Z: here's another chapter. yippee. um...yep. thanks to yamatoforever for reviewing. You're the only one who's paid any attention! thanks!

Disclaimer: Nope don't own them. Enjoy.

Chapter 9

"What is going on?" Sora demanded, but was pointedly ignored as Tai said, rather cheerfully, "Hey, everyone, isn't this fun?"

Matt led Davis to the corner of the cave so they could be unheard. Seen, but not heard. Davis was puzzled as to why Matt, of all people, would want to talk to him, right then and right now. Didn't they have the digiworld to save?

"Dai, look. . .it is not your fault. Ok?" Matt said quietly but with such force that it caught Davis by surprise. "Everything happens for a reason. I mean, sure this situation sucks and lets hope, oh god, lets hope that the solution to defeat the mist does not involve you dying. It wasn't. . .it wasn't the funniest thing in the world, let me tell you that. But after this is all done, I want you to promise me something. Ok?"

Davis nodded. Ok. Ok, I'll promise, Matt, I will.

Matt smiled a little. "Promise me, that whatever you are dealing with, you'll come to me and talk about it. I think. . .you'll need someone in the future. . .someone who knows where you're coming from or at least with a better perspective than anyone else." He told him.

Davis nodded. But the others--they're my friends--

"And they always will be, Dai," Matt told him gently, "But sometimes they don't understand certain things. . .but I will, ok?"

Ok. Davis smiled and noddded and was surprised yet again when Matt gave him another hug. Thanks.

"Yep. Now lets go and solve this thing!" Matt said, taking ahold of Davis' hand and leading him back to the group. "The sooner we figure it out, the sooner we get home and the sooner I have a decent bed!"

"Done with the talk?" Tai asked, a knowing smile on his face.

"Of course." Matt grinned and gave Davis a wink. "Anyways, where were we?"

"My D3." Kari answered, somewhat puzzled. "I don't have it. . .at least not the real one."

"What, what does that mean?" Tai replied.

"We've a duplicate." Yolie answered.

"Weird." Matt muttered. He sighed and rested a chin on his hand. "Well, Davis has it. . ."He looked at Davis, who nodded. "But only he can touch it. Tai and I received burns whenever we touched it."

"Right. And they were fun burns. Fun, fun! They ruined my beautiful skin!" Joked Tai.

Matt smacked him. "Are you going on about that again?" He rolled his eyes. "Oh, my beautiful skin, ooooh!" He mimicked Tai, who only stuck his tongue out at him.

I still have it. . .let me dig it out,Davis said, talking on as if this was a daily routine--and in a way it was, at least between Tai and Matt. He found it and handed it to Kari--

"Wait, what if it burns her too?" Tai asked and seized the D3 only to yelp in pain, and throwing it up in the air.

"Good one, Tai!" Matt laughed, but yelped when the D3 fell on his head. "Get it off, before it burns my head!" He scooted away and let it roll off. Davis caught it and sighed.

Well, we'll never know until we let her touch it, Davis said reasonably. He handed it to Kari, who was slightly surprised.

She took it, but only to yelp in surprise and drop it. She rubbed her hand and said, "Well, there's your answer, guys."

I don't know why me, ok? Davis said quietly. I don't know why I lost my voice either. It takes too much effort to talk like this. I just. . .---

"Dai," Matt warned. "Don't start, ok? It is ok." Matt shrugged and pulled out his harmonica. He gave him a look over, as if he was thinking something.

"What are you thinking, Matt?" Tk asked, knowing that look.

Mimi smiled a little. "Is it something to do with the harmonica?" She asked.

"Of course." He replied. "Dai, do you know how to play?" At Davis' nod, he took his friend's hands and pressed it into them. "Learn. Cuz it will be your ally with the mist, especially if you are partly reponsible for it."

"What about you?" Yolie blurted.

Matt smiled a little but there was something cold about it. "Davis can take care of the mist, I'll take care of Metal-Panthamon." Was all he said.

"What'd we miss, you guys?" Izzy asked quietly.

Matt glanced up at the ceiling of the cave, and Tai looked away. Davis pointedly was staring at the harmonica. Tai and Davis knew that it was up to Matt, really, if he wanted to share with the others or not. The only one that knew was Sora, only because Davis had blurted it to her. Yet, it was still Matt's decision whether or not the others should know.

Matt grimaced and finally lowered his gaze onto his friends. "He. . .is not like himself. Well he is, but I mean appearance wise. He's like the walking dead. Uh, a zombie. It was rather gross and yet scary." A pause. "He came back for me. We all know this. I know you guys know this. But it's like he has this obession with me or something. Kinda gross and disturbing. . .but anyways. . ."

Sora had a feeling he was stalling, and Tai and Davis knew this as well. They both stared at him, wondering how he was going to say it.

"Okay, I can't do this." Matt snapped. "I don't even want to think about it, cuz then I'd remember his touch. . .and all that shit. But he kissed me. That made me mad. And --and well, I didn't want it."

Silence and Matt glanced back up at the ceiling, his face neutral.

"Well. . .I can see why you'd want to take care of him." Ken said quietly.

"Yeah, well, who knows what else he would've done if Tai and Davis hadn't showed up." Matt said and shuddered. "Ok, now that is something that I really don't want to think about."

"I wonder why he is so fascinated about you?" Izzy pondered.

"I don't know but it's rather annoying," Matt replied.

Tai wrinkled his nose. "Yeah, we all know you're nothing special, Matt!"

Matt rolled his eyes. "Look who's talking, Tai." He retorted. He looked at Tai, scrutinizing him. Then he muttered, "Why couldn't he have a fascination with you, Tai? You know. . .you're not that bad."

"Nah, you're much more prettier than I am!" Tai said, cheekily.

Everyone stared.

"Ok, time to just. . .beat this thing. . .go home, lead a normal life. . .Sounds like a plan." Joe said, throwing up his hands. "You know its been too long with Tai and Matt flirt with one another."

"Wait, wait, wait. . ." Mimi cut in, "that's not fair, Tai. Saying that Matt is prettier. We all know who is the prettiests!"

"Um, who?" Tai asked, blankly.

She hit him on the arm. "Why, me, of course!" She rolled her eyes.

"Guys!" Tk said, and clapped his hands, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Look, we really need to get moving here. The digiworld is in danger, some pyscho digimon wants Matt, and the mist is in our world. And here you are, flirting with one another. Come on, people, let's work a little here!"

"Seriously." Kari added, nodding her head. "You all can flirt some other time."

"Right."

"Fine," Tai said. Then he fluttered his eyelashes at Tk. "Never mind Matt, you are far more prettier, Tk."

"Nah, he can't. The hat's got to go." Mimi replied and everyone laughed at that, and Tk patted his hat frowning.

"There's nothing wrong with my hat." He retorted.

"Yeah, there is. It is ugly." Matt told him and then giggled.

"What is wrong with you, Matt?" Tk snapped, annoyed.

"Y-yeah, what's wrong with you, Mmmmmatt?" Tai asked and burst into peals of laughter.

Everyone stared at them yet again.

"Ok, I do believe they've gone delusional." Ken said quietly.

No, can't you feel it?Davis said into their minds.

"Feel what? I don't feel anything?" Mimi said and wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm cold."

"Weeeeee!" Matt said and him and Tai exchanged a high five-- only to fall against one another and burst into laughter.

We need to get them out of here, now. Davis ordered, standing up. This cave. . .it is affecting them and soon it will affect us as well.

Just then, Mimi started to laugh. Her expression became blank yet she was laughing. Izzy glanced at her and then at Matt and Tai and realized that their expressions were all identical--all blank and empty, as if they were no feelings whatsoever.

"I second that," Izzy said and stood up. "Sora, you get Tai. I'll get Mimi and Davis--you grab Matt." He instructed.

Sora nodded and Davis bent down and grabbed Matt by the shoulders and hauled him up. Tai did the same with Tai and Izzy, with Sora. The three didn't have much trouble. Tai, Matt and Mimi were fascinated at the concept of going somewhere else and were willing to follow them.

"Okay, someone find the exit to this stupid cave," Izzy said, leading Mimi.

"Found it!" Yolie called. Her and Cody had gone ahead to see where the exit was and came back to get their friends. "Just follow us."

Izzy nodded. The rest of the gang just followed after Izzy, Sora and Davis, wanting to make sure that if Matt, Tai or Mimi wondered off behind, they could catch them and lead them as well.

"Oh, I know this cave," Veemon suddenly said, as they finally made their way outside and stood next to Davis. "It is the cave that make digimon. . .and I guess people, too, all funny."

Davis stared. "Veemon, why didn't you say anything?" he asked.

Veemon grinned and said, "Davis, you have your voice back!"

"Hey, you do!" Sora said, realizing the difference.

Davis touched is throat and said, "I do? I do!"

"Ugh, what the hell happened?" Matt asked, blinking his eyes and staring up at Davis from the rock he had been forced to sit on.

Davis knelt down and locked eyes with Matt. "Matt, you and Tai and Mimi were acting kind of weird. . ." He explained slowly.

Matt winced. "Davis, you have your voice back. . ."He said and rubbed his forehead. "And I've a headache."

"Oh, tell me about it--I've one too." Tai replied, and Mimi nodded.

"Did anyone else go all wacky?" Mimi asked and at everyones no, she sighed. "Why did it effect us then?"

"Cuz its a cave that makes people and digimon go all funny." Veemon said again. "I didn't know we were in that cave until you three started to act funny. I just thought we were in a regular cave."

"Well, I'm glad you figured it out before we all started to act funny, Davis," Tk said, relief in his tone. "Cuz I really didn't want to look like an idioit."

"We looked like idiots?" Mimi asked, her eyes wide.

"Not you, Mimi. . .we got you out in time," Kari told her. She gave her brother and Matt a smile. "But these two. . .did."

"I thought they were always idiots." Ken teased.

"Hey!" Matt cried. "That's just Tai alone, not me!"

Izzy stepped between Matt and Tai and said, "This is not the place,nor the time to discuss who is more of an idiot. It's time that we figure this thing out once and for all." His gaze lingered on Davis. "Such as, why is Davis the only one who can touch Kari's D3? And why did his voice disappear?"

"That last question I can answer for you, Digidestined!" Came a very familiar voice from behind them

They all spun around to see--

Gennai standing there, his hands behind his back and a grave expression on his face.