Hey it's me again! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Anyway, I hope u like this addition and please R&R.

Chapter 8:

A 'Friend' In Need

As the sun was setting, Mako and Impmon, Beelzemon's rookie level, were walking towards home. Impmon had enough strength to walk home but he wouldn't be able to fight for a little bit. As they got closer to home, no one else was really on the street as it kept getting darker.

"You ok, Mako?" he asked, noticing his tamer's quiet behavior.

"Not really. I thought…I thought I almost lost you."

"We had to fight. I know that you don't want to lose anyone else, but neither do I."

Mako sighed and said, "You're right. We both lost someone…and I guess I was wallowing in my own losses and seeing how things are bad for me. Guess I need to remember about you too, huh?"

"Yeah. But we still have each other, right?"

"Right," he said, smiling a bit.

Mako unlocked the front door and entered in the third floor apartment. He switched on some lights while Impmon went into the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat. On the counter, Mako saw that the answering machine had a message on it. He pressed the play button.

"You have one new message," said the electronic voice.

A woman's voice appeared as Mako listened to it.

"Hey Mako. It's mom. Listen, I'm going out of town for a while and your father is still in Kyoto. I went shopping and got some more food but there's money in the jar if you need it. I love you. Bye."

"Message recorded at 4:25 P.M. on Wednesday, October 4."

Mako then hit the delete button on the answering machine.

"Message deleted. No messages are recorded."

Mako sighed as he knew that the apartment was all to himself and Impmon. His parents had been very busy the past few years, but Mako probably knew what the reason was. He turned on the TV as he heard Impmon getting out some dishes for dinner.

'At least Impmon doesn't have to stay hidden from my parents. Still, it's lonely without them.'

He looked at the gadgets on the small dining table in the center of the room that his 'boss' had given him.

'I wonder. If I give them a chance…maybe they won't leave me.'

Impmon came out with two bowls of ramen and looked at Mako curiously. Mako smiled and accepted one of the bowls as the news started to come on. They both sat down and watched the latest news reports.

"Today a strange occurrence happened in West Shinjuku," said a woman. "From what witnesses saw, the government believes it was another digimon attack that could've caused massive chaos in the city. Many people were injured but there seems to be no deaths reported. Coming up…America's plans for war. But first, a word from our sponsors."

Mako muted the TV as the commercials came on, not caring to hear TV ads. Both of them put their bowls in the dishwasher and then sat down again to watch some more TV. After a while, Mako got up.

"I'm…going to take a shower."

"Ok," Impmon said, changing the channel.

Takato walked down the sidewalk with Guilmon towards the bakery. They ignored some of the strange looks from people and didn't really care what they thought.

"Are you ok, Guilmon?" Takato asked his partner.

"Yeah. I'm sorry for what I did."

"It's not your fault boy."

"It's not?" he asked, puzzled.

"No…it's not."

'It's his fault. If he hadn't….I guess he was right about my anger. But still…' Takato thought to himself as they approached the bakery.

Mako sighed as he let the water fall onto his hair and drip downwards. He thought about the recent events and more about when they helped him and Impmon when they needed it.

'Maybe I should give them a chance. Impmon seems to want to…and they may not leave,' he thought. 'But there's still forgiveness…I need to get…especially from Takato.'

He sighed as he cupped his hands so he could get some water and then splashed it on his face. But there was still something he needed to do. He turned off the shower, wrapped a towel around himself, and went to his room. After he got dressed, he glanced at the picture on his dresser but then walked out of his room without looking at it anymore.

One week later

Mako walked down the sidewalk as Impmon walked on a division wall beside him. He wasn't sure what to do next. He had talked to his boss and he said to do whatever he wanted. It was his decision.

"It might be better if you had allies," the man said in the car.

Mako looked down and said, "I know. I'm still deciding on that."

"Well, doesn't matter to me. You got the information I wanted."

Mako nodded, still gazing at the ground.

"Just be careful. You know that she's still out there."

He looked at him and said, "I know. Should I…try to talk to her?"

"You can. Or just leave her be. I'm sure she's fine. After all, it has been four years since the incident."

"Yes. I hope so."

"Just remember it's your decision."

As Mako continued walking down the sidewalk, he thought, 'I know it's my decision. But what should I do?'

Impmon watched his tamer below him and knew he was thinking about things. He knew that Mako wanted to try to have allies and it was probably for the best. But he had to decide for that himself. As they continued walking, a blue van started to drive by them, becoming slower as it neared them. Neither of them noticed the van as it stopped and five muscular men in black coats and sunglasses stepped out. They quietly came up behind them and Mako was the first to notice them. He turned around just as one of them started to throw a punch. Mako dodged it and kicked the man, which threw him back towards the other guys.

"Mako!" Impmon said.

"Run Impmon!" he told his partner.

Both of them took off as the man that Mako kicked got up and they followed them. They tried losing them by running into the alleyways but unfortunately they stayed with them. Mako and Impmon ran out of the alleyways and started to head down the street when one of the men grabbed Mako from behind between two buildings. Impmon looked back and saw he needed help.

"Mako, hang on!" he said.

He lit a fireball on his fingers and said, "Bada Boom!"

It hit the man as he screamed in pain but kept his hold on Mako as he tried to get loose. Impmon decided to try another attack of fireballs but then one of the men came behind him with a pipe.

"Impmon look out!"

He turned around just as the pipe hit his head. He fell to the concrete, unconscious, as Mako struggled to get free. Then another man put a cloth over Mako's face as he tried to get free. Soon his vision was hazy and then…he blacked out.

Impmon groaned as he started to come to. His head was throbbing and his vision was blurry as he continued to lie on the concrete. At first he didn't know what had happened, but soon reality sunk in. He carefully got up and saw that the blue van was gone as well as Mako.

'Mako…'

He shakily stood up as he tried to figure out where they went. He went to the place where the van was parked but saw nothing to help him. Then, something in the gutter caught his eye. He looked down and saw Mako's black D-Arc as he picked it up. Tears started to form in his eyes but he quickly wiped them away as he stowed it in his bandanna. He quickly ran to where he thought the tamers might be.

'I need help…and only they can help me. I hope they will. I don't want to lose Mako forever.'

He kept running as he reached the park and then found the old shed that he had always seen the tamers at. He looked in and around there but didn't see them. Impmon didn't lose hope as he quickly ran from there and started to search the park. He suddenly heard voices and ran towards the source of the sound. On another sidewalk trail were the tamers or most of them. The only ones that were missing were Suzie, Ryo, Kenta, Kazu, and their partners. He quickly ran their way through the grass, hoping that they could help.

"Hey, it's Mako's partner," Terriermon said.

They all looked as Impmon came near them and tried to catch his breath from running so much.

"Please…help me," he tried to say.

"What's wrong?" Jeri asked.

"Mako…he's gone."

"Gone? What do you mean…'gone'?" Rika asked.

"They…took him. Some men…came and took him. I…need help. Please…help me," he said looking at them.

"Why should we?" Takato asked.

Everyone looked at him, surprised at his tone of voice.

"Why should we help him? He's done nothing for us and all he does is treat us badly. Whatever Mako's done, it's not our problem."

Impmon looked at him and said, "He's…done nothing. We don't know who they are."

"Well we're not helping," he said as he started to walk away.

"Wait…please," Impmon said as he stepped forward.

Once he did, though, he suddenly felt dizzy and the dizziness made him feel sick. He groaned as he went to the ground trying to stop it. Even though his tamer had pushed Takato to making Guilmon digivolve to Megidramon, Guilmon still felt sorry for him. He then noticed something as Impmon sat there. He came closer and saw the deep wound on the side of his head where the pipe hit.

"Takato!"

"Come on Guilmon. Let's go."

"But Takato…he's hurt."

Takato hesitated but then went up to him to see the huge gash in his head. Even though he disliked Mako, he could never leave a hurt digimon alone.

"Stay here with him. I'll go home and get my first aid kit," he said running off.

Impmon was still very dizzy as the others came around him and laid him down so he could recover. By the time Takato got back, Impmon was no longer dizzy but stayed down as Takato cleaned the wound and then bandaged his head. Impmon carefully sat up and looked at Takato.

"Why did you help me?" Impmon asked.

"Because you needed it. I couldn't just leave you, knowing that something bad could happen to you."

"Can't you do the same for Mako?"

Takato looked at him as Impmon continued.

"I know Mako has probably hurt you and he knows that. He didn't mean to…but now he could be hurt somewhere and I need your help. If you don't help me and I never find him…then I could never forgive myself. I already lost someone once before…and I can't go through that again. Please…help us."

Takato looked into his pleading eyes and knew that he was only talking to him, no one else. He sighed as he stood up and made his decision.

"All right. Where did they get him?"

Impmon smiled as he tried to stand up. However, the dizziness came back as his head was severely injured. Guilmon allowed him to ride on his back as they went to the place where the van was.

"It was here and…" Impmon pulled out the black D-Arc. "…this was left behind."

Takato looked around and then had an idea.

"Guilmon…sniff the D-Arc for Mako's scent."

He sniffed it and, like a dog, sniffed the area and picked up his scent. They followed it as they were led towards a deserted area.

Mako groaned as he started to come back into consciousness. There was someone standing in front of him but his vision was still blurry as he started to make it become clearer. Once his vision was back, he recognized the person standing a few feet away from him and he saw that he was tied up to a pole. It was a girl a little older than him with light blonde hair in pigtails, pale blue eyes, and wore a black shirt and skirt with a cross necklace on her. She smiled as he looked at her.

"Welcome back…Mako."

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"You should know. You were one of the tamers that helped a bit to destroy the D-Reaper. It was very noble…but I also know there was a cost."

"Shut up! You hardly know me, Alice."

"I know more about you then you know. I also know that you only rely on yourself instead of letting others help you."

"I was wrong to do that. I now know that I do need allies."

"A little too late for that, isn't it?"

Mako looked at Alice and said, "Why am I here?"

She smiled and said, "My master wanted me to bring you here. It's very interested in you as well as the tamers."

"What master?"

Alice came closer as Mako felt an odd presence nearby.

"The master that is here to save this world. It wanted me to bring you because four years ago you and your digimon brought it great pain. It wants payback."

"I don't even know your master!"

Her eyes started to glow a somewhat dark pink as she said, "Oh…but you do."

Mako's eyes widened as he realized what she was talking about. He started to shudder, as he knew what it was. Alice smiled.

"I see you've figured it out."

"But why, Alice? Why are you with it? It caused you pain as well as me."

"Alice…you keep calling me that. Why do humans even bother with such things?"

Mako chuckled and said, "So…you're in control. That's all right. Makes it easier for me to believe you."

"Yes…but the real fun's just beginning."

They kept going as they were being led to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Impmon was still riding on Guilmon's back as he sensed Mako nearby.

"He's in there," he said, pointing to the warehouse.

"Ok guys. Be ready for anything," Takato said.

They went in to find Mako tied to a pole and Alice not standing too far off. Both of them turned towards the tamers as they entered.

"Well, I thought you didn't have friends," Alice said.

"Mako…" Impmon said.

He smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm all right."

"Alice? Is that you?" Henry asked.

"Why are you here?" Takato asked.

"My master has asked me to bring him here. You shall not interfere."

"Alice it's us. The tamers. You were on our side four years ago with Dobermon," Henry said.

"Yes, but things have…changed."

Suddenly, a bunch of men in black coats and sunglasses emerged from nowhere in front of the tamers. Impmon was still hurt, so he couldn't fight as Guilmon gently put him down.

"Destroy them," Alice said.

They started to charge, as the digimon were ready to attack.

"Pyro Sphere!" Guilmon said, throwing flame balls at them.

"Diamond Storm!" said Renamon as she hit them with her attacks.

"Terrier Tornado!" said Terriermon as he blew some of them upwards with his tornado attack.

"Fist of the Beast King!" Leomon said as his attack hit them.

As some of the men landed, they heard crashing and crunching but it wasn't bones. They looked at whatever men they attacked and saw that they weren't men at all.

"Hey look. They're just robots," Jeri said.

The tamers saw some of the machinery parts scattered places, as the robots they took down remained motionless. There were still others that were coming after them.

"Well that's good. Now we can take them down easy," Takato said. He took out a card while looking at Guilmon. "Ready boy?"

"Mmmhmm," he said.

"Digi-Modify! Digivolution Activate!"

DIGIVOLUTION

"Guilmon digivolve to…Growlmon!"

"Now its our turn," said Henry.

Both him and Rika took out their cards and slashed them.

"Digi-Modify! Digivolution Activate!"

DIGIVOLUTION

"Terriermon digivolve to…Gargomon!"

"Renamon digivolve to…Kyuubimon!"

The four champion level digimon attacked the army of robots and won handily. Alice watched the whole thing with amusement and, once all of the robots were destroyed, decided it was time to go.

"Very good. I should never underestimate you. We shall meet again, so don't worry."

She suddenly threw a smoke ball down that gave her time to escape from the warehouse. The three champions went to their rookie forms as Impmon untied the ropes from Mako. As soon as he was free, Impmon hugged his tamer.

"I thought I lost you," he said.

Mako hugged him back and then they parted as he said, "Don't worry, we have each other."

Impmon nodded as they walked outside with the other tamers. Takato and Mako looked at each other before Mako spoke.

"Listen…thanks. If it wasn't for you, I probably would still be here tied up."

"You're welcome, but it was really your partner who convinced me," Takato said.

Mako nodded and said, "I'm also…sorry for what I did. I've been acting like a jerk and that really isn't who I am. I've been…afraid to make friends for a while. I know you probably hate me so…can we just be allies instead of friends?"

Takato looked at him and said, "Sure. Allies."

They started to walk away when Terriermon shouted, "Hey! Mako's partner! What's your rookie name, anyway?"

The small rookie looked at them and said, "Name's Impmon."

"Ok. See you around," Terriermon said.

They walked away as the tamers looked back to them and soon went home as well.