Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in Digimon. I am only using them for this fanfic. Please do not sue me.
Acknowledgement: Hi everyone...like always, acknowledgement first! Okay...Kaye, mae, Tachikawa IVIimi, Tenny, Aoi Tenshi, Quantum Weather Butterfly and devil gurl: Thanks for supporting me for so many chapters. I really appreciate it! K-chan THE Pseudo-Princess: I am thinking about Shinto. Have to do research about it though. Moon Fairy: Thanks for reading all of my fic. Well...Mimi's secret will be revealed in the next chapter, and I will explain why Hasuma knew about it. Last but not least, Trista-chan: Thanks for your review. I really appreciate it. Okay....this chapter is going to be long so...before you start, take a deep breath and pray for it to end...hehehe. Hope you enjoy this chapter though. Oh yeah...please read the Author notes at the bottom because I need you guys to help me with something. Thanks.
Identity
"Hasuma!" Izzy scanned the chaotic battlefield as he tried to locate the girl. He silently cursed when he noticed another Maji was trying to reach him. He quickly looked at the boy that was standing next to him. "Joe..."
"Not now, Izzy." Joe shot down two more Majis as they tried to pounce on him. He quickly reloaded his gun when a few more appears. "I'm kind of busy right now," muttered Joe in between each shot. With a sigh, Izzy juggled his laptop in one hand and slipped the other into his coat to grab his gun. With two quick shot, he killed off his attacker.
"You're doing a nice job protecting me, Joe," Izzy said sarcastically. He shot another Maji clearly through the chest before blowing another one's head off. Joe scowled at Izzy's remark as he took out his second gun and started to fire rapidly at the on coming enemy.
"Hey! Let's see you try protecting me while I just look at the laptop all day," Joe snapped back. Clearing off a little area, he and Izzy proceeded forward only to find the Majis following closely after them. He took a quick glance around him and frowned when he saw Silic's boarder only a half a mile away from their location. "Have you found Hasuma, yet?"
"Not...found her." He saw her running her rod through a Maji's chest, while forming an energy ball in her other hand. As she yanked her rod out of the dead Maji's body, she tossed her energy ball at the crowd of Majis that were surrounding Tai, Sora, Kari, and Davis. Sora gave her a quick smile before she resumed back to her task. With Tai protecting her for the near range attack, she concentrated in shooting the Maji's from farther distance. TK quickly joined them as he dispatched the Majis that were between him and Kari.
"Kari!" When she heard Davis calling out her name, she turned around only to find a Maji's claws coming straight down at her. She quickly jumped aside and the sky was filled with another horrible scream when Davis sliced the two claws off of the Maji's arm. TK quickly ran his sword through it to finish it off. They quickly joined Kari as she high kicked a Maji on his head to stun it, while Davis delivered a fatal blow across its chest.
"Hasuma," panted Izzy as he and Joe rushed toward her. Izzy desperately ran as fast as he could without dropping his laptop. Joe rapidly fired around him to protect Izzy. He smiled slightly when Sora spotted them and started to help him out. Hasuma looked at them and threw another energy ball at their pursuer. "T..thhee...shhhhielld," panted Izzy when he finally reached her.
"Not now," Hasuma said rapidly. "Mimi is still missing around this crowd. And so are the others. We have to find them first."
"They are over there," said Tai as he sent a fireball flying through the air. He smiled slightly when two Maji's burst into flame. Screaming from agony, they ran blindly around their spot. Some of the Majis that were standing around them also caught on fire. Tai can't help but shiver when he noticed some of the unaffected Majis started to attack the burning corpse of their own comrade. "I can never get use to this," Tai mumbled when some of them settled down to make meals off of their dead friends. Sora calmly shot them down before she tapped Tai on the shoulder to signal him to follow her. They slowly retreated from their ground to join Hasuma, Izzy, and Joe. By the time that they reached there, TK, Kari, and Davis were already there to help protect Izzy. Tai looked around him and nodded his head to the right. "They are over there. Come on!" With that said, they diligently cut through their enemies to reach to their other comrade.
Matt silently cursed under his breath when he noticed how many Majis are still on the battlefield. He mumbled a soft sorry when he accidentally bumped into Ken. Focused on his shooting, Ken didn't even acknowledge Matt's apology.
"I don't think I can take this any longer," Ken thought to himself as he charged his gun again. He slightly noticed it was not charged to the fullest. Ignoring his weariness, he continued to fire. His face twisted with annoyance when some of the Maji's blood splashed on his coat. "Hey!"
"Sorry," said Cody, while pushing the dead Maji away from him. "I didn't know it was that close." He sighed as he struggled to continue on with the fight. He nearly jumped when someone touched him softly on the shoulder.
"Go and stand in between us," said Yolie as she knocked out two Majis with her rod. "We don't want you to make a fatal mistake." She gave him a quickly smile before pushing him into the little circle that Matt, Ken, and her have made. She started to knock some Majis out when Yolie noticed that Matt is starting to step out of his position. "Yamato!"
"Stay here," said Matt with his eyes scanning around the area. "I'm going to find the shrine priestess." Before Yolie can protest, he broke off into a run and ran right into the crowd of Maji. Yolie frowned but her attentions were quickly diverted to the current situation. Matt took out his second gun and quickly fired around him as he tried to locate the missing girl. He cursed inwardly when he realized he couldn't recall how she got lost in the crowd. "It was those damned Maji," Matt thought. His anger flared up when he remember how Joe accidentally drove them into the Maji's trap. Just when they thought they were going to reach to Silic in one piece, Joe accidentally drove them into one of the Maji's trap, which allowed them to cut their hovercraft in half. "If Izzy hadn't detected the energy sword in time, we would have split in half already. Luckily we were able to go to one side on time and abandon the craft before it exploded. However, our team got separated and Mimi disappeared in the crowd." His face lifted into a smirk. "Can't say the same thing for Tai's hair though." His eyes lit up with amusement when he remembered how Tai reacted when he realized the top portion of his hair was chopped off. Enraged with his new hairstyle, Tai went on a rampage and started to attack the nearby Majis. It didn't take long for the rest of the Majis to appear.
His thoughts were interrupted when he finally spotted Mimi. His heart leaped when he saw her surrounded. Taking a quick dodge to his right to avoid a swipe from a nearby Maji, he quickly rushed toward Mimi. Panting from exhaustion, Mimi struggled to keep her guard up as the Maji's attacked her relentlessly. She twirled her rod upward to block two of the Maji's punches. Because of this, she left her chest unguarded. This mistake proved to be dangerous when a Maji took a swipe at her chest. She managed to jump backward to avoid the attack but her reflection was too slow. It slashed through her coat and managed to cut her slightly under the neck. Mimi stifled her cry of pain and lifted her left hand to cover her wound. Blood seeped from between her fingers as she backed away from her enemies. At the sight of blood, the Majis started to pounce around in excitement. Their excitement were short lived when one nearby Maji's head got blown off. Before they could react, two more Majis fell down on the floor when some energy balls pierced through their body. Anger flashed in Matt's eyes as he flew upward and rapidly fired his gun at them. When his guns started to lose their energy, he charged it and landed on the floor. He quickly delivered a high kick to the Maji on his right and managed to knock it flying off the ground. To his relief, Mimi was standing next to him. She weakly struck one of the Maji on his neck and knocked it to the ground. "Priestess!" Mimi turned around to look at him and gave him a little smile. He quickly slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her protectively close to him. "Are you alright," he whispered softly to her, while he kept his aim on the Majis.
"I'm fine," Mimi whispered tiredly. "Thank you." Matt looked down at her quickly. His anger flared up when he saw her wound.
"You're hurt," Matt growled. He unconsciously pulled her closer to him and backed away from their enemies.
"Yamato!" Matt turned around and found Hasuma shouting out his name. All of the rest of the gangs were there and Izzy was typing rapidly on his computer. A pale blue light started to emit around them as the shield started to appear. "Come on!"
"Hold on," said Matt and flew upward. He managed to slip into the barrier before it could formulate. He landed softly on the ground and watched Tai, Yolie, and TK dispatching the last few Majis that happen to be in the barrier when they form it. They tossed the dead bodies out of the barrier before Hasuma put her powers into work.
"We can't just stay here," said Cody when he looked around him. "Silic is just half a mile away. We need to get there before this barrier disappears. I don't think I can handle fighting them like this."
"But the road is all blocked with them," said Kari.
"Then I guess we will just have to fly," suggested Joe.
"Good plan," praised Tai. He lifted himself into the air. "Alright...let's go."
"Wait, I can't fly," said Cody.
"Neither can I," said Joe.
"I'll take Cody," said Ken. He reached out for his partner's hands and lifted him upward. Joe frowned in annoyance when Izzy looked back and forth between Joe and his laptop.
"For goddess sake, Izzy," screamed Joe. "I can't believe you!"
"I was just joking," said Izzy. He was about to put his laptop reluctantly on the floor, when Hasuma grabbed away from him.
"We can't leave without it you know," she said. "It does form the barrier that protect us. Have you forgotten about that?" Izzy blushed slightly from embarrassment, before he grabbed on to Joe's hand. Without another word and before their barrier could disappear, they lifted upward on the ground. The blue shield formed a spherical protection around them as they flew toward Silic as fast as they can. Hasuma quickly gave Davis the laptop as Maji's sprouted wings and started to block their path in midair. Firing energy balls and their guns at them, Tai and the others plow though the Maji's easily. Before they knew it, they managed to reach into the safety of Silic. The Majis were jumping around in fury when they saw their preys have reached to safety. They landed near the barrier and sighed in relief. In order to taunt the Majis, Davis stuck his tongue out at them. Unknowingly, he also stuck his head out of the barrier. His head would had been separated from his body if Yolie hadn't pulled him backward quickly when she saw the Maji's claw coming downward on his head. Davis fell backward and knocked Yolie to the ground.
"Hey, get off of me you idiot," Yolie growled and roughly pushed him away from her. Although he resented her for calling him an idiot, he didn't say anything because she had saved his life. He quickly scrambled off of her before she could shove him again. Dust flew around them when the remaining Majis flee the site before their preys decided to kill them.
"Well...we are here," said TK. They all turned to look at the city wall that surrounds Silic. It loomed over them as it stood twenty feet off the ground. Beautiful ivory white bricks decorated the main portions of the wall, while two silver poles marked the entrance to the city. At the top of the city wall, a flag with golden and silver strips is placed there as a symbol of Silic's prosperity. Beautiful roses, violets, and lilies decorated around the wall. They perfumed the air with a rich and sweet smell. The beauty of it was wasted when Sora notice the blood on Mimi's shirt.
"You're hurt," exclaimed Sora as she rushed up to Mimi. She observed Mimi's wound, while everyone crowded around her. To their relief, her wound was already sealed up and healed. "You feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," Mimi assured her worried friends. "I just feel a little bit tired, that is all. Let's go fine a hotel before we go to the shrine." She headed to the entrance of the gate, and everyone followed her.
"I feel sick," Davis mumbled as they walked through the entrance. "The air is killing me."
"No kidding," Ken answered back. He looked around him and frowned. Somehow, something about the city make him feel ill at ease. He quickly turned to look at Hasuma and was not surprise to find nothing abnormal about her behavior.
"Excuse me." They stepped quickly aside from the road to let the man pass with his cart. Matt looked at Mimi, who was next to him, to check on her status. She noticed his glance and gave him a questioning look.
"What is the matter, Yamato," she asked. Matt quickly looked ahead of him and ignored her.
"Nothing," he replied back coolly. At the corner of his eyes, he saw Tai and TK watching him. To his annoyance, they seem to be sharing some kind of evil thought. His uneasiness increased when their faces lifted into a sneaky smile. Before he could proceed with his thoughts, he was snapped back to reality when he heard Hasuma exclaiming out loud. Somehow, during his pondering, she had managed to stop an elderly lady and asked her about the city and the direction to the shrine.
"I forgot that today is Deme Day," Hasuma exclaimed.
"Oh...Deme Day," Izzy said with excitement. He sighed when he noticed some puzzling faces. "Deme's Day is Silic's harvest festival. Every year, they have an annual carnival at night time to celebrate this day of harvest." He paused when he realized what that mean. "In that case, it means that the shrine will not be open today."
"That's correct," said Hasuma. "You see...Deme's Day attracts a lot of merchants from all over the world. They always gather here to sell their goods. In order to protect the shrine, the priest of the shrine usually closed the shrine today so that outsiders could not raid it."
"It is not surprising that they did that," Yolie added. "There have been some reports of sabotaging and rioting caused by some of the civilians on this particular night."
"It is not like the rest of the years are peaceful," said Davis. Yolie growled at his smart remark.
"But there seems to be more report of these things happening during the carnival," Kari quickly stated before Yolie and Davis could start their war. "Just to be safe, I guess they just closed it. I don't think they want the shrine to be ransacked again."
"It would be plain stupidity if they ransack the shrine," said Matt. "The shrine contains the crystal and unless they don't care about their life, they should keep safe from it."
"But people's logics are distorted when they are intoxicated," reminded Joe.
"Well...I got to admit we have a nice discussion going over here but I think we have something more important to discuss about," said Tai. "For example, what should we do for today? We can't go on with our mission until the shrine is open to us."
"I guess I better settle down and build a new hovercraft," grumbled Izzy. "I can't believe they chopped the whole hovercraft in half with one swipe."
"I will help," Cody volunteered. Ken also volunteered to help. However, before they could go and purchase the equipments, Hasuma stopped them.
"I have a better idea," she said with a smile. "Why don't we built the hovercraft after the carnival and spend today relaxing instead." She shook her coat and they all jumped away from her when dust flew up into the air. "See what I mean? We have been chased by Majis since we left Terra. I think we all need some relaxation and some fun before we go back to our mission."
"I couldn't agree with the idea more," said Kari with a grin. "It will be fun." She looked at Hasuma, who is taking off her ragged coat. "And while we are at it, why don't we go shopping too? I didn't noticed until now, but we look awful." They couldn't agree with her more. Their clothes were torn and stench with Maji's blood. Dust cover over their clothing and dry mud could be seen stuck on their boot.
"And I think you need a hair cut," said Sora, while smiling at Tai. "You look like you just barely grown two horns on your head. I believe I saw two children running away at the sight of you." Tai mournfully touched his hair, while everyone laughed at his sudden shorten hair.
"It's not funny," said Tai, while observing his hair through a store window. He took off his goggles and stuck them into his coat pocket. "Luckily they didn't chop off too much."
"Then I guess it is decided," said TK. "I think we better check into a hotel before we go shopping."
"I think I will pass," said Izzy. "I don't think I am thrill about shopping." Joe looked at Izzy and remembered his first experiences he had when he went shopping with the girls back in Guardinia. He quickly caught on to Izzy's excuse.
"I don't think...," Joe trailed off when he saw the protesting Izzy being dragged off by Sora and Kari.
"You were saying," Hasuma said with a smirk when she saw the dejected Joe shook his head in defeat.
"Nothing."
"Count me out," Matt said flatly.
"Come on, Matt," urged TK. "It will be fun."
"I am not interested in it." He turned around abruptly when Mimi tugged his coat lightly. His frown deepens when he saw her smiling face. Somehow, it always made him feel uncomfortable. It is like she saw something in him that he couldn't see. "What?"
"Please go with us, Yamato," asked Mimi. "We will feel safer with you." Matt was about to refuse when his eyes caught TK. His gaze quickly turned to her. "There are a lot of stranger roaming around the streets, so..."
"I'll go," Matt interrupted her. He saw her face lifted into a happy smile and that make him felt really uncomfortable. He frowned when he saw Tai standing there in momentary shock. "What," he snapped at the boy. Tai shrugged his shoulder innocently. Matt can't help noticing the gleeful gleam that passed flashed though his eyes. "Whatever Tai is thinking...I got a feeling I won't like it," Matt thought to himself. "However...two can play in this game." His smiled slyly and looked at Tai. "I also want to see your new hair cut Tai. Last time we went for one, you almost clobber the barber."
"Yeah," added Ken and quickly looked at Matt. Raising an eyebrow, he slyly gave Matt a smile. "However, you shouldn't be the one to criticized him. You were raising a storm when your barber accidentally cut off all a big chunk of your hair."
"Hey," retorted Matt, while pointing to the front of his forehead. "He sliced off basically almost all of my front hair! I have to wear a baseball cap for weeks!" His face flushed up in anger when everyone laughed out loud.
"But you can't blame the barber," said Izzy. "Come on! He only made that mistake because Tai shouted out loud all of the sudden and startled him."
"Yeah," Matt grumbled. Tai backed up defensively when Matt glared at him. "No thanks to you." He playfully punched Tai. Mimi raised her eyebrows at the sight. It wasn't often that she saw Yamato showing any sign of affection, except for his brother. She quickly looked up when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's quite a sight isn't it," said Hasuma. Mimi nodded her head silently as she watched her friends joke around happily about Tai and Yamato's hair. She giggled when Yamato grabbed TK by the neck when he was about to tell them about his eleven years old obsession with hair gel and mirror.
"A lot of things have changed for these past two weeks," Mimi whispered. Hasuma nodded her head in agreement.
"Ever since the last trial," Hasuma whispered. "Yamato has changed significantly." Her face lifted up in a smile when Yamato reminded Yolie one more time to call him Yamato. "He is still cool to us but he is warming to us. I never thought I would see him joking around with Tai. I guess the last trial really affected him."
Mimi nodded her head thoughtfully. "He isn't the only one that changed. Sora is more forgiving than before." She smiles at Hasuma. "She is looking at people's heart instead of judging things from the exterior."
"I am not amazed by her change, Mimi. Sora has always been like that. She reacted like she did last time because of the pressure of the trial and her own disappointment on herself for failing to protect you. But as for Yamato...he is just starting to open his heart again." Hasuma frowned when she saw Sora and Kari holding Yolie back desperately as she tried to pound Davis for calling her Ogermon again. Hasuma groaned inwardly. "I just hope Yolie would do some changes too. For once, I would like to see her calm her temper." Mimi giggled right beside her. Hasuma patted her on the shoulder softly. "Enough about this...I guess some things just wouldn't change. Anyways, let's get you dress up for tomorrow's festival." With that said, they started to stroll down the beautiful city. Merchants and shop owners were busy decorating their shops and displaying their goods for tonight's celebration. Ken smiled when he saw Joe and Izzy mildly protesting when Kari and Sora dragged him into one of the major clothing shop in this city. Davis, TK, Cody, and Ken follow them with a smile. "Come on Yolie," said Hasuma as she grabbed on to the other girl's arm. "You don't want to be left behind do you?" Before Yolie can say anything, Hasuma already drags her into the store. Mimi was about to enter the store, when she noticed that Tai and Matt were still standing on the street.
"Aren't you guys going to come in," asked Mimi.
"Nah," said Tai as he fiddled with his hair. He looked around and found a barbershop that is located two stores down the road. "How long do you think it will take you guys, because I want to get my hair cut as soon as possible."
"I don't know," Mimi answered. "But I got a feeling it will be quite a while before we will be done, so you can go ahead and get your hair cut. I will tell them where you are."
"Thanks," said Tai. "I will be right back really fast. I just need my hair trimmed that's all." With that said, he waved goodbye to them, before running straight to the barbershop. Matt looked at Tai's disappearing form before he turned to look back at Mimi.
"Well," said Matt after Tai was gone. "What are we standing around here for? Go inside." He strolled up to her and opened the door for her to step in. Mimi quickly thanked him as she passed by him. As she looked around the store for any signs from the rest of her team, Matt looked around the store with a frown when he noticed how many people are swarming around over there. "Priestess..." Matt turned to look at Mimi and to his dismay; she was not where he last saw her. "Damn." He quickly scanned the store but too many shoppers and items are blocking his sight. Annoyed with her disappearance, he quickly flew upward and hovered in the air. A few women screamed at the sight and some people even stopped their movement to watch Matt. Ignoring their looks, he finally spotted Mimi standing near a display. She was looking at a white jacket when Matt flew up to her and landed softly behind her. "Priestess," he called her in a low tone. He saw Mimi jumped up with surprise and quickly turned to look at him. "What was that," thought Matt when he noticed a quick flash of relief filled Mimi's face when she realized it was him. It appeared and disappeared in her face so fast, he wouldn't have noticed it when he wasn't observing her face. "Well, I am glad you are a little bit worried," Matt scowled at her. "Next time, you will think twice before you decide to disappear into the crowd."
"That wasn't what I was worried about," Mimi said softly. She has a distant look on her face and before Yamato could asked her what does she mean, she quickly smiled at him. "I'm sorry for disappearing on you. I shouldn't have done that." When Matt didn't say anything else, she went back to look at the jacket. She took it from the hanger and placed it in front of her. "Do you think it will look good on me, Yamato?"
Matt rolled his eyes. "How should I know," he snapped. He mentally cursed himself when he noticed a flash of disappointment in Mimi's face before it is replaced with a smile. "Damn," thought Matt. "Did I just imagine her disappointment?" Before Mimi could return the jacket back on the hanger, Matt took it from her hand. "Take off your coat." Mimi looked at him with surprise and quickly listens to him. Once she took it off, he took her dirty-old coat and tossed her the jacket. "Put it on." Mimi nodded her head and delicately slipped the jacket on. She looked at Matt once she had it on. Matt shook his head and she took it off. After she placed the jacket on the hanger, she was surprised to find Matt pulling a white wool mini coat from the racket. He handed it to Mimi and without another word, she tried it on. She smiled when Matt nodded his head.
"That looks nice on you," said Sora. She and Yolie were looking around this area when they saw Mimi and Yamato standing there. Sora observed Mimi and nodded her head with approval. "You have good taste."
"Yamato helped me picked it out." Sora and Yolie looked at Matt with surprise. He ignored their glance and gave Mimi her coat back. "By the way, have you seen Hasuma?"
"She is somewhere around there," Yolie answered as she pointed to the farther end of the store. "She is looking at some of the clothing with Kari and TK. Why did you ask?"
"Tai went to get his hair cut and I just want to tell her about it."
"Oh," said Sora before she turned to look at Yolie. "In this case, why don't you go and tell Hasuma about it and I will look for Izzy and Joe instead." She smiled at Mimi and winked at her. "They ran away once we have our back turned but Ken, Cody, Yolie, Davis, and I are searching the whole store for them. Ken and Davis are guarding the exit so, they can't escape from us." Mimi giggled and Matt smiled when he heard that.
"So I guess we will be seeing you guys around," said Yolie. Mimi nodded her head as they walked away.
"Is there anything else that you want," Matt asked. Mimi looked around her before she answered him.
"Yes. I think I see something." She took Matt by the arm and pulled him through the rackets of clothing. As much as he hate to admit it, Matt actually found himself enjoying this.
"It feels exactly like the time that TK used to drag me around the store, before mom and dad decided to..." He stopped his thoughts and before he could pull his arm away from Mimi's grasped, she released him to observed a nice green coat. She took it off from the hanger and walked up to Yamato.
"You need a new coat," she said simply when she saw the defiance in Matt's eyes when she approached him. "Try it on." Matt looked at his torn up coat for a moment before he took it off. She held on to his coat as he tried on the new one. He nodded his head in approval as he looked at the style.
"It looked exactly almost like my old one," Matt thought. He noticed Mimi was still looking at him to see his reaction. "It will do," he told her. Mimi smiled at his replied and helped him carried the new coat as he put on his old one. Unknown to them, Sora and Yolie were secretly observing them. With a grinned on their faces, they disappeared from the site before Mimi and Matt could discover them. After a few more minutes of shopping, Mimi was able to buy a new outfit for tonight's celebration and some new traveling cloth to replace her already battered old clothes. Matt also managed to buy some traveling clothes to replace the ones that were destroyed in the hovercraft. As he walked out of the store with Mimi, he replaced back his card into his wallet. "We should be glad that our wallet was with us during the attack or else we would not have any money left."
"You're right," said Mimi as she shifted the bags in her hands. Without a word, Yamato shifted his own bags to one of his hand and took some of Mimi's bags. "Yamato, I can carry them myself," protested Mimi.
"I'm going to see Tai," said Matt, while ignoring her protests. "The others are still shopping so we might as well see what is taking him so long." He placed one of his arms lightly behind her shoulders to guild her through the crowded street. His eyes narrowed as he observed the busy streets. "We better not stay up too late. It is too dangerous to have you roaming around freely, priestess. Especially when there is so many new strangers that are coming into the city today."
"I guess you are right," Mimi said softly. "But I am capable of protecting myself. Haven't I proven myself in our battles?" She looked at Matt as she waited for his answer. His cold blue eyes looked down at her face before he turned them back to the streets.
"Your life is too precious to take any risk," Matt stated simply. They walked rest of the way in silent. Before they can enter, Tai's screamed pierced through the air. Matt and Mimi rushed inward to find Sora trying to calm a raging Tai as the barber tried desperately to comb through Tai's messy hair.
"Can't you do it more softly," winced Tai as the barber tried to get his teased out a huge knot.
"It would be better if you would have comb your hair constantly instead of leaving it in this huge web of mess," grumbled the barber. "If you don't want me to comb it out for you, we can always go back to my first option."
"No," Tai said bluntly. "I would rather withstand this pain than to have you cut off my hair." He scowled when the barber continued on with his work. He frown deepen when he saw Matt grinning at him. "I'm glad you are enjoying this sight."
"Definitely," said Matt as he sat down on one of the chairs that were near the door. "No wonder it is taking so long." Tai turned away from him so he doesn't have to look at his annoying face.
"So Sora," started Mimi. "How long have you been here?"
"I finished my shopping early and decided to come over here," said Sora. She gave one last look at Tai's painful face before she walked up to Mimi. "What did you buy?" When Mimi was about to show her, Sora told her to wait. "You can show me tonight." Mimi nodded her head and she cringes when Tai yelped out in pain. After fifteen minutes of painful torture, Tai's hair was finally free from the tangles and is ready for his trimming. As Tai mourned his falling hair, Matt was amused with Tai's expression. The barber was just doing his finishing touch when Hasuma, Yolie, Kari, and TK came walking in there. "Where are the others," asked Sora.
"They are outside," said Kari. "How's Tai doing?" She walked up to Tai and nodded her head in approval. "It looks nice Tai."
"It does," Tai asked uncertainly. He tried to move to a mirror but the barber stopped him. After a few more gel and a little bit more of blow-drying, his hair is finally done. The laughter in Matt's face quickly disappears and is replaced with a scowl.
"Here," said the barber as he took a hand mirror from his table. He gave it to Tai. "Tell me whether you like it or not." Tai looked at his new hairstyle and frowned.
"I don't find this amusing," Tai growled as he looked at his hair.
"Neither do I," said Matt. Sora, Yolie, Hasuma, and Mimi were confused, while Kari and TK were laughing.
"Your hair looked exactly like Matt when he was eleven years old," said TK.
"I know," Tai sighed. He put the mirror back on the desk and frowned at TK and Kari when they continue to giggle. "Great, I can't imagine what the other will react when they see this."
"I think I got what you need," said Sora. She reached into her bag and took out a baseball cap. She placed it on top of Tai's head and smile. "I thought you might need it so I brought it. Better?"
"Good thinking," said Tai as he paid for the bill with Sora helping him adjusting the cap. He quickly thanks her with a smile before headed for the door. "I hope they won't ask me what happen," he murmured as he stepped out the door. Unfortunately, this was not the case. By the time they reached to the hotel, Tai was desperately holding on to his baseball cap with one hand and plugging his ear with the other hand. "Stop horsing around," Tai yelled as Davis tried to take off his cap for the tenth time. Hasuma, Mimi, Yolie, Kari, and TK were laughing their head off, while Tai struggled to get other off his back. Even Matt was amused with Tai's tormented screams. However, this didn't last long. As they were about to step into the hotel, a blood-curling scream erupted in to the air. Tai quickly looked at the origin of the sound and took out his sword. He and Matt stood close to Mimi to protect her just in case something was happening.
"Don't worry," Hasuma said in a calm tone. Tai and the other looked at her in surprise when she said that calmly. "Look around you." They all looked around them and were shocked that everyone were just going on with their work without acknowledging the scream.
"Is this some kind of joke," asked Joe as he put his guns away.
"No it is not," Hasuma answered. "If you want to know, you can follow me." She headed toward the front gate of the city with them following closely behind. Before they could reach there, they could already smell a stench of blood.
"What is going on," wondered Ken. Healers from all from all over the city were rushing toward the gate. Once they reach there, his eyes widen in horror. There were bloody corpses and mutilated body's parts spread on the ground. The healers are hard at work as they tried to save the people that have managed to make it through the barrier alive. Some of the Majis were pouncing around, outside the barrier, while making quick meals on their prey. With out another word, Mimi, Joe, and Kari rushed forward to help save the survivors, while Hasuma calmly went toward the barrier and started to drive them away with her energy balls.
"Don't waste your energy," said Hasuma, when the other wanted to rush forward to help her. "You guys are already tired enough." With one last toss of her energy ball, the Majis scattered from the site. The slow ones that were last to leave the scene were unfortunately when her energy ball exploded on them. With that deed done, she walked back to Joe, Mimi, and Kari. "We have to go," she told them.
"Aren't we going to help them," asked Kari.
"There is nothing we can do over here, especially when we are so weak. Let the healers handle it. This is their job." Kari and Joe reluctantly stood up but Mimi continued to stay next to the victim. "Stand up Mimi."
"I can't leave him like this," Mimi said softly. To her surprise, Hasuma pulled her upward and dragged her away. "What are you doing, Hasuma? I need to go and help!"
"You will just be in the way," Hasuma told her. She dragged, Joe, Kari, and Mimi toward their rest of their team members. With one swift glance at them, she walked back toward the hotel in silence. People on the streets were still happily selling their product and planning for the festival. Hasuma finally released Joe, Kari, and Mimi when they were near to the hotel. She looked at them as they waited for her explanation. "These attacks happen every year on Deme's day, because merchants from all over this world comes over here to sell their things," Hasuma explained. "And because of that reason, Majis also gather near the city to attack the incoming merchants." She frowned as she looked around here. "The screams and the attack are so common around here that no one even care about it. They just continue on with their tasks, like nothing have happen." Hasuma sighed and shook her head. "There is nothing we can do to prevent it."
"Isn't there anything we can do," asked Cody. "We can help prevent the Majis from staying near the barrier."
"What good will that do," Ken asked softly. "They would only move the attack farther away from the city. As long as people come over here, there will be killing."
"Why do they still come," asked Sora in frustration.
"Obviously they value their wealth more than their lives," Yolie said in disgust. They stood there in silence as they let Yolie's comment sink in.
"I guess this explain one thing," Hasuma said quietly, while looking at Mimi. "The group that attacked us wasn't there for the priestess or else they would have crowded around her. However, they spread out their attack." She walked up to hug Mimi. "Sorry, I wasn't there to protect you. If they were really after you, you would have been dead already."
"It's alright," said Mimi. "It wasn't your choice. Besides..." Matt frowned when Mimi gave him a little smile. "Yamato saved me." She quickly shivered when another scream pierce into the air. "I just...I just wished there was something we can do for them."
"There is nothing we can do. Come on." They walked in to the hotel in silence.
*Tai, TK, and Matt*
"Come on TK," shouted Tai. "Kari is not going to wait for you, you know!" He could hear a muffled "okay" from TK from the bathroom. He sat down on their bed and stretched himself.
"Why are you in such a rush," asked Matt as he stood near the window. His eyes were focused on the view that was outside the window. "We don't meet until half an hour later."
"Yeah...well, Kari said she wanted to talk to TK and me about something," Tai said quickly. He heard Matt grunted as he continued to look outside. "Are you going to wear that for tonight?" Matt looked at his outfit and frowned.
"I see no problem," said Matt. He touched his black sleeveless top and looked at his black pants. "This is what I usually wear."
"That's the problem," said Tai, while lying on his bed. "You look exactly the same like always. You should do some changes for tonight."
Matt smirked. "And look who is talking. The same old blue coat and the same old blue shirt with black pants. Oh...I can see some changes in you too." Tai flushed from embarrassment and quickly sat back up on the bed.
"Hey, I was cutting my hair, unlike you. I didn't have any time to go shopping." Matt frowned at Tai's retort. "Beside, these are not old. They are brand new."
"Hmph...and I thought you said you didn't have time to buy clothing. How did you got your new outfit then?"
"Sora..." Tai quickly stopped himself when he saw Matt raised one of his eyebrows with surprise. "Now don't get the wrong idea," Tai said when Matt gave him a smirk. "I asked Sora to help me buy something because I don't have time. And...she only brought me this because I always wear these kind of clothes when we are in a mission." Matt frowned when Tai imitated his smirk. "So that explains why I am dress like this. You, on the other hand, don't have an excuse."
"An excuse for what," asked TK as he stepped out of the bathroom. His yellow hair is tucked into a cap. He smiled at them as he adjusted his green jacket and patted his white pants to smooth out the winkle.
"Great TK," Tai said sarcastically. "You spent the whole time in the bathroom fixing your hair and you came out wearing a cap." TK blushed slightly from Tai's comment.
"Hey, looks who is talking," TK retorted. "You spent the whole afternoon washing your hair so you can get the gel off."
Tai grumbled as he touched his messy brown hair. It took him forever to get it back to the way it is. "You sound like your brother, do you know that?" Tk looked at him in confusion, while Matt smiled slightly. "Anyways, are you ready yet. Kari is waiting for us."
"Oh..oh yeah," said TK. He grabbed his black scarf from the table and put it around his neck. "I'm ready when you are." Tai and TK headed for the door, while Matt returned back to the window. "We'll see you later Matt! Remember, to meet us in the lobby." Matt nodded his head slightly to indicate he have heard him. With that said, TK and Tai walked out of the room, leaving Matt all alone. After a few second have passed, Matt cursed out loud when he realized Tai have just lied to him. "He never did got a chance to talk to Sora," he murmured to himself. His face quickly lit up with a smile. He mentally made a note to himself to tease Tai about Sora when they get back from the festival.
*Mimi, Hasuma, Yolie, and Kari*
"I don't understand what does Tai want to talk to me about," said Hasuma. "Why can't he just wait until we meet later on?" She turned to Kari. "Do you know what he wants to talk to me about?"
"I don't know," Kari said nervously as he put on her white coat and wrapped her pink scarf around her neck. "He said it is important though."
"It better be."
"Anyways, you will know when you go there," said Yolie as she puts on her red cap. "So, how do I look?" She spins around to let them see her purple tank top and light blue pant.
"It look nice," said Kari.
"What difference would it make," said Hasuma. "All those will be hidden once you wear your coat. You are not planning to go out there like that are you?"
"No way," said Yolie. "I am not that crazy." She took her baby blue coat from the hanger and put it on. "Beside, it won't hurt you to give me a compliment, would it?"
"Sorry Yolie," Hasuma said with a sigh. "I guess I am still a little bit upset with what happen today." She took out her wallet and look at it. "I hope we have enough money to buy a new hovercraft."
"Don't worry," said Kari. "Tai said the other would pitch in. If we ran out..." She gave them an evil smile. "We could always make Joe pay for it because he was the one who drove us into the trap."
"I guess so." Just then, Mimi came walking into their hotel room.
"You guys are already dress," Mimi said with astonishment. "But we aren't meeting until half an hour later." She looked around her and frowned. "And where is Sora? Isn't she here?"
"Tai said he need to speak to me," said Hasuma. "As for the others..."
"We are going with her," said Kari. "Sora is already waiting for us in the lobby."
"I'm going because I think this conversation might be important for our mission," said Yolie. "And since I am the second in command, I might as well go there and find out what he wants to tell Hasuma."
"Then I will come with you," said Mimi. "I might as well know too since I am the priestess."
"No," Kari said quickly. Hasuma and Mimi looked at her in surprise. "Well...you see...uhm...you should stay here and get ready for tonight. I mean you don't want us to wait for you, do you?"
"No I suppose not," Mimi said slowly. "However..."
"Oh look at the time," said Yolie as she and Kari started to push Hasuma out the door. "We are going to be late if we continue to stay here."
"Hold on a..." Before Hasuma can finish her sentence, Kari already pushed her out to the hallway.
"Remember to see meet us on the lobby," said Yolie before closing the door. Mimi stared at the door for a moment before she actually moved again.
*Lobby*
"Where the heck are they," thought Matt as he sat on a chair. He looked around the lobby for the third time, and still, none of them were there yet. "Where are Tai, TK, and Kari? Could they...?" He stood up in alarm and was about to run out of the lobby, when he saw Mimi walking into the lobby. She was wearing the white coat he picked out for her, along with a sleeveless pink turtleneck. Her long brown hair was tied back into a ponytail. She smiled at him and approached him.
"Where are the other," Mimi asked him.
"I would like to know the answer to that question myself," Matt muttered.
"That is weird." Mimi looked at her watch. "Hasuma, Yolie, Kari, and Tai are supposed to be here, because they said Tai have something he want to talk to Hasuma about. So would the others too because I went to check up on them, but they all left already."
"Did you just said that Tai was suppose meet Hasuma over here," Matt asked calmly as he tried to suppress his anger and his growing suspicion. Mimi nodded her head. "When did they leave?"
"Half an hour ago," said Mimi. She could see the fire flaring in Matt's eyes when he heard her words. "Yamato, is something wrong?"
"Yeah," Matt said slowly. "They ditched us." Mimi looked at him in surprise.
"But why?"
"What do you think," Matt said angrily.
"I...I don't know."
For a moment there, Matt thought she was lying. However, the confusion in her eyes told him otherwise. "What kind of girl is she," thought Matt as he looked at her. "Haven't she registered the fact that they ditch us so they could play match making?" He slammed his fist on the chair. "If I get Tai's neck in my hand, I will strangle him," Matt growled.
"Then what do we do now," asked Mimi. "Are we going to look for them? They must be enjoying the festival right now."
"We are not going anywhere," said Matt. He stood up and took her roughly by the arm. "We are going to go back to our room and stay there."
"But the festival..."
"I can't risk having you roaming around the festival by yourself."
"Then you can come along," said Mimi. She pulled him to a stop and looked outside. "We should go and enjoy the festival. We might run into them."
"In such a large city, I don't think so. Besides, I don't want to go this festival in the first place. And I am not planning to let you go out there alone, priestess. With so many people out there, you might get hurt and I can't risk that."
"I...I guess you are right," Mimi said softly. Matt looked at her and could see the disappointment in her eyes. She gave him a weak smile before she headed toward the elevator. "I will see you tomorrow, Yamato." Before she could walk away, Matt grabbed her arms and spun her around. "Yamato...what?" She looked at him in shock as he dragged her toward the front door.
"I thought it over and I think you are right," Matt said coldly. "We might be able to find them in the crowd." He stops and looked at her in the eyes before they step out there. "While we are at it, we might as well enjoy the festival too," he grumbled. Mimi smiles as he held her hand tightly within his. "Don't let go." She nodded her head.
"Thank you," Mimi murmured as they step out into the crowd.
******
"You guys did what!!!!" Everyone looked at Hasuma as she yelled at them from the top of her lung. After gathering at Silic's main public water fountain, which is located in the city's center, Tai and the others were telling Hasuma about their little plan for the last fifteen minutes. Little did they know, Hasuma would react so big. "Why didn't you tell me about it?!"
"What is the problem," asked Kari nervously. "What is wrong with setting up Mimi and Matt?"
Hasuma took a deep breath to calm herself. "Alright," she said, while looking at them. "We are going back to look for them." She turned to head back to the hotel.
"What is going on," asked Sora as they all chased after her. They pushed through the crowded street to reach Hasuma. "Hasuma?" Hasuma slowed down her pace so they could catch up with her.
Hasuma turned around and glared at them. "Haven't the trials taught you anything at all?! It uses your emotion against you! The more emotion that you have, the more vulnerable you are and the last thing we need are for Mimi and Yamato to fall in love with each other." She pointed at TK. "Remember your first trial?! You almost failed because your desperation to save Kari and Yamato obscured your judgment. If Tai didn't kept his head straight, you would have failed it and die!" She turned to look back at the others. "Do you want the same thing to happen to Mimi or Yamato?!"
As she continued to glare at them, they softly shook their head. "I'm sorry," said Tai. "I guess we didn't think of that."
Hasuma took a deep breath and sigh. "I guess I shouldn't yell at you guys for this but you should have told me what you guys were planning. This little plan of yours could put two of our member's lives in serious danger. Especially...."
"Especially what," asked Sora.
Hasuma hesitated before she continued. "Especially when Mimi can't fall in love." Her words caught them all in surprise.
"She can't what," asked Davis in disbelief. "But why?"
"What do you think," snapped Hasuma. When Davis stepped backward to avoid her anger, she quickly calm down. "Sorry about that but it is just so frustrating." With a deep sigh, she looked at them with sadness in her eyes. "Mimi made a vow before she left for this mission. She vow that she will not fall in love because it would only hindered her mission and lower her chance to succeed in her trials." Hasuma looked down on the floor. "I am ashamed to say it but I asked her to make that vow."
"You asked her," asked Yolie. Hasuma nodded her head.
"I am worried that she will not past the trials if she turned her focus in something else. Beside..." She looked up into the starry sky. "The last shrine priest failed the trial because he let his emotion shrouded his mission. The last thing I want is for Mimi to die." Her eyes came back downward to focus on them. "That is why I asked her to promise me she won't fall in love."
They all nodded their head. "But isn't it kind of sad for Mimi," asked TK. "I mean...isn't it a little bit unfair for her?"
"It is the path she have chosen. As a shrine priestess, she has everyone's hope rested on her shoulder. In order to succeed, she must be able to keep a clear mind and dedicates her life to helping her people. Mimi knows what she has to do before she set out for this mission. She knows what path she is going to have to face."
"But you can't stop emotion," said Yolie. "Sometimes you can't help falling in love."
"Like you tried it, Ogermon," Davis said it unconsciously. Yolie glared at him and was about to sock him when Hasuma turned back toward the hotel's direction and started to run to it. Yolie put down her fist and scowled before she and the others ran after Hasuma.
"I know you can't stop emotion," said Hasuma. "But we need to at least tried to stop it from starting. Beside, Mimi isn't the main one that I am worried about." They looked at her in confusion before she started to explain. "Like I said, Mimi knows what she have to do, but Yamato doesn't. If he falls in love with Mimi, the danger will only increase for him. The last thing I want is for him to die for Mimi." TK's eyes widen in fear and ran ahead of them. They ran the whole way back in silence, while pushing through the crowded street. Once they reached there, Mimi and Yamato were already gone. After searching the whole lobby and looking into their hotel room, they all gather back in the lobby. Hasuma sighed as she looked around her for one last time. "They most likely went out for the festival."
"Damn," said Ken. "Looking for them will be like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Maybe I can look for them," said Izzy. "I could track them with my computer."
"You can't," said Cody. "Kari and I found Mimi and Matt's communicator on the table. They didn't take it with them, so we can't track them down."
"Then what can we do," asked TK desperately.
"Don't worry TK," said Tai even though his eyes seem doubtful. "If we know Matt like I think we do, I don't think he will fall in love with Mimi that easily."
"I hope you are right." TK sighed. He took of his hat and run his hand through his hair in frustration. A little smiled lifted into his face, when Kari slipped her hand into his. She gave him a little smile and gave his hand a little squeeze to show him comfort. "So..." He looked at them as they stood there. "What do you suggest we should do?"
"Well...might as well have a little bit fun while we are here," said Hasuma. "There is nothing we can do about them. Better not to mope about it. What do you guys say?" They all nodded their heads in agreement. "Alright, then let's go. Maybe we can find them while we are at it."
******
"Look Yamato! Look over there!" Yamato looked at the directions where Mimi was pointing and saw a juggler surrounded by a crowd. He formed some fireballs and started to juggle them in his hands.
"I don't see anything so excited about that," said Matt as the audience screamed out in astonishment. "Tai can easily form these fireballs. So can anyone that have a digimon's symbol that is related to fire."
"That is not true," said Mimi. "A lot of people have already lost their powers." She gave Matt a questioning look. "Don't you know that?"
"I noticed some people were getting weaker due to my experience as a mercenary, but...I thought they weren't as weak as this."
"They aren't weak." He looked at her before they continue to stroll down the city. Her hand was still clasped tightly within his. "It is just they haven't used their power for a long time. It is like what Izzy said. Maji evolved and so did humans. However, some majis lose some of their abilities just like human."
"They wouldn't have lost their ability if they continued to use it," said Matt.
"That is not how nature work," said Mimi. "You don't just lose an ability just because you don't use it. You lose it when your ability is not beneficial to you in your environment anymore."
"Then I don't see why they would bother to lose their power. We need it more than...HEY!" Matt scowled at a young lady as she intentionally bumped him on the shoulder. Mimi giggled slightly when the lady's seductive smile disappears under Matt's glare. She quickly backed away from him.
"You don't have to be so mean to her," said Mimi.
"Forget about that," said Matt. "What I am more interested in is our last conversation."
"To make things short, the caused of our power being diminished is due to the goddess and due to me." Although Mimi said the last part in a soft tone, Matt could hear it clearly. In fact he was really surprised by her answer.
"Due to you?"
"Well...it's more like, due to all of the shrine priest or priestess that are destine to reach the goddess. Because of what our goddess have promise us, they no longer used their power for anything. And since we have the barrier to protect us, they don't really need to face the Majis that are outside there. Some still retain their powers in order to protect themselves from robbers or something like that. However, most of them lost it because the ability was no longer necessary...ouch." Mimi winced when Matt's almost crushed her hand that was held within his grip.
"Sorry," Matt said unemotionally. He released her hand slightly.
"Is something wrong." Mimi looked at him with concern but Matt didn't answer her. "Yamato." His face was filled with anger and frustration as thoughts flew rapidly in his mind.
"So why don't they do anything about it," thought Matt. "Why do we have to rely on the priestess and our goddess to defeat the damn Maji! For goddess sake, why do they rely on us to do the dirty work, while they just do nothing about it! They are humans, aren't they? They are also responsible for what have happen in the past! So why aren't they doing anything to stop the Majis!" Matt snapped out of his thoughts when he finally heard Mimi calling his name. "I'm fine," he said coolly. He looked around the crowd and to his dismay his disgust for his own species grew larger than it was before. "Why do you have to help us," Matt snapped to her. "For goddess sake! They obviously don't care enough about their current condition to do anything to stop it."
She smiled at him and looked at the street. "Because I want to give them a better life," she said simply.
"We don't deserve it," Matt said bitterly.
"Everyone deserves a better life. You might not know it Yamato, but there are many people that are living and hoping that this nightmare would end one day." She placed her hand on her chest and looked at Matt. "I am one of them and if there is anything I can do to make this dream come true, I would do it." Matt turned away from her smile.
"Where do you want to go," asked Matt as they stood in an intersection. Mimi looked around her and found a bunch of merchants trying to sell their stuff. Her eyes caught a Ferris wheel not far from their right.
"Let's go there," said Mimi, while pointing to her right. Matt nodded his head.
*****
"Here you go sir," said the operator of the game. He handed over a large stuff penguin toy to Tai. Holding it in his hand, Tai turned to look at Sora, who was standing next to him. Her eyes shined and her face was lit up with a smile. Tai smiled at her and was about to hand the toy to her when he suddenly remembered what Hasuma have told him.
"Sorry," Tai muttered before he turned away from Sora. Sora looked at him in confusion when Tai stalked up to Kari and TK and handed over the toy to Kari. Kari stared at it dumbfounded.
"Wha...why did you give this to me Tai," asked Kari. She looked at Sora and saw her looking away from them. Kari looked at Tai and found him staring at the floor. "Tai?" Tai looked up to her and she handed the toy at him. "You were going to give it to Sora, weren't you?"
"Keep it," said Tai. "After what Hasuma said, I don't want to put Sora in danger." Kari sadly held the toy, while TK placed a hand on Tai shoulder to comfort him.
"I would rather have to give the toy to Sora," said Hasuma. They all turned to look at her as she approached them. She took the toy from Kari and handed it over to Tai. "It seems like you and Sora already have feelings for each other. If you just brush her off like this, it will hurt her even more and put her emotion into turmoil."
"But...," started Tai, but Hasuma interrupted him.
"You don't seem to understand, do you Tai? What I am trying to say is that, I would rather have you with Sora than to have you two feeling hopeless and confuse, especially when you guys already have feeling for each other. If you guys go into the trial in this kind of state of mind, it will be even more dangerous. As a couple, your emotional state is at least stable." Kari and TK nodded their heads. "Also, the trials are unpredictable. Being single doesn't necessarily mean you are in less danger than the others. It all depends on your state of mind and I can tell you for sure, your state of mind and Sora's state of mind are going to fail the next trial for sure if it stay this way." When Tai hesitated, Kari turned Tai around and pushed him toward Sora's direction.
"Go." Tai nodded and headed toward Sora.
"Since when did they started," asked Hasuma when Tai was away from them. They watched Tai as he shyly approached Sora and talked to her.
"They haven't really started until right now," Kari explained absentmindedly.
"Do you remember two nights ago," asked TK. Hasuma nodded her head. "Well, remember Sora and Tai did the watch that night. Tai said he and Sora kind of have a nice talk with each other that night." Kari snapped her attention from Tai and Sora and turned to look at TK.
"How did you know," she asked. TK blushed under Kari's glance.
"Well...actually, I over heard them," TK said. "I wasn't able to sleep that night and it was almost my watch too, so...."
*Flash back*
TK grumbled and sighed. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the starry night. "It's almost my turn to watch," he thought. Stifling a yawn, he turned to look at Kari, who was sleeping peacefully beside him. With a smile, he tenderly blushed the loose strand of hair that happens to fell on her beautiful face.
"Awww...come on Sora!" TK's peaceful moment was scattered when he heard Tai's voice manifested itself into the silent night. He looked toward the fire and found Sora and Tai sitting next to each other. TK could clearly see Sora giggling and he have to blink twice before he could be sure that Tai was blushing. Needless to say, neither one of them noticed he was awake as they continued on their conversation. "Aren't you going to give me a break," Tai moaned.
"So you really think that I am pretty don't you," Sora asked teasingly. "You did said I was attractive." Tai groaned.
"I wish I never did." He placed his right hand over his face, before running his fingers over his hair in frustration. "That way, you will stop bothering me about..." His words were cut off when he saw Sora smiling sadly by herself. He placed a hand on her shoulder with concern. "Are you alright?"
Sora looked at him sadly and nodded her head. "I'm sorry that I always tease you, but that was the first time a person ever said I am attractive." She looked down on the floor and sighed. "I thought I would never heard that from anyone in my life."
"Why do you say that," asked Tai. She shook her head and stretched herself.
"I don't know. Maybe..." She was startled when Tai took her hands in his. She looked at the serious expression in his eyes. Somehow, looking at him, she always felt so relax. "Maybe it's because I never thought I was good enough." Tai's eyes widen in surprise and lightly gave her hand a squeeze.
"Why," he asked softly. Sora sadly smiled to him.
"My father passed away when I was really young. Therefore, my mother was the only one who brought me up." She sighed and looked away from Tai. "I don't know what I did in the past to make her hate me. Or maybe she just doesn't like me at all because I remind her of father. It's just that, every time she someone's child, she will praised them. However, she never says anything to praise me. Even when I get A's in my classes and even when I made it as the captain of our school soccer teams." Tears started to appear in her eyes. "Every time I go home to tell her one of my accomplishment at school, she will just nodded her head and looked at me like she is afraid of me or something. Whenever, I go to one of my soccer practice, she will discourage me and tell me to focus my time our flower shop instead. I quitted soccer team and listen to her. I thought maybe by doing this, she might end up loving me. But..." Tears fell down on her face. "But all she does was yell at me for not focusing enough. From then on, I just don't try anymore. I'm just not a good enough daughter to her." She was surprised when Tai touched her face softly and turned her face toward him. He wiped her tears tenderly away from her face. "Maybe, I'm just not good enough."
"That's not true," Tai said, while looking straight at her eyes.
"And then I tried out to become a guardian, she will discourage me and said I can't make it. She yelled at me when she found out that I made it." She shook her head and laughed bitterly. "We had such a fight over that, but at the end, there was nothing she could do." She took a deep breath and blinked her tears away. "I didn't even see her before we left for the mission because I just don't want to start another fight with her and I don't want to hear anymore of her discouraging words. Ha...she might be glad to get rid of me."
"Sora." She moved into his open arms and started to cry uncontrollable. Tai silently comfort her until she started to calm down. "Sora?" He heard her said a yes as she continued to buried her face in his chest. "I don't think your mother hate you," Tai proceeded carefully. Sora slowly looked up at him. "I think you both mistaken each other's intention. From what you told me, your mother seems to be the kind that doesn't know how to express her feelings. But no matter what she did, it seems like she really care about you." He hugged her tighter when she shook her head in disbelief. "Wait, Sora. Before you say that is impossible, listen to what I have to say." For a moment, Sora didn't say anything, but she slowly nodded her head when Tai waited for her answer. He sighed from relief and slightly loosens his hold on her. "I might not know that much about family relationship because my parents passed away when Kari and I was really young. And growing up in an orphanage didn't really help that much, especially when no one was willing to take you in."
"I'm sorry, Tai," Sora said sympathetically. Tai shook his head.
"I am not trying to gain your pity." He quickly laughed when Sora started to protest. "I was just teasing. I know you meant what you said." Tai winced in pain when Sora softly punched him. "But what I am trying to say is that, even though I didn't know that much about family relationship, I do know that if your mother really didn't care about you, she would not have raised you up. If she really hate you, she could just dump you in an orphanage or she could just dump you in the middle of the street." Sora stiffens up when his words sank in. "Raising you up means that you must mean a lot to her. Trust me, being a single mother is not that easy. I know because I have to take care of Kari by myself." Sora slowly pulled away from him and her eyes are clouded with confusion.
"Then why does she always discourage me?"
Tai patted her softly on the head. "It is because she didn't want you to be in danger. She is constant scare that you will be in danger. As a soccer player, you have to travel to different cities to compete and that means you have to go outside the barrier. That means you are prone to Maji's attack." He smiled when he saw the hopeful looked in Sora's eyes. "And she yelled at you all the time in the flower shop because she knows you can't concentrate on the job. She is scare that you will go back and play soccer. Little less did she know her action would cause you to mistake her intention. I bet she must be really scared when you wanted to become a guardian for Mimi."
"Oh my goddess," Sora murmured. "I never knew...I never thought, that she cared." Tai patted her softly on the shoulder.
"Once we reach Silic, go give her a call. I am sure she is worried about you." She looked at him and smiled sweetly.
"I will, but..." She looked down shyly on the ground. "Can you be beside me when I do? I feel much more comfortable when you are there." Tai blushed slightly.
"Uhm....sure." He quickly stood up and looked at his watch. "Hey...it is past TK and Matt's turn to do the watch." He extended his hand to her. "Come on and let's wake them up." Sora nodded her head and took his hand. He helped her up.
"Thank you," said Sora. She held on to his hand a little bit longer. "Thank you for everything, Tai." Tai nodded his head and squeezes her hand lightly. TK closed his eyes and breathed evenly to pretend he was sleeping.
*End of Flashback*
"Why didn't you tell me what you heard," asked Kari.
"I'm sorry," said TK. "I was about to tell you the next day but Tai was near us that time. And well...after that, I forgot."
"Well, that was interesting," said Hasuma. And it seems like they have managed to reconcile while you are telling us all that information."She nodded her head toward Tai and Sora's direction. Sora's expression was hard when Tai first approached her but it quickly softly when Tai told her why he acted that way. Kari, TK, and Hasuma watched with a smile when Sora accepted the toy and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Tai shyly took her hand in his and quickly blushed when he saw Hasuma, TK, and Kari watching them.
"Where are the others," Tai asked quickly before they could tease him.
"They down the street," answered Hasuma. "I came here to look for you guys when we suddenly lost you in the crowd."
"So Tai," started Kari but before she could get anymore out of her mouth, Tai was already running with Sora toward the rest of the team member. "Hey wait!" TK chased after Kari when she ran after her brother. Hasuma sighed and followed them before they could be lost in the crowd. When they reached back to the others, they found Joe and Ken pulling Izzy away from a booth.
"I just want to look at that thing a little bit longer," said Izzy. "I want to see is it as good as that seller said it is."
"Come on Izzy," said Joe. "Can't you tell a con-artist from a honest merchant? That guy is definitely a con-artist."
"If that is a con-artist, I think one of you should stop Cody before he buy that sword." Ken quickly let go of Izzy and rushed to Cody as he took out his wallet. Izzy turned to look at Tai and Sora as they approached him. His eyes widen when he saw them holding on. "So...I guess you guys got together, huh?" Tai and Sora blushed when Izzy pointed his finger at their hand. Joe started to panic when he realized what this mean.
"What the heck are you thinking Tai," screamed Joe. "Didn't you remember what Hasuma told us just a while ago." Tai sighed and looked at Hasuma. She rolled her eyes and took Joe away for a nice talk before he could continue to berate Tai for his behavior.
"Where's Davis and Yolie," asked TK.
"They are over there," said Ken. He walked up to them with Cody. Least to say, Cody was a little bit upset for almost being tricked into buying that sword. They all looked at the direction when Ken pointed at. There was a large crowd gathering over there. Curious to what was going on, they all pushed their way through the crowd. They were surprise to find it was just a bumper car ride and at the center of the game was Yolie and Davis.
"What the heck happen," Tai asked the operator.
"Do you know them," asked the operator. They nodded their heads. "Good." He quickly handed over a purple stuff teddy bear to them. "This belongs to the girl. She told me to take care of it before she went in there."
"That's the one that Davis gave to here," said Joe. He and Hasuma have joined them after their little talk.
"Davis gave it to her," asked Sora in astonishment.
"Yeah," said Ken. "Yolie wanted it but she wasn't able to win it. Davis helped her won it." He smiled when he remember how surprise Yolie looked when Davis handed it over to her. "However, he told her that he only gave it to her to stop that obnoxious voice of her. Let's just say the rest of her reactions was fairly predictable." They all nodded their heads knowingly.
"I guess they are venting their anger over here, huh," asked Tai.
"They really don't like each other do they," asked the operator.
Ken looked at the operator for the bumper car game in disbelief. "No kidding," Ken said with a smile.
"That is the understatement of the year," said TK. Every one stood out side the bumper car ring as Yolie and Davis continued to bump each other like crazy. The rest of the players have already scattered to the sideline as those two continued to ram each other.
"How long is each turn," asked Kari. She winced when Yolie bumped Davis's car to the side. Davis shook his head to clear off the stars in his head before he glares back at Yolie's triumphant smile. He started to charge after her as she tried to run away from him.
"Only a few more second," Cody answered.
"I don't think my bumper cars could last that long," said the operator. He looked at Hasuma and frowned. "They are with you, am I correct." Hasuma nodded her head weakly. "Well, if there is any damage to my bumper car, you will have to pay for it."
"I got a better idea," said Izzy. "If your bumper cars are damaged from this, then I volunteer to fix it. In fact, I will help you modify it so the game would be better. What do you say?" The operator's eyes gleamed up with greed when he heard Izzy's proposal.
"You have a deal."
"Are you sure about it," Joe asked, while whispering into Izzy's ear.
"Trust me. I'm sure," Izzy whispered back.
******
"What! That can't be!" Matt looked at his score and Mimi's score in disbelief. Mimi giggled at Matt's expression as he put the toy gun down. He quickly looked at the operator of this shooting gallery and demanded did he post the right score.
"Sorry mister," said the operator as he hand Mimi a little stuff teddy bear. "But you lost to this little lady."
"I can't believe it," said Matt.
"That is what you get for not concentrating," Mimi said softly. "Come on, Yamato. Let's go to..." Before Mimi could walk away, Matt grabbed her hand and shook his head.
"I am not going anywhere until I get a rematch with you." Mimi smiled at his determination and nodded her head. When Mimi won the next round, Matt still couldn't believe it. They continued to play for three more rounds and to Matt's satisfaction, he won those three games in a row.
"I admit my defeat," Mimi said with a giggle. To her surprise, Matt smiled at her. "You have a nice smile, Yamato." His smile quickly disappeared and was replaced with a scowl.
"Let's go," he said. However, as he stood up, he noticed he have three teddy bears in front of him. He looked at the them for a while before he grabbed Mimi's two teddy bears.
"Yamato, what are you doing?" She watched in confusion when Matt gave back the five teddy bears to the operator. Her eyes widen when the operator gave Matt a large white teddy bear as an exchange.
"Here," said Matt as he handed the teddy bear to Mimi. Mimi took it with surprise.
"Wait, Yamato," said Mimi. "I can't take it. You won most of the toys. Give this to TK."
"Just keep it," Matt grumbled, while taking Mimi's hand into his. "I don't want it."
Mimi bowed her head and clutched the teddy bear tighter within her grip. "Thank you." They continued to stroll down the street, while enjoying the sights around them. Mimi stopped him once so she could go to the restroom. Matt was holding on to the teddy bear and waiting outside for her, when he heard a scream coming from down the street. He looked at that direction and was surprised to find a bumper car floating ten feet up in the sky. A child was up on the bumper car and was crying his heart out, while his mother was demanding the operator to bring her child back down to the ground.
"Izzy," Matt murmured. He flew up to the bumper car and looked at the young boy. "Stop crying. I'm here to save you." The boy looked at Matt and to Matt's dismay, the kid threw his arms around his neck and held on tightly. "Are you trying to choke me," Matt mumbled as he brought the kid back to safety. The kid's mother ran up to him and hugged her son. Before she could thank Matt, he has already flown back to where Mimi was. He saw Mimi looking around her with fear in her eyes. He landed right behind her and to his surprise, she quickly turned around to face him.
"Yamato," Mimi said in relief. "I was wondering where were you."
"I went to solve some problem," said Matt. Mimi looked at him in confusion but didn't ask him anymore when Matt didn't expand on it. He took her hand again as they continued to stroll down toward the Ferris wheel. Before they could reach there, Mimi saw a crowd standing near a cotton candy machine.
"What are those," asked Mimi as a young couple walked pass them with a cone of cotton candy.
"Don't tell me you never have one of those before." When Mimi shook her head, Matt sighed. "They are called cotton candy."
"Are they good?"
"Come on." Matt dragged her to the vender and brought one for her. He thrust it right in front of her face. "Try it."
"I can't," said Mimi.
"Why not."
"Because I don't have any free hand." Matt scowled when he notice he have failed to see that one of her hand was in his hand and the other one was holding the teddy bear. He quickly grabbed the teddy bear from her hand and gave her the cotton candy.
"Bite into it," ordered Matt when Mimi stared at it.
"But what about you," asked Mimi.
"I don't want any." Mimi looked at him with uncertainty but when Matt nodded his head, she bit into it. Her eyes were filled with wonder as the fluffy candy melted into her mouth. Matt smiled slightly at her childish wonder as she continued to marvel at the taste. "Do you like it?" Mimi nodded her head and thank him. Just then, a young boy was hurrying to his parents with two cups of soda. He rammed right into the Mimi and spilled the soda all over her coat.
"I'm sorry," said the boy. He quickly dropped his cups and tried to help Mimi dry her coat with the napkins in his hand. His parents walked up to him and started to apologize to Mimi for their son's action.
"It's alright," said Mimi as she took off her coat. "He didn't mean..." The boy's mother gasped when she saw the star symbol on Mimi's arm.
"You're the priestess aren't you," she asked Mimi in wonderment. "You're Mimi Tachikawa, aren't you?" Mimi nodded her head in silent. "My goddess! The priestess is here," shouted the woman. Heads turned from their work as they tried to locate the mysterious priestess. Matt frowned as he stared at that ecstatic woman. He turned to look at Mimi and for a brief second, he could see the sadness flashed through her eyes. However, it disappeared when she put on a smile and started to greet the crowd that have gathered around her and Matt.
"So that was what she was worried about," thought Matt when he recalled back to the conversation they had in the store department. "She was scared someone was going to recognize her." Matt grunted when someone pushed him from the back. In less than a minute, a huge crowd has already gathered around Mimi and demanding her to give them an autograph. Mimi politely signed it for them and smiled at their answer. For the first time, Matt just noticed how fake her smile was. Un able to withstand this any longer, he wrapped one of his arms around her waist.
"Yamato," asked Mimi in astonishment.
"Sorry everyone," said Matt coldly. "But our priestess don't feel that well today." With out another word, he flew up into the sky with Mimi in his hand. To his dismay, some of the people are also able to fly and started to chase after Matt in order to find where Mimi was staying. He weaved through the building rapidly as he tried to hide within the shadow. It didn't take long for him to lose the followers. However, by the time that he did, they were on the other side of the city from where their hotel was located. He landed them in a crowd and quickly took off his coat, before anyone could spot Mimi's mark.
"Thank you," said Mimi softly.
"We need to find a way to get back to the hotel." He took her by the shoulder and they both rapidly walked down the street. He spotted an isolated alley and pushed her in there. "The main streets are just too crowded. We can reach back to our hotel through these small streets and alley." Mimi nodded her head as she followed him. "You should have told them that you want to be alone," Matt said suddenly.
Mimi shook her head. "I can't."
"Why not," Matt asked angrily. "Why the heck are there so many things you can't do! If you want them to be around you, then just tell them to get out of your sight. How hard can that be?!"
"I can't do that because I am the shrine priestess," said Mimi.
"So what?! You are a priestess and so what?!"
Mimi sighed inwardly and started to walk away slowly. "You don't understand Matt. As the shrine priestess, I have a role that I must fulfill. It's my duty to see and help the people on Gaia."
"Even if you are not happy." When Mimi was about to protest, Matt clasped his hand on her mouth. "Don't even try," he warned. "I saw how you reacted when that idiotic woman start to discover who you were. Don't even try to deny it." Mimi softly removed his hand.
"Whether I am happy or not is not important," said Mimi.
"Not important!"
She smiled sadly at him and looked around her. Somehow, they have managed to reach to an isolated area, which looked out to a man-made lake. She walked up to it and looked out to the lake. Matt stood beside her, while observing her expression. "It is kind of ironic isn't it?" She looked at him right in the eyes. "I said you were wrong for hiding yourself in a closet but yet, I am not that much different from you." Matt could see himself reflecting in her eyes. She looked away from him and smiled weakly. "Since I was small, I was taught to hide my feeling because I am the shrine priestess. No matter how sad I feel, I must remain happy." Her hands clutched by her side. "Even if I am weak, I must act strong, because so many people look up to me. If I cry or if I show them I am weak, they will lose hope on me. So no matter what, I can't be weak and I can't cry, because I can't make them lose their hope on me."
"Priestess," Matt murmured. Mimi looked at him. To his surprise, Mimi eyes widen with surprise.
"I just remember. What happen to our teddy bear?"
"I must have dropped it somewhere," said Matt. He saw the disappointment in Mimi's face. "Come on, let's get back to the hotel." For the rest of the trip, they walk in silence. Matt held onto Mimi's hand till they reached to the hotel. To Mimi's surprise, Matt lifted her off the feet and flew her up into the air. Using the shadows from the building, he flew toward their room's window. The light was still out from his room, which indicated that the others have not arrived back home yet. He froze the lock on the window and broke into his room.
"Thank you Yamato," said Mimi. "Thanks for tonight. I will remember it always." Matt watched her as she walked out of his door. Mimi was about to enter her room when Matt called out to her.
"Priestess," said Matt. He was standing at his doorway. He hesitated for a moment, while he looked at her. "When the mission is over. I will bring you back over here so I can pay you back for the teddy bear. I lost it so, it is only right if I get one back for you." Mimi looked at him sadly before giving him a sweet smile.
"Thank you Yamato," said Mimi. She opened her door and stepped into her room. "Good night." Matt watched her door closed before he stepped into his room.
"Good night, priestess." He walked into his room and closed the door. Silently, he sank down on the floor and turned on the television. News from the reporter flashed through the screen but none of these enter his head. Matt didn't knew how long he sat there or what he was doing, but by the time he was snapped back to reality, Tai and TK were already back from the festival.
"Thank goddess you are here," said Tai. Tai smiled at Matt and was not surprised to find Matt glaring at him coldly.
"You sure have guts to show your face in front of me after what you pulled off today," Matt said coolly. Tai laughed nervously. He looked at TK for help but before TK could say anything, Matt stopped him with a glare. TK mouthed sorry to Tai before he disappeared into the bathroom. He didn't see Tai mouthing "traitor" right after him. For a moment there, the two boys stared at each other in silence. Tai sat there nervously with Matt watching him closely. After one minute of staring, Matt's face lifted in a smirk before he went back to look at the TV screen. "I've believe I torture you enough." Tai sighed in relief. However, he quickly tensed up. Knowing Matt, he would have beaten him up if he were really mad at him. However, since Matt let him off this easily, it must obviously meant he must have had a good time with Mimi and that was exactly what Tai was afraid of.
"Hey Yamato," asked Tai.
"What?"
"I want to know one thing and I need you to answer me seriously," said Tai in a serious tone. Matt nodded his head. "Did you fall in love with Mimi?" He saw the anger flashing through Matt's eyes. Before Matt could yell at Tai, Tai quickly told him why he asked that question. "I am asking you this because it is very important that you don't. You see... Mimi can't fall in love."
"Why not," Matt asked in a harsh tone.
Tai sighed. "It is because she is the shrine priestess. She can't fall in love because this will affect her mission. If she falls in love with you or if you falls in love with her, you would have a higher risk in failing the trials because the trials use your emotion against you." Tai groan in frustration. "Well...what I am trying to say is that you and Mimi will eventually end up getting hurt. So...what is your answer?" Tai waited anxiously for Matt's answer. To his surprise, he could see all kind of emotion flashing through Matt's eyes. As fast as they came, they disappear and his eyes remained as cold as ever.
"The answer is no."
Tai sighed in relief. "That is good to hear." He leaned back on his bed, unaware of the fact that Matt was gripping tightly to the remote control.
*The Next Day*
"Are you sure we are at the right place," asked Sora. She looked at the extravagant golden and ivory building in front of her. "It looks more like a palace than a shrine."
"We are at the right place," said Hasuma. They looked at each other before they proceeded into the shrine. They were about to reach to the main chamber when the young shrine priest stood in their path.
"I'm sorry," said the young priest. "We are not allowed to have visitors to enter the main chamber."
"Hi Genai," said Kari. The young priest was startled when she called out his name.
"How do you know my name," he asked.
Mimi walked up to him and bowed her head respectfully. "Genai, I am the shrine priestess from Guardinia. My name is Mimi Tachikawa, and I have come to take the trial."
"You are the shrine priestess?" Genai looked at her doubtfully. He noticed she was clad in a black sleeveless turtleneck with a long black coat to cover her arms. "Where is your robe?"
"Her robe was destroyed when we were attacked by Maji, while we were coming over here," Yolie answered him. Her face remained calm but Ken could feel the anger radiating out from her.
"That is still your world," Genai said stubbornly.
"Why you insolent...," Yolie growled at Genai but before she could say anything else, Hasuma stepped in between them and glared at Genai.
"If you want proof, then...." She walked up to Mimi and pulled off her coat, to reveal the star that is on her right arm. "Now do you have your proof?" She slipped back the coat on Mimi as Genai continued to look at them.
"If that isn't enough," said Tai. He took out the crests that they received from the other shrines and showed them to Genai. "Now do you believe we are who we said we are?" Genai bowed his head.
"I am sorry for my behavior because there have been some impostors that have been coming over to the shrine and been claiming them as the shrine priestess." He sighed.
"Why would they do that," asked Joe.
"It is because they want to ransack our main chamber for all of our treasury," said Genai. "We store all of our treasury in our main chamber." He turned toward the main chamber and inserted the three crests into the slots that were embedded on the door. The crests emitted out a dim glow for a moment, before it reverted back to its old form. The door quickly cracked open to reveal the main chamber. Genai took the crests out from the slot and gave them back to Tai. "You may step in there for your trial." He bowed to Mimi. "I wish you luck, priestess." He then turned to the guardians and bowed his head. "Good luck to you too." They all bowed to him before they cautiously step into the chamber. Genai quickly closed the door right behind them.
"Wow," said Cody as he looked at all the jewels and coins that were piled in the room.
Davis picked up a golden goblet that was lying on the floor and placed it next to one huge pile of silvers. "I thought this was suppose to be the main chamber. I didn't expect that it would a treasury room." He turned to look at Hasuma. "Was it like this when you came here last time." She shook her head thoughtfully. Davis snapped his fingers and nodded his head. "Could this be our trial?"
"No it isn't," said Hasuma. "It isn't like this." She looked at the front of the chamber and found the stone tablet that held the spirit of Silic's shrine. "I will ask Bacvil about it." She walked up to it and touched the stone. A flash of light emitted through the room.
"Damn," thought Davis as he rubbed his eyes. He blinked his eyes rapidly to take off those spots of color in his eyes. When he was able to see clearly, he saw Tai, Sora, TK, Joe, Hasuma, Cody, and Kari standing there in shock. The rest of the team members were lying on the floor, unconscious. A column of light surrounded their bodies. "My goddess! What the heck happen?"
"Don't worry, young guardians," said Bacvil. They turned to find a fat man's spirit floating from the stone. His black beady eyes looked at them in amusement. "The trials have just barely started for them. As your you...I guess the trials are over for you guys."
"The trial," asked Tai. Bacvil nodded his head. His eyes rested on Hasuma.
"Nice to see you again, young guardian. I hope this will not be another fruitless trip for you." Hasuma nodded her grimly.
"I hope so too," she said hesitantly.
"What is going on," asked Sora. She walked up to Mimi and bent down to her. She lifted Mimi into her arms. "She looks like she is just asleep."
"That's exactly what she is doing," said Bacvil, with a wicked smile.
"It isn't a regular sleep," Hasuma told them. She crouched down next to Mimi too. "They are in fact dreaming. In their dream, they will be given what they most desire."
"The trial of temptation," Cody said flatly. Hasuma nodded her head.
"What do you mean they most desired," asked Joe. He bent down to look at Izzy, who was lying right near him. "What I mean is that we all have desires. Why is it that they are the only one that are only being tested?"
"It is because they each have a desire that is so strong that it is at the brink of desperation," answered Bacvil. "They will do anything to have that desire fulfill." His eyes lit up with amusement.
"Therefore, they are the most easy target," said TK with a nod. He looked at his brother sadly. "But..." He looked at them hopefully. "But they can get out of it really fast. I mean, all they have to remember that it is just an illusion. That is all they need to know. Beside, they each know that they are in a trial and they all have past experience. This will be easy for them, right?"
Davis shook his head. "It won't be that easy. If what you said were true, TB, then the last shrine priest would not have failed on this trial. Right, Hasuma?"
She nodded her head. "Sometime, your desire is so strong that you will neglect it is an illusion." She touched Mimi softly on the forehead. "But right now, our current worry should be how to wake them up. Because if we don't do it within three hours, they will die."
"What!" They all exclaimed in shock.
"You better believe her," said Bacvil. His eyes rested on Hasuma. "She almost joined her lost comrades last time."
"Damn," said Sora. She started to shake Mimi softly. "Come on Mimi! Wake up! Now is not the time to sleep!" Davis and Cody were trying to wake up Ken. Kari shook Yolie softly while, Joe, Tai, and TK called out Izzy and Matt's name.
*Ken*
"Ken...Ken...wake up." Ken slowly opened his eyes and groaned.
"Wait a minute, Tai," said Ken. "Just give me a few more second."
"What are you talking about, Ken? Can't you even recognize my voice? It's me. Sam." Ken's eyes snapped wide open at the mentioning of his deceased brother's name. He quickly sat up and was surprised he was sitting on his own bed. He looked around and noticed he was at his own room. What surprised him the most was the young man that was sitting next to him. The glasses and the way his hair looked reminded him of someone that has haunted his dreams for many of years.
"Sam," Ken asked with wonderment. His throat felt dried and his body trembled with emotion. He slowly reached his hand to touch the young man before him. The young man smiled and nodded his head. "You are real," said Ken when his hand made contact with the warm flesh of his brother.
"What else do you think," said Sam. He patted Ken on the head softly. Ken silently noticed it was exactly what he used to do to him. Before Sam knew it, Ken threw his arms around him.
"Brother." Ken cried softly on his brother's shoulder. "I missed you."
"Hey, don't cry," said Sam. "You are always a softy. Always the kind one in our family." He smiled and patted Ken softly on the back. Ken backed up from his brother and laughed, while wiping the tears away from his eyes.
"I didn't think I would see you again." Sam looked at Ken in confusion. "What are you doing over here?" Ken looked around him and stood up. "Come to think of it, why am I here? Where are the others?"
"Huh?" Sam touched Ken on the forehead and shook his head. "You are not sick but you are talking really weird over here. Is something wrong with you Ken?" It is Ken's turn to frown. Sam smiled and quickly took Ken by the hand. "I know. You must been have had a bad dream. That is why you are talking so weird."
"I'm not talking weird," said Ken flatly. He waved his hand around him. "Everything...all of them are just an illusion. I know...I understand now. I remember I was on a trial." He looked at Sam. "You are not my brother."
"What are you talking about, Ken," asked Sam. He tried to approach Ken but Ken stepped away from him.
"I would have believed you if I never did experienced the first trial. If Yolie haven't talked to me, I wouldn't have accepted your death, Sam." Pain flashed through Sam's eyes as Ken continued to walked away from him.
"I missed you Ken," said Sam. "You don't understand how lonely it is over here." Ken froze when he saw the despair in Sam's eyes. "Everyday, I dream of you and our parents. I...I could only make believe you are here with me and playing with me." He reached out his hand to Ken. "Please Ken. I don't want to be alone anymore. Please stay here with me." Ken hesitated. "If you care for me as your brother..." Ken eyes widen. To Sam's surprised, Ken slapped his hand away from him.
"Because Sam is my brother, that is why I am choosing to leave you," Ken said coldly. "Sam died so that I can live. I live so that I can protect the people that I care about. This is what my brother really taught me. He would never tell me to die with him." Ken turned away from the fading Sam. His room was starting to fade away as he walked toward the door. "There is nothing I want more than to see my brother again and say sorry for what the past, but..." He placed his hand on the door and yanked it open. "But I want to say it to the real Sam, not a fake one." Ken took one step out of the door.
"I heard you Ken," Sam's voice floated softly into his ears. "I understand. I just want you to know, I am proud of you. Go on with your mission and continue to live. Please tell mother and father that I love them." Ken turned around in shock. He could see clearly see through Sam by now.
"Sam...is that really you," Ken asked. Sam nodded his head and smiled. "Sam!" Ken was about to rushed to his brother but Sam shook his head.
"Don't lose to the trial right now! Go on. I don't want to see you until you are old and full of winkles." He raised his hand and a gust of wind blasted at Ken, pushing him out the door. Ken ran toward the room but the door closed on him.
*****
"SAM!" Ken screamed out his brother's name as he bolted straight up. Cody backed away just in time to avoid colliding with Ken's head. Ken stared straight ahead of him in dazed, while all of them rushed toward him.
"Hey Ken," asked Davis. "KEN!" Ken winced when Davis yelled neared his ear.
"I can hear you Davis," Ken grumbled. "Thanks for being my alarm clock."
"Thank goddess you are alright," said Tai. "Nice to have you back on the team."
"Yeah, me too," said Ken. He looked down on the floor and thought back over his dream. A little smile appeared on his lips. "I saw my brother," said Ken. They all nodded their head in silence. "I actually saw my brother." He wiped the little tears that were in his eyes. He looked around them and frowned when he saw some of them were missing. "Where are Yolie and the others?" Kari sadly pointed toward Yolie. Ken quickly stood up and rushed toward Yolie. "What happen?"
"They are dreaming right now," said Davis. "Just like you were." Ken lightly shook Yolie to wake her up. "We have been trying to wake you guys up for half an hour already and well...you are the only one that have woke up so far."
"Half an hour," Ken said in astonishment. "But I only been over for a few minutes. How can it be half an hour?"
"I guess time is faster in the real world," said Joe.
"This is bad," said Hasuma. "We only have two and a half more hours before they die on us."
"What can we do," asked TK desperately. "Can't we do anything to wake them up?!"
"You saw what happen to Ken," Hasuma replied. "He woke up on his own. Even if we shake them and yelled at them, they won't hear us. There is nothing we can do but to sit here and wait." She sat down on the floor in frustration. "That is why this trial is so hard. The first trial we can get into the barrier. The second trial was not as dangerous because we don't have to die even if we fail it. But this one..." She looked at Mimi, Matt, Izzy, and Yolie's still forms. "We can only hope."
*Izzy*
Izzy blinked his eyes to get rid of the flashes inside his eyes.
"Are you alright, Izzy?" Izzy looked up and saw his mother smiling softly at him.
"Mother?" Izzy looked at her in astonishment as she kindly kissed him on the cheek. She turned away from him and smiled at her husband. Izzy looked toward his father and find him holding a camera. His father smiled at him, while walking toward them. "Father."
"So, where do you guys want to go next," asked his father. He patted Izzy on the head before taking out a map. For the first time, Izzy finally realized they are in an amusement park. He looked at his parents as they discuss where to go next.
"That's weird," Izzy thought. He rubbed his hand on his head and he noticed he was dressed in a regular white T-shirt and in a tanned brown shorts. He shifted his shoulders and realized he was carrying a backpack.
"Izzy?" Izzy snapped from his thought when his father called out his name. "Where do you want to go?" Izzy looked at them before he took the map from their hand.
"Uhm...how about this ride," said Izzy. He pointed it toward a crazy roller coaster.
"This one," his father asked doubtfully. "I don't think I can handle it."
"Come on honey," said his mother. "It is not as horrible as it look." She smiled warmly at Izzy. "I think Izzy would love to go on it with us, don't you Izzy." Izzy nodded his head in silence. With a sigh, his father nodded his head.
"Might as well," said his father. He smiled at his son and took one of Izzy's hand into his. "We are coming over here to celebrate your birthday anyways." His mother took his other hand before they started to head toward the roller coaster. Izzy remained silent as his parents chat happily along the way.
"Something is wrong," thought Izzy. "But I can't put my finger on it." He looked at his father and his mother. "I am not suppose to be here but I just can't remember where am I suppose to be."
"Are you alright, Izzy," asked his mother. Izzy smiled and nodded his head.
"I'm alright, mom," Izzy reassured her.
"Are you enjoying the day," asked his father.
"It's prodigious," Izzy answered. "I haven't have so much fun in my entire life. Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad." They smiled at him and a warm feeling spread thought Izzy's body. By the time that they reach to the ride, a huge line was already there. While waiting on line, Izzy happily joke with his parents. "I haven't felt this happy for a long time," thought Izzy. However, this thought troubled him. He just couldn't remember why he wasn't happen in the past. He quickly threw out this thought when his mother asked him does he want some iced lemonade. Izzy nodded his head and fanned himself to keep himself cool. He watched with a smile when his father complained those drinks cost too much. However, he ended up forking over the money. His mother walked back to Izzy and handed him his drink.
"Here you go, my son." Izzy froze when his mother called him this. The drink spilled from his hand. "Izzy!" His mother and father rushed to him to wipe off the lemonade that have splashed on his leg when his drink hit the floor. Izzy looked at his mother and father before he broke off into a run. "Izzy!" He could hear his mother calling out for him.
"Izzy!" Izzy covered his ears when he heard his father and mother calling out for him. Tears streamed down his face as he pushed his way past the crowd. He was about to turn another corner when his father grabbed his arms and pulled him toward them. "Izzy," his father wheezed out from his breath. "Wh..Wha..." He took some deep breath before he continued. "What is the matter, Izzy? Why did..." He stopped when he saw Izzy was crying silently. "What is it son?" He touched Izzy by the shoulders. By this time, his mother also reached to them.
"Izzy," she called out to him.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" They both backed up in shock when Izzy screamed out loud.
"Izzy honey," his mother said soothingly. "What is it honey? You can tell me. I am your mother." She quickly shut up when Izzy glared at her.
"Liar," Izzy said hoarsely. His eyes were filled with pain. "I remember now. I can remember clearly now." He banged his head on the wall, while trying to stop his tears. "You aren't my parents. You are not my real parents." His mother and father looked at him in shock. "I've over heard you talking one night."
"You know," said his mother in a whisper. Her husband put his arms around her to support her.
"So that was why you ran away," said his father. Izzy closed his eyes and nodded his eyes.
"I ran away from home because I didn't want to believe it. But the longer that I stay there, the more this thought nagged me. I can't stay there and look at you like I did in the past." He swallowed to suppress his tears. "If...if...I knew that you will be killed by Majis two years later, I wouldn't have run away." Tears flow down his eyes. "I was going to come back. I was going to come back to you one day. I just didn't know that I would be too late."
"Izzy," said his mother. She reached out to touch her son but instead of making contact with him, her body went through him. Izzy snapped his eyes wide open when a chill spread through his body. He looked downward to find his mother on her knees. She cried out in despair.
"Mother," said Izzy. He reached to her but he wasn't able to touch her. "I'm sorry. There is nothing I want more than to be with you and be your son. But..."
"You are our son, Izzy," said his father. He looked at Izzy's eyes with a serious expression. "Even if you are not our real son, we love you like our own son."
"I'm sorry father." Sobs erupted through Izzy's as he tried to hug his father, but was unable to do. "If I didn't acted so irrational and if I didn't ran away, I wouldn't have lost you so early. I am sorry!" He felled down on the floor. "I'm sorry. There is nothing I want more than to be your son."
"And there is nothing I want more than you Izzy," said his mother. She looked at him in the eyes. "Don't cry Izzy, my son." She put her arms lightly around Izzy so it would not go through him. "I want you to stay with me, Izzy. I want it so badly."
"But we can't do that to our son, honey," said Izzy's father. He helped his wife back on the feet. "Izzy, you know what you have to do right?" Izzy nodded his head sadly. "Even if you want to stay, there is something more important to you out there. Don't disappoint me again son." Izzy nodded his head. He watched his parents slowly disappearing in front of him.
*****
Izzy opened his eyes to find himself staring up at the ceiling. "Izzy!" Before he knew it, Joe, Tai, Sora, and Kari, who happen to be near him at that time, threw their arms around him. "You are awake!"
"Hey stop it you guys," Izzy squeaked out as they hugged him tightly. "I'm losing my breath!" They quickly released him. He groaned and stood up. "Wouldn't it be ironic if I die because of you guys instead of the trial." He smiled at them as Joe helped him up. Izzy sighed and smiled a little bit. "You know what? I didn't think I would have passed the trial. If my parents haven't told me to go, I would have stay there," he ruefully admitted.
Hasuma turned to looked at Bacvil and found him frowning. "It seems like your instruments are working against you." Bacvil growled at her and disappear back to his monument. Her smile quickly disappeared. "But the sad thing is that, we don't have that much time. We only have one more hour left."
"Damn it, Matt," TK said anxiously. "Please wake up! Don't leave me now brother!"
*Matt*
"If I go blind, I will charge double for all of the trouble I have to go through," Matt muttered as he rubbed his eyes. When he opened it, he saw everyone of his team members were laying on the floor. Only Mimi was standing there in confusion.
"Yamato," asked Mimi. She went downward and looked at Sora and Hasuma. Matt quickly turned to TK and picked his brother up.
"What is going on over here," Matt asked. He looked around Silic's main chamber but everything was still the same.
"I think they are in the trial," said Mimi. She slowly placed Sora down and walked up Matt. Just then, Genai opened the door and peered in. He was surprised to see them.
"I see you two are the only one that passed the trial so far," said Genai. He walked up them and nodded his head. "The others are still in trail, priestess. Would you please step outside and let them finished their trial in peace?"
Mimi nodded her head and turned to walk away with Genai. However, when Matt didn't move, she turned around and looked at him. "Yamato?"
"I'm staying here with TK."
Mimi walked back up to him and touched him on the shoulder. "There is nothing you can do for them, Yamato. Let's go outside." Matt didn't acknowledge her and continued to stay with her brother. Mimi sighed. "I'm going outside Yamato. But I don't know if something going to happen to me." Matt slowly looked at her. She smiled at him. "I'll see you outside." She turned around to walk away.
"Hold on." Mimi smiled secretly to herself. However, her smile quickly disappear when she turned around and found Matt's gun pointed right at her face. Her eyes widen in terror when Matt continued to look at her with coldness in his eyes. "You are not the priestess."
"But..." Mimi stopped her sentence when she saw he charged his gun.
"The priestess that I know will never make me choose between her and my brother. You are not her."
"Wait...hold on a minute," said the fake Mimi when Matt was about to pull the trigger. Matt scowled when the whole scenario disappeared, leaving only the fake Mimi and him behind. "Before you pull the trigger, I would like to congratulate you for passing the trial."
"Ha," Matt said with great sarcasm. He put his gun away and looked at the fake Mimi with disgust. "This trial is a laugh."
"That is because you weren't suppose to be tested that is why," said the fake Mimi. "Allow me to introduce myself." Mimi's image quickly disappeared only to be replaced with a young girl with ivory complex. Her beautiful long black hair flowed down her back and it contrasted nicely with her with gown. "I am Diana," she said with a musical voice.
"I don't give a damn who you are." Matt looked around him. "Just let me out of here since I passed the trial already."
"Not yet," said Diana. Her nice brown eyes lit with amusement. "I would like to talk to you first."
"There is nothing I want to talk to you about." He took out his gun and pointed to her. "I hope this clarify my point. Let me out of your stupid mind game."
"Your gun can't hurt me, Yamato and you know that." She smiled when he scowled. "You might as well put away your gun because it will not hurt me and I am not scare of it." She watched him steady as the gun wavered in his hand. He reluctantly stuck it back into his pocket and sat down on the floor.
"Speak or let me out."
"We will talk," said Diana. She floated right in front of him. "What I am curious about is, why Mimi?"
"Why what," snapped Matt.
"Why Mimi," Diana repeated herself. "I mean, why do you desire to see her."
"You're nuts!" Matt frowned when he saw her smiling. He tried to turn away from her but he suddenly found out he could not move. "What the heck did you did to me!"
"I've just freeze you for the moment so we can talk to each other." She floated down from the air and sat down across him. "Now, back to my question. Why her?" When Matt was about to speak she shook her head. "Don't try denying it. I could see it in your heart. You have a strong desire for her."
"If you are trying to make me say I desire her, you are not getting it," said Matt angrily. "If you want to know the truth, I don't even like her!"
Diana nodded her head. "I could see that is true but there is only some truth in it." She sighed. "When I said you desire her, I mean, why is she so important to you? I mean, isn't your brother the only person that you care about?"
"You are damn right."
"Then why does your heart tell me otherwise?"
"I don't know what you are talking about. And if you are so smart and you know how to read my heart, why don't you ask it yourself," hissed Matt.
Diana's face became really serious. "I could do that but I want to hear it from you." She sighed when she saw determination written all over Matt's face. "Yamato, unless you do not face up to your heart, you will not be able to protect Mimi to the fullest potential." She smiled slyly at him. "Beside, she is worth ten million dollars to you. Ten million dollars."
"Shut up!" Diana smiled when Matt said that coldly to her.
"What is it, Yamato? Isn't that what she is to you. Ten million dollars?"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Matt shouted out loud! "I don't want to hear that stupid number anymore! For goddess sake she is just a human being!"
"An expensive one if I must say so myself." Matt glared at her. "And beside, who are you the one to tell me to shut up when you are the one who value her for the money you will get for accomplishing your mission." Matt froze when her words hit the mark. She smiled slightly as this silence. "A human being, huh? Great...I see you have improvement. You started to consider her as a regular human being. But she can never be a regular human being can she. A shrine priestess. That is what she is."
"Yes...a shrine priestess." Matt looked bitterly downward. "A shrine priestess with no emotion. She can't cry. She can't love." He looked at Diana straight in the eyes. "I hate her."
"Why," Diana asked softly. "Why do you hate her? Because she can't cry? Because she can't love?"
"Because she can't be who she wanted to be." Matt looked away from her. "Because she reminded me of myself." He laughed bitterly. "She said I locked myself in a closet but she is just the same. She is nothing but an hypocrite."
"But she reminds you of what you can become, doesn't she?" Matt looked at her silently. "You both managed to lock up your emotion but Mimi is full of happiness and you are full of bitterness."
"That's why I hate her," Matt muttered softly.
"But you also respect her don't you," asked Diana. She frowned when she saw Matt frowning. "I'm not letting you go yet so it is best you start speaking or the longer we are going to stay here."
Matt growled at her. "Yes," he reluctantly admitted. "I respect her. I respect her because she is the strongest girl that I ever meet and yet, she is the weakest girl that I ever meet." He saw the confusion in Diana's eyes and he smirked. "I guess you can't read everything can you."
"Shut up!" Matt laughed at her retort. She scowled. "Being next to you is horrible. Now I am sounding nasty and bitter."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Why am I not surprise," said Diana. "But back to the topic. What do you mean by her being the strongest yet being the weakest."
Matt sighed. "She is strong for following her belief. She is weak because she can't be what she wanted to be."
"She has already become what she wanted to be," said Diana. "She is a shrine priestess."
"Is that all she is? A shrine priestess?" Diana shrugged her shoulder at Matt's question.
"What else is she?"
"A human being," Matt snapped at her. "That is what she is! A regular human being that is able to express her own emotion! That is what she is suppose to be." To his annoyance, Diana started to laugh really hard. "What are you laughing about," Matt demanded.
Diana's laughter quickly ceased, as she looked straight into his eyes. "You are just as much of a hypocrite. You said she is just a regular human being but you always treated her as a priestess. If you don't believe me, ask yourself what you call her all the time. Not Mimi, but priestess." Matt frowned when he realized his own fault. "Hypocrite."
******
"Matt," said TK as he shook his brother. To his relief, the column of light that surrounded him has disappeared. "Matt?" To his horror, his brother didn't wake up. "Hasuma!" Hasuma looked at Matt's direction when she heard TK calling out her name.
"Don't worry, TK," she quickly answered him. "If the column of light is gone from him, that meant he passed the trial."
"Then why isn't he waking up," asked Izzy. Hasuma shrugged her shoulder.
"It's because he is having a nice conversation with one of my worker," said Bacvil. His voice radiated out from the monument. "Oh as a reminder, you only have half an hour left before the other two of your team members leave you."
"Shut up," said Davis. He looked at Mimi and touched her forehead. They all looked at him in shock when he cursed out loud. "She is freezing cold!" Hasuma quickly touched Mimi's face.
"Her breath is slowing too," Hasuma said.
"So is Yolie," Ken said in panic. TK touched Matt and was relief to find his status was normal. He gave one look at Matt before he rushed to Yolie and Mimi. He held on to Mimi's hand but her hand remain cold.
"I can't heal her," said TK.
"Of course you can't," said Joe. "She isn't injure that's why." He walked impatiently around the room, while the others tried to wake the two girls up.
Davis walked up to Yolie. He bent downward and scowled when he saw her peaceful face. He looked at Ken and found him and Kari calling and shaking Yolie to wake her up. "Come on, Yolie," Davis said harshly. "Damn it. Wake up!"
*Yolie*
"Hey, Yolie! You didn't fall asleep did you?" Yolie opened her pretty purple eyes and was shock to see her two older sisters and one older brother looking at her. They smiled in relief when Yolie opened her eyes.
"Where...what happen," asked Yolie.
One of her sister rolled her eyes. "Man, you really lost it didn't you?" She turned to her brother and pointed her finger at Yolie. "Can't you believe her? She fell asleep while making her birthday wish!" They all laughed. It was just then, when Yolie realized a birthday cake was placed in front of her. She looked around and found herself back at her old home. Her mother and father came out from the kitchen when they heard their laughter.
"What is going on," asked Yolie's father. His eyes shine with amusement and happiness as he looked at them. Yolie scowled when her older sister ran up to her father and mother to tell them about Yolie's reaction. As they laughed about her silliness, Yolie closed her eyes and tapped her fingers on the table.
"There is something that I am suppose to remember...but what," she thought to herself. She quickly snapped out of her thought when one of her sister called out to her again.
"Don't tell me you are going to fall asleep again are you?" Yolie looked at her sister and shook her head. "Then what are you waiting for? Haven't you figured out your birthday wish yet?"
"Well....I can't think of any good one yet," said Yolie. "I will conserve it for later." Her older brother pouted at her answer.
"But if you don't make a wish right now, we will never get to eat the cake." He pointed frantically at the cake. "Look! The waxes are dripping on the cake. Hurry up and make a wish!"
"But I can't think of one yet," Yolie said angrily at her brother's behavior. "I don't want to waste a wish."
"Then you are going to waste a cake!" Her parents laughed them as Yolie and her brother started to fight with each other. Their laughter died when a food fight suddenly appeared.
"Hey stop it," yelled her mother. However, she quickly be quiet when a piece of cake hit her squarely on her face. Yolie and her siblings quickly froze when they notice whom they accidentally hit. Before her mother could vent her anger at them, their father burst out in laughter. Yolie and her siblings quickly sighed in relief when their mother turned to look at her husband with great annoyance. She took a piece of cake from Yolie's birthday cake and stuffed it on her husband's face. Needless to say, foods went flying around the dinning table as they attacked each other. When they were done, the whole dinning room was in total mess and they were sprawling on the floor, catching their breath.
"Present time," said Yolie's father. Yolie's eyes lit up at the mention of present. She watched with great anticipation when her family walked out of there to get her presents. Once they left her, Yolie suddenly felt a little bit scared.
"What is this feeling," thought Yolie. "Why am I feeling so isolated and so scare?" She shivered and before she could call out for her family, they started to appear back into the dining room. Yolie can't help but feel relief at the sight of them.
"Here," said her mother. She handed her gift over to Yolie. "Happy birthday." She kissed Yolie on the cheek. Yolie raised her hand up to get the gift. Before she could touch it, she noticed her hands were still sticky from the food fight.
"Damn," cursed Yolie. She quickly stood up to go to the kitchen. "Wait Mom! Let me go and wash my hand first." She ran into the kitchen unaware that her family was fading in and out of the background right behind her.
******
"Yolie," said Ken urgently. "Come on and wake up." He touched her head and it was colder than before. "Don't die like this. I still haven't thank you for helping me!" Kari took Yolie by the shoulders and shook her lightly, while calling for her name. Ten minutes have passed and she and Mimi still remain in their still forms.
"Come on, Yolie," called out Cody.
Davis silently took her hand and looked at her face. "Come on Yolie," he said softly. "Hey, wake up and fight with me. Yell at me. I swear I will not fight back, this time. Just wake up." When Yolie still remain passive, he glared at her in anger. "Damn it Ogermon. Wake up!"
*******
"OH JUST SHUT UP YOU OBNOXIOUS JERK!" Yolie angrily turned off her faucet. "FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NOT..." She turned around to give Davis a piece of her mind but only to find her alone in the kitchen. "Oh my goddess," Yolie murmured. She leaned back on the counter and put her hand on her face. Memories about the mission came flooding into her mind. For a moment, she stood there to calm her thoughts. She quickly snapped out from her thought when she realized she don't have that much time. Yolie looked around her and headed out from the kitchen. To her surprised, she could see her family standing there. However, unlike before, they were fading away.
"Yolie," said one of her older sister. "I guess you realize this isn't true, huh?" Yolie silently nodded her head. "It was fun while it lasted."
"Yes it was," Yolie said calmly.
"It was nice to see you again my daughter," said her father. "I missed you and I want you to remember that we love you." He looked at his wife and before Yolie could say goodbye, he and her siblings have faded away, leaving only her mother behind.
"Mom," asked Yolie, when she noticed her mother was still there.
Her mother walked up to her and softly looked at Yolie. "You have grown so much. I'm sorry we weren't able to raise you up and see you grow up to such a wonderful girl."
"It's not your fault." Yolie's voice trembled, while she tried to control her emotion. Tears threaten to spill out of her eyes. "I wouldn't have live if you haven't protected me from the Maji's attack."
"Yes," her mother said thoughtfully. "It must be hard on you, Yolie. It must be hard to lose us all at the same time." She reached out to touch Yolie but her hand went right through her. She sadly looked at her hand. "If Hasuma and her teacher didn't happen to pass by at that time, the Majis would have killed you too. I'm glad she have been taking care of you."
"Mom..."
"Don't cry now," her mother said harshly when she saw the tears in Yolie's eyes. "You promise me you will live your life to the fullest. You promise you will not cry unless it is something important."
"But this is important," said Yolie. Her tears slid down from her face. "This is the most important moment in my life." Her mother shook her head.
"Your most important moment will be the time when you help Mimi fulfill her mission." Yolie watched in sadness when her mother started to fade away. "I love you, Yolie. I've never been prouder. Be strong..." Yolie nodded her head and looked downward when her mother left her.
"I promise."
******
Yolie slowly opened her eyes and groaned when the light hit her eyes. "What..." Before she could even say the next word, she felt like a moving truck hit her when everyone rushed to her and pulled her into a gigantic hug.
"Let go of her before you kill her," Izzy said happily. They quickly released her. Yolie gasped from air when they released her. Her eyes flared up in anger as she looked at them.
"What the heck are you guys trying to do?! Kill me?!" She glared at them, while they grin back at her.
"Fifteen more minutes," said Davis. Inwardly, he was happy she was awake. However, he didn't show it to her. Instead he groaned out loud and rolled his eyes. "Fifteen more minutes and I don't have to listen to your ugly voice anymore." He waited for Yolie to sock him or yelled at him but she didn't. Instead she just smiled at him.
"Damn you, jerk," Yolie said to Davis. "But thanks anyways." Davis looked at her with surprise. He pinched himself to make sure he was not dreaming.
"My goddess, something is awfully wrong over here," thought Davis. "I just insulted her and she thank me?! She must have fried her brain." Before he could wonder more about Yolie's unusual behavior, Yolie quickly stood up and rushed toward Mimi. Their joys were scattered when they realized that Mimi haven't even woke up yet. They crowded around their priestess as they waited anxiously for her to open her eyes.
*Mimi*
"Mimi." Mimi groaned and rolled to the side of her pink fluffy bed. "MIMI!!!!" Her eyes snapped open when Sora yelled at her right beside her ear. Mimi quickly sat up and looked at Sora. To her astonishment, she found herself back at her own bedroom. Sora and Kari were sitting on her bed, grinning right at her. "Well is about time, that our sleeping beauty is awake."
"Sora. Kari," said Mimi. She quickly got out of her bed and looked around her. "Where are the other people?" Sora and Kari looked at each other in confusion before they turned to look back at Mimi.
"If you are asking about your parents," said Kari. "They went out for dinner. They said since we are going to a party tonight, they might as well enjoy the little quality time they have with each other."
"I wasn't asking about them," Mimi said in aspiration. "I was talking about Yolie and the others? What happen to them? Weren't we at the trial? Why are we back at my home?"
"What are you talking about," Sora asked with great concern. She walked up to Mimi and touched her on the forehead. "You aren't sick, so why are you talking about nonsense?"
"Of course I am not sick," Mimi exclaimed. She looked at Sora and back at Kari. "Don't you guys get what I am talking about?"
"We understand what you are talking about," said Kari. Mimi sighed in relief. "But what does it have to do with us?" Mimi looked at her in disbelief. What she heard next shock her the most. "We aren't the shrine priestess and the guardians, so why do we have to care about the trials?"
"Wha...what are you saying Kari," screamed Mimi frantically. "What do you mean, you aren't a guardian! You are my guardian! Don't you remember?" She pointed her finger at Sora. "And so are you, Sora! Don't you remember?" Mimi can't believe it when they shook their head. "I am the shrine priestess, remember?! You guys were supposed to protect me!"
"Whoa...hold on a minute," said Sora. "You aren't the shrine priestess in the first place."
"What are you talking about," asked Mimi. "Of course I am. Look...." Mimi raise up her right sleeves and to her surprise, the star birthmark that she was born with was gone. Mimi stared at it for a moment before she collapsed on her bed in dazed. She wasn't aware that Sora and Kari were calling out her name. She finally got out of her initial shock when Sora shook her lightly on the shoulder.
"Hey, girl. Are you alright," asked Sora. Mimi nodded her head. "Can you tell us what is going on?"
"I think...I think so." Mimi leaned back on the wall and placed her right hand on her forehead in frustration. "I don't know what happen but....I thought I was the shrine priestess. And your brother..." She looked at Kari. "I mean, Tai. He was a mercenary. He and his group of people set out with us to go on our pilgrimage." To her annoyance, Sora and Kari laughed.
"That is some amazing dream," said Kari. She patted Mimi softly on the head. "But you are not the shrine priestess because the real one just set off for her mission two days ago. Beside, you don't have the star mark on your arm. You have to have one in order to be the designated shrine priestess."
"But it seems so real," Mimi said meekly.
"In your dreams," said Sora, while giving Mimi a little hug. "Poor girl. You must be reading too much action story. I swear, something you have to good of an imagination." Mimi looked offended at Sora's words but she didn't say anything. "Anyways," said Sora, while standing up from Mimi's bed. She reached out and pulled Mimi up to her feet. "We have to get ready for tonight's party. I heard that Yolie have invited a lot of cute guys for her birthday party, tonight."
"Yeah," said Kari. "We don't want to disappoint the guys, do you?" Mimi laughed and shook her head at Kari.
"You already have TK, Kari," Mimi reminded her.
"Yeah, but you know she can't help teasing Davis a little bit," said Sora.
"Talking about Davis," Mimi started, as Sora and Kari pulled her to the mirror. "I hope he won't start a fight with Yolie again. I will be glad if they get along nicely for a change."
"Actually, I like their fight," said Kari. "It is interesting and well, I think Davis and Yolie enjoy them. If Yolie really hate Davis that much, she wouldn't have invited him in the first place." She gave out a squeak when she noticed what time it was. "It's already five fifteen and the party starts at five thirty! The guys are picking us up in ten minutes! We are going to be late!" Mimi watched in astonishment as Kari and Sora ran out of her room frantically as they try to get dress as soon as they can. Mimi calmly walked up to her closet and looked inside. Somehow, she can't help feeling a little bit lost when she looked in there. Instead of her priestess robe, she found a beautiful pink gown. She touched the gown tenderly and sighed.
""It still felt so real," Mimi thought. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw the sadness in her eyes. "But..." She turned back to look at the gown and smiled slightly. "But I kind of glad it is over." Mimi raise up her slender hand and took the gown off the hanger. With Sora and Kari out of her room, Mimi quickly slipped into the gown before they could burst into her room. As she marvel at her image in the mirror, she can't help feeling a little bit giddily and happy. Just then, Sora and Kari came bursting into her room.
"You look nice, Mimi," said Sora. She looked at her blue spaghetti strapped dress before turning to the mirror. "And I must say I don't look that bad either." Kari looked at Mimi to wait for her opinion. Her beautiful velvet green dress fit her perfectly as it show off her beautiful figure.
"You look wonderful," said Mimi. Kari smiled happily. However, she started to panic when she noticed they haven't done their hair yet. Kari quickly combed her short hair and Sora quickly ran her short orange hair with a few expert strokes with the brush. When they are done, they were dismay to find Mimi just standing right at there.
"Aren't you going to fix up your hair," asked Kari. Mimi looked at Kari in confusion.
"Fix it up? How?" Sora sighed in aspiration. She took Mimi and brought her in front of the mirror. With in a few seconds, Mimi's hair was pulled up into an elegant bun with one a few strand cascading down the side of her face. As Mimi looked at Sora's brilliant work, the doorbell to her house rang. Sora and Kari screamed out loud, while trying to find their shoe. Mimi found hers by her bedroom door and quickly put them on. She ran down the stairs to the front door and yanked open the door. Outside, Tai and TK were dressed up nicely to pick up their girl friend. TK whistled at Mimi when he saw her.
"Looking sharp," said TK with a smile. Mimi blushed and let them in. "Let me guess, Kari and Sora are still getting dress."
"Yes," said Mimi. "They will be here in a minute. They just have to find their shoe."
"Yeah, sure," said Tai with a grin. "I can bet they are probably going to fix their hair one last time before they come down here to see us and that will take more than a minute."
"We heard that, Tai." Tai and TK quickly looked at the staircase to find Sora and Kari coming toward them. They each went to their respective partner and gave them a kiss. "Where is Yamato," asked Sora when she noticed that Matt was not there. Mimi's eyes widen with surprise at the mention of his name.
"Oh..he said he is busy," said Tai. He turned to look at Mimi. "I'm sorry Mimi. I guess your date just cancel out on you the last minute."
"Date," Mimi asked in wonderment. "I don't..." She quickly be quiet when she saw the confusion in their eyes. "I mean, I'm sorry too."
"It's alright," said TK. "My brother said he will make it up to you the next time."
"I'm sure Yamato will," Mimi said kindly.
"So are we done yet," asked Kari impatiently. "If we don't get moving, Yolie will have our head on the platter if we are late." Tai and TK quickly agreed. Before Mimi knew it, they dragged her out of the door and into their car. She sat in silent all the way as the two pairs chat happily with each other. It didn't take long for them to reach there. Mimi's eyes widen at the sight of a crowd and unconsciously slinked down on her chair. When Tai stopped his car, Sora grabbed Mimi by the hand.
"Come on, Mimi," urged Sora, when Mimi refused to budge from her seat. "What are you waiting for?" Mimi looked at her right arm one last time before she stepped out of the car. She stayed closed to Sora as they moved into Yolie's house. The music was blaring and the party was already in full swing. TK took Kari's hand and pulled her to the dance floor. Before Sora can protest, Tai pulled her away from Mimi. Somehow, Mimi can't help but feel isolated and lonely in the crowd. She looked at Tai and Sora as they dance happily together.
"Oh yes," thought Mimi. "I almost forgot it was Yolie's birthday today." She looked around the room and tried to locate the birthday girl. However, something or rather someone caught her eyes. Mimi watched in astonishment as Matt walked toward her coolly. His icy blue eyes were filled with amusement as it looked at her. His face was lifted into a smile.
"Hi Mimi," said Matt when he reached her. "Surprise?" Mimi nodded her head. "It was TK and Tai's idea. They wanted me to give you a surprise." They look out to the dance floor and found TK and Tai waving at them. Matt quickly turned back his attention to Mimi. Mimi watched in silence as he lifted his hand toward her. "Want to dance, Mimi?"
*Matt*
"Now...tell me why did you promise to take Mimi to Deme's festival after the mission is over," asked Diana. "Aren't you glad to get rid of her? Why do you still want to see her?"
Matt scowled at Diana's insistent questioning. If his hands were free, he would gladly give that woman a punch on her face. He glared at her when she asked him the same question again. Knowing she won't be satisfied until he answered her truthfully, he sighed. "It's because I want her to have fun for once. I wanted her to have fun as a regular human being."
He saw Diana shook her head. Her expression was suddenly filled with sadness. "You might not get a chance."
"What do you mean," Matt demanded. When Diana didn't answer him, Matt glared at her. "Come on and answer me for once! What do you mean by that?"
"I mean...she might not be able to survive this mission. The mission is filled with danger."
"I will protect her," Matt said flatly.
"But why protect her when you can just take her away? Why can't you just tell her to wait for one more year and celebrate Deme's festival with her?"
"It has to be after the mission because she cannot discard her priestess status unless she fully completed her mission. Until then, she can't be who she wanted to be."
Diana nodded her head. "If that is the case..." She snapped her fingers and to Matt's relief, he could move again. "I release you but there is one more question that you still haven't answer me. Why do you care about Mimi so much?" When Matt didn't say anything, she raised up her hand.
"You don't have to freeze me," said Matt. "I will answer your question. Like I said before, she reminded me of myself." He looked away from her. "I hate myself, and the last thing I want is for her to be like me. I want her to live the life that she wants to live. She already sacrificed a lot for our happiness. The least I can do is this." Matt sighed. "And maybe by helping her, I can help myself," he thought.
"I hope you will fulfill your duty to your priestess and I hope you will complete this mission," said Diana. "To tell you the truth, I am tired of these trials. I would be glad to go back to my eternal sleep." She waved her hands up into the sky and a door appear in front of Matt. "If you want to fulfill your duty, you better get out of here right now. Your priestess only has five more minutes before she die." Matt cursed and he quickly yanked open the door.
*****
Matt jolted from his slumber and looked around him. His eyes widen when he saw the rest of his teammates have gather around Mimi's body. They anxiously called out her name. Kari was crying, while TK was trying to comfort her. Not waiting anytime, Matt jumped on to his feet and ran over to Mimi. Hasuma and Sora were knocked backward, when Matt took Mimi by her shoulders.
"Matt," said TK. The touched his brother by the shoulder but Matt ignored him as he focused all of his attention at the slumbering girl.
"Come on pr...," Matt stopped himself just in time. "Come on Mimi. Wake up!" He shook her gently, while every one of them watched anxiously. "Wake up Mimi! The mission isn't over yet. You can't just give up right now!" When Mimi didn't answer him, he shook her more hardly. "Mimi! Wake up. Damn it just wake up!" Her body still remained limp within his grasp. "PRIESTESS!"
*Mimi*
Mimi raised her hand to put it into Matt's hand when she suddenly heard a distance voice calling out to her. "Who is calling me," she wondered as she looked around her. However, she can't see anyone that she knew.
"Mimi?" Mimi looked at Matt. His was still waiting patiently for her to take his hand. Mimi smiled at him and lowered her hand to meet his.
"PRIESTESS!" Before their hands could touch, Mimi jerked backward when she heard Matt's voice. Her eyes widen and she backed away from the fake Matt in shock.
"Mimi," called out the fake Matt. He tried to touch Mimi but she moved away from him.
"I can't," Mimi murmured sadly. "Even if I want to stay here, I can't. Too many lives depend on me." Without looking at Matt, she turned away from him and ran out of Yolie's house as fast as she can. As she reached toward the door, the world swirled around her in turmoil.
*****
Matt shook Mimi desperately as the last minute dwindled away. "Priestess." Matt's closed his eyes and look downward when the three hours were up. "Priestess."
"Yes?" Matt's eyes snapped open and he looked upward to find Mimi looking at him. Sora, Kari, TK, Cody, Yolie, and Hasuma have stop their crying when they heard Mimi's voice. Tai, Ken, Davis, Izzy, and Joe were too shock to say anything, while Matt and Mimi stared at each other. The silence was finally broken when Kari fainted into TK's arms. Before Mimi knew it, they started to pound on her and hugging her like crazy. "Wh...What happen," asked Mimi in between her breath. Matt stood backward as they all went and hugged her. He silently smiled to himself.
"You are crazy," screamed Yolie in between tears. "How can you do this to us?! We thought you were gone! Gone!" She threw her arms around Mimi and cried again.
"I'm just glad you are alive," said Sora as she hugged Mimi. "I'm just glad you are alive." Cody smiled at her.
"Welcome back, Mimi," said Cody. Mimi weakly nodded her head, while Yolie and Sora cling on tightly around her. Izzy and Joe were sitting on the floor and relaxing after this stressful day. Once Yolie and Sora released Mimi, Ken and Davis helped her up. However, she was quickly thrown down to the floor when Kari woke up and pounced on Mimi. After another tearful reunion, Mimi finally stood up sheepishly and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry," said Mimi. "I'm sorry for making all of you worry about me."
"It's alright," said Ken. "We are glad to just see you alive. You and Yolie really have us scared for a moment."
"Yeah," said Davis. He turned to look at Ken evilly, before he turned to address Yolie. "And guess who was worried about you the whole time?" Yolie looked at Ken and saw him blushing from embarrassment.
"It's not what you think it is," Ken quickly said. "It is just that I wanted to thank Yolie for what happen in the past." He sighed. "If she haven't talked me to my senses in the first trial, I would have failed this one. I wanted to thank her and when I saw her like that...well, I thought I would never get a chance to thank her." Yolie nodded her head in understanding.
"But remember what I told you," she said to Ken. "I told you not to thank me because you were the one who was willing to face your past. I didn't really do anything, so the person you should thank is yourself. But anyways..." She walked up the Ken and hugged him. "Thanks for caring though." Ken nodded his head and smiled at her.
"Are you guys done with your reunion yet?" They all turned around to see Bacvil floating over his monument. Mimi quickly walked up to him and kneel down. The rest of the guardians also bowed down with respect. "Congratulation, shrine priestess and her guardians. You have successfully passed Silic's trial. It is my honor to present to you the crest of love and sincerity." He opened his hand and in it there was one crest that was shape like a teardrop and another one that was shaped into a heart. Mimi raise up her hand to take them. Placing them gently in her hand, he looked at them as he gave them his last words of wisdom. "Remember, love and desire are good if only you do not let them shroud your mission. Be sincere to your feelings and to your goal, and you will succeed." They nodded their heads and stood up when he disappear. By the time that they reached outside the shrine, afternoon was already there.
"My goddess," said Davis. "I am starving." He turned around to look at them. "Who is in for a meal?" Needless to say, they all agree with his idea. As they walked back to their hotel, Mimi walked up next to Matt.
"Thank you," she said to Matt. "I heard you calling in my dream. If you haven't call me, I wouldn't have been able to wake up."
"No problem pri...Mimi." Mimi looked at him in shock.
"You called me by my name."
"Yeah. You got a problem with that," Matt asked coolly.
"No but...you never did call me by my name before. Why did you start right now?"
"Because I don't want to be a hypocrite." He ignored the confusion in Mimi's face. When they reached to the hotel, Sora and Tai went away to make phone call to Sora's mother, while they went and order. Ten minutes later, the foods were placed on the table and the battle between Yolie and Davis started all over again. The rest of them just sighed and shook their heads. Ignoring them, they enjoy the rest of the meal in peace. To Yolie's surprise, when they were done with the meal, the waiters pushed a cart that have a birthday cake on top of it. Before she knew it, Davis and the other started to sang Happy Birthday to her.
"You remember," Yolie whispered when they were done singing. "I thought you guys forgot." Hasuma rose up from her seat and hugged her.
"Of course we didn't forget," she said. "It was hard to surprise you though. You were with us the whole day, yesterday."
"Thank you," said Yolie with tears in her eyes. She looked at each one of them and smiled happily. "Thank you." Mimi, Sora, and Kari stood up to give her a hug, while the rest of them took out her present. Yolie looked at the birthday cake and smiled as they lit up the candles. "The cake is really pretty."
"Believe it or not," said Cody. "Davis was the one who picked it out." Yolie smiled at Davis, while he blushed from embarrassment. However, this didn't last long when Yolie asked is the cake poisonous.
"Hey," Davis exclaimed. He stood up to face her. "I try being nice to you, Ogermon and that is what I get?" To his surprise and to everyone's surprise, Yolie gave him a quick hug. He stood there in daze even after she pulled away.
"Thank you," said Yolie to him.
"Go and make a wish," said Joe. Yolie looked at the cake and shook her head.
"I don't need to," she said. "I've already got it." She smiled softly to herself, while the rest of them were lost in confusion. "I get to see my family one last time," Yolie thought to herself. "And…" She looked at them with happiness in her eyes. "I got you guys. That is all I ever wish for," she told them. Tears fell down from her eyes as she blew out the candles. She was sure her mother would think this was an important moment in her life.
Author Notes: IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!:
Hi everyone. There is something I really need your help on. 1) There have been one character that is constantly annoying me. I want your suggestion into whether I should get rid of her. Yep...I am talking about Hasuma. It is not that I don't like her but it is just that she is constantly poping too much. I wanted to focus on the digi characters but she is always there. So...I want to know is she a bothersome character to you. If so, do you think I should remove her? The removal of her will not affect the story, what so ever so don't worry that it will affect the story. Don't worry, I will not kill her if that is what you guys are thinking about. Please tell me what do you think.
2) I won't be updating for a long time...and I mean a long time! I simpily have too much school work to do. However, I have not given up on this fic. I know I am late on my updating but it is because I am constantly having midterms and papers to write. I will try to update as soon as possible but don't expect the next update until four or five months later. I am extremely sorry about this.
Alright...enought of the important thing and here is some of my rambling. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be surprise if you guys hate this chapter...hehehehe...because I don't like it either. I guess I these emotional kind of things are not my kind of writing. I rather stick to the fighting scene...hehehe. Don't worry, some more fighting scene will come up in the next chapter. Until then...take care.