Ch. 18

Rika blinked, the colours were too bright, everything was too bright and too colourful. She clapped her hands over her eyes, waiting for them to adjust. Once she was certain that she wouldn't hurt her eyes if she opened them, she drew her fingers away from her face. The other Tamers were going through a similar process, Takato was sitting with his back to the tree trunk, Jeri sitting somewhat dazedly beside him. Kenta was standing starry-eyed to the couples' right, and Suzi was lying on her back blinking furiously. Ryo wasn't anywhere in sight. Quietly, they took stock of themselves, mostly clean, still scratched and bruised from their adventure. There wasn't anyone else in the field, but there was traffic on the roads, and people, living breathing people walking down the sidewalks.

"What's going on?" Rika asked clearly confused.

Henry shook his head, completely baffled. "I honestly don't know, but… weren't we just - ?"

Takato nodded. "We were, we were just talking to adults, and they had digimon."

"Tueno…" Jeri added. "He was real, we haven't just fallen asleep and missed class, Tueno was real."

Suzi sat up. "The whole thing was real, because we're all still beat-up."

Kenta checked his watch, grey eyes widening to the size of saucers. "I don't get it, it's the same day we left, right down to the minute, it's the same time."

They gathered around and looked at his battered watch. Henry shook his head. "I think…" He started slowly, "I think that we should all go home, and tomorrow, we should all go to Guilmons' old hideout."

Everyone nodded, Rika casting her gaze around once more before they departed. "What… about Ryo?" Her voice was quiet, hardly a whisper.

No one said anything, but silently stood up and started to walk home.

---

Ken, Kari, Tai, Matt, Sora, Meiko and Kira were swept up by and deposited in the living room in Tai's apartment, landing haphazardly on the couch, chairs and floor with thumps. Tai and Matt sat up in unison, demanding: "What just happened?"

The others laughed quietly. "No matter what happens, you guys are too close to not say something at the same time." Ken grinned.

Tai's son, Meiko's older brother, came out of the bathroom and stopped, staring at the unexpected company. He had a striking resemblance to Tai, especially his mad, out of control hair and dark brown eyes. Akira cocked an eyebrow at the adults. "So… nice to see you all…" He said, not sure what else he could be expected to do in this new situation.

The digidestined cracked up, laughing long and hard at the first normal thing they'd seen in days. Kira and Meiko helped everyone to their feet, and soon they were all making arrangements to call over their families and have dinner together; dinner to celebrate the apparent defeat of the dark spore, Tueno. It was an odd atmosphere, people were laughing, smiling, pitching in to make dinner. After the two days or so when the worlds had merged, two days of going back to basic survival, coming back to a routine that they knew was normal felt odd. Everyone was adjusting slowly, but the apartment couldn't quite shake the feeling of distrust.

Ken sidled away from the rest of them, padding quietly out of the kitchen and down the hall to the living room, dropping onto the couch with a sigh. He pulled the black sphere out of his pocket, watching as it refused to reflect any of the light that hit it. "What do I do with you now…?"

Kari leaned silently against the doorframe, watching him as he stared at the dormant spore. After T.K. had died, they had been like one-another's safety nets, someone to fall back on, someone they could rely on no matter what. They'd dated for a while, mistaking the trust for something different, but agreed that perhaps it wasn't how things were meant to work out. He had married Miyako, and the couple had just thrown their youngest child's seventh birthday, a sleep over with a dinosaur cake. As she observed him now from the side, she realized that he was just as mysterious that evening as he had been his whole life. There would always be something that bothered him but no one else. She sighed, and softly crossed the carpet to sit at his side. "What are you going to do with it?" She asked.

Ken shook his head. "I don't know, lock it away, hide it, somewhere no other person could find it, where it can't… evolve like it did." He squeezed his eyes shut, mentally exhausted. "I didn't even know there were new digidestined, I guess I just assumed that it would be our children, and we would be there to help them. They wouldn't have to figure everything out on their own." He paused. "It bothers me that we almost weren't there in time. We were so ill-prepared."

Kari nodded, resting her chin on her hands and leaning forward on the couch, looking off into nothing at the television. "They are, kind of." She mused, referring the his comment about their kids. "Meiko is Tai's second child, Kira distantly related to Gennai, though that has always puzzled me." Ken nodded his agreement with her last statement. "I don't know how they met the other kids, but Tai certainly taught Meiko how to keep her head. I'd like to believe that even if we hadn't made it, they would have found a way to come out on top. We always did."

---

In the kitchen, Meiko had noticed her aunt and Ken slip out of the room, probably to discuss the spore, Tueno, what to do with it. She cast a glance at Kira, who rose from the couch where she'd been chatting with Akira, and went over to her friend. "What's up?"

Meiko jerked her head at the door, and the pair left the bustle of the kitchen, retreating to the guest room Akira was currently borrowing a little further down the hall. They moved a few shirts and a pair of shorts off the bed, and then dropped themselves down onto it, a little island of semi-order in the chaos Akira lived in. "What's on your mind?" Kira asked again.

Meiko sighed, ruby-brown eyes darting to look at the disheveled pillows for a second. "I don't like how it's ending, I don't like that we needed to be 'rescued', and I want to know how Ryo, Henry and the Tamers are doing." She wrung her hands, playing with the bracelet and watch on her left wrist. "I want answers to all the questions we couldn't find answers to in the last 48 hours."

Kira nodded. "I know that feeling." She narrowed her light hazel eyes in thought, some of her long brown hair falling into her face. "Does your dad still have a home office here?" Meiko nodded. "Good, I think I'm going to e-mail Gennai. He'll tell us what we want to know."

---

Rika had arrived home to the open arms of her mother and grandmother, who had spent the day baking, of all things. She vaguely remembered being fed pancakes for breakfast on the day she'd been abducted by Landersmon and Tueno, on the whole, life as a Tamer was simply getting too weird lately. "Hey mom, grandma." Rika smiled automatically as she came through the door, and then headed to her room for a well deserved nap in her own bed.

She'd awoken late, a tired look at her clock had told her that it was past 11, she'd slept almost 12 hours. With a groan, she sat up and crossed her legs. Outside her window, the moon was just starting to wane, casting its pale white light into her room. A dull ache in her core reminded her that she still didn't know what had happened to Ryo, the thought that he'd been transported to a different world in his condition terrified her. Would he have been able to find medical help? Would someone find him? Would he come back? Would he be alright? As the possible places he could be flashed through her mind she felt herself being worked into a panic. What if… what if he was alone somewhere, what if no one found him…

She bit her lip, he's Ryo, he lived on his own in the digital world for years, he's tough, he's resourceful, he'll be fine… he'll… be fine…

---

Everything hurt, everywhere; his fingers hurt, his head was pounding, his eyes were sore, and his feet were numb with cold. Everything hurt. Slowly, he opened one eyes to look at the nurse as she adjusted his IV line, bet that's why my head hurts, he thought muggily, I'm really dehydrated. As he thought this, he noticed how bright all the colours were, and that the sun was forcing light through the blinds on the large window. Wasn't this bright in… that last place…

Across the room, another person swaddled in medical equipment and bandages turned his head in his sleep, grunting. A black visor was resting on his bedside table.

Hours later, both boys awoke at roughly the same time, and it was the recognition of locking eyes, cobalt blue and dark brown, that jolted both of them properly awake. "Kazu!" Ryo hissed in disbelief, the blinds had been rolled up and were letting in the light of the almost full moon, illuminating the two teenagers in their beds.

Kazu, one arm in a cast from wrist to shoulder, slowly brought himself up to a sitting position. "Ryo?" He asked, confused. "What… what are we doing here? How did we get here?"

Ryo shook his head, also confused. "I… I have no idea. The last thing I remember clearly is… Rika! Where's Rika!" He cried, suddenly panicked.

His shout alerted one of the nurses, who quickly rushed down the white linoleum hall to room 437. She threw the door open, crossing the small room instantly and catching Ryo's hand before he could pull his IV line out of his arm. "Stop! Akiyama-san, what are you doing? You're not due to check out for another 8 hours at least! "

Ryo glared at the nurse, he didn't want to fight her, he didn't want to be rude, he wanted to know if Rika was alright, and where she was, and perhaps how he'd gotten to the hospital in the first place. He took in a long breath, then asked her in a completely civil tone; "Do you have anyone in the hospital as a patient named Rika Nonaka?"

The nurse cautiously let go of his wrists, she was a pretty little thing, perhaps in her early twenties. Wide, rich green eyes watched him carefully, her honey blonde hair pulled back into two pigtails low at the back of her head. She shook her head 'no' slowly. "I don't think so, I've been on-shift since yourself and Shioda-san arrived."

His lips pressed into a thin line, Ryo accepted that answer. "Where did we arrive from?" She looked at him oddly. "No… wait, I mean, was it a car accident? Do you know how we were hurt?"

She walked over to the door, popping her head out and coming back in with two medical charts in hand. "According to this, you were found by people who wished to remain anonymous, and they called an ambulance. You were found separately. I'm sorry, it doesn't say anything else."

More frustrated now, Ryo looked over at Kazu, who simply seemed confused. "Alright, thank you. I'll stay until I am scheduled to check out, don't worry."

The nurse nodded, then exited the room, placing the medical charts back in their plastic holders outside the door. Kazu waited only until she'd closed the door before he spoke. "I don't get it, I was trampled, I was really, really hurt, Kenta was crying, we weren't in this world. How did we get here?"

Ryo shrugged, shaking his head in complete loss. "I don't know, we all thought you were dead. Your injuries from Landersmon were… grotesque, from what I understand. Kenta was a real mess, we were all a real mess." He paused, letting Kazu take in the information. "You died." He said shortly. "Dead people stay dead, not that I'm complaining, but by the basic laws that run the world, you can't be here, it's just… not possible."

Kazu nodded. "Don't ask me, maybe when Kenta moved me into the ocean I… I don't know… clung desperately to life and just stayed in a coma for a few days. Either way, I want to know exactly what happened while I was out of commission. Everything."

Ryo sighed, and spotted a pitcher of water with a glass on his nightstand. He poured himself a glass, and drank the whole thing before starting to talk.

---

The following morning, Meiko and Kira woke up on Akira's bed, where they'd finally fallen asleep after the dinner. The plates the Saskatoon pie slices and ice cream had been on were sitting on the floor amidst Akira's clothes, forks neatly on the white plates. There was an alert flashing on the screen of Akira's grey and black laptop, declaring happily: you've got mail!

Kira rolled over and fell off the bed, landing on the floor with a distinct 'thud' that aroused Meiko from her slumber. "Kira…" She drawled, holding in a smile. "You're clumsier then a… a something that's really clumsy."

Kira laughed. "Articulate in the morning, aren't you?" She grinned.

"Shut up you." Meiko giggled, then spotted the message on her brothers' computer screen. "Hey, looks like Gennai responded."

Kira sat up. "Excellent, click on it. I want to know exactly why everything that happened, happened." Meiko nodded, reaching down onto the floor and pulling the computer up next to her. Kira crawled up on to the bed, and they read the reply.

Hello girls,

it's so good to hear from you, even if it is about such a morbid situation. You are, of course completely right in assuming that I have looked into the matters you have asked me about. I'm sorry I could not contact you with this information sooner. For example, before the events had occurred.

To your first question, the answer is yes. The Tamer Henry is fine, and his group of friend are also fairing well. Ryo, however, I had to find in the park, I called an ambulance for him, he is at the hospital now and under the best of care with your friend Sarah, she went to high school with you if I remember correctly. She's taking her medical degree in town here.

To your second question, the safest way to dispose of the dormant dark spore is to have Ken send it to me via e-mail. I'm sure that Izzy would be happy to show him how to accomplish that.

Kira and Meiko looked at one another incredulously. "Mr. Izumi… he's part of this too?" Meiko said incredulously.

Kira laughed, "Just watch, next I bet he'll tell us that Mimi and Micheal over in America know about digimon too!"

Meiko raised her eyebrows. "Think it's possible? It'd explain why they've all stayed such good friends…"

Kira shook her head, long hair swishing over her shoulders. "No way, Mimi… she's a little… up in the clouds, if you know what I mean. There's no way she was a digidestined." Meiko shrugged and they returned to reading the e-mail.

Once I have the spore, I will pass it on to Azulongmon, he and the other four Guardians have a special place for such things as that.

The third question has a rather lengthy explanation, to say the least. Yes, in fact your father was one of the original Chosen Children. There are digidestined all over the world, your friend Ayami has met some others in Britain. Back to the point though, Miyako, Izzy, Mimi, Cody, Davis, Micheal and the five other adults who came to your aid all had their own adventures in the digital world. There was another member named Takeru Takaishi, he passed away long before you were born.

The girls were torn between laughing at the involvement of Mimi and Micheal, and the sadness of the boy Takeru.

To your next question I answer yes again. The Tamers have always had crests, all those who are digidestined, or Tamers, or Chosen Children. It doesn't matter, but every one of you has a crest for a reason, and it will come into play at some point during your adventures. An individual may not be aware of their crest, but it does not matter, they are a part of you, and only a tool used to help digimon digivolve in the case of the original digidestined.

The last question is actually very simple to answer. Time runs differently in all three worlds, when they were merged together, you could say the effect was similar to freezing time, in a sense. No counted time passed in any of the worlds because they had become a new, single world. Thus, until they were separated, no time passed.

I have to go now, other things to do. I hope I managed to answer your questions to a satisfactory level, and have a good day Kira.

Gennai

Kira nodded. "He certainly answered our questions."

Meiko smiled. "Yeah, it's good to have answers."

---

"Why can't I check out?" Ryo demanded heatedly, he'd been polite to nurse Sarah, even agreeing to let them continue poke him with needles, feed him hospital food and hand him pills to swallow.

Sarah sighed as she explained the situation to the vivacious boy again. "You have some residual internal bleeding of some sort between your diaphragm and your liver, your shin has a hairline fracture that should not be walked on, that 'cut' in your side needs to be re-stitched, there are numerous minor lacerations and bruises, and you have a fever Akiyama-san."

Ryo flopped back onto his pillow with a grunt of aggravation and a wince. "How soon can I expect to be out of here? Can I at least make a phone call or two?"

The blonde sighed. "If I can find a portable phone perhaps you can make a call, but your father already knows you're here and the phone is not to be used for personal business."

Across the room, Kazu waved his cast in the air. "Excuse me, Sarah? How soon can I expect to be discharged?"

The nurse tugged at one of her pigtails. "In the same amount of time as Akiyama-san, perhaps five or so days." Sarah smiled at the pair and then made a hasty exit, not giving Ryo enough time to digest the information and argue with her more.

"Five days? " Ryo gaped, his eyes closed in defeat. "She's going to be so, so worried."

Kazu looked sympathetically at his friend, from what he'd gotten through the other teens' narrative, the pair were all but an unofficial couple, and that the nurse was not cooperating with letting Ryo use a phone was clearly driving him mad. They were both confined to their beds, and Kazu had recently discovered that Ryo could make a whole lot of noise when needed. "Dammit!" Ryo cursed. "This has got to violate a right of some sort! Let me use a freaking phone!" He cried in frustration and slumped deeper into his bed.

"Hey…" Kazu started, being oddly supportive and considerate. "It could be way worse. Currently, she'll be worried sick, sad, and scared for a few days, but you'll come back, right?" He said. "You could have not been found, and you could be dead. We both could, that's not how it worked out though, we've just… gotta be patient."

Ryo grunted and rolled over to stare heatedly out the window, the spectacular view of the city lost on him. His thoughts were dwelling on the fiery red-head he'd grown so infatuated with, who could be as tame and coy as a pussycat when she chose. He smiled at the thought, yes, he had definitely fallen for her.

---

s/k: No fluff in this chapter, but that's about all ¾ of the last chapteris, fluff coming out your ears! Hehe, I love fluff! It's so happy and floaty.