Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Well, this might not be one of my more exciting chapters, but I promise there will be more of those to come. Also, for you Trinity fans, I've got a chapter coming up soon for that story as well.
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 151: Sticking Together
Ami Motomiya
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
"I can't believe Sam has run away from the others again!" Taniko cried, hitting the keyboard with her fist in frustration. "What in the Digiworld is wrong with him? Just when he finally manages to meet up with Dai's group after making a run for the ocean, of all things, he decides to just leave them behind a second time! I'm sorry, Miya, but I give up. I know my dad tried to explain everything as well as he could in that e-mail he sent me, but there's still a lot we don't know, and I'm done trying to come up with more theories. Truthfully, I have no idea what's going on, and I don't think my dad really knows either. I doubt any of us will know exactly what's been happening until Sam gets back to the human world and tells us."
"If he even wants to tell us," Jun muttered.
"Well, even if he doesn't, there's still a chance he might have told Dai's group what was going on with him in the forest. He did stay with them for a short while before running off," Davis countered, elbowing his sister in the ribs. "If that's the case then we'll just have to wait until Dai and the others get back."
"But...what about Sam?" Taniko asked anxiously.
"I wouldn't be too upset, Taniko," Noah said cheerfully, leaning over Miya and pointing at Sam's purple dot on the screen. "Look! Sam is heading right for the gate at the edge of the beach. It's right where the forest ends. If you ask me, it looks like he's heading straight for the human world. I know you're worried about him heading towards the ocean again, but he's not actually moving towards the water. If you look closely, he's making his way right for the dot representing the gate, and he's almost there."
Mimi nodded in agreement and sent Miya an encouraging smile. "We may not know exactly what's going on, but at least we know Sam will be out of danger soon. What Jun said might be true, but that doesn't mean we can't at least consider having a talk with Sam. It's worth a shot. Once Sam gets back, whether he tells us or not, we can at least ask him why he ran off and we can also ask him about everything else that has been going on with him in the Digital World this afternoon."
"Anything else we need to know we can find out from Izzy," Cody said quietly, gesturing towards the computer screen. "From the looks of things, Izzy's group has finally managed to meet up with Dai's group. I'm sure they'll be back soon. It's getting late."
"That's nice, but I want to know why Dai and the others aren't coming back with Sam," Ema complained. "Why did he run off and leave them behind? None of this makes any sense!"
Ema's right. Sam has been acting really unusual lately and there must be a reason for it. Only...I'm not so sure I want to know exactly what that reason is, and what about Nao and Miya?
Ami Motomiya turned to look at her best friend and she winced at the helpless expression on the raven-haired female's face. Miya was curled up against Noah's chest, in the same position she had been in since her earlier outburst, and her cheek was resting lightly on his shoulder. It had been a while since she had spoken, but what was even more disturbing was the way her eyes were focused blankly on the ceiling. It was almost as if her soul had drifted off to some faraway place, and Ami had a feeling it was going to take a lot of work and a little bit of luck to rescue the raven-haired female from the darkness and misery she seemed to have fallen into since Sam's first attempt to desert his friends. Normally, Miya was always the one cracking jokes or causing mischief, and the sound of her laughter was so infectious, it made every conversation without her seem dull by comparison. When she was around, her laughter blended into the conversation so well, it was only after she left that you suddenly began to realize there was something missing. To see her looking so lost and hopeless was a bit unnerving, and it made Ami's heart ache with sadness.
It's hard to see her so upset because she's always so happy all the time. What can I do to comfort her, and what about Nao?
Glancing at the small boy huddled on the floor between her parents, Ami felt another sharp stab of pain pierce her heart. Nao had his face hidden against Patamon's small body, and judging by the way he was sniffing and whimpering in distress, it sounded like he was pretty close to tears.
I feel like Miya's whole family is starting to fall apart and there's nothing we can do to help them. What if they all end up slipping away from each other, and by the time they realize what's happening, it's already too late?
Horrified by the direction her thoughts were taking, Ami quickly pushed Noah out of the way and flung her arms around her best friend in a tight hug. Her spontaneous gesture of affection must have startled Miya because the raven-haired female's gaze suddenly focused on her face and the two of them stared at each other.
"I'm scared, Ami," Miya whispered, pulling off her glasses and rubbing at the sudden tears in her eyes. "What's happening to my family?"
"I don't know, Miya. I wish I could tell you, but I don't understand what's going on any more than you do."
"Do you have to be so rough?" Noah grumbled, rubbing his shoulder and looking extremely disappointed over the loss of Miya's arms around his waist.
Ami ignored her cousin and gave Miya's shoulders a quick squeeze. "Your parents, and the rest of our parents for that matter, have been acting really weird ever since we found out about their past and now Sam is acting kind of odd, too. There must be a reason for it. It all has to be connected somehow."
"You know, we're right here, Ami. We can hear you," Rosa interrupted, sounding amused. There was a twinkle in her dark eyes, but at the same time she sounded a bit uneasy, as if nervous about the way the conversation was heading. It was almost as if she could tell they were getting a little too close to the truth for comfort.
"It's because of the Emperor," Miya cried, squeezing her eyes shut. "How many times do I have to say it? All of this is happening because no one will tell us who he is!"
Ami patted her friend's shoulder and nodded in agreement. "I haven't forgotten, Miya. I know you're right, isn't she, Dad? Mom?"
Will they lie or will they tell me the truth?
Ami raised her eyebrows as both of her parents jerked their heads up in surprise and glanced uneasily at each other before turning to look in her direction. Clearly they had been startled by the sudden question thrown in their direction and the looks on their faces were the only answer Ami needed. "I know you guys keep saying you can't tell us, but...we'll find out eventually, and I know you both know it."
"Maybe, but a promise is still a promise," her father said stubbornly, shaking his head and frowning at the cream-coloured carpet. "Do you really think I don't want to tell you? Ami, I would give anything to tell you and Dai the truth, but as our digimon would say, we humans are pretty stubborn. The stupid things we do to protect the ones we care about, even when we know it isn't the right thing to do."
"One day you will understand, Ami, because you would have done the same thing," her mother said quietly.
Ami frowned and gazed suspiciously at her parents, feeling uncertain of what it was exactly they were trying to tell her. For some odd reason they were looking at Miya, and she had a strange feeling their words were somehow connected to the raven-haired female.
"I'm really confused. None of this explains how Sam is connected to the Emperor," Taysuke grumbled, making a face.
"Oh, it does, more than you know," Kenzo muttered.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ema snapped, frowning suspiciously at her dark-haired friend.
Kenzo blushed and muttered something in Spanish, which he could speak fluently, thanks to his mother, and managed a weak smile. "Nothing. I was just...thinking out loud."
Well, that was weird. I wonder what's going on with Kenzo. He usually acts so normal compared to the others, but now...
"What if the reason Dai and the others can't come back with Sam is because they're in trouble?" Taysuke asked anxiously. "Vampiramon and her allies could still be trying to hunt them down. Maybe Sam somehow managed to get away and now he's coming back here for some help."
"But...that's not good either!" DemiVeemon piped up, burying his small face against Shadow's dark fur.
The little puppy whimpered at the fear in DemiVeemon's voice and curled himself into a small ball, his head resting on his front paws. Since Dai's birthday and Sam's birthday were only a week apart, Sam being the younger, and with their birthdays having been celebrated less than a month ago, Shadow was a relatively new addition to the family. The little puppy had only been a week old when Dai had gotten him as a gift, but even so, Shadow had been able to pick up on the emotions of the family and friends of the family quite quickly, and now it seemed he could do the same with digimon, as well.
Shaking her head at how unbelievable it was that Dai had received such a remarkable dog, Ami quickly turned back to her friend and gave the raven-haired female an encouraging smile. "Cheer up, Miya, Sam will be home soon."
"It doesn't matter," Miya whispered, shaking her head and hiding her face in her hands. "It isn't going to change the way Sam's been acting lately. Do you know how hard it is to watch him suffering, especially when I know it doesn't have to be this way? Don't you see, Ami? He's never going to be the same person again until he finds out the truth about the Emperor. I don't understand why he seems to think he has some sort of connection to the Emperor, but if that's the way he really feels, then there's nothing we can do to help him except to tell him the truth."
"And we don't know the truth," Noah murmured, glancing meaningfully at the five adult Digidestined present in the room. "Only our parents can give Sam what he really wants."
"No kidding. He was definitely acting weird today, but not as weird as Ryoko. I wonder what was going on with him this morning," Ema said thoughtfully.
Ami shrugged her shoulders and turned to gaze apprehensively at Miya. The raven-haired female looked so miserable, it brought tears to Ami's eyes, and letting out a soft sound of distress, she quickly wrapped her arms around her female friend again in a fierce hug. "Listen, Miya, I know you don't think I understand, but I do. If all of these things were happening to Dai, I'd feel just as worried and helpless as you do. In fact, I do feel the same way as you right now, and Sam isn't even my brother, but just because you're scared it doesn't mean you have to give up completely."
"I know you understand," Miya mumbled into her shoulder, sniffing back tears. "That's why you're my best friend."
Ami remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say, but it wasn't long before a memory from quite a few years ago suddenly came back to her, and despite the seriousness of the situation, she found herself smiling in amusement. "Hey, Miya? Do you remember how we used to throw pillows down the stairs at Dai when you would sleep over at my house on the weekends?"
"I still spend the night at your house all the time," Miya mumbled.
"I know, but we haven't thrown any pillows at anyone in awhile! We were pretty little at the time, but I still remember the way Dai would get so mad at us for bothering him."
"He used to build a fort at the bottom of the stairs with the pillows we chucked at him, and then he would start throwing his toys up the stairs at us. Some of those toys were pretty hard."
Ami blinked in surprise and pulled back slightly so she could look into her friend's eyes. "You do remember!"
"The one time he managed to get a hold of some of our dolls, and he threatened to hold them hostage until we promised to stop bugging him," Miya mumbled, a ghost of a smile turning up the corners of her mouth.
"Only we didn't stop bugging him. Instead you bribed Sam, promising to give him chocolate if he got our dolls back for us, and then we started throwing pillows at both him and Dai."
"If I recall, I tripped over all those pillows you were throwing at Sam and Dai and landed flat on my face at the bottom of the stairs," Davis grumbled, wincing at the memory. "And then my so very kind and thoughtful son had the nerve to yell at me for ruining his fort! I hope I yelled at all of you for that incident."
"No, you didn't," Noriko sniffed. "If I remember correctly, you were too busy moaning in pain and whimpering about an ankle you never sprained and a broken neck you clearly never had. I yelled at them for you, and Yolei yelled at Sam and Miya a second time when she came to pick them up the next day!"
Miya started to giggle, and Ami gave the raven-haired female a fond squeeze. "Now that's the Miya I know so well. Don't give up now, not when Sam needs you the most."
"You're right, Ami. I can't help Sam if I let myself fall apart like this. He needs me to be strong, and well...I think the rest of my family might need the same thing."
"Then you know what you have to do, and I'll be here to help you. Sam, Nao, and your parents are counting on you, but...you need someone, too, and that's what I'm here for."
"Ami?" Miya said quietly, hugging her tightly. "I never want anyone else but you for a best friend, ever."
Same here, Miya.
Ami was well aware of the fact that she could have said the words out loud, but at the same time she knew she didn't have to. Miya already knew exactly how she felt, and that was why they were best friends.
"Miya, do you really think Sam will be home soon?" Nao asked hesitantly, scrambling to his feet and moving shyly towards his sister. He came to a stop next to the raven-haired female's chair and gave her a pleading look. "I'm scared and I really miss him. I don't want him to be gone anymore."
"Cheer up, Nao," Noah said gently, ruffling the younger boy's lavender hair. "Sam will be home soon. Look, he's right near the gate. Dai and the others have just started heading for the gate, as well. At least it looks that way. They're definitely moving in that direction."
"Well, it's about time," Ema muttered.
"I'm scared, too, Nao, but we'll find out what's going on with Sam, I promise," Miya said softly, pulling her little brother into her arms and giving him a tight squeeze.
"Glowmon will keep Sam safe," Patamon said cheerfully.
Nao beamed at the little rookie and returned his sister's hug with enthusiasm. "I know."
I wish I could be as sure as Nao is...
"Quick everyone, move back!" Taniko suddenly shouted, leaping out of her chair and waving her hands to get them all moving. "Sam is about to come through the gate!"
"Come on over here, Mimi," T.K. said quietly, reaching out and gently taking her by the arm. "The last thing we need is for you to get trampled."
A moment later, there was a flash of bright yellow light, and Sam tumbled out of the gate onto his hands and knees, Glimmermon bouncing onto the cream-coloured carpet behind him. As soon as he lifted his head, Ami knew there was something very wrong because Sam's face was streaked with tears and his dark blue eyes were wide with shock and horror.
"Sam!" Miya shrieked, flinging her arms around her brother and hugging him as tightly as she could. "You're alive! You're safe! What happened? Why did you run away from the others?"
"Sam, are you okay?" T.K. asked, watching the raven-haired Digidestined closely. "What's wrong? Why are you so upset?"
"Sam?" Miya whispered, pulling back slightly so she could look directly into her brother's eyes. "Why...why are you..."
Without warning, Sam suddenly wrenched himself free from Miya's arms, and letting out a soft sob, he turned and ran towards the door. Cody tried to grab the raven-haired Digidestined's arm, but somehow Sam managed to slip free from the adult Digidestined's grasp and he stumbled directly into the door Rosa had closed earlier, trying desperately to open it with his hands.
"Sam, wait for me!" Glimmermon cried, hopping onto his partner's shoulder and burying his face against the raven-haired Digidestined's neck.
Nao tried to grab onto the sleeve of Sam's green shirt, but Sam pushed his little brother away and yanked the door open as hard as he could, causing Nao to fall backwards onto the floor. At first the lavender-haired boy merely looked surprised, but then his face crumpled up and thick tears began to sparkle in his deep blue eyes. "Please don't leave, Sam. Please?"
"Sam, wait!" Miya shrieked, hurrying towards her brother.
Somehow Sam managed to make it out of the room before Miya could reach him, and he slammed the door shut just as his sister reached for the back of his green, long-sleeved top. Unable to stop her momentum, Miya slammed into the door with a loud bang, her nose and forehead receiving the worst damage. Letting out a groan, Miya quickly slid to the floor, her back leaning against the closed door, and covered her face with her hands.
"Miya, are you okay?" Noah asked quietly, kneeling next to the raven-haired female and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Miya didn't answer.
Ami stared blankly at the closed door for a moment and turned slowly to face the computer. "I hate to say it, but...this doesn't look good at all."
"Did you see his face?" Palmon said sadly, shaking her head. "Something bad must have happened."
Ami turned to look at her father, and kneeling next to Nao, her dad quickly wrapped his arm around the little boy in a comforting hug and frowned in confusion. "We need to find out what's going on, now more than ever. I wish Dai and the others would get here."
"What about Sam?" her mother asked.
"Let him go for now. Considering the way he acted earlier, I think it's pretty safe to say he doesn't really want to talk right now."
"Sam never acts mean!" Nao whimpered into his hands. "Why would he..."
"Oh, Nao," Rosa said softly, crouching next to the young, lavender-haired boy and giving him a gentle hug. "It's okay. There's no need to be scared. Sam doesn't hate you, I know he doesn't. He's just a little bit upset right now, that's all."
"Don't be sad, Nao," Patamon pleaded anxiously above the little boy's lavender-hair. "It makes me sad to see you so upset."
"Even Shadow is sad," DemiVeemon said sorrowfully, giving the whimpering puppy and gentle pat on the head.
"He knows," Kenzo murmured, clearly lost in his own thoughts. "Sam knows."
"What? What does Sam know?" Ema demanded, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at her dark-haired friend. "What's going on, Kenzo? How come you're acting so funny all of a sudden?"
Good question, Ema.
Kenzo's face turned bright red, and Ami could have sworn she saw his dark eyes flick anxiously in his parents' direction before once again focusing on Ema. "I'm not acting funny. It's just...forget it. I was just thinking, that's all."
"Leave him alone, Ema," Taysuke said impatiently. "Right now we need to worry about what's going on with Sam."
Ami nodded in agreement and let out a deep sigh. "Well, if Dai and the others would hurry up..."
"Let's hope they know or else we're really in trouble," Jun murmured, glancing anxiously at the computer screen.
"I'm going after him," Miya suddenly announced, leaping to her feet and turning towards the door.
"But, you can't!" Taniko gasped.
"Why not?"
Ami slowly approached her best friend and glanced anxiously towards the door. "Miya, you heard what my dad said, and I agree with him. Obviously Sam is really upset right now, and I think maybe it would be better if we gave him some time alone, at least for a little while."
"Ami's right," Noah said quietly, climbing slowly to his feet and reaching out to take Miya's hand. "Sam clearly wants to be-"
"No!" Miya cried, pulling her hand out of Noah's grasp and reaching for the doorknob. "I don't care what you guys say. Sam needs his family right now, I can feel it."
Ami tried to prevent her friend from leaving the room, but instead of listening to her protests, Miya merely pushed her gently aside and yanked the door open, its hard surface just barely missing Noah, who was hovering next to the raven-haired female's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ami, but I have to do this."
"No, Miya!" Nao cried, scrambling to his feet and grabbing onto his sister's hand. "You're not leaving unless you take me with you! I want to see Sam, too!"
Smiling softly at her little brother, Miya quickly nodded and nudged him through the door. "Let's go."
"Miya, wait!"
The raven-haired female looked up in surprise, and Ami quickly threw her arms around the other girl in a tight hug. "Good luck."
"Thanks, Ami, I knew you would understand," Miya whispered in her ear, returning the hug.
Ami watched the remaining two Ichijouji children leave the room and felt her heart begin to beat rapidly in her chest. She didn't have a clue what was going on, but despite her lack of information, she had a feeling her best friend was on the verge of discovering something very important, something that would change everything she thought she knew, and whether or not she could overcome it might prove to be the most important test of all.