New Author's Note

To reply to Destiny's and Sky's comments, yes, I did put together the old parts with changes. Chapter One is actually the old parts of one and two, Chapter Two is the old parts of three and four, Chapter Three is five and six, and Chapter Four is seven and eight, and Chapter Five is nine and ten. Chapter Six is where everything is new. And watch for the Chapter Six because it's fully action! ^_~ Be patient, darlings.

Old Author's Note:

I want to tell about what the kids are wearing in this saga. They are wearing their summer clothes, the same in the episodes (Hint: the Reunion). I will describe what Kimika, Frankie, and Cleo are wearing.

Kimika: Dark green denim jeans, short-sleeved black form-fitting shirt that reaches to her hips with a white triangle symbol in the center, white sneakers. Of course, she wears sunglasses, green ones. ^_^

Frankie: A short-sleeved shirt, light green on the chest, white around the shoulders, and a red line across his chest, separating the green and white, baggy khaki pants, black tennis shoes, and of course, a Yankee baseball cap!

Cleo: A white hooded, sleeveless pullover over a short-sleeved pinkish red shirt (there is a blue-purple butterfly symbol on the front of the pullover), pale blue Capri, and tan sandals.

Mimi is wearing her American outfit. Why? Because she's *just* awesome in it! ^_~

Everyone satisfied? Ok, let's read!

NO! I DO NOT own Digimon: Digital Monsters. Chicobo does not own them.  You do not own them, either. Only those geniuses at Toei do. Those lucky bastards. *Sweatdrops*

Children of the Digital:

Part Two: Sensations and Meeting the Watcher and the Prophet.

By Debbie (Dai-chan)

Earlier this morning

Kido Hisoka, or Frankie as he preferred to be called as, hummed a mellow tune that he often sang every morning. He was not very keen on singing, but he was fond of this brief melody he formed on the harmonica Yamato taught him. His skilled hands shook the pan and spatula as he made scrambled eggs, his specialty. He didn't have to learn how to cook when he was an orphan, but now that the Kido Family adopted him, his new mother strictly made him to learn.

He had a new family almost four years ago. When the kids left the Digital World for the last time after the long battle, Kido Shin had took the tired Jyou and Frankie home so they could rest. Swinging between sub consciousness, Shin had heard Jyou muttering that he would like Frankie to be his brother. Knowing how close they were, Shin had a short talk with his parents about it, the younger boys having no clue what was happening. Some four months later, about Jyou's thirteenth birthday, the parents surprised him with a new brother, Frankie.

(A/N: Say with me! One, two, three, and Awwww! ^_^)

Frankie had adopted a new name, Kido Hisoka, but his friends still called him by his American name. He never felt so happy before in his life. Finally, he had a family as his own.

Mother was buttering toast on the opposite counter. She was the shortest member of the Kido family; Frankie was the tallest next to Shin and Shuu. He was fond of her traditions, something that he wasn't used to before. His 'American attitude' had rubbed a bit on her, and she began to lighten up.

"Jyou, breakfast is ready," Mother called out from the kitchen. Jyou was in the brothers' room, still asleep from the late night chat with his girlfriend before she had to leave for America with Michael.

However, there was no answer from behind the door, and Frankie chuckled. "That boy likes to sleep, ne, Ma?"

Mother gazed back. "Then wake him up, Hisoka. It's your job."

"Right, Ma." Frankie wiped his greasy hands on a cloth and strolled to the bedroom. He leaned on the door, speaking in a mock scolding voice. "Joey, it is breakfast time! Hurry up, or the eggs will hatch. Seriously, I thought I saw a beak somewhere in the scrambled eggs. Would it be freaky?"

Mother chuckled heartily, shaking her head at her newest son.

Frankie carefully turned the knob and entered the room. Frankie and Jyou had shared the room since Shin and Shuu had been gone for college. A bunk bed of some kind was built into the wall, closed with two modern sliding doors. On the bottom bed, he could see the sleeping Jyou from behind the partly open door, strands of his long blue-black hair shading over his face.

Frankie rolled his eyes and knelt down. "Aw, sleepyhead, wake up, won't you?" He shook his brother on the shoulder, but stopped as he noticed the boy's face. It was vague about it, but Jyou's face was always pale, even from being outside a lot to be involved in rock-climbing. It was strange to Frankie, but he thought the skin was more pale, pallid, as if sick. He wasn't sure, and he placed his hand on Jyou's forehead. When he felt the coolness, his face grimaced.

At the touch, Jyou tiredly opened his dusky eyes and focused on Frankie. "Hey."

Frankie removed his hand and smiled back, but with worry. "Hey, Oniichan. Are you okay?"

Jyou brushed hair from his face, puzzled with the tone of concern. "I feel fine. Why?"

Frankie unconsciously bit on his thumbnail, a habit of worrying. "You feel a bit cold. Are you sure you are not sick?"

Jyou gave him a mock exasperated face, rolling onto his back, stretching his body. "Now you are definitely sounding like Ma."

"I can't help it," Frankie quickly defended himself. "As the youngest brother, I have to annoy you with my worries."

Jyou laughed, putting his hands behind his head. "Ototo, I'm fine. Really," he added to the worried face of Frankie. "I'm just tired."

Frankie's hazel eyes were still on his face, scanning carefully. "I'm not sure because it reminds me of the last time when you were looking so pale."

Frankie saw something unusual. Jyou slowly sat up, his dusky eyes suddenly darkened with suspicion. His disheveled hair clouded over his pensive face, and Jyou stared at him, his gaze seemed to bore a hole at him. Frankie suddenly felt uneasy around him, as if he knew something risky.

Then Jyou broke the entranced gaze and chuckled humorously. "You worry too much. I was exhausted from talking with Mimi, remember?"

Frankie then grinned with mischief. "So what did you talk about?"

"Get out of my face!" Jyou laughed, flinging him a pillow to erase the wily face. His face turned light red, remembering about last night.

Grinning slyly, Frankie helped him stand and said, "Now, we can't let Ma eat all our breakfast, won't we? I cooked you scrambled eggs." He left out the room, fortunately for Jyou.

Jyou felt his legs buckling with heaviness that he quickly held on the nearby wall, not wanting to fall down to the floor and frightening his brother and mother. He grabbed on a chair and sat down, sighing with relief. He had suffered dizziness that left him so tired that he couldn't stay standing. He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples, thinking, 'I wasn't that tired since the last time.'

Almost unconsciously, he began to itch weakly at his left wrist, not knowing why, but responded to a strange warning.

***

Later this morning

Together, Ichijouji Ken and Inoue Kimika ambled down the sidewalk through the seas of people and rivers of automobiles. For a less than a year, they were partners in Judo classes, being able to recognize moves without signaling, and they enjoyed the company together. It was sure that Ken would decide to give up on Judo and focused on soccer, his favorite sport, but during the last summer, he missed Judo, and remembering that Kimika was involved in Judo, he decided to join her for fun.

The heat was increasing, and the duo was already sweating and drowsy from recent practice.

"It's really hotter than I thought," Ken muttered, fanning himself with a folded paper, which didn't help very much. "Have you ever experienced a hot summer like this?"

Kimika adjusted her sunglasses, blinking her eyes, and shook her head to her partner. "No, I don't remember. But it's not the heat that bothers me now. It's the light. It's too bright." She placed her hands over her eyes to add to the shade.

"The light bothers you that much?" Ken questioned, also shading his eyes to peek upward to the radiating sun. Strangely, the sun wasn't that bright to him.

Kimika opened her mouth to mention about her power, then immediately stopped herself. She and the Inner Circle were the ones who wished to tell the New Kids about the powers that they controlled, so they wouldn't be freaked out, but Taichi was still stubborn to let anybody know. She knew that her Light Power gave her the rare ability to see through the darkness and see emotions, but it also enriched them greatly, and they were very sensitive to light.

Kimika then shrugged. "Not often."

They continued walking until Ken remembered something. "Oh, Kim, I want to ask you, have you noticed it was snowing last night?"

Kimika arched her eyebrows in amazement. "Is that so? I was busy developing pictures from yesterday." She didn't discontinue her favorite pastime, old-fashioned photographing. She liked to take black-and-white photographs and capably developed them in her small darkroom. Hikari was the different one, who liked to take digital photos.

Ken nodded, saying, "It was strange. Wormon and I were sitting with Mama, and he saw snow outside. Mama and I thought he was playing, but it was really snowing. How could it be possible that during the hottest summer, it was snowing all the way down?" The snow had immediately melted into puddles, which were evaporated by the sun. Many people had noticed it, being befuddled, but it was a one-time phenomenon, and they forgot about it.

As Kimika listened to his tale, she suddenly paused in her tracks, her brown eyes sharply scanning around the crowds.

"Kim, what's the matter?" Ken asked, noticing the seriousness on her face.

Kimika's lips tightened. "I'm not sure. I thought I saw something."

Ken then looked around. It was too many people to notice anything, too fast to pay any careful attention. "I don't see anything. Maybe it's a trick of light." Then he saw Kimika swaying on her feet, her hand grabbing on his shoulder. "Kim!" He quickly wrapped his arms around her, supporting her.

"I'm alright," Kimika muttered, her voice shaking. "I need a rest." She went to sit down on an empty bench, and took a long inhale to clear her head.

Ken was speaking quietly, so the crowds won't hear him. "Kim, are you okay?"

Her hand went to her head, rubbing, and she nodded in the answer. "I think so. I suddenly feel dizzy, but it's gone."

"That happens often?"

"No." Kimika shook her head, remembering about the last time. That was when she felt dizziness that drained her of energy so sudden that she had no idea when it struck. But she did remember. Her hand almost went to her right shoulder, and then stopped. She didn't want to remember the memories. She glanced upward to Ken and noticed that he was looking around; he frowned as if was trying to listen for something.

"Ken?"

Ken blinked in confusion, and then apologized, "Goman. I thought I hear waves."

"Waves?" Kimika frowned. "What kind of waves?"

"Sometimes, I hear the waves of a distant ocean, like the Dark Ocean. I don't hear it until now."

Kimika was silent, watching Ken. Hikari said the same thing recently. She had heard distant waves, soft and beckoning. It worried Taichi about it because he knew about Hikari transporting too the Dark World. He didn't want that to happen again. And Kimika didn't want that to happen to Ken, either. Then she was startled by his gasp of surprise as he noticed something.

"Did you see it?" Ken voiced sharply, pointing across the street. He ignored the puzzled glances of the passing people. "I saw a flash of black!"

Kimika stood up, refreshed from her rest and narrowed her eyes at the thing he was pointing. Then she realized that it was not something. It was the whole thing. "Ken, it's only a trick of light."

Ken lowered his finger, staring back with hurt dignity. "How could you know?"

Kimika shouldered her strap bag, speaking honestly, "Believe me. I have a way with illusions." Then she thought as she scanned the scenery, 'There's something wrong with the world.' She could see that the world seemed distorted as if she was looking at the area from behind an obscure and curved window. 'It seemed . . . messed up.'

Her fingers went to her left wrist and rubbed roughly.

***

After Lunch

The Yagami siblings were cleaning the dishes with the help of Gatomon. Hikari was skilled with washing the dishware and silverware that were cleaned of every spot and grease. Taichi was adept at drying the plates into squeaky-clean. Gatomon helped out by placing the ware into the cupboards and drawers. Mom was always proud, often because she didn't have to wash the dishes.

Dad was still working at his business office as Mom was out for entertainment with her friends. The siblings chose to stay home, enjoying the quiet company for the day. Nothing will spoil the silence and peacefulness.

The phone in the living room rang shrilly, and as always, the younger sibling went to get it. Hikari quickly cleaned her hands and picked up the phone. "Moshi moshi, Yagami residence calling."

The voice behind the phone belonged to Koushiro. "Hello, Kari. Is Tai here?"

Hikari turned to her brother, mentioning, "It's for you from Izzy."

Taichi dropped what he was doing and took the phone. "Konnichiwa, Izzy, what's up?"

"Do you mind if I can talk for a while? It's important."

Taichi blinked in perplexity. "What's the matter, buddy? You sound worried."

Koushiro made a long exhale to calm his voice. "Well, yeah, I am. I got the eerie feeling again."

Taichi became such close friends with Koushiro since ever their 'small' fights in the past, and they trusted each other completely. Taichi grew concerned for him as he sat down on the couch. "What happened?"

"Let me explain. Yesterday, Yolei received a mysterious message in her D-terminal, and she wanted me to decipher it."

Taichi was surprised. "A message? What kind of message is it?"

"I'm not sure what. It's heavily encoded. It was sent by an unknown address I'm not familiar of. I never see such code like that." He was sounding awed, becoming strained.

"Then why are you so nervous?"

"Because it's a prophecy."

Taichi sat upright, grimacing. He noticed that Hikari was watching from the kitchen, looking concerned, as well as Gatomon. "A prophecy?" he questioned. "Izzy -"

Koushiro interpreted, starting to speak rapidly, "I'm not certain if it's actually a prophecy. It sounds like a riddle, but whatever it is, the message is warning us about something. It's an omen."

Taichi wished he were there with Koushiro so he could see emotions on his face. It was hard to tell from the phone if he was sounding excited or frightened. "Izzy, let's don't get too far. First, have you deciphered the message yet?"

Koushiro was calmer. "The first paragraph for now. I spent two hours deciphering on that."

"Okay, tell me the paragraph, and we will check out if it's really a prophecy."

"Tai, I'm telling the truth."

"I believe you, but I need to hear the message."

"Okay . . . Here's the first paragraph. 'One to bear a heart, one to bear no heart, together you shall heal.'"

Taichi wished he had paper and pen to write it down. It seemed mystifying to him even. "Is that the whole message?"

"No, it's only the first sentence. What do you think of this?"

Taichi rubbed his head, pondering carefully of the message. "If it's a riddle, it's a very confusing one. 'One to bear a heart, one to bear no heart.' That sentence does make no sense."

"There is more. 'One to bear no blade, one to bear a blade, Together you shall harm. You alone decide the fate.'"

"What? Repeat that last sentence."

Koushiro did so.

Taichi frowned. "Somehow, it sounds to me that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy or something."

"To me, it sounds like if someone, whoever he would be, makes the wrong decision, we are dead."

"If this is not serious, I don't know what."

"It's an omen," Koushiro solemnly voiced. "There's much more to this, and we can only imagine how dangerous it would be."

Hikari was moving close, having noticed the dark frown on her brother's face. Taichi kept quiet, his eyes glazed as if he was pondering.

"Tai?" Koushiro was worried of his silence.

" . . . With the eerie feeling the Inner Circle is sensing, the Digikeys, and this riddle . . . Something will happen. Something that we will be needed to stop." His voice was solemn, as well.

"What should we do?"

Taichi was excellent in his leadership and though he didn't like to order people, he gave decent requests that the others would immediately obey him without hesitation. "Do what we always did – saving the worlds, occurring to the information from Sanimon and this message. You call the Inner Circle, and I will call the Outer Circle. Tell them about the message and ask them for help to solve it. If the message is serious, then we have no time to lose."

***

This Late Afternoon

Cleo was seating on one of the swings, one of her favorite things to do when she was little. She would swing all day long, enjoying the breezes on her face, dreaming her own thoughts. But not this time. Her face was contorted with distress as she silently listened to her boyfriend's reports on the encoded message.

She shuddered, wrapping her arms around the chains of the swing. "Wow, it sounds spooky. That came from Yolei's D-terminal?"

Koushiro leaned against a nearby tree, his usual wise face strained. "It's strange. Why did this person, whoever he is, send this message to Yolei only? I even checked all the D-terminals to make sure, but only Yolei had it."

"So, what can you do about it?"

The redhead slid down to sit. "I did call Tai about it, and we have to find out what is the meaning to this."

Cleo bit on her lips, watching Izzy. "Red, tell me, do the New Kids have titles like yours?"

He cocked his head at her at the change of the subject. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm curious, that's all."

"Davis is the Brother of Loyalty, Yolei is the Mistress of Purity. Cody is the Teacher of Wisdom, and Ken is the Friend of Kindness."

"What about Michael? He has his virtue of Mercy, but no title?"

"Oh, he did. He told Mimi that his title is the Patron."

She rested her head on the chains. "Red, how bad do you think the riddle is?"

He answered, "It sounds too abrupt. Like I told Tai, it sounds like if we make the wrong decision, it's over."

She looked dreaded. "Yeah, I believe so. Sanimon said that there is a Final Evil coming, and so maybe it means that you have to fight it to 'decide the fate'."

Koushiro nodded. "You have a point here, Cleo. Since it's the Final Evil, what we will do to it is very important since we can't lose this time." He smiled. "Thank you for showing me that. You're always a big help to me."

 "Anytime," Cleo murmured, her jade green eyes lowered, her face tender.

Koushiro noticed the cheerless face of his girlfriend, and he went to sit down in front of Cleo, taking her smaller hands in his. "Butterfly, what's the matter?"

Cleo sighed lowly, squeezing the hands. "Oh, Red, I wish I could be a Digidestined. I wish besides knowing what's going on, I could help you fighting. I wish my Digimon could digivolve like yours."

"Oh, my Butterfly, I didn't know."

Cleo smiled, shrugging. "I guess it's a tragedy to me. I can't really help you. I know I'm not a Digidestined, but I wish I am."

Koushiro always attempted to cheer her up. He was becoming a good mentor at cheering. "Who knows? Maybe you are a Digidestined, and you don't know yet."

"Izzy, don't be ridiculous," the blond muttered sharply. "If I am, I would already know."

He stroked her hands tenderly, his raven-black eyes meeting her jade green eyes. "Butterfly, it doesn't matter. What's important is that you are finally with me, and I will never leave you. Also, you helped us so much that it's just not fair that you're not Digidestined. It's not fair to us."

"Really?" her eyes lightened.

"Yes, really," he truthfully nodded. "They told me how much they appreciated your help. They do wish you are one of us."

She cocked her head, questioning, "But I'm part of you, right?"

He grinned back. "Yes. Let's say that you are a 'Honorary Digidestined', hmm?" Cleo burst out sniggering, bowing her head and shaking it in disbelief at his good nature. "You would like it, huh?"

Cleo wrinkled her nose, sticking her tongue out, but her face supported gratefulness. "Arigato, Red."

"Anything for my Butterfly," Koushiro bent forward to place a tender kiss on her lips. Then he was a different person, lowering his head, rubbing the temples. His face was tense with pain.

Cleo held on his shoulders, worried. "Izzy, are you okay?"

Koushiro silently nodded, resting his hand on hers. "Yeah, I think so. All of a sudden, my mind seems fuzzy."

Cleo peeked skyward at the sun. "Maybe it's the heat. Come on, let's go in the shade." She putted her arm around his waist, helping him standing up from the ground. Koushiro seemed to hesitate, removing her hands, his eyes glazed at something that wasn't there. Cleo touched his cheek, trying to wake him. "Izzy?"

Startled, Koushiro blinked, and then shook his head as if clearing it. "Sorry about that." But he cautiously scanned around and squeezed her hands tighter, seeming not wanting to let her go. "Cleo, would you mind if you come with me home? I would use your help on the message."

Cleo nodded quickly, anything to get him out of the heat. "Sure, of course, I will, but are you sure you feel fine?"

Koushiro seemed to force himself to nod even once. "Positively."

Cleo glanced downward, and her eyes grew worried. "Then why are you itching your wrist?"

Koushiro gazed down to his left wrist. His right hand clenched into a claw and was scratching the skin until it was red and blotchy. He didn't realize that he was doing it. He hastily stopped itching and hid the left wrist behind his back, making an excuse, "A nervous habit."

Her heart clenched with apprehension, and she stepped close, her eyes boring right in his gaze. "Koushiro . . . Tell me what's wrong."

Koushiro grimaced, his teeth biting on his lower lip. He knew he wanted to tell her what was the matter, but for her and the others' own sake, he can't. "It's best if you don't know. I don't want to alarm any of you. Please, Cleo."

The grave plea reflecting in his eyes made Cleo wonder about his secret, but she always respected his privacy. She slowly nodded. "I hope you will tell me someday."

Koushiro squeezed her hand firmly. "Promise."

Cleo squeezed it back. "I promise."

Koushiro seemed to sigh in relief, and he drew her into his arms, embracing her closely, murmuring thanks in her ears. They both turned to leave for the apartment where Koushiro lived. He carefully glanced down to his left wrist so Cleo won't notice it. His throat contracted with dread.

'I can feel the darkness. It's here.'

***

This late night

She knew it was only a dream, but it was too real. Hikari found it strange. She noticed that she was wearing clothes that she normally wore in the Digiworld, the clothing her friends teasingly called a 'digiunform' that were always the same every time she entered the Digiworld. It wasn't enough to protect her from the coolness that seemed to appear from everywhere. Her long bangs were free from her barrette, and the dusky hair swayed in front of her pale tan eyes as she beheld the strange but familiar sight before herself.

She stood on a long beach with sand the strangest color of grey, not the usual beige-tan color. There were two shelves of rock, standing high on either side of the beach, appearing as long half-circles of stairways. On the right shelf, there stood an ordinary lighthouse built in pure snow-white marble, which shone a thick beam of equal bright white light, acting as a lighthouse would be. But on the left shelf, another lighthouse stood, identical in appearance, except that it was built of night-black marble, and a shaft of dark light rotated around the top, just like an ordinary lighthouse.

Hikari again looked around. The waters that crashed against the rocks were also dark, not as dark as the black light, but like when it was night with no stars or moon to shine, the waters would look dark. Above, the sky was full of grey-black clouds, seeming gloomy and mysterious in mood.

It was familiar to her. She remembered when she somehow transformed to another world, unlike the real world or the Digiworld, but the World of the Dark. But it was perplexed to her, too. She remembered that Takeru had destroyed the lighthouse that shone dark light, which ended up as a Control Spire. And also, the waves she was hearing now weren't the same waves she had heard before that gave her throbbing pain in her head.

The waves were normal, peaceful and constant, almost sounding like Jyou's voice after he had his power of Water. Hikari was curious about the scenery, but her curiosity increased when she gazed upward to the white lighthouse, something, a presence, rousing in her mind. There was someone up there, and she wanted to know whom.

She began to stride toward the shelf. She found it increasingly difficult; every ascending step she took became stiffer. But as she got closer, she noticed a person sitting by the white lighthouse, under the shadows. She couldn't see its face; it was too dark, and the white light above her didn't help at all to illuminate its face.

Hikari made a quiet gasp, her heart beginning to beat a bit quicker. What if this person was a Dark Digimon?

Somehow, that person heard her and turned its face toward her. Its voice was faintly feminine, but indistinct. "Is that you, Saint?"

Hikari bristled; her eyes squinted, trying to see the face. "What if I am?"

The person stood up, staying in the shadows. She could feel the hidden eyes studying her. "I have been waiting for you."

"Who are you?" Hikari demanded. She may be gentle and tender in nature, but her battles affected her, and she was always a bit cautious, just not obvious. She took a step back. "What do you want with me?"

"Please, wait," the person spoke, composed, not threatening. "Don't be afraid of me. I'm a friend."

"If you are, then you shouldn't be so ashamed of yourself that you didn't show your face."

The person sounded lightly amused. "Impressive perception."

"You should know," Hikari spoke, sounding every bit as the Saint. She watched the dark face with caution. "Why won't you show your face?"

The voice became pensive. "I can't It's not my time yet. But you will see my face someday, I promise."

Hikari cocked her head, observing the shadowed person, and then asked, "Can you tell me your name?"

"My title is the Watcher."

Hikari tilted her head, trying to see the face. "What do you want of me?"

The Watcher said, "I have to warn you about something. Right now, you are not dreaming, but actually standing in the Digiworld."

The girl blinked, bewildered. "What? This is not a dream?"

"No, it's not. But you must leave it before you get trapped. I will explain about it, but you must leave now."

Hikari became more nervous, stepping back. "You're trying to trick me."

"You know I'm not." Hikari stiffened at that. How did she know what was she thinking? Hikari believed her; she began to worry about herself, not wanting to be trapped in this dark land. But how did the Watcher know?

"You have to trust me," the dark figure was saying.

"Why should I when you can't show your face?"

The Watcher remained silent, except for an escaping sigh of wounded resignation. Hikari's heart immediately clenched for her; she tried hard enough to make her realize that the Watcher was a worthy ally. If she ever was one. Then something caught her eye. The clouds were swirling among each other, increasing color in darkness. They seemed ominous to her, and Hikari became apprehensive.

"What's happening?" she murmured, not to herself, but to the Watcher.

"It can't be happening!" the Watcher was sounding so upset that Hikari wanted to run to her and be protected by her, although she didn't know why. The Watcher turned to her, speaking, "Saint, you must leave now or the darkness will trap you here!"

"What? What's happening, Watcher?!"

The Watcher inhaled sharply for a moment and yelled out, "Saint, forgive me!" She swiftly raised a hand toward the girl and she experienced a blow, not a physical whack, but a powerful mental strike that pushed consciousness out of her mind. Hikari felt like she was falling down, down, down . . .

Suddenly, waking up, Hikari just caught herself from falling off her bed down to the ground. If she actually fell from her bed five feet down, she would suffer concussions. She tried to gather her marbles, wondering why was she staring downward at the floor, and then she realized. She popped into an upright sitting position, bursting out, "The dream!"

Beside her, Gatomon opened one sapphire eye from her sleeping form. Her voice was grumbling, "What dream?"

Then she heard her brother drowsily complaining from his bottom bunk bed, "Kari, can't you just stay quiet?"

Fully awake, Hikari was eager to tell him about the Watcher. She leaped off her bed and crashed upon the floor, making Taichi jerking from his slumber, furiously blinking his eyes. She shook him, exclaiming, "Tai, I saw the Watcher!"

Taichi groaned and shoved his pillow over his head, but he did mutter back, "What are you talking about?"

The sister was speaking rapidly, animated, "I was dreaming, only I didn't. I was walking on a beach with grey sand, and I saw two lighthouses. One was shining black light, and the other shone white light. Then I saw her! The Watcher!"

Taichi moved his pillow until two tired tan eyes stared at his sister. "A Watcher? You are saying that this Watcher is . . ?"

"It's obvious that this Watcher is a Digidestined!"

He stared at her for a moment. "No way."

"Way! I'm positive. I can't see her face, though. It was too dark."

 "Can you recognize her voice?" Gatomon questioned that, leaning on the edge of the upper bed.

Hikari paused, sitting back. "Oh . . . It's hard to tell. Her voice was too distorted, but I can tell it was feminine."

Rubbing sleep out his face, Taichi asked again, "What did she tell you, Kari?"

"Not very much," Hikari admitted. "What she said was confusing. I didn't really understand. But she did know my title."

Taichi rested his head back on the bed, staring upward. "Now we know something new – a new female Digidestined named the Watcher. What else could she be if she's not?"

"A Digimon?" Hikari questioned. She wasn't sure if that was possible, but there were many two-legged Digimon and as small as human children.

"Maybe she's an Unmon," Gatomon casually said.

"An what?"

"An Unmon is a kind of Digimon that have humanlike looks and no attitudes. We call them the Half Children because they are like us and yet unlike us. Gennai is one of them."

The siblings began to comprehend. "There are more people like Gennai?" Taichi asked.

The white kitten nodded. "There are others, but they are very secretive, rarely seen. Gennai is friendly enough to bond with us."

"How can we find her if she's like them?" Hikari pondered worriedly. She wanted to know who the Watcher was.

Taichi rested a reassuring hand on his sister's hand. "We will try and find her. This morning, we will tell everybody about your dream. Then I hope Izzy could solve more of the message."

Hikari knew about the message that Miyako had received in her D-terminal. She was spooked by the first paragraph when Taichi told her after the phone conversation with Koushiro. She knew no clue how to solve the riddle, and she only got bemused at everything this time, but she hoped that soon, everything will clear up, and she will know what to do to help.

Hikari crossed her arms on the edge of the bed and rested her chin on it. "I hope, Tai," she quietly said. "I hate to be helpless if something bad happens."

Gatomon was reassured as she said, "I'm sure we will be ready for anything."

Taichi stroked Hikari's hair, faintly smiling, "There's the Watcher we have to watch for, but don't worry too much, ane. We will be ready for sure. Now, go to sleep, and try not to wake me up like that, okay?"

Hikari giggled at her former excited mood and nodded. "Okay. Good night, ani." She then climbed into her bed and tightly wrapped her blanket around her body. The night was too warm for anybody to sleep with a blanket, but Hikari felt suddenly chilled, and stared out the screen door. The night sky was clear, starry. She wondered if the Watcher looked at the same stars or the stars of the Digiworld. If she ever knew, she will know which one was the Watcher.

But what was that place she visited before? It seemed. . . . peaceful . . .

***

(A/N: I don't really like how this came out. It just doesn't sound right, but **shrugs** I hope you like it. ^_^; I STILL can't change anything in this! Maybe this is meant to be. Bugger.)

***

Below him, a small Village of Marsh Digimon was sleeping.

The Marsh Village was healed from its ghastly encounter with the 'darkness', which had heartlessly eaten some of the living data that kept the Digimon alive. Some had deleted, but something, probably a caring person, had prevented the darkness from engulfing the whole Village, and the tainted Digimon were able to regain their lost data, though still scarred with frightened memories. Most of the Digimon had forgot about the contamination that once attacked their quiet Village, and, now, the Village was slowly mending, cleansed of foulness and distress. The Village was sleeping in silence, dreams filling the Marsh Digimon's minds of serenity and purity, hoping that nothing will harm the small Village ever again.

One young Digimon was resting on a high branch of the many marsh trees that surrounded the Village as a sort of a boundary. He wasn't planning to foolishly attack or spying at all. He was simply listening. He folded his blue-black wings close to his body to keep him warm from the cool night and relaxed against the trunk, his golden eyes hooded as if half-sleep. But he wasn't sleeping, nor planning to.

He listened to the sounds of slumber produced by the Marsh Digimon below. He hadn't heard a noise from that Village for a while until he could hear faint snores and muffled grunts carried by the breezes. He forgot how slumber sounded like, since he was deleted, and lost some of the experiences he remembered from his past life.

Demidevimon closed his large eyes, the eyes that were often mistaken for angelic innocence, and buried his face in his wings. He barely remembered the memories. It was said that when a deleted Digimon returned to life, he/she would lose memories, depending on how harsh was the deletion, losing all or some. He could remember, but not very much. Still, the remaining memories were enough for him to recall his past life.

He remembered he served Myotismon, being his valuable spy. He remembered the battles between the helpless Digimon and the Undead King's army. He remembered the young human children with their Heart-Crests and precious Digimon. He remembered the 'war' in the real world. He remembered being deleted by Venommyotismon.

He slightly grimaced, shuddered at the memory of deleting. Deletion wasn't peaceful or eternal as he once thought so. It was oblivion. He was left alone in an empty vacuum, held on only by vague memories. He was frightened to let go, but he almost did. A voice called to him just before he let go, beautiful and deadly, and he woke to his mother.

Although Daematermon wasn't his real mother, he was mightily loyal to her. She gave him life. She gave him chances. She gave him revenge. Sure, revenge wasn't exactly his *big* goal, but since he was part of his mother's plan, why not and give the Digidestined a taste of his strength?

He was changed in nature. Before, he was impulsive, eager for any mischief, preferred dark mischief. Now, he was poised and wily. He knew his time will come for him to have his chance, and he wasn't going to rush himself. He only wanted to remember the sounds and sights of the Digiworld. Strangely, being a Virus Digimon, he should have no care about this world, but he held a fondness of the lands. After being deleted, he realized that he didn't experience all the landscapes, sounds of the Digimon, and if he were to be deleted again in the future, at least, he would have valuable and precious memories to remember by.

Demidevimon opened his eyes, raised his head. Somewhere, in his mind, there was a nudge; much like someone was calling out his name. He wished to stay and listen more, but whenever she called, he will answer. He spread his wings and took to the night sky. Starlight gave him enough light to guide his path to wherever he was heading for.

After a moment, another Digimon, taller and slender than him, slid from the shadows where she stood on a thick branch of a nearby tree. She was spying on him, easily camouflaged by the low leaves. It wasn't by accident. She has been watching Demidevimon for a while since she heard that he was reborn and became suspicious. She was told that he was deleted four years ago, but now that he was here, alive, she was bewildered, but persistent to find out why and how.

Demidevimon never noticed her, she being too silent. She watched the small Digimon disappearing in the night sky, and then spread her wings to soar into the opposite direction. Her wings made a low hum as she glided between the marsh trees. She chose not to follow him because she planned to report to her source, warning about Demidevimon. She was unsure if he was dangerous to the Digidestined, but she didn't want to disregard about him and regret it later.

She flew swift for a Digimon her size, but her quick-flapping wings helped her to move through air without a stir in the breezes. She headed northeast, toward for wherever she was heading to, but something caught her eye. She slowed down, drifting, blinking, uncertain if it was a trick of the starlight, but she became dreaded, knowing that it was no trick.

She lowered herself to the ground beside a Fallen Village. A Fallen Village was usually identified as a Village that was abandoned by its Digimon dwellers, mainly for reasons of attacking Virus Digimon or poor terrain, useless for crops and water. Fallen Villages often remained standing, as if was waiting for the returns of the residents to become alive.

The Fallen Village was settled near the barrier of a barren forest, perhaps abandoned because of the lack of food. She remained a distance from the Fallen Village, couldn't get any closer because there was an air of better foulness hovering in the air around the Village. Another step closer and she hurriedly backed, gagging at the horrible odor. She noticed something else that struck a spike of distress in her body.

"Oh, no, not again," she murmured in her accented voice as she watched a small chunk of blackness slithering upward on one of the walls of the huts.

It was no snake or slug at all. It was like a blob, wetly slinking, but it was doing something that no snake or slug could do. In its wake, there was nothing behind. There should be a damp line that the blob left behind, but it was nothing at all. It was eating the wood, its hidden, hungry teeth wolfing down, but slowly, steady, as if it has all the time in the world. She could see the inside of the hut through the long hole.

The blob was part of the living darkness. It had no mass or no appearance. It gave out nothingness; seem only as a budging blackness, twisting and distorting. The blob radiated foulness, and she was angered, couldn't stop it from destroying the data that kept the Village standing. If she did nothing, the blob will eat the entire Village, leaving nothingness behind.

Then she felt movement from her left side. Being strongly sensitive to the movements in the air, she could tell that there was someone standing nearby, also watching the Fallen Village. Not moving from her spot, she voiced, "You know I can sense you, so face me."

The male voice answered back, "I don't have to." But he moved closer to stand beside her. He was slightly shorter than her, and his eyes, hidden behind a mask of black, watched the blob.

She spoke with worry, "What can we do about this? It's spreading."

"We need the powers of the Nature Children to diminish it down," He sounded frank, knowing why, but making no move to stop it.

She hugged her arms around her chest, lightly cocking her head. "But they didn't know . . . did they?"

Although she wasn't looking at him, she sensed him shaking his head. "No, but they will know."

She felt her arms shivering with building wrath, her orange eyes ablaze at the moving blob. Her wings began to flutter harder, stiffly, her way of expressing dislike. "I can't do this anymore. I can't stay hidden from the Digidestined. They are my friends, and I had vowed that I would help them anytime! I'm sorry, but I want to help."

A gentle smile formed on the black mask as he gazed fondly at her. "I'm glad you want to." Then he looked back to the eating blob of darkness and grimaced. "I will notify the Watcher that the darkness is now spreading."

The winged Digimon seemed to break down with a remorseful exhale. Her arms limply returned to her sides, and she slowly nodded. "Right . . ." She paused, turning her orange eyes to him, as if was trying to say something, but she bit her lower lips instead. Abruptly averting, she flapped her wings up into the air.

He knew what she was thinking. He had the ability to see into minds, similar to telepathy, but not quite. He also had the ability to see fears, which that he would never use against his friends. He quietly spoke, his words meant for the female Digimon, but truthfully for everybody who was listening.

"Have no worries, friend. The Watcher will be known to all, unfortunately."

***

Widening his maroon wings to keep himself hovering in a lazy circle, Hawkmon's cobalt eyes keenly explored the landscape. He was above an ocean of trees, he would say, from his outlook. A vast jungle reached for smiles with dense trees that easily blocked the sunlight with spacious leaves. He was supposed to search for something that was out of place in the jungle, but all he could see was trees, trees, and trees.

Hawkmon lowered down between the leaves until he arrived to a moderate group of seven Digidestined and Digimon standing together in a tiny clearing, the only empty place they could find in the compact jungle. Their eyes were on him, waiting for his answer.

"Did you see a Control Spire, Hawkmon?" Miyako called after him.

He responded with a regretful shake of his head. "No, I couldn't see anything in those thick trees, no less a Spire."

Iori was tenderly fingering wide leaf that was the unusual shade of pale blue to match the cloudless sky, but tinted with dirty black, the result of the weakened world from the spreading darkness from Myalomyotismon. He listened to the Hawk Digimon's reply, and he turned to Yamato, who was standing nearby, questioning," Are you are we are close? It's a new area."

The older blond nodded, half-smiling at him. "It's alright. Izzy said the he could find the source near here. His sense of direction is pretty acute."

But when he gazed back to the redhead, Yamato grimaced in worry. Koushiro was separated from the others, his raven-black eyes staring at nowhere. His freckled face was contorted as if smelt something foul that none of the others did. Ever since the group arrived to the unmarked area of the dense jungle, Koushiro began to act edgy and cautious.

Less than an hour ago, Koushiro had found a strange black block on the Digital Map that marked every area of the Digital World that the Digidestined ad visited. The black block often was the sign of a Black Control Spire in control of that area, but the New Kids had destroyed all the Control Spires. There can't be any left. So Koushiro had contacted Yamato and three of the New Kids to check the new area out.

When they arrived, Yamato noticed that Koushiro became serious but troubled. Instead of using his laptop to search for mysterious object, he persistently navigated through the dense foliage, and the group did nothing but to follow him in perplexity. Hawkmon was sent to seek any Control Spire, but he replied that there was none.

Yamato watched Koushiro making a stiff exhale and began to steer through the foliage, and the rest hurriedly followed. Iori was walking beside the redhead, asking another question toward the rest, "What if the blackness is not a Control Spire at all?"

Hikari nodded in agreement, remaining at Miyako's side. "I agree. We destroyed all the Spires. There can't be any left."

Yamato crossed his arms and answered, "If it's not a Control Spire, that's why we have to check the area to make sure nothing is wrong around here. Anything could happen, you remember that."

The group then returned to its uneasy silence, each kid and Digimon bearing expressions and emotions of angst and distress. If the blackness wasn't any Spire, then it could be something strong, something that they weren't familiar of. They only can hope that it wasn't hazardous.

Soon after, they noticed that the jungle became more barren, the branches twisted as if in pain, bearing no leaves to block the sunlight. The trees thinned, spreading, until they arrived to the boundary of the jungle. Remember, it wasn't surprising, for the Digital World supported no rules of realness. What seemed far was actually near, and what appeared perfect was essentially flawed. The Digidestined had learned not to trust reality and look behind illusions. Yamato, Koushiro, and Hikari paid no attention to this odd appearance, but Miyako and Iori were startled of the sudden change in the environment.

Then they saw a small, empty Village that stood at the brisk of wreckage. The huts were almost leaning on each other, feebly bearing them from falling. There was a disturbing feeling hanging in the air that shivered the group.

Yamato stepped closer to Koushiro and took a glance at his face. The black eyes were darting around the Village, searching for something. His nose was wrinkled as if smelt poison.

"Are you okay, Kou-kun?" he whispered.

Koushiro blinked, shaking his head. His voice was strained. "Something's . . . wrong here."

"You're right," Gatomon said, gazing at the Village with gloom. "The Village is empty. No Digimon here."

Koushiro quickly shook his head. "No, that's not it. There is something wrong."

Yamato wished Koushiro could explain what the matter with the Village and himself was. Taking a minute looking around, he then insisted, "Alright, let's separate and search around. Report ASAP, okay?"

However, before anybody could make a move, Koushiro's hand shot forward and grasped Yamato's arm. Yamato was startled as he met the bitter gaze of the redhead. Koushiro's face was stiff as he again shook his head. "No, wait." Then he cocked his head, his face concentrated, for a minute.

Suddenly, he broke in a run that alarmed the others as he turned a corner. Yamato and the others hastily chased again him, but it didn't take long. They found him standing in a clearing, his eyes on something that was totally unexpected.

First, the Digimon perceived foulness in the air that made them skid into a stop. They couldn't get any closer, gagging at the pollution that seemed to strangle the very air. The Digidestined couldn't sense it, being not tainted enough. They gazed at their Digimon with puzzlement and worry.

Koushiro was the only Digidestined present that can sense it, since the pollution had tainted him and two other Digidestined. He felt the heartbeat inside him, beating wrongfully, darkly. He had sensed it before, four years ago, and now that he thought he was free from that horrible heartbeat, he felt it again. His eyes were wide at the memory, standing in place, shuddering.

As Yamato got close to him, worrying about his sudden reaction, his mind was overwhelmed by a presence that he didn't sense for almost a year, a spirit of the dead. He could recognize it, but he was too startled to pay any attention to it since he was staring at the darkness.

It wasn't the darkness of the night that gave peace for slumber, but the darkness of the heart that gave every known sense of fear, dread, and horror to stab in the very soul. Right now, the darkness may eagerly hypnotize the helpless Digidestined and torture the Digimon, but it was flinching at the light of a touch.

Human hands covered into a beautiful iridescent glow that looked much like sunlight shining on oil in water, making bubbly rainbows that were delightful to the eye, were reaching toward the blob, as if shielding it from moving any farther. Yamato stared at the small hands, and then moved his eyes among the limbs, body, then the face, and his heart leaped with speechless astonishment as he immediately identified the face.

Cleo!

She was standing in the iridescent light that surrounded every itch of her small body. Her pale eyes was closed in meditation, her body relaxed. Her hands moved closer to the wincing darkness. The darkness couldn't stand the powerful light, and slowly, it shriveled pathetically, trying to distract her by sending back a needle of fear.

The blond seemed to cower at that, and the rainbow glow began to diminish. She needed assistance to remove the darkness. Lucky for her, help was present. A male Digimon, slightly shorter than her, was standing beside her ever since he called her to come. He was clad in dark green and beige-tan, easily to be camouflaged in forests. A tan bodysuit of some kind, loose and thick, covered his short body, decorated with many tiny suns and clouds sewn into the fabric. His gloves and leather boots were dark blood red. A dark green cloak was tied around his neck, its collars high enough to mask his lower face, allowing only his slanted azure eyes to see everything. His dirty blond hair was long, braided, the tips curling around his shoulders. A floppy hat, the color of dark green, shadowed over his head.

Yamato blinked in bewilderment at him. Something about him struck a familiarity to someone close to him, but he wasn't sure. The Digimon had a hand on Cleo's arm, attempting to comfort her. Truly, his sky-blue eyes were full of protection. She mental-commanded the darkness to disappear into nothing. The darkness finally gave up, and it shrunk into oblivion, unable to withstand the power.

The iridescent glow faded from Cleo's body, and she opened her eyes, seeming lightly wearied. She gratefully smiled down to the Digimon, but noticed that he was staring at somewhere else. Puzzled, she looked toward that direction. Her eyes widened at the equally shocked group, and then she stood straight and again smiled, with wryness.

"Hello."

Yamato finally stammered out, "Cleo? What? How?"

Hikari was the first one to ask a complete question. "Cleo, how did you get here?"

Cleo took a quick glance at the Digimon, but he was silent, his eyes studying each child and Digimon. She made a small sigh, and replied, "I told you I will show my face someday."

Memories of the dark beach, the two lighthouses, and the person titled as the Watcher popped in her mind, and Hikari speechlessly stared at the girl that wasn't Digidestined, but part of the Digidestined group. The Watcher was not a Digimon. She was not an Unmon, either.

"You are the Watcher," she whispered.

"What's going on?" Armadillomon demanded, standing in front of his silent boy. "I thought she's not a Digidestined."

Yamato replied, "She's not . . ." But the words were weak in strength. He gazed to her. "Are you . . ?"

Cleo seemed to be at a loss, but she quickly regained her composure. Her voice was gentle, almost apologetic, "I know you have many questions, but it's better if we leave now. Please listen to me." At that, she took a pleading look at Koushiro, but Yamato knew without looking at him, Koushiro didn't look happy. He didn't say a word, either.

Miyako was curious about the new Digimon. "Who is your friend?" she asked. "Is he your Digimon?"

Cleo gazed down to the gentle-looking Digimon and shook her head. "No, he's my dear friend, Prophetmon."

Prophetmon? Yamato thought.

He then noticed that Gatomon was walking slowly toward Prophetmon.

She was struck by a new emotion like thrill mixed with remorse and disbelief. She was ecstatic to see someone that had nearly the exact appearance of her close friend, was tragic at the memory of him, and was disbelieved that there was someone that was actually a twin to him. She stood before him, her sapphire eyes searching him for an answer.

Prophetmon had his gaze on her, seeming to know what she was seeking for. His voice was mild, serene. "Is there something you wish to ask me, little Gatomon?"

Gatomon was undisturbed by the reply that he did read her mind, and went ahead to question hesitantly, "You remind me of someone, of my friend. You look so much like Wizardmon."

Yamato blinked in realization. That was it. He was pondering how came that Prophetmon reminded him of someone, and now he knew. Prophetmon did look like Wizardmon in appearance, though the colors were different. The only big differences were that Prophetmon didn't carry a sun staff. Plus, while Wizardmon was fierce in nature, Prophetmon appeared strongly tranquil, as if nothing disturbed him.

But then again, Yamato was puzzled at something else. His power was Spirit, which allowed him to see spirits, any spirits that drifted near living people. Often, he could see them whenever they had unfinished businesses needed to be done, expecting close friends or relatives to finish them. Since Yamato was the only one who listened to the spirits, he chose to remind the living relatives of the businesses, giving no reason why or how he knew, and often left them bewildered.

(A/N: Yes, yes, I know that sounds much like the 'Sixth Sense'. Have a problem with that? ^_^)

He 'saw' a deceased spirit standing behind Prophetmon. The misty figure was too faint for him to make out details, but it was there. It didn't say anything, remained silent, smiling at him with hidden knowledge. He wondered if this spirit had a reason to drift by Prophetmon. He already knew that the spirit was a dead Digimon, not a deleted one. Deleted Digimon lived again and again, but dead Digimon will never be alive again. Often, dead Digimon left the world, much like dead humans. But why did this spirit stay? It appeared that it was waiting for something.

His attention was averted when Prophetmon spoke to Gatomon, his voice soft with grief, "For now, I have little to tell you, but in the future, all will be revealed, the source of the riddle, the Digidestined, and the lives of the Digimon."

Yamato didn't understand what did he mean, but Gatomon seemed to know, for she nodded. Prophetmon then withdrew one of his hands back in his cloak, and he removed a small silver ring out. Clearly, it was a duplication of her broken golden tail ring, with digicode inscribed around, but different in color.

(A/N: I know in the end of the last episode, Gatomon did get her tail ring from Gennai, but in my stories, she didn't. Why? Because I say SO! God, I love being an author.)

"What's it?" she asked.

He placed it gently in her paw. "A special tail ring that you can use to call for help. I will know when you need my immediate help."

Yamato was deeply bemused of this strange encounter, and he stepped in, his face stiff. "Hold on. You both go too fast for us to understand what's happening." Cleo appeared lightly shamefaced, her jade eyes lowered. Prophetmon gazed over to him with a disturbed expression. The Guardian continued, "What's going on here, and what's this . . . thing?" He sharply pointed to the spot where the darkness had vanished. He still recalled the nothingness of the blackness, the thing that seemed to eat everything.

Cleo took a brief glance at where he pointed at, and her pale face got paler. But she was composed as she answered, "A contamination."

"Is that the darkness you talked about?" Hikari questioned.

Cleo didn't refuse to answer, but rather hesitant. Her face than took in an expression of beseeching expectation. "Please, listen to me. You have to leave here soon. It's not a good idea to stay here when the contamination is near."

The older blond was bearing his trademark grimace of displeasure whenever he doubted the words of one of his friends. He did trust the girl, although they weren't close friends. He was upset only because of Koushiro. Right now, Koushiro remained silent, his musing black eyes on his girlfriend, the girl he trusted with his own heart. He didn't express any emotion, but Yamato had learned to read words in eyes since he himself hid emotions before.

Koushiro was deceived by the trust they built together, promised not to keep any secrets, as a couple would do. Cleo kept this secret from him, she being a Digidestined at all.

Cleo did notice the silent expression on her boyfriend, but kept her eyes on Yamato, as if was too shamed to face him. "I will explain, I promise." The words were meant for everybody.

"You better explain everything, Cleo," Yamato said stiffly. "I don't like secrets. Come on, Izzy." He turned to Koushiro, who obediently turned to trail after the blond. The younger kids and Digimon, still bewildered, didn't question when they noticed the grimace on Yamato. Instead, they took glances of inquisitiveness and incomprehension to Cleo and the strange Digimon, Prophetmon.

Yamato gazed back to see if Cleo was following, but to his amazement, the small girl and the mild Digimon were already gone.

To be continued.