Chapter Eighteen- The Dance



Jesi and Izzy walked up to the school together. It was finally the big night, the night of

the dance.

"Oh Izzy I'm so excited!"

"Hey," Izzy said "Where's Ken? Isn't he coming?"

"He told me he's going to be a little late because of some soccer meeting, but he'll be

here."

"Hi guys!" Tai called out from the entrance to the gym. Matt stood next to him with his

hands in his pockets.

"Hi Tai, hi Matt" Jesi said. "Hey, where's Sora?"

"She's not coming..." Tai looked down at the ground and grumbled.

"Oh...."

"Hey they're opening the doors," Matt said. The four Digidestined walked into the school

together.

The lights in the gym were all off and strobe lights and a disco ball were shining instead.

The music was blaring from the huge speakers around the DJ at the front of the room. Students

stood in the gym dancing and talking.

"Wahoo!" Tai yelled, "Refreshment stand!!" Tai ran over to the food.

"That's just like Tai," Izzy said "Thinking with his stomach."

Jesi pulled Izzy over away from Matt and whispered to him. "Did Mimi tell you about

what happened when we were camping?" She asked.

"What? Nobody told me anything...why, what happened?" Izzy asked her.

"Oh... I guess you don't know about Matt... and Tai."

"What about them?"

Jesi looked around to make sure no one was listening and told Izzy everything. Izzy just

stood speechless.

"Are you sure? I mean, Mimi could have been hallucinating."

"I...don't know." Jesi said

After Tai was done eating, the four friends went into the main part of the gym together,

where the dance was in full swing.

"Ken should be here soon," Jesi thought. Then she looked over at her three friends leaning

against the wall next to her.

"Hey let's not be wallflowers," Jesi smiled. "Do any of you want to dance with me?"

"Sure I'll dance," Matt said. He took her hand and they walked out on the dance floor.

"Izzy," Tai said as he nudged Izzy's shoulder. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"What do you mean? I... I don't like dancing."

Tai sighed. "Whatever."

As Jesi danced with Matt she saw him staring past her. She turned her head to see his

gaze was fixed on Tai.

"Matt... Can I ask you something?"

"Huh? Oh sure, what is it?"

"Is there... Um something going on between you and Tai?"

Matt looked down at the floor but continued dancing. "No. It's nothing." But it wasn't nothing. Matt was so confused about his feelings, and Tai's, he wasn't sure what to do. He wanted so badly to just go over there and....

"Matt..." She saw his eyes were starting to fill with tears. Then she looked over at Tai

and saw he was staring at Matt from across the room, with the same longing expression on his face.

Jesi lifted Matt's chin up so he was looking at her again. She looked deep into his eyes and they told the whole story, without Matt having to say a word.

"You love him don't you?" She said very calmly.

Matt just looked over at Tai again. Jesi listened to the music playing in the gym, a slow love

song. She released Matt's hand which she had been holding.

"Go..."

Matt looked at her and smiled through his tears. Then he rushed over to Tai and took his

hands.

"Matt..." Tai said softly.

Matt put his arms around Tai and whispered in his ear. "We don't need to hide it anymore."

Matt led Tai out onto the dance floor and they held each other close. Tai ran his fingers through Matt's blonde hair and buried his face in Matt's shirt. Matt held Tai in his arms, and rocked their bodies back and forth to the music. They didn't notice as heads turned in surprise.

Jesi walked over to Izzy and leaned against the wall next to him.

"What just happened?" Izzy said very confused.

Jesi just smiled at him. "Izzy would you like to dance with me?"

Izzy's face turned red, but he let her bring him out into the middle of the floor, and they

danced.





Ken looked up at the big school and all the decorations and lights. Minomon peeked out from inside his book bag.

"Thanks for bringing me Ken, this looks fun"

"Well you're going to have to stay quiet and stay out of trouble ok?"

"Don't worry about me all I need is a chocolate bar and I'm satisfied." Minomon grinned as much as a Minomon can.

Ken walked slowly into the school and looked around for Jesi. He swallowed nervously as students shuffled by through the hall.

"Ken!" Ken turned to see Jesi running out of the gym towards him. Jesi reached up and gave him a quick kiss when she reached him.

"I'm glad you could make it Ken," she smiled.

"Jesi, I'm a little nervous...."

"Why Ken, what's wrong?"

"Everyone here is older than me..."

Jesi took his hand. "Don't worry about that Ken, you're a celebrity."

Ken groaned. Jesi pulled him by the arm into the crowded gym.

"Izzy, Tai and Matt are right over here."

Jesi and Ken walked over to where their friends were standing and greeted them.

"Hey Ken how's it going?" Izzy said.

"I'm doing alright," Ken answered. Ken set his book bag with Minomon inside down on the bleachers next to them. Minomon was munching happily on a candy bar.

Jesi turned and tugged on Ken's arm when a slow and romantic song started echoing through the gym.

"Ken, do you want to dance with me?"

Ken looked down and a sweat drop formed on his head. "I...don't know how to dance, remember?"

Jesi just smiled, "Don't worry, just move to the music." She pulled his shirt sleeve until they were out in the middle of the gym. She put her arms around him and he nervously put his arms around her.

Meanwhile, Izzy was sitting on the bleachers tapping away on his laptop. Matt looked over at him.

"Izzy do you take that thing to bed with you?" Matt asked.

"I've been monitoring the Digital world all week, there is something weird going on. Shadowmon's signal has been slowly moving around the Digiworld but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I've stayed in touch with Tentomon and he says everything is quieter than he's ever seen it."

"How long has it been since anyone has gone there?" Tai said when he heard Izzy's remarks.

"It's been a while, there's been no need to go there since all seems clear. But I have a funny feeling Arukenimon is planning something big."

"Well.. I guess we should keep our eyes open then," Tai said.

"Yeah you know something's up when Izzy starts analyzing things." Matt said.

"I just wish I could be wrong sometimes," Izzy said, and continued monitoring his computer screen.







"I hope Matt and Tai are here, it would stink if I decided to come and ended up all alone." Sora said to herself as she walked down the sidewalk to the school. Sora walked slowly and gazed up at the stars. "Maybe Matt will ask me to dance with him." She sighed and opened the door leading to the gym.

Inside, the music was blaring from every corner. Tai was tapping his foot to the beat and looked up when he noticed someone entering the gym.

"Uh oh..."

"Tai what is it?" Matt said to him.

"It looks like Sora decided to come after all..."

Matt looked up and saw Sora looking around for them. A solemn expression formed on his face. He felt Tai's hand grasp his and turned to look into his eyes. He knew they both were thinking the same thing.

Sora spotted Ken and Jesi at the refreshment stand and walked over to them.

"Hi Ken, hi Jesi" she said as she walked up and smiled.

"Sora!" Jesi said when she heard her voice. "I thought you weren't coming."

"I decided to show up, so are Tai and Matt here?"

"Tai, Matt and Izzy are over on the left side of the gym near the wall. We'll be right in after we get some food." Jesi said.

"Ok!" Sora grinned and headed into the gym.

The Jesi realized something. "Uh oh.. She doesn't know." she said quietly.

"Doesn't know what?" Ken said. Jesi spun around when she realized Ken had heard her, and that he didn't know what had happened.

"Well...."

Sora walked happily over towards Tai and Matt but her smile faded when she saw them standing nervously watching her.

Izzy looked back and forth between them and slowly started backing away.

"I think I'm going to go... Uh... powder my nose, Bye!" Izzy hurried out of the gym.

"What's going on?" Sora asked uneasily. She looked down and spotted Tai and Matt clutching each other's hand.

"Sora..." Tai said softly.

Without Tai having to say anything more, she knew. Somehow, she already knew deep inside her the way they felt. The way they had stayed close to each other everyday for the past week since they all returned home from their camping trip. Even further back, when they were all in the digital world, she knew there was something more between them that they didn't want to admit. Sora slowly stepped up to them.

"No matter what happens," she said "You two will always be my best friends." She smiled and hugged the both of them.

Tai and Matt looked up at each other above Sora's head and their eyes met. At the same time, they let out a sigh of relief they had both been holding.







The sweet sounds of music floated through the gym. All the students acted differently in this dance environment, they were free to be together but be themselves, unlike at school.

Jesi had brought Ken out onto the dance floor once again. He held his hands nervously on her hips and she held him close with her head resting on his shoulder.

"I think I might be getting the hang of this." Ken said.

"I knew you would."

As Ken held her close to him he realized he had never said what he had always felt for her. They had been through so much together and Jesi filled up the empty space that had been inside Ken's heart his whole life.

"Jesi..."

"Yes Ken?"

"I...I love you Jesi."

"I know."

Ken smiled and closed his eyes as her pulled her closer to him.

Izzy sat on the bleachers stewing as he watched all the students dancing under the multicolored lights.

"Izzy what's up? You don't look very happy." Sora asked who was standing next to him.

"Huh? Oh...It's nothing. I was just thinking that's all."

"You're always thinking, Izzy, but right now you look pretty down." Sora hopped up on the bleachers and sat next to Izzy.

"Uh... Well you see," Izzy looked down at his hands and sighed. "I kind of wish I had a date...I'm always so busy with other things I don't have any time for girls."

Sora laughed slightly. "I guess little Izzy isn't so little anymore" she thought.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?"

"Izzy, do you want to dance with me?" Sora smiled.

"Ehh..." Izzy got a nervous look on his face. "Gah... I guess!"

Meanwhile Tai and Matt were having a soda near the refreshment table on the other side of the gym.

"Hey look there's Matt Ishida!" a girl shouted. In a few seconds a half dozen fangirls had crowded around Matt.

"Oh Matt I love the way you sing!"

"You're so hot!"

"Will you be my boyfriend!?"

Tai looked at all the fangirls and groaned. Matt, however, got a smirk on his face. He quickly put his arm around Tai.

"Sorry, I'm taken." Matt said with an evil smile, and planted a big kiss right on Tai's cheek.

All the fangirls got a stunned look on their faces.

"Heh heh."

Tai smiled at Matt and they walked away leaving the girls staring blankly ahead.

Everything seemed calm in the gym. The lights and music gave the whole place a certain aura. Jesi held her beloved Ken tightly in her arms.

Minomon, who was watching from inside Ken's book bag suddenly started to feel strange.

"I think I ate too much candy." But when he looked up he saw a strange glowing around Ken and Jesi. "Huh? What's that?"

Jesi suddenly felt something happening to her. She released Ken from her arms and stepped back.

"Ken! Your crest is glowing!"

Ken looked down at his shirt and then looked up at hers.

"Look," Ken pointed up and the glowing shape of the tag under her shirt. They pulled their tags out of their shirts and saw the glowing start to become brighter.

"Izzy what's happening?" Sora said when she glanced up and saw what was going on.

The music stopped playing and students turned to see. Suddenly a cry was heard from the bleachers.

"KEN!"

"Minomon!?"

The book bag started to shoot lights out in every direction.

"I'M DIGIVOLVING!!!" Minomon shot out of Ken's bag onto the floor and digivolved into Wormmon.

The students in the gym stepped back and gasped when they saw the digimon in the middle of the floor.

"Wormmon!" Ken yelled, "What are you doing!?"

"Iiiiiiii can't stop it!!"

Then Wormmon began to digivolve again into Stingmon.

"Ken what's going on?" Jesi yelled. Ken spun around and flashed her serious and worried look.

Then Izzy ran over to them with Sora, Matt and Tai at his heels.

"Jesi! This must have to do with that Ange-digivolving you told me about. This means something really big must be going on in the Digiworld!"

Ken grabbed Jesi's arm. "Jesi where's Flotsymon!?"

"She's at home!"

Meanwhile at Izzy's apartment,

"EEEEE!!" Mrs. Izumi screamed when she saw the digimon that had burst through the wall of her apartment from next door.

Kasurymon stood up and backed against the wall. "It was an accident I swear!"

"You're one of those digimon aren't you!?"

"Uh well, yes. Tell me, is Izzy home?"

"No he's at the school dance but what do you want him for?"

"Because he's the answer man and I need answers." Then Kasurymon flapped her wings and flew out the balcony door over the city.

"Now what has my son gotten himself into?"







"Tentomon what's going on there!?" Izzy shouted into his computer.

"Well, I'm really not sure. The whole sky has turned black, that's all I know, but I think it a good idea for all of you to some right now." replied Tentomon from the digital world.

"I think it's a good idea too." Izzy turned towards everyone who was waiting around him.

"What about Kasurymon, she's not here." Jesi said as she looked down at her still glowing crest.

Just then, the school principal walked into the gym and saw the crowd of children and the huge, green digimon in the middle of the gym. He was followed by two police officers.

"Everyone stand back!" he yelled. The students all hurried to the sides of the gym except for the Digidestined.

"Children, you need to get away right now and let the authorities handle this."

"Sir you don't understand," Izzy said. "This is a digimon and to put it bluntly we have the situation under control."

"What?"

"Do you remember the Odaiba Fog incident three years ago? This is directly connected."

"Yes but.."

Just then the windows of the gym burst open and Kasurymon flew down into the gym. Gasps were heard from all around.

"Sorry I'm late, you know how traffic is these days."

"Well what are we waiting for!?" Tai yelled, "lets go!"

"Wait!" Izzy grabbed his computer away and started typing something.

"Izzy what are you doing?" Matt asked.

"I'm sending an e-mail to the others, I have a feeling we're going to need all the help we can get."

Izzy completed his e-mails and Ken held his Digivice up to the computer screen.

"Digiport open!"

In a flash of light, the six Digidestined were transported to the digital world.





"I, wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day, I wanna rock and roll.." sang Davis as he jumped around the room in his underwear.

"Hey Davis," said Demiveemon from across the room. "What's this blinking light?"

"Huh? What blinking light?"

"The one on this thingy over here."

"Oh that helps." Davis looked over at his computer. "It looks like I got e-mail, hey maybe it's from Kari asking me to go steady!"

Davis sat down and opened his e-mail. "Uh oh, we better go."

"Better go where?" Demiveemon asked as he hopped up next to Davis.

"It's from Izzy, something's goin on in the Digiworld. I guess they need me to come day the day!" Davis grinned.

"Oh brother."

Meanwhile at Kari's house,

"Hey Kari have you seen that can of sardines I had lying around?" Gatomon walked into the room and saw Kari sitting staring at the computer screen. She had a look of dread on her face.

"Hey Kari? Are you ok? You look like you ate some bad cat food."

"Shadowmon..." Kari said. "They're all in danger we need to go right now!"

"And I thought cats were the ones with the sixth sense."

Kari grabbed her Digivice. "Come on, they need our help."

Kari and Davis arrived at the school and found TK, Yolei, Cody and Joe waiting there.

"We were waiting for you two!" Yolei said.

"I knew you'd come," TK walked over and hugged Kari. Davis grumbled and turned away.

"TK this is really bad, Tai's in trouble and so are your brother and everyone else." Kari said as TK held her close.

"Don't worry Kari everything will be ok."

"Hey are we going to stand around here or are we going to go? I'm missing out on a study session you know." Joe said.

Cody nodded, "Let's go."

Davis held his Digivice up to the computer screen. "Digiport Open!!"