I apologize for this new chapter being so late, but I hit writer's block way too often and I do tend to be a slow writer to be blatantly honest.

Thinking of Home

The path to the bio-emerging Digimon led the group of five back into Shinjuku Park. The first thing Tails noticed was the Digital Field engulfing the immediate area that was so dense even his acute sight had trouble discerning objects, including the path they were on and dusk had begun to settle which didn't help matters at all. Going from the pond to the shed to HYPNOS and finally here took quite some time. A chill crept slowly up from his tail tips, to his spine, and back down. Glancing around, the brown vulpine noticed Rika and Ryo each place a pair of sunglasses over their eyes.

The longer Tails stood there with the others, the more it felt like someone or something was watching them from within the depths of the mist. An ominous feeling had begun emerging from the pit of his stomach ever since his first steps through the haze. "(At least this isn't anything like the smog from Robotropolis.)" He thought thankfully.

Tails was still lost in his thoughts when a haunting voice cried out SHADOW SCYTHE. Before the two-tailed fox could register what had just happened, an invisible force moved him out of the way of a deadly black energy wave. It took a few moments for him to realize that his feet were no longer attached to the ground. This caught him quite off guard and he turned beet red when he saw that it was Renamon who moved him out of harm's way and was now holding him bridal style.

"You should be more careful in a situation like this." Renamon advised, gently replacing the stunned fox on the ground and returning to her position next to Monodramon. Tails, heart still racing and with a considerable lump in his throat, felt a little weak from the sudden shock and had to lean against a nearby tree for support, but managed a small nod of assent, suddenly glad for the thick cloud surrounding them.

"Alright, let's see what we're up against." Rika stated in her calm tone when she saw that their newest companion was out of dodge. Holding up her D-Arc, it showed the picture of a caped Digimon holding a wicked looking scythe much like the Grim Reaper's. "Phantomon, a virus type Ultimate level Digimon. He'll cut down any enemy with his Shadow Scythe and Father Time attacks."

Tails heard this and recognized through his stupor that this Digimon was just one level below Mega and remembered Renamon was a Rookie, but wasn't sure what level Monodramon currently was. This worried the Mobian until he recalled that Renamon mentioned that she could Digivolve to her higher levels and could only assume that Monodramon had that ability as well. Fears quashed, he contented himself to watching from where he stood.

"Hey Rika," Ryo began holding up his own D-Arc, "now that we know what we're up against. What do you say we get this party started?"

"I couldn't agree more, but let's make this quick." His fellow Tamer responded.

Both Withdrawing a card from their holders, Ryo decided to kick things off first. "Digi-modify! Matrix Digivolution activate!"

"Monodramon Matrix Digivolve to…Cyberdramon!"

"Dig-modify! Digivolution activate!"

"Renamon Digivolve to…Kyuubimon!"

For a moment, all Tails could see were two bright lights that were the two Digimon changing into their Ultimate and Champion forms. In Monodramon's place stood the ever imposing Cyberdramon slightly taller than his Tamer and with a more human-like appearance than before. A helmet covering his eyes could be seen and a menacing growl, revealing two rows of razor sharp teeth, could be heard.

Kyuubimon, on the other hand, rested upon four legs and the yin-yang symbol had moved to the cyber fox's thighs. A massive ornamental bow of rope was situated around her neck. However, the detail that caught Tails' attention the most was the fact that Renamon now had nine tales instead of one, causing him to stare dumbstruck. He was pulled out of his trance like state by the same chilling voice that had called out the assault against him.

"So, you've Digivolved. No matter, even like this you aren't any match for me. SHADOW SCYTHE!" The phantasmal Digimon almost laughed, more amused than annoyed that he had one Champion and one Ultimate to deal with.

Cyberdramon and Kyuubimon dodged off to opposite sides, leaving the attack to make a second crack in the pavement. The surge of energy created a breeze that ruffled Tails' fur and sent another chill through him even though it didn't seem to affect the two combatants. Rika and Ryo, on the other hand, shielded their faces with their arms to keep the stray bits of dust out of their eyes more effectively.

Once the wind had died down, a voice could be heard shouting through the mist. "Digi-modify! Power activate!"

"FOX TAIL INFERNO!" Kyuubimon followed up with nine identical balls of blue hot flame, which had increased in size and heat due to the modify card, were sent spiraling towards the spectral opponent. Although Phantomon avoided most of them, two found their target and caused singe marks upon the midnight blue cloak.

"You may be more powerful than I had originally expected, but that's still not nearly enough to stop me." Scoffed the confident ghoul, not realizing that Cyberdramon had snuck up behind him shrouded in the fog.

"Maybe not that, but this will! DESOLATION CLAW!" The devious Ultimate called out. Ill prepared for this unexpected strike, Phantomon was struck in the back, and shattered into countless pieces of digital data with a final, anguished shout. Within moments, the Digital Field dissipated, leaving only the marks of the vanquished spirit's attacks as a memorial of the battle.

"And that's why you always watch your back." Rika boasted as Cyberdramon and Kyuubimon returned to their Rookie forms.

"He was hardly worth the effort. Only one of us had to become an Ultimate." Renamon added to the conversation.

"Yeah, but I think I can name someone who was impressed by our little show." Ryo pointed out, noticing Tails hadn't moved from the spot Renamon had left him before. This directed the attention of all those present to the vulpine whose blush had left long ago. However, before Tails had a chance to reply, a breathless Takato appeared, followed closely by Guilmon, Kenta, and Marineangemon.

"Hey guys," Takato panted, "did we miss anything?"

"No, just everything, Goggle Head. While you took your sweet time getting here, we got rid of a Phantomon." Rika criticized the late comers, satisfied that this would serve as punishment enough for earlier.

Just then, Kazu and Guardromon appeared, apparently their progress had been impeded by the metal Digimon's slow speed. "Oh, man! I knew we were going to be late. I told you, you're too slow Guardromon." A more than irritated Kazu exclaimed.

"Don't worry, we missed the fight like you two." Kenta assured his friend.

"Yeah, real shame." Kenta's angel Digimon agreed in an almost happy tone despite the disappointment, and came to a rest on his Tamer's shoulder.

"Whatever." Kazu sighed, more out of exasperation than anything.

"Oh, hey Tails." Takato called to the brown fox he had just spotted

"Hey, Takato." Tails replied meekly, still a bit disconcerted from his recent ordeal, but managed to support his own weight now and rejoined the five humans and Digimon.

"Where are Henry, Terriermon, Suzy, Lopmon, and Jeri? I thought they would be with you guys." Ryo expressed, seeing that their other friends were nowhere in sight.

"They all went home. They decided they had enough adventure for one day, but we were ready for some action." Takato explained only half enthusiastically.

"Well, there's nothing left to do here, so we better return to our homes as well." Renamon observed while the others agreed wholeheartedly.

"That's a great idea, but where's Tails going to stay while he's here?" Ryo expressed, unsure of any arranged accommodations for the unlikely visitor. This remark produced some confusion among those assembled.

Seeing that nothing was going to be accomplished anytime soon if an acceptable solution couldn't be determined, Renamon broke in saying, "Why doesn't he just stay in Guilmon's shed for tonight and in the morning we can figure out where he'll stay while he's here."

"Great idea, Tails can spend the night with Guilmon." Takato agreed.

"No, that's okay; I really don't want to impose on anyone." Tails tried to assure his friend, but that wasn't quite enough.

"Come on, he already sleeps there most of the time anyhow and it can get pretty lonely and I'm sure Guilmon would enjoy the company."

"Then it's settled. I'm sure we're all very tired by now and just want to rest so let's go now." Rika announced, wanting to return home herself and not wanting to wait for any more discussion.

Something in the way she said that seemed to make it the final word in the conversation. After their goodbyes, Tails and Guilmon went to the shed while the others returned to their respective homes for the night.

It didn't take long for Gulmon and Tails to make to the shed and within a few minutes, had set up their respective beds.

"Say, Guilmon, how come you don't sleep at Takato's house?" Tails questioned his roommate.

"I just like sleeping out here. It's so nice and peaceful, and Takato's parents don't mind me making a mess in here." The black-marked Digimon answered while settling down in the nest of blankets he arranged.

Deciding to be content with that reply, Tails slipped between the two blankets he laid out upon the floor, using a third as a pillow. However, sleep didn't come quite so easily for the vulpine as it did for Guilmon.

After a few minutes of no rest, Tails settled for just staring at the ceiling. It was no use trying to sleep; he just kept replaying the day's events over and over again in his head. All the way from being pulled through that portal up to now.

In the silence, Tails' thoughts then turned to what might be happening on Mobius. Surely his disappearance had been noticed long ago. Sonic had probably combed the entirety of the planet at least three times by now. The blue hedgehog always treated him more like a younger sibling rather than just friends. It was Sonic that finally convinced Sally to let him be a Freedom Fighter.

Maybe that's what was keeping him awake, continually thinking of home. There would be no rest for him until he could put his worries away for now. Even though he knew that it was a futile effort, the twin-tailed fox rolled onto his side and again attempted to get some kind of respite from his inner turmoil.

Unbeknownst to Tails, he was being observed by an unseen entity in a nearby tree. Renamon had seen his tossing and turning about and believed that she knew what the Mobian fox was thinking of. It wasn't terribly difficult to surmise that the reason for his uneasiness was the forced departure from his planet to another with ways far different.

Somehow, she felt that HYPNOS alone would be unable to find Mobius, even if they had years in which to try. Then, if by some off chance Mobius was found, how would they be able to reach it. She doubted that any known Earth spacecraft could make that kind of trip, at least not in their lifetime. That left the digital vulpine in the supposed position of considering other methods to help send Tails home.

However, that would have to wait. This stranger may have piqued her curiosity, but not quite enough to make her lose any sleep, mulling differing theories about. Yet she continued to remember that incident back at HYPNOS. Tails probably thought, or hoped, no one noticed him staring at her, if only for a few brief seconds. However, Renamon did notice even though she made no visible signs to indicate it, unlike him.

Some might say that the reason for this was her beauty, which many have said was beyond measure, but he didn't seem like the sort to make any actual advances on someone simply due to their appearances. This was supported by the fact that he had blushed, not once, but twice in her presence because of what may very well have been suggestive circumstances.

In the end, she decided to see what Tails would do in the future concerning any feelings he could possibly have for her. Settling down upon the branch she was perched, the Rookie Digimon shortly fell asleep.

-----Mobius: Royal Palace-----

Sally Acorn had been trying to sleep for the past fifteen minutes. The reason she couldn't sleep was mainly because the now King Sonic kept pacing about their bedroom worried about what had become of Tails whose disappearance still remained shrouded in mystery.

"Sonic, could you please stop pacing?" The monarch finally asked, sitting up and trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.

"Sorry Sal, I just can't help but wonder about Tails. Ever since he left for Knothole, no one's seen him."

"That may be so, but losing sleep over it isn't helping anyone. It's getting late, you need to rest." Sally urged, seeing the wearied appearance of her mate's face.

"I know, it's just that I feel like I should be out there looking for him. I should have known something was up sooner." The blue blur expressed, referring to finding out about Tails' vanishing not more than an hour ago when they contacted his parents in Knothole.

"You're letting your guilt get the better of you. There was no way you, or any of us for that matter, could have known, especially since all of his trips to and from Knothole were unannounced. He might have gone missing for days with us being none-the-wiser." She reminded Sonic.

This, however, did little to ease the mind of Mobius' greatest hero. Sally finally decided to leave him to his own thoughts since she saw nothing else she could do to help. She slid her head back onto the pillow, but sleep proved just as elusive to the squirrel as it was to Tails.

Taking care not to disturb Sally, the blue blur moved to the window where he had a perfect view of the Mobian moon in its crescent phase, even though his mind was anywhere but as he whispered, "Where are you, big guy?"