Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, big surprise. But I'm going to borrow some of the characters.
-------------------------
As if it had only been a few moments from the last time they had seen others that were their friends, both Yamato and Koushirou found themselves in spring, where they air grew warmer and flowers began their bloom to life. Leaves burst open across the forests of the land making the world green again, destroying the winter that nearly killed them all.
They easily made friends with the Panjamon. He became a sort of brother figure to them, as he guided them through the dangers of his world answering the questions that they had.
"We knew a Leomon in the Digital World," Kourshirou stated. "He was a very noble Digimon."
"Leomon have been known to be noble and honorable," he said. "That is why they and their respective higher forms are often favored by the royal families of this world."
Koushirou stopped in his tracks, remembering something that he had long forgotten over the happiness of finding both Takeru and Hikari. "Yamato, didn't you say that Hikari was living in West Province a long time ago?"
It seemed so stupid that they would forget something like that, but like Koushirou, Yamato thought that the excitement of finding her must have repressed that little piece of trivia.
"The princess was found in the west province of Katanentalia," Panjamon explained, "when the King and the Queen of Illaria were visiting. Her Angewomon rescued the two of them, and they subsequently adopted her. It was destiny that she and the prince would marry. Their pasts are nearly identical."
Koushirou nodded. He still felt stupid for forgetting that detail of their search. Perhaps all those months of wandering through worlds of mystery and cities of contrast had made both he and Yamato forget what they were really searching for. Even now, it seemed less and less hopeful that they would be able to find all the others in time for the wedding of Takeru and Hikari.
But perhaps it was trivial. They had the rest of their lives to search for the others, Mimi, Sora, Ken, Miyako, Iori, Jou, and Taichi. Seven of their friends were lost in that world just the same as Koushirou and Yamato. And not only were there friends to search for, there were partners. All this time, Yamato's Gabumon must have been wandering the land without a partner, without his friend. And what if the others had also lost their Digimon? The search of course would go on, until all twelve children and all twelve Digimon were found and reunited once again. Kourshirou wondered if it was possible. And then he wondered about the grim possibility that they might never find their friends. Perhaps some had been hurt and died and just disappeared from existence.
Panjamon read the letter to Yamato and Koushirou, addressed from Takeru's hand himself. "Dearest Yamato and Koushirou, times have been kind to I and the princess Hikari, but we fear that our proclamations and searches throughout our kingdoms and neighboring countries have yielded no success in the search for our friends. Furthermore, the messenger that we had sent to the Monastery you described to us has returned with news that our beloved Daisuke is no longer with them. That he and XV-mon have left to search for themselves. Apparently, Daisuke's loss of mobility threw him into depression and it was the choice of XV-mon that he take Daisuke away from the lonely place in the country to save the life of our friend. Be warned that Daisuke is now out there, searching for you as well as the others…"
Yamato stared out across the valley where a huge city was erected. Small but high mountains dotted the landscape and not far were the coast and ocean. The moutnains stuck out of flat land as if placed there by a giant, and the city was built around them just the same. He took a deep breath as he heard Takeru's words through Panjamon.
Koushirou's Digivice was beeping. It was a sound that neither Koushirou nor Yamato had heard in a long time, and upon its arrival they were both startled. Koushirou slowly removed it from his pocket as Tentomon flew up behind him to look over his shoulder.
"Somewhere," he said quietly, "in this city. Somewhere close, someone is here." He jumped up and took Tentomon by his claws and spun him around cheering, the first sign of true emotion shed in a long while. "C'mon! Let's go find whoever it is!"
He ran down the trail with Tentomon leaving behind Yamato and Panjamon and the two Monochromon. Yamato had a faint smile as he looked up to the great lion Digimon. "I haven't seen him like that in a while."
"He is still young," Panjamon said. He walked forward, calling upon the Monochromon to follow. Yamato stood for a moment to reflect. They were so close now, and in but a few hours he might be with an old friend and loved one. He ran up to catch up to Panjamon.
**
There was some sort of festival that day. Most of the inner city streets were packed with people shopping and singing and dancing and eating. It was difficult for the group of travelers to filter themselves through the thin streets which were shoulder to shoulder with humans and Digimon. It was difficult for Koushirou and Yamato to keep site of each other. But it was quite easy for them to see Tentomon sitting atop one of the Monochromon and Panjamon who's head towered over the crowds.
"Panjamon!" Koushirou shouted over the hustle. "Perhaps you and the Monochromon should wait for us in a calmer area!"
"Are you sure that you will be alright young master?" the Panjamon said.
"We'll be fine!" Koushirou said, as Panjamon started to get farther and farther away. "Tentomon, c'mon!" Tentomon took flight and waved to Panjamon. Yamato and Koushirou tried their hardest to stay together short of holding hands. Tentomon had little problem, as he stayed above everyone's heads in the air.
Both had their Digivices in hand, although the search hadn't stopped either of them from stopping and browsing the exotic merchandise for sale throughout the city. For several hours, the three travelers slowly made their way through the narrow streets closer and closer to the target reading. It was a small building, stuck between the crevice of two much larger buildings. Flowers decorated all the windows. Outside the windows were small boxes filled with outdoor plants carefully arranged to compliment the tiny house.
Yamato touched the sharp brick wall.
"Go ahead a knock," Koushirou said.
Yamato glared at him. "You should knock."
"Why me?" Koushirou exclaimed.
"I don't want to knock."
"Well I don't either."
"Well then we'll just sit here."
"Well fine."
"Fine."
Koushirou folded his arms and stared at Yamato who did the same. Tentomon covered his face with his claws and sighed. Spreading his wings he flew up to the window and he tapped at the door. Yamato and Koushirou both held their breath's tightly as the sound of Tentomon's exoskeleton hit the wood.
They waited for what seemed like a hundred years, but which was probably more like two or three minutes. Tentomon knocked again, and there was nothing. Yamato and Koushirou both sighed and leaned against the building. Koushirou peered into the window and saw a tiny home filled with flower arrangements. A small table and stove atop a primitive fireplace sat in the corner, and a few chairs dotted the room. Another room lay beyond, but Koushirou couldn't see past.
He took out his Digivice again. The reading was inside the house, but something was different. He stared into his Digivice, there were now two readings. Two separate Digivice readings. He told Yamato about the second reading, and predictably he took his out as well.
"Well," Yamato said, "if there's no one home then they must have left their Digivices."
"We could break in and find out?" Tentomon suggested.
"Tentomon," Koushirou said. He didn't bother to finish his sentence. "I guess we could wait here."
Yamato stared into the window and leaned against it and breathed out hard. The window steamed in front of him as he closed his eyes and sighed. He thought about how close they were to finding another one or perhaps two of his old friends. But he was anxious, and couldn't even think about sitting around and waiting.
They left the house behind promising to return later that night. Koushirou and Yamato and Tentomon went back deep into the city to find Panjamon to tell them their progress. He was glad that they somewhat found what that they were looking for. Leaving him behind again, Koushirou and his partners went back to the core of the city where the crowds still reined.
There was a park in the center of the city, a quite large one where many people relaxed and played games. Many Woodmon and Cherrymon made their homes at the park, and more were friendly. There was a very old Cherrymon telling stories to a group of children. Yamato and Koushirou stopped to listen for a moment.
"…And then the great beast was slain by the off world hero's that came from a far away land. A far away land where metal birds and metal horses filled both the skies and the roads. These people were ignorant to most things, but there was a group that was different. They came to us and destroyed the evil dark spider Digimon, bringing peace to our land. But one girl made the ultimate sacrifice for our land, and we still sing songs about her fight today…"
There were screams. But luckily they were only from a group of kids playing a game that kids liked to play. One where they would run around pretending to be evil Digimon, chasing each other. Not the most thought out game, but what can you really expect from children under seven?
Yamato leaned against a tree as Koushirou purchased some…thing…on a stick. He and Tentomon returned both with wooden sticks in their mouths. Yamato asked what it was they had bought, and Tentomon said, "We don't know, but it tastes good."
Yamato sighed and looked out across the park. In the distance he saw a small flower shop. Many of the arrangements were the same as the ones that he saw at the house before. He pointed them out to Koushirou. They made their way across the park to the shop, where Koushirou tentatively entered followed by Tentomon and Yamato. The chime rung as they entered and Koushirou took not of the clearly Chinese characters written on the cloth below it.
"Be with you in a minute!" a voice shouted from the back room. The heads of Koushirou, Tentomon, and Yamato all jerked towards the voice, which seemed frighteningly familiar. A girl walked out from the back carrying a potted plant in her hands, and the flowers above just barely covered her face as she walked. When she saw the two boys and the Digimon standing in the middle of the shop to which she tended, the plant fell from her hands, crashing to the ground.
She hugged Yamato tightly crying into his shoulder and soaking his shirt. "I can't believe you guys are here." She managed to tear herself from Yamato before running to Koushirou and hugging him as well. She stepped back for a moment, wiping away her short brown hair from her face.
"Sora," Koushirou whispered.
"We," she stuttered, "we wanted to look for everyone, but, but we didn't have enough money to travel." She sounded as if apologetic and pleading for her life.
Yamato's hand found its way to Sora's shoulder. "We were starting to give up hope of finding you or the others."
She turned her face and looked up at Yamato. He had aged and matured quite a bit since the last time she laid her eyes upon him. His face was rugged and sharp now, the hints of facial hair beginning to grow. His once blonde hair was now darker and longer, almost reaching his shoulders. He was in need of a haircut, that was for sure.
And Koushirou, he had grown as well. Now taller than herself, his hair was long once again as it was when they first met at camp so many years ago. She smiled at him and winked. "Wait until Mimi hears about this."
**
Yamato stared at the image of himself that rested atop the reflective surface of his tea, the first hot thing he had in a long time. The steam came up to his face where he blew it softly into the air where it disappeared. Nursing the cup of tea for a long time to warm his hads, he brought it up to his mouth where he took a sip, then looked up to Sora eyeing him from across the small table.
"More tea Matt?" Biyomon asked him, holding the kettle up to him from the ground.
He smiled and shook his head, "No thanks."
"I managed to get a job at the flower shop," Sora said, "when me and Biymon appeared here. I found Mimi in the park crying a few weeks later. She was yelling that she was tired and hungry and Palmon was trying to keep her quiet."
Yamato laughed under his breath at the thought. "I worked at a bakery before some guy in a robe brought me back my Digivce, before I came to look for everyone," he trailed off and stared into his tea. "Daisuke was paralyzed and we had to leave him at a monastery in the forest, he's not there anymore. We don't know where he went. TK's a prince now, and he's been arranged to marry to Hikari, a princess. Then there's Koushirou and me. It's pretty crazy."
Sora was running her finger across the edge of her teacup listening to Yamato. When he stopped, she said, "Me and Mimi planned to go search for you and the others, but the two of us barely make enough to keep this house and survive."
**
Mimi and Koushirou were walking through the now empty streets of the city. Every now and then they would pass by a few pedestrians that would stop and stare at the two of them who were accompanied by a Palmon and Tentomon, a large Panjamon and two very large Monochromon.
"I knew a Leomon that looked just like you," she said to Panjamon. "Except, not as white as you. He died protecting me and my friend Jou."
"Rest assure my lady," the Panjamon said, "I would make the same sacrifice to protect you or either of the young masters."
She smiled and looked at Koushirou, who seemed to be thinking. "What is it?"
"Oh, nothing much," he said.
"No really."
He blushed and closed his eyes. "It's just, I'm happy to see you again."
She giggled. "That's sweet." She brushed her brown hair behind her neck and sighed. "I can't wait to get out of here and find the others. I'm sick of this place."
Palmon jumped up onto Koushirou's back and hung onto him around his neck. "She's happy to see you too. We really missed you."
Koushirou laughed. "Why's that?"
"You usually know what's going on," Mimi joked.
Koushirou sighed. "This place is as much a mystery to myself as it s to you and Sora."
She sighed. "At least it's peaceful. No crazy evil Digimon here have tried to kill us like in the Digital World."
"You're lucky then," Koushirou said. "Yamato and I have been attacked plenty of times."
She gasped and looked to Koushirou.
"A few times. Daisuke can't walk because of one attack. It, it was pretty bad."
Mimi stared at the ground as they walked. "I didn't realize. This city has been quiet since we came here. But we've heard stories about warring countries." She had sadness in her eyes as she spoke. "There is so much war on this world, so much hate and fighting."
Koushirou took her hand and told her to relax. He realized that he was now taller than Mimi, when a few years ago she stood at least a head higher above him. "This place is still in a period of time of unrest and conflict. Soon enough the people here will realize they're better off being more like you."
She smiled. "Thanks Koushirou." She kissed him on the cheek. "We'll all be back together soon, won't we?"
"Daisuke, Jou, Taichi, Ken, Miyako, and Iori are out there right now," Koushirou said. It was dark now, as blue and black and white from the stars above consumed the skies. "Perhaps when we are united the truth of this world will be revealed and we can return home."
"I can't wait to see Hikari and Takeru get married," Mimi daydreamed, flying way off the subject. "I can see Hikari in her white dress. Just like a shining ray of light marrying her shred of hope."
**
The night had passed and the morning was upon the group that had in one day grown from three to seven. It was already late morning, and all of them had overslept since the night before was spent talking and remembering. Mimi was fixing something for breakfast and heating tea over the stove. Koushirou stood by her side ready to help should she need it, but it was apparent that he wasn't really needed other then to keep her company.
Sora and Yamato were lying on the floor next to each other staring at the map that Takeru had given him before they left. They discussed which way would be best to go from that city to the next, charting a route on for several cities and kingdoms. They joked about something that Koushirou didn't hear, but could see them laughing. He leaned against the wall and watched Mimi.
"Could you take this out to Panjamon?" Mimi asked, handing Palmon a plate. "I'm sure he's hungry."
"Sure," she said cheerfully. The little plant Digimon took the food out the door to the front of the house to Panjamon where he had spent the night. They didn't really have to worry about him getting cold, since he was an ice Digimon, after all.
"They're having fun," Koushirou said to Mimi quietly, talking about Yamato and Sora.
In a few more hours, the four of them along with their Digimon stood before Panjamon and the two Monochromon. It was time to leave. All loose ends had been tied up. Sora paid the last of the rent to her landlord and quit her job at the flower shop. Mimi quit her job as a servant girl in a nearby restaurant before coming back to Koushirou and Yamato.
"My flowers," Sora said to herself. She felt Yamato patting her shoulder. He had this smile on his face that had always been classic with Yamato. His eyes had always had that sharp and straight shape that, at first, had made him look hard and emotionless and selfless. She later found that he was kind and gentle and loving. "Do we have to leave them all?"
Yamato picked a flower off the flower box in the window. He handed it to Sora. "There ya go."
"Well I could have done that," she joked.
"Goodbye house," Mimi said.
"C'mon, we've got a long ways to go," Koushirou announced. Mimi rode the Monochromon on the right with Palmon. Sora rode the Monochromon on the left with Biyomon. Koushirou sat on Panjamon's shoulder; Tentomon was on the other side. Yamato preferred to walk.
Authors Notes: Okay, so not much happened in this chapter. I was planning to have something tragic or exciting happen, but it seemed like the chapter was long enought as it is so I stopped it at that they found each other. A sort of transitional chapter. Something big is coming soon. I can feel it!