Fordina: Welcome to chapter 12! I'm glad you've stuck with us thus far.

Soccer Chicka: We realize we haven't been the most… updating-ly type people lately.

Fordina: Updating-ly?

Soccer Chicka: You heard me.

Fordina: -_-** Anyway…

Tai: Neither Soccer Chicka nor Fordina own Digimon or Card Captor Sakura. If they did… these stories would be on TV. Not just on the Internet. And you should know who they do own by now…

Desperate Days

By: Fordina and Soccer Chicka

Chapter 12

"We will be leaving now. The studio is free. I'm warning you now though, don't touch any of the expensive equipment or you'll be sorry." She frowned at them. "All right, follow me." She told the class.

Jen stood up immediately and ran to the teacher. "Hey, Miss What's Her Name, can I ask you something?"

"Yes and its Ms. Smith."

"Oh right. Well, where's Traci? Huh? I don't care where James is, just tell me where Traci is." Jen asked.

"You're friends have dropped the competition." Ms. Smith sighed wearily.

"James isn't my friend…" Jens started not fully comprehending what the teacher said. "I mean he's so—What did you say?!"

"They've dropped." Ms. Smith said as she led the others out the door.

"You're joking right? I mean, Traci wouldn't just say 'Hey teach, I quit.'" Jen replied with an uncanny impression of Traci.

"Well, she didn't say that exactly…But she did quit. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to confer with the producer to see if he's ready for you yet." Ms. Smith stated as she opened two huge double doors and disappeared behind them.

"Well, that was stupid." Jen said to herself as she started to fight the tide of students to get back to Izzy and Ken.

"What was stupid, Jen?" Karen asked popping up in front of her, from what seemed like no where.

"Ahh! Karen…don't just pop out of no where at people. It's scary." Jen said flatly trying to see around Karen.

"I know. It's funny to see people jump. So what's so stupid?" Karen shrugged following Jen through the crowd.

"Traci and James." Jen muttered.

"What about JAMES?" Karen asked, pulling on Jen's sleeve.

Jen wretched her shirt out of Karen's grip. "He's stupid."

"No he's not." Karen pouted at the insult of her favourite person.

"He is too. The dumbass made Traci quit. I know he did. Bastard." Jen mumbled. "The only reason I went in this contest was because Traci was in it and because she wasn't my partner. Of course, for that, I had to beat her."

Karen's lip trembled. "You didn't want to be my partner?"

Jen looked from side to side. Good, no one was listening. "Sure Karen, I mean, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have a partner." Jen smiled happy at her response. It worked, because Karen's face immediately brightened.

"Great. But I still think James is smart." Karen laughed.

Jen rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Traci sighed and kicked a rock at the side of the road; "Shit… this sucks ass! And after all the work that I've done to make sure I did good on the stupid show…" Sighing again she sat down on the curb, "I'm so stupid… why didn't I see this coming…? Why am I so clueless to these types of situations?!" She cried slamming her palm down on the cement.

"You shouldn't do that. You'll hurt yourself."

"I don't care, everything is screwed up in my life anyhow…" She bowed her head, then looked up again to see who had talked to her. "H-hello…?"

"Please don't be scared…"

"Wh-who's talking to me?"

"A friend."

"A… a friend? Are—are you a good friend?"

"One of the best you'll ever have… now please, I don't have much time, so listen carefully." Traci nodded, "I'm a Digimon, or more precisely the spirit of one. My name is Koimon and you're the only person that can help me. An evil Digimon named Forsakenmon takes the lives on Digimon before then can pass on to be reborn and uses us as his slaves. You've seen the 'Digimon' that appear out of no where and then disappear have you not?"

"Not first hand, but I've heard about them."

"Those, are the spirits that Forsakenmon has stolen. And with your help, we can defeat him."

"My help? How am I supposed to help? I'm no Digidestined…" Traci said sadly.

"But you are… you just have to trust in yourself and others… your moment will come."

"What do you mean? How can I be of any help to you? I'm just a kid!"

"You're more then what you think Traci… now, my time is shor—" She was gone.

"K-Koimon…? Where did you go?" Traci looked all around her, "What do I need to do?!" Traci cried standing up, not noticing the looks she was getting from the passerby.

Sighing in defeat she sat down heavily. "Why does my life keep getting more and more complicated...?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jen walked out of the TV studio tired, bored and annoyed. The orientation was as boring and pointless as her math class. She shuddered in remeberence of the dreaded math, and walked right into Izzy. "Sorry, Iz, I'm kinda zoned out." Jen stated from her position on the floor. Great, now on top of being bored, tired and annoyed, she also now hurt. She rubbed her butt and got up.

Izzy rubbed his head where he had banged it on the floor and accepted to the helping hand Jen offered. "No problem Jen, I was just looking for you. For some reason I can't find Ken anywhere!"

Jen smirked slightly. "I saw him sneak out as soon as the orientation was over. He…ahhh…He was grinning evilly…and he had your laptop."

Izzy's eyes seemed to gaze over. "My laptop…" Jen looked at him strangely and shook him. "My poor Pineapple Plus Processor…"

"Iz…Come in Izzy…Hey, aren't you hungry? I told you I'd buy you lunch…" Jen shook him some more. "Ahhh! Izzy! I'm not food!" She let go of Izzy as he tried to bite her arm. When he persisted, Jen wound up and smacked Izzy on the face.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Izzy yelled rubbing his cheek. "Why must everyone resort to violence?"

Jen glared at him. "Look, you were the one who tried to bite me…And all I was going to do was take you out for lunch. That was so nice of you." Jen ended this with atone dripping with sarcasm.

Izzy sighed. "Sorry. I've also been a little bit out of it. It's just… without my laptop… I'm having hard time thinking. Yes, sure. I'd like some lunch. Maybe I'll snap out of it then. I mean, after all, it looks like Ken won't be joining us." He said this and turned to look hopefully at Jen's face.

Jen shrugged. "I guess not. More for us." She looked back at Izzy and smiled. "So where do you want to go?"

"Well…No where really expensive…I mean you really don't need to spend any money at all…I could always—"

"Shut up. You're not paying. I told you, my treat. After all, you were trying to help me with…" Jen trailed off and shook her head quickly. "Never mind. I don't care who I was fighting with. He can rot for all I care." She said this all in one breath, and sighed when she was finished.

Izzy cringed, realizing of course, she did care. She cared a lot. But so did he. About her. "Hey, forget it. I'm sure he has." Izzy replied bitterly. "He doesn't think too much of others… so you shouldn't worry… ahh… your pretty head about it." He said the last part of the old saying quickly, because of his feelings for her.

Jen, being herself, didn't quite catch the full meaning behind his words. She had a feeling there was more to it, but didn't bother to explore the possibility at that moment.

"You really think he's forgotten… me?" Jen asked slowly, dreading the answer.

Being quite revengeful at the moment, Izzy looked at her seriously. "Yeah, I'm positive he's forgotten. But Jen, don't take it personally, he forgets a lot of people. I mean look at poor Mimi…" Izzy cringed a little at this lie, but continued on faithfully. "Tai dumped her after a week, and forgot they even went out a month later." This never really happened, but hey, Jen would never know unless she asked Mimi or Tai. "And Sora, well, after a week or so she'll be gone from his mind too."

"And what…I lasted two or three days?!" Jen cried out in dismay.

Izzy calm as anything, added to his lie. "Well, you guys weren't going out, now were you?"

Jen thought for a moment. "No…but…uhhh…we did… never mind…I see how it is. I can't believe I fell for it."

"Lots of girls do Jen, don't feel bad. It's just him. Now, how about that lunch?" Izzy smiled inside, he had her hating Tai now. A perfect opportunity for him to comfort her. And by the time she found out the truth, she'd be so hung over him that she wouldn't be angry. Oh, who ever said that girls were so complicated?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ken sighed as he slipped out of the studio; relieved that the day was almost over. He looked down at the laptop he stashed from Izzy, opening it he connected it to his cell phone and dialed up the Internet.

"Traci's address has to be on here somewhere…" He mumbled, scrolling down more until he hit 'K'. "A little more…" he frowned when he didn't see 'Kazaki'. "She must be unlisted…" he frowned, "Now how am I going to find her?" disconnecting his phone from the computer Ken started to walk down the semi-crowded streets of Toronto. "Might as well just go back to the hotel," he told himself.

He continued walking down the street but stopped as he saw someone he knew sitting on the curb. "Traci…?" he asked hesitantly.

She didn't look up, "What?"

"Why are you sitting on the curb?" Ken asked, sitting down next to her.

"Because there aren't any benches!" She snapped.

"Are… are you okay?" He put a hand on her shoulder.

"…no…" She said after some hesitation.

"Why not?"

"I saw her again…" she said quietly.

"Who?" Ken asked.

"The Digimon… my Digimon…"

"Y-your…?"

"That's right. My Digimon. She said so herself," Traci's voice was getting steadily louder.

"I didn't say anything…" Ken said slowly.

"I know… but you were thinking it!" Traci accused.

"Think what you wish. Mind telling me a bit more about this—your Digimon?" Ken asked.

"Well… I don't know too much, but she keeps telling me that I'm one of the only ones that can help her and all the others."

"Others?"

"Yeah, um… Koimon, that's her name, said that a Digimon named Forsakenmon…"

"Forsakenmon?"

"That's what I said. Well, he steals souls of Digimon before they can be reborn, she said that's what happened to her and all the other sightings we've seen since you guys got here."

"So… what are we supposed to do about it?"

"Well… I don't know. She didn't really say…"

"So she's your Digimon?" Traci nodded. "You're Digidestined?" She nodded again. "Well, welcome to the team," he held out his hand.

She smiled and took it, "Thanks Ken."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jen sighed as they walked into a nice, small café on the corner of a street. This was her favourite eating place, but she just didn't feel in the mood for anything at the moment. They walked into the café, and with the overhead bells ringing, found a nice booth in the corner to sit in. The crushed red velvet played against Jen's tanned skin; brought out her eyes and she knew it. She frowned though, this thought bringing her no pleasure whatsoever. Izzy, however, noticed completely and was staring despite himself. She turned to him and looked at him strangely, he was staring at her after all.

"Iz, are you alright?" Jen asked slowly, pushing her hair behind her shoulders.

"…Yeah…" Izzy answered distantly.

The waiter came and took their order, and left them with some drinks. Jen sipped hers quietly and spoke Izzy's name again.

"Oh… sorry, didn't mean to become a space cadet…What were you saying?" Izzy asked, ashamed of losing his intelligent persona.

"Nothing…just don't worry about it…" Jen said flatly, twirling her straw in her cup.

"Look, I told you, Tai's like that. But, I'd like you to know, that I'll always be here for you." Izzy said intensely, staring at his hands. When he looked up from them he was rewarded with a heartfelt smile form Jen.

"Iz, thanks. You're too good." She shook her head. "It'll take awhile, but I'll get over him. Just you wait and see."

"I wouldn't miss it." Izzy answered. "If you ever need to talk or need any help, I'm right here, ok?"

"Ok." Jen walked to the other side of the booth and gave Izzy a hug. "Thanks so much, you're here when I really need somebody." She whispered as she hugged him.

Izzy hugged back tightly. "I'm here for you." He said softly.

Davis and Tai were walking along the street to the café where Davis swore had the best food in Toronto. Tai was willing to see if this was true. They walked into the café, heard the bells ring and sat down at a table near the windows. Davis scanned the room and almost fell out of his seat. "Hey Tai! Who's Izzy's hottie girlfriend?!"

Tai's eyes flashed in the direction Davis indicated. What he saw made his blood boil. "What the hell?!" He cried.

"I know, she's really hot…but can you believe she's with Izzy?!" Davis answered incredulous. "I wonder if she plays soccer…"

Tai's deep brown eyes clouded over with anger. "That's Jen you idiot! Since when is she with Izzy…?!"

Davis squinted. "Oh yeah, that is Jen…"

"I'm gonna get to the bottom of this!" Tai snarled, rising from his seat. He grabbed Davis' arm and dragged him over to where Izzy and Jen were sitting. "Izzy, Jen…" Tai said flatly. "Hello."

Izzy looked at Tai strangely. "Hey Tai, what are you doing here?"

Davis opened his mouth to speak, but Tai punched him in the arm and he quickly closed it. "We were just having lunch, and you?" Tai answered.

"The same…what does it look like?" Jen snapped.

"Ooo, Tai, I think she's mad at you." Davis put in.

"Shut up Davis." Tai punched Davis in the arm once more.

"Now, if you'd kindly leave so we can finish our lunch…" Izzy said coolly.

"Not until I find out what she's doing here… with you." Tai said the last part in disgust.

"You're not my mother, Tai. I can see whomever I want to see. And I happened to want to go out to lunch with Izzy, because at least he knows what's right in front of his face!!" Jen cried.

"Yeah…she's ahh…really mad Tai." Davis whispered.

"Look, just because you're not Digidestined doesn't mean—" Tai started.

"There you go again!! What is your problem? Why are you so determined to make a fool out of me?!" Jen yelled at him. "And another thing…you shouldn't lead people on! It's not right!"

Tai looked at her questioningly. "Lead people on? I lead people… that's what a leader does… But I do not lead people on…" Tai sighed and flung her D-Terminal onto the restaurant table. Jen snatched it up, glaring.

"Isn't that the same thing?" Davis asked.

"NO!" Tai cried. "It's not!"

"I'm not talking to you anymore. Not until you can grow up and admit you're wrong." Jen said crossing her arms.

"How about you admit that you're wrong huh? I don't lead people on!" Tai retorted.

"But Izzy said—" Izzy clamped his hand over her mouth.

"Uhh… I said nothing, merely that we should get going…" Izzy stated nervously as he helped Jen get out of the booth they were sitting on, his hand still firmly clamped on her mouth.

"No… what did you say?!" Tai cried dumbfounded. "Izzy!"

"See ya Tai!" Izzy yelled over Jen's shoulder as he escorted her out of the door.

A waitress came up to Tai and Davis. "Excuse me sir, but are you paying for your friends?"

"What?!" Davis cried.

"Ah crap." Tai muttered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"James!"

Ignoring whomever it was that was calling his name, James continued on his way home.

"James! James!"

Growling he turned around, "What is it?"

"Oh good. You heard me," Karen looked up at him and smiled.

"And you are?"

She frowned, "Karen. My name is Karen."

He nodded, but didn't seem like he was listening, "Right, sorry, I forgot."

"That's okay. Hey I was wondering if maybe you'd—"

"No thanks."

"No thanks what?"

"No thanks to whatever it was you were offering me. I'm not interested."

"But you don't even know what it is I was offering! You could be turning down the deal of a life time!"

"Somehow, I really doubt that."

"Why are you always so grumpy?"

"Grumpy?" James asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah grumpy. You always have a frown on your face. What makes you so sad?"

"If I remember correctly, my personal life was never any of your business."

"I was only trying to help."

Narrowing his eyes he clenched his hands into fists, "Well, I don't need your help okay?" The ground shook a bit.

Karen felt it; "Did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"The ground. It… just shook."

He shook his head, "No it didn't."

"Yeah it did. I'm super sensitive to my surroundings, and I know that I just felt the ground tremor."

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about."

"I can also tell when someone is lying."

"I'm not lying."

Karen tilted her head to the side, "Yeah, you are."

James looked at her incredulously, "How can you accuse me of something like that?"

"I'm not accusing you, I'm just pointing out a fact."

"Well, you got your facts all wrong."

"I don't think so. I'm hardly ever wrong about these things."

"Well, consider this one of the times when you are."

"I can do things too."

"What?"

"I'm special like you are."

"Special? There's nothing special about me."

"Look, you don't have to hide this from me. And really, if you wanted I could even help you control it."

"I don't need your help controlling it." Karen grinned. "What?" James asked.

"You just said that you didn't need help controlling it."

"I—I didn't mean it that way." James stuttered.

"It's okay James. I know what it's like. Having to hide this from everyone around you… it can be really tough."

"You don't know what you're talking about." James said as he turned around, and started walking in the other direction, "You know nothing about me!" He yelled over his shoulder.

"You're right James! I don't know anything about you! But that's not my fault!" Karen yelled after him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fordina: I just thought that I'd point out that we also don't own Koimon. She was created by Meimi, and I can't thank her enough for letting me use her creation!