Thank you everyone for the nice reviews!!!! YOU ALL RULE!!!! I WILL WRITE LOTS FOR YOU!!!!! GO TITANS AND MAC AN' CHEESE AND PENGUINS!!!!!

(cue the shifty eyes)

NOTE: this is NOT a Davis-bashing Chapter. Davis is just the only guy who has the temper to pull it off. I LOVE DAVIS, HE'S HILARIOUS!!! (but I'm a Takari fan)

TK loaded a few more piecies of wood onto the group's makeshift sled and ran his fingers through his hair. Ken was fastening a rope or two on the other side; Davis threw a few smaller pieces onto the pile. The Digimon were watching the sled with mild dislike. They would, after all, be the ones pulling it.

"That'll be enough, right?" Davis said, wiping his forehead as he loaded the last few pieces. TK, lost in a torrent of conflicting thoughts, did not hear him.

"I think we'll be fine for tonight. Hey TK...why are you so determined to find this virus? You don't usually - TK?"

Ken looked quizzically at the Bearer of Hope. TK did not realize he had been spoken to until a few seconds later.

"Oh, what? I uh, um..." he stuttered. His mind focuses on crimson eyes, angel's smile... "Kari..."

"Kari?" said Davis instantly, stepping forward. "Oh wait - you want to be the hero again, right? Well look out, TF, you've got some competition!" Ken shook his head at Davis' naivete. TK frowned.

"Davis, it's not like -"

There was a screech, louder than any of them could bear, and a rush of scorching heat. The three teens fell back at the force of it, struggling to regain their feet as the trees above them burst into flames. Their Digimon flinched, butt struck back almost immediately to defend their human partners. Placing themselves before the Digidestined, they caught a brief glimpse of something huge, flaming, and dark; then a second series of fire-shots rang out and Stingmon fell back beside an injured Pegasusmon.

"No!" called TK and Ken in unison. Raidramon ran towards the monster in a raging gallop and blasted him as hard as he could, but it was of no avail. The fire swung and the Digimon was sent sprawling back to earth. Stingmon and Pegasusmon, recovered, attacked with all they had. The flaming Digimon drew back, but when the smoke cleared, it remained untouched. There was a scream from the monster and the fire turned blinding white; all three Armor Digimon were struck down by flaming arrows, de-digivolving as they fell to the ground. With a mighty flash of fire, the three Digidestined met themselves face to face with their opponent. TK's heart stopped beating. No, this wasn't fire...it was too white, too bitter...the monster's cold, glowing eyes glared sinisterly at him. It wasn't fire...

But it burns just the same, hissed the voice.

TK's knees trembled. The cold flames grew stronger around him. Davis and Ken were yelling, but he was fading. His eyes clouded, lost in the burning, the darkness, the pain -

"Rosetta stone!"

The previously untouchable Digimon roared and fell back. Nefertimon's attack had hit him squarely in his left eye, and his hypnotic hold over TK broke. He heard her voice, calling out to him, telling him to help Patamon and get on. He complied, the rvil Digimon roaring, screaming in defiance, trying to claw after him. But Kari was there, reaching out to him.

"Come on, TK! Quick!" He could se the fear in her eyes, and her gaze him the power to leap up behind her and clutch the beaten Patamon to his chest.

Kari grabbed his hand with hers, gripping to Nefertimon with the other as they sped away. She knew, even without looking into his tired eyes, even without feeling the shaking in his hands. She her fingers through his hair and let his head rest against her shoulder as they left the roaring Digimon behind them.

"THIS IS ALL - YOUR - FAULT!"

Davis lunged at TK, swinging his arms wildly. He landed a solid punch on the side of his face and the blond teen stumbled backwards. He put a hand to his jaw, suprised at the sudden feirceness of his goggle-headed friend. As his own rage began to simmer, Tai and Ken grabbed Davis and held his arms behind his back.

"Cool off, Davis! It's ot TK's fault!" shouted Tai at the younger Digidestined. Kari touched TK's shoulder as he glared angrily at Davis, the left side of his face turning red. Davis's was raving.

"I can't BELIEVE YOU! LOOK AT OUR DIGIMON! LOOK AT VEEMON! WAS THIS YOUR BIG HEROIC PLAN, TO GET US AND ALL OUR DIGIMON KILLED? ALL WE WANTED WAS A FUCKING CAMPING TRIP, BUT NO! YOU HAD TO RUIN IT, YOU HAD TO TEAR IT ALL APART -"

There was a deafening bang as TK rammed Davis into the cave wall. His arm was pressed to the teen's throat, his eyes flaming with fury, his words halted and dripping with threat.

"Don't you ever," he whispered, his voice trembling ominously, his arm forcing a half-choking, suddenly terrified Daisuke against the wall. "Don't you ever....don't you even dare..."

"TK..." Kari put a hand on his arm, her eyes wide and worried for both Digidestined. She was terrified for Davis, knowing TK might do something rash from the affect of his words; and she was also terrified, knowing the impact that Davis's anger had on him.

But TK went limp at her touch, which caused a brief relief in her. He backed away so sudenly that Davis fell to the floor, gasping for air. Yolie and Ken leaned over to help him. Matt was staring at TK.

"I'm...I'm sorry, I..." his breathe caught in his throat. "I'll be back later."

He almost flat-out ran from the cave, Kari's heart running out with him. She started to follow, knowing he needed her, but felt a restraining hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be fine. Patamon's with him. Hikari...we need to talk."

Kari had never before wanted Tai to ignore her as much as she did now.