Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, big surprise. But I'm going to borrow some of the characters.
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Perhaps it was the sullen look of despair and pain that he had in his eyes that had attracted her to him in the first place as they sat by the ocean in the middle of the night. Nothing but the sound of silence and the ocean reached them as Yamato sat on the rocks of the beach staring up to the night's sky.
She sat next to Yamato without a word, dropping herself to the ground in a swift motion. Her hair flew upwards and then back down. She watched him look up as if he hadn't even notice her arrive. His features were like a statue with a cold lethargy in his gaze as the waves crashed against the shore.
"Yamato," Sora said. "It's a beautiful night."
He didn't respond, continuing to look endlessly into the sky. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath of the darkness before he lay on his back and looked up to his friend. "What do you think is in the space of this world?"
She shrugged. "Why are you still awake," she said, straining to see him in the darkness. "It's kinda late."
"Couldn't sleep, just thinking."
"About what?"
He sighed. "Nothing really."
"Nothing?"
"I don't really know how to explain it," he said. "I feel this darkness within myself that I felt the first day I was in this world. It's only gotten stronger over all this time. It's not really a dark part of me though; it feels like something close to me. Like a distant voice being silenced by darkness."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know," he struggled with his words. "I don't know anymore. Something about this place doesn't seem right, other than the obvious. There's something that's destroying a part of me. Something evil."
"Could it be the guys that have been attacking us?"
"I don't think so. That would be way to simple and easy to figure out. It's something deeper and subtle. Something deep within my mind. I just can't explain it."
"We can figure it out together." She let her hand fall to his in what seemed to be an idle and innocent motion, as if by accident. In the darkness of the night with only the dim moonlight to shine on them and the unseen eyes of the world, Yamato and Sora stared into each others deep and gazing eyes for what seemed like hours with not a motion or breath between them.
There were several minutes of silence before a beeping from both their pockets broke the nights calm. There were signals, strong signal.
Yamato stood up with his Digivice and looked out towards the ocean where the signal came from. He held it tightly as Sora stood up as well, looking to the east where another signal came. Behind them, Mimi and Koushirou arrived with the Digimon holding their Digivices which had quickly awaken them from their sleep.
"Across the ocean," Koushirou said. "Let's go now."
Yamato shook his head. "We have to split up," he said. Koushirou only then noticed the second signal that appeared on his screen.
Panjamon came forward from the trees to the group that congregated on the beach. "We must act quickly young master," he said. "The Monochromon have grown tired and we are out of heavy supplies as it is. I think its best for us to free them and then split up into two groups. I will accompany two of you towards the east, as the other two go across the ocean."
Yamato nodded. "Sora and I will take Birdramon across the ocean."
Koushirou stared at him for a moment. Mimi said, "Wouldn't it be better if Sora and Koushirou go together since they both have Digimon that can fly?"
Yamato thought for a moment, before Panjamon said, "Perhaps it would be better if we split the two flyers. If something should happen on land, we may have to go across the ocean to meet with the others."
Koushirou stared at his Digivice in thought before saying, "Mimi and Sora should go across the ocean and Yamato, Panjamon and I should go to the east. That way there would be two Digimon between us. It makes the most sense, and would be safest against attack. If you," he said looking to Yamato, "go with Sora then there will only be one Digimon to defend the two of you."
"And Palmon can become Lillymon anyway," Mimi said, "so it makes the most sense."
Yamato gave Sora and desperate glance. Neither could think of a way of escaping Koushirou's logic, so they both nodded. "Alright, it's settled. We meet back here in a week. If something happens then one group will go to where the signals were to find the others."
Sora nodded as Biyomon flew into the air above them. "We have to be quick. We don't want to lose the signals. Hopefully whoever is out there is looking for us too. Biyomon Digivolve to…Birdramon! Quick, Mimi, Sora, Palmon, hop on."
The three of them jumped onto her back before looking back at the boys. They waved goodbye and wished them luck before Birdramon took to the air. She disappeared into the darkness not long after.
"Tentomon Digivolve to…Kabuterimon!" Koushirou jumped onto his giant beetle's back as Panjamon lifted Yamato up onto his shoulders. He held on tightly as Panjamon ran across the beach with the cold evening air blowing through his hair. Kabuterimon flew above at the same speed as the for of them focused on the their communal goal of reunification.
**
The day was starting to break and there was no site of land from either direction as Sora and Mimi made there way forward towards the horizon of the ocean. They both sat in silence wondering what would lie ahead just past the water's edge. As the wind blew through their hair, the dry salty air stuck to their throats with each breath. They seemed as if totally focused on the goal and nothing around them would affect them.
"Why do you think they're so quiet?" Palmon asked Birdramon, which was easy for her, since she sat atop Birdramon's head.
"They're probably thinking," the giant firebird answered. "Wondering where the signal is coming from."
"It's weird when they don't talk," Palmon whispered.
Birdramon agreed.
Mimi looked down at her Digivice that sat in her lap. It had been hours since they had seen land. Apparently the range of the Digivices were much farther than Koushirou had estimated. The tiny blue speck of color that blinked on the small screen was all that appeared. They had passed the range of the second signal some time ago.
She looked to Sora, who had a hard and serious look in her face. Mimi loosened up and poked Sora in the arm with two fingers. "Don't look so serious. You'll get a headache."
Sora gave a gentle smile.
"What were you and Yamato talking about last night?"
"Nothing really."
"Does he know?"
"Know what?" she asked.
"About how you feel."
"Uhh…"
"You should really tell him," Mimi urged.
"I..."
"Do you know how he feels?"
"Well…"
Mimi sighed. She had known Sora for several years now, and with each year their friendship seemed to drift more and more. They didn't even start out very good friends as it was. Mimi was a whiny little spoiled girl and Sora was a modest and athletic person. Their time in the Digital World helped them to understand where the other was coming from, and after their return home they managed to find more common ground with one another.
But with age comes change and Mimi and Sora could do nothing together other than drift about, even though they still felt the other was one of their most precious and cherished friends. Mimi whined less and didn't seem so spoiled, but she didn't have much time to play tennis or arrange flowers with Sora. Sora had little time away from sports or working at the flower shop to go shopping and boy hunting with Mimi. And then, Mimi moved to America, one of the events most destructive to their friendship.
The visits from America were always loving and well spent. Sora made it a point to be able to see Mimi and to have lunch with her. Anything to spend some time together. And then there was the new Digital World. Although the trip was quite unplanned, it brought Mimi and Sora closer together. The two of them grew up very quickly to survive, and in doing do, they managed to find a new part of each other that drew them closer than one could ever imagine.
"I still don't know how I might or might not feel about Yamato," Sora said with a sigh as she looked up to the sky. "There's still Taichi."
Although Tai had not been seen in nearly a year, the feelings that Sora had for him were real. Even though her feelings for him hadn't arisen from the depths of her mind until after she was separated from him, she still felt a strong connection to Taichi. It was as if the entire time they had known each other the feelings of love were within her waiting for the right moment to take over. They had an argumentative relationship, easily classified as if they were siblings. Any show of emotion between the two was with arguing and teasing, but behind the shouts was pure affection. Unfortunately, they took over during a period where they could not be acted on.
"Well," Sora said, "what about you and Koushirou?"
If there is one constant in the universe it must be girl-talk.
Mimi smiled, sighed, and then averted her eyes away from Sora's. "What do you mean?" she said childishly.
"You think I don't see it."
"Before I thought he was just this smart short little funny kid that played with computers," she said. "But then he became the smart skinny funny kid that played with computers. Now, well, look at him."
Sora giggled.
"He's always been cute in a little brother kind of way," she said. "But he's like a grown up now. He's almost as tall as Yamato. I just think he's shy or something. He's nothing like the boys in America."
"What are they like?"
"Jerks," she laughed. "They talk funny and have this weird walk they use to try and impress girls."
Sora laughed until she glanced down to her Digivice. "It shouldn't be much farther from here, Birdramon," she said. She looked down again, the signal was moving now, coming closer to them. "The signal is moving towards us."
Palmon pointed outwards. "I see something!" she yelled as she pointed her leafy arms out towards the ocean.
They strained to see a tiny figure in the distance flying through the air towards them. "Are you sure it isn't an enemy Digimon, Sora?" Bridramon asked, beginning to think cautiously.
"Yeah," she said. "The signal isn't dark."
The figure ahead came forward much faster now, and in a matter of seconds it met up with Birdramon and stopped before the giant orange bird. It stayed motionless in the air, not believing what it saw before him. The green warrior insect carried with him his partner, who waved to Sora and Mimi.
"Hey Ken!" Mimi yelled, waving to him with plenty of energy. Sora did the same as Stingmon flew forward close enough for them to speak easily.
Ken smiled his gently smile and pushed strands of hair out of his face to the side. He was more rugged looking than before, but the femininity of his hair remained, and he still seemed kind and gentle. He said, "Hello old friends. I was wondering when you would arrive. Have you found any of the others?" he asked hopefully.
"Yamato and Koushirou are back on the coast," Palmon answered.
"Has anyone found you yet?" Sora asked.
"Nope," he said. "You're the first."
Mimi smiled. "Well, we should head back then and find Yamato and Koushirou. They're going after another signal."
Ken's face dropped for a moment. He said, "I can't go. Not yet at least."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked.
"You should come back with me. I'll explain there." He motioned for Stingmon to return from where they came and they flew forward. Mimi looked at Sora for a moment wondering what it was that Ken meant. Birdramon followed Stingmon.
**
The island in which they stood on was not very large, in fact it was barely large enough to fit the small monument that lay upon it. The beach was not twenty feet away from the building made of granite and sandstone covered with Digicode markings and vines that grew from below. At the top stood a very think piece of stone with more markings around it, along with an elliptical circle that pointed upwards at the very top.
Ken guided Sora and Mimi and passed the beach along with Wormon on his shoulders. He told them again that he was very glad to see them both, and that it was a relief to see that they were well. He also apologized for not venturing passed his tiny home to find them or the others.
They walked down a spiral stairwell that began from the entrance to the monument that winded down for what seemed like miles. On the walls were paintings and carvings of more Digicode, and pictures depicting scenes of humans with Digimon, Digimon with Digimon, and Digimon fighting Digimon.
He opened a small door, and led the girls and Wormon into his underground chambers. Crystals hanging on the walls lit the cave and ceiling that glowed brightly, as their power source was unknown. Several more doorways and passageways, very large and open, began from that cave. Trees grew in the cave, fed by the underground water and the light of the crystals. Tiny little Digimon ran through the artificial environment laughing and playing. Almost all of them were nothing more than bouncing heads with eyes.
"This," Ken said, "is Primary Village. Or at least, that's what I like to call it."
**
"What is your name son?" the old and aged Jijimon asked.
"Ken," he said, trying his best to ignore the beast's terrible smell and poor hygiene. "I was wondering if you could help me find my way."
"How is it that you have come here?" the Jijimon asked. "This island is secret to charts and maps. I haven't had a visitor in ages."
"I'm not sure how I got here," Ken said, picking up Wormon. "What is this place?"
Through all the passages, through all of the chambers, through all of the crevices of the underground and underwater city, Jijimon showed Ken the way. It seemed to go on for miles across unknown land beneath the rushing and roaring ocean. Jijimon guided Ken to the lowest levels of caves. The room glowed with white light that came from nowhere and yet everywhere at once. The floor was dotted with eggs that seemed to appear from nowhere.
"This is the rookery, my boy," he said. "All this world's Digimon are born here."
"How is that possible?" Ken asked inquisitively.
"This world works in strange ways my young friend. You see, everything that lives and breaths on this world is created by the forces of those who surround them. You and I are made by the life force of every living creature here."
"But that's not possible," Ken said, shaking his head. "You describe a paradox. How could the life exist if something else created it, who is created by life forces that create them. Am I making any sense?"
"Yes you are my boy," the Jijimon agreed. "But some things you must leave to faith. The higher powers the created this world transcends time and cannot be fully understood. When a Digimon dies, their life force is converted into new Digimon. Reincarnation essentially."
"All Digimon?"
"Yes," he said.
"What about people?"
Jijimon shook his head. "Digimon are especially tied to this world. Without them, existence as we know it could not sustain itself, not on the life of humans alone."
"Why is that?"
"Why is it you ask so many questions? A Digimon is a very special entity. They can never be destroyed, only altered. They are the direct reflections of the physical world. That Wormon you care so deeply for is the symbol of what this world is."
"This is all very confusing."
"Yes, I can imagine. Come with me, you must be hungry from your journey."
"Well, it wasn't so much of a journey as it was a mistake."
"There are no such things as mistakes. Everything happens for a reason."
"Fate?"
"Some may call if fate."
Ken ate with a smile as a Yukimibotamon sat on his head, a Botamon on his shoulder, and a Punymon next to his plate as Jijimon told him story after story of his younger life. Wormon and Ken ate well that night, and aquatinted himself with several baby Digimon.
"Why is it you have come to be so kind to me, a stranger?" Ken asked gently.
"I can see that you have kindness in your heart, a quality that is hard to find in this world."
Ken looked away for a moment, "I have anything but kindness. I was once evil."
"Do not worry about it my boy."
"Thank you for showing me such warmth, Jijimon. I hope everyone on this world is as kind as you."
"Well, like I said, I haven't had visitors in quite a while." He laughed and took a drink from his wine before patting his huge hand on Ken's back. "You're alright."
**
"That night," Ken said, "I left with Stingmon in search of you and the others." He took a sip of tea as he, Sora, and Mimi sat around a small table in a tiny room adjacent to one of the larger main caves. "But I felt something as I was leaving."
"What was it?" Mimi asked with urgency. "A headache?"
"As Stingmon and I made it to the coast, I felt a deep and strange call for help inside. We turned around."
**
"Ken…" Jijimon lay on his back looking towards the night sky. The trees around were burned and several of the caves had collapsed. He pulled Ken by the collar closer to his face. "Ken, I am glad you returned." He managed to smile.
"What happened?" Ken asked, holding his tears. The injuries Jijimon had suffered were great and fatal. "Who did this to you?"
"It matters not," he said barely audible. "I was old either way."
"I can go for help, Stingmon and I can return with help," Ken pleaded.
"You are kind to offer. Remember, Ken, no Digimon ever dies." He breathed deeply. "Protect the children."
Ken didn't have the heart to tell Jijimon that all the fresh and in-training Digimon lay lifeless on the ground, the rookery in ruins with broken Digieggs scattered across the ground, but Jijimon seemed to hear his thoughts.
"They were young," he said, gasping for air. "They haven't known life yet. They will return, as will I, in one form or another."
"I will find who did this," Ken scowled.
"You're heart is too kind and too pure for revenge." Jijimon spoke those last few words, before he disappeared before Ken's eyes into the air as nothing but dust.
**
Mimi wiped a tear from her right eye. "Who was it that attacked?"
"Dark forces of this world," Ken said. "They were after me, I am almost sure of it. When they couldn't find me," he looked away. "When they couldn't find me, they ravaged the city and killed everyone in it. I brought death by simply existing."
"You've been here ever since," Sora stated.
"Someone had to stay at take care of the new breed," Ken said. "Jijimon appeared as well in his fresh form. I could feel it, but of course, he didn't remember his past life. I raised him like any other until he became a rookie Digimon and disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Mimi wondered.
"When the Digimon become rookies," Ken said before taking another sip of tea, "they are transported from here all across the world without knowledge of their past, only the lessons that I teach them for the world."
"So when they reappear," Mimi reiterated, "they don't remember Primary Village, but the remember what it means to be a good little Digimon? And how to talk and hunt for food and stuff like that?"
"Essentially," Ken said. "It's the only way to keep Primary Village safe, I suppose."
"Safe from what?" Sora thought. "Who would really want to destroy this place?"
"Someone who seeks to destroy the caretaker I bet," Ken added. "Every day I fear that whoever killed Jijimon would return for me. I'm sure that I was the target before. Stingmon is the only one who can protect me and the rest of the Digimon."
Sora and Mimi looked at each other. "We've been hunted as well. So have Koushirou and Yamato, Takeru and Hikari, and Daisuke. Dark Digimon have attacked us all at one time or another."
"Then it's true," Ken said. "We bring trouble wherever we go."
"That's one way of looking at it."
"So I hope you can understand why I cannot return with the two of you," Ken said. "Not until I can find a replacement."
"How will you do that?"
"I will know when it is time. When the next caretaker of Primary Village is born, I will be able to feel his presence, his energy. The one that connects to my soul in a way that I would only know and that would be able to cultivate into the next Digimon caretaker. He will warp Digivolve after I have taught him all I can teach, and become a very powerful Mega Digimon that can protect the young ones."
"How do you know that will happen?" Mimi asked.
"I can feel it," Ken said. "Somehow, I was destined to be the caretaker for a short time. I feel that the next one will be born soon." They were silent for a moment before Ken looked up with a smile to the two. "How much time will pass before you need to meet with Yamato and Koushirou?"
"A week," Sora said, vacantly. "Do you think you can find a new one before then?" she asked with wide eyes.
Ken shook his head but smiled. "I'm sorry Sora. But rest assure I will join with you and the others soon."
"We have to have some way for you to keep track of us," Mimi said. "We can't just leave and be split up again."
"I'll find you," Ken said. "You don't need to worry."
Authors Notes: I didn't change as much in this chapter as I did with chapter 11 in the rewrite, but I think this version is a little clearer.