Chapter 41:  In the Shadows

            "So…where do you think he'd go?"

            "If I were him, I'd go to Japan.  The other Digidestined would be more likely to be there than anywhere else."

            "But what about the others?"

            "We'll wait till she's a bit more recovered, then go there…and hope that they're still here when we come back."

******

            This was the third day Ingrid had awakened leaning on Natasha's shoulder.  Each time, there had been no danger, but Ingrid had been terrified to be within a meter and a half of another person.  She had almost gotten used to it, but she still shrank back from Natasha to the wall.  She felt cold, and regretted pulling away.  But she wasn't brave enough to come towards Natasha, either.  Natasha saw that she was a little chilly, so she picked up Chickpea, the kitten assigned to Ingrid, and offered it to her.

            Ingrid looked at the kitten with unsure eyes.  She looked back up at Natasha as if to ask, "What're you going to do with that?"

            Natasha slowly moved closer and closer to Ingrid, until she was close enough to slowly slip the kitten into Ingrid's blanket.  Ingrid was afraid, but she didn't try to fight back.  She held the kitten in her hands, and she could feel the warmth radiating out of it.  She stroked its fur, the sameway the older kids did, and it mewed back at her.  It was kind of…cute…!

            Natasha was relieved to see a smile spread across Ingrid's face.  Finally, she thought to herself.  She got up and brought two bowls of rice that were ready for their breakfasts.  She sat down again in front of Ingrid.  She began eating from one of the bowls so that Ingrid would know that the rice was food.  Ingrid reached for the other bowl and pulled it close enough for her to eat.

            What surprised Natasha was that Ingrid was so good at eating with a spoon.  Natasha didn't understand how she would remember how to eat with a spoon and yet forget how to speak, but time had been doing other strange things that she didn't understand, either.  Natasha kept moving closer and closer to Ingrid, very slowly and very carefully.  Ingrid was fully aware of Natasha's slow approach.  She looked up at her, and Natasha looked away.  Natasha didn't want to threaten her by making eye contact.  Ingrid kept eating until the bowl was empty.  As she had learned before, she pushed the bowl and spoon away when she was done.  Natasha picked up the bowl and spoon and carried them to the dirty-dishes cart.  Then she came back to Ingrid to see how she was.  Ingrid was very unsure about Natasha, and was still afraid of her.  Natasha sighed.  She pushed her bedroll closer to Ingrid and crawled in.  Then Natasha looked at Ingrid. "You know," Natasha said, "I agree…this is scary.  I've seen some friends of mine get eaten…  But this place is safe.  It's not all that tough to get along with the other kids.  And I don't like living this way, either---there's not much to do besides play video games or ball…and we don't know what's going on outside…but at least we're alive."  Natasha sighed.  "I wish you weren't so scared all the time.  It's not very nice in here, but at least you'll be okay."

            Ingrid looked at her, still with unsure eyes, but there was something else in those eyes:  curiosity.

            Natasha pulled her kitten out of her bedroll and held it out to Ingrid.  "Kitten," Natasha said.  She was tying to get Ingrid to say it.  "Kitten."

            "K-k-"

            "Kit-ten."

            "Ki-kit-kit-ten!"

            "Kitten!"

            "Kit-ten!" Ingrid said.

            Well…it's a start, Natasha thought.

******

            "Takato?"

            He must've jumped a mile when he heard Kari say his name.  "Oh…sorry, I didn't know you were in…here…"

            "What on earth are you doing in my room?"

            "I…I came to talk.  One question:  what do you think of Yolei?"

            "Yolei?  …Well, I'll admit that we sometimes don't get along, and sometimes she can be a little harsh…but, overall, I think she's okay."

            "Really?  Well…" Takato sighed.

            "What is it?"

            "…I dunno, I just don't think she's cut out to be a leader."

            "Really?"

            "Well…she's always neglecting the emotional needs of her underlings.  I could tell you a few stories about the orders she's given, but I promised the people who told me them that I wouldn't tell anyone."

            Kari stared at him with an unsure look.  "If people feel that strongly about it…"

            "Not that I want to make waves, but I really think your brother would make a better leader."

            "Why would you say that?"

            "He's more in tune with his own emotions."

            "You think Yolei isn't in tune with hers?"

            "Not really."

            "You've got a lot to learn about her.  You watched the TV show?"

            The "TV show" again…what is a "TV show"? Takato wondered.  "Well…not as much as you'd think…"

            "I thought you told me you were the biggest fan this side of the International Date Line!"

            "That was verbal irony; I didn't mean it."

            "You said it like you meant it."

            Takato scratched the back of his neck.  "Sorry… what did I miss?"

            "Yolei has a lot going on inside her head.  You get her to open her mouth, and it's tough to get her close it.  And she understands her own emotions and she can admit it when she's wrong."

            "She sure didn't seem to admit it when---uh---well, like I said, I'm not supposed to tell anyone."

            Kari sighed.  "Listen, it's late.  You should get some rest."

            "I don't have anything to do in the morning, anyway."

            "Still, it's not healthy for you to skip sleep.  Go to bed."

            "Okay…I'll do that."  At least I got what I came for…man, I wish I had a stealth mode! Takato thought to himself.  They keep catching me in the act!