The outside world was puzzling.   The wind blew in random directions at random intervals.   One moment, Kei would be pressing forward... the next, he would be head over heels.   The wind swept from behind him.   It took a little while to get used to this.
         It didn't take him long to locate the towers.   The horizon curved upward and around, almost like being inside of a ball.   He looked around... and shook his head.   Shadow stopped and looked up at him.
         "Having second thoughts?"
         "... Nah.  I gotta save 'em."  He looked down at Shadow.  "I'm the one responsible for this."
         "Yeah.  You are."
         Kei facefaulted.
         "Well.  That was... rude."
         Shadow giggled.  Kei sighed, and shook his head, rolling his eyes.
         The ground was a pale white sand, an ocean of lava all about them.  Forests of pure crystal had to be navigated.  Kei sighed, and sat on the ground.  He wiped the goggles with his sleeve, then shook his hand, shards of crystal scattered off of his hand.  Crimson liquid began to form in particular spots.
         "... Damn crystals."
         "Shoulda brought gloves."
         Kei shot him a glare.
         "Hey, I got some."
         Shadow quickly darted at Kei and took the device out of his pocket.  He poked another button, and the screen lit up.  A pair of black gloves dropped down in Kei's lap.  He stared for a moment, and blinked.  He picked up the gloves, wiped off his hands again, then slid his hands into the gloves.
         "... Got anything in there that can get us to the tower faster?"
         Shadow stared at him for a minute.
         "... Whadd'ya think this is, Aladdin's Lamp?"
         "... Uh... who?"  Kei quirked his eyebrow.
         Shadow let out a sigh and shook his head.
         "Nevermind."
         "Lemme rest my feet, and we'll get going," said Kei.
         Shadow strode next to him, and dropped down onto the floor, legs folding in a child-like indian style.  Kei leaned back against the tree, face still concealed under the thick scarf and goggles.  His spikey dark brown hair had a thin, misty layer of crystal shards.  He brushed his now-gloved hand through his hair, a shower of white powder falling from his head.  He stared down at Shadow, who then returned his stare.
         "... So... uh..."
         Kei wasn't too great of a conversationalist.
         "Lemme guess... what am I?"
         Kei nodded, grinning a bit under his scarf.
         "A Digimon."
         "Digimon... right.  That tells me just so gee-golly-darn much."
         "A Digital Monster."
         "... Which is?"
         Shadow coughed.
         "A... monster... that is made of... electronic data?"
         Kei stared blankly.  A few moments passed.
         "... Nevermind.  It's beyond your mind's current capacity to comprehend"
         Kei shook his head, more white powder falling from his face.
         "Right.  Anyway... what's this supposed to be?"
         Kei reached into his pocket and took out the device.  He ran his free hand over it, brushing the white powder off of it.
         "That is a D-Power.  It's a device that, well... has many, many uses.  Some of which make me stronger.  You'll see."
         "... I'm sure I will."  He quirked a brow.
         As soon as this is over with, he's going back in there.  Perminently. he thought.
         "Since you're the one who unsealed it, it's yours now.  If you lose it, it'll find it's way back to you somehow.  Pretty much unbreakable, too."
         "How would you know it's unbreakable?"
         "... It's older than I am, and doesn't even have a scratch on it.  You do the math."
         "True... what was your name, again?"
         "I'm Tsukikagemon.  A virus-demon type.  I've got a lot of uses, you'll see."
         "... Okay.  Sure.  Lemme guess two?  No good and good for nothing?"
         Shadow stared at him.
         "... This coming from someone who can't even say my name without it becoming a tongue twister."
         Kei shot him a glare.
         "Tsukikaaaa..."
         Shadow leaned forward.  He pulled down Kei's scarf and grabbed his lips between his talons.  Shadow yanked his lips, forming the words with his tugs.
         "Tsu.  Ki.  Kage.  Mon.  Not that hard."
         He repeated back.  "Tsu.  Ki.  Kage.  Mon.  Tsukikagemon."
         Shadow yanked the scarf up, the scarf covering half of his goggles.  Kei fixed it.
         "Good job.  You ready to go yet?"
         "... Yeah."
         Kei placed a hand on his knee and stood up.  He brought an arm behind his head and stretched out.  Shadow quickly stood up and walked next to him.  Kei nodded down to him, Shadow returning the nod, and they both turned, and resumed the journey.
        

***********************





         What seemed like hours later, and much walking, they reached the tower.  It stretched upward, a deep, empty pit around it, a drawbridge down, and a massive stone door stood shut.  Tight.  He sighed, and scratched the back of his head, staring at the door.
         "... Looks like no one's home?"
         "Maybe you should try and open it first."
         Kei rolled his eyes and walked quietly towards the tower.  He stopped for a moment, and glanced around him.
         "... Is it just me, or..."
         He took off his goggles, and pulled down his scarf.  There was no wind.  He turned around and glanced behind them.  The wind seemed to be blowing around the tower.  Aproximately one foot from the tower was where the wind parted around it.  No matter what direction, the wind could not cross that line.  He stared at it for a moment, lips curling to one side.  That gave him a rather creepy feeling.
         "... Who approaches the tower?" a voice called from behind.
         "E-eh?!"
         Kei spun around.  A face molded itself from the stone door.  Kei felt his jaw drop.  Shadow quietly walked over to him, and closed his mouth.  Kei shot him a glare, and Shadow merely giggled.
         "Say something!" whispered Shadow.
         "Okay, okay!"  he whispered back.
         "Uh... we do!"
         "... What purpose do you seek these towers?"
         Kei blinked.  That was a simple answer.
         "I seek to revive my friends in my villiage!  Their souls are trapped in your tower!  Open up, now!"
         The stone face remained silent for a moment.
         "... Very well.  However, there are souls that lurk within the towers... corrupted souls that have become creatures of darkness.  Seek the top of the tower, and gain the power to revive the planet.  Then your friends souls shall be returned."
         "... Okay.  Right," he muttered.
         "... Kei... do you dare to test your fate?" said the stone face.
         Kei coughed.  The door shook for a moment, then violently as it slowly swung inward.  It stopped with a hard slam as it reached just tall enough for Kei to enter.
         He stood quietly and stared at the open gate.  Shadow stamped on his foot.  He winced and cringed.
         "Do you always have to stare?  C'mon!"  Shadow quickly jogged in, giggling.
         "... I'm so gonna get you back for this one of these days."





***************************





         The place faintly smelt of mold.  The entryway was well lit with torches, ancient statues of inhuman-looking creatures stood like sentinels.  A red carpet lead the way back into a doorway.  They quietly walked down the carpet, Kei's head never once being still, always glancing around.  He was rather nervous.  Monster were lurking about... and he didn't have anything to fight with.... except maybe Shadow... which it was unknown to him how Shadow could fight.  Well, he did have those claws... but when push came to shove, would they be enough?
         They walked quietly into the next room.  Kei canted his head.  He could hear more of them lurking around, but there was one infront of him, wandering around, minding it's own buisness.  For now.  It must have been two feet tall.  It literally looked like a mole-person with one eye.
         "... Kei?  Ready for fighting, lesson one?"  Shadow looked up at him.
         Kei shook a bit and looked down at Shadow, shushing him.
         "Y'want that thing to notice us?!"
         "Here!"
         Shadow jumped up and yanked the D-Power out of his pocket.  He giggled a bit and held it up to him.
         "Push this button on the left side."
         He stared for a second, and nodded.  He pushed.  The screen lit up.  An image of a sword with a rather sturdy-looking armor mounted ontop of a small platform appeared on the screen.  It almost looked like a medal or a trophy.
         "... Okay... then what?"
         "Push the big button in the middle and say, 'DigiMental Up!'"
         Kei glanced from the screen to Shadow.
         Sounds... stupid enough to work.  Why not?
         Shadow tapped his foot and folded his arms.
         "Any day now."
         He pushed the button and held it out to Shadow.
         "DigiMental Up!"
         A light quickly shot from the D-Power.  It thrust itself into Shadow.  Light began to pour from the open slots in his body, and slowly, his entire body was drenched in a light.  The light moved towards Kei.  He didn't have enough time to react before it pressed into him.  He flailed, and brushed his arms around his body, trying to get whatever it was off of him.
         He shut his eyes and covered his face.  The light faded.  A loud clank startled him.  A sword was lying next to him.  His knees bent suddenly as he realized... he had on a breastplate.  He blinked and glanced down.  He flicked the armor with his finger, and immediately recoiled, shaking his finger.  Extremely sturdy, and skin-tight.
         "... Mind not doing that?"
         The words came from the sword... the two gold gems on the crossguard seemed to stare at him.
         "... Shadow?"
         "Expecting someone else?  You gonna leave me here or what?"
         He coughed, leaned over, and gripped the hilt.  He leaned back, and stumbled lightly.  A laugh came from the blade.
         "Too heavy?"
         "No... just... not used to it yet."
         He reached down with his other hand and lifted.  Yeah, it was pretty heavy for him, but not unmanagable.  He took a few swings with both hands, turning with each swing, then thrusted it forward, and took a step back, taking a rather showy stance.
         "... Whenever you're done showing off, you can move out of the way of the creature next to you."
         "... What are y-"
         WHAM!  He skidded across the stone floor.  One of the mole creatures flipped off of him and recoiled.  It had apparently rolled itself into a ball and slammed into him.  How did he know?  It rolled into a ball again and came at him.  He slid his legs out, and readied himself.
         ... Wait... duh.  What am I thinking?  Kei giggled to himself.  Stupid monster.  He held out the blade, and the mole creature skewered itself on it.  Kei stared for a moment at the creature as it squirmed a bit on the blade, before it stopped moving.  No blood, no... nothing.  It's body merely cracked like glass and shattered, particles of light flowing in all directions around them, then quickly drawing into the blade.
         "... I got 'em!"
         "Yep.  Quick thinking, dead-eye.  More where that came from.  Another behind you, too."
         He nodded and turned, swinging this time.  The creature shattered much like the other as the blade passed through it, the same event happening.
         "... This isn't too hard."
         "Alright, let's get outta here before more decide to show up.'
         "Agreed.  That first one hurt."
         "Lots more pain in store, I'll garuntee."
         With that, he jogged around the room... and stopped about every ten steps to catch his breath.
         "Jeeze.  Am I really that heavy?"
         "YES." Kei shouted.
         It didn't take Kei long to find a staircase to the upper balcony that surrounded the room.  An open door sat a few feet to his right, a sentinel statue on either side.
         "... There's our ticket."
         He quickly darted to the staircase, a creature daring to drop down infront of him.  He merely thrust the blade forward, blazed right through it, and bolted up the staircase.
         Second floor.  A new creature lurked about.  It looked like... a small ball of red light, small flames hovering around it.  Along with the mole things.  Inside the red light, an eye opened and glanced at Kei.  The flames closed in on it's body and the creature vanished.
         "... Maybe it got sca-"
         The red light flickered infront of him, and the flames ignited, the eye merely feet from him.  It leaned forward and stared down at him.  The flames around it spun faster, and it launched one at him.  Kei quickly ducked, the flames licked his hair.
         "H-hey!  WATCH IT!"
         He slashed the sword at it.  The blade impacted, and bounced off.  It bounced back.  He blinked for a moment and darted forward.  He thrust the sword through it's eye, and the eye shattered, the flames going out.  It's light shattered... but regathered, and became a blue glowing ball of light.  A white mist formed over it, facial features quietly drawing themselves out.
         "What the...?"
         "It's a soul, Kei.  Apparently, this creature hasn't been here that long.  That's why I can't absorb it."
         Kei stared at it for a minute.  The lips curled up into a smile.
         "Ahh... feels great to be free of that acursed form..." said the whispery, hollow voice that came from the light.
         "... Right, uh..."
         It leaned forward.
         "Y'wanna know how to get to the next floor?"
         Kei looked around, facefaulting.  No, there was no visible staircase... which confused him.  Why would someone build a tower... and forget to build a staircase?
         "Uh... sure."
         The spirit flickered around him.
         "I only got a few seconds before I head for the other side, but..."
         It went face-to-face with him.
         "Try the window."
         He blinked, and the spirit faded, disappearing in a light puff of it's own mist.
         "... Oh, and thanks!"
         "... You're... welcome?"
         He canted his head and shrugged.
         A few hacks and slashes later, Kei sat down on the floor, panting.
         "Jeeze.  You're pathetic.  You kill six monsters and are tired."
         "Cut me some slack.  I'm new to this adventuring buisness."
         A giggle came from the blade, and he thrusted the blade into the stone, using it to pull himself to his feet.  He really was pretty tired.  He sighed, and lifted his head, and immediately caught something in his eye.
         "... Well, he could have just TOLD ME that..."
         Where did he stare?  Well, just across the room from him on the upper balcony of the room were two windows.  One was barred up like a prison cell.  The other was not.  The bars had been broken open and bent outward, and the window sat there, like a gateway.
         "... Sheesh.  Too easy."
         He walked to the window, heffing up the blade and sitting the flat part of it against his shoulder.  Much better.
         I'm gonna need a loooooooooong nap after this is over...

         Outside, there was a thin balcony.  He had only thought he was on the second floor, but from the distance to the ground outside, it looked more like the tenth.  He glanced around at the wall of the tower.  A rope hung down, a doorway up at the top, a light shone through it.  Looked almost like someone was waiting for him up there.
         He stood before the rope and stared up.  Okay, what to do?  He gripped the rope in one hand and went to reach with the other... okay, sword is there.  He switched hands and gripped it with his left hand, taking the rope in his right.
         "... Try putting the sword in the sheath on your back."
         "... Oh!... right... Like I knew this?"
         He held the blade up high, arms fully extended.  He turned the blade over, and fumbled around, the tip of the blade lightly bouncing around, missing the sheath.
         "... Little to the left... now right... no no, more to the left!  NO!  Now to th-... FORGET IT!"
         With that, the sheathe dropped off his back.  He turned and leaned over, picked it up and sheathing the blade.  He held it behind his back, and it attached itself to his back again.
         With that said and done, he set out climbing the rope.  Ten minutes later, after many slips, falls on his rear, and laughs from Shadow, he finally reached the top, leaned in the doorway, and panted hard.
         "Oh, God..." Shadow squalked out between laughs, "That one time you were like, 'WAAAH!' when your hand missed... CLASSIC!"
         Kei glared down at the blade... and slammed it against the wall a few times.
         "OW!  OW!  HEY!  S- OW! STOP THAT!"
         Kei grinned.

         Inside, the pathway was simple.  The path lead around a pit, crumbling balcony surrounding it.  A doorway sat in the middle of the room.  The heavy-looking wooden doors sat quietly.  It was something strange to behold.  A set of doors... sitting in the middle of the room... and a figure standing infront of it.  Kei knew that whatever that was, it knew he was there, but made no sign to acknowledge him.  It's long, black cape covered it's body.  It looked humanoid, but it was impossible to tell.  Every inch of it was covered.  It's face had a mask of a red-faced demon, and a hood was over it's head.  He followed the pathway around, and approached it.
         "... So, you are the one who seeks to unseal the seven towers?"
         Kei nodded.
         "I want my villiage back to normal."
         "... Not just anyone can pass through these doors.  It was enough that you got in here.  You should head back before you get yourself killed."
         He bit down on his lip, and unsheathed the sword, arms straining to hold it.
         "... Careful.  You might hurt yourself with that."
         "Shut up and move out of my way!"
         "... Either you're brave, or stupid.  Very well, I shall test you."
         The ground shook lightly.  The figure disappeared.
         "I am the guardian of these towers.  Prove yourself to me, and I shall open the doors for you."
         The thin pathway that lead to the center of the room gave away.  He was now isolated on the island.  Four molemen suddenly appeared around him.... only they seemed different.  Their backs were red, and looked much more like shells.. and they were much taller.  All four leaned forward and roared at him.  One came running at him, it's left arm arm went up.  He observed, face frozen with fear.  He wasn't sure what to do... and it hit him like a sack of bricks.  He quickly sidestepped to his left.  As he did, the creature's claw swooped by him, completely missing him.  His eyes went wide, as it's face froze, and he realized that he had... just cut it in half.  He didn't know when, but he had swung on it, and split it in half.  It shattered into those particles of glass, the blade sucking it in as usual.
         The other three glared at this, and quickly darted at him.  He turned to the one on the left, and it skidded to a halt.  It smirked, and Kei was suddenly launched towards it.
         The one BEHIND YOU, IDIOT!  He winced as pain filled his body from that hit.  The one infront of him quickly lifted it's claw, but he was too fast for it.  He quickly got up and thrusted his blade through it's neck.  The creature made a choking noise before shattering, and he turned, swinging the blade, grazing the one behind's stomach.  It was trying to sneak up on him again, but he was a fast learner.
         He stood up, body trembling.  That hit REALLY hurt.  He kept both of them infront of him.  He took in a breath, and quickly let out a scream, bolting towards the one.  It seemed to freeze in fear as his blade went through it's chest and he ripped it out the side, using the excess force to the side to blaze across the other next to it.
         All four were defeated.  The guardian's voice rung up.
         "You are brave indeed.  And you have much strength.  You have done well up to this point.  The monsters you have felled are people's souls transformed."
         "... Look, I don't care about all this.  I just want my villiage back to normal."
         "... Earth is trying to revive itself... Land is on the verge of resurrection... step through those doors... and revive... the land..."
         There was a creaking, and the doors slowly swung open.  He stood for a moment... and sighed, knowing Shadow would do something to him if he didn't move.  So he walked through the doors.
         And it happened.  He entered a room, unlike anything he had seen.  A seven-pointed star was drawn on the floor, a door at each point.  A blue sphere of light spun quietly in the center of the small room.  The night sky shined around them outside of this room.  There were no walls, just doors, and a floor.  He quietly walked towards the blue orb, and placed his hand upon it.  His head arched back, and he gasped, feeling himself grow faint.
         He saw something.  An ocean of red.  Becoming bigger and bigger, until it became a sphere, spinning in the darkness.  He watched, silent, unknowning of what was happening.
         A bubbling came from the sea of blood.  A peak rose forth.  In a few moments, more peaks began to rise, land rising up to fill the gap between them.  A massive land formation came forth, giving the planet a new feature.
         The image faded.  White flakes began to drop down.  The land came into view... a snow-covered land, shining even in the night.  He had never seen this white powder... this cold feeling.  He had heard about it before... it was called... snow.  He could hear the Guardian's voice in his head.
         "... On this day... Asia has been reborn."
         The image faded.





*****************************





         "Kei... KEI!  Wake UP!"
         His cheeks began to sting.  He opened his eyes, and peered through his goggles, scarf up around his mouth.  His vision was quickly shot to the side as he felt a deeper sting to his cheek.  He squirmed and pushed away.
         "Kei, are you in there?"
         "Yeah, yeah, ENOUGH SHADOW!"
         He pushed Shadow away, who jumped back a bit, and stumbled for a second.  Kei glanced around.  They were outside, back in the crystal forest, away from the tower.
         "... What... just happened?"
         Shadow walked to him and sat down infront of him.
         "You unsealed that tower.  Now some of your villiage has revived."
         "... But after that... what...?"
         "You... revived part of Earth?  I dunno."
         Shadow shrugged.
         "Then we appeared here," finished Shadow.
         "... Okay... can I rest a bit?  Is that okay?... That weapon and armor were pretty heavy."
         Shadow's eyes narrowed.
         "I'm not THAT fat."
         Kei smirked, and leaned back against the tree, and shut his eyes, letting out a sigh.  He felt a weight in his lap suddenly.  His eyes opened.  Shadow was sitting there.
         "... Mind if I?"
         "... I don't care."
         Shadow nodded, not even glancing back at him, and his talons went into his lap.  Kei leaned his head back and shut his eyes.





***********************





         A few hours and a long walk later, they had arrived at the second tower.  They approached, and Kei waited.  Once again, the ground shook, and the door swung open.  They both quietly entered the tower, the door slamming shut behind him.
         This tower was darker than the previous.  Many of the torches appeared to have burned out.  A staircase sat in the middle of the room, leading up.
         "... No monsters?"
         "And... you want to have to carry my heavy butt around on you?"
         Kei glanced back at Shadow, and smirked.
         "Point taken."
         They walked to the staircase, and Kei placed his hand lightly on the railing.  He started up the staircase, glancing up.
         "How far up you think this goes?"
         Shadow shrugged.
         What seemed like an hour later, the staircase yielded no sign of ending.  Kei groaned, and even Shadow was starting to show signs of fatigue.
         "... Can we go back?"
         Kei looked back at Shadow.
         "... And go all the way back down?"
         "Good point..."
         What seemed like another hour later, they stopped for a minute.  He glanced around, and leaned over the railing, squinting.
         "... I don't even see the walls.  Something weird is going on here."
         "Maybe... it's a test?"
         "For what?  See how strong our legs are?"
         Shadow snorted.
         ... Yet another hour later, there was a break in the staircase.
         "... Well... at least it shows that we're not just going around in pointless circles."
         He stood on the edge.  A chunk of the stairs broke free, fell, and bounced off of the railway below.  Kei leaned over and watched as it disappeared into the darkness.  He waited quietly.  Shadow peeked his head over the railing and watched.  They both listened tentatively.  Minutes passed.  No sound.
         "... Long way down."
         "Go up?"
         "Yep."
         He leaned forward and took a leap, flailing a bit as he made the jump.  He then threw his weight forward and thudded against the stairs, nearly losing his balance and falling backwards.  Shadow stood quietly on the other side.
         "What're ya afraid of?  Just jump."
         Shadow shifted and looked away, then shook his head.
         "No.  No thanks."
         "... Wha?"
         "I'm, uh..."
         Shadow lightly brushed his talons over his arm.
         "Afraid of heights?"
         Kei smirked... then frowned.
         "I won't let you fall."
         "No, but you'll get rid of me as soon as we're done."
         He felt his heart stop.  How did he know that?
         "... N-no... no, I won't."
         "Yeah you will.  I can hear your thoughts."
         Kei shook for a moment.  That... scared him.  Shadow was able to see into his mind?... What about his... thoughts... of Kasumi?
         "... Do you trust me?"
         Shadow looked at him, one eye quirking.
         "Leap.  I'll catch you if you miss."
         Shadow stared at him.  That look told him he had his doubts.
         "... Promise?"
         "Yeah..."
         Shadow nodded and leaned forward, arms going back.  He heaved himself, and jumped.  Waaay too short.  Kei quickly dove forward and leaned over the edge and snagged his wrists with his hands.  Both had terrified looks in their eyes as they stared at one-another.  Shadow kicked and squirmed.
         "Don't drop me!"
         "I won't.  I got you.  Help me out, here,"  Kei grunted.  "You aren't exactly feather-light."
         He squirmed back, hooking his leg around a post in the railing.  Shadow swung to the left, then to the right, talons clenched Kei's right shoulder as he swung in that direction.  Taking advantage of the momentum, Kei snatched his left arm and pulled hard.  A concerted effort, and a few moments, and both were rolling back, up the stairs, and smacked into the railing.
         They both sat quietly, panting.
         "... Heh heh..."
         "... Heehee..."
         "Ha.  Hahaa..."
         They both slowly started to laugh.  Nervously at first, then they broke out into sheer, dumbfounded laughter.  After a few moments, they calmed, and sighed.
         "... What are we laughing about, again?" asked Kei.
         He glanced down at Shadow, who returned his stare.
         "... Beats the heck out of me."

         It wasn't more than what seemed like seconds, and they reached the doors similar to those they had seen in the previous tower.
         "... Well, that was easy."
         Kei kicked Shadow lightly.  Shadow coughed.
         "Erm... anyway..."
         The doors opened as Kei approached.  He stepped in.

         The Guardian's voice run out from within.
         "... On this day... Africa has been reborn."