DNA-Digieggs

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or any business-related partners thereof.

~*~*~*~

~ Home is Where the Heart Goes ~

The taxicabs deposited their sleepy charges and left. Everyone made their way home, some more subdued than others. A couple Digidestined carried the sleeping forms of their Rookie partners, who had inconspicuously evolved during their snooze.

Ken and Wormon made their way to the metro. Just as Ken was about to pay for his pass, a storm peppered the ground with water bombs. What made the boy turn however, was a streak of light that crossed his vision, and thunder so murderous that it made him feel shock waves through his shoes.

Wormon glanced at his partner, watching Ken as he fought to restrain his emotions. "Yolei," Ken whispered. The Digimon found himself hugged against the boy's chest as he dashed out into the weather that threatened to drown them both.

~*~

A flash of bright yellow and ominous shaking of the walls and window saw Kari sitting upright on her bed. Outside, rain pounded against the buildings raced down the glass.

Gatomon leapt into her partner's lap, who had clapped her hands over her ears. Seeing the bright blue eyes stare at her in concern, Kari admitted, "I don't like thunderstorms."

The reply was not comforting. "That's not lightning," Gatomon said.

Her purple-tipped ears pricked up in warning. Moments later, another flash revealed Tai's frame in the doorway.

He stepped forward, ruffling Kari's hair. "Get dressed and grab a coat. We've got an emergency." Tai's eyes were alight with fire.

Kari didn't question how her brother figured there was trouble, because with the flame in his eyes, she knew Tai was back.

They slipped on their jackets and ran out the door with their Digimon on their heels. Brother and sister ran through the drenching rain to the source of the unnatural lightning.

~*~

Tendrils whipped at her cheeks, forcing her to swipe away the hair that blocked her vision in addition to the downpour. Fighting to be heard above the storm gales, she shouted to Halsemon, "He's gaining on us!"

"Hang on!" he cried. The flying Digimon pulled in his wings, keeping them out just enough to stay airborne. He then tipped himself forward slightly. Down they soared through the stinging cold rain.

The girl riding him ducked her head as a yellow ball of fire sped past. A snarl of anger from behind reminded the two that the enemy was approaching.

~*~

Ken and Wormon approached their destination, only to find that others had reached it before him. Standing before him in the frigid weather were Tai and Kari with Agumon and Gatomon.

Tai held his sister protectively as he braced against the wind. The boy turned to Ken as if he had expected him. Before a second gust snatched Tai's words away, he managed to yell, "Where are the others?"

Likewise, Ken had anticipated his arrival. To answer the older boy's question, he pointed to barely visible shapes on to the left and right.

One of them ran forward. "Dudes!" Davis was unable to continue when a blast of light blinded them all.

Shielding herself with her arm, Kari knew that Gatomon was right. This was no lightning. Gatomon herself squinted against the glare to make out two forms far above. Her ears picked up someone roaring, "Terra Destroyer!"

A scream was heard from the storm clouds above. Halsemon had been injured severely, forcing his descent to end in a horrific crash. Everyone hid their faces from flying debris including projectiles of concrete and asphalt.

When the dust cleared, all that lay in the giant crater was a worn out Baby Digmon and an unconscious girl. As the rain continued, a scratched red object tumbled out of the prone girl's hand. It was Yolei's D-3.

The one who had knocked them from the sky landed, surveying his work with no satisfaction whatsoever.

Davis addressed the attacker as Ken ran off with Wormon. "Who the hell are you?" he spat.

Black Wargreymon ignored him, and chose the stare at their leader instead, as if to dare him to go against what he had just done. Tai stared back at the monster, the evil twin of his own partner.

Peering, searching the yellow eyes with his own chocolate brown, Tai came down to a very painful conclusion. "Ken! Stop." Tai didn't remove his gaze from the new enemy. "That's not Yolei."

The indigo-haired boy halted inches away from the edge of the hole where the girl in question lay. Fearing the reality that would shatter his last bit of hope stopped him from helping. "It's Yolei!" he said hoarsely, almost hysterically. "It has to be Yolei. Who else could it be?!" But Ken already knew the answer.

Black Wargreymon grunted. "You are the Digidestined of Courage?"

"What about it," Tai said warily.

The Digimon turned. "We will meet again." Black Wargreymon vanished.

There was a silence. All that could be heard was the splash of rain all around them, the rainwater mingling with the tears that coursed down Tai's face.

"Sora!" he yelled. Tai ran to her side. Sneakers spraying the water in all directions until he kneeled down to hold her hand. Relieved to find a pulse, he shouted to the still crowd of Digidestined, "Joe! Help me already! Someone call for the hospital!"

As the crowd stirred to action, Ken stepped away from the girl. Knowing the true identity of Halsemon's rider, made his heart twist in undeniable pain. He wanted to scream out his anger at the world, angry for hurting him so much. It hurt, being in the realm of the living while his own brother was in the world of the dead, watching Wormon die in his arms, and now this. But he didn't scream. There had been enough pain. The distraught boy left the scene, hugging his only companion in a world that hated him.

~*~*~*~

GD~ AF please don't hurt me! I'm begging ya! Don't kill me off! I promise I'll put Willis in this story if you don't kill me!

Verumon~ *gapes openmouthed*

GD~ What's wrong with you Verumon? I can fit Willis in. The romance in this chapter wasn't that bad, and there's more Taiora and Kenyako in the next chapter!

Verumon~ Who are you?! What have you done to GD?

GD~ What'd I do?

Verumon~ GD… YOU JUST TORTURED KEN! KEN'S YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER! YOU LOVE KEN! YOU JUST HURT KEN!

GD~ … Verumon, you done?

Verumon~ Yes. *goes to bed*