Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the plot, my characters and Silent
Storm owns his digimon. To Sam quit fainting cause this is what you've
been bugging me for. Hitomi No Ryu thank you for your suggestions but I'll
stick with what I've got though thanx for going to the trouble of find that
alternative. Also thanx to all those who have been reviewing, I do read
every one and they're all appreciated.
Lose Two, Find Two
Things had been so boring until they'd showed up Kurokitsunmon thought to himself as he sat on the branch, his feet dangling under him. His favorite group had stopped for water again and so he amused himself by sitting nearby and listening to their conversations. A loner by nature as well as design he was un accustom to this need to be around these humans and while a part of him worried about that he forced it out of his mind, convincing himself that he was there only for the show. Rika hadn't hit the one called Davis yet and that was disappointing though she had used several four-letter words to describe him to T.K. who she was apparently encouraging to steal the one called Kari from the Gogglehead. Not that the one Kari would likely mind, the blonde one was obviously superior to gogglehead in all the ways that mattered in choosing a mate, not that he knew about that but listening to Rika talk about Ryo had given him an idea. A strange notion, binding oneself to a person for life, sounded boring and yet tantalizing, the idea of never being alone, of always having someone to cover ones back. Not that he needed anyone or help, but it was still an interesting idea. If Ryo and the rest of his bunch picked up speed the two groups should meet up sometime the next morning, what would that do to his entertainment? Then again they'd still have to find the girl who wore her fur in two bunches on the sides of her head, her and the Lopmon were still far enough away that the special ones would have to stay longer.
"You know T.K., if you asked her out she'd be pretty stupid to say no, especially with Davis around as a visual of what she could end up with." Rika said with a smirk as splashed some water on her face, letting it fun down to soak her shirt. Wiping a hand over her eyes she looked over at T.K. who was looking non too convinced. "The worst that could happen is she says no, I bet Davis has asked her plenty of times and gotten the big NO. They're still friends though why anyone would want to be with that little ass is beyond me."
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him and it's different, me asking her instead of him. He doesn't know Kari the way I do, he's put her on this pedestal and worships her, her rejections don't even sink through that thick skull of his. I've known Kari since I was a little kid, I know everything there is to know about her except what her answer would be." T.K. said as he placed his hat back on his head after dunking his head in some water. "If I ask and she says no then-then I don't know what I'd do."
"And if she died today?" Renamon asked in a quiet voice. "Then she would die thinking that you didn't care about her as much as she does."
"You and Kari have something, T.K.. Something Rika and Ryo have that's really rare. You just fit and God doesn't send you someone like that everyday. Like the Chinese proverb says, the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and wonderful of all. In other words you don't find a girl like that every dynasty." Alice said as she slugged an arm over T.K.'s shoulder, grinning at the way his face went red. "So go get her, kiddo."
"If she turns me down flat I'm moving in with you guys and making you as miserable as I'll be." T.K. said with a sigh, knowing that they were right and hating the fact. "I'll ask her out."
"Well there she is, do it before you lose your nerve or come up with another excuse, Alice and I are running out of ideas here." Rika said as she gave him a slight push in Kari's direction, the girl in question sitting on some rocks while she talked to her digimon.
Giving them a look T.K. looked at Kari and taking a deep breath walked towards her, feeling a lot like a lamb being led to the slaughter. Not that Kari would be cruel when she turned him down but T.K. had a feeling that if she did say no it was going to take a lot of time to get over it. He'd dated other girls to try to forget his not platonic at all feelings for her and that hadn't worked. He'd encouraged her to date other guys and had only ended up wanting to blast them all to kingdom come. But the alternative was that she'd say yes, that was worth the risk, wasn't it? "Ah, Kari?" T.K. asked as he stood in front of her, looking into her beautiful eyes which was a big mistake since now he couldn't even remember one if the speeches he'd come up with in his head over the years. "Got a minute?"
"Sure, T.K., what's up?" Kari said as she smiled at him shyly, her canteen forgotten in her hand.
"Well I was wondering if maybe you might wanna go to a movie or something when we get back." T.K. blurted out and then could have kicked himself. Got to be more specific pal or she'll think your asking her as a friend. "Like just us."
"Yeah, sure T.K.. Sounds like fun." Kari said with a smile and T.K. wasn't sure that she entirely realized what he was aiming for here. God why couldn't it be the girl's responsibility to do the asking? They were so much better at words then guys were.
"I mean like on a date, Kari." T.K. said quietly and watching her eyes go huge confirmed that she hadn't realized that that was his intentions. "If you don't want to that's okay too, I'll understand and it won't change anything cause you're my best friend Kari and I'd rather be your friend then anything so if you're not interested that's fine and I won't bother you about it ever again. In fact forget I asked, I should be going back to make sure-ah-that-Patamon's okay." T.K. rambled backing up with each word, his heart beating like a drum.
"I'd still like to go, T.K." Kari said quickly before he could continue and looking at her again T.K. was surprised to see a fine blush on her cheeks. "If you still want to that is."
"You-you would?" T.K. said in amazement as he stared at her as though he'd never seen her before in his life. "You'll go out with me?" When she nodded her head shyly the biggest smile ever came over T.K.'s face and with a war whoop he pulled her off the rock and spun her around in a circle before realizing what he'd just done. "Sorry." T.K. said as a fine blush came over his cheeks. "So do you want to walk together then?"
"Yeah." Kari said with a blush of her own as she slipped he hand into his, red in the face but smiling widely.
"Well its about time." Gatomon said with a role of her eyes as she hopped off the rock and headed towards the stream they'd stopped at to tell Patamon that the two idiots had finally clued in and were going out. "Took them long enough too."
"What I want to know is how the girls managed to get here, we barely managed to get you here." Izzy said as he paced, his mind running a mile a minute. "You said this Alice was a hacker, would you say that she's skilled enough to pull something like that off? Whatever that thing is he could have just been playing with us, letting us think he was telling the truth."
"If anyone could do it, it would be Alice, especially if she had help from Suzi." Ryo said as he rubbed the back of his neck as his own mind struggled to process everything. What if it was true and Rika and Alice were here with the others, what kind of danger could they be in with him to far away to help them. Knowing Rika at the first sign of trouble she'd head straight for it as oppose to away from it, never mind the possible danger or consequences. Plus the voice had said that Suzi and Lopmon were separated from Rika and the others, what could happen to them with no one to back them up. They could be deleted and they'd never know. Plus who the hell was this T.K. guy and who did he think he was putting moves on his girl! Not that Rika would ever cheat on him Ryo assured himself but it was the principle of the thing.
"Well for now I suppose that we'll just have to assume that he's telling the truth until we learn differently." Ken said with a sigh, all the complications that were building up weighing heavily on his shoulders. If anything happened to any of Ryo's friends it would be his fault for bring Ryo here in the first place. "Lets just hope that he finds them enough amusement to want to make sure they stay safe."
"With Rika safe is not an option." Impmon said with a roll of his eyes. "If she doesn't find trouble she makes it."
"Well we make pretty good matchmakers, huh, Rika?" Alice said the next morning as they walked beside each other, watching Kari and T.K. who were walking side by side, holding hands like the lovesick kids that they were.
Rika smiled back, enjoying their success as well as experiencing her first twinge of pity for Davis. The kid was trailing behind the pair looking thoroughly dejected, obviously his chances with Kari had finally sunk in. Rika supposed that even dorks like him had feelings so she'd held her tongue and left him alone for the day, figuring that anything she said would be nothing in comparison. Poor idiot. "I suppose we do, but lets not try it again, it leads to headaches I don't need."
"That it does." Alice agreed with a sigh. "So how you doing, Jaarin?" Alice added as she looking over to the girl who was on her other side. Jaarin looked worn out to Alice and Alice hoped that they found Suzi soon before Jaarin started to think the worst.
"Well lets just say I'm feeling muscles I didn't even know I had." Jaarin said with a tight smile as she placed her hands on the small of her back. "And considering all the sports I've played that's saying a lot."
"Hey Rika, you suppose we're going to run into Ryo and Impmon soon like that other digimon said? huh, do ya?" Calumon asked from Jaarin's backpack. He was alternating between walking and riding since his legs were so short and he couldn't keep up as good as the others.
'I'm sure we will, Calumon." Rika said with a n encouraging smile, not wanting the small digimon to worry.
"If Ryo hasn't killed Impmon that is." Renamon said dryly from Rika's side, a small smile of amusement on her face. All knowing the dislike that Ryo and Impmon bore each other none of them had a hard time picturing Ryo deleting the digimon to shut him up.
"I wonder what that is?" Cody said suddenly as he pointed at something black that was whirling towards them quickly, like a tornado only not made out of wind.
"Data Stream." Rika called out, recognizing it immediately though its color differed from the usual ones she saw in her own digital world. "Cody get away from it, now!"
"CODY!" Tai yelled, it was too late, the stream had come to quickly and without warning. As quickly as it had appeared it disappeared with no sign of Cody or Armadillomon anywhere. "No! Cody!"
This is really going to hurt Cody thought to himself as he and Armadillomon flew down towards the ground at a very high velocity. Of all the ways he'd figured to die he'd never pictured it being from falling like a rock from the sky after being picked up by something called a data stream. Struggling to get his eyes open he was aware of his digimon calling his name and reached out blindly, trying to find him. Hitting only air Cody finally succeeded in opening his eyes then wise he hadn't as he saw the ground rising up to meet them. Forcing his head to turn wit great effort he could make out a yellow blur, which he assumed, was his digimon. Yelling into the air to let his digimon know he was there Cody doubted that his partner could hear him and instead turned his attention to looking at his fate. As the ground came faster and faster Cody became aware of a white blur streaking across the green grass below but not really caring anymore Cody closed his eyes and sent up prayers to his family and hoped he'd die quickly. Seconds later he landed with a thud, still fully conscious and pretty sure that whatever he'd landed on wasn't grass. Opening his eyes Cody looked down then up.
"Nice of you to drop in." Antylamon said with a smile as she looked at the boy who was gapping up at her in surprise. "Suzi, did you grab the other one?"
"Yup, but he's in his shell and I'm not sure if he's okay or not." Suzi called out from on top of her digimon's head. They'd seen the two figures hurling down from the sky and instinct had led them to try and catch the two objects, which they had succeeded in doing. "What kind of digimon is yours?"
"He's not a digimon." Antylamon informed her tamer then lifting her hand up lifted Cody so that he was level with Suzi who smiled at him widely, glad to see another human face.
"Hi! Is this your digimon? Are you okay?" Suzi asked brightly thinking that the boy was her age and really cute. Too bad he lived in this world and not hers.
"Ah yeah, Armadillomon's mine." Cody said as he rubbed his head then stared at her again. wondering if he'd died and gone to heaven without even realizing it. She was pretty enough to be an angel but he'd never figured that an Antylamon and an angel that didn't look to be older then himself would watch the gates of heaven. "Am I dead?"
"Well I don't think so, otherwise I'd have to be dead too and last time I checked I was very much alive. I'm Suzi by the way, Suzi Wong and this digimon is my partner Antylamon or Lopmon in her rookie form. And you are?"
"My name's Cody, Cody Lori. Wait a minute, are you Jaarin's sister?" Cody said as his head came up sharply, his eyes alert and alive as he finally made the possible connection
"Yeah, you know my sister? Have you seen her?" Suzi asked eagerly, her whole facing lighting up with hope.
"Yeah I have, I was with them before something called a data stream picked Armadillomon and I up and deposited us several stories above the ground." Cody said, pleased that his answer made her happy. "We've been looking all over for you, we were looking when I got sucked up."
"And she's okay, she wasn't hurt or anything?" Suzi asked quickly, liking this messenger from the sky more and more.
"Yeah, she's fine. Rika and Alice are taking good care of her." Cody said with a smile then felt his eyes go as wide as saucers when the girl suddenly jumped off her digimon's head and caught him up in a big hug, squeezing him so that he had trouble breathing though that might have been caused by the fact that he was being hugged by a beautiful girl as oppose to the actual strength of her hold.
"She's okay and she's with the others, boy am I ever glad we caught you. Literally." Suzi said as she pulled back and kissed him on the cheek, giggling when his face went as red as a cherry. "Well luckily that's the way I was headed so do you want a ride?" When all he could do was nod dumbly at her Suzi laughed again and dragged him onto Antylamon's head, her hand tightly in his. "Better grab hold of your digimon cause Antylamon makes cars seem like snails." Seconds later, once he'd regained his senses Cody had to agree with her.
"So these data streams pick things up and deposit whatever they've collected anywhere in the Digital World?" Tai asked as they continued to walk, no one really talking as they listened for an explanation as to where their friend might be.
:That's the way it works, you usually have more warning though and they tend to be a pink color as oppose to black but I figure its the same thing." Alice said with a pained look, wishing that she could be more help. She'd liked Cody and hoped that whereever the stupid stream had dropped him that he was all right.
"Maybe the fox will come back and tell us where he is." Mikey suggested hopefully from Tai's back where he was riding, too tired to walk anymore.
"Maybe he will." Kari agreed with a smile for the youngest member of their group though it was more then a little forced. "I'm sure he and Armadillomon are safe and that everything's going to be all right, Mikey."
"I smell something." Renamon said suddenly as she halted, raising her head and closing her eyes as she concentrated on the faint smell that had hit her nose moments before. "People and some digimon are coming this way, I recognize the scent of one of them very well." Renamon added with a smile as she looked pointedly at Rika.
"Is it him, Renamon?" Rika asked as a slow smile came over her features as Renamon nodded her head in confirmation.
"Is it who?" Yolei demanded to know, on better terms with the redhead but not by much. Plus the digimon had said people, which people?
"Ryo." Rika said then taking out two card from her deck Rika grinned widely. "Well then lets go and kick some asshole butt shall we?" Rika added as she looked over at Alice who nodded her head as she took out some cards of Ryo's from the pouch. Cyberdramon had gone out scouting but he'd promised to be back any time now and would likely come to their call immediately if they yelled for him loud enough given his superior hearing. "Jaarin, you and Calumon stay here while Alice and I go collecting."
"Your boyfriend?" T.K. asked as he caught on quickly, understanding that the girls were obviously expecting a fight. "Patamon and I will come to help if you want."
"Thanks but there's no need for that." Alice said with a huge smile as she pointed out to the horizon. "Look."
"Ryo." Rika breathed as she watched Cyberdramon fly towards them with two very familiar figures on his back. Walking forward then picking up speed Rika was practically running when Cyberdramon hit the ground with a thud, Ryo and Impmon both jumping off and with a grin Rika threw herself at her boyfriend who held her tightly against him.
"Well you're a sight for sore eyes, Wildcat." Ryo said as he pressed a kiss to her temple before burrowing his head inn her hair, so relieved that she was okay and in one piece. Cyberdramon had said she was okay but his definition of okay and Cyberdramon's tended to vary a great deal.
"How did you get away, we didn't hear the sound of Cyberdramon blowing anyone up." Rika asked as she drew away, a happy smile on her face, as she looked him over for signs of damage.
"I was never in any danger, Rika. The guys who brought me here are friends of mine. There was no need to worry." Ryo said tenderly then looked at her in surprise as her face went from happy to see you to her your dead meat mister look. "Rika, what's wrong?"
"Do you mean to tell me that I risked my life, Renamon's and Alice's to get here, put up with that idiotic moron and Yolei for nothing? You mean to tell me that all this time I've been picturing you somewhere hurt or in danger and you were hanging out with the guys as fine as can be!" Rika said, her eyes flashing molten flames as her hands fisted at her side and her voice rose with every word. "Do you mean to tell me that this was all for nothing!"
"Not for nothing." Ryo said as he lifted his hands in front of him in defence. "And I didn't know I was going to be transported here, otherwise I would have told you about it first and brought Cyberdramon instead of Impmon."
"Oh and that just makes it all right you asshole Pretty Boy." Rika said as she drew back her fist and nailed him in the jaw, sending him flying backwards and into the dirt. "I otta kick your ass and you are damn lucky I like you or I'd break you in several pieces for everything I've had to put up with in the last few days."
"Yeah, I love you too." Ryo said as he got to his feet, dusting them off with an absent hand while his other rubbed his jaw where she'd nailed him. "Damn but I missed you, Wildcat. Even you yelling at me, which just goes to show how, messed up I really am. By the way, who the hell is T.K.?"
Lose Two, Find Two
Things had been so boring until they'd showed up Kurokitsunmon thought to himself as he sat on the branch, his feet dangling under him. His favorite group had stopped for water again and so he amused himself by sitting nearby and listening to their conversations. A loner by nature as well as design he was un accustom to this need to be around these humans and while a part of him worried about that he forced it out of his mind, convincing himself that he was there only for the show. Rika hadn't hit the one called Davis yet and that was disappointing though she had used several four-letter words to describe him to T.K. who she was apparently encouraging to steal the one called Kari from the Gogglehead. Not that the one Kari would likely mind, the blonde one was obviously superior to gogglehead in all the ways that mattered in choosing a mate, not that he knew about that but listening to Rika talk about Ryo had given him an idea. A strange notion, binding oneself to a person for life, sounded boring and yet tantalizing, the idea of never being alone, of always having someone to cover ones back. Not that he needed anyone or help, but it was still an interesting idea. If Ryo and the rest of his bunch picked up speed the two groups should meet up sometime the next morning, what would that do to his entertainment? Then again they'd still have to find the girl who wore her fur in two bunches on the sides of her head, her and the Lopmon were still far enough away that the special ones would have to stay longer.
"You know T.K., if you asked her out she'd be pretty stupid to say no, especially with Davis around as a visual of what she could end up with." Rika said with a smirk as splashed some water on her face, letting it fun down to soak her shirt. Wiping a hand over her eyes she looked over at T.K. who was looking non too convinced. "The worst that could happen is she says no, I bet Davis has asked her plenty of times and gotten the big NO. They're still friends though why anyone would want to be with that little ass is beyond me."
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him and it's different, me asking her instead of him. He doesn't know Kari the way I do, he's put her on this pedestal and worships her, her rejections don't even sink through that thick skull of his. I've known Kari since I was a little kid, I know everything there is to know about her except what her answer would be." T.K. said as he placed his hat back on his head after dunking his head in some water. "If I ask and she says no then-then I don't know what I'd do."
"And if she died today?" Renamon asked in a quiet voice. "Then she would die thinking that you didn't care about her as much as she does."
"You and Kari have something, T.K.. Something Rika and Ryo have that's really rare. You just fit and God doesn't send you someone like that everyday. Like the Chinese proverb says, the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and wonderful of all. In other words you don't find a girl like that every dynasty." Alice said as she slugged an arm over T.K.'s shoulder, grinning at the way his face went red. "So go get her, kiddo."
"If she turns me down flat I'm moving in with you guys and making you as miserable as I'll be." T.K. said with a sigh, knowing that they were right and hating the fact. "I'll ask her out."
"Well there she is, do it before you lose your nerve or come up with another excuse, Alice and I are running out of ideas here." Rika said as she gave him a slight push in Kari's direction, the girl in question sitting on some rocks while she talked to her digimon.
Giving them a look T.K. looked at Kari and taking a deep breath walked towards her, feeling a lot like a lamb being led to the slaughter. Not that Kari would be cruel when she turned him down but T.K. had a feeling that if she did say no it was going to take a lot of time to get over it. He'd dated other girls to try to forget his not platonic at all feelings for her and that hadn't worked. He'd encouraged her to date other guys and had only ended up wanting to blast them all to kingdom come. But the alternative was that she'd say yes, that was worth the risk, wasn't it? "Ah, Kari?" T.K. asked as he stood in front of her, looking into her beautiful eyes which was a big mistake since now he couldn't even remember one if the speeches he'd come up with in his head over the years. "Got a minute?"
"Sure, T.K., what's up?" Kari said as she smiled at him shyly, her canteen forgotten in her hand.
"Well I was wondering if maybe you might wanna go to a movie or something when we get back." T.K. blurted out and then could have kicked himself. Got to be more specific pal or she'll think your asking her as a friend. "Like just us."
"Yeah, sure T.K.. Sounds like fun." Kari said with a smile and T.K. wasn't sure that she entirely realized what he was aiming for here. God why couldn't it be the girl's responsibility to do the asking? They were so much better at words then guys were.
"I mean like on a date, Kari." T.K. said quietly and watching her eyes go huge confirmed that she hadn't realized that that was his intentions. "If you don't want to that's okay too, I'll understand and it won't change anything cause you're my best friend Kari and I'd rather be your friend then anything so if you're not interested that's fine and I won't bother you about it ever again. In fact forget I asked, I should be going back to make sure-ah-that-Patamon's okay." T.K. rambled backing up with each word, his heart beating like a drum.
"I'd still like to go, T.K." Kari said quickly before he could continue and looking at her again T.K. was surprised to see a fine blush on her cheeks. "If you still want to that is."
"You-you would?" T.K. said in amazement as he stared at her as though he'd never seen her before in his life. "You'll go out with me?" When she nodded her head shyly the biggest smile ever came over T.K.'s face and with a war whoop he pulled her off the rock and spun her around in a circle before realizing what he'd just done. "Sorry." T.K. said as a fine blush came over his cheeks. "So do you want to walk together then?"
"Yeah." Kari said with a blush of her own as she slipped he hand into his, red in the face but smiling widely.
"Well its about time." Gatomon said with a role of her eyes as she hopped off the rock and headed towards the stream they'd stopped at to tell Patamon that the two idiots had finally clued in and were going out. "Took them long enough too."
"What I want to know is how the girls managed to get here, we barely managed to get you here." Izzy said as he paced, his mind running a mile a minute. "You said this Alice was a hacker, would you say that she's skilled enough to pull something like that off? Whatever that thing is he could have just been playing with us, letting us think he was telling the truth."
"If anyone could do it, it would be Alice, especially if she had help from Suzi." Ryo said as he rubbed the back of his neck as his own mind struggled to process everything. What if it was true and Rika and Alice were here with the others, what kind of danger could they be in with him to far away to help them. Knowing Rika at the first sign of trouble she'd head straight for it as oppose to away from it, never mind the possible danger or consequences. Plus the voice had said that Suzi and Lopmon were separated from Rika and the others, what could happen to them with no one to back them up. They could be deleted and they'd never know. Plus who the hell was this T.K. guy and who did he think he was putting moves on his girl! Not that Rika would ever cheat on him Ryo assured himself but it was the principle of the thing.
"Well for now I suppose that we'll just have to assume that he's telling the truth until we learn differently." Ken said with a sigh, all the complications that were building up weighing heavily on his shoulders. If anything happened to any of Ryo's friends it would be his fault for bring Ryo here in the first place. "Lets just hope that he finds them enough amusement to want to make sure they stay safe."
"With Rika safe is not an option." Impmon said with a roll of his eyes. "If she doesn't find trouble she makes it."
"Well we make pretty good matchmakers, huh, Rika?" Alice said the next morning as they walked beside each other, watching Kari and T.K. who were walking side by side, holding hands like the lovesick kids that they were.
Rika smiled back, enjoying their success as well as experiencing her first twinge of pity for Davis. The kid was trailing behind the pair looking thoroughly dejected, obviously his chances with Kari had finally sunk in. Rika supposed that even dorks like him had feelings so she'd held her tongue and left him alone for the day, figuring that anything she said would be nothing in comparison. Poor idiot. "I suppose we do, but lets not try it again, it leads to headaches I don't need."
"That it does." Alice agreed with a sigh. "So how you doing, Jaarin?" Alice added as she looking over to the girl who was on her other side. Jaarin looked worn out to Alice and Alice hoped that they found Suzi soon before Jaarin started to think the worst.
"Well lets just say I'm feeling muscles I didn't even know I had." Jaarin said with a tight smile as she placed her hands on the small of her back. "And considering all the sports I've played that's saying a lot."
"Hey Rika, you suppose we're going to run into Ryo and Impmon soon like that other digimon said? huh, do ya?" Calumon asked from Jaarin's backpack. He was alternating between walking and riding since his legs were so short and he couldn't keep up as good as the others.
'I'm sure we will, Calumon." Rika said with a n encouraging smile, not wanting the small digimon to worry.
"If Ryo hasn't killed Impmon that is." Renamon said dryly from Rika's side, a small smile of amusement on her face. All knowing the dislike that Ryo and Impmon bore each other none of them had a hard time picturing Ryo deleting the digimon to shut him up.
"I wonder what that is?" Cody said suddenly as he pointed at something black that was whirling towards them quickly, like a tornado only not made out of wind.
"Data Stream." Rika called out, recognizing it immediately though its color differed from the usual ones she saw in her own digital world. "Cody get away from it, now!"
"CODY!" Tai yelled, it was too late, the stream had come to quickly and without warning. As quickly as it had appeared it disappeared with no sign of Cody or Armadillomon anywhere. "No! Cody!"
This is really going to hurt Cody thought to himself as he and Armadillomon flew down towards the ground at a very high velocity. Of all the ways he'd figured to die he'd never pictured it being from falling like a rock from the sky after being picked up by something called a data stream. Struggling to get his eyes open he was aware of his digimon calling his name and reached out blindly, trying to find him. Hitting only air Cody finally succeeded in opening his eyes then wise he hadn't as he saw the ground rising up to meet them. Forcing his head to turn wit great effort he could make out a yellow blur, which he assumed, was his digimon. Yelling into the air to let his digimon know he was there Cody doubted that his partner could hear him and instead turned his attention to looking at his fate. As the ground came faster and faster Cody became aware of a white blur streaking across the green grass below but not really caring anymore Cody closed his eyes and sent up prayers to his family and hoped he'd die quickly. Seconds later he landed with a thud, still fully conscious and pretty sure that whatever he'd landed on wasn't grass. Opening his eyes Cody looked down then up.
"Nice of you to drop in." Antylamon said with a smile as she looked at the boy who was gapping up at her in surprise. "Suzi, did you grab the other one?"
"Yup, but he's in his shell and I'm not sure if he's okay or not." Suzi called out from on top of her digimon's head. They'd seen the two figures hurling down from the sky and instinct had led them to try and catch the two objects, which they had succeeded in doing. "What kind of digimon is yours?"
"He's not a digimon." Antylamon informed her tamer then lifting her hand up lifted Cody so that he was level with Suzi who smiled at him widely, glad to see another human face.
"Hi! Is this your digimon? Are you okay?" Suzi asked brightly thinking that the boy was her age and really cute. Too bad he lived in this world and not hers.
"Ah yeah, Armadillomon's mine." Cody said as he rubbed his head then stared at her again. wondering if he'd died and gone to heaven without even realizing it. She was pretty enough to be an angel but he'd never figured that an Antylamon and an angel that didn't look to be older then himself would watch the gates of heaven. "Am I dead?"
"Well I don't think so, otherwise I'd have to be dead too and last time I checked I was very much alive. I'm Suzi by the way, Suzi Wong and this digimon is my partner Antylamon or Lopmon in her rookie form. And you are?"
"My name's Cody, Cody Lori. Wait a minute, are you Jaarin's sister?" Cody said as his head came up sharply, his eyes alert and alive as he finally made the possible connection
"Yeah, you know my sister? Have you seen her?" Suzi asked eagerly, her whole facing lighting up with hope.
"Yeah I have, I was with them before something called a data stream picked Armadillomon and I up and deposited us several stories above the ground." Cody said, pleased that his answer made her happy. "We've been looking all over for you, we were looking when I got sucked up."
"And she's okay, she wasn't hurt or anything?" Suzi asked quickly, liking this messenger from the sky more and more.
"Yeah, she's fine. Rika and Alice are taking good care of her." Cody said with a smile then felt his eyes go as wide as saucers when the girl suddenly jumped off her digimon's head and caught him up in a big hug, squeezing him so that he had trouble breathing though that might have been caused by the fact that he was being hugged by a beautiful girl as oppose to the actual strength of her hold.
"She's okay and she's with the others, boy am I ever glad we caught you. Literally." Suzi said as she pulled back and kissed him on the cheek, giggling when his face went as red as a cherry. "Well luckily that's the way I was headed so do you want a ride?" When all he could do was nod dumbly at her Suzi laughed again and dragged him onto Antylamon's head, her hand tightly in his. "Better grab hold of your digimon cause Antylamon makes cars seem like snails." Seconds later, once he'd regained his senses Cody had to agree with her.
"So these data streams pick things up and deposit whatever they've collected anywhere in the Digital World?" Tai asked as they continued to walk, no one really talking as they listened for an explanation as to where their friend might be.
:That's the way it works, you usually have more warning though and they tend to be a pink color as oppose to black but I figure its the same thing." Alice said with a pained look, wishing that she could be more help. She'd liked Cody and hoped that whereever the stupid stream had dropped him that he was all right.
"Maybe the fox will come back and tell us where he is." Mikey suggested hopefully from Tai's back where he was riding, too tired to walk anymore.
"Maybe he will." Kari agreed with a smile for the youngest member of their group though it was more then a little forced. "I'm sure he and Armadillomon are safe and that everything's going to be all right, Mikey."
"I smell something." Renamon said suddenly as she halted, raising her head and closing her eyes as she concentrated on the faint smell that had hit her nose moments before. "People and some digimon are coming this way, I recognize the scent of one of them very well." Renamon added with a smile as she looked pointedly at Rika.
"Is it him, Renamon?" Rika asked as a slow smile came over her features as Renamon nodded her head in confirmation.
"Is it who?" Yolei demanded to know, on better terms with the redhead but not by much. Plus the digimon had said people, which people?
"Ryo." Rika said then taking out two card from her deck Rika grinned widely. "Well then lets go and kick some asshole butt shall we?" Rika added as she looked over at Alice who nodded her head as she took out some cards of Ryo's from the pouch. Cyberdramon had gone out scouting but he'd promised to be back any time now and would likely come to their call immediately if they yelled for him loud enough given his superior hearing. "Jaarin, you and Calumon stay here while Alice and I go collecting."
"Your boyfriend?" T.K. asked as he caught on quickly, understanding that the girls were obviously expecting a fight. "Patamon and I will come to help if you want."
"Thanks but there's no need for that." Alice said with a huge smile as she pointed out to the horizon. "Look."
"Ryo." Rika breathed as she watched Cyberdramon fly towards them with two very familiar figures on his back. Walking forward then picking up speed Rika was practically running when Cyberdramon hit the ground with a thud, Ryo and Impmon both jumping off and with a grin Rika threw herself at her boyfriend who held her tightly against him.
"Well you're a sight for sore eyes, Wildcat." Ryo said as he pressed a kiss to her temple before burrowing his head inn her hair, so relieved that she was okay and in one piece. Cyberdramon had said she was okay but his definition of okay and Cyberdramon's tended to vary a great deal.
"How did you get away, we didn't hear the sound of Cyberdramon blowing anyone up." Rika asked as she drew away, a happy smile on her face, as she looked him over for signs of damage.
"I was never in any danger, Rika. The guys who brought me here are friends of mine. There was no need to worry." Ryo said tenderly then looked at her in surprise as her face went from happy to see you to her your dead meat mister look. "Rika, what's wrong?"
"Do you mean to tell me that I risked my life, Renamon's and Alice's to get here, put up with that idiotic moron and Yolei for nothing? You mean to tell me that all this time I've been picturing you somewhere hurt or in danger and you were hanging out with the guys as fine as can be!" Rika said, her eyes flashing molten flames as her hands fisted at her side and her voice rose with every word. "Do you mean to tell me that this was all for nothing!"
"Not for nothing." Ryo said as he lifted his hands in front of him in defence. "And I didn't know I was going to be transported here, otherwise I would have told you about it first and brought Cyberdramon instead of Impmon."
"Oh and that just makes it all right you asshole Pretty Boy." Rika said as she drew back her fist and nailed him in the jaw, sending him flying backwards and into the dirt. "I otta kick your ass and you are damn lucky I like you or I'd break you in several pieces for everything I've had to put up with in the last few days."
"Yeah, I love you too." Ryo said as he got to his feet, dusting them off with an absent hand while his other rubbed his jaw where she'd nailed him. "Damn but I missed you, Wildcat. Even you yelling at me, which just goes to show how, messed up I really am. By the way, who the hell is T.K.?"
