Disclaimer: I don't own digimon. Kyriffimon is mine.
Friendship or Love
Chapter 8 It's a Joy to be Joe
Joe silently trudged after Tai as the digidestined and digimon hiked towards a deep valley. He was silently stressing about his test. He knew he was sometimes a little obsessive over his tests, but he couldn't help it. This test was a very important test. Mimi sullenly whined behind him and Joe clenched his teeth. He didn't hate Mimi. He just didn't like it when she whined over the smallest things. Joe knew he shouldn't say anything because this hike was hard for him as well.
"How…much…further?" Mimi panted. Everyone looked at her. She held up her hands.
"Okay okay. Just trying to pass time." Tai scratched the back of his head, which was almost an impossible thing to do because his hair was so big. Joe got out a small cloth and wiped his glasses. The heat was almost unbearable. Izzy carefully shaded his eyes and glanced up at the highest peak of Diamonte Peak.
"It should take approximately four days to get there." Izzy estimated. Joe groaned. "Hey don't worry. Gennai changed the time so that it's faster here and time in the real world is slower."
"Doesn't that mean that we live four more days?" Gomamon asked.
"Not exactly." Izzy answered. It was about midday and the sun was spreading it's rays across the sky.
"Can we stop for lunch now?" Davis' meek voice could be heard from behind.
"I agree!" Veemon called.
"Just a bit more further, okay?" Tai said. They walked a few metres.
"How come it seems like we're always on journeys?" Mimi asked to anyone who listened. Joe shrugged to himself. The sooner they destroyed that evil digimon, the sooner he could study.
The digidestined and digimon sat down under a reasonably shaded area of grass and got out some food that Gennai had given them.
"All right! Ham sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, a big bowl of fruit, strawberry cakes and a big bottle of juice." Tai peered at the food that he described.
"Let's dig in!" Agumon cried. The digidestined and digimon ate their fill and sat back.
"We should get going soon." Tai said. The digidestined groaned.
"Just a little while longer?" Sora pleaded. Tai glanced at her.
"Just a little." They rested for about half an hour before getting up and starting the descent down the valley. Kari slipped on a rock and T.K quickly helped her up.
"Are you okay, Kari?" Gatomon asked. Kari nodded. Yolei quickened her pace to join T.K and Kari. Joe got out his discman and listened to the lecture for the fiftieth time. He listened to a few CDs as the group walked across the valley and dreamily thought of how he would feel after the test would be over.
Joe's daydream was interrupted when the whole group suddenly stopped.
"Why did we stop?" Joe asked, craning his head forward to take alook at what was going on in front. Walking pass Tai, were a group of Kyriffimons. Tai was patiently waiting for them to pass. It seemed like forever as there were so many of them. Finally a shy small Kyriffimon passed and gave them a small smile.
"That one was so cute." Sora commented. Kari put away the camera she had taken out to take pictures of the Kyriffimon.
"I've never seen them before." Kari said.
"They're a really shy group and you would only see them passing by here unless you followed them." Izzy explained. Tai started off again and the other digidestined followed him. Many groans, moans and whines away, the digidestined reached the bottom of the other side of the valley.
"Joe, can you pass me the rope?" Tai asked. Joe fumbled around in the bag that Gennai gave him and pulled out the rope. Tai tied everyone together and used poles as walking sticks to help him walk up the steep side of the valley. Gomamon kept slipping as his flippers were made for slippery areas.
"Whatever you do, don't look back." Ken quietly said. Mimi gulped and looked at the sky. The walk up the side was long and tedious.
"I'm bored." Veemon said.
"Save your breath, Veemon." Davis said.
"No. I am too. Why don't we play a talking game?" Gomamon suggested. The other digimon chorused their agreements and they spent the next few minutes deciding what to play.
"I know! 'The first word that comes to your mind as soon as I say a word'." Gatomon said.
"Is that even the name of a game?" Tentomon asked.
"No, Gatomon was just trying to explain a game." Patamon said.
"I'll start." Gatomon said after every digimon agreed. "Cat."
"Mouse."
"Cheese."
"Milk."
"Cow."
"uh…blue." Everyone stared at Veemon.
"What has that got to do with cows?" Palmon asked.
"I just thought of the first thing in my head and then I saw my blue self." Veemon shrugged. They played the game right up until Tai yelped in happiness as he reached the top.
Joe wiped the sweat off his face as Tai helped everyone up and onto flat land.
"We should look for a place to stay for the night." The sun was setting fast as different shades of pink and orange settled across the sky. The digidestined found a small cave with a nice area outside.
"We girls should sleep inside." Mimi said.
"Why?" Tai asked.
"Because we need a more comfortable place to sleep." Mimi said. Tai raised an eyebrow.
"Just let them." Matt said wearily. Sora gave Matt a grin and hurried with the other girls inside the cave. A few minutes later, the girls returned to eat a quick meal.
"Are you guys sure you don't mind?" Sora asked.
"Well there's more of us to protect you girls." Davis said boldly. Gomamon scoffed at this.
"What?" Davis asked.
"Oh nothing." Gomamon grinned. The girls quickly ate their dinner and then with a quick goodbye, they rushed off with their digimon back into the cave.
"Now that the girls are gone, we can talk about them." Davis said gleefully.
"Isn't that like gossiping?" Ken asked.
"Who cares?" Tai asked.
Author's note: Thank you so much for reviewing! There shouldn't be any more complications with romances. grin. Please review and tell me what you think.