Chapter Eight

Sound Wisdom

Koushiro snuck into the hospital quietly crawling under the reception desk. He frowned when he found out the door was locked and the button to open it was behind the desk. He thought quickly and unlatched the safety pin keeping the handkerchief secure around his lunchbox inside his backpack. He worked the electronic lock open and sighed in exasperation at the uncomplicated mess of wire. The door swing silently open and he slipped in, replacing the plastic cover of the lock.

The nurse at the desk jerked up at the loud click as the door shut and she swung around.

"Huh? I need a new position...I'm hearing things I'm so bored." She complained staring at the closed door.

Koushiro held breath, flat against the wall. He looked slowly around the corner to see the woman hadn't gotten up to investigate. He let out a grateful rush of air. He looked at his watch.

11:17 p.m. flashed on his watch. He pulled off his backpack and reattached the safety pin to the handkerchief, making sure nothing spilled and then grasped the yellow laptop that held the key to Motoko's life.

He sped down the hall and decided to take the stairs, racing up to the second floor. He looked out the small window and then poked his head out the door. His breath caught when his saw the door near the end of the hall to his left. He gulped and ran for it ducking inside the cool dark room, locking the door behind him, to hear the beeping of the machine that held his love's life in their unfeeling grip. He ran to the screen that showed her brain's waves. He looked frantically for somewhere to plug in his computer and saw the phone. He threw the nightstand aside with a loud crash.

"Crap! Not one of my more intelligent ideas." He yanked the phone cord out of the wall, thrusting his computer's cord in its place. "Now, how am I going to connect my computer to her brain monitor?" he wondered aloud as he wiped his forehead.

He spun around as footsteps hurried down the hall. He grabbed a chair and hauled it under the doorknob and then pushed the nightstand in front of that.

"A link cable!" he cried out. He ran to monitor and found the right place to connect his cable but frowned seeing another wire in its place. He bit his lip in worry. "If my theory is a correct one, then she won't need whatever it is...and her condition is stable, so if it's connected to something vital, she'll be able to hold on by herself for approximately thirteen seconds...should I chance it?" The rattling chair and shouts on the other side of the door made up his mind for him. In record time he had his computer linked up and ready to connect, his hand on the wire. He closed his eyes and pulled, hurriedly shoved the plastic head of the wire in the jack and typed furiously.

"Come on...come on." Koushiro whispered, sweat shining in the glare of the display. Work damn you...

Where am I? Why is it so cold? Am I dead? I'm so lonely.

Whore, whore...

Why won't the voices stop? Leave me be! The voices faded but continued to echo throughout the darkness. Faces floated around, blurred and unrecognizable. Love doesn't exist...love is just a word to you... a rough time sleeping. He said you were having bad dreams, memories. Why don't you talk to me about them?

Koushiro? Kou-kun? Where are you? Inside the darkness, she ran, reaching for the blurred figure wearing a yellow t-shirt and brown pants. Red hair flared brightly in the darkness but she couldn't see his face. And no matter how fast she ran, he wasn't getting any nearer. Suddenly two tall black figures grabbed her arms and dragged her even further away. -said you were having bad dreams, memories. Why don't you talk to me about them?

Yes, don't let them take me away! Help me!

Okay...

No, no, stop, don't listen to me! I was lying! I lied the whole time! I'm in pain and I'm scared! No let me go! KOUSHIRO SAVE ME, PLEASE! Suddenly the blackness exploded. Bright blue light blinded her. Her body that she created in her head disappeared as she began to wake up, the light coming from behind her eyelids. In the blazing blue-white, she saw 0's and 1's. Binary code, what's that doing in my head?

"Koushiwo? Kou?"

"Motoko? You're awake?"

"Kou? 'S so bite...where? Kou?" a hand grasped hers and she clutched at it, opening her eyes but seeing only the blue-white light.

"I'm right here, Motoko."

"Pomise oo won lee meh? Tha oo'll say meh fom th buh-black?"

"Yeah...I promise." Koushiro watched as her eyes opened, reflecting the data he'd sent through her body, killing the computer virus in her nervous system. It started to fade and her scared green eyes slowly started coming into focus. She turned her head and blinked, still blinded and seeing spots. She moved her mouth and frowned when nothing came out. She jerkily shook her head and tried again.

"Kou? Ah luh oo." She struggled. He blinked as she stiffly shook her head again. "Ah lo-ove you." She managed to spit out. She opened her mouth again frustrated, her eyes started to shine with fear.

"I get it, Motoko." Koushiro assured her placing a hand over her mouth. "You've been in a coma for three days." Motoko's eyes began to flood. Her eyes darted to the door as her hearing finally reaching beyond her immediate area. He jerked around to see the door open slightly and voices yelling.

"Sorry, doctor! Subaru-san has regained consciousness!" Koushiro cried out happily pulling the nightstand away.

The chair crashed to the floor and three men and one woman fell in a huddle on the floor. A strange sound was heard from the bed and they turned to see a tearful Motoko grinning and trying to laugh. She stopped abruptly hearing the strangled sound and touched her throat with stiff fingers. Tears poured from her eyes and more strangled sounds were heard and she covered her mouth to stop it.

"Motoko! No, don't cry. I promise you'll be just as you were before the accident." Motoko shook her head. "Yes, you will." She shook her head more.

"No act see den." She choked through her tears.

"Leave the room now, we have to do tests, young man." Said a doctor finally snapping to attention. Motoko let out a loud croak and more tears fell. She grabbed Koushiro's sleeves and held on, shaking her head.

"He has to leave. You have to be calm and steady." Said the other male doctor. The third man slunk out the room, returning to waxing the floor.

"Her symbols are strong but erratic. We have to stabilize her." Said the female anxiously.

"Motoko, calm down. I have to leave, the doctors are going to help." Koushiro murmured into her dark hair. She didn't smell the best seeing how she hadn't been clean in three days, but he didn't care. She sobbed into his chest, refusing to let go. She started to relax as they put a dose of sedative in her IV. "By the way, Moto, I love you too." She smiled as the woman doctor, Dr. Tsubasa, gently pried her away from Koushiro and laid her on the bed. Dr. Edogawa led him to the door and shut it behind him to return to help Dr. Kido and Dr. Tsubasa. He sat on the floor against the wall facing the door.

"I'm not going to fall asleep." He muttered.

Inside the room Motoko watching with bleary and half-blind eyes as the doctors checked her status and various other things that she couldn't even figure out in her muggy mind. Her eyes felt dry and hot from crying and she wanted Koushiro back. She fought sleep knowing it would bring the 'black'. The doctors encouraged her will to stay awake, they knowing she would most likely slip back into the coma.

Koushiro had already fallen asleep.

V V V

"Mm. Hmm. I'm sleepy." Melina stretched rubbing her eyes.

"How can you can you be so awake, Yukina?" Miyako asked, yawning.

"Internal clock. But look. Kodak moment." Yukina pointed. They turned to see Shizuko sleeping on Iori's thighs. Somehow during the night, Iori had fallen to his side and his head was now resting on her hip, one arm slung around her waist.

"Oh, I wish Kari were here." Miyako moaned. "That camera is sewn onto her." A flash and snap echoed through the room and they jumped.

"I'm a picture freak. I promised my family in Hawaii that I would get as many pictures as I could to send back to them, so I always have one on my person." Melina explained with a sleepy wink. Tsubaki stirred and rose.

"Oh, Tsubaki! Look!" Miyako said cheerfully. She turned and blinked.

"The flash was Melina's camera." She stated raising her head. Miyako blinked.

"OOH! You have funny eyes! Like me! See, mine are yellow! Yours are so cool. I'd rather have red than yellow. Everyone thinks I have hepatitis." Miyako cried out, crawling across the floor in record time.

"Huh?" Iori murmured.

"Oh, you woke them up!" Melina whined.

"Oops."

"Who has hippopotamus?" Shizuko gurgled before flipped over.

The girls choked. Iori woke up groggily and realized something was lying on his legs and breathing...in a place he didn't think was a good idea to breathe on. He yelled out and flew backwards, blushing furiously. Shizuko eyes fluttered open and she blinked perplexed.

"A zipper?" she wondered aloud. Iori found it very hard to breathe. "OH MY GOD! A ZIPPER!" she shrieked flinging herself away. "THE HELL? WHAT WAS I DOING THERE?" she cried out blushing and pointing. She immediately snatched her hand away. Iori got up and ran out the door. Shizuko turned to see three girls falling in a huddle laughing their asses off. Even Tsubaki was suppressing giggles.

"You fell asleep on his lap last night. He must've fallen to his side and you guys ended up in that position. Then you flipped over just a second ago and then you woke up. Well, after Iori did." Miyako managed to gasp out in between crows of laughter.

"You mean he woke up first? When I was facing his...zipper?"

"Yup." More guffaws.

"Oh shit..." she moaned. "What was I doing in his lap in the first place?"

"You went into one of your 'rages' while I was holding you. I knocked you out because you almost bit off a chunk of my shoulder." Iori explained.

"Oh, we never did look at it. I hope it didn't get infected." Miyako stopped laughing immediately running over to her friend. She grabbed his shirt and tried to pull it off.

"Stop it, Miyako!" she managed to open it on the front and slid off the sleeves ignoring him.

"Oh, you poor baby!" Miyako blubbered. "Sit down. I'll go get my first aidkit. I took it out of my pocket so I wouldn't sleep on it." Iori sat down crossed legged, his face burning and his eyes closed.

BEEP! BEEP!

"Huh? Ken? I'm sorry. I'm busy. I have to bandage up Iori. He got a really bad...boo-boo." She almost said 'bite', "Hey, Melina, why don't you talk to him for me? Melina?" Miyako asked turning around. She blinked seeing all the girls ogling Iori.

"What are they looking at?" Ken asked quizzically.

"YOU PERVERTS! STOP OGLING IORI!" Miyako yelled punching the drooling Melina on the head.

"What? We didn't know that he hid a bod like that!" Melina whined tearfully. "Even Tsubaki's staring." Hearing her name, Tsubaki immediately looked away to tend to the waking digimon besides her.

"At least she isn't drooling!" Shizuko yelled.

"You were ready to eat him!" Melina yelled back.

"How about we just drop this? Iori is going to burst into flame." Yukina suggested.

"YOU WERE STARING AT HIM TOO, WEREN'T YOU?"

"You don't own him, Shizuko!" Miyako boomed.

"And neither do you!"

"HA! I went on a date with him! So I own him more than you!" Miyako stuck out her tongue.

"Um, Miyako, you're dating me now."

"Oh, right...oops?"

"What do you mean 'oops'?"

"How about I go make Iori all better and you bond with these perverts-"

"We are not perverts!"

"-and then we'll talk, okay?"

"I'll do it for you." Shizuko said sweetly.

"What? No way! I've seen Iori in his boxers before, I'm used to it. You, however, are not used to it."

"I am not an it. And I don't see why I can't do it myself. And you saw me in my boxers when we were kids."

"Nope, remember? I walked in on your coming out of the shower about a month ago." Miyako reminded him. "Plus, you can't treat the wound properly where it is."

"I'm sure I can."

"YOU DID WHAT?" Ken squawked.

"Huh? What?" Miyako asked.

"You walked in on him?" came Shizuko's terse voice.

"When?"

"WHEN HE WAS COMING OUT OF THE SHOWER!" Ken yelled.

"It was an accident, Ken! Miyako practically lives at my house, so she just walked on in while my grandpa was napping and my mom was out. I was in a towel!" Iori grimaced as he pulled his shoulder.

"Oh, Iori! Ken, shut up." Miyako ran over to Iori with a concerned smile. "You didn't tell me it was hurting! Of course, it is pretty bad. Hmm, I have to wash it first...I'm going to need some water."

"There's a small pool in the back of the cave." Yukina spoke up. "I explored a little after everybody fell asleep. Finmon is hanging out back there."

"Okay, I'll move you over there, hon." Miyako said helping him up.

"Lay off, Miyako! You have a boyfriend!" Shizuko snapped.

"So? Iori is my best friend! I have to help him. At least I didn't bite him! Plus, you aren't his girlfriend! You never asked him out, or vice versa." Miyako dragged Iori by his good arm

"Fine then! Iori will you be my boyfriend?"

"What?" Iori exploded. My morning is going nuts!

"Well?"

"Yes?"

"Okay, you can have him!" Miyako chirped handing him over to Shizuko.

"Thank you!" Shizuko led a baffled Iori to the pool.

"He isn't a toy to own and give away when ever you feel like it." Yukina said with a sweatdrop.

"I know, but he likes Shizuko. I'm pretty sure he didn't mind. Now, Ken, why did you email me so early? Shouldn't you be at school?" Miyako asked.

"That's right it's eight thirty." Melina said raised her wristwatch.

"It's Sunday. You've been gone for a week!"

"Oh my god! Iori!"

"Yeah?"

"The play! THE PLAY! Oh man... I'm Gwenhwyfar." Miyako moaned.

"I was supposed to help build Camelot! We're really short on hands too!" Iori moaned with Miyako putting his head in his hand of his uninjured arm.

"Maybe we can find the rest of the Crests before you guys are too late? When is opening night?" Yukina soothed sympathetically to Miyako.

"The end of this week."

"Oh, dear."

"Yeah."

"Hey, how about you and me go over your lines whenever we get the chance. I'm sure the actors can chip in more on the sets Iori. I will for one, and so will Takeru." Ken suggested helpfully.

"Great! Let's start now!" Miyako nodded emphatically.

V V V

"How are you feeling?" Koushiro asked gently, brushing hair from green eyes.

"Ok-kay." Motoko answered, still raspy. She tried smiling and managed a small one that really didn't express the light in her eyes.

"You shouldn't be talking. You must be exhausted from staying awake this long." Motoko nodded jerkily.

"Hey, Subaru-san." Whispered a voice at the door. Koushiro looked over his shoulder, Motoko's eyes already resting on the tall figure from her place on the hospital bed.

"Konnichiwa, Taichi." Koushiro smiled.

"You look much better now, Subaru-san. You're eyes definitely look better open than closed." Motoko blushed happily at Taichi's infectious grin.

"Y-oo er coot."

"Why thank you, ma'am. That was the high point of my day."

"Nah ma'am." Motoko frowned. "Moat o k-ko."

"Okay, Motoko-chan it is." Taichi agreed easily. "And as soon as it doesn't hurt to speak, you can call me Taichi. Here're some flowers. Tsubaki told me lilies of any kind are your favorites." Motoko managed a wide smile, stiffly reaching for them. She let her hands drop to let the petals fall on her face as she breathed deeply.

"Um...how is Tsubaki?" Koushiro broke in, a prick of jealousy in him.

"I'm sorry to say much more beautiful than the lady in the bed, of course." Taichi joked as Motoko tried to throw a flower at him before covering her mouth to giggle brokenly.

"Your giggle sounds much better than last night." Koushiro said as Taichi fell to floor with the flower he had caught up against his chest in mock death throes. Motoko nodded brightly before yawning, her eyes drifting close. "Wake up, Motoko! Don't go to sleep." Koushiro said shaking her lightly. Her eyes snapped open before sagging.

"Co-off-ff...coff...ee."

"No, the doctors say you can't."

"That bums, how long she have to stay awake?"

"Approximately fifteen hours, thirty one minutes and...six seconds." Koushiro said consulting his watch.

"Surprised you didn't give me nanoseconds." Taichi muttered wryly.

"Well, if you want it that precise than I'm going to have to-"

"No, that's okay. Don't break your back...er...brain...for igit me."

"No, awake, Motoko." Koushiro said with tickling her sides. She squirmed and woke up quickly, trying not to laugh.

"Hey when you'd find out she was ticklish...maybe I should ask how?" Taichi corrected himself with a suggestive grin.

"Shut up, Taichi!" Koushiro barked.

"Touchee. I guess you really did do something naughty. To an invalid, really, Koushiro." Taichi rebuked with a sad shake of his head.

"Yagami!"

"Oh crap!"

"Excuse me?" asked a quiet voice at the door.

The boys turned to see and elderly couple walk in the door.

"Konnichiwa, Kaname-sama." Koushiro greeted, bowing. "Taichi, this is Kaname, Souta and Kaname, Sae, they are Motoko's grandparents."

"He is the nice young man who's been visiting our dear, Motoko. It's about time she's had a boyfriend. She's never had a boyfriend before." Sae said with a smile. Motoko looked out the window, her fingers clenching the bouquet of tiger lilies.

"You're quiet the looker, aren't young man? Don't you give my baby girl trouble." Souta said slapping Taichi on the back.

"Um, sir? Koushiro is the boyfriend."

"Yes, yes, aren't you Koushiro?"

"No, I'm Yagami, Taichi. He's Izumi, Koushiro."

"Oh? You eh? You're a little shrimpy."

"Souta, dear! Now you stop that! I told you yesterday that Koushiro was red headed with black eyes. You did that to embarrass him!" Sae said swatting her hand. "Don't mind him. He's an old coot."

"Um, yes..." Koushiro said with blazing cheeks. He turned to check on Motoko to see her gazing at the tree outside the window.

"Well, he is pretty short. How old are you, my boy?"

"Eighteen."

"Eighteen! He's too old for Motoko. Plus, he's too short. I won't let her marry this one. Not while I live. She'll marry this one." Souta said swinging his arm around Taichi's shoulders. "Now, do you like my granddaughter?"

"What? I like her just fine, sir, but I'm going out with Tsubaki. Plus, I'm nineteen." Taichi sputtered.

"Gan-granp-pa, stop it. I love Kou."

"Hum, well, he'll have to do. My granddaughter's growing so fast. Think you can handle her?" Souta asked immediately letting go of Taichi and putting Koushiro in a half nelson.

"I don't think marriage is something we'll be considering anytime soon, Kaname-sama." Koushiro gasped out. Taichi couldn't tell if he was blushing or loosing breath.

"Well, she is only fifteen. But if you do anything, shall we say, irresponsible, with our Motoko, you better face the consequences." Souta joked. Koushiro choked, while Taichi snorted, quickly turned his laughter into hacking coughs.

"Now, Souta! Really! You're going to kill him! You stop that right now!" Sae ordered. Souta winked at Koushiro before ruffling his hair.

"I'm going to go get my lovely Motoko a balloon, she used to love balloons. You watch over her, hear?" Souta announced, walking out the room.

"That was hilarious!" Taichi burst out, laughing and holding his sides.

"Because it happened to me right?" Koushiro muttered, still vivid red.

"Oh, don't worry dear. He likes you. Even more than your tall friend here, I daresay. He loves teasing people he likes. You should see how ruffled up Tsubaki gets when Motoko drags her over." Sae assured him, opening her large purse. "Now, who wants chocolate?" Motoko immediately shot up, though still blushing.

"Me!"

"Oh, I don't now if I can."

"Yes. I wan natoral high."

"Natural, but I don't know if I can without the doctors consent."

"I guess I came just in time." Dr. Yamamoto said slipping the door.

"Natoral high." Motoko insisted with a fierce frown.

"We should go, now? Right?" Taichi interrupted.

"Yes, it's time for her check up. I'll need the grandparents back at the least, to make sure she stays awake. I don't want to keep you boys from college."

"I don't think you can keep Koushiro in college right about now." Taichi joked, pushing a protesting Koushiro out.

"Come back soon." Motoko called out her voice catching in slight pain.

V V V

"WOO HOO!" hooted Shizuko her fists waving in the air.

"That was beautiful!" Melina said wiping away tears that weren't there.

"Motoko was right. You do make a great Gwenhwyfar." Yukina complimented.

"I read somewhere that people can play parts that are their exact opposite the best. Like if there's a really mean guy in a play a nice guy could play him best. Since Gwenhwyfar is sweet, naïve, and beautiful...that must make Miyako the total opposite. How sad." Melina shook her head in mock sadness.

"Why you!" Miyako yelled hitting her on the head. "Of course, I don't really think I like Gwenhwyfar that much. She's so...icky. I mean, she is sweet, naïve, too naïve, and beautiful, but she's not really much else. She could make Arthur and Lancelet jump with a look. Poor Arthur was wrapped around her little finger even though she's in love with his best friend and half cousin! And he knows it. Hence Act three. I like Morgaine the best myself. I wish she and Arthur could've been together, he loved her so much more than Gwenhwyfar, and that's saying something."

"But they were brother and sister!" Shizuko said aghast.

"I know, but they were so much in love. They were reincarnated as brother and sister, but since the beginning of time, destined for one another." Miyako sighed.

"But Gwenhwyfar wasn't totally useless. She's a really important character! At least she isn't Arthur's half-sister." Yukina argued.

"Come on, she was scared of the damn sky." Shizuko said sarcastically.

"True..." the others said nodding.

"Well, I should get going. My mom told me I had to do the laundry today. The other Digidestined and I met up yesterday at four, decided we'd all meet at the park at four 'o' clock and email you all. Yamato has been in contact with Touji and says he needs to talk to us." Ken said reluctantly.

"He has? Why hasn't he been telling us that?" Shizuko asked grabbing the D3.

"Because he's been torn from keeping his word to Touji or telling us what's been going on. He went to see Motoko the other day and then brought it up to Touji. He didn't tell us what ensued, but what ever was said, it tipped the scales in Motoko's favor."

"It better have!" Yukina snapped.

"Angry Yukina...that's new." Melina muttered.

"I'm ignoring that."

"You need earplugs with all the ignoring you're doing." Melina said.

"I have to go."

"Right, see you, koi." Miyako blew him a kiss.

"See you later koi."

"How cute." Yukina sighed.

"I can't wait to see your children." Melina said offhandedly inspecting her toes.

"I'm ignoring that."

"Not you, too!" Melina bleated.

"I think we should get going too. We're not anymore safe in this cave then we were in the last one." Iori said suddenly, peeking out into the sunlight.

"Which, I will remind you, is now collapsed." Miyako said cheerily. Iori came back inside wiping away the tears streaming down his face from the sudden and bright daylight.

"Ah, but it's so nice and cool!" Upamon said miserably.

"And it has water." Finmon said perkily, a splash echoing in the dim cave to emphasize her point.

"But Iori is right, Touji will find us sooner or later." Yukina scooped up her forlorn digimon.

"It's damp in here too. I don't want Tsubaki getting sick." Iori said worriedly eyeing their small friend as she sneezed. She looked up, bolder now with showing her face. "Don't even try and say you're fine. You're shivering." Iori said wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I would give you a jacket, but all I've got on is a shirt."

"It's okay, we don't mind if you take it off." Melina said nonchalantly, her shoes and socks back on by now. "OW!" Shizuko stood behind her with a smoking fist. "It was a joke."

"That's okay, Miss Hopkins. I think I've had enough stares and fights for one day." The girls blushed and looked away embarrassed.

They all managed to get out unto the narrow path and stood blinking in the brilliant sun.

"It's beautiful." Miyako said with a dazzled smile.

"Look, the clouds are still purple, even though the wind has stopped." Yukina pointed.

"Pretty." Shizuko commented before walking up the path. "We lost a few hours in the blizzard yesterday. Let's eat some rock." Shizuko called out behind her.

V V V

"That's awful!" Motoko cried out, disgusted.

"Honey, you have to eat it." Sae smiled, "But you're right, it is." Their ears picked up two male voices coming down the hall.

"Now, my boy, that's no way to act around me. I'm nice fellow."

"I realize that, Kaname-sama, but whenever I'm within your proximity, you half strangle me."

"Eh?" Souta scratched his head. "What's with the big words?"

"Koushiro!" Motoko called out happily. Koushiro quickly entered the door, his hair ruffled from Souta's fist. "I'm sorry, my grandfather is rather...touchy-feely."

"I found where you get those certain genes." Koushiro grumbled trying to unwrinkled his button-down shirt.

Motoko giggled. And he looked up surprised.

"You sound normal." He gaped.

"I know, shocking isn't?"

"I better make sure Souta is alright. When he gets confused he loses focus, poor fool." Sae sighed standing up. She bent and gave Motoko a kiss on the cheek. "Be back later honey. I need something to eat, too."

"Oh, I'm sorry, grandma, I forgot!"

"Oh, don't worry. I'd forget about eating when faced with that tray too." Sae left chuckling.

"That's awfully convenient." Koushiro muttered suspicious, before digging in his backpack.

"You shouldn't complain. At least my grandpa won't harass you about getting his precious Motoko in a sticky wicket." Motoko joked, eyes laughing. Koushiro coughed, blushing, before pulling out a lunchbox.

"I thought you'd like something with more taste." Koushiro said dropping his bag to the floor and sitting on the side of the bed.

"Yeah! Yummers food!"

"Yummers? By the way, sticky wicket?"

"Yummers is a word I made up. Sticky wicket, well, Melina is English." She tried valiantly not to drool as he opened up the handkerchief and unstacked the boxes. "Who cooked this?"

"My mom. I have tea too."

"Yummers!" She grabbed a pair of chopsticks as he bent down to retrieve his Thermos and shoved in a mouthful of food before he had even straightened. When he turned, spinning off the cap, he blinked seeing her mouth bulging. "Yummers?" she offered, gulping.

"Of course, would you like to taste the food next time?" he questioned raising an eyebrow.

"It depends."

"On what?"

"How long that takes."

Koushiro laughed, setting aside his Thermos so he wouldn't spill it. He touched her cheek and then kissed her mouth before she could blink, her mouth full of rice. When he broke away she swallowed.

"Um, next time warn me. I almost choked." She mumbled confused.

"I couldn't help it. I've been waiting forever to do that."

"When I don't have food in my mouth, I'll make it worth your while." Motoko said before shoveling into the food once more. Koushiro blazed red, as what she said dawned on him. "There's not going to be much left." Motoko warned. Koushiro shook his head and then grabbed his own chopsticks and started a battle over a piece of beef.

By the time the two had finished lunch, they were both smeared with soy sauce, for Motoko she also had a lipstick mark on her cheek from her grandmother's kiss. And a large dark spot from the spilled tea was spreading over the bed cover.

"That was so your fault."

"No, it wasn't! I wasn't the one who jumped up and down for joy when she saw the dessert." Koushiro yelped his loose jeans slightly wet too.

"You should've warned me, and not tried to take my chocolate. At least you can jump up out of the bed. I have to stay here because my gown is too revealing!" Motoko pouted angrily trying to wipe up the mess with a napkin.

Koushiro felt something come over him, like what had happened before when he kissed her. He grabbed her hand and she looked up, meeting his black eyes, playfully irritated. Suddenly, their lips seared in a kiss, that left them breathless and unable to think of how they got there, hell, they couldn't think at all. Oblivious to the wet sheets, Koushiro sunk back down to the bed and twisted his fingers through her hair.

"Kou..." Motoko whispered when they separated to breathe. Her eyes opened slightly and then widened in surprise.

"Wha?"

"We have on lookers."

"What?" He turned to see all the Digidestined and Motoko's grandparents staring at them. He jumped and fell off the bed, turning a brilliant red and hitting the nightstand.

"Hoyo!" Motoko said happily waving. "I'm Subaru, Motoko! How's yas doing?"

"You guys! Why didn't you say anything? Or knock?" Koushiro yelled heatedly. They pointed at Sae and Souta with wide shocked eyes.

"Some how, I thought so." Motoko sighed. "And I was just having fun."

"I can't believe it. Our little Koushiro was French-kissing a pretty girl." Mimi finally said.

"Is it that implausible?" Koushiro asked hurt getting up and rubbing his head.

"Nah, just surprising. Most of us thought you were asexual." Jyou said with chuckle.

"I take umbrage to that."

"What?" asked Taichi with a tilted head.

"Offense." Jyou supplied automatically. "Why don't we go and let Motoko rest?"

"I can't. I'll go into a coma." Motoko said easily, swinging her legs over the bed, "My bed's wet anyway. But I would like to use the restroom, but I can't with company. My butt will show when I get up. I need some clean sheets too. Why are you here?"

"We came for Koushiro. We have a meeting at the park. We thought Koushiro would forget in the company of such a lovely lady." Taichi said kissing her hand.

"You're a flirt." Motoko giggled.

"And so are you, from what I've heard."

"Damn proud of it." She said with a nod.

"Let's get going." Sora said clearing her throat. Taichi flinched expectantly.

"What? No pain?" he asked surprised.

"Not this time. But we're going to be late. Yamato's probably already there."

"Of course, don't want to keep your boyfriend waiting." Taichi teased with a fake breathless voice.

"SHOVE IT, YAGAMI!" Taichi was then flying through the open door.

"Ow..." Motoko giggled. "What park?" She asked curiously.

"No."

"What, Kou?" she asked innocently.

"You aren't coming. You aren't ready to walk as far as Sakura Park."

"You realize you just told me where you're going."

"Yes, damn it." Koushiro cursed.

"Don't worry, we'll watch her." Souta said amiably.

"Oh, that's not fair. My own family is against me." Motoko pouted. Koushiro quickly looked away, not needing the feelings that came from watching her.

"Let's go." Koushiro said quickly walking out the door to check out Taichi.

"That's mean, I don't even get a good-bye kiss." Motoko said with another pout.

"That's too dangerous for Koushiro, it seems. Did you see him run?" Mimi giggled. Motoko giggled too. "See you Motoko."

"Sooner than you think." Motoko sang happily waving to her fellow Digidestined. She hopped up and walked backwards to the adjoining bathroom that came with the private room.

"Hey, Koushiro, why are your pants wet?" she heard Taichi ask.

"You're not thinking of escape are you, dear?" Sae asked companionably pulling the sheets off herself.

"Um, yes?"

"I suggest you don't, you can barely walk straight to the bathroom." Souta said, picking up the tray with the uneaten food on it. "We'll be getting this the housekeeping. You take your time." The bathroom door shut with a snap, a muffled 'thank you' on the other side.

Motoko poked her head out the door and looked around with quick eyes. She then looked under the bed and saw only the bedpan. She huffed making her cheekbone length bangs fly in the air. She then scrambled across the bed awkwardly and opened the nightstand and then the cabinet beneath the drawer.

"HOYO!" she cried happily. Inside was a knapsack of clothes.

She crept back into the bathroom and dressed stiffly, forgetting how to button her pants. She puffed out one cheek and made her fingers work right. And then found her toothbrush. By the time she sat on the edge of the toilet, her hands and arms were slightly trembling in exhaustion.

"This is really sad!" she exclaimed, frustrated with trying to tie her shoes.

She pulled the laces taut and tucking them in the shoes and then crept back out the door. She ran to the door, breathing deeply as she opened the door slowly. She stuck out her head and ran for the stairs. She slipped inside the corridor and slid down the banister slowly, not willing to climb down the stairs. She landed with a jerk and stumbled into the wall. She then turned and slid down the second banister that would take her to the first floor landing. She pushed open the door and walked towards the cafeteria to slip out the back.

She placed one foot in front of the other, finally out on the sidewalk, the sunlight on her back. She smiled at the sounds of traffic and people, something she'd been missing in the digital world. She stopped to hug a stunted tree growing on the sidewalk. People looked at her funny, but she shrugged them off, catching her breath. She stumbled down the sidewalk, her body beginning to shake in exhaustion. She misplaced a foot and went straight to the ground, she was too slow in her movements to throw out her hands, but, luckily, she landed on her side. She grimaced and got back up; hearing the bonging of the large clock on a tower that announced four 'o' clock had come.

"Sakura Park. Thank you!" she whispered tears in her eyes in happiness. She winced at the pain in her shoulder and elbow, her elbow lightly bleeding. She panted, clutching the large tree just inside the brick wall that surrounded the park. She straightened and walked stiffly down the park path, her footing still unsure, especially on the gravel walk.

"Hey, Takeru, Kari! Took you long enough! I though you just went to get some sodas?" Taichi called out waving.

"We did! We had to get ten of them! And we had to remember who got what! Geez!" Kari snapped at her older brother. She lobbed the cola at him, "Jerk."

"Great! Now I have to wait for my soda to settle down because you threw it." Taichi whined. The others laughed happily and Motoko slipped up behind Koushiro.

"Whatcha get?" Motoko asked smiling happily, refusing to show how she trembled with fatigue. Koushiro jumped and then choked on his canned tea. She grinned at everybody's dumbfounded expressions.

"Motoko?" Taichi finally gasped.

"Nope, her evil twin. When are you going to email the others? I miss Iori! He's adorable! He better be going out with my Shizuko." She said tilting her head to side, her grin still in place.

"How did-" Koushiro asked in a strangled voice.

"I walked, silly. You don't sound so good, love. Did your drink go down the wrong way?" Motoko asked, concerned.

"You should sit down."

"Okay." She plopped down on a bench, hiding her relief to be off wobbly legs. "Hoyo? Why you all staring at me? Is there something on my face?"

"Toothpaste, but that's not the point." Koushiro growled.

"Well, what are you doing? Email away." Motoko said. Koushiro frowned angrily and sat down next to her. Everybody else immediately popped open Koushiro's Pineapple laptop to email the others and block out the couple's discussion. .

V V V

On Koushiro's screen five squares opened up showing a face in each. Jyou propped open his own laptop to see Yukina pop up.

"Hi, koi!" Miyako greeted gaily. "What's up? You seem preoccupied."

"Motoko just arrived here. Somehow she got out of the hospital."

"OH MY GOD!" Shizuko, Melina, and Yukina cried out. "I WANT TO TALK TO HER!"

"Don't you want to talk to me?" Daisuke asked heartbroken, his puppy dog look back. Melina bit her lip.

"Damn, not the puppy dog look!" Melina cursed.

"HOYO!" came Motoko's voice out of sight. "You all talk to these guys, I'll visit later. Koushiro is reprimanding me for ditching the hospital and my backless tea-wet gown. Thanks to him trying to steal my candy."

"That wasn't my fault. Wait, shut up! You did that on purpose. You are not distracting me, Subaru." Koushiro shouted pissed beyond reason.

"How about we move a couple miles away?" Sora suggested wisely. They all agreed and moved away to hear what Yamato had to say.

V V V

"Yamato? What's been going on?" Taichi asked sitting cross-legged on the grass a few feet from Motoko and Koushiro. He grinned to himself seeing that Koushiro had stopped raging and opted for making out.

"Well, it's about what I've managed to glean from Touji. After the incident at the river, I tried to get Touji to tell me what happen between them. He wouldn't tell me, but I knew he was hiding something...he acts kind of like I did when I was angry with everybody when I was a kid. Only, I think he takes his anger too far.

"He told me that there's this huge void in his head whenever he thinks about what happened between him and Motoko, and what happened at the river. Whenever I ask him about the tarantula battle and the day you guys fought the monster or even when he fought you all yesterday, he only sees fuzzy pictures, he doesn't remember anything at all. One time he said that the only thing he remembers is this voice in his head, laughing. The voice has been there ever since he came to the digital world..."

"And met Circusmon." Iori finished at Yamato's hesitation.

"Exactly what I thought. I got a good look at his digimon, but my neither computer nor digivice could identify it. I don't know what its Mega evolution, but I have a suspicion. Here, take a good look at it, guys." Yamato said, his eyebrows snapped together as he pulled a paper out of his back pocket.

"Oh my god..." Mimi whispered her face blanching to match the pale faces around her. "Oh no, no not him..."

"What's going on?" Daisuke asked, confused.

"Piedmon." Jyou said shakily, taking off his glasses and wiping them.

"You mean the Dark Master from when you guys all met?" Ken asked quickly.

"Yes, him." Yamato said darkly. Mimi shuddered violently and Sora wrapped her arms around her waist. Mimi hid her face in Sora's hair, scared.

"It's okay Mimi, we could be wrong." Sora murmured softly. Mimi shook her head.

"No, we're not." Takeru voiced Mimi's negative shaking head.

"I'd know those eyes anywhere." Kari said, her voice hiding the fear running through her. Takeru held her hand, silently exchanging love and strength with just a look between them. She smiled, and straightened with resolve.

"This must be the reason you need to find your crests." Koushiro said looking over Mimi and Sora's heads at the screen. Motoko crawled into the circle with a frown. Everybody jumped and stared at the noticeably mussed couple.

"You think, love? But Circusmon has always been lovable. When Touji...never mind..." Motoko cut herself off, "Just, Touji has always been more violent than Circusmon."

"Subaru-san...what were you about to say?" Sora asked gently.

"What?" Motoko queried, her face was bright with a wide smile, but her eyes hadn't the usual sparkle.

"Motoko, stop dodging our questions!" Shizuko yelled pissed.

"When you didn't finish your sentence about Touji...what do you mean Touji has always been more violent?" Yukina asked from Jyou's personal laptop. Motoko stood up so all her friend could see were her toes.

"I'm thirsty. You guys continue. I'll go get something." She quickly walked away. Koushiro frowned and followed her without a word. Koushiro grabbed her arm.

"What are you keeping from m-us?"

"Nothing! Let me go, Koushiro!" She pulled away her arm and broke out into a run.

"Motoko!" Koushiro shouted following her in a slower jog. They left sight.

"What's wrong with her? I thought she and Koushiro were really close?" Mimi asked.

"Motoko loves Koushiro. Something is just keeping her from giving herself over completely, and whatever it is, it might explain things." Tsubaki said. Everyone looked at her and nodded.

"She's probably right." Yamato said. "Touji said his blankness starting around the time he and Motoko started going out."

"Touji and Motoko started going out just after we left the digital world." Shizuko remembered suddenly.

"That's right. Pawmon started acting sulky around then, didn't you, Pawmon?" Yukina turned to the cat-digimon.

"Yes. I knew something was wrong because Touji never liked her, he loved Shizuko the whole time, and was confused when ever he woke up."

"Woke up? But you never lived with Touji, how would you...oh my god..." Melina trailed off her eyes growing wide.

"We're jumping to conclusions." Iori said swiftly as the others slowly realized what had dawned on Melina.

Motoko panted hard. Leaning on the brick wall on the outside of the park. She heard footsteps and her eyes darted around and saw a bus slowing down just a couple feet to her right. She flung herself away from the wall and ran clumsily towards the bus stop. She tripped and fell towards the ground and she knew this time she wouldn't land on her side.

"Motoko!" she heard Koushiro yell from far away, just as arms grabbed her.

She looked up into confused blue eyes.

"Help...have to get to hospital...don't let me fall asleep." She murmured, her eyes closing.

"Oh my! Rei, help me!" cried out the woman holding Motoko. The other woman next to her quickly helped her drag her unto the bus.

"She fainted." The brown-eyed Rei said, setting her onto the seat.

Koushiro turned the corner, breathing hard. Who knew an almost invalid could run so fast? He thought searching the sidewalk. He froze seeing her face in the window of the bus starting to enter traffic.

"Wait, stop!" he yelled, running towards the stop. The bus had already left and leaving Koushiro panting on the sidewalk. "Motoko...why won't you tell me what happened?" he asked sadly, picturing her face against the window.

"Where's Motoko?" Shizuko demanded seeing Koushiro drop onto the grass a few minutes later.

"She managed to get onto a bus before I caught her." Koushiro panted.

"She just woke up from a coma and she out ran you!" Melina screamed pissed. Daisuke flinched.

"Ow, that was right in my ear." Daisuke complained rubbing his throbbing ear.

"Who cares? Motoko's on a bus to who knows where even though she should still be in bed! And your loser friend couldn't even catch her!" Melina's face slowly turned red.

"Koushiro is not a loser friend! She was probably boosted by adrenaline. People can lift cars with adrenaline rushes." Sora replied biting back anger.

"Whatever." Melina shrugged, her eyes downcast and ashamed.

"I should've run after her. I didn't think she'd actually run away from me like she did. If I had started out running I could've stopped her." Koushiro muttered angrily, his breathing now under control.

"No, it's not your fault. Motoko ran, you didn't know, stop beating yourself up." Taichi said, a hand on his back.

"She probably went back to the hospital. From what I gathered, she's pretty smart, if head-strong." Kari piped up, her instincts kicking in at Koushiro's pained expression.

"It isn't worth it."

"What?" Mimi said straightening.

"It's illogical of me to be so caught up on a, as Kari eloquently put it, head-strong fifteen-year-old. I should be making up my late work. Excuse, but I have a lot of papers to write. Sayonara." Koushiro stood and bowed briskly, and walked out the park, the opposite way of the bus stop.

"Please don't tell me that what Koushiro said is what I'm thinking he said." Mimi said, her eyes growing bright.

"If you think Koushiro gave up on Motoko, then you heard right." Yamato said sadly.

"But...Koushiro loved her." Yukina said her hand over her mouth.

"He can't just give up like that." Shizuko said angrily.

"He can, and he did. Why should he keep on trying if she doesn't try in return? As my mom says, 'it takes two to be in love; one to love and trust and the second to love and trust back.'" Iori quoted solemnly.

"It's just so...tragic." Miyako sniffed.

"It's like a romance novel." Mimi agreed, tears in her eyes.

"Iori is right, though. Motoko is lying to all of us, and to Koushiro, who rarely shows his emotions at all, having her keep secrets from him must hurt when he showed her so much." Sora sighed. The Digidestined of Odaiba on the other side of the screen nodded in agreement.

"Maybe there'll be a happy ending just like a story?" Mimi suggested tearfully.

"Not all story's have happy endings, Mimi." Sora whispered.

"Maybe we should end this conversation and we track down Touji?" Iori broke in suddenly to break the weighty silence.

"Yeah." Taichi breathed, a weight on his own chest. Looking around, he saw that most of the others had the same pensive, sad face that betrayed their own weighted hearts. "Good bye, Tsubaki, see you tomorrow. I have a ton of homework."

"Bye, Taichi." Tsubaki said sadly, hugging Baublemon. He watched the square go black.

"See ya later, Melina, look out for an email." Daisuke said with forced cheerfulness.

"Same to you, goggle-boy." She closed her D3, for some reason scared she may never see him again, stroking Lizmon's ridged head.

"Hang tight, Shizuko. I'm sure everything will work out. At least you and Iori are working out, and I don't see unsolvable problems for you in the future." Sora said with a smiled.

Shizuko blushed, her fingers splayed on Quimon's head, the blades in between her fingers. "How do you know?"

"Because I'm the Crest of Love, of course!" Sora reminded her with a wagging finger.

"Can you see Motoko and Koushiro's future?" Shizuko whispered.

"I'll just jinx them if I voice optimism." Sora joked, though her smile didn't seem very smiley anymore. They sighed and Shizuko shut off her D3.

"Watch your step, Iori, or this Touji guy will a pull a rug under you." Takeru advised.

"I'll be watching my back instead." Iori answered with narrowed eyes.

"That's a good idea, too. Just don't like your anger get the best of you. You've always been the levelheaded, wise one of the group. Don't change now." Takeru warned. Iori nodded. And then closed his D3.

"Like Taichi I have a pile of homework to welcome me home to my apartment. I better get going too. See you, Yukina. Miss you."

"You haven't left yet."

"I'm thinking ahead."

"You goof." Yukina giggled. Jyou and Yukina counted to three and then shut their laptops together, rather than look at a depressing blank screen.

"We'll go over our lines more tomorrow, right?" Miyako asked, swiping at tears.

"Yeah. You sure you're okay?"

"Yes, koi, bye." Miyako nodded briskly, a bright smile breaking out.

"Bye, koi." She blew him a kiss and she shut her D3 off quickly.

Yamato shut off Koushiro's computer silently, the digidestined already dispersing in pairs or groups. Taichi stood waiting for Yamato to close the yellow computer. Yamato gazed after Sora who was rubbing Mimi's back as Jyou walked them both home.

"I guess it's me and you again, hey?" Yamato murmured. Taichi nodded and looked at the sky as they easily matched paces as they had done so long ago.

"Missed walking around without needed to say anything but completely at ease." Taichi admitted as they rounded the gate.

"Yeah, me too." Yamato confessed surprised.

"Ouch, I feel loved." Taichi joked in mock pain at Yamato's shock.

"I just was so caught up in classes and rehearsals I didn't even realize I missed hanging out with you like this."

"Maybe we should make a date sometime?"

"I don't flow that way man." Yamato said with an eyebrow raised.

"I didn't mean that way, you nincompoop!" Taichi laughed punching his shoulder.

"Oh course, you're much too manly for that." Yamato rubbed his shoulder where he'd been punched.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I'm very much in touch with my feminine side. And right now my feminine side tells me you are sad."

"And my answer for your feminine side, 'no shit, Sherlock'."

"Touché."

"See ya, Tai." Yamato said, stopping at his turn.

"Yeah, see you, Matt." Tai waved, continuing on straight. Yamato smiled; strangely delighted knowing Tai remembered their nicknames from digidestined days.

V V V

"We should be getting out on the open road now, maybe we'll run into a new crest." Miyako said stretching. They looked towards their current direction and sighed sadly. They had hoped what they had seen before was just a mirage.

"I hope there's an oasis somewhere in there." Melina said darkly. The others nodded, staring at the unbroken expanse of sand and heat.

"Can we go back on the mountain? I'd take cold over heat any day." Shizuko grimaced at the thought of walking in the barren wasteland with no water in sight.

"If you don't recall, it snowed as soon as we stepped off the bloody path. So, which would you rather have, solid, safe ground in blistering heat, or unsafe, wet pebbled three inches of path up in the middle of the sky?" Melina snapped. Shizuko gulped.

"Heat." she squeaked.

"We've been through deserts before, they aren't that bad." Iori said trying to calm everybody down.

"Not bad? They were agony, Iori!" Miyako shrilled.

"But there's always a digimon town somewhere, sooner or later. They sooner we move, the closer we'll get to the other side. Plus, the more we stand here getting angry, the hotter we'll get." They nodded at Iori sound wisdom and resolutely set their jaws and walked into the giant sandbox.

"Tsubaki?" Yukina questioned worried, a few hours later.

They others turned to see Tsubaki lagged far behind, dragging her feet, holding her wiped out Baublemon for dear life.

"I'm sorry, Tsubaki. You're the smallest of all of us, and easiest to get sick if I guessed right from how you coughed back in the damp cave. I should've been watching you." Iori said angry with himself.

"I'm okay. Baublemon is the one who's tired." Tsubaki tried to assure them. She failed miserably when her voice came out raspy and hoarse. Iori handed the sweaty Upamon to Miyako and started undoing the buttons on the front of his shirt (The tan one he usually wears to the digital world, but Miyako is not wearing her old outfit, ew.). "Iori, you don't have to." Tsubaki tried to protest, just to break off coughing.

"It's little sweaty, but it'll keep the sun off you a little more." Iori wrapped the sleeves around her head, making a makeshift burnoose. He smiled comfortingly, and took Baublemon. "I'll carry Baublemon and Upamon."

"But you'll get sunburned." Shizuko pointed out, worrying her lip.

"It's six 'o' clock now. The sun will go down soon, so I won't be that bad."

"Well, I'll carry Upamon at least." Miyako said, with a smile. "You're way too sweet for your own good."

"Is that a compliment?" he asked.

"Um, half-n-half." Miyako giggled.

"Let's get going. The less Iori stays in the sun, the better." Yukina said briskly.

Iori grabbed Tsubaki's hand with a brotherly squeeze.

"Let's go, Onee-san."

"Yes, Nii-san." Tsubaki nodded, squeezing back. A real brother, just for me, and only mine. I love you Iori-kun. Thank you.

"Look! Trees!" Melina finally gasped out.

"Wait, it might be a mirage." Iori warned.

"Oh, please no...haven't we had enough torture?" Shizuko moaned.

"Oh, I don't think so myself. But don't worry, that is a real oasis. It once was the most sought out tourist attraction for digimon for its hot springs and cool, clean springs. Too bad the digimon are now all in cages." Shrill laughter followed this short speech and they looked up to see Touji standing on Trapezemon's feet once again.

"Why don't you talk by yourself, Piedmon? We already know your secret, did you honestly think you could keep it from us long?" Iori yelled, pulling Tsubaki behind him. She and Baublemon, and the rest of the digimon for that matter, were too worn out by the heat to protect themselves.

"Oh, tsk tsk. No fun!" Trapezemon pouted, with no sadness in his eyes. "I knew you'd find out sooner or later. I was hoping to have my secret for just a while more."

Touji stood there, his eyes dead, and his body lax as if he had been just a puppet. He is a puppet. Shizuko reminded herself angrily. But if he is a puppet, that doesn't make him evil...Shizuko realized with a slight gasp and wide eyes. She felt as if her heart had been punched an incredible blow.

"Why don't you tell us what happened to Motoko?" Melina voice cracked in a mixture of anger, pain, sadness and a parched throat.

"Oh, another dirty little secret of mine? Haven't you figured it out yet? How sad." Trapezemon cackled. "I really didn't need her after the first month, but I thought I'd have fun listening to her pitiful screams. Touji, my delightful pawn, had no idea, of course, why poor little Motoko was always crying and scared of him when he woke up. But after a while, she was got out of 'Touji's' control," he made quotations with his fingers at Touji's name, "I had to quit my fun little game or she'd find out my lovely little secret. So sad she didn't die. If that little show off computer geek hadn't hacked into my encrypted files, she would have, her dear memories would've killed her!" he cackled louder, sending hair on the back of the teens necks to rise.

"Why don't you tell us what you made Touji do?" Tsubaki asked.

"Well...I guess...no! HA, HA! Got you, freak."

"Shut up!" Iori yelled. His digivice glowed. "I'm sick of hearing you breathe!"

digivolving Upamon, digivolve to Armadillomon! Armadillomon digivolve to Ankylomon!

"Megaton Press!" Ankylomon shouted. His attack hit Trapezemon, but he didn't even flinch.

"Hmm, did you feel that breeze?" Trapezemon yawned. Iori gritted his teeth.

"Ankylomon, try harder! I know you can do it!" Iori yelled.

The teens watched in amazement as Ankylomon's attacks merely scraped past him. Soon, Ankylomon was panting, his already weakened state getting even weaker.

"Iori, Ankylomon is still tired from the heat. Keep this up and he'll pass out." Miyako tried to yell, her voice coming out whispery and dry.

"We all are tired! It's a miracle Armadillomon digivolved at all." Melina coughed hoarsely.

"Iori, you've never made your digimon fight when you know he was weak. What happen to the wisdom I know you have?" Miyako, touching her cheeks in surprise as hot salty drops fell from scratchy eyes. A loud crash made the dirt fly into the air.

Iori glanced at the girls and up at Touji, still floating in the air. His olive eyes widened at he sight of Ankylomon fighting desperately. He had been so blinded by rage he didn't even realize his partner was fighting a losing battle for his sake. He closed his eyes taking a breath. What's happening to me? I've never lost control like this. I have to stop and calm down before Ankylomon gets hurt because of me! Everybody has said I've always been the levelheaded wise one f the group. I need to wise enough to know when I cannot fight, because I'm not the one fighting, Ankylomon is.

A sign on Iori's forehead began to glow. Sand whipped around the teens, and the girls threw their arms up to shield their faces, bending over their digimon. Iori stood as if in the eye of the storm, his eyes closed and the symbol glowing. The symbol disappeared to appear around his neck on a tag and crest. His digivice flashed brightly in his pocket.

Ankylomon digivolve to...

"Forgemon, the Miner of Wisdom!" Forgemon had a face like Ankylomon's, only black with gold eyes. He stood on powerful back legs, a meaty fist clutching a metal double-headed hammer. His shell was black, a gold spike sticking out of it, and a red belt was hanging off one shoulder. "Forge Bellows!" he grabbed a bellows form his belt and pumped it at Trapezemon, a scorching fire erupting into the air. "Desert Scorcher!" he slammed his large hammer towards the grounds, just barely stopping above the surface, but with enough force to send the blistering hot sand surging at Trapezemon's face.

"You little bastard! I'll be back!" Trapezemon splurted, his face shining with burns.

Armadillomon slumped to the ground, panting for air.

"Armadillomon! Why, why did you do it? You too weak to fight like that!" Iori cried, holding Armadillomon to his own sweaty skin. Armadillomon grinned weakly through pants.

"Because we're partners. I knew that you needed you bring him down, and I tried my best. It's what I'm supposed to do, and you're supposed to do the same for me." Armadillomon answered.

"Oh, Armadillomon." Iori sighed, his eyes hot with tears as he lowered his head in shame.

"I may love you Iori, but you're hot. Can you let me go, or get me to that water I'm smelling?" Armadillomon said, before digivolving to an unconscious Upamon.

"That's right, come on Iori!" Yukina said, smacking her fist to her palm.

"Let's go! Upamon needs it badly!" Shizuko croaked dryly, grabbing Iori's upper arm and racing towards the oasis.

v v v

"Oh, I feel so much better!" Finmon crowed happily before diving beneath the surface.

"It feels nice getting out of those sandy hot clothes!" Miyako agreed stretching.

"Are you alright over there?" Shizuko asked lazily, peering around a fallen palm tree that separated them from Iori.

"I'm fine." He muttered, blushing darkly.

"You're awful quiet." Miyako perked up leaning around Shizuko, her torso below the water, darkened by the night. Only the flickering fire on the shore gave them light, and the bright stars.

"I don't see why he's over there. It's not like he can see anything if we stay under water." Melina said nonchalantly.

"Melina!" Yukina snapped shocked, and blushing.

"It's...not...wise." Iori muttered lamely, blushing harder.

"Well, she is right. Plus, Trapezemon may attack him if he's alone, or maybe a stray digimon out for revenge against Iori." Yukina said, with a clenched hand over her chest.

"No...thank you." Iori mumbled. "I'll be alright, really." He choked as hands grabbed his arm.

"Come on, Iori! It'll be fun!" Iori looked up flabbergasted to see Miyako grinning brightly in the starlight, her purple hair sparkling silver.

"N-no, r-real-ly." He stuttered. Melina rushed forward and grabbed his wrist too.

"Come on! We'll play chicken!" Melina joked. Iori 'eep'ed.

"She's just joking. You just stay where we can hear you breathing and can at least see you above water, and we'll stay below it! Pinky swear!"

"Oh, leave him alone, you two!" Shizuko ordered brusquely.

"Oh, you're no fun! Even Tsubaki wanted him over here." Melina pouted. They turned to see Tsubaki nodding her head vigorously.

"I feel a little worried with him all by himself in the dark."

"Nah, you just want a naked hottie swimming around with us." Melina smirked. Tsubaki said nothing and turned to make sure Baublemon and Pawmon were okay. Yukina giggled.

"Well, Iori, how about it? Let's go skinny-dipping! We can check it off our too-do list. You said you wanted to skinny-dip." Miyako smiled.

"When I didn't know what it was and all the 'big' kids were talking about it! You said it was 'lots of fun'!" Iori snapped, grabbing onto the tree.

"It is fun! Live a little!"

"Come on, Iori! I'm over here! We can play coconut ball!" Upamon yelled happily.

"Coconut ball?"

"We just a toss a coconut back and forth and how ever drops it, has to streak!" Melina explained simply.

"I really don't think so!"

"Oh, come on Iori! I need a partner to catch the ball!" Upamon begged.

"...Oh alright." Iori consented, his shoulders drooping.

"Yeah!" Upamon splashed up and as Melina and Miyako gave each other a high-five.

"Well, are you just going to stand there, Iori? Let's play!" Shizuko said laughing, Quimon jumping on her head. Shizuko shrugged as if to say 'you can't beat 'em, join 'em'.

"You dropped it! Again! Geez, I think he does it on purpose!" Laughed Melina and Iori swam to the beach for the fourth time. They all looked away laughing.

Just as the sun rose over the horizon, they had finally gotten their clothes back on, though they and their clothes were still wet, and fell asleep, all curled around each other for warmth in the desert night cold. Tsubaki was back to back with Iori; Miyako had her head lying on Tsubaki's side, Pawmon, Poromon, and Baublemon cuddled around them. Melina was curled around Lizmon; Yukina sprawled out behind her, Finmon sleeping in the shallows of the oasis. Yukina's leg was propped up on Shizuko's hip, her hand tangled in the red hair that was fanning over one side of her face. Shizuko's nose was just barely touching Iori's, knees touching, their digimon cuddled above their heads. And lying between them, their hands were entwined tightly.

V V V