Disclaimer: I state to claim to the popular anime Digimon. I'm merely writing a fan fictional short story using the characters. I do, however, claim the plot and ask that no one write a sequel or story dealing with this particular piece of work without my consent. Thank you-

Chapter Five

Tai sat alone by the fire, they had been walking all day with no breaks and everyone had dropped off into an exhausted sleep as soon as camp was set up. Everyone that is, except Sora and him. Sora sat up in a tree a little ways from the fire, hidden in the shadows. If Tai had taken the time to look, he couldn't have seen her, which was just fine with her.

Sora sat on a low hanging branch over a wide, shallow river that was barely ankle deep in the middle. She sat with her head resting on her upraised knee; she had cried herself beyond tears and now barely managed to choke out dry sobs. She was so caught up in her depression that she didn't even notice when Tai got up from his seat by the fire and walked mechanically into the forest as if in a trance.

He hates me she thought, remembering the way he hadn't so much as looked at her all day except for the once that she had forced eye contact; he'd given her his most hostile glare. It wasn't that she was afraid of him, but the hatred that she saw burning in his beautiful chocolate eyes made her's burn with tears and her heart ache. She had to admit that it hurt her to think that Tai hated her, it was like someone ripping her heart out and stomping on it. She lifted her head and forced a self mocking smile. What does it say about you when the guy you love loves another guy?

:Do you really love him?: A strange voice whispered, it was a hypnotic voice and Sora couldn't resist the urge to shut her eyes. She nodded when the question came again and she abruptly felt a presence infront of her; she tried to open her eyes but her eyelids felt to heavy to lift. :He doesn't love you.: the voice said softly. :He hates you.: The words were harsh but the tone was gentle and persuasive, full of understanding and compassion. :He loves you're friend Matt.: Tears she didn't know she had left, streamed down Sora's cheeks at hearing someone besides herself acknowledge the fact. She nodded agreement. :Nobody loves you, why should they? You're nothing special. You have no special qualities. Even the boy you love chose another boy over you.: The voice laughed softly. :You're even thinking of taking your life to end the pain.: it whispered amused.

Sora frowned, :What's so funny about that?: she asked mentally since she found she couldn't open her mouth, her anger smoldering like flames under a downpour.

:Nothing really, but it is rather ironic that Tai is the one causing you all this agony and you insist on torturing yourself, you should make him pay for all the pain he's inflicted on you!:

Sora's brow furrowed :Never! Tai's my friend if nothing more, I could never do anything to hurt him! No! I won't, it's not his fault that he loves Matt! I wont hurt him just to make myself feel better!:

The voice laughed softly again, only this time it was laced with a sinister undertone. :Whatever, you had your chance!: Sora gasped aloud, the voice that had sounded so kind and understanding now sounded cold and evil. She forced her eyes open and frantically looked around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

"I'm starting to hear voices," She whispered to herself. "that's it, I've officially gone insane." She laughed uneasily and moved to jump down from the tree when a slimy, long fingered hand grabbed her wrist. She opened her mouth to scream but another hand was quickly thrust into her mouth where it slithered down her throat like thick, poisonous smoke. A shadow with pale green eyes pulled her off the branch and the once shallow river turned into a bottomless ocean of black nothingness. Sora's eyes widened and she tried to scream again as soon as the thing removed it's hand, but nothing came out but bubbles.

:Scream all you want, child of Love, nobody can hear you and it makes my job much more amusing to know you're suffering!: The voice said again, sounding like a whisper in her ear yet so far away.

Suddenly feeling light headed, her whole body going numb as unconsciousness beckoned her. She slowly closed her eyes and the last thing she heard was the insane, musical laughter of a soft woman's voice.

*****

Matt woke slowly to Mimi's quiet cursing; slowly opening his eyes, he saw she was bending over a fire. The smell of something burning drifted to him on the warm, gentle breeze and he cringed. He stood from his sit up position against the tree and walked over by Mimi; looking over her shoulder he saw that what she'd been trying to cook might still be salvageable.

"Let me help with that." He said, moving so that he was kneeling beside her. She started and then blushed, embarrassed at her poor attempt.

"I wanted to make you breakfast." She said sadly, "You know, be useful, but I guess cooking isn't one of my strong points; I'm sorry Matt." Tears filled her eyes; she turned her head away and started to stand, but he caught her arm and pulled her back down to sit by him.

"I can teach you, it's really not that hard, then you'll be able to cook whenever okay?" He asked, tilting his head to the side and smiling. Mimi nodded and wiped her eyes to dry them. Matt managed to save their breakfast, all the while giving Mimi cooking instructions.

"So who taught you to cook?" Mimi asked as they settled more comfortably, their food on large leaves across their laps. Matt didn't look up or show any sign that he felt different that a few seconds ago, but his voice held an edge of bitterness.

"My mother." He said, staring at the various fruits and such on his leaf.

"Oh," Mimi sighed, "not a good subject huh?" He shook his head solemnly. "So uh…how long are we going to stay here?" She asked, trying to think of something safe enough to talk about.

"Today, maybe Tomorrow if we're not fully rested." He replied easily. "While we have the luxury I'd like to stay, it seems there's no trouble here, but if we stay long enough…" He let himself trail off and Mimi picked it up.

"If we stay long enough then trouble will come, it always does." She shrugged then finished off her remaining breakfast with on sweep of the cleaned sticks that served as their eating utensils and smiled. "I'm up for another swim, how about you?" Matt nodded enthusiastically, shoveling the last of his breakfast into his mouth and helped Mimi to her feet before both of them ran towards the lake, shedding their outer clothes as they did.

*****

Matt shook his spiky blonde hair dry; he was always making such a big deal about his hair, but if anyone really did touch it, it would probably go right back into place. It was naturally like that, he didn't use gel or anything contrary to what some thought. He watched as Mimi gently wrung out her long, brown hair, the back of her pink dress a shade darker where her hair had made it damp. He watched her for awhile, noticing how the sun was shining down through the trees to land on her thin frame and how all the wildflowers that conjugated around the rock she was sitting on made her look like some kind of forest fairy.

:You're falling in love with her.: A strange voice said softly, almost as if whispering in his ear. The voice was hypnotic and he had the irresistible urge to close his eyes but fought against it viciously, holding onto his vision with teeth and nails. Finally, whatever power had descended on him gave up and allowed him to remain visually aware, but it took his mind elsewhere. :You know you are, why fight it?: It continued seductively, taunting him, daring him to deny his feeling like it was so certain he would.

Well, he wouldn't oblige something that he couldn't even see, so he sent the creature, whatever it was, a mental- :So what if I am!:

:Why don't you tell her?: It said sincerely after a moment of silence in which Matt felt pleasant surprise trickle across from the being to him. He could almost see a pair of piercing ice blue eyes looking at him over from a slightly darker place infront of him.

:I don't know how she feels, I… wouldn't want to ruin our friendship. Besides, even if she did feel the same, we're to young to do anything about it!: He thought back at the shadow, glaring. It laughed softly, amusement and wonder weaving themselves into the woman's musical voice.

:We'll just see about that.: It chuckled. :But what would you do if I told you I had seen her thoughts and she hated you?: it asked, Matt didn't even have to think about that one.

:I'd either say she was insane for following me here if she hated me or that you're a liar.: he shrugged physically, dismissing the subject. This time he sensed irritation.

:If she hated you, what would you do?: the thing, which Matt was starting to think of as female, snapped.

:If you're asking if I'd turn suicidal or something…No. I'd be sad and I'd probably try to get her to atleast see me as a friend, but I wouldn't kill myself! Self destruction, if she hated me, would please her to much and I couldn't have that.:

The thing seemed satisfied with that answer and Matt found himself awake and aware again. He quickly looked over at Mimi and noticed that she was pulling hard on a large section of hair and her eyes were clenched tightly shut. Matt ran towards her, but just before he got where he could touch her, her eyes snapped open and she turned to him quickly, tears leaking slowly from her eyes.

"M-Matt?" He knelt down beside her and pulled her protectively against his chest since she was shaking to hard to stand. "Th-they showed me m-m-my de-dest-iny." And she broke down into hysterical crying.