Chapter 6: Mind Games
Tai and Matt waited at the bus station where the bus was supposed to drop off the campers. The news reported that all the campers and supervisors were accounted for and that no serious injuries were suffered. This relieved Tai and Matt as they waited. They saw the bus just over the hill and stood up to get a better look. As it stopped just a few feet in front of them they smiled as they saw TK and Kari's faces in the window.
The children exited the bus and their parents hugged them one by one as they got off. The mountain disaster alarmed most of the city when it was reported that the camp was evacuated into the mountains. Tai hugged Kari when she got off as did Matt with TK. "I'm glad you two are alright."
TK and Kari let go of them, "We are too. Many scary things happened to us up there. At first we were attack by a powerful digimon during dinner, then the fish digimon chased us up the mountain the whole night and morning. Brother, what's happening?" TK looked at his brother with tired eyes.
Matt looked down at the ground, "I don't know. Tai and Izzy witnessed the first attack by DarkAngemon. Apparently he's after revenge on us for something." He looked up at the sky, "I arrived, but we weren't strong enough to beat him. Luckily, a digimon named Myn saved us."
Kari became alert with the mention of the digimon, "Hey, he saved us from DarkAngemon too, only he had a friend with him. He called him Darius."
Tai looked at the mountain in the distance, "So, there is more than one guardian watching over us. We can talk about this later. Right now we have to get you home so you can rest."
The group got into Tai's car, which had just been lifted out of the disaster area from the past day. He pulled out of the station and drove towards his place. They would all be staying at Tai's place for the night since Matt TK's parents were at Kyoto trying to work their relationship together.
- Izzy's place -
Izzy packed up his laptop and put on his shoes. He couldn't get the coding on the cloth to make any sense, but did find a small message that indicated a spot in the city. "Come on, Tentomon. We better get going if we want to get back before dinner."
Tentomon got off of his little bed and walked over. "Will it be required for me to hide again? You know how I detest that bag."
Izzy smiled at Tentomon's comment, "No. Since it's obvious that everyone knows about the recent attacks there's no need for you to keep out of site." He got off the ground and opened the door. "Come on."
They exited the apartment and walked towards the main shopping district. Izzy told Tentomon about what he had found. "The message said that the location would reveal the key to the riddle." Izzy rounded a corner and halted. He looked left to right at the various shops full of electronics. "Just my luck, it has to be in the midst of all these electronics."
Tentomon noted the tone of Izzy's voice and replied, "Now lets not get carried off here. Our job is to find what the message is talking about, not test out the latest videogame."
"I know." Izzy looked at his digivice. Faint digital energy readings indicated that there was a digiworld related anomaly in the area. "Ok, my digivice has picked up the disturbance, lets go.."
"Oh! Look! It's Izzy and Tentomon!" Voices of girls cried out. A group of girls, age 12 to 16 ran over and started to crowd them in. They asked if they could date him or if they could ride on Tentomon. Izzy tried his best to get through, but eventually fell to the increasing numbers.
"Hey! I have something important to do!" Izzy cried as he worked his way towards a mirror shop. The girls remained outside, fearing that they would knock over a mirror and receive 7 years bad lock which would result in Izzy denying their requests. "Phew! Hey! My digivice is reacting to something in here!"
Tentomon flew in and landed near his friend, "Oh, goody, no distractions by computer games to hinder our progress."
Izzy carried his digivice to the various mirrors and watched for the meter to grow. Eventually he came to a large mirror that caused the digivice to react fully. "Looks like this is it, Tentomon!" He waited for his friend to come over, but heard no wing flaps or replies, "Tentomon?" Izzy turned around and looked for his friend, but the shop was empty of all life except him. He also noted that the crowd of girls was no longer standing outside. He didn't. "Tentomon!"
"He can't hear you from here." A voice said.
Izzy looked at where he thought the voice came from but saw only the mirror. "Huh? Thought this mirror talked for a second."
"I did speak." The mirror snapped, "Well, not the mirror per say. But I, the one within it."
Izzy laughed, "No offense, but nothing's inside of a mirror, just some sand and carbon. Maybe a type of metal to make it stronger." He looked around the store, "Now, seriously, where are you?"
A bright flash came from behind Izzy and the scenery changed before his eyes. The store turned into a strange, groundless space. "I am here, just like you."
Izzy spun around, "Where are we?"
"We are in the mirror."
"Is this Digiworld?"
"This neither the Digiworld, nor the real World." The man opened his arms, "What you are experiencing is the little space between the worlds."
"Who are you"
The man looked up at Izzy, "That doesn't matter right now. What matters is what you came for. I take it you got Myn's note?"
"Yes, are you one of the Magi he spoke of?"
"Me? Heavens, no. The Magi are in Digiworld, and yet they are in the real world."
"I don't understand.
"You don't have to. Now, to the matter at hand. Have you tried to figure the note out?"
"Yeah, but every time I think I have it the coding on it changes. The note about this place was only part that remained consistent. It's like it's playing a mind game with me."
The man smiled in excitement. "That's exactly it! You figured it out faster than I thought you would."
Izzy gave a puzzled look. "I don't understand. What did I figure out?"
"hmm. Maybe not. I can't tell you what the message says. You have to figure it out for yourself. All I can tell you is that your questions don't matter. Only the note's questions."
Izzy thought for a while then became angry, "You play mind games with me too!? Why don't you just tell me!?" He grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt.
The man didn't take note of what Izzy did to him, "Because I can't tell you. I don't know what the Magi wishes to tell you. Just remember, it's what the note asks that counts."
"Helpless old fool!" Izzy threw the man away but snapped to attention at the sound of glass breaking. "Huh?" He looked around and found himself in the store. "Uh oh."
"Hey, kid! You gotta pay for that!" The store clerk pointed at the mirror he had thrown to the ground. The price tag on it said 13000 yen (About 120 dollars). "Pay up!"
Tentomon flew over, "Oh no! Izzy! What on Earth were you ever thinking?"
Izzy looked up at his flying friend, "I don't know. Sorry, mister. I don't have any money with me."
The store clerk became erratic, "You punk! You come in here with no money and break my mirrors!?"
"Don't worry, I'll handle it." A girl handed over a credit card and smiled at Izzy. "You really should be more careful."
The store clerk took the card and ran it through his register. He handed it back and pointed at the door. "You! Get out and don't come back unless you plan to buy something!"
Izzy exited the store with the girl and Tentomon, "Thanks. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't helped me."
The girl smiled. She had the body of a 14 year old that took good care of her physical health. Her brown hair went down to her shoulders and her face reminded Izzy of a movie star's. She whispered to him, "you can thank me with a date."
Izzy stopped walking, "A date? Sorry miss, I don't have the time to go out right now."
"Not now, tonight. I'll pick you up at 7."
"Ah ha! You don't know where I live!"
"What? Silly! Everyone knows where the saviors of the World live!"
Izzy paused, staring off as he realized just how well known he and the other Digidestined had become. "Well, you're not old enough to drive."
"We'll walk. It's more romantic and lasts longer that way."
Oh crap! Trapped! Izzy blew out his breath in a sigh, "I guess I'll see you at 7:00 then."
The girl smiled, "Good! I'll see you then" She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked off into a clothes shop.
Izzy turned around and began to walk home. "This is just great, Tentomon. How am I supposed to figure that note out if these little trivial matters keep coming up?"
"Tentomon flew beside Izzy, "Well, don't worry. I'm sure the mysteries of the two worlds can wait for you to get done with one date to be solved."
"Some help you are!"