A/N: Okay, sorry this took FOREVER. Don't expect another chapter anytime soon though; provincials cup this week, Michigan (again) next week (volleyball). I really hated this chapter to start with but it got better. Muhahahaha:)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that has anything to do with digimon.

CHAPTER 5

Fading With Time

Tai's POV

I learned a lot on the drive to the hospital.

"So….Kouji had a brother…Kouichi? I asked timidly.

"Ya" Takuya's eyes rested on my face but his gaze was nowhere on this planet. It was like he was searching for something that was lost, lost and couldn't be found.

"I only heard a bit about what happened, his plane…disappeared?"

"Ya, no one, even up to this day, know what happened. One minute the plane was on radar, the next….it was just gone….no signals nothing…."

"Were you and Kouichi close?" I asked.

"Uhhhh ya…" Takuya suddenly grew aware of the paramedic sitting beside Tomoko watching him intently. The paramedic was a female about Kari's age. Somehow she looked familiar. Immediately she noticed that both of our eyes were trained on her and she turned away.

"Sorry", she whispered turning away. That voice! I know I know her! I just have to figure out who she is! I sighed frustrated.

"Truth is Kouichi and I were very close. We'd spend most of our time together or with Kouji." Takuya let out a laugh as tears started slowly making there way down his face. " I was always put in the middle seeing as the two boys were brothers they always ganged up on me, it didn't matter if we were simply playing water tag or in a heated argument. But when things got too rough…Kouichi would turn on his brother and help me out."

"Wow that must have been great having a friend you could depend upon so much," I breathed out quietly.

"Kouichi loved Izumi!" Takuya continued ignoring my last comment "I swear from the moment he saw her he was star struck!" Takuya let out a chuckle. "But Izumi was popular with most of the guys especially J.P.! I swear though J.P. would go out with anyone if he were asked! Take it from me he isn't a pervert just…. misunderstood. It was so peaceful, Kouichi lived with having Izumi as a friend but his hormones soon took over" Takuya closed his eyes as if trying to remember "I wanted to tell Kouichi something really, really bad but I couldn't seem to get a word with him anymore. Kouichi started to spend all of his time trying to impress Izumi, so I hardly go to see him. And then I heard he was taking that trip…and I just had to tell him…" Takuya looked up at me with pleading eyes "don't think I am weird okay but…" Takuya slowly exhaled " I liked Kouichi liked him a lot, like more than normal…there was something about him that always made me nervous when I was around him, like I was afraid to mess up or something. I wanted to tell him that I liked him so bad but I just couldn't do it… when I learned the plane had disappeared I lost it…. I…" BOOM the sudden thunder made us all jump and I was surprised to see that it was now dark out. I long have we been driving?

"Hey how long does it take to get to a hospital?" I asked the female paramedic. Her waist length purple hair was in a ponytail, she flipped it as she turned to face me. She was about to speak when the one of the paramedics up front started speaking to her. I returned my glance to Takuya he just sat there with a strange look on his face one of extreme pleasure and unbearable pain, I blinked and saw something else, surrounding him was…something like an aura, I suddenly noticed that the room seemed chillier. I sensed the evil that surrounded Takuya when I looked at him a saw a transparent demon covering his body, another blink though, and it and my feelings were gone.

"Got that Yolei?"

"THAT'S IT!" I suddenly shouted forgetting about Takuya's aura. "YOUR YOLEI! A DIGIDESTINE!" the paramedic up in the passenger seat looked at me strangely.

"U'think this guy needs a check-up to?" he asked casting Yolei a look before returning his glare to the road in front.

"Yolei, it's me Tai! Kari's sister!"

"Please calm down Tai" who I hoped was Yolei said with kind eyes. "We are here" Takuya and I stepped back and watched the paramedics carried Tomoko on the stretcher into the hospital. From what we had heard she had lost a lot of blood.

"Well we should head into the hospital and wait to for our friends…" I looked to where Takuya's face had been but it was no longer there. I looked toward the ground to see Takuya leaning his back against the ambulance I had to guess he was asleep so I took the grueling process of carrying Takuya into the hospital. I dropped his limp figure onto one of the waiting couches when I saw a growing group of people standing around the receptionist. I plunked myself on to a waiting chair.

"That's him though!" the girl I thought was Yolei said pointing in my direction. "That's Taichi Yamato!" the crowd turned to face me. I saw a couple of security guards step forward. Oh shit.

Takuya's POV

I was crudely shaken awake. Holy hell the light was blinding! The intoxicating scent of antibacterial cleaners instantly filled my nose and made my eyes tear.

"Where am I?" I thought quietly to myself. Another scent reached my nose this one was of intoxicating perfume.

"Oh lady! Ever heard of TOO much PERFUME!" I said rudely sitting up. The older nurse glared at me but immediately stopped.

"RUKI!" the older woman shouted and in scuttled a girl who looked about our age maybe a year older maybe a year younger. She was stunningly beautiful. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a short ponytail she was wearing baggy black jeans and a baby blue T-shirt that read, "Cancel my subscription………I'm over you issues".

"What time is it? Where am I?" I asked as the old woman left the room.

"About 11:00p.m. and you happen to be in the hospitals observation room," She responded.

"11:00p.m! How's Tomoko? Why am I here? Where's Tai?"

"Ah so there is a Tai!" she smiled nodding. Oh crap that's right Tai's dead.

"IIII…mmmeeaannn…TTTTaaaaaaiiiiiii…. uuummm…Taila! Ya that's it! Where's Taila!" I demanded. Oh ya Taila smooth Takuya rrrreeeeeaaaaaallllllllll ssssmmmmmooooooooooooooooooothhhhh.

"Listen…"

"NO THERE IS NO TAI! TAILA HAD TO GO HOME AND uummmm…."

"LISTEN! I want to help you but your going to have to let me. I presume Tai is connected to the digital world like you?"

"What? How do you know?" I asked startled.

"Because they had everything in your pockets and on you (except your clothes) removed from you. This looks like a digivice correct?"

"D Tector" I murmured under my breath, snatching it back quickly.

"Anyways I'll just say you were really scared and frightened because you didn't know what was going to happen to that woman so you got really confused and…."

"Why do they even care that much?" I asked sighing.

"Well I only know this because my friends dad is a detective but…. they believe there is a kidnapper kidnapping tons of kids. Here's what the detectives believe: That Tai saw who murdered Matt. Then kidnapper left Tai for a while thinking that he probably won't say anything because of shock. But after a while than he probably started getting worried so he came to get Tai now they believe that Kouji either witnessed this or was around so the kidnapper snatched him to. And as to Tai's brother Kari they believe she ran away in despair for losing her brother. But they don't know how Kouichi plane disappearence is linked to this." Ruki finished speaking and took a deep breath

"That isn't true," I said.

"I didn't think it was" Ruki answered smoothly.

"But where's Tai?"

"I don't know right now… security started chasing after him"

"Well how's Tomoko?"

"I believe just fine"

"Were a group of kids here?"

"Some about your age and some about twenty ish? Yeah"

"Were they looking for us!" I asked urgency in my voice.

"Yeah they told me to give you a message, I tried to decipher it but it is written in what looks like some weird language" Ruki gave me a puzzled look as she handed me the note. I quickly let my eyes scan the page this was simple. It was elvish from Lord of Rings. Wow they told me I'd need to know it but I never really believed them.

"So what does it say?" Ruki asked impatiently.

"Uuuummmmmmmm………..Tai is" I squinted at the page "here……….your scrawl" I finished grinning happily.

"SCRAWL?" Ruki asked.

"I can't remember what word that is okay!"

"Well let's use the most logical place… your house"

"Then let's go!" I said standing up.

"No you won't leave" a voice, said with a chuckle over an intercom. "Now that we know where Tai is we can't let you go chase him away again"

"NO LEAVE TAI ALONE!" I shouted.

"We don't want to hurt him just question him that's all. BY the way thank you for all your help Ruki" I looked at Ruki, if looks could kill she'd be buried under the ground by now.

"Wait please! Tai knows nothing! This is beyond the polices control! Please just let us handle it!"

"Beyond the polices control! HA HA HA! I have never seen such a ignorant kid!"

"But unfortunately the kid is right" a rich, dark voice echoed throughout the room.

"WHAT THE HELL? AAHH!" we heard the detective's screams echoing the room. It was a truly horrifying experience I could only wonder what was happening I am glad I was only hearing this through an intercom and not actually viewing it. An eerie silence fell upon the small questioning room as the door slowly opened letting in mist. I couldn't tell if this was some freak thinking it was Halloween early or he was an actual digimon. This guy wore a long black cape, had a purple colored mask covering his eyes, and his boots were adorned with skulls. Also In the dark background I though I saw bats circling the rooms. This guy had a sinister grin man he reeked of evil. He pointed to us with his bony skeleton fingers.

"Which one of you carries the name Takuya?" he asked his voice filling the room with fright. I cowered I was downright freaked out! What could this guy want with me?

"Who wants to know?" Ruki asked cocking her head and taking a step forward. Wow this girl had guts!

"It is funny you have not heard of me! I am Myotsimon and you pitiful human are going to die" Myotismon smiled taking a step closer but Ruki was on top of it.

"RENAMON!" she shouted. And coming to her a call a yellow fox like creature ran behind Myotismon and knocked him down.

"RUN TAKUYA!" Ruki shouted.

"I CAN"T LEAVE YOU BEHIND!" I countered.

"Neither of will be leaving tonight," Myotismon laughed evilly as he knocked Renamon into a wall.

"Says who?" a girl stood behind Myotismon.

"Is this becoming a party for I am starting to get annoyed!" Myotismon turned around and a giant hawk like digimon plowed him over.

"HALSEMON FEND HIM OFF!" the girl ran over to us. We were both in the corner, Ruki gently stroking Renamon.

"Hey you're the girl from the ambulance!" I shouted, " You betrayed us!"

"Yes and I am sorry! But I do have a name! If you are to address me please address me as Yolei!" wow girls have more guts then guys!

"Takuya you have to go!" Ruki stood up, Renamon stood up as well.

"What about you guys!" No way was I leaving…these guys were my friends now!

"He's after you" Ruki continued, "We can't let him get what he wants!"

" I agree! But Halsmon can't hold him off much longer! And a rookie will stand no chance against a ultimate!" Yolei explained logically.

"Maybe not but…" Ruki held out her digivice and swiped a card through it…I will never really understand the process but presto-o-change-o there was Kyubimon. Standing there with all her tails and all her glory.

"Ruki you run too!" Kyubimon said calmly.

"No I can't leave you!" Ruki shouted. "What if something happens? What if you DIE?" Ruki was now in tears.

"Don't worry everything will be all right" and with that Kyubimon jumped off.

"NNOO!" Ruki ran into my chest and started crying. I awkwardly embraced her.

"You have to go!" Yolei shouted at us.

"You're staying?" I asked timidly.

"I have to it's my duty…. I am the eldest here"

"Make sure Kyubimon is okay!" Ruki commanded more than asked.

"I will" Yolei answered. Now we had the fun challenge of getting out of the room with a crazy vampire thing on the loose.

"Now's are chance run!" Ruki ran out of the door into the dark offices.

"Wait up!" I shouted quickly running after. Oh ya smart move. We ran with our heads down the whole way. The bats were brutally attacking us, my face was stinging I could feel the steaming blood running down my face.

"It's this way" I heard Ruki shout and sure enough I saw the light of the moon up ahead. We kept running till we were a few miles away from the hospital than we stopped to catch our breath.

"You look pretty bad" Ruki commented letting out a chuckle. I couldn't disagree my face was cut up and so were my arms and plus I swear I had lost half my hair.

"You don't look to good yourself!" I said raising my eyebrow giving her the once over. She was scratched up badly too but with tear stains running down her cheeks puffy red eyes and her hair was pulled out in all different places. In spite of the situation I started laughing, in spite that a detective had been killed, Kyubimon and Halsemon fighting an ultimate, in spite of the fact that my friends were at home probably tearing my place apart (thank god my parents and Shinya are away for a week longer) I started laughing hysterically.

"What's your problem?" Ruki asked trying to be tough but I could see a smile edging on her face, and soon she started laughing too. I hadn't laughed like this in a long while. I didn't remember how good it felt to laugh.

Sora's POV

These last two days have been so confusing to me. First Tai runs into that apartment building and comes out with a close to dying woman, than when we go try and meet him in the hospital he's gone and the other boy Takuya is being held in one of the rooms in the hospital! Takuya's friends suggested we stay at Takuya's because his parents were away and that would be the most logical place for Takuya to go. It seems weird seeing the new digidestine, Junepi, Izumi, and Tommy. It must feel weird to them to see the people who had saved the digital world before them. I wish they could meet Izzy, Kari, Tai and…. Matt, and I wish I could meet Takuya, Kouji and…Kouichi. It had been around 12:00a.m. When Tai came banging on the door. Everybody too anxious to sleep jumped up and Joe peeped out the peephole, he quickly opened the door and there was Tai. It was an odd moment I quickly ran and embraced him in a tight hug, he returned it.

"I'm so glad your okay," I had whispered. I learned his story how the security guards had chased him all around town.

"I don't even know why they want me!" After everything had been sorted out we sat up to wait for Takuya. Takuya's friends were the first to drop asleep, after Mimi of course. I hadn't expected them to stay up that long they were younger than us. T.K. was off to dream land soon after and even Joe fell asleep. Finally only Tai and me were left. I watched Tai just sit there on the small couch he was just sitting their eyes glued to the door.

"Tai," I started.

"You can go to sleep if you want," he answered cutting me off. I stood up and sat beside him.

"Tai, are you okay?" I looked up at him attentively.

"Ya I'm fine," he answered.

"So Agumon is fine?"

"Yep"

"Did you see Biyomon?"

"Nope"

"Tai…." I moved closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder. "I've missed you so much"

"I've missed you to Sora" he said. We looked at each other and suddenly he started leaning in toward me, our faces were inches away…

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

Takuya's POV

It had been a long trip from the hospital to my house. We had to walk all the way because Ruki's bike could only carry one person. We walked quietly most of the way (which is about and hour if you walk) but we asked each other questions like "How many pets do you have?" or "Who were the other digidestine to help you?" when we were only twenty minutes away from my house I grabbed Ruki's hand. She jumped up in response shocked at my actions, I jumped to! I didn't even plan that it was just an invoulantary action! I quickly released and we walked the rest of the way home in silence. I couldn't believe I had done that… I thought I liked Kouichi… was my memory of him fading away? I tried to remember his smiling face but day-by-day the image got foggier and foggier. My memory of him was fading away with time.

Tai's POV

I was shocked to see the state of Takuya and the other girl I quickly ushered them in locking the door behind me.

"Who's she?" I asked.

"Tai!" Sora stood up and looked at me disapprovingly "You could at least be considerate and let her introduce herself!" Jeese Girls!

"This is Ruki" Takuya answered my question wearily "Where is everybody?"

"All asleep" Sora answered gesturing to the bodies crowded on the couches and chairs.

"So what happened!" I asked excitedly.

"TAI!"

"I mean…would you like to get showered, changed and rested then you can take all the time in the world to explain what happened to you?" I inwardly rolled my eyes.

"I should get home," Ruki said taking a step towards the door.

"No," Takuya grabbed her arm firmly. "By choosing to help me you have put yourself in danger as well, you should stay with us."

"Plus its 2:00a.m. If they're worried about you they probably have already had there major…" I began.

"TAI! That isn't helping!" Sora said giving me a kick.

"Fine, I'll stay" Ruki said. "Where's your shower?" Takuya pointed down the hall.

"It's to your left! Towels are in the cupboard"

"So no chance of hearing anything till tomorrow?" I asked hoping he might change his mind.

"No chance" Takuya said as he walked off toward what I guessed was his room. I slowly sat back down on the couch and closed my eyes. To think a few weeks ago I was being my normal self and the next morning I wake up and I was in the digital world. I started drifting off to sleep when I felt the couch sag a bit as another person sat on it.

"Tai…is it okay if I sleep beside you tonight?" Sora asked timidly. I grunted in reply and to my surprise Sora placed her head on my legs in a lying position. I opened one of my eyes and stared down at her.

"She must already be asleep," I thought to myself. I started stroking her hair and drifted into a restless sleep.

Takuya's POV

The only reason I awoke was because I smelt bacon. As I walked into the kitchen I saw my friends and a whole bunch of people I didn't know sitting around the table eating, one person I didn't notice was Tai.

"Where's Tai?" I asked alarmed.

"Sleeping" a girl with hot pink hair, replied.

"The only thing that can get him up is……….nothing," a girl with long orange hair said sarcastically.

"Who are you guys anyway?" I asked.

"Don't worry Takuya they're friends" Junpie responded while stuffing a pancake in his face.

"We'll introduce everybody once Tai awakes and you get something to eat" Izumi said with a stern look.

"But where's Ruki?"

"She's eating alone," Sora answered nodding to the living room. I walked in to find Tai snoozing on one of the smaller couches and Ruki sitting on one of the larger couches eating a bowl of cereal.

"Hey" I said giving a small wave as I walked into the room.

"Hhmnn" was her only response.

"Have you phoned your parents yet?"

"Ya I said I slept over at a friends, they gave me that option at the beginning because they were going to be out late but…" Ruki frowned at her bowl of cereal "they were still upset that I didn't phone or leave a note though"

"Oh" I said looking down at the floor. Ruki lifted her head up and observed Tai.

"I didn't think it was possible for anyone to sleep that long" Ruki nodded her head. I let out a snort.

"Hey I wouldn't be talking! You woke up a few minutes ago," a voice said.

"Huh" I jumped up startled. I looked over to Tai he was sitting up one of his eyes opened observing us. He stood up stretched and rubbed his eyes.

"So when are we gonna get this meeting started?" he asked.

"Hmnh…. I don't know" I shrugged my shoulders.

"HEY PEOPLE I NOW CALL IN THE ORDER OF TAI!" Tai yelled through the house taking the base of the phone and slamming it on one of the end tables. I heard a couple of groans coming from the kitchen. Sora walked into the room followed by the others.

"Maybe you should eat?" Sora said. Tai shook his head hastily.

"I'm not in the mood for food, I just want to know what happened!" Sora gave him a concerned look. For the next few minutes we arranged the furniture in a circle so we could talk in a group when we heard a weird song.

"Hey? Is that "Hit me Baby One More Time"" Tai asked surveying the different faces around the room when his eyes fell on Sora. She immediately blushed and pulled her cell phone.

"Excuse Me," she said scuttling away to the next room while we continued moving the furniture. After we were all seated Sora came back into the room.

"It was Izzy. He's coming over in a few minutes," Sora paused biting her lip "He sounded urgent"

"Well than lets introduce ourselves and wait," Tai suggested.

Izzy's POV

I couldn't believe this was happening even to me. University computer geek Izzy couldn't figure out how this link worked. Couldn't understand what was happening, it was all I could do to contact Sora. I ran up to the indicated house clutching my laptop with my sweaty hands. Sweat dripped down my brow. I was glad I cut my hair. I knocked on the door quickly. But the image that appeared in the door scared me.

"T…t..t.t..a..a.a….i.i.i.i..?"

Takuya's POV

While we waited for the kid named Izzy. I asked Ruki about Renamon.

"She isn't even supposed to be here" Ruki admitted sourly "One of the tamers fathers took them back to the digital world, the only reason Renamon is here because…well I don't know why. I was dreaming one night when I saw Renamon in my dream. I wished and wished for her to come back and the next morning I found her" Ruki looked at me in the eyes "I often ask her what happened but she doesn't know…."

"Common Izzy get up!" Tai walked into the room helping a small boy into the room.

"Izzy Everybody, Everybody Izzy" Tai said pushing Izzy onto an armchair as he went back to his spot beside Sora.

"H…h….e.e….y.y.y…. …..g.g..u.u…y…s.s." Izzy looked up at the crowd of people, his face suddenly hardened.

"Tai…you being here makes things a lot worse," he paused and opened his laptop and clicked a few times. " I received this transmission yesterday" He turned the laptop to face everybody. What followed next was hurt Tai more than anyone else . I saw Kouji and a girl that must be Tai's sister Kari being dragged along a digimon drawn carriage. What I could see of there bodies was cut up bad. The screen went black but came back and we saw Kouji and Kari sitting on a bench. We heard a gruff voice.

"Say it girl"

"Nnnooooo" Kari moaned. An Ogremon came in the view of the screen and slapped her hard. She winced in pain. I looked over to Tai. At the exact same moment he winced in pain as well and grabbed Sora's hand. I looked back to the screen Kouji was blindfolded and muffled, he struggled to break his binds but it was futile. Kari looked up to the screen her brown eyes desperate.

"…T..hi.s.. tt…ransmi…ssion" Kari took slow breaths as if to steady herself "..Contains…………..one…passage………to…the…digital…world" the Ogremon came in view again and took off the blindfold and muffler on Kouji, while he was doing this though he whispered something in Kouji's ear. Kouji sat up straighter.

"The new digital ruler of this world, commands that in order of our release and the release of the virus of the digimon, that the one named Tai must sacrifice himself" Kouji while saying this looked composed on the outside, but if you looked in his eyes you could see the fear the regret in saying this, you could even hear his voice shaking. A tear rolled down Kari's cheek.

"They have already considered that you would most likely bring companions and try and take down the digital master…" Kouji took a deep breath "we will be destroyed on the spot if you chose to" Tai was staring intensely at the screen I could only wonder what was going through his head.

"You will be allowed a free passage to the castle…. and when you reach the main chamber ALONE…we will be put on a direct link back to the normal world…. once we have taken the link…"

"TAI DON'T DO IT! IT'S A TRAP!" Kari pulled on her binds when the Ogremon came and gave her a good whack on the head with his club. Her from instantly went limp. Kouji lightly struggled at his binds.

"KARI!" Tai let out a cry, tears fell down his face quickly bit he didn't seem to care.

"FINSH IT BOY!" what I assumed to be the Ogremon screamed.

"Once we have exited the digital world your fate will rest entirely on the ruler. Your trip will be long and you will face some digimon who disobey the castle and attack you, you will find yourself longing for home, for your digimon, for your sister, your family, your friends and the ones you love most. This journey has no gain for anyone but you" Kouji took another deep breath "the master wishes you luck with your journey" with that the screen went black and the transmission ended.

To Be Continued…

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry the transmission scene sucked, I like torturing characters but I like to do emotionally not as much physically. Read and Review!