Chapter 2

The next morning, as I went to breakfast, I thought about the best way to tell them about everything. Then I went to the rendezvous. No one was there yet, but soon they all showed up - Tai Kamiya, Matt Ishida, Izzy Izumi, Joe Kido, Mimi Tachikawa, Takeru Takashi, Hikari Kamiya, Daisuke Motomiya, Miyako Inoue and Iori Hida.

After being introduced to everyone, I cut straight to the chase.

"Arukenimon is planning an offensive against you. I have a hunch she'll go for the younger kids first."

"What do you think we should do?" Kari asked.

"How do you know about Arukenimon?" Miyako 'Yolei' said.

I looked around and said, "Listen, I know who you guys are. I know what you've been doing, and I know all about the Digiworld. Although I'm not part of your group of Digidestined, I would like to help you."

"I say she's in," Matt said.

"I agree," said Tai.

"I think the best thing to do right now is for you all to stay together. Then you could look after one another." I told the younger kids.

"Just how do you know so much about us, anyway?" Cody asked me.

I ignored the question. I knew something was wrong. Ken was not here.

"Where's Ken? Did you tell him about this?" I asked, looking around the faces of the Digidestined.

"We told him to come, but he didn't want to. I can't understand why." Daisuke 'Davis' told me.

I jumped down from the top of the slide I was sitting on.

"I think Ken might be the first target. Arukenimon knows that he doesn't hang out a lot with you."

"Right!" said TK. "Come on, guys! Let's go warn him!"

We took the train to Ken's house, which was on the other side of the river. When we finally got there, his mother opened the door.

"Hell, Mrs. Ichijoji, is Ken home?"

"Of course. Come in. I'll call him. He's probably in his room."

We waited in the living room, and after a while Ken appeared. He was surprised to see all of us, and we went into his room.

"Why did you come?" he asked.

"I have to warn you," I said. "Arukenimon is planning to destroy the Digidestined in the real world."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Sora Takenouchi. I know all about you. You are in more danger than the rest."

"What do you mean?" Matt asked me.

I stopped talking and took a deep breath.

"Arukenimon will destroy everyone except Ken."

"What have I got that she needs?" Ken asked.

"Try to remember. It was the day your Digivice turned into a D-3."



F L A S H B A C K

Ken was in the digital world, in the desert. Wormmon, his partner, was beside him. The little Digivice was in Ken's fist; he was staring at it, wondering what it all meant. Suddenly the wind picked up. The dust on the ground beside his feet swirled into a tornado, and he had to shield his eyes from the force of the little particles beating around his body. He felt a piercing pain in the back of his neck, and let out a scream. The Digivice tumbled from his hand and into a small puddle at his feet. He sank to his knees and stared down into the water. The Digivice at the bottom started to change shape, until it transformed into a larger model. Picking the D-3 from the water, Ken looked at the little screen.



E N D F L A S H B A C K

"One of those dark spores is still inside you."

"So. is that what Arukenimon wants? My dark spore?"

I nodded. "She wants to implant dark spores from you into children all over Japan," I said. "Whatever you do, don't let Arukenimon catch Ken. All of you should stick together."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"What should we do next?" Mimi asked me.

"For now you'll just have to stick together and sit tight."

"What if Arukenimon will change plans?" Tai asked thoughtfully.

"Leave that part of the mission to me," I told him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

I started my work the next day. Looking like a tourist, I traveled around Odaiba, searching for Arukenimon, and her partner in crime, Mummymon. I didn't gather much from the trip, except a brief conversation they had in a café. They were disguised as rich people, under the impression of having lunch. I pretended to study the menu, but in fact I listened closely to the couple sitting a table away from me.

"We have to catch the kids and use them as bait for the carrier. And if he resists, we'll threaten to kill them."

"The boss said nothing about killing them!"

"I'll take care of the boss. Go."

Mummymon got up and walked out.

I ordered a coke and paid the waiter. Then I got on the first bus back to my apartment. Then I dialed up Tai's home number. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Tai? It's Sora."

"How did you know my number?"

"There's always the phone book. Anyway, I have an update on the you-know- what. Call the others for a meeting at your place in an hour."

I did not wait for him to answer. I hung up and started to get ready.