretched his shore shoulders. Never say she a weakling, and left the room.
"I will never understand you!" Liz was pissed when he found her downstairs at the bar. "She could have killed you. If it wasn't for me you would be dead." She lowered her voice an octave before continuing, "You should have left her outside."
"I couldn't do that," Sitting at the bar beside her she turned and ordered a glass of water. "Who knows what these town people would do to her? She'll be out cold for the rest of the night. We'll skip this town and go to the next."
"Fine," Liz let out an exasperating sigh then turned away from him. "Let's just hope no one tries to kill you in that town." TK could tell she was more than a little shaken up about this incident. It was the first time that someone came close to killing him.
He smiled leaning over he gave her a gentle hug. "Thanks for saving my life."
Straightening herself up, she proclaimed, "Well, if I don't do it, who will?" She laughed and took off to go flirt with some guys at the end of the bar.
Patomon.
Who's that? Someone who saves me.
"Why can't I remember?" he whispered aloud, and then took a long drink of water.
******
Izzy paced his room impatiently. He told everyone to meet at his house at 6:00 p.m. It had been three days since he found the signal at work. He'd practically run over ten people in his haste to get home and called everyone. Because they didn't live close to each other any more, it had taken time to arrange a meeting. He was just lucky that it was summer and everyone was home from school. It was hard to believe that they haven't been together in the same room for almost a year.
He looked at his clock again. 5:30 p.m. they'd finally agreed on a day to meet. Izzy had refused to tell anyone what this meeting was about saying it was too important to talk about it over the phone. If that isn't an understatement. Finding someone you thought dead was not your everyday event.
Izzy smiled when he remembered calling Matt, he was half asleep even though it was 3:00 p.m. He immediately started asking if it had anything to do with TK. Izzy had to use all his will power to not give away any information. He wanted Joe to be their encase anyone died of shock. It had been two years since TK disappeared and the digital world closed up. Last years, everyone had given up, and tried to go back to their lives. Even he had given up on ever finding TK again, that is until Matt came up to him.
**Flashback: **
"Izzy, I know you tried you best to find him," Matt said quietly. It was shortly after the digidestions had tried and failed to get back into the digital world. Everyone was too upset to stay long, and slipped out quietly.
"I'm sorry, Matt. I just don't know an easier way." That was the truth he had tried numerous techniques on how to locate TK, but each one took time.
"Please Izzy. I'm begging you. Don't give up." Izzy turned to see Matt staring at him; his eyes filled with unshed tears.
Izzy turned and nodded somberly. He would not give up hope.
Ever since then, he had never given up searching. The only way to do the searching was to look through every dimension one at a time, for a digital signal. Since there were millions of dimensions, it was near impossible. Okay almost impossible but it had taken two years to finally do it. He was jarred from his thoughts by the sound of someone knocking at the door.
When he opened the door he found Mimi with a huge smile on her face. "Izzy" She screamed with excitement. She tossed her two bags on the ground, and began to hug him.
When she finally let go she smiled. "Izzy, could you be a dear and help me with the rest of my luggage?" Still smiling himself, Izzy looked behind her and saw twenty more bags down by the elevator. He sighed and moved to get her bags. Since Mimi was coming from America he knew that she would need luggage but...
How many bags does she need anyway?
Just when he managed to get half of her luggage in, Izzy heard the loud, but very distinct voice calling out to him. Who could forget Tia voice anyway? Tia was running up the rest of the stairs with a huge smile on his face. "Here, Izzy, let me help you with those!" He took a few bags from Izzy's hand, after a small embrace. "I see Mimi already got here."
Izzy laughed along with his old friend as he helped him with the rest of the luggage. Shacking his head he looked at Tai, he still had that wild unruly hairstyle of his, and as always was way too hyper for his own good.
Izzy peered over his shoulder to see Kari standing beside Tai. "Is that Kari, you haven't changed a bit." Giving her a small hug he motioned them into his house and waited for the others to arrive.
It had taken time for everyone to get to his house but when everyone came, it felt like old times. They sat around the living room telling each other what they had been doing with their lives. This was the first time they had all been in the same room together for over a year after all. Luckily for Izzy at least one of them had remained in touch with another member of the degidestions, so it was easy to track them all down.
They continued to talk amongst each other, until Tai spoke up. "So Izzy, not that I'm not enjoying the reunion. But why did you bring us all here?"
"Yea Izzy, why did you drag us all here?" Laughed Davis then his face turned serious. "Is their trouble in the Digital world?"
Ten pairs of eyes stared at him, waiting for him to say something. Until now Izzy hadn't been nervous about revealing his information, but he suddenly felt very unsure about what he was going to say.
Swallowing, Izzy turned around his computer and showed everyone the screen. There in the middle was the same blinking signal he first saw three days ago. Ten pairs of eyes looked back at him confused. Here goes "Three days ago I had some extra time at work, so I decided to look through some dimensions." Izzy turned to Matt, who had suddenly gone very pale.
"Are you saying…that blinking is a digital signal?" Asked Cody in shock.
"Not only is it a digital signal, it's giving out the same energy levels as ours."
"Could it be TK?" Asked Kari, trying to control her emotions.
"I'm not one hundred percent sure but it's a good possibility" After turning back to the screen. Izzy looked at the group.
A series of gasps went through the room as everyone tried to deal with this information. No one talked to shocked with the information they received to say anything. That after two years of searching, they might have just found TK.
"That's not possible" Davis voice rang out braking the silence that filled the room. Everyone turned waiting for him to continue which he did more calm then before. "TK is dead; no one could have survived for that long."
"No!" Matt cried, standing. His hands were shacking slightly with all the emotion he was felling at that moment. He couldn't believe what Izzy just said his brother; the one he thought to be gone forever was alive. "I know my little brother's alive."
"Matt, I know we all want him to be alive but it's been two years," Sora said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. She too was feeling all the emotions she had kept bottled up in herself for the last two years. She wanted to believe Matt, but she was also scared to get her hopes up again just so it would be shattered into a million pieces. She couldn't let herself go through that pain not again.
"TK strong," Cody muttered. "If anyone can survive, its him." Cody knew that no digimon alive could kill TK. Ever since their digimon had DNA digivolve they had had this connection. He didn't know how but he knew that TK was alive they just had to find him. He knew that they would find him eventually, he trusted Izzy to find him. He just had to wait. Didn't his grandfather always say patience will always pay off in the end? That and the benefits of prune juice. Well now it was the end and he was positive that they would all see TK again very soon.
"Let's be reasonable," cautioned Joe. He looked over everyone's faces seeing the same emotions going through them as they were going through him. "Even if that is TK, how are we going to get to him?"
"The same way we got to the digital world," said Izzy.
Inclining his head, Ken asked, "What do you mean? When we left the digital world the portal closed, so that Blitomon could not enter our world."
At the mention of Blitomon name everyone turned a little pale. Even though it had been two years some things you could not forget so easily.
Izzy started to pace, with his hand on his chin, looking thoughtful. He remembered that day all too well.
**Flashback**
They were all in the digital world fighting a new villain, Blitomon. He was a human-like digimon, with pale skin, black eyes and even blacker hair. He had two black wings on his back, that when flapped had the strength of a hurricane. He was their greatest adversary yet, and even with all their digimon they could not stop him. The newer kids had fought several of his underlings and finally managed to get Blitomon attention.
It was going to be their final battle, along with there hardest. They travailed through the gateway to the digital world to face him. The older kids had come along to give them what little help they could. They found out that Blitomon had found a book of ancient spells one of which would unite the digital world and their world together. If completed Blitomon would move into their world distorting all that stood in his way. When they arrived Blitomon was just about to complete the spell. With all the odds against them they charged into battle, the two sides merging in a colossal bang. They fought hard, and with sheer determination they trapped Blitomon so that he had no were to go. When they thought they had won there was a sudden energy blast that rippled throughout the digital world. All the digimon fell and converted back to the rookie stage.
"What happened?" Asked Davis picking himself off the ground.
"I don't know." Answered Izzy typing on his laptop. "That energy must have been the result of the spell almost being completed. The digital world is too weak. It's starting to break apart."
"Izzy what can we do?" Yelled Tia, over the wind growing stronger all around them. Thunder clapped through the sky as ran pored down on them.
It was the end of the world.
"We have to balance out the worlds somehow." Answered Izzy.
"How do we do that?" Yelled Mimi holding onto Palomon so she wouldn't blow away.
"Something has to go through a gate to another world." Answered Izzy.
"Fools, do you think you can stop me?" Everyone turned to Blitomon laughing. "I am too powerful, and you pathetic humans will all die"
"Just try it, you overgrown digimon," yelled Davis.
Blitomon turned his dark eyes to Davis. "Dying is too good for you." Lifting up his hand he continued, "I will send you to another dimension. There you will know the true meaning of suffering." With that he let out an energy similar to the energy used to dedigvolve the digimon. It flew out of his hand heading straight for Davis.
Frozen in fear Davis placed his arms out to protect him.
"Davis, move it!" The shout came from TK as he pushed Davis out of the way.
Izzy remembered seeing TK getting hit with the energy instead of Davis, and just…disappearing without a trace. He heard Matt and the others yelling then darkness overcame him.
The next thing he knew he and all the others were back in the computer room. No one knew what exactly happened they turned back to the computer screen the portal had been sealed. Their Digimon were nowhere to be found and to their growing horror TK was missing too.
Izzy still didn't know how it happened, but somehow the digital portal had closed. They tried all they could to reopen it but it was no good. Somehow during the course of their battle the spell must have been stopped, probably from TK being sent to another dimension. Izzy concluded that Blitomon used up too much energy and the spell couldn't last. The thing they did not know is if the Digital world was okay. For all they know the digitalworld could have been destroyed that day, along with there digimon. He figured that the only way to get the portal reopened was to have all twelve digivices together. Then and only then could the portal between their worlds and the digital world be opened again. It seemed like a fair explanation so they all agreed, until they found TK they couldn't open the digiport and they were just glad that Blitomon couldn't get into their world either.
"Earth to Izzy. Hello!" Izzy snapped out of his memory to see Mimi staring at him.
"Sorry. To answer your question, since all twelve digivices will be in that world," Izzy pointed to the computer screen, "Then we should be able to open a portal to that world, for a short time."
"How short of a time?" asked Yolie from his seat on the couch. She had been quiet up to this point. She admitted she believed TK was dead. It had been easier for her to think that her friend was dead, then to imagine him in a different dimension all alone. A shiver went through her body as she thought of all the things TK had probably been through.
"A matter of hours probable." Izzy answered.
"So we only have a matter of hours to go into another dimension, find TK, then get back. What happens if we don't do it?" Davis sat down hard next to Tai on the couch.
Izzy looked at the floor, avoiding everyone eyes. "If we don't get back through the portal before the scheduled time, then were stranded in that world forever." Izzy heard the startled gasps from the group but continued. "There's also another problem."
"Which is?" Asked Davis, annoyed.
Taking another deep breath Izzy continued, "Once were all together the digital portal should open again. With the digital portal opened Blitomon can gain access to our world. If he attacks and we don't have TK or our digimon our chances will be slim at best."
Everyone let the news settle in, they were all quiet until Matt spoke up. "We can't just leave TK in that world."
"Its not all about TK either." Clenching his hands into fists, Tai added, "Blitomon has been free in the digital world all this time, and who knows what damage he caused. If we don't act now we may never be able to defeat him." Tai looked over to Matt hopping his words had helped his best friend. He felt Matt pain when he lost TK, even though Matt had gotten better in the last couple of years he still wasn't his old self. Tai could only imagine it being Kari instead of TK. He wouldn't be the same either. With that thought he was determined to get TK back even if it meant losing his own life in the process.
"I'm worried about Biyomon and the others too. Who knows what Blitomon has done to them." Sora's voice cracked with emotion.
"We get one shot at this," said Davis he was just frustrated. "Either we find TK or Blitomon will come to our world and destroy it."
"Way to look at the bright side of things, Davis," muttered Yolie.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find him," Mimi piped in. "Once we get to that world all we have to do is follow the digi signal." She stared at the blinking light on the screen. She was holding her hands so tightly from keeping them from shacking; she knew they would be bruised for a week. She pictured his smiling face in her head and new that she had to see him again, she couldn't go the rest of her life without seeing how cute he had become.
"If that is TK," stated Joe
"What do you mean, Joe?" Asked Kari
"Say if that is TK's signal. It might not be TK." Turning to look at the screen he continued, "It could just be someone who found his digivice."
"I never thought of that possibility," admitted Izzy. "If that's not TK, we'll never find him in the time allowed."
"Not to mention we have no idea what we would be getting into." Ken said from his seat on the chair.
"What exactly are you saying Ken?" Asked Cody
"How do we know if we could survive in that world?" He looked over the group before continuing. "There may not be any oxygen, or it could be a world with no land only water."
"In other words we could be killed as soon as we enter that world." Said Davis saying what was on everyone's mind.
Everyone sat back down hard. All the energy seemed to be sucked out of the room at that moment. Then Matt's soft voice broke the silence. "Listen, I know there's many 'what ifs' and 'maybes'. I made a promise to myself when TK was born to always protect him. I broke that promise two years ago. If there is a way to get him back, I'll risk anything to do it."
Standing up, Tai looked at everyone in the room "Listen--either we all agree to do this or we don't go. I say we go. Who's with me?"
"I am." Matt joined Tai in the center of the room.
"You're not going without me," Kari stated.
Standing together Mimi and Sora giggled, "Count us in."
"This should be fun." Cody laughed.
"Well, I have nothing better to do." Ken shrugged.
"Lets get TK back," cried Yolie, jumping up to join the rest of them.
Joe smiled. "Well, I'll go, but first let me get some supplies."
"Hey, I found him, you can't go without me," said Izzy.
They all stared down at Davis, who was just staring at the floor "It's because of me that TK is in that world in the first place." Sighing he stood up how many times did he have to relive what happened in his head. All the things he could have done in order to change the past. He owed TK; if he didn't go for him then he was going for himself. "Count me in."
"Yes! Watch out TK, because here we come!" Shouted Kari as they all started to cheer.
******
TK turned. Did someone just call me? The weather was harsh. Wind swirled with the strength of a hurricane. Sand whirled around so fast that it cut the face like hundreds of shards of glass. The sky was pitch black except for the lighting that crashed to the ground every few minutes. It was like the end of the world. God, did he loved this weather.
TK preferred the solitude of the wilderness, free from the constricting walls of cities. This weather was calming. No one dared to attack anyone in this type of weather because of the danger of being hit with lightning. He let his guard down, not as much as he would have liked, but enough to feel relaxed.
"TK! Get you slimy no-brain self over here now!"
Liz hated this weather.
"Come on Liz, this is great. Lets camp out here tonight."
As a lighting bolt hit a dune not too far away from them. Liz turned towards TK. "I swear, when you lost your memory, you lost your common sense as well."
The wind was getting loader so she had to shout. "Were going to the next town and I'm getting a nice bath, and a real bed. And I'll kill anyone who stops me."
"Even little old me?" shouted back TK
"Especially little old you, so move it." Adjusting her hood she continued, "Unless of course you want your girlfriend to catch up with us."
"She probably still out cold." Feeling his cheeks turning red, he quickly added "And she's not my girlfriend. If you forget she did try to kill me."
"Don't remind me."
They walked in silence as the wind started to die down around them. The outline of a city could be seen over the horizon. "What's this town called?" asked TK.
"I have no idea," Liz said. "Let's find out." Just then a bullet went sailing between them, missing them by inches. He dove to the ground and when he looked up he saw a white blur coming towards them.
Liz was already on her feet with a gun in her hands "She's probably still out cold," She mimicked.
He didn't even hear the sarcasm; he was focusing instead on the blur, as it came into focus he could see the outline of her body, and her golden hair blowing behind her. She was on top of a white horse that was approaching at an alarming rate. Without thinking he pushed himself up and ran towards the horse.
"TK, what are you doing? Get back here!" yelled Liz. He knew that Liz would not fire with the fear that she could hit him. He just hoped that the same went true for the girl on the horse.
The horse reared up and he came inches from being trampled under its massive hooves. The girl slipped off the horse and had her sword already in her hand. "So, are you ready to die?"
"I'm ready to know why you're trying to kill me." TK let his kufuyah fall around his neck and had his hand ready on the back of his gun.
"You killed my brother. You deserve to die." Now she was circling him, eyeing him with the fierce glare of a predator.
"What are you talking about? I've never killed anyone in my life." He was waiting for some signal that would alert him of her attack.
"You might not have pulled the trigger but his blood is still on your hands!" She lunged for him, but instead of attacking crumpled to the ground in exhaustion.
She was on her hands and knees swaying just a little bit. TK approached her with caution. He figured that she was not fully recovered from the bump on the head that Liz gave her.
A week opponent is sometime the most deadly one.
He knelt down next to her and removed her kufuyah. Tiny strands of hair fell over her sweat-soaked brow. She almost gasped when he put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. She immediately swung at him but lost her balance and toppled to the ground. She rolled over on her back and closed her eyes, defeated.
"Just kill me and get it over with." Her shoulders tightened with fear as she waited for the final blow, but it never came. Instead she felt an arm go under her knee and then another on her back. Then she felt herself being lifted off the ground. He eyes flow open with sudden panic and she started to struggle. But she was too weak to continue
"If you're done struggling we can be on our way." Starting to walk, TK looked down at her "Liz already hates you. Don't make her hate you more by keeping her outside any longer than she has to be."
"When I regain my strength, remind me to kill you." With that she leaned against his shoulder and slipped back into unconsciousness.
"I'll try to remember." Adjusting her a bit, he turned around to see Liz approaching him. Oh great, now I'm going to hear it.
"Under no circumstances am I going to stand here, while you help her." Liz fixed him with a stare that could freeze the sun.
"Fine. Ride the nag." Inclining his head back to the horse, TK scowled he wasn't too sure who the nag was though. "You said it yourself, the world needs more good people. I'm just doing what any good person would do." Silently he hopped she would just let it go; his head was begging to pound.
"She tried to kill you! Not once but twice." There goes that hope.
TK spun around, his headache catching up with him, slamming full force against the side of his head. He closed his eyes giving the pain a few moments to quiet itself. When he opened his eyes he started right into Liz's face. "I won't leave her out here, Liz. Either we take her to town or we stay out here." He fixed her with a stubborn glare. "Which will it be?"
She stated at him for a long moment, not moving except for the twitching of the muscle near the corner of her left eye. Then she abruptly turned around and mounted the horse. "We'll talk about this later." She set the horse in motion and headed for the town.
TK looked down at the limp figure in his arms. "I'm sure if you were awake you would be enjoying every minute of this." With that he started walking after the long-gone Liz.
******
Kari drummed her fingers on the bench where she sat. It was taking longer than she'd expected to get everyone ready for this adventure. Everyone had to take time off work or study. Before she knew it, two days had passed and they only had to wait for Joe to arrive in order for them to leave.
Kari gazed up at the sky; it was so peaceful here. She felt the warmth of the sun, and the breeze as it gently cooled her skin. Her thoughts traveled to TK. He had always been a big part of her life. He was her best friend, truth be told. She'd always pictured herself more then just friends with him, but she was always too shy to admit her feelings, and then... She sighed heavily.
When he disappeared she'd locked herself in her room, too devastated to leave. Tai had to practically break the door down just to get her out. It took a while but her life went somewhat back to normal. Still, deep down in her heart, she kept a glimmer of hope that he would eventually come home.
When Izzy told her that he found the digivise two days ago her heart felt like it was going to leave her chest. After two years they had found him, she almost cried when her friends were thinking about not going to get him. Didn't they know that she would go through Hell and back just to see him again? She didn't want to here about the dangers or about the fact that it might not be TK, she was going and that was that. To raped up in her own thought she never even heard the quite footsteps coming up to her.
"Let me guess," said a voice. "You're daydreaming about TK."
Kari had to hold back a yell as she swung around to look into the knowing eyes of her brother. Placing a hand of her chest to calm herself she looked at the ground. "Do you think will find him?" she asked after awhile.
Tai sat down next to her. "I know we will." He wrapped a protective arm around her. "TK has always been strong. If anyone can survive, it's him."
Leaning her head on his shoulder she looked up at the sky. "Its just after two years..."
"Don't worry." Squeezing her to his side he continued "Knowing TK he probably having the time of his life waiting for us." Tai smiled he could never resist teasing her just a little bit. "He probably already marred and has six kids."
He was rewarded by getting a playful hit on the arm. Looking down he saw Kari smiling for the first time it seemed like in two years.
"Let's not let him have to much fun." Standing, she embraced her brother. "Thank you."
Returning the hug, Tai whispered, "Any time."
Kari saw that Joe had arrived. She took a seat on the couch next to Sora, and waited for Izzy to begin. "Does everyone have their digivices?" When they all nodded Izzy continued. "Okay, I guess it's now or never. Once I start their no turning back."
Everyone stood and came close to the screen. "Izzy if you keep explaining every thing to us it's going to be another two years until we get TK back." Davis said shoving his way to the front.
"Okay here hoping for the best." Izzy turned to his computer and started typing in the coordinates. Just as he finished, a vortex appeared and they were sucked into it.
The next thing they knew Tia knew he was in a desert, covered with sand. Okay at least we know we can properly breath here. "Is everyone okay?"
"Yes, but I should have bought sunscreen," Joe said, dusting himself off.
"I forgot the hard landings." Cody lifted himself off the ground. "No broken bones."
"Look at this place." Davis peered across the desert. "It's deserted."
"I think that's why they call it a desert, Davis," Yolie laughed.
Sure enough they were in what looked like the middle of the Sahara. There was nothing but sand for miles. Luckily they had come prepared with water and food. From the looks of this place they would need it.
"Hey, I'm getting a signal," said Izzy. "It looks close."
"Then let's go. The sooner we find TK, the sooner we can get home." Ken turned, taking off towards were the signal was coming from.
"My poor hair," whined Mimi. "This much sun isn't good for it, and now my feet hurt."
"Mimi!"
******
He sat on a stool, rubbing his face. He was careful not to touch his eyes, which were on the verge of falling out. He really wasn't paying attention to Liz. She had been droning on for the last hour, about how foolish he was. Well, at least she not throwing things anymore. Just then, a shoe went flying towards his head, missing him by inches.
"Okay Liz, that's enough!" TK yelled, "You almost took off my head."
"Oh, so you're getting mad at me for trying to kill you, but its perfectly okay for that...that girl to try to kill you!" Folding her arms, she gave him a look that sent a shiver up his spine.
"Okay, Liz." Tired of trying to defend himself, he sighed. "What's done is done. Now we have to figure out what to do with her."
"I could think of many things to do to her." She smiled. "But you wouldn't like any of them."
He gave her a weak smile, and then lowered his head. "She said I killed her brother."
Liz's eyes widened in disbelief. "And you believed her?" She came forward making TK look at her. "TK... you know you never killed anyone."
"She said I killed him without pulling the trigger." He sighed. "Maybe I did it before I lost my memory."
Liz smiled down at him. "TK, I might not have known you before you lost your memory, but I know you in here." Placing a hand on his heart she continued. "You are not a killer." She headed for the door. "And I'm going to find out why she thinks you are."
TK got up and followed her to the girl's room. When he opened the door Liz was already sitting on a chair by the bed. The girl sitting on the bed turned and gave him an angry scowl, then averted her eyes and focused back on Liz. "First you barge into my room, then," Turning and pointing to TK "you invite him in"
"First of all." Liz said pointing to the girl "This is my room. I paid for it your just visiting. Second TK goes where I go."
Huffing the girl turned around "What is he you pet."
TK ignored the barb from the girl and instead found a chair in the corner to sit on. Not that he wanted to remain in this room, but he didn't carry the girl half way across a dessert just to have Liz kill her now. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
"Now why exactly are you trying to kill my son." Liz said leaning towards the girl. It was rare when Liz called him son, but with the girl comment I guess Liz didn't what her thinking that she was TK mistress.
The girl turned back to Liz with surprise in her eyes. "But I thought...." The surprise look quickly left her face and was replaced by a very noticeable blush.
"I know what you thought. Now answer my question." The two girls sized each other up, green eyes assessing brown ones.
"Do you remember a town called Delgo?"
Liz nodded. The girl took a deep breath. "That was the name of the town I was born in." She glanced at TK. "The same town where you sentenced my brother to death."
"Will you stop accusing him!" Liz shouted. "Now, how did he supposedly kill your brother?"
"He did kill him." When she turned back to Liz, there was no anger in her eyes. Just pain and sadness. "I remember everything. We were in town for a few things. We were almost done with our business when the hunters came out to patrol."
TK shivered inwardly. Hunters were a group of individuals who hunted down people with technology, hence the name. Once they found someone they would kill him--or her--without a blink of an eye. Most of the time they killed for no good reason. They were the law in this world. No one could oppose them, and those who did, didn't last too long. All he knew was that if a hunter caught you, you would pray for a quick death. Hunters were famous for making a death as long and as painful as possible.
He was jarred out of that thought by the girl yelling at him. "That when I saw you." She was pointing a finger at him. "They asked you something and then you pointed to my brother." She screamed in frustration. "You must have told them that he had technology and that's why they killed him. No! You killed him!"
TK left the corner he was sitting and approached her. "Listen, first of all how would I know if your brother had technology? Second, why would I turn him in?"
"Why?" She stood up from the bed. Much stronger now then she had been a few minutes ago. "Maybe you just like to see people suffer."
"Listen, I don't know what...."
"Enough." They both turned to see Liz, who looked back at them then bust into laughter.
The girl leaned in whispering to TK, "I think your friend lost it." TK was almost inclined to agree. The girl sat back down on the bed and TK moved toward Liz.
When Liz controlled her laughing she looked at the girl. "Listen sweetheart, TK would never turn in anyone to the hunters."
"And why not?"
"Because," Liz said, reaching into her pocket, and pulling out a strange device. "He would have to turn me in."
"My digivice!" TK hurriedly took the device from her.
"Your what?" Liz leaned closer, forgetting his rude grab.
"My digivise. I don't know what it is, I can't remember." He rubbed his head. "Where did you get it?"
Liz looked down at the floor. "Well... when I found you all those years ago, I found it on you." She looked at him. "I figured I could hock it for a few coins, so I hid it from you."
"So why didn't you sell it?"
"Well, I got to know you better. I was going to give it back but it was too dangerous for you to carry around."
"You could have at least told me about it," he said, with a hint of anger on his voice.
"How was I to know you would remember it?" she shouted back.
"That no excuse, you should have..."
"Excuse me." TK turned to the girl. In all the commotion he'd forgotten she was there. "This still doesn't explain why you killed my brother."
"For the last time, I did not kill your brother."
She shook her head "Liar. I saw you."
"Maybe I was pointing at something else." TK let out a long sigh. "All I know is that I would not turn in anyone to the hunters. Life is too precious to be throne away."
She gave an annoyed scream then abruptly turned her back on him. TK threw his hands up in exasperation. His eyes looked at the cracked beamed ceiling as if looking for heaven for an answer. "I give up." With that he walked back to his corner and sat hard on the chair.
Liz gave a little snicker; she was finding this very amusing. She wasn't an expert on love; it didn't pay in her line of work to fall in love. But she saw something in theses two. Maybe it wasn't love but they definitely liked each other. She liked the girl, God knows why. In a way she reminded her of herself when she was young. She looked over to TK who was fuming in the corner. She had tried to raise him right, she never let him get close to any girl. One reason was a selfish one she couldn't let him go off and start a family, she still needed him. The other reason was not so selfish all the girls they ever meet were prostitutes or sniveling weak girls who would faint at the sight of a mouse. TK need someone strong and independent, looking over to the girl on the bed she wondered if maybe this girl could be the one.
Liz chuckled again then turned to the girl. "Look, miss, can we at least know your name? Since we seem to be getting along so well?"
"Why should I tell you," she replied, so cool that icicles might have formed from hr breath.
Liz, of course, was made of ice. "Fine, don't tell us." Liz sat on the stool and faced the opposite direction. A small smile spreading over her face.
After a long silence the girl whispered, "Ajona."
"What did you say?" Liz turned back to face her.
The girl rolled her eyes. "My name is Ajona, Ajona Cantil"
"Ya right, and my name's Dusty," said TK from the corner. "What's your real name, AJ?"
Ajona scowled. "Hey, unlike some people," turning to TK, "I don't lie."
"You don't lie." TK faked a shocked expression "You just did when you said I killed your brother."
"And who says I'm lying?"
"Who says you aren't?" yelled TK.
"Stop it!" Liz screamed. "I'll have to put a muzzle on you two." Calming herself she continued, "Its nice to meet you, Ajona. My name Liz, and that," pointing to TK, "as you already know, is TK."
"Well at least some people around here have manners." Ajona smiled and extended her hand to Liz.
TK looked over to Liz, What is she up too? All he could think about was that he actually thought she was cute. Ajona, it was as pretty name, but then again it would look nice on a tombstone. He quickly scolded himself for thinking that sure he hated her, but he didn't wish her dead. She was just confused and hurt. Just like his head was, the headache he had earlier just turned into the a full-blown thunderstorm of a migraine. Ignoring the pain, which was nearly impossible, he tried to picture himself in her position. How would he feel if someone tried to kill his brother?
His brother?
Did he have a brother? Racking his brain he tried to get some picture, still nothing. But he was almost positive that he had a brother. But if he did where was he?
******
"Okay I officially hate this place." Chimed Mimi as she dumped what seemed like the whole dessert out of her shoe.
"Mimi stop complaining, a little sand never hurt anyone." Davis wiped his brow then slumped down on the ground next to Mimi.
"No but a little dehydration can." Said Joe slowing down to a stop. "Not to mention heat stroke. I suggest we stop for a while and rest."
"We can't stop now, were too close to stop." Pleaded Kari as she turned back to the group.
"No, Joe right we need to rest for a while." Tia collapsed on the ground. With the others right behind him.
"I can't believe we've been in this place for an hour and we haven't even seen any sign of life yet." Cody said as he scanned to ongoing horizon. "I'm going to go up on that dune to get a better look."
"Okay be careful." Tai cautioned as he took a drink of water.
"That does bring up a good point." Ken was starring after Cody, and then turned back to the group.
Everyone turned to the young boy "What do you mean?" asked Yolie asking the question that was on everyone mind.
"There might not be any life on this planet. If there is, are they human or Digimon or maybe they're neither." Ken silenced the group with his thoughts and they all stated into the desert.
"Well, I don't care what the inhabits are in this world." Said Matt standing up "The only thing I care about right now is getting TK back."
"Hey I think I see a town." Stunned everyone looked over to where Cody was.
As the group raced up the dune were Cody was. Tai pulled out his miniature telescope and focused in on what Cody was pointing too. "It is a town." Looking down at his digivise his smile widened. "And I'm positive that's were TK is."
"So what are we sitting around here for." Matt didn't wait for a reply as he headed down the hill impatiently. "Lets get my brother."
"Oh and I just got all the sand out of my shoes." Complained Mimi as she raced after her friends.
******
"I don't care what you say he killed my brother." Yelled Ajona for what seemed like the hundredth time.
By now TK had given up trying to convince her that he wasn't a killer. Why should he care if she believed he was a killer? He looked over to Liz who kept laughing through all this then shock his head. If he learned one thing in his life he had learned that he'll never understand women.
Looking away from the two girls he instead focused his gaze on his digivise. I wish I could remember why it's so important. He was surprised he remembered what it was in the first place. As he looked it over he noticed it was still in good shape; there were no dents or cracks anywhere. He then noticed eleven dots on the screen, moving closer to the center. He stood up abruptly and turned to the two girls. "I'm going out." He tossed the device to Liz.
"Have fun." Liz smiled. "Don't get yourself killed."
He glanced over his shoulder. "Keep her here, and I should be safe." With that he left, never looking back.
Ajona stared at the door were he lift. Was she mistaken about believing he killed her brother? She kind of hoped she was, any other person would have killed her in town. Not only did he not kill her, he had purchased a room for her. If he would have left her on the street she could have been robbed, killed or worse. She had been shocked when she woke up and found herself in a bed. Before she knew what she was doing she jumped on her horse and went in pursuit of her target. What confused her more was even after she tried to kill him a second time. He still didn't take revenge on her; instead he carried her across the dessert to safety.
Sighing she turned to Liz, only to find her staring at her with a smile on her face. Guilt immediately washed over her, she assumed that this lady was TK mistress, not his mother. Felling a little acquired she decided to break the silence. "Are you sure he didn't kill my brother."
"As sure as I know the sun is hot." Her smile faded a little as she looked over the girl. "I know how it feels to lose you family. I lost mine when I was very young."
"But you have TK?"
"As I always say, " She looked back at the door where he had disappeared moments ago "the heavens sent him to me."
Ajona looked at the older women with a puzzle on her face "What do you mean?"
"Oh, that interested are you?" She teased.
A tiny bit of pink rose from her neck as she looked away from Liz. "No! Its just, no offense but he doesn't really look like you."
Giggling she sat back down on the corner of the bed. "Well there's a good explanation for that."
"Which is?"
"Okay if I tell you, you have to promise me something." Smiling wickedly Liz continued, "What do you say."
"What's the promise?"
**********
"Wow, look at this place." Davis whistled. "It looks like a cross between the wild west and Arabian Nights."
They looked around the town as people carried about their lives. The town reminded them of one of the town in a Wild West movie as Davis pointed out. People of all ages crowded the streets but none of them were TK. Walking down the center of town they looked in at some of the windows. It was a nice town it did seem peaceful enough.
"Well at least we know there are humans in this town." Said Ken as he avoided the people on the streets.
"Listen up, guys," Izzy not even looking up from his computer continued. "We only have four hours left."
"Four hours!" Tai frowned. "Izzy, that doesn't give us any time to waste."
"Oh well." Mimi sighed. "I don't think I would buy anything here anyway."
"Well, if TK is here, he's definitely in this town," Yolie peered up from her digivise. "And it doesn't look like he's going anywhere."
Just then they heard gunshots ring out, and quickly headed toward the signal, not wanting to find out what happened. The found themselves in front of a hotel. They were about to enter, when the doors swung open and a man went flying out, landing hard on the dirt. There in the doorway was a large man with a mustache. "The next time I catch you in here, I cut your throat." He turned and smiled at the group. "Welcome, folks. Come on in and make yourselves at home." He clasped Joe around the shoulders and pulled him in, as the rest followed.
Mimi looked around. Inside was a small bar, with stools lined up in front of it. In front of the bar there were a few tables with men playing poker. In the back was a stage, where girls were parading around with nothing on but skimpy lingerie. Above them was a balcony, with men whistling at the girls down below. Mimi leaned close to Joe and whispered,
"TK wouldn't be in a place like this." She passed a table and earned a whistle from one of the men. Horrified, she added, "Let's just go."
"We can't go yet." Kari leaned towards her. "TK's signal is coming from in here."
"Maybe he works here," Tai suggested. "We should ask the bartender." They walked up to the bar and saw the same large man they had met moments ago.
"Excuse me." Matt stepped closer to the bar. "We're looking for someone."
"Don't say another word." Motioning to a corner of the bar, he pointed to blond women, who dress left nothing to the imagination. "What about Goldie here, she's not too expensive."
"Uh, no," Matt stammered, feeling his cheeks turning red. He heard Tia giggling in the background but ignored him "I'm looking for my little brother."
******
Liz left Ajona so she could rest a little more. She got her promise not to kill TK, at least until tomorrow. She giggled over the scene in the bedroom. Ajona was glued to every word she said about TK. She could just imagine them becoming friends that is if they didn't kill each other first. She laughed as she entered the bar. She saw TK sitting at a table with his face covered up as he was taught.
Cover your face and eyes so that no one could recognize you.
Ajona recognized him and look what almost happened. She walked over to the bar and sat down by a blond boy, who was talking to the bartender. She didn't mean to listen in but if these kids didn't where the strangest cloths.
"So what does your brother look like?" The bartender was asking as he cleaned out a glass.
Before he could answer two shots rang out, followed by a scream. Matt turned around to see a man dead on the ground and another one standing above him with a smoking gun. "No one cheats when I'm around," said the man with the gun.
He was a tall man with a brim hat and a scar on his face. Matt was shocked as the man calmly sat back down without another look at the dead man, and dealt out the cards to the two remaining players. The other two players acted as if nothing had happened. In fact everyone did; the only one who did anything was a short man who came and dragged the body out of the hotel. Matt focused on the other two players. One was a short old man with gray hair, and the other was dressed in black, but his face was covered with a black scarf and sunglasses.
Turning to the rest of the group. He saw that everyone was still in shock. They had never seen anyone killed in cold blood before. Matt decided to get this over with quickly. He turned back to the bartender, who looked bored at the whole situation, and handed him a photograph. "That's what he looked like two years ago." Matt sighed. "I haven't seen him since then."
The bartender took the picture and looked at it, placing it on the bar, and smiled. "Sorry kid, haven't seen anyone who looks like him."
Liz glanced over at the picture, and could not hold back the gasp from her mouth. That picture... that boy... it was TK.
Matt was about the leave when he heard the gasp, and he swung around to face a red-haired woman staring at TK's picture. He looked into her eyes. "Do you know this person?"
Liz could not hide the shock. The eyes that watched her were the same ones she had seen every day for the past two years. There was no doubt in her mind this was TK's brother.
Okay so what do you think? Please review, like I said earlier I still have not chosen couples yet. In the next chapter will see if TK sees his friends again.