Chapter 6

            "NO!!"  TK shot up in bed, his scream waking Kari in an instant.  Sweat poured down his forehead as he tried to reorient himself to his surroundings.

            "TK?  TK, what is it?"  Kari wrapped her arms around TK's shivering frame and was shocked when, for a moment, he tried to pull away.

            "Kari?"  He quickly relaxed into her embrace, still shaking.

            "TK?"

            "TK are you alright?"  Patamon and Gatomon rushed into the room, ready to fight if their partners were in any danger.

            "It's alright guys.  It was just a dream.  Just a dream," he softly repeated to himself.

            "Was it the same one?" Patamon asked.  TK simply nodded.  "Do you want a hug?  The ones your mom gave you seemed to help.  Oh, never mind, Kari's taking care of it."

            "Patamon," TK began, but seemed to change his mind.  "Never mind; just head back to bed you two.  I'm sorry I woke you up."

            "Are you going to be alright, TK?" Gatomon asked once more as she paused in the doorway.

            "I thought you were supposed to watch over Kari," TK laughed.

            "Or the one she loves," Gatomon shot back as she left.  TK and Kari remained quiet for a few more minutes, while TK simply breathed in the sent of her hair, calming himself.

            "So are you going to talk to me?" Kari finally asked.

            "It's nothing," TK replied.

            "This relationship is not getting off to a good start," she retorted.  "TK, talk to me.  You were terrified.  What was your dream?  You've had it before, so surely you can remember something."  TK remained silent for several moments.

            "It's a memory," he whispered.  "It's a memory about one of the dumber mistakes I've ever made and it won't leave me alone."

            "What is it?  What mistake?"

            "Please, don't ask me that.  Not tonight."  Kari looked into his eyes, and felt herself cringe at the loneliness and despair that lurked in them.

            "Alright.  But I'm not letting you off that easily."

            "I will tell you, sometime," TK replied.  "I promise.  Just, not now."  The couple lay back down, but as she began to drift back to sleep, Kari noticed that TK seemed to be clinging to him just a little tighter than before.

            "How do pancakes sound for breakfast?" TK asked the next morning as they dressed.

            "Sure," Kari replied as she buttoned up her shirt.

            "Great," TK replied.  "Just give me a few minutes to go out and get the mix."

            "Is there any food in this house?" Kari laughed.

            "Um, probably not?" TK grinned back.  Kari was relieved that he seemed to be back to his old self after last night, but she made a mental note to ask Mrs. Takeshi about his nightmares.

            "Well, then why don't we just head to the digital world now, and we can grab something to eat there," TK suggested.  "I know this great diner."

            "Sounds like a plan," Kari replied just as the phone began to ring.

            "Hello, Takeshi residence," TK answered.

            "TK?  This is Yolei.  Is Kari there?"

            "Yes, but how did you know that and get the number?" TK laughed.

            "Tai told me when I called her house," Yolei replied.

            "Alright, one second."  TK handed the cordless to Kari.  "For you, milady," he smiled.

            "I thank thee, milord," Kari grinned in reply.  "Hello?"

            "Kari Kamiya!  First, why aren't you in the digital world with me?  Second, I want details!"

            "Yolei!" Kari laughed.  "Why are we patrolling now?  Normally we wait until after school."

            "No school, and hot date," Yolei laughed back.

            "Alright, TK and I were going to come anyway.  Where do you want to meet?"

            "Ohh, double date!" Yolei cheered.  "How about Andromon's Machine City?"

            "Alright, we'll meet you two there in an hour," Kari laughed.  "First, TK and I are going to go get breakfast.  We'll see you after that."

            "Hey, I haven't eaten either!" Yolei protested.  "Why don't we meet at the city and then we can go get breakfast first!  Besides, I want to meet this guy some more!  After all, a guy who can get you to sleep over on the first date has to be worth meeting."

            "Yolei!" Kari screeched.  "We've known each other for years!  We've slept over before!"

            "When you were kids," Yolei replied in a smug sounding voice.  "I'll see you in a few minutes."  With that, the two hung up and Kari turned to the grinning TK.

            "She sounds friendly," he grinned.

            "She's been a great friend," Kari replied.  "I was lucky to meet her shortly after you had to move.  She made it easier.  Well, it's mine and Yolei's day to patrol the digital world, so would you mind coming along on that?"

            "Of course not," he smiled.  "Just don't expect me to stick around if you two start talking about nail polish and cute actors."

            "Well, since Ken's coming along, you'll have someone else to talk to," she called over her shoulder as she went to grab her digivice.  Silence greeted her response, so she looked back at a worried TK.  "TK?  What's wrong?"
            "Ken still travels in the digital world?" TK asked, carefully placing his words.

            "Of course," Kari replied.  "I mean, he is a Chosen.  Why wouldn't he?"

            "Nothing," TK replied a little too quickly.  "It's nothing."

            "How long have you known Ken?" Kari asked, concern and curiosity warring for dominance in her voice.

            "A couple years," TK replied.  "Like I said, I went to school with him."

            "He barely talks about himself," Kari continued.  "It was weeks before he even talked to any of us, even though he followed us into the digital world on a daily basis.  He seemed to watch over me a lot.  At least enough to make Davis jealous.  What?"  TK was grinning and shaking his head.

            "Nothing.  Now can we go, I'm hungry."

            "You, Takeru, are becoming annoying," Kari threw over her shoulder as she pulled up the digital gate.  "Digiport, open!"

            "But you still love me," TK retorted as he stepped up next to her, his own digivice in hand.  "Patamon!  Gatomon!  We're heading out!" he called.  The two quickly ran into the room and joined their partners.

            "You left a note for your mom?" Kari checked.

            "I called her at work.  She said to be sure to be back by dinner at the latest.  Tai and your parents?"

            "They know that it's my day to patrol, so it shouldn't be a problem.  Besides, I've got my cell phone on me."

            "Then let's go," TK laughed, clicking a button on his digivice and felt himself be pulled into the portal between the realities.

            Yolei shrieked and jumped back as TK and Kari came flying out of the TV set she and Ken had been sitting near.

            "Kari!  Warn me next time, will you?"

            "Sorry Yolei," Kari grinned; then gasped.  Standing next to her were her own partner, Gatomon, and TK, but Patamon was nowhere to be seen.  In his place, loomed Patamon's champion form, Angemon.  The winged angelic digimon smiled down at her from his seven feet, his battle staff held loosely in one hand, his helmet covering his eyes.

            "Hello, Kari.  It's a pleasure to see you again," he greeted, genuine fondness in his voice.

            "Angemon?  But, how?"

            "I have become strong enough to be able to remain in my champion form permanently, as long as I'm the digital world," he replied.

            "Wow," Yolei whispered, taking in the sight of the angel.

            "You are Yolei, right?" he asked.

            "Um, yes, but we've never…   Wait, you're Patamon's champion form?"  Angemon nodded.

            "That would be me.  Ken," he greeted, inclining his head politely but there was an edge to his voice.

            "Angemon it's, ah, that is, it's good to see you again," Ken replied.

            "You two know each other?" Yolei demanded.

            "Ken and I meet while TK and I were on a mission in the digital world several years ago," Angemon replied.

            "Well, well, look who decided to come down from his high cloud," Wormmon laughed as he climbed up onto Ken's shoulder to talk to the rather tall digimon.  "How've you been?"

            "Well, and yourself tiny little green thing?" the angel grinned in reply.

            "Still can't come up with something original, can you?" Wormmon sighed, dramatically shaking its head.  "You used up that line years ago.  Oh well, at least Hawkmon is fairly witty company."

            Angemon threw back his head and laughed and Ken, TK and Wormmon quickly joined them.

            "Gods, but I've missed this," TK grinned.  "But, before your little insult fest continues, let's go get some food."

            "Certainly," Hawkmon spoke up.  "But where is it we are going, exactly?  It's rather hard to go somewhere if you don't know where it is."

            "Not really," TK grinned in reply as Angemon picked him up.  "I hate to break any illusions you might have, but our original adventures against Devimon, Myotismon, and the Dark Masters?  We winged that all the way.  Follow me!" he called as Angemon shot off the ground.

            "TK!" Kari laughed.  "Alright, he wants a race, let's give him one.  Gatomon, digiarmor energize!"

            "Gatomon armor digivolve to Nefertimon, the Angel of Light!"  Kari kept laughing as she jumped onto the back of the massive winged cat and the pair took off.

            "I guess we follow," Yolei grinned.  "Hawkmon, how about a lift?"

            "It would be my pleasure," the hawk grinned.  "Hawkmon digivolve to Aquilamon!"

            "Wormmon digivolve to Stingmon!"

            Those two aren't in love at all, are they?" Ken grinned from the shoulder of his massive insect warrior as he caught up to Yolei on the back of her giant, double horned, red bird.

            "Oh, not at all," Yolei grinned in reply.  "Aquilamon, let's fly circles around them, alright?"

            "TK's the one who knows where we're going," the bird replied.

            "I've got a fairly good idea as to where he's going," Ken grinned.  "Let's see who rules the air, eh Stingmon?"

            "You know good and well that Angemon can fly hexagons around me," Stingmon protested.

            "Maybe, but he'd have to catch us to do that," Ken laughed.  Stingmon joined in his laughter as the pair shot off with a wave to Yolei and Aquilamon.

            "Do all boys think this much about competition?" Yolei wondered as she and Aquilamon caught up to Kari and Nefertimon.

            "You could remember that I'm technically male," Aquilamon pointed out.  Yolei grinned down at him.

            "Sorry partner.  So, has he changed much?" she asked Kari, who was watching Angemon and Stingmon engage in a mock aerial battle with their partners laughing all the time.

            "A little," she admitted.  "But everything that drew me to him in the first place is still there.  I just wish he'd talk to me."

            "Problems?" Yolei wondered.

            "TK had a nightmare last night that shook him up really bad," Nefertimon replied.  "He wouldn't tell Kari what it was about."

            "Were you listening at the door?" Kari accused.

            "Of course I was," Nefertimon brushed the accusation off.

            "And you two were together when he had this nightmare?" Yolei grinned.

            "Yes, Yolei, we slept together last night, but we didn't have sex, so get your mind off that," Kari smiled.  "We decided to start going out last night after a few accidental but meaningful kisses."

            "Good kisser?"

            "Like you'll never believe," Kari smiled dreamily.

            "Kari's got a boyfriend!" Yolei sang as they flew on.

            "I wonder how much farther it is to this place TK was talking about," Aquilamon broke in.

            "Do you only think about food," Yolei teased.

            "No, but we're getting awefully close to the border of the Eastern Region," Aquilamon countered.

            "They're going down now," Nefertimon spoke up as the two figures in the distance began to drop down towards a lake.

            "Hey, isn't that Digitamamon's place?" Yolei asked as they saw the building in the distance.

            "It is," Nefertimon agreed.  "I wonder how TK knows about this place?"

            They set down next to Angemon, TK, Ken and the reverted Wormmon.

            "I'm telling you, it's not a stamina problem," Wormmon yelled at the grinning Angemon.

            "Sure, sure, I believe you old friend.  Whatever you say."  TK and Ken were desperately trying to hold back their laughter as Wormmon fumed.

            "Are you bad people picking on that poor little creature?" Kari chastised as she hoped down from Nefertimon, right into TK's arms.  TK silenced anything else she was going to say with a deep and lengthy kiss.

            "Oh, that was nice," she cooed as they broke apart.

            "Alright, if all the mammals in the area can just place their hormones on the back burner, some of us want to eat," Wormmon grumbled.  TK laughed and led them into the diner.  Digitamamon stood at his usual place behind the counter, his body hidden by his egg-like shell.  Only his yellow eyes and green legs came outside, yet somehow he was the best cook in the digital world.

            "Hello, hello!" he cried as they entered.  "Welcome to Digitamamon's, what can I…oh it's you kids again.  What can I do for you this time," he groused.

            "They're with me," TK spoke up.

            "TK?  Hey!  I haven't seen you in years!  How are you?  Still fighting the good fight and all?"

            "Yup.  Just thought I'd drop in for some breakfast before heading out to keep fighting."

            "Great!  Grab a table, all of you!  Whatever you want, on the house!"  Yolei stared in a slack-jawed stupor at the sudden and total change in the normally shifty and unyielding digimon.  Digitamamon took their orders and headed back to the kitchen, humming to himself the whole time.

            "What did you do to him?" Yolei finally asked.

            "What do you mean?" TK asked, taking a sip of water.

            "Digitamamon!  I mean, he's never that nice to anyone.  And the food on the house?"

            "Oh, that.  I saved his bacon a few years ago," TK shrugged.  "He was in a bad scrap and I happened to be in the area, so I helped him out.  He told me after words that he was grateful and that I was always welcome in his diner."

            "And that he'd never have to pay a dime here," the digimon finished as it emerged from the kitchen with a steaming tray of food.  "Here you go, kids, eat up!"  The destined and their digimon quickly attacked their food, eating with gusto.

            "Hey, TK, I saw Ryo a few days ago," Digitamamon mentioned as he cleared dishes from the table.

            "Really?" TK answered.

            "Yeah, he and that massive fright show of his came through here a few days ago.  He said he was on his way to File Island to talk to Leomon and visit Primary Village after seeing some old friends," the egg replied as he walked towards the kitchen with the plates.

            "So who's Ryo?" Kari asked as they stood.

            "Hmm?  Oh, just a friend," TK replied.  "But I haven't seen him in a while."

            "Well, why don't you head over to see him?" Yolei suggested as they walked out of the diner.

            "I thought we had to patrol the digital world?" TK asked.

            "There are four of us," Yolei pointed out.  "And File Island is part of the digital world."

            "Besides, I'd like to meet some of your other friends," Kari added, wrapping her arms around TK's waist.

            "I don't think that would be a good idea," Ken spoke up.  "Ryo tends to like his privacy."

            "You know him too?" Yolei wondered.

            "We worked together for a while," TK replied.  "Actually, I think I want to patrol with Ken for a while, alright Love?"

            "We need to get caught up a bit," Ken agreed.  "Why don't we meet you two later at the Yokomon village in sector 4F?"

            "Where's sector 4F?" Yolei asked, slightly confused.  Ken floundered for a second before TK stepped in.

            "It's right here," he answered, pulling out his D-terminal and pointing to a spot on a map of the digital world.

            "Alright," Yolei replied slowly.  "If you two are sure."

            "It's not a problem," Kari smiled, pulling Yolei away from them.  "Shall we meet up in, say, three hours?"

            "Plenty of time," TK grinned, then turned to Ken.  "Alright, let's get going."  Ken nodded and Wormmon digivolved into Stingmon once more.  The two took off and several seconds later, Kari turned to Yolei.

            "Power up Halsemon and let's follow them," she whispered quickly.

            "You want to spy on them?" Yolei wondered, amazed.

            "Aren't you in the least bit curious about their past?" Kari demanded.

            "Hawkmon?"

            "While I normally detest such subterfuge, it does seem the most prudent course of action, in light of Ken's reluctance to talk about his past," the bird shrugged.

            "I'm a cat, I have no problems at all with sneaking," Gatomon shrugged.  "But why Halsemon?"

            "Armor up and I'll explain," Kari replied.

            "Alrighty, Hawkmon, let's go to work.  Digiarmor energize!"

            "Hawkmon armor-digivolve to Halsemon, the Wings of Love!"

            Kari, Yolei and Gatomon quickly climbed onto Halsemon's back and he shot into the air, staying far enough back as to avoid detection.

            "Aquilamon would have been too slow," Kari explained as they soared through the air.  "I've seen Angemon maneuver before and he doesn't need the things that Aquilamon does like updrafts or room to maneuver.  And we've all seen how agile Stingmon can be in the air.  And Nefertimon and Angewoman would have been out of the question because angels can sense other angels."

            "Angemon would have realized that I was following him, and he would have told TK," Gatomon translated.  "But why are we following them at all?  I thought TK and Ken were our friends?"

            "They are," Kari sighed.  "But he's keeping secrets from me.  He never used to do that when we were little.  Even when we were writing right after he and his mom had to move, we never kept secrets.  But now he is, and that worries me."

            "He and Ken do seem to have some kind of history," Yolei agreed.  "I want to respect Ken's need for privacy, but he's got to learn to talk to me."  Gatomon simply nodded and the rest of the flight was done in reflective silence.