[Notes:

This part actually kinda sucks. Not much happening plot-wise. Just the Point A To Point B-type of chapter. But I guess it's a little required so the fun stuff will make more sense. I tried to tone down on the nasty sarcasm halfway through because it was beginning to disturb me. ^^; And before you ask, no, I don't know what possessed me to parody a Brave Little Toaster song. What's scarier is that I have two other songs from the same movie that would be fit to parody this later on…eee…

Actually, I sorta lied last time. I don't really like Guilmon or Gaurdromon. Probably why I regard them so badly! Oh well. They won't be in the story that much after their little cameo here. Whoo.

The next part will hopefully be more happy and fun! Yay!]

"Shiota Hirokazu! Notorious loose cannon cop who DOESN'T play by the rules! Watch him in his newest stunt! Beating the forces of evil in his trek to—"

"MATSUDA! Didn't I tell you not to bring that piece of junk on the trip?!"

"Uhh…I forgot?"

"Likely story. Well, too late to do much about it now. Throw it in the trunk. Kenta has shotgun, before you start claiming seats."

"Aww…"

Takato obediently put his video camera in the trunk of the car. He was thankful he could at LEAST take it along…

            "Kakkoi ne!" Hirokazu chirped as he hugged the van he was given as a prize. It was dark green and could well enough hold everyone coming along for the trip.

"That's a damn awesome car," Takato commented. "What kinda contest did you win, man?"

            "That's for me to know and you to wonder and angst about!" 'Kazu said matter-of-factly.

"Thanks a lot…" Takato sighed and leaned against the van. "I guess it's not important. We ARE spending a good while in another country…"

                        "Hawaii's gonna be a blast," Kenta said as he finished loading his belongings in the trunk. "Assuming nothing happens while we fly over there."

"You're just paranoid, Geek-O-Nerd," Ruki explained. "I won't let anything fuck up this vacation."

"Good to know you're working for all of us for once," Lee said as he started loading his things into the trunk.

            Lee suddenly crumbled forward into the trunk as a sharp wave of pain struck him from behind.

Ruki had kicked him bold and squarely in the behind. "That's just one for the road," she confirmed.

Juri started dragging the cooler to the back seats. "Is that everything?"

            Hirokazu started counting by his fingers. "Hmm…I think so. Anyone else forgot something they wanna pack?"

Ruki held up a finger. "I'll check." She folded her arms and looked up into the clear sky. "Renamon?"

                        "Right here," the vertically-unchallenged Digimon replied, suddenly appearing on top of the van.

"Good," her Tamer approved. "Just stay there until I say you can move."

                                    "Affirmative," Renamon complied. She then disappeared.

"How…uh, obedient," Hirokazu remarked sarcastically.

                        "She's still there, knucklehead," Ruki interjected. "You just can't see her."

            "How come?" Kenta asked.

"Because you're a knave," answered the tomboy, as she climbed into the car.

            "All right, Makino's got the right idea, let's not waste anymore time and get rollin'!" 'Kazu exclaimed.

As Hirokazu started to enter the driver's seat, he felt a hand on his shoulder. The visored one turned around to find…

Lee.

"Are you seriously gonna drive us all the way to the airport?" was what he immediately asked.

            "It's my car, bozo," Hirokazu argued. "It's mine, so I'm driving it."

"When's the last time you got a ticket?" Lee asked. "Are you even legal to drive?"

"It's fine, dork," 'Kazu insisted. "I'll be legal in a few days, so no biggie."

            Without another word, Lee pulled Hirokazu away from the driver's seat and sat in it himself.

"Ay!! Lee, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"

                        "I don't trust you getting us to the airport in one piece," Lee calmly explained. "So I'll do it."

"You BASTARD!" 'Kazu was outraged. "It's MY car! If I wanna wreck it, I'm gonna! And if I'm gonna get tickets with it, I can! It's my fucking car!"

            "Shiota, shut up and get back here," Ruki ordered. "I'm not going on this vacation if you're plotting to kill us all before we get in the damn plane."

"And if Ruki doesn't go, I won't go," concurred Juri.

                        "They've got a point," admitted Takato. "I don't feel safe with you driving us, 'Kazu."

"I told you not to act like this before we left!" nagged Kenta. "Now it got you into trouble. Lick your wounds and sit with me," he said as he moved from the front seat and into the very back. "At least you won't have to focus entirely on the road." Kenta ended his sentence with a suggestive wink.

            "All right," 'Kazu gave in. "You convinced me, I'm surrendering…" He trudged to the back of the van and sat with Kenta, where upon then, forgot about his sadness.

                        "Takato," Lee said with a smile. "You can sit with me, now."

"Sweet!" he exclaimed as he claimed the shotgun seat. "I love how you negotiate things, Lee-chan…"

            Lee smiled and blushed, which he embarrassingly tried to hide. "Please, don't do this to me when I start driving.."

"Speaking of starting, hurry up and start!" Hirokazu demanded. "Before I take my throne back, you Chinese piece of crap!"

            "Is everyone ready in there?" Lee called back, ignoring 'Kazu.

Everyone gave their shout of acknowledgement.

            "Excellent!"

*

"Are we—"

            "NO, Kenta. Shut up!"

"How far are we…?"

            "Not THAT far. Just give me another 20 minutes."

"Are you telling the truth?"

            Lee growled. "'Kazu, I advise you get Kenta under control. Before I STOP THIS CAR AND MURDER HIM."

Hirokazu scoffed. "I know you'd never do that. It's against your moral code and all that shit."

            "I'll get Ruki to do it," Lee shot back.

"You can't get Ruki to do crap," Hirokazu challenged. "She hates you more than all of us."

                        Hearing her name, Ruki instinctively turned around to the back where Hirokazu and Kenta were, as she formed a threatening fist.

            "I'm just now beginning to hate you guys a little more," she spat. "So you'd best be quiet until we actually GET there."

Kenta and Hirokazu both nodded and obeyed, and remained silent the rest of the trip.

*

The Tamers had successfully made it to the Airport, and had gotten their tickets. They were all carrying their luggage to the checkout station just ahead, with a reasonable amount of time to spare. Ruki had earlier ordered Renamon off the car when they parked, and requested she travel with them throughout the airport until they lifted off.

            It was when they were halfway to the checking point, that something had occurred to Ruki.

"Hey…" she said, in her usual unsure voice when she asked something. "How fast do planes fly?"

            Juri shrugged. No one else answered.

Ruki narrowed her eyes. "Maybe I didn't make myself clear." She grabbed Kenta's shirt and lifted him up. "I WANT to know how fast planes fly, and I'll know, before we ever reach the checkpoint."

                        "Heeey! I don't know anything about planes!!" Kenta wailed. "Put me down!"

"LIAR!" Ruki shouted, loud enough to catch attention of the people of the entire vicinity. "Tell me!"

            "Ease off, Makino!" Hirokazu shouted. "He doesn't know, and I know him better than anyone!"

"Well, I know YOU'RE too stupid to know," Ruki grumbled as she threw Kenta down.

"Why do you need to know, anyway?" asked Takato.

            Ruki gestured to her digimon which she had been carrying over with her other arm.

"I need to know if it travels too fast for Renamon to stay on."

                        Lee rolled his eyes. "Well, that's a little obvious."

"You think so?" Ruki asked deviously. "All right, dork, how fast is this plane gonna go?"

            Lee blinked, then thought for a little bit. Only to decide to just randomly make something up.

"Uh…a million miles an hour."

                        Ruki looked down. "Renamon?"

"I wouldn't advise it," Renamon informed. "If it does go that fast."

            "Hmm," Ruki looked suspiciously to Lee again. "And you ARE telling the truth, are you not?"

"Sure, Ruki," nodded Lee. "Whatever."

"…so what're we gonna do about Renamon, guys?" Juri inquired.

            "Well," Kenta figured. "The logical solution is that Renamon travels with us…uh, inside the plane."

"You mean in with us, on the PASSENGER SEATS?" Takato cried. "We can't do that!"

                        "Yeah, security would never let her through," Hirokazu pointed out.

"She could travel in the luggage," suggested Lee.

            "Don't even think about stuffing me in an airless bag of hell," Renamon warned.

"Security would still catch her when we reach luggage inspection," Juri said with a sigh.

                        "Dammit, Ruki!" 'Kazu cried in frustration. "Why'd you have to go and complicate this trip?!"

"Oh, quit your whining," Ruki muttered. "Here's what we'll do." She pulled out what oddly resembled a giant bodybag. "I had a feeling this kind of situation would happen."

            "Ruki-sama…" Renamon whispered, noting the bag.

"Hush," Ruki ordered the digimon. "It has built-in air vents and some stuff for you to amuse yourself with. You'll be fine."

                        "Uhh…there's still inspection, Ruki," Takato reminded.

"So?" Ruki looked down to Renamon again. "She can teleport, doofus. She'll be in the bag, and when the bag goes through the scanner, she'll disappear from the bag and appear back in when it comes out."

            "That sounds really fast-paced and easily screw-uppable," Takato commented.

"It's all I have," Ruki countered. "And I refuse to leave Renamon here. So it's the plan we execute."

                        "Well…uh, go for it, Ruki," Takato unenthusiastically encouraged.

Ruki nodded and looked to Renamon. "Please trust me. It won't be that bad."

            "I'll obey you anyway," Renamon said. "It's what I'm supposed to do."

"Yeah, I know," Ruki said as she stuffed Renamon in the bag. "Now listen. You stay as stiff as possible in this bag. If they find out you're alive, we're in trouble. But I don't want you to move from this bag until you hear me saying your name. Understand?"

                        "Perfectly," her partner replied as she was fully sealed into the bag.

"And when I snap," Ruki continued. "My fingers, that is, you teleport right back in. And try to not move when you're doing that, too. Think you can pull it off?"

            "Of course, Ruki," came Renamon's muffled voice from the bag.

"That's the spirit any worthy digimon of mine should have," Ruki said proudly, and carefully slung the bag over her shoulder.

"All set, then? Let's make our way through!" shouted 'Kazu as the approached the luggage inspection.

*

            "Rats, these damned metal detectors," muttered Kenta, taking off his watch. "I always hate this part of the airport."

                        "What, are you hiding something?" Juri joked with a giggle.

"Of course not!" Kenta exclaimed, emptying out his pockets. "It's just that I'm—"

            "A paranoid-delusional," Ruki interrupted, as if she were trying to finish his sentence.

"Oi, Makino," 'Kazu groaned. "Don't you have anything better to do than harass my boyfriend…?"

                        "Would you prefer I harass you?" Ruki asked, getting into Hirokazu's face.

Hirokazu held up his hands defensively and sweatdropped. "Eheheh, I guess I might as well take one for the team..!"

            "Moron," Ruki said sullenly, as she took off her belt and her steel-toed shoes.

Everyone eventually made it past the inspection. As Ruki went through, she noticed the Renamon-Bag being put on the conveyor belt.

            Ruki remained where she stood until she saw the first bit of the bag go inside the curtains.

"Renamon," she whispered.

            The others watched closely as the body of the bodybag (sorry) was being scanned. A few trinkets here and there, as planned by Ruki so as not to have a suspiciously empty bag. But no living animal was seen inside of the bag.

"Not a lot in there, for such a big bag," the security guard noted.

            "Uh…yeah," Ruki said indifferently. "It's just some good luck trinkets I brought with me."

"So, are you gonna move, or are you gonna hold up the line?" the guard asked, pointing to the line of people behind Ruki.

                        "Keep your pants on," Ruki muttered as she slowly walked through. "I'll be out in a snap."

To emphasize her words, Ruki held up a hand in the air and snapped her fingers once. With that, she was on the other side, and put her belt back on, as well as her shoes.

            "So, did it work?" Juri whispered.

Ruki gave a nod of approval as she watched her bag come out from the curtains. She grabbed it and walked away with the others.

*

It was a bright, sunny day. Over the International Dateline, the plane containing the Tamers crossed. Takato occasionally made sketches of the scenery he was viewing, but spent his time sleeping in the most part. Lee and Juri occupied themselves with magazines. Ruki made use of her time writing in her journal, whilst Hirokazu and Kenta either flirted or played pranks on the passengers sitting around them.

In a matter of time, though, Lee was beginning to notice they were passing over some islands, and just then came an announcement over the intercom that they were approaching the destination very soon.

"Hey, Takato," Lee whispered to his best friend. "Wake up, we're almost here."

            Takato yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I'm starving, Lee-chan."

Lee sweatdropped. "Not my fault you hate peanuts, Takato-chan."

                        Takato nodded and sat up straight. "I guess. But I'd like some real food so— hey, we're flying over islands now! Cool!"

Lee nodded and leaned back, trying to give Takato a fair view of the window seat. "Pretty, isn't it?"

            Takato leaned over Lee and pressed his face against the window. "This…is…AWESOME!"

Lee sweatdropped again and smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Takato."

                        "Hey! Guys!" Takato shouted to his other friends. "We're flying over the islands! Cool, no?"

"Glad you realized that, Goggle-Head," Ruki said with disinterest as she was reading. "We noticed 10 minutes ago."

            Juri grinned and brought her puppet up. "You're not seasick, are you, Takato-chan?"

Takato rolled his eyes. "As if, Juri. I don't wear these goggles for no apparent reason!"

                        "Which is nice for a change, I guess," Hirokazu mentioned as he was also reading. "Those other guys never used their goggles…"

"Well, you never use your visor," Lee pointed out. "So what's the point in that?"

            "Hey buddy, you don't USE visors," 'Kazu defended. "They're just stylish. And anyway, it ensures none of you confuse me with Ryo."

                        "Too bad Ryo couldn't come," Lee sighed.

"I have a feeling we'll run into him anyway," Kenta mused. "It just feels like a situation where he'd show up for no apparent reason."

"It'd be nice to see him again!" Juri exclaimed. "Ne, Ruki-chan?" She playfully elbowed her companion.

            "Sure, whatever," Ruki said, her eyes not leaving the magazine she read.

"We'd all be like one big happy family," Takato said dreamily, looking back out into the window.

                        "Takato?"

"Yeah, 'Kazu?"

            "Never say that in my presence again. I'll be forced to smack you."

"Uh…hai."

*

The Tamers started looking around for Renamon as they loaded off the plane. They couldn't spot her through the windows, so they all kept a close eye for her when they reached the airport building.

            "Ah, there she is!" Takato announced, pointing to a cart which was carrying the luggage to the pick-up area of the airport.

Everyone looked in Takato's direction and surely enough, there was Renamon, hanging from the back of the vehicle.

            Ruki smiled when she saw Renamon sneak her way into her proper hiding place, then be loaded inside the airport along with all the other luggage.

"Well," said Hirokazu. "Let's go get her and the rest of our stuff!"

The group immediately headed to the wing of the airport containing their luggage.

            "So, 'Kazu," started Takato. "After we get all this, where are we off to?"

Hirokazu smiled. "Well, first thing we do is get my new car rented. According to what the contest said, I'd have vehicles supporting me for the entire vacation, so I SHOULD also have a spare car waiting for us at our hotel. But we still need a car to get to the hotel, so I gotta rent one. Which is no biggie, considering I've got a million or so bucks to blow on this vacation."

                        Takato effectively blinked. "Dude."

            "Heheh, yeah. But," Hirokazu said seriously. "I think it's too late to be doing much today. We may just hit the hotel and turn in for the night, and we'll start plotting out our fun before we go to bed. Now, I RECALL that contest mentioning supplying me with things like boats and crap that we can have fun on the beach with! So the beach is our first destination, and we'll definitely be going back there off-and-on."

            "Makes sense," commented Lee, who was also listening in.

Hirokazu winked. "See, I plan ahead! Anyway, I've heard of the most awesome joints and theme parks around this area, and there's crazy stuff like volcanoes in this area, so we're gonna definitely take a gander at that. Whatever you guys feel like doing first. I'll get a list of our options when we reach the hotel, so we'll just let everything come together then! Okay?"

            "Just don't screw this up," warned Ruki. "I don't think I need to say what horrible things I could do to you."

Hirokazu bluened a bit. "This is 100% flawless, Ruki! Believe you me! This vacation will be PERFECT!"

                        "Hey!" shouted Juri. "I think I see Renamon!"

*

Everyone was seated in a new car; the car Hirokazu rented. Only this time, Hirokazu was actually driving it. He managed to get lucky enough to beat Lee to the driver's seat.

"You PROMISE you won't kill us, 'Kazu?" pleaded Takato.

            "Quit bein' a baby, Matsuda!" growled 'Kazu. "It may be hard for you to comprehend, but I CAN drive well when I need to!"

                        "Everyone, just give Hirokazu a little faith!" Kenta requested. "Look, I'M in the car! You think he's gonna kill me?"

Everyone sighed and gave up in favor of Kenta.

Hirokazu started the silver van up, and pulled out of the airport parking lot. Kenta, in the shotgun seat, of course, was focusing on resetting his watch.

            "Hey," he called to the backseat riders. "If anyone else has a watch on them, you'd better change it, since we're in a new timezone and junk."

On cue, Lee, Takato and Ruki started setting their watching according to the clock on the van.

            "Better not forget, today's actually yesterday," added 'Kazu. "Well, in a few hours it'll be today, but for now just remember it's yesterday."

                        Everyone in the backseat was rendered massively sweatdropping.

"Uh…what?" Juri meekly asked.

                                    "Imagine we're reliving Friday all over again in a matter of hours, Juri," said Kenta.

"Oh…okay."

            "I'll have to admit," said Takato. "This is the first time I've seen you legitimately drive, Hirokazu!"

"Hah," 'Kazu scoffed. "You haven't even SEEN what I can do yet."

                        "'Kazu-chan…" Kenta growled. "No tricks. We don't wanna be lost out here!"

"Relax," said 'Kazu, waving a hand at Kenta. "I should have a map somewhere in the back. Speaking of which, I could actually use that about now. Can you guys look for that and give it to me…?"

"It's right here, 'Kazu." said Takato, holding the folded map out.

            "Okay. Actually, can you give it to Kenta? It's probably a good idea to keep my eyes on the road."

"For once," Ruki muttered.

            "Up to you now, Kenta," Takato chirped as he handed his friend the map. "Don't get us lost!"

"Yeah, yeah," Kenta yapped, ignoring Takato's belittling of him. He took the map and started looking at it.

                        "You didn't get us some cheap hotel, did you, Hirokazu?" asked Lee.

"Hilton Resort, my friend. Hilton is what I got us."

            "Whoa!" went everyone, especially Ruki.

"I take back what I said, 'Kazu!" panicked Lee, who was utterly amazed at 'Kazu's good taste in hotels. "Thanks!"

Hirokazu smirked. "See, don't you guys just love me right now?"

            Everyone except 'Kazu and Kenta started looking out of the window, for they were entering town.

"…You've still got a ways to go," Ruki said flatly. "This town looks like a dump."

            "It's the closest town to where all the fun stuff is!" 'Kazu insisted.

"You'd better be right," Juri said apprehensively.

                        "I'll admit, I have seen better towns," commented Takato as he gazed at the surroundings.

"I guess we're in the poverty-stricken side of town," guessed Kenta as he adjusted his glasses, peering into the map. "This place is actually pretty big, and I'm betting there's lots of poor people in Hawaii. 'Kazu-chan, turn left on the next street and I think it'll directly bring us to where we need to go."

"I think I can see the beach way back there," said Juri, who was kneeling backwards in her seat, looking out the back window. "What a beautiful sunset…"

            "Do we get a beach-view from our room?" asked Lee.

"Oh yeah," Hirokazu replied happily. "I got the best damn room in the whole place. They treat a contest-winner quite well, ne?"

            "I hope this is actually as good as you advertise," advised Ruki. "I do so loathe it when false advertisers have the privilege of living."

Hirokazu gulped. "Ruki, I'm SURE you'll find yourself pleased with what I have in store for you guys. Hell, there's a bar in the hotel at the bottom floor!"

                        Takato blinked. "Holy crap, 'Kazu. How much of this is a fib, now?"

"S'all true, and I lie not," promised 'Kazu. "Just have a little patience, guys! You'll be wishing you had more faith in the great Shiota!"

            "Maybe if you didn't lie so much to start with," commented Lee. "Something stinks about how this vacation works."

                        "I agree," Takato concurred. "I feel strange vibes…"

"W…what do you feel?" Juri asked.

            Takato looked to Juri uncomfortably. "Like…something bad's gonna happen…"

POP!

                        Hirokazu freaked out. "What the…?!"

The car was gradually moving slower and slower…

            "What's going on…?" Kenta asked, frightened.

Lee was looking around in all directions. "I'm no mechanic, but…it sounds like something busted in the car…"

            "What?!" 'Kazu screamed, outraged. "No..way! I won't let this happen to us!"

"Great," grumbled Ruki. "I don't know who to blame; Hirokazu for getting such a cheap car, or Takato for jinxing us."

            "This is NOT a cheap car!" Hirokazu growled. "So blame Takato! I swear all I'm doing is just driving!"

"Come on," urged Juri. "Takato didn't do it on purpose! Besides, I don't think he jinxed the car!"

                        Lee nodded. "She's right. Cars do this all the time. 'Kazu, can you pull over? We'll see what's up."

"Yeah," 'Kazu said uneasily as he pulled over to a sidewalk, where shortly after the car slowed to a halt. "Great…"

            "Can't you get it to move?" asked Kenta, grasping the map tightly.

Hirokazu shook his head. "The engine went dead immediately." He tried turning it back on, without success.

"We might as well get out, then," figured Lee as he opened the door and hopped out. Takato and Ruki followed.

            "Wait," Juri protested as she was getting out. "How far are we from the hotel…?"

Kenta looked down at his map as he exited the van. "About a mile, I think. It won't be bad, considering there's another car waiting for us over there."

                        Hirokazu hopped out of the van and immediately went for the hood.

"Hey! Lee-kun! Come and look at this!"

            Lee walked over to where 'Kazu was, looking confused.

"But I already said I don't know anything about car mechanics," he reminded.

                        "Yeah, I know," Hirokazu said as he started to pop open the hood. "But you're the technical guy out of all of us, nonetheless, so I'd still like you to look at this."

            Lee scratched his head. "If you really think so—eww.." he cringed at what he saw when 'Kazu popped the hood open.

                        Hirokazu rose an eyebrow. "That…doesn't look too good."

"Obviously," remarked Lee as he squinted and moved closer to it.

The insides of the van's hood were barely visible due to the blanket of smoke hovering over them. A wave of intense heat surrounded the inner-hood like a barrier.

            "Hmm…" Lee thought to himself as he reached inside a pocket on his coat and pulled out a pair of glasses.

Hirokazu pulled back with his hands on his hips. He wiped his forehead once. "What do you make of it, Lee?"

                        Lee put the glasses on. "It'd help if we got some of this smoke cleared out," he replied, waving at it to make it float away. "Then we could actually see what's in here. Come on."

"Oh, sure," Hirokazu agreed, as he bent over near the hood and blew at, making to smoke spread everywhere wildly, much of it onto Lee. "Um, whoops."

            Lee went into a coughing fit briefly and gave 'Kazu a little glare.

"Hey, I didn't mean to!" he insisted. Then his short attention span kicked in. "Oh! Look! The smoke's cleared out!"

                        Lee controlled his coughing and noted Hirokazu's telling of the truth. He again bent down to examine the problem.

            Hirokazu blindly looked around left and right at the machinery within the car, over and over.

Lee adjusted his glasses and looked closer at his particular area. Suddenly, a spark shot out at him.

            "Waaah!" he wailed as he jumped back. "'Kazu, I think I found it!"

Hirokazu immediately turned to Lee. "Huh?! What's the deal?!"

                        Lee reluctantly moved closer to where he was, and pointed. "Don't get too close to it…"

            Hirokazu moved over next to Lee and looked where he pointed. "Huh. That's probably it."

It was a red cord, which was cut, but not completely thoroughly. It shot a tiny bit of sparks just then.

            "That's definitely it," said Lee as he took off his glasses. "Too bad, though. I dunno what that wire is, or how to fix it."

                        "Guess you wouldn't have any spare parts on you," 'Kazu said with a sigh.

Lee shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. "Nope. Would you? You said you came prepared."

            "No," grumbled 'Kazu as he kicked the van. "These fucking things need spare parts equipped..!! Piece of shit!"

Ruki and the others started joining Lee and Hirokazu up at the front.

            "Yeah, that thing looks dead," commented Ruki, circling around the front. "Kaput."

"Guess that means we gotta walk," said Takato, sadly.

                        "It's still less than a mile," Kenta reminded. "It won't be too bad!"

"Kenta, we still have our luggage," Juri pointed out. "A…lot…of luggage. Won't we have to carry that a mile…?"

            Hirokazu shut the hood and dug into his pockets. "I don't think so," he said.

The Visored One pulled out his keys which were attached to a small remote with three buttons: Lock, Unlock, and Trunk.

            "Oh, good," Juri sighed with relief. "Okay, yeah, this won't be bad."

"Wait!" cried Takato. "Lemme get my video camera before you go locking the car!"

                        "Geez, Takato," Hirokazu grumbled. "Get over yourself!" He locked the van.

"But this is a great chance to get some scenery in!!" Takato wailed. "C'mon, don't be an asshole, 'Kazu!"

            Lee smiled and sweatdropped. "C'mon, Hirokazu-kun, just let him have his camera."

Ruki rolled her eyes. "Just let him have it so he'll shut up."

                        "Fine, fine," Hirokazu grumbled as he pushed the Trunk button, opening the trunk and allowing Takato in.

"See," Kenta exclaimed. "Hirokazu CAN be a nice person!"

            "We know that," said Takato as he grabbed his video camera. "We only doubt that in the case of Ruki, dude."

KICK!

"AAAAHH!! MY BACK!!"

            "I think that dent's gonna be in there for awhile, Takato…"

*

"This city is such a dump," commented Ruki as they walked along the sidewalk.

            It was getting rather late now. The sun had long since set, and the sky was slowly turning from yellow, to orange, to red, to pink, to purple, to blue, and into blue-black. The streetlights flickered on eventually, lighting the way for the Tamers. Many various buildings began to light up as the sky got darker and darker, and one by one, the starts started to appear in the sky.

Everyone could see a mass of bright lights off in the distance, in the direction they were headed. It seemed so far away, yet almost magical. Still, for some reason, the progress seemed to take forever, as they were passing from the bad section of town to the rich and shiny part.

"Are you sure it was just a mile…?" Juri asked tiredly.

            Kenta nodded. "You're just too used to how long a mile was in a car. Big difference when you're walking a mile."

"Didn't figure it was this big," Juri said with a yawn.

                        "Don't worry yourself, Makino," assured Hirokazu. "Can't you see the lights up ahead? We're close to out of this shitty area of the city."

            "Man," said Takato. "You guys sound so glum."

"It's not that bad…" Hirokazu sighed. "I'm just so PISSED I got handed such a shitty van. Makes me wonder—"

                        "That ALL your vehicles will be like that?" finished Juri.

"Oh, hell no!" Hirokazu shouted. "The last van we got was from the contest people, and it ran just fine!"

            "Then again, I was the one who drove it…" Lee cited.

"For the love of Kami!" roared 'Kazu. "It wasn't ME who killed the van!!"

                        "I know," said Lee. "I'm just saying…"

"Come on guys," Takato prodded. "Can't we make the best out of our walk…? I mean, it is a beautiful night…"

            "With our luck," Ruki said morbidly. "We'll probably get mugged."

Lee looked down with a guilty look on his face. "Takato's right, we don't need to be complaining this soon into the trip."

                        "Maybe a song would help," implied Juri.

Ruki growled and covered her face with one hand. "Dammit, you shouldn't have said that…"

"Hey! Yeah!" Takato cheered. "A song would kick ass!"

            Everyone else started grumbling in dissatisfaction.

"Why not?" Takato asked rhetorically. "It's such a perfect night." His eyes were sparkling as he turned his video camera off.

*

[SONG 1: "City At Night" (Parody of "City of Light" from The Brave Little Toaster]

(TAKATO)

Life is like a mission to fulfill your life within

Your head says it's a waste of time, but your heart thinks on a whim

So you go...   

(TAKATO, RUKI, LEE)

But you just loathe it so...

(TAKATO)

Any life worth living can never really bring you peace

You just continue battling, through the falsities and the dreams

(TAKATO & LEE)

And you'll know, just where you have to go...

(ALL)

Time goes by in the city at night

Time lags around in the suburbs

There's no time for a petty bitchfight

[Hirokazu and Ruki start hitting each other]

As we travel the streets

(HIROKAZU & KENTA)

And I'd be satisfied just to make it out alive

(ALL)

To reside, with some pride, on a stride, to the city, the City at Night...

(LEE)

Light shines like a diamond in the city at night

(KENTA)

When that diamond shines we'll hope that we'll be all right

(RUKI)

Don't you know, we've got some way to go

(JURI)

Our vacation is beginning, we don't wanna extend the wait

(JURI & RUKI)

Just don't lose any hope, pretty soon we'll reach the gate

(ALL)

To that City of Night...

(LEE)

Vacations are plans with intentions we can all understand

(TAKATO)

Vacations are plans of relaxation

(HIROKAZU)

Vacations are plans common among the land

(JURI)

Vacations are plans of all our—

(ALL)

Time goes by in the city at night

Time lags around in the suburbs

There's no time for a petty bitchfight

As we travel the streets

(HIROKAZU & KENTA)

And I'd be satisfied just to make it out alive

(ALL)

To reside, with some pride, on a stride, to the city, the City at Night...

*

"Wow," Lee said in awe. "This IS a huge hotel. Sorry I doubted you, 'Kazu…"

            Everyone else nodded and muttered their own apology whilst being amazed at the hotel.

"Naturally," Hirokazu said proudly. "I told you, there's so such thing as disappointment on this trip!"

            After gawking at the hotel, Takato noticed something peculiar. "Um, Hirokazu?"

"Yeah, Takato?" responded 'Kazu, who was still admiring the hotel.

                        "Is your car already here?"

That was enough to snap Hirokazu out of it. "Huh?! Oh, yeah! It should be!"

Ruki glanced over to the parking lot. "Good. Now, do you know which car out of all of these are our alleged car?"

            Hirokazu adjusted his visor and walked in the parking lot. "It's gotta be a van, that's all I know."

"Guess so," said Lee as he followed. "But there's more than one van in here."

"And this is when we say hello to my little friend!" Hirokazu said with a grin, as he took out another set of keys.

            Takato looked over Hirokazu's shoulder. "Oh! It's just like that button thingy on the other van! But what's that 'Panic' button do?"

                        Hirokazu grinned. "You wanna find out?"

Something just snapped inside Lee. "…NO!! DON'T!!"

            Too late. With the press of a button, one blue van started wailing incessantly with multiple alarms.

Everyone but Hirokazu crumpled and covered their ears as the van continued to blare its alarms and flash red lights.

            Hirokazu smiled and walked over towards it, and pressed the Panic Button again, as if he were trying to stop it.

…No such luck.

            "'Kazu-chan, what're you DOING?!" screamed Kenta. "TURN IT OFF!"

"My ears are BLEEDING," hollered Takato as he fell to his knees.

            'Kazu tried pressing the same button, and then the other buttons. "…uh. This isn't good."

Ruki was getting aggravated. "SHIOTA, STOP SCREWING AROUND AND FIX THIS!"

                        Hirokazu fumbled with his controls. "I'm trying, I'm trying!!"

It wasn't long before people already inside the hotel were opening their windows and looking down at the scene outside.

            Juri winced. "Maybe the rest of us should go on inside…"

Lee gritted his teeth. "You know what…? That's probably the best idea I've heard all day! Come on!"

Everyone else made a mad dash for the hotel. This did not please Hirokazu as he unlocked the car and messed around inside it, trying to find something to shut off the alarms.

"Oh, thanks a TON, you guys…"

*

"We got a top-floor room?"

            "Of course, how better to see the entire ocean?" replied Kenta. "Lower floors probably get the partial-view."

"Bottom floors probably don't even get a view," assumed Lee.

                        "And from the looks of it, we get the best vending machines," acknowledged Takato as he browsed around the hallways.

            Ruki started tapping her foot. "Okay, 'Kazu's being way too slow. This is ridiculous."

"We did leave him with most of the luggage," Juri noted. "It's nice we went back for that."

                        "After waking up half the town," Takato muttered.

Kenta leaned against the door to their room. "I can't believe he'd never seen a Panic button before…"

            Ruki hit the door in frustration. "Argh! We just HAD to let him have that damned card!"

Just then, the elevator door opened with Hirokazu inside, along with most of the luggage. He showed the card in his hand.

                        "Is that everything?" asked Takato.

Hirokazu nodded. "Everyone grab a bag. I'll let us in."

            Everyone obeyed 'Kazu's orders, and eventually they were able to get everything within the apartment.

"Okay, everyone," announced 'Kazu as he stood behind a table. He put his hands down and spread six cards out. "Here."

                        "Good thing you got six," Juri noticed. "It's risky to just have three."

"Yeah, each of you will have your own card to enter the room whenever you need to," said 'Kazu. "Since I have the feeling we'll all be doing our own thing, and we'll never know how or when we'll get split up, it's good that we just have our own cards and not just one card to a pair."

Everyone nodded.

            "Okay, so, I guess I don't need to tell you this, but don't lose your card," informed 'Kazu. "If you do, you answer to me."

                        The other Tamers agreed as they each took one card.

"Now, like I said, there's a bar at the bottom floor, there's a pool and a Jacuzzi not far off. I guess there's a video arcade somewhere down there, and a little restaurant where we can eat breakfast and crap. It should all be down there on the same floor, so all you gotta do is look," explained 'Kazu.

            "Is that all?" asked Ruki.

Hirokazu looked suspiciously at Ruki. "What if it is?"

                        "I promised Obaasan and Okaasan that I'd call them as soon as I got in."

"Oh, that's right!" cried Juri. "I gotta call Otousan!"

            Takato raised a hand. "Me too."

"Same here," said Lee. "I guess that's what we'll do next…even though there's one phone."

"We're gonna hafta dial some extra stuff since we're outta the country and stuff," reported Kenta as he picked up a phonebook.

*

"Takato? Sweetie? Is that really you?"

            "Eheh…" Takato grinned. "Yeah, as you can see, I'm alive and well."

"Kami shines on us today!! Our son actually made it alive on a vacation without us, Mie!"

                        "Oh, I'm so thankful!"

Takato sweatdropped. "Um, yeah…how're you guys doing? And how's Guilmon?"

            "Oh, your father and I are fine," insisted Mie. "But I'd swear Guilmon hasn't stopped eating since you left!"

"Like, literally?" asked Takato, a little freaked out. "He hasn't paused or anything?"

            Mie looked a little worried. "Not that I've noticed. Would you like to talk to him?"

"Sure, Okaa, put him on."

                        The familiar face of the red dinosaur appeared on the screen next to the phone receiver.

            "Putting on weight there, huh, Guilmon?" asked Takato jokingly.

"It's so boring with you gone, Takatomon," whined Guilmon. "All I can think of doing is…eating…"

                        Takato blinked. "Make sure you don't explode. You'll get a cramp eating like that."

"I dunno what else to do," bemoaned Guilmon. "And Terriermon's too hard to find…"

                        Takato chuckled a bit. "Look, Guilmon. You follow me around every day. Just do what I do when I get bored!"

            "I guess…" sighed Guilmon. "I miss you, Takatomon."

Takato sweatdropped. "Yeah, I miss you too, buddy. Just don't kill yourself while I'm gone, okay?"

            Guilmon smiled. "I promise."

"I'll try and remember to get you a souvenir before I get back, okay?"

            "Okay," said Guilmon. "I won't explode, Takatomon. Come back soon!" He waved.

Takato smiled uneasily. "Yeah, seeya." He waved as well. The screen changed back to showing his parents.

                        "Now Takato, you watch yourself!"

            "Got it under control, Otousan," nodded Takato. "I'll bring you and Okaa something too!"

"How sweet of you, Takato. You remembered to pack everything, right?"

                        "I haven't unpacked yet, but I'm pretty sure I got everything." answered Takato.

"That's good. Well, we'll leave you alone, honey. Do have fun!"

            Takato nodded and waved. "Miss you guys. I'll see you soon!"

His parents waved back, and the screen blipped off.

            "Can I go next?" asked Lee.

Takato stepped away from the phone. "Help yourself!"

*

"…! Oh! Janyuu, come quick!"

            Lee blinked. "Everyone's home, right…?"

"Of course!" said Mayumi. "Don't worry about it. They're just being their busy selves around the house. JANYUU!"

                        Lee sweatdropped. "Okaasan, if they're busy, I understand."

"Nonense!" shouted Janyuu as he appeared on the screen. "We've been thinking about you ever since you left, Jenrya."

            "Good to know," said Lee with a smile. "I hope I haven't been worrying everyone."

"Mothers can't avoid that," pointed out Mayumi. "You just wouldn't believe how different it is with you gone!"

            Lee looked at his parents weirdly. "I stay in my room half the time. And I make that much of a difference..?"

"Why, of course," said Janyuu. "The phonelines are now almost always open! I haven't missed a single call since you left!"

                        Lee almost completely fell over. "Obviously…! Well, I'm glad you guys can use the phones now…"

"We still miss you nonetheless, dear," said Mayumi. "Would you like to talk to your brother and sisters?"

            Lee smiled again. "Sure, that'd be nice."

Lee's mother and father blipped off the screen. Almost immediately, Lee's older siblings, Jaarin and Rinchei appeared.

            "Hiiii Jenrya," sang Jaarin. "How's my kawaii lil' oniichan doin' on his first big-boy vacation?"

Lee blushed in embarrassment. "Jaarin…there's other people here, you know."

                        "Come on, Jaarin," said Rinchei. "Remember how much you hated me babying you?"

            "Yeah," Jaarin remembered, bitterly. "But now I realize how much fun it was! Jenrya, feel free to treat Shuichon this way!"

                        "Knowing Shuichon, she'll be treating me like this as well," muttered Lee.

            "Relax, Jenrya," Rinchei advised. "I was just like you on my first vacation without my parents. Just don't lose your temper and be yourself, and you'll do just fine. You'll tell us about the trip when you come back, right?"

Lee nodded. "If you want to hear about it. I'll try and make it interesting."

            Rinchei nodded. "Okaa and Otou always said you were the best-behaved of the family, so I'm sure you'll do fine. You're gonna get me and Jaarin something from Hawaii, ne?"

                        "Of course I will," answered Lee. "Take care of things while I'm gone, okay?"

"Just don't even think about it," encouraged Jaarin. "This is YOUR vacation, so just push us to the back of your thoughts!"

            "I'll certainly make a note of that," Lee said as he waved.

"Wait! Waaaaait!" shouted a hyperactive girl's voice offscreen. "I wanna say hello!"

                        Rinchei smirked. "Certainly you wanna see Shuichon, Jenrya."

Lee chuckled. "Hai, bring her in."

            Rinchei picked up the young Shuichon, who was clutching a dressed-up Terriermon in her arms.

"Oniisaaaaan!" shouted Shuichon as she waved. "How are you??"

                        Lee sweatdropped. "I'm doing great! Um…looks like you've been having a better time, though."

Shuichon grinned and petted Terriermon. "I think he misses you more than anybody else! Say hi, Terriermon!"

            Terriermon shot a death-glare at Lee. It seemed to pierce the screen and right into Lee's mind.

"Hi."

            Lee suddenly started to look EXTREMELY nervous. "H-hey, Terriermon. How're you holding up?"

"How does it look like I'm holding out?! I can't believe you ditched me!!"

                        Lee gulped. "I couldn't bring you…! There was no way…!"

"Oh, and RENAMON got to go?"

            Lee was aghast. "Ruki enforced it! There was nothing we could do about that! I'm really sorry, Terriermon!"

"Yeah, you'll be sorry," Terriermon snarled. "EXTREMELY sorry the second you get home. Do you know how long I've been WEARING THIS?!"

            "Nearly three days!" Jaarin interrupted. "And you should've seen what he had to wear before that!"

Lee paled a bit. "I'll make it up to you, Terriermon! I promise! I know I've been rotten to you for the last several days, but just name anything you want while I'm out here, and I'll get it!"

            Lopmon suddenly appeared on Jaarin's shoulder. "I wouldn't count on bribing him, Jenrya. And hi, by the way."

Terriermon growled. "So you wanna make it up to me…? Come BACK over here and SAY THAT!!"

Just like that, Terriermon leapt at the screen and started clawing at it, and seconds later the picture fuzzed out to nothing.

            "Jaarin…? Rinchei…? Shuichon…?" Lee whispered as he backed himself into a wall. "Oh man…"

"Good thing this is a long trip," said Takato.

*

The rest of the Tamers had successfully called their parents and had a much more peaceful conversation than what Lee had with Terriermon. But now it was the very late hours of the night (or early hours of the morning if you must be literal), and everyone was fast asleep in their beds. Hirokazu had requested three beds, and that's exactly what he got.

However, around 2 in the morning, Ruki had given up on sleeping. She rose from her bed and quietly snuck out of it, evading Juri, who, on the other hand, was sleeping very well. She tied her hair back up, put on some sandals. As silently as possible, she left the room.

*

Ruki found herself leaning against a rock on the end of the beach. Seeing as it was too dark to enjoy the view of the ocean, Ruki resorted to moon-gazing. This always calmed Ruki for some reason, as she often did it even back in Shinjuku.

She was confused as to why she couldn't get herself to sleep. Unlike Lee, she actually had a normal sleeping schedule. She didn't take any naps over the time of the trip, and it wasn't like, what with all the ordeals and exercise she put in over the day, that she had much time to relax. It was true; Ruki was exhausted. If even a little tired. But she wasn't exactly sleepy, and there was something on her mind that was preventing her from sleeping.

Ruki's icy-violet eyes shone in the moonlight.

"Someone tell me why…someone tell me what's wrong with me. I wanna sleep…this can't be insomnia."

Ruki gritted her teeth in frustration. Now she couldn't figure out why she was just standing out here.

"I swear…if this is over HIM, I'll just kill myself now. Angsting over some dumbass, how lame…"

            "Angst over who?"

Ruki gasped and turned around…to find Hirokazu right behind her.

"What're you doing here?!" she cried.

            "You answer that for yourself," Hirokazu said coolly. He held up a card. "I believe this is yours."

Ruki rolled her eyes. "I knew I forgot something."

[It Shall Be Continued!]