AUTHOR'S NOTES:

It has been a very interesting week since my last update. Wherever you are out there in the big, wide world, hope you're staying safe and well, and I hope you enjoy today's chapter.

OLD RELIABLE

"Wow! You have no idea how great it is to see you guys again!" With what Koushiro supposed was a smile, Ogremon stepped forwards and swept him in to a hug along with Taichi, Sora, Piyomon and Tentomon. After a tight squeeze, the digimon's eyes found Iori and Miyako, and he prodded both of them with a large finger. "New friends?" he asked cheerfully. Iori's face paled and Miyako swayed a little as though about to collapse, but Hawkmon rushed to her side and clutched her hand tightly.

"Yeah, this is their first time," said Taichi. "Ogremon, have you seen-"

"You have to come to the village!" Ogremon boomed. "Everyone will be so happy to see you! Shame you weren't here a couple of days ago - Leomon's just left. He found me a few days ago - just like old times! Only now I'm much stronger than he ever was, so he knows not to even try and fight me." Ogremon grinned and slung his club over his shoulder, puffing out his chest. "He's gone back to help Elecmon at Primary Village, but I still know some guys who'll be glad to see you. Come on! This way!"

"Wait, Ogremon!" Sora called. "One of our friends is missing. We need to try and find him." Ogremon tilted his head thoughtfully, scratching the back of his neck with the end of his club.

"Does he have spiky fur on his head? And flames on his body?"

"Yes! Did you see him?" she asked. Ogremon's face fell and his shoulders drooped.

"Sorry... If I'd've known he was a friend of yours I would've gone after 'em."

"Them?" Taichi asked.

"It's the Kaiser... I came runnin' when I heard all the commotion, but by the time I got there the Kaiser was comin' down to pull someone outta the rubble."

"We have to go after them," said Taichi, drawing himself up taller with the kind of resolve Koushiro hadn't seen for too long. "If this Kaiser thinks he can mess with our friends-"

"What can we do, Taichi?" Sora interrupted. "Our partners can't digivolve, and Hawkmon and Armadimon have only just… They're too inexperienced. Let's go with Ogremon; maybe whoever he knows at the village might be able to help us."

"He'll be damn glad to see you, I know that much," Ogremon answered, his spirits lifting.

"But, Daisuke-"

"Has Fladramon," Sora interrupted. Koushiro didn't miss the way Taichi glanced to Miyako and Iori, still holding the strange trinkets and staring in open-mouthed fear at Ogremon. Sora noticed too, and she tugged on Taichi's hand gently. "Let's get somewhere safe, and then we'll make a plan." It took a long moment for Taichi to decide, but eventually he sagged slightly and nodded, motioning for Ogremon to lead the way.

Koushiro followed cautiously, his legs screaming in protest as they made their way back down the stairs. Koushiro hung back deliberately, stealing glimpses of the gleaming items that he decided must also be Digimentals, much like the item Daisuke had described to them. Koushiro wanted to believe that Daisuke was okay, but until he saw these Digimentals working and figured out just how they managed to circumvent the Kaiser's attempts to stop any unauthorised digivolutions he reserved the right to remain skeptical.

Ogremon waited for them at the bottom but he barely gave them a moment to catch their breath before taking off again. The giant digimon seemed shorter than Koushiro remembered, although he assumed that was because he was now taller himself, having undergone a growth spurt just before entering middle school. Still, each of the digimon's easy strides were three or four of Koushiro's, and he found himself panting to keep up.

"So who do we know at this village?" Taichi asked, and Koushiro couldn't ignore the hope in his voice.

"Oh you'll see!" Ogremon announced cryptically. "A few of us have ended up here since the Dark Masters were defeated, but now there's a new evil coming for us."

"The Kaiser," Sora supplied. She and Taichi both seemed to be handling Ogremon's strides with ease.

"That's the one," Ogremon agreed solemnly. "It wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't just so good at being evil. He's got these towers that he puts up over any village he conquers so that no-one can digivolve without his permission, and then he has these collars; he calls them Dark Rings. They latch on to you and take all the good out of you until there's nothing left, and then he controls you."

"That's horrible!" Sora gasped. Koushiro shuddered; Daisuke had mentioned something about dark rings and mind control, but the thought of having all the goodness taken out of you until nothing but darkness remained was chilling. Ogremon nodded, but he flashed her a smile.

"There are rumours that the rings can be broken, and if that happens then a digimon goes right back to being normal again. I heard it from a Geckomon who heard it from a Tsubumon who heard it from a Monochromon who managed to get away," he answered. "Ah! Here we are! Careful, mind your step."

Though the tree trunks here were fewer, they were thicker and taller, and their leaves interlocked above into a canopy that hadn't seemed to break since they'd found the temple, and Koushiro wasn't quite sure how Ogremon had been able to identify where 'here' began until he caught up to the giant and found himself staring over the crest of the mound they had been slowly climbing.

The light that filtered through the leaves was sparse and speckled with shadows, but it was bright enough to see the mismatched village that filled out the small bowl in the landscape. The huts were made from trees or mud or woven grass; some were small with large doorways, while others were wide with small doors, and others were tall with no doors at all, only high windows to allow access to their flying inhabitants. Ogremon pointed out the largest hut in the centre, which was a round structure of woven grass with a shallow roof just steep enough, Koushiro imagined, to avoid pools of rain in poor weather.

"That's where we're headed," Ogremon announced, descending towards the village.

As they drew closer, Koushiro couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the thick tension that hung in the air. The humidity certainly hadn't changed, and the weather had yet to turn since their arrival, so Koushiro could only assume that it came from the digimon. As he examined the inhabitants of the village, he quickly noted the pattern – each digimon sported some kind of injury, which had been patched up by worn fabric bandages or vines woven in to a sling or wrapped around a splint. Koushiro looked as best he could at each treatment, and after passing his third sprained wing (amongst other injuries) he felt a strange excitement bubbling in his gut.

They rounded the final hut and Koushiro's suspicions were all but confirmed as he saw that the central construction bore a large entrance with two white pennants hanging on either side, each bearing a meticulously hand-painted red cross. He felt the smile spreading across his face as a small cluster of digimon hobbled and hopped and rolled from the makeshift clinic, and a moment later it was a human hand pushing the cloth doorway aside, dabbing a small rag against his forehead and readjusting his all-too-familiar glasses.

"Jou!" Taichi was the first to shout, and from the gaping mouth of the hut Jou nudged his glasses and squinted at them for a moment before his jaw dropped in disbelief. He sputtered several times before walking towards slowly towards them, squinting and gawking.

"It's – it's you!" he cried, rushing forwards. "I can't believe it – you're really here!"

Taichi greeted him first, pulling him in to a fierce hug. Sora came next, a little less rough, and finally Koushiro awkwardly embraced the self-made doctor. Despite Koushiro's growth spurt Jou still towered above him, and he was still as lanky as Koushiro remembered with long, wiry limbs and slender, nimble fingers. His glasses were held together with thin twine, but other than the occasional smudge of dirt on the large lenses they were still relatively intact. No doubt having physically outgrown the khaki shorts and wool vest of his youth Jou wore loose, beige pants and a long, off-white jacket that could have almost passed for a doctor's coat. Underneath, he wore a threadbare t-shirt a few sizes too small, and his feet were covered in a pair of dark, fabric slippers. Despite whatever might have occurred since they'd last met, Jou had managed to keep his hair neatly trimmed to the base of his neck, and in the speckled daylight it looked just as blue-black as it always had.

With an eager grin on his face, Jou led them inside the large hut (Ogremon, too tall to fit inside, offered to take a stroll around the perimeter to make sure they hadn't been followed). Inside, several woven grass screens cornered off impromptu rooms, and Jou navigated through to the back where a long trestle table had been set up underneath part of the hut which opened in to a canopy. Outside of the awning's shade several digimon tended to a long, narrow fire pit over which they roasted fish, foul, fruit and vegetables. A smaller fire was home to a whistling kettle, and as Jou approached a small olive-coloured digimon with stubby little arms offered them all wooden cups filled with an earthy tea.

"So how did you get here?" Jou asked once the introductions were over and Jou had passed around a plate of oat biscuits that were so dry Koushiro had to wash them down with several gulps of tea.

"The gate's open again, or so it would appear," Koushiro answered. He gestured towards Iori and Miyako. "It seems the new Chosen have a different digivice to the rest of us, and it enables them to come and go as they please, I believe; I'd like to run a few tests though, just to be absolutely certain." Jou nodded and looked as though he wanted to say more, but Taichi spoke first.

"Have you seen any of the others?" he asked eagerly. Jou swallowed his tea, wide-eyed.

"The others?" he asked. Koushiro watched as Taichi's shoulders sagged again, and he stared into his tepid tea.

"You weren't the only one to be left behind," Koushiro said quietly. "Yamato, Takeru and Hikari didn't make it home with us either." Jou leant back in his chair and swirled his tea absently.

"And here I thought I was the only one," he mused. "I haven't seen anyone - not even Gennai. I found Ogremon and Leomon at Primary Village, but by the time I got there they said the gate had closed and there was no way for me to get home. We tried searching for another way but... well, I saw how many digimon had been hurt by the Dark Masters and I knew I had to help somehow. It only seemed right. And just as well, seeing as how things have gone since the Kaiser came along…"

"And the Kaiser hasn't found you yet?" Koushiro asked. Jou shook his head solemnly.

"We've moved a couple of times since the Kaiser arrived," he answered, "but it's not been easy. You'd think we'd be a prime target, but I don't think the Kaiser wants injured digimon. He seems to wait until they head home and attacks them on their way. If we move at night, we have a higher chance of surviving capture, but even when the Kaiser isn't watching his sentries are." His grip on the cup tightened, and Koushiro took the time to glance around. Everywhere the digimon huddled together, casting wary eyes at the newcomers - or, more precisely, the new humans. Koushiro sipped his tea in the silence, watching as Jou's shoulders began to tremble, and something about the silence that followed and the empty space at Jou's side finally settled the nagging feeling at the back of Koushiro's mind.

"He has Gomamon, doesn't he?" Koushiro asked quietly. Jou nodded, his eyes never leaving his cup.

"The last time we were found, Gomamon stayed behind to try and buy us some time," he said quietly. "He told me he'd found a way to bypass the Kaiser's control over digivolutions, but he... he couldn't. Now the Kaiser has Ikkakumon under his control. He doesn't even recognise me." He slammed the cup against the table, causing several injured Gotsumon to jump in surprise. A moment of tense silence passed through the air.

"He has Agumon, too," said Taichi, his voice dangerous in a way it had not been since the gate had first closed and he'd been forced to face the fact that life moved on. Koushiro shivered.

"But it's not permanent, remember?" Sora offered softly, placing a hand on Taichi's trembling elbow. Jou sighed heavily, running his thumb absently around the lip of his cup.

"They're just rumours," he sighed. Sora shook her head.

"Daisuke, another of the new Chosen, he's seen it. If the Kaiser's Dark Ring is broken, the digimon return to normal."

"But how do we break them?" Jou asked, defeated. "The digimon don't have the strength to fight, and with nobody able to digivolve... it's hopeless."

"Not quite," said Hawkmon, stepping forwards. He turned his attention to Miyako. "Miyako, if you would please hold up the Digimental and repeat after me: Digimental Up!" Koushiro sat up a little taller, eager to see the Digimental in action, and he watched with baited breath as Miyako did as instructed.

Hawkmon was engulfed in a bright light, and as he underwent his transformation Armadimon urged Iori to do the same with the Digimental of Knowledge. Their glowing bodies twisted in mid-air behind a flickering curtain of data, growing wings and claws and armour and, most importantly, growing bigger.

"Prodigious!" Koushiro exclaimed as the light faded. Holsmon introduced himself with a deep, grumbling voice and a fluttering of his mauve feathers that covered him from shoulder to hide and along the tips of his wings. Gleaming claws gripped the dirt underfoot, though they were dull in comparison to the eagle-like digimon's gleaming helm which, much like its Digimental, sprouted two silver wings that emerged at his temples and canted back. Next to him, Armadimon's evolved form introduced himself as Digmon. His golden shell had become golden armour marked here and there with stripes of brilliant purple, and his silver claws had become glinting silver drills that whirled furiously.

Taichi and Sora were staring at the Armour digimon with open awe whilst Iori and Miyako were struck dumb with shock, both gaping at the new forms of their partners. But it was Jou who drew Koushiro's attention; he was staring slack-jawed at the pair, and as a slow smile began to creep over his face as his eyes began to glisten with tears. He drank in their every detail, examining each burgundy feather and gold plate with silent reverence.

After a moment, he dashed the tears from his eyes and stood from the table. By now the newly-evolved digimon had drawn quite a crowd, and Jou's apparent patients had formed a tight circle around them as they stared up in awe.

Twin chimes echoed through the excited bubble of chatter, and Iori and Miyako glanced down to their devices.

"What's that?" Miyako asked, squinting at the screen. Iori glanced up, catching Koushiro's eye.

"May I?" Koushiro asked, gesturing towards the device. Iori handed it over and Koushiro glanced down at the screen which was displaying a collection of dots. A cluster in the centre of the screen – four white, one red, and one yellow – and one blue dot in the upper right corner. No, two dots – one of them was black.

"Is it a map?" Sora asked, peering over Miyako's shoulder. Koushiro fished out his own digivice, finding the same dots on his screen, though all of his were white.

"It looks like a more advanced version of the tracking programme that's installed on our digivices," he said, holding them side by side and showing them to Iori and Taichi.

"So that blue dot, is that Daisuke?" Taichi asked. "His digivice is blue."

"Most likely," Koushiro said with a nod.

"And the other that's with him," Jou asked, his trembling fingers holding his digivice. "Could that be the Kaiser?" Koushiro shivered but nodded.

"It's… it's possible," he said. Sora gave him a strange look and he swallowed thickly. "More than possible, I suppose, given that Ogremon saw the Kaiser take Daisuke."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Taichi exclaimed. He shot to his feet and readjusted his goggles in an all-too-familiar gesture. "Let's move out!"

The pounding in his head was the first sign that he was still alive, followed by a sharp sting in his elbows and knees. He remembered tumbling and falling through the ground, reaching for Veemon's tail and slipping, more falling... He grimaced at the pain in his shoulder blades, and realised absently that he could feel rock against his back and nothing underfoot, like he was lying down, and yet he definitely felt right-side-up. With a confused groan he slowly opened his eyes.

He instantly wished he hadn't. He was dangling over a giant ravine that seemed to stretch for miles in either direction, bound to the rocky wall by metal manacles around his wrists and ankles. He couldn't stop himself from glancing down, and he swallowed his lunch a second time when he saw just how far he could fall.

"Enjoying your stay?" came a cruel voice. Daisuke craned his neck to find the source, and he finally spied the silhouette of a caped boy on the bluff above.

"I've been to better hotels," Daisuke called back. "Your room service is terrible. Any chance of an upgrade?" He almost thought he heard the Kaiser chuckle.

"I'm sure we can turn this single in to a double," the Kaiser mocked. With a sharp snap of his fingers Daisuke suddenly heard the sound of stone grinding on stone, and he turned his head just in time to see a slab turning on the other side of the mesa to reveal Veemon, also bound by manacles fixed to the wall at his wrists and ankles. The small digimon set his large eyes on Daisuke and grinned.

"Hiya Daisuke!" he shouted. "Great view!"

"C'mon, Veemon, let's do this. Digimental-"

"Now, now," the Kaiser interrupted. "I believe you need these if you're going to cause me any trouble." Daisuke craned his neck again, staring up at the Kaiser who was holding something in his hands. Daisuke groaned, knowing from the Kaiser's voice alone that those gloved hands held his digivice and D-Terminal.

"Gimme those back, you coward!" he shouted. "Or are you afraid to fight me?" The Kaiser chuckled.

"Afraid?" he sneered. "Have you forgotten that you're the one at my mercy? Insufferable boy." The word was spat like an insult and Daisuke scowled.

"You're as much of a boy as I am!" Daisuke returned, which earned a furious growl in response.

"I am nothing like you!" he snapped. Daisuke winced as a gust of wind sprayed his face with dust and debris. He coughed, closing his streaming eyes against the onslaught.

"Oh yeah? Prove it!" he spluttered. The dust stung his nose and the inside of his mouth. "Gimme my stuff back and fight me!" For the briefest moment Daisuke thought the Kaiser might take him up on the offer, but then the breeze brought the sound of laughter.

"And waste my time on the likes of you?" he sneered. "I don't think so; even with your little friend and her Tailmon-" He spat the name. "-you wouldn't stand a chance. Not that they'll be coming to save you." Daisuke growled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he shouted over the rising noise. Something was coming, speeding towards them through the ravine. Daisuke glanced nervously at Veemon, who seemed to be trying to give himself vertigo by squinting at the cavern floor far below.

"Only that they were last seen heading north," the Kaiser replied casually. "They looked so ill-prepared that I doubt they'll last the night. And if they do, well… I have an army of Frigimon waiting for them." Daisuke felt his heart twist at the thought of beautiful, kind Hikari. Was she in trouble? He tugged against the restraints again, only to press himself flat against the rock as they began to loosen. No; falling to the bottom of the ravine was not going to help Hikari.

The noise was growing louder, a rhythmic pounding that echoed off the walls, and Daisuke felt his heart began to flutter at the thought of what the Kaiser might have planned for him. He might not know what the hell a Fridge-mon was, but he'd seen enough of Fladramon and Monochromon to know that they were probably dangerous.

"You're a monster!" he roared.

If the Kaiser had a retort to Daisuke's accusations, it was lost under the pounding of wings as a crimson blur shot up from the cavern, twisting gracefully through the air. The sunlight bounced off its gleaming helm and momentarily blinded Daisuke. As he squinted against the light, he heard a deep voice cry, "Tempest wing!"

The shadow span quickly, twisting round on itself until, within seconds, it became a maroon-and-silver tornado. It shot forwards, and Daisuke heard the Kaiser grunt as he was thrown back. Daisuke cheered, and moments later the large bird was flying towards him. As it drew closer, Daisuke squinted at the lumps on its back.

"Taichi!" he cried in relief. Miyako waved, and even from a distance Daisuke could see the excited grin on her face. As they neared him, Taichi cupped his hands to his mouth.

"Hey Daisuke," he called, "how's it hanging?" Daisuke was too relieved to reply.

The bird reared up in the air, fanning its large wings out on either side as it hovered for a moment. The sun gleamed across its winged silver helmet.

"Mach impulse!" the digimon cried, and two visible gusts formed under the silver wings. They buffeted Daisuke's body, taking the breath from his lungs and knocking the pins and manacles free from the wall. With a yell he began falling, but not a moment later the digimon had swooped beneath him and Daisuke landed heavily on the bird's soft feathers. As he began to slip Taichi took his forearm in a tight grip and pulled him back up.

"What about Veemon?" he asked over the rushing wind as the digimon began to turn back on itself. Daisuke looked over his shoulder in a panic, and felt his heart stop as the wall behind Veemon began to shiver and crumble. Veemon began to fall as his restraints shivered away, but as the rocks crumbled two large drills emerged, each attached to the arm of a large digimon, and in the blink of an eye Veemon was cradled against the creature's strange chest with a goofy grin on his face.

"So who's this?" Daisuke asked as the bird rose higher in the air.

"This is Holsmon, and that's Digmon," Miyako explained, before babbling quickly about how they'd found a temple then an egg then the digimon then a village… Daisuke wasn't sure if it was just Miyako's voice or the events of the day, but he was quickly forming a headache.

"A pleasure to meet you," Holsmon rumbled in a deep tone.

They flew above the top of the ravine, and Daisuke saw the Kaiser. He was facing off against Iori, Koushiro and a blue-haired boy Daisuke didn't think he'd seen before who stood next to a giant green ogre brandishing a spiked club.

"Let's go, Holsmon!" Miyako cried, and Holsmon wordlessly banked towards the fight. In a sudden explosion of rock and rubble, Digmon emerged from beneath the ground behind the Kaiser and Veemon jumped high in to the air, launching himself at the Kaiser.

"V-headbutt!" he cried, and his skull hit the Kaiser between his narrow shoulderblades. The boy staggered forwards with a choked gasp, and Daisuke's devices fell from his grip as he tried to regain his balance. He reached for them but Veemon was faster, sweeping them from the dirt and clutching them to his chest as he scurried out of the Kaiser's reach.

"All right!" Daisuke cheered. The Kaiser looked up at the sky and grimaced before turning to flee into the trees. The green ogre digimon took off after him as Holsmon landed gracefully on the bluff. Quickly Daisuke slipped from Holsmon's shoulders and scooped Veemon up in his arms.

"You okay, buddy?" he asked. The little digimon grinned.

"Better now we're back together!" he proclaimed, and Daisuke couldn't stop the smile that his partner's voice brought.

"What say we give that Kaiser a piece of our minds?" he asked, dropping Veemon to the ground. Veemon handed him the digivice and D-Terminal, and Daisuke grinned wolfishly.

"Digimental-"

"I wouldn't bother, he's gone," came a slow, sad voice, and Daisuke looked up to see the ogre emerge from the forest. Daisuke groaned, disappointed; he needed to show Taichi how cool Veemon looked with his armour.

"Gone? How?" Miyako cried.

"He seemed to have a ride waiting," the digimon answered. "And I had such a good chance to take him down."

"It's okay, Ogremon," Sora said encouragingly, who stood to one side with Koushiro, Tentomon and Piyomon. "You'll get him next time."

"Not if someone else gets him first," Ogremon moaned.

"It'd be selfish for them not to leave some for you," Taichi joked, patting the large creature on the arm.

As they left the ravine behind them, Daisuke was introduced properly to Jou and Ogremon, and to Hawkmon and Armadimon. Hawkmon, Daisuke quickly decided, was uptight, stuffy and stubborn, and just as head-pounding-ly annoying as Miyako. Armadimon on the other hand was laid back and hungry, something Daisuke could at least relate to even if Iori was stiff as a reed.

Jou was quiet and reserved, but also interesting. Like Hikari, he had been left behind several years ago when their adventures had come to an end, but while Hikari and her meagre belongings had given Daisuke the impression that she was constantly on the move, travelling from place to place, Jou's temporary village and his collection of helpers left quite the opposite impression.

After letting the hungry digimon have their fill of rice cakes and oat biscuits and tea, Daisuke led them back to where they'd come from and pointed out the small television set that perched on a mound of dirt.

"I've seen that a few times, but it's never been turned on before," Jou mused aloud as they approached.

"That's how we're getting home," Daisuke announced, rushing towards the set. "You just hold up your digivice and – wham – through you go."

"Although it only seems to work with the newer models," Sora added.

"It'll be so great to have you back again, Jou," Koushiro said happily as they approached. At the sudden silence that fell over the group, Daisuke halted and turned back to face them, noting that Jou had stopped several paces away. "Jou?" Koushiro prompted.

"You're not coming back, are you?" Taichi asked quietly. Jou shook his head.

"I can't leave; the digimon are depending on me to help them," Jou answered.

"But you can't just spend your whole life here," Sora reasoned.

"I won't," the taller boy replied. "I will come home, just as soon as I know that the digimon will be able to take care of themselves. They're fast learners; I'm sure it won't take long." Koushiro glanced at Sora, who returned the look nervously. Daisuke saw Miyako and Iori exchange awkward glances.

"Then I'm staying too," Taichi announced. At once, Sora and Koushiro spouted a number of objections, but Taichi shook his head. "I can't leave without finding Hikari. I won't rest until I know she's safe."

"Taichi," Sora started hesitantly, and Daisuke saw the way she looked at Miyako then Iori and then to him before stepping closer. Daisuke had to strain to hear her. "What about your mother?" Taichi's jaw set firmly and his hands clenched to fists at her side.

"Dad can take care of her." His voice faltered as he said it, and with a heavy sigh he dropped his head. When he spoke again his voice was quiet and almost helpless; a tone Daisuke had never heard from him before. "I don't want to leave… not without seeing her…"

"I know you don't," Sora murmured, taking his hand gently in hers, "but Hikari's survived this long. Right now, your mother needs you. You know as well as I do that she couldn't bear to lose you too." Taichi said nothing.

"Don't worry, Taichi," Jou said with sad smile. "I'll start spreading the word and we'll try and track her down, and the others. I'm sure they're all just fine." Around his feet, the digimon nodded their agreement. Taichi managed a small half-smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Thanks guys," he said in a heavy voice, before wordlessly waving goodbye and heading towards the television. Sora quickly squeezed Piyomon tightly before rushing after him, linking her delicate hands around his elbow and talking quietly to him. Koushiro and the others bid a quiet goodbye to their respective partners, and as Koushiro said goodbye to Jou the taller gripped his arm lightly and pulled him close.

"What's up with Taichi's mom?" Jou asked quietly. Koushiro glanced at Daisuke from the corner of his eye.

"This isn't the best time," he mumbled before making his way to the gate. Daisuke watched him go, wanting to ask the same question, but he was distracted by Veemon tugging at his sleeve.

"Do you have to go?" Veemon asked. Daisuke nodded.

"Sorry buddy, I've got to," he answered. "But I'll be back tomorrow."

"Really?" His golden eyes flickered with hope, and Daisuke rubbed his head roughly.

"Definitely!" he said with a grin. "So don't get in to any trouble while I'm gone, okay?"

"Not without you, I won't!"

Daisuke was still grinning when they emerged in the computer room in a tangle of limbs and groans. Tentatively they disentangled themselves and rose to their feet. Taichi was the first to leave, waving a silent goodbye and walking from the room, defeated, and Sora slipped out with him. Miyako and Iori left next, babbling excitedly about their adventure, Daisuke made to follow them, but as he turned to close the door behind him he suddenly remembered the Kaiser's cruel words and he swore under his breath.

"Daisuke?" Koushiro asked. "Is something wrong?" Daisuke shuffled back inside, staring at his feet.

"The Kaiser said something about Hikari," he mumbled. "I wanted to tell Taichi, but then we got distracted and… well, I only just remembered..." He trailed off sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck and finally looking at Koushiro who was waiting expectantly for him to continue. "He said Hikari and Tailmon were heading north, but that they… they'd either freeze to death or be destroyed by some fridge-mon he had waiting up there." Koushiro frowned heavily, and the nod that followed was silent and solemn.

"Whatever you do," he said slowly, "don't tell Taichi. He wouldn't take it well." Daisuke blinked in surprise and Koushiro folded his arms, almost speaking more to himself. "She's survived this long; she'll be able to last one more night. She was fine when you saw her, right?" Daisuke nodded, caught off-guard by the unexpected question. "As I suspected. Taichi is very protective when it comes to Hikari; if he thinks she might be in danger he won't stop until he finds her, and that won't end well." Daisuke frowned as he thought about it. Of course Hikari had survived in the Digital World, and she had Tailmon to defend her, but the thought of the small, beautiful girl standing her ground alone against a Monochromon or a Snimon or any other sort of 'mon was enough to make his stomach turn. During his silence, Koushiro settled back down in front of the computer.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm trying to make a programme that can scan the Digital World for digivice signals," he explained, tapping furiously at the keyboard. "Jou still had his, and I would expect Hikari and the others to have theirs too. If we can track down their signal then perhaps we can try and redirect the gate so we can find them."

"Won't you get in trouble, staying here so late?" Daisuke asked. He rarely stayed in school longer than he absolutely had to, so couldn't be certain if there were penalties for hanging around after hours, but he expected the custodians wouldn't take kindly to a student – from another school, no less – being here so late. Koushiro shrugged and turned for a moment to smile at him.

"I've done this before," he said. "If anyone turns up I just tell them I'm working on a big project, and I need software that I don't have at the high school. I've probably got another hour or so until anyone will be coming to this side of the building." He turned back, and the tapping resumed. "Besides, if I can work out how the digital gate functions, I may be able to replicate it on my computer at home, so we wouldn't have to meet here every time. Oh, I wonder if this will work…" And suddenly Koushiro's full attention was focused on the screen. Daisuke's quiet goodbye went unanswered, and he slipped slowly from the room.