Interval C: Yuugi-oh, Yagami Taichi.

Ryo and Ken argue about leaving the central continent.

Daisuke pits Stingmon and Exveemon against Zero and Takato in a four way sparring brawl; Miyako and Sora scout the clearing for enemies.

The others are at Koushirou's laptop. Connecting their Wonder Swans to the Pineapple, the digidestined send emails to the international Chosen informing them of the situation. The other partner digimon forage for food.

All except Taichi, that is. He reclines on the grass, a deck of Tama Battle game cards laying next to him. Taichi absently twirls a Veedramon card between his fingers, lost in thought.

==

:: "Taichi...you don't remember, do you?" sighs Zero. ::

I lied.

I didn't forget you, Zeromaru. I just considered you a closed chapter in my life. I could never forget everything we went through together.

But I could ignore it. I could easily ignore it.

Hell, I can barely tolerate Ken, although I know that much of his actions as the Kaizer weren't his fault. What he did to Agumon-controlled him, turned him against me and my friends, and forced us to fight him-was beneath contempt and precisely how our current enemy operates.

I hate Saiba Neo. I hate him. Everything I love he wants to pervert. He wants to make the whole world as filthy and evil as him.

And he goes on and on, using everyone in his sick determination to win. Two kids, who should have been around my age, died-he doesn't give them a thought. The third kid is now his little toy.

What I saw her do with him...it was almost unholy. Something that would make Takeru retch. Her, giving herself to Neo. Yamato tries to tell me that it's jealousy.

I, Yagami Taichi, am a jealous god. And I'm disgusted at what my goddess has become.

Neo twists everything he touches, renders it worthless.

Has he twisted me as well? I don't know or care.

Taichi, the Child of Courage and Taichi, the Victory Tamer were once one and the same.

The same goofy kid with the goggles and the cards.

= = =

"Wake...up!" Mrs. Yagami snatches away Taichi's covers.

The eleven-year old slowly opens his eyes. To a bright, morning sun.

"No! The sun!" screeches Taichi.

"Arise, and greet the day," grins Yamato. "Besides, you've got the Finals."

"What...oh, yeah! I forgot-I have a card battle to win!"

"Not in your underwear you don't, young man." His mother folds her arms; nevertheless, an understanding smile graces her face.

"...yeah. Need clothes!" Taichi speeds away.

- - - -

Why is Yamato giving me a hard time? Stupid bishounen.

"Hi, Taichi," grins a pretty girl.

"Oh, hi, miss." I barrel past her.

Yamato grabs my shirt. "Baka."

I look at the girl; she looks familiar.

"Taichi!" The girl's voice is unmistakable. What's Sora doing in a dress?

"This is an important event, believe it or not, Taichi," she pouts.

"Come on, Sora." She really can overreact-must be a girl thing. "It's just a Tama game against some brainy kid."

"The 'brainiest' kid in the world," notes Yamato. "And he's also good at this game."

"Every genius has a hobby, I guess," Sora shrugs.

"Way to show support, guys." I grin, rolling my eyes. "This is going to be fun. And after this, camp!"

"Next week: the universe." Yamato's no comedian. He should leave the funny stuff to me.

"What do you get if you win, anyway?" asks Sora.

"I don't know. I entered because there was nothing else to do. Playing Tama against you two is dull." Or frustrating. They'd lose interest in the game and start tickling each other and crap; I'd get mad and start screaming at the top of my lungs.

I played against Yamazaki Kanto, from Shinjuku; Yamatori Akira, from Yokohama; and Tomoe Hotaru, from Juuban.*

[AN: The last was a blatant nod to Sailor Moon S.]

Now, I face a kid from Tamaishi named Saiba Neo. People say he's the smartest kid in the world.

That's impossible-Koushirou's the smartest. Only a genius would know that much about computers and stuff.

- - -

Neo eyes his opponent coolly. "What are you doing here?"

"I honestly don't know," grins Taichi. "I don't even know what I win for beating you."

"You're ahead of yourself...." Neo studies Taichi's name badge. "...Yagami Taichi. I'm Saiba Neo."

"So?"

Neo chuckles. "Let's play, Taichi."

- - - -

It's clear that Neo likes to scare his opponents with his talk and superior brain power. But that doesn't work on me. Yamato says I don't have a mind to play mind games with.

Bishounen no baka. Of course I have a mind. Anyway, time to finish the brain king off.

My favorite attack, the Sun card. With my basic Victory Dramon card, the Veedramon. The game is over.

I won! What I won I don't know yet, but I won!

- - -

"Taichi," asks the announcer, "You've just won your school a block party with the star of Tamagotchi Duel Battle. The King of Games himself, Matsuda Yuugi*, will be the principal of your school for a day!"

[AN: No...he merely LOOKS like Yugi ala Yu-Gi-Oh!]

Applause thunders throughout the park.

Taichi's eyes widen with glee as he stares at the teen gaming idol.

Yuugi smiles. "We're going to send every kid in your school off to summer with a bang. You're the big hero, Taichi.

"How do you plan to top this during the summer?"

"I don't know," gasps Taichi. "This is all so sugoi! But after school's out, me and my friends are all going to summer camp!"

Taichi, Yamato, and Sora all cheer with the other Yagamis. Hikari gives her older brother a soft, proud smile.

Amidst the celebration, no one notices Neo's scathing glare. The pale blond boy leaves the festivities.

= = =

"...Taichi...." I wake with a start. That was foolish. Fortunately, Neo's asleep.

I can't believe I moaned his name aloud. He is looking sexier than ever though; I must begrudge him that. The jerk.

He doesn't understand that you don't spurn Saiba-sama. This is my fate. So I'm resigned, uncaring about whatever insults others hurl at me.

Even if they're from the one whose embrace I'd rather be in.

Resigned. I snuggle to my lord, resting up after our...activities. Okay, we were having hot, wild sex again. You'd think taking over the world would rob a guy of his libido, ne?

Saiba-sama clutches me to him. He's been very possessive of me lately; we have to chat.

Neo nicks my ear, stinging it. He licks my ear as he enters me from the back.

"I know everything." He hisses this in his "I must scare the hell out of you" tone that does the trick.

He's frightening me...hurting me...and liking it.

"Mari," continues my lord, "I will have to be your only desire, whether you love me or not.

"Because Taichi doesn't give a damn about you." Neo laughs. "But even if he did, he will still die.

"Taichi will die."

Usually he grants me pleasure. Why is Neo distressing me? It's all I can do to keep from screaming.

"Taichi will die...."

==

Hikari clings to Ryo, jerking from her sleep.

"Is there a problem, Hikari?" asks Ryo, who notes his paperwork dancing into the night breeze.

The girl looks at Ryo as though he were her answered prayers. "I'm...sorry. Just a nightmare.

"I'm glad you're watching over me. When I'm near you, I feel safe."

Ryo puts a protective arm around Hikari. "It's all right. I don't mind at all."

Smiling, Hikari drifts back to sleep.

Taichi watches this interesting drama unfold, a bitter smile playing on his features.

==

I should be glad my sister's growing up, but I'm not. I don't want that arrogant, sanctimonious pinhead near her.

But she's happy. Everyone's happy. Koushirou's typing love notes to Mina. Mimi...is Mimi, teasing Jyou's hair. Jyou snores.

Takeru's writing in a journal, while Daisuke gushes over a new crush.

Ken's studying the Handbook; Miyako sneaks up on him and gives him a back massage. Look at him, pretending not to notice.

The digimon snooze; Agumon murmurs something about lemon pie, Spike, Vicious and Blackwargreymon. No more Cowboy Bebop for him.

Sora and Yamato gaze into the night sky, finding peace there.

I must be cheese, because I'm standing alone. I don't like it.