I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Once again, I apologise for the wait! I was finishing up Scarlet Nexus! Again, a huge thank you to everyone who has been very sweet and complimentary on my dedication to this story and the amount of time and effort I've put into it over the years. I really appreciate that! I wouldn't still be here writing it if I didn't love it, and these characters deserve an ending to their story. I hope you enjoy the new chapter as we plunge ahead into the next Spirit Chip!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 323: Hiding the Truth

Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi

Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World

Letting out a soft gasp, Mickey landed in the snow with a heavy thump, and as a chilly cloud of sparkling snowflakes burst into the air around him, he let out a resigned sigh, having already excepted his inevitable fate.

We've barely begun our journey and I'm already starting out on the wrong foot. I don't mean to sound so pessimistic, but...

"Nothing broken?" a warm voice murmured next to his ear, sending a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold racing down his spine.

Somehow, Mickey managed to suppress the blush that was threatening to heat up his entire face, and smiling weakly at the raven-haired boy, who was crouching next to him, he said gently, "I don't think so. Luckily all this snow broke my fall."

"I love snow. It's fun!" Halomon giggled, spreading out his arms and legs to make a snow digimon. "It's a great way to play with your friends."

"Now you're talking," Alopemon agreed, nodding his head in approval.

As expected, the fox digimon was in his element, and letting out a laugh, Mickey shyly accepted the gloved hand Sam held out to him. As the raven-haired Digidestined pulled him to his feet, he murmured, "Thank you."

"What for?" Sam asked, raising his eyebrows. "You know I'm always here to lend you a hand."

"Same!" Glowmon butted in, beaming at him.

You're so sweet, and it's making this so hard...

Mickey had no idea how to respond to Sam's caring comments, but luckily he was able to avoid embarrassing himself. Dai chose that moment to groan in discomfort, and stumbling to his feet so he could help Kara up, the goggle-headed leader grumbled, "This better be worth it."

"Of course it is," Embermon scolded, shaking snow off his head. "And besides, you think you have it bad. Try being a fire digimon."

"Ugh, this again?"

"Hey!" Embermon shouted, glaring at his partner.

Rolling his eyes, Ryoko quickly brushed the snow off his shoulders and said calmly, "Any sign of Gennai?"

The golden-haired Digidestined was standing next to Alopemon, and sitting up next to the fox digimon, Matty said, "Not yet. Wonder who our guide's going to be this time. I bet Gennai's got somebody lined up."

"Almost certainly," Izzy agreed, allowing his wife to pull him to his feet. "Why don't we find ourselves a bit of shelter while we wait for him. Right on the edge of that grove of trees is probably our best bet."

Mickey had no intention of arguing, and sticking close to Sam's side, he proceeded to follow the rest of the group towards their intended destination. Despite the fact that he had his back to his brother, Mickey could sense Matty and Celestimon watching him, and allowing his curiosity to get the better of him, he said quietly, "Sam? I know you said everything's fine, but...if that's true then what were you talking about with Makku and Shinji?"

"You really want to know?" Sam asked, glancing sideways at him.

Even from a distance, Mickey could feel his brother's silent encouragement, and growing a bit flustered, he stammered, "I-I mean, of course you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'm just...worried about you."

I'm worried about us. I can't even stand the thought of ever losing you...

Sam's handsome features immediately softened, and giving his shoulder a quick squeeze, the raven-haired Digidestined said mildly, "You're my best friend, Mickey. You're one of the closest people in the world to me. Makku and Shinji are well aware of that and they wanted to offer their support, especially because they know this is a difficult time for me. I'm sure Matty feels the same. We don't want to see you suffer, even though we know you're not going to have a choice in the matter. Having to witness that...it's really going to hurt us. I want to protect you as much as I can, and I know Matty's definitely on the same page as I am. And it's not just you. I want to protect your brother, too. I know how important Matty is to you, and Makku and Shinji recognise the fact that what's important to you is also important to me. No matter what happens, I'm not going to let you suffer alone. Just remember that."

Sam...

Mickey suddenly found himself at a loss for words, and checking to see if anybody other than Matty and Celestimon were watching him, he immediately grabbed the raven-haired Digidestined's hand and whispered, "You have no idea how much that means to me, and I feel the same about you. I...if you keep saying things like that, I know the impending darkness won't be able to hold me forever."

Now, I just wish you would call me something more than just your friend...

"Seems like this is becoming a habit," Sam said mildly, watching him closely.

Huh?

For a moment, Mickey felt very confused, and immediately growing self-conscious, he said hesitantly, "What is?"

"This," Sam replied, holding up their linked hands.

The blunt statement was enough to catch Mickey completely off guard, and unable to stop a brilliant red blush from staining his face, he immediately pulled his hand away and stuttered, "I-I'm sorry. I wasn't-"

"I didn't say I minded," Sam interrupted, immediately reaching for his hand again and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm happy to act as your rock when you need me."

I...I'm so confused. I don't think I made him feel uncomfortable, but it's hard to tell. I really should be a bit more careful. If he starts to suspect I have ulterior motives or thinks I'm asking for more than he's willing to give...

"Mickey, how come you're so quiet all of a sudden?" Glowmon asked, frowning slightly. "Is everything alright?"

"He's fine," Halomon butted in, fluttering over to give the insect digimon a quick nuzzle. "It's nothing you need to worry about."

"Meaning...what?" Sam asked, tugging on one of the little angel's fluffy ears.

If I don't say something, this could go from bad to worse...

Terrified at the thought of having to explain himself, Mickey nodded at their clasped hands and said hastily, "I'm fine, really. As long as...you're okay with this. It's just nice to have something tangible to hold onto when I'm struggling."

"Of course I'm okay with it," Sam insisted, smiling at him. "You're being silly. When have I ever denied you anything? Talk about an impossible task."

Mickey knew his cheeks were on fire, and ducking his head, he said softly, "Sometimes I think you're too good to me."

It's true you've always been accommodating, but that might change if you find out the truth about how I feel.

Sam let out a snort at the very idea, and tugging on his hand, the raven-haired Digidestined said easily, "Come on. Let's get out of the wind."

Thanks to the heavy snow they were forced to trudge through, Mickey eventually had to drop Sam's hand in order to keep his balance, and once again glancing back at Matty, he suddenly found himself locked in silent communication with his twin. Matty's gaze was clearly telling him not to give up, and even without the younger twin saying anything, Mickey could hear the words in his head.

One step at a time. Take it slow and steady. He's okay with holding your hand, and that's a good sign. Next time, try something different and see how he responds. That way you'll have a better idea of what his feelings are and where the boundaries lie.

No doubt, Celestimon felt the same, but that was easier said than done. Just the thought of attempting anything more intimate made his heart feel like it was about to burst out of his chest.

Matty's right. One step at a time. For now, just take a moment to collect yourself and focus on the Spirit Chip. It wouldn't be fair to Gennai not to give him my full attention. Once we have a better idea of where we're going, I can think about how best to approach Sam without giving everything away all at once.

It was a solid plan, and having settled the matter in his heart, he proceeded to join the raven-haired Digidestined, his twin, and their digimon by the trunk of a large tree. Once everyone had made themselves comfortable, Mina said, "We're still within view of the gate, so Gennai shouldn't have a hard time spotting us. I, for one, am very interested to hear what he has to say, particularly his reasoning as to why he wanted Izzy and I to come along."

"That caught my attention, as well," Candlemon agreed, smiling at the female Digidestined. "Do you have any ideas?"

"It must be something technical that's related to the Digital World," Tentomon suggested, buzzing next to his partner's side. "Taniko will probably want to know."

"I fully intend to tell her," Izzy agreed, hugging the bag containing his laptop tightly to his chest. "Depending on what it is, she might even be able to help us from Earth."

That would be convenient.

Mickey quickly moved to make space as his father came over to join them with Patamon, and wrapping an arm around his shoulders, the older man said warmly, "How are you holding up so far?"

On his other side, he could feel Sam's warmth soaking into the fabric of his coat, and doing his best not to let his emotions show, he said gently, "So far so good."

I will keep my promise and protect Matty. I swear.

At the moment, the younger twin was sitting on their father's other side, and pointing towards two figures approaching from the west, Matty said, "I think that's Gennai right now, but who's that with him?"

"I know that face," their father replied, smiling as he waved a hand in greeting. "It's Frigimon."

"Friend of yours?" Celestimon asked, sounding curious.

"Definitely," Patamon spoke up. "We go way back! Not only did he assist us in fighting the Dark Masters, he was also one of the digimon who helped us build a raft so we could travel from File Island to Server. If he's here now, I bet he's going to act as our guide to find the Spirit Chip of Innocence."

"And considering we're in the Northern Hemisphere, there's no better digimon for the job," Gatomon agreed, coming over with their mother to sit on Matty's other side. "If there's one thing I can say about Gennai, he always knows what he's doing."

There was a chorus of greetings as Gennai and Frigimon approached the group, and spreading his arms wide, the large snow digimon said happily, "I've been waiting for a chance to see my old friends, and of course to meet all of the new Digidestined! I hope the human world is treating you well?"

"It's not the human world I'm worried about right now," Izzy joked, smiling at the frozen digimon. "It's good to see you again, Frigimon. I assume this means Gennai's putting you to work?"

"I would have volunteered for the job even if he hadn't asked me to do it," the large digimon announced, proudly placing his hands on his hips. "I'll let Gennai tell you why I was recruited, though. Now which one of you is Mickey?"

Wait, he's asking about me?

Mickey jumped at the sudden attention, and climbing slowly to his feet, he mumbled, "That's me. I'm Mickey."

Despite his snowy exterior, I can feel a deep sense of warmth coming from within. No wonder my dad was so happy to see him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mickey," Frigimon said kindly, holding out his large palm. "I know I might seem a bit intimidating at first glance, but I really am just a big teddy bear. I'm honoured to join you on your journey, and I will do everything I can to protect you. I don't want to disappointment your parents after all."

Mickey smiled at that, and immediately warming up to the large digimon's friendly personality, he eagerly touched the offered hand and said gently, "It's nice to meet you, Frigimon. I can tell I'm in good hands, and I appreciate it."

The snowy digimon carefully patted his golden head before stepping back to secure himself a seat, and standing at the edge of the group so everybody could see him, Gennai said pleasantly, "We meet again, Digidestined. I'm sure you're all anxious to hear the details, so why don't we just jump right in?"

"Probably for the best," Takara agreed, rubbing her hands together as she snuggled next to Dai in an effort to stay warm. "If we sit here for too long, we'll end up with frostbite."

"In that case, we'll began," Gennai replied, looking both amused and completely unaffected by the cold. "As I said yesterday, the Spirit Chip of Innocence is located in an area known as the Glacial Waterfalls. The journey won't be easy as it's quite a remote location, but there should be spots along the way for you to rest and keep warm. While we didn't traverse far enough in to know the exact coordinates of the Spirit Chip, there are digimon residing in the remote igloo settlement known as Analogue. Several of the townsfolk have seen the orange light for themselves and can direct you on the best possible route to take into the mountain pass that leads to the Glacial Waterfalls. If you take advantage of their knowledge and follow the light of the Digivice, you should reach your destination without too much trouble."

"If we're not harassed along the way," Yolei pointed out, exchanging a look with her partner. "Because we all know that's probably not going to happen."

"Much as I wish it were otherwise, I have to agree," Hawkmon confirmed, ruffling his feathers to shake off a light dusting of snow.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Cody said firmly, his dark eyes already scanning the snowy horizon. "Anything else we need to know?"

"Yes, do you remember how I mentioned that DarkAngelicmon and YukiOnnamon did not participate in the search to find the Spirit Chip of Innocence?"

"That's right, you said you would expand on that a bit more," Ken said slowly, his sapphire eyes lighting up with interest. "I have to admit, that caught my curiosity."

"I'm quite intrigued myself," Gennai informed them, his expression indicating he had more to say on the matter. "And that's actually the reason why I wanted Izzy and Mina to come along."

"It is?" Wormmon asked, looking confused.

"You see, it's not unusual for the Ruler of Darkness to have his lower ranked servants out tracking our movements and looking for the Spirit Chips, but even then he will normally have a digimon of higher rank overseeing them. More often than not, DarkAngelicmon has a role to play in all of that, even if he isn't directly the one in charge, but lately that hasn't been the case. I wouldn't say he's necessarily in hiding, but his role seems to have changed, and apparently that's also true for YukiOnnamon."

I wonder why that is. Does the Ruler of Darkness have some sort of plan for DarkAngelicmon?

It was a scary thought, and as a result, Mickey couldn't find the courage to voice it just yet. Instead, he proceeded to huddle under his father's arm, and sensing he was needed, Sam shifted a bit closer. As a result, their thighs were now touching, and growing distracted, Mickey struggled to maintain his thought process. How was it that such an innocent act could create so much chaos in his heart?

Not just my heart, but also my body...

"Okay, so what does all of this have to do with Izzy and Mina?" Rosa asked, echoing Wormmon's confusion. "I'm a bit lost here."

"How do I put this?" Gennai murmured, almost to himself. "I've had my own team watching the castle on Cyber for the last couple of weeks, and though we haven't yet reached any solid conclusions as to why, there seems to be a buzz of excitement inside its walls."

"And we're pretty sure that buzz isn't related to the Spirit Chip of Innocence," Frigimon finished, crossing his arms over his chest for emphasis.

"So what do you think it's about?" Gotsumon asked curiously.

"That's what we're trying to find out," Gennai replied, his expression growing thoughtful. "While I don't believe the buzz is relevant to the Spirit Chip itself, I do think it's somehow related to their eagerness to brave the harsh climate of the Northern Hemisphere. Something about this mission is different for the Ruler of Darkness and his servants compared to the previous four times they've attempted to thwart your efforts to obtain the Spirit Chips, and I'm very interested to know what that something is."

"And I take it you want Mina and I to see if we can find out anything that might give us a clue what they're really up to while we're searching for the Spirit Chip of Innocence," Izzy finished, nodding his head to show he understood. "Do you think the fact that YukiOnnamon and DarkAngelicmon weren't involved in the search for the Spirit Chip also has something to do with the excitement in the castle?"

"I'm sure of it, which I do find a little concerning."

I have to admit, I'm also a bit worried. I'd like some answers myself, but that's a tall order. Izzy and Mina are going to have their work cut out for them.

His mother must have had similar thoughts because the female Digidestined glanced at Mina before saying, "While Izzy and Mina are both observant and knowledgable about the Digital World, that's still not a lot of information to go on, even for them. Where are they supposed to even start?"

"I know it may seem like a lot to ask, but I'm confident Izzy and Mina will perform admirably," Gennai said easily, sounding completely unconcerned. "That being said, if you're looking for a starting point, I would suggest talking with the villagers in the town of Analogue. I didn't have a chance to speak with them myself concerning this particular issue, and I'm sure they'll be happy to assist you in any possible way they can. Since you're heading that way regardless, it's worth a shot. They'll have first-hand knowledge on the geography and history of the Northern Hemisphere, and if you jog their memories, it might reveal something even they had forgotten that seemed out of the ordinary."

"Well, we'll certainly try," Izzy promised, turning to smile at his wife. "I'll inform Taniko as well and send her any relevant information we can find. It doesn't hurt to have a third opinion, and I know she'll want to help."

"That's true," Mina agreed, smiling back at her husband. "So now we have two missions. We need to head to the town of Analogue to learn more about the Spirit Chip of Innocence's location and see if we can find any interesting tidbits that might help us determined why the castle on Cyber was buzzing with excitement."

"Yay for us," Gatomon grumbled, her whiskers twitching in annoyance. "Well, if that's all, we should probably get moving."

"Not just yet," Celestimon interrupted, his small body immediately fluttering into the air with obvious anticipation. "Lucemon has come to visit us again. We should probably wait for him and see what he has to say."

Lucemon...Why would he suddenly confront us again like this? Does it have something to do with DarkAngelicmon?

Mickey immediately felt his muscles grow tense, and pulling him closer, his father said quietly, "Hey, it's okay. Just because he's wanting to visit us doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong. Wait until we hear what he has to say first before you start worrying too much."

"Dad's right," Matty agreed, leaning around the older man to give him a look. "No sense getting yourself all worked up for nothing."

"I know, but..."

"You're going to worry anyways no matter what we say," Sam sighed, smiling slightly.

Mickey couldn't deny there was some truth to that statement, but before he could open his mouth, Gennai said calmly, "Ah, yes. As I mentioned yesterday, Lucemon has also been tracking our movements over the last few weeks. I wonder if this means he's ready to tell us a little more about himself."

"I don't know about that," Armadillomon interjected. "Whatever the case, we better not scare him off."

"Come on, we're not that scary," Dovemon joked.

There was a chorus of laughter, and then two figures appeared in the snowy sky, their shadowy forms heading directly towards the secluded grove. Lucemon was so pale he almost blended in with the icy landscape, and appearing as energetic as always, MarineAngemon dived out of the sky to land expertly next to Celestimon. Lucemon's descent was slower and far more elegant, and settling himself on the snow near Frigimon, the rookie angel said softly, "I'm glad I made it in time. It warms my heart to see you all again."

"Same for me!" MarineAngemon announced, beaming at the large group of humans and digimon. "Sorry for crashing the party on such short notice, but there's something we wanted to tell you before you started looking for the Spirit Chip of Innocence."

That immediately caught Mickey's attention, and motioning for Lucemon to join him, he said warmly, "You can visit us anytime. The more often, the better. I take it there was something you wanted to get off your chest?"

Something to do with DarkAngelicmon?

Lucemon slowly came towards him, and settling on the frozen ground next to Sam, the rookie angel said quietly, "Have you discovered the reason why I was no longer able to sense DarkAngelicmon's presence before you travelled to the underwater city of Abacus?"

It was an odd question, and leaning forward in his seat, Izzy said mildly, "Though we haven't confirmed anything yet, Gennai and I have a theory."

"What is your theory, if I may ask?" Lucemon murmured, slowly lifting his pale blue gaze to study the computer expert's face.

Izzy was quiet for a moment, and then exchanging a look with Gennai, the dark-haired man said, "Based on what we know, we came to the conclusion that the only way the connection between the two of you could have been severed is if DarkAngelicmon had passed through the Wall of Fire."

Immediately, a deep silence settled over the group, and then letting out a weary sigh, Lucemon said quietly, "So you've discovered the truth, just as I had suspected. It is not merely a theory. I can confirm your suspicions are correct. DarkAngelicmon told me himself that he journeyed to the Wall of Fire, and though he didn't come out and say it, I'm certain the Ruler of Darkness was with him."

"We figured that, as well," Mina replied, shaking her head in despair.

The fear in Lucemon's eyes was terrible to witness, and feeling sympathetic towards the rookie angel, Mickey reached across Sam to give the celestial digimon's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now, but don't worry. We'll do our best to make sure that doesn't happen again."

"Thank you," Lucemon whispered, placing a hand over his palm. "That means more to me than I can put into words. As much as it pains me to talk about it, I felt it was my duty to confirm the truth with you before you confronted my old friend again. If it can help in some way, then I will gladly bear the pain."

"Hey, Lucemon...Do you know why DarkAngelicmon went to the Wall of Fire?" Matty asked slowly, standing up so he could kneel in front of the rookie angel.

Lucemon quickly shook his head, and avoiding the younger twin's eyes, he said, "He wouldn't tell me."

Of course he wouldn't. I bet by not saying anything he thinks he's protecting you, which will probably end up putting him in danger...

Reluctant to voice the thought out loud, Mickey wasn't quite sure what to do with himself, and that was when he realised he was still leaning over Sam. So far the raven-haired Digidestined hadn't said anything, and feeling the rise and fall of the other boy's chest against his arm, he quickly let go of Lucemon's shoulder before curling in on himself. Frowning at the sudden movement, Sam looked like he was about to say something, but before the raven-haired Digidestined could open his mouth, Ryoko said bluntly, "Lucemon, can I ask you something? Not to be intrusive, but what exactly have you been doing all this time? I mean, ever since we first started going to the Digital World? What were you doing before we met Luciamon?"

It was a good question, and looking startled, Lucemon said quietly, "Originally, I was on a journey to find Azulongmon, but after Luciamon turned into data..."

"Did you ever find him?" Ken asked, encouraging the rookie angel to continue.

Lucemon's pale blue eyes began to sparkle with sudden emotion, and shaking his head, the rookie angel said, "No. My search was in vain. He would not show himself to me, and thus his location continues to elude me. At first, I felt like I had failed somehow. Having allowed my search to consume me, I lost Luciamon, and the same can be said for Angelicmon. It took some time, but I realise now perhaps it was for the best that Azulongmon refused to answer my call. There's likely a good reason for it, and I believe it's because he wanted me to come to all of you."

"I take it that means you've abandoned your plan to search for him then?" Yolei asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I have," Lucemon confirmed, his expression growing suddenly shy. "No doubt he believes I belong with the Digidestined and that we are meant to work together to find the answers we seek."

"Our doors are open anytime," Gennai reminded the rookie angel. "As soon as you're ready, we will not hesitate to welcome you as one of our allies."

Lucemon acknowledged the invitation with a small smile, and motioning for MarineAngemon to join him, the rookie angel said warmly, "I look forward to that day."

"Why can't that day be now?" Dai demanded, his goggles glinting in the weak sunshine filtering through the dark, puffy clouds.

"There are still some things I need to do, and I promised Angelicmon I would be careful while I was here."

"You mean here in the Northern Hemisphere?" Matty interrupted, nudging Lucemon's arm to get his attention. "Do your plans have something to do with the Powers of Darkness? You know, I find it interesting that you can create your own portals to travel to the World of Darkness. Is that because you learned how to do it through your research, or at one point in your life did the darkness affect you the way it's affecting DarkAngelicmon? If so, is that why DarkAngelicmon is the way he is now, and would you happen to know a digimon named Daemon?"

"Matty!" Halomon gasped, gaping at the younger twin. "You can't just come out and say things like that!"

"Why not?"

At Matty's words, Lucemon immediately jerked back as if he had been physically struck, and wrapping his arms around his body as if to defend himself, the rookie angel whispered, "I see the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together."

"I take it that means I'm on the right track?" Matty shot back, gazing intently at the celestial digimon.

Lucemon didn't reply, and leaping to his feet, the rookie angel quickly backed away before saying softly, "I cannot join you just yet. There is something I have to research while I'm here. In the meantime, I humbly ask once again that you watch over my old friend and do what you can to keep him safe."

Poor Lucemon. He's so conflicted, and honestly, I can't blame him for keeping quiet. I know what it feels like to doubt yourself...

The thought was enough to spur him into action, and scrambling out of his seat in the snow, Mickey quickly pulled the rookie angel into a hug and said earnestly, "It's okay. Like Gennai said, we'll be here when you're ready. Until then, please be careful and stay safe. We don't want to lose you the way we did Luciamon."

"I cannot refuse such an honest request," Lucemon said softly in his ear, returning the hug. "I will do as you say. Stay strong, Mickey. For you and for everyone who loves you, including my old friend."

Lucemon...

At that moment, it took everything Mickey had to prevent his emotions from overwhelming him, and realising his eyes were stinging, he mumbled, "I'll do my best."

"Come, MarineAngemon," Lucemon called out, beckoning to his small friend. "It's time we were on our way."

"Already?" the little mega asked, pouting to show his disapproval. "Alright, but next time let's stay a little longer."

With that, the two digimon took to the skies, and whacking Matty with one of his wings, Glowmon scolded, "Look what you did. You scared him off!"

"Hey, don't blame me for this!" Matty shouted, clearly offended at the accusation.

"On the plus side, that was a lot of information he just gave us without having to say much of anything," Izzy informed them, typing furiously on his laptop. "I don't have time to analyse it now, but I'll make sure to send a copy of my notes to Taniko and the two of us will take a closer look at it tonight."

"What do you think he's researching?" Rosa asked, sounding intrigued.

It was Gennai who answered, and smiling to himself, the robed figure said, "I think I have a good idea, but I'll hold off on voicing my theory until Izzy and I have a chance to speak later."

"In that case, we should probably get going, too," Yolei interrupted, standing up to brush the snow off her legs. "I'd like to reach the village by nightfall, if possible."

"I agree," Ken spoke up, echoing his wife's sentiments. "Which way are we headed?"

"The Digivices should tell us that much," Candlemon pointed out, his flames flickering in the frosty breeze.

Due to habit, everybody pulled out their Digivices, and upon discovering three of the D-Coders were glowing, it confirmed what they already knew about the Spirit Chip.

"As expected, Mickey, Matty, and Sam all have D-Coders that are reacting to the Spirit Chip, and I assume the village is on the way to the Glacial Waterfalls?" Cody asked, turning to Izzy for confirmation.

The computer expert nodded in agreement, and packing away his laptop, he said, "That's right. We'll be heading east. Ken, Kari, and T.K. all have crests that are responding to the barrier, as well, which confirms what we know about the orange light. The sooner we get to the village, the sooner we can warm up."

"What are we waiting for then, let's go!" Dai insisted.

"I'll lead the way with Izzy," Frigimon announced, taking the lead. "As a bonus, my body should be able to block at least some of the wind."

"Good luck," Gennai said cheerfully, waving them off. "Don't lose sight of your goal. That is the key to success."

After saying goodbye to Gennai, they began to trudge slowly through the grove towards the village to the east, and resting a hand against the small of his back, Sam leaned in a little bit and said kindly, "I know that was a lot to take in, but you can't allow DarkAngelicmon's past to distract you. They'll be time enough for that after you find your Spirit Chip."

"I guess, but...Lucemon. It was so obvious he's in a lot of pain, and I just want to...make it go away."

"I know," Sam murmured, moving even closer. "That's one of the things I love about you. You're always thinking of others, and while I support you in that, it does sometimes get you into trouble."

He's so close. If I just moved a little bit closer, I could put my arms around him and hold him as long as I want to, but if I did that, I wouldn't ever want to let go...

The hand resting against his back felt hot, the fingers sending a trail of fire burning through the fabric of his thick coat, and swallowing the nervous lump in his throat, he said in a shaky voice, "Does that bother you?"

"It will if I can't protect you," Sam warned, watching him closely.

Mickey blushed at the raven-haired Digidestined's scrutinising stare, and feeling suddenly bold, he said quietly, "I guess that means I'll have to be careful then."

What else do you love about me?

Sam stared at him for a moment, the intensity of that gaze making his heart pound painfully in his chest, and reluctantly stepping back a few paces, the raven-haired Digidestined said with conviction, "You really are very sweet and caring. That's another thing I love about you."

Mickey felt his mouth drop open in surprise at those words, and as the raven-haired Digidestined moved off to join his parents with a curious Glowmon in tow, Halomon gently touched his cheek and said in a teasing voice, "That sounded pretty convincing to me. I wouldn't write off your chances just yet."

Sam's always complimenting me, though. Is this just him being nice or is it something more?

Unfortunately, Mickey wasn't quite able to tell, and thinking on the matter, he proceeded to trudge after the others through the heavy snow. Fortunately, thanks to what were likely several digimon who had passed by earlier at some point, there was a little bit of an already pack down path to navigate, and pushing his way through the trees, Mickey did his best to keep up as they slowly made their way to the other side of the grove. Up ahead, he could hear a fair bit of complaining about the cold and the snowdrifts blocking their path, but thankfully Frigimon was willing to clear the road ahead to make it easier for them to pass through. Every once in a while he could sense Matty or one of his parents glancing back to check up on him, but there was no need for them to worry. He was handling the snow just fine, and truthfully it was nice to have a little time alone to process his thoughts.

Not that it's helped so far. I still have no idea what Sam really thinks of me, and while I wouldn't call it tension exactly, there's definitely something ominous building between Matty and I. Normally, that shouldn't be an issue, but I have a feeling it's going to become a problem the closer we get to the Spirit Chip.

"Lost in thought?" a voice suddenly said close to his ear, nearly sending him sprawling into a snow bank.

"Kara!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," the female Digidestined giggled, though her tone was apologetic. "Do you need some help?"

Luckily Mickey had managed to grab onto the trunk of a tree before falling on his face, and straightening up, he said quickly, "I'm fine. It was my fault really. I wasn't paying attention and didn't even hear you approach. How are you and Dovemon holding up?"

"We're doing good!" Dovemon said cheerfully, beaming at him. "I do sort of blend in with the snow, though..."

"Don't get lost now!" Takara teased, stroking her partner's soft feathers. "How about you and Halomon?"

"I'm great!" Halomon responded, wiggling his ears. "Although Celestimon and I also kind of blend in, Mickey seems to be holding up well."

"That's good. Do you guys mind if we walk with you for a bit?" Takara asked, smiling innocently at them.

It wasn't unusual for Kara to make an effort to spend time with him, but on this particular occasion, Mickey suddenly felt like she had an ulterior motive.

Maybe there's something she wants to ask me? I don't mind, but...what do I say if it's something about Sam? Is there a chance she might suspect I have feelings for him? She is pretty perceptive and she knows me so well...

Mickey immediately felt himself start to panic, and though his instincts were telling him to hide, he also didn't want to offend his cousin.

Maybe I'm just overreacting. Understandable since Sam has become such a sensitive topic for me. Whatever she wants to ask me might not have anything to do with Sam at all. I don't think I've done anything to give myself away. I mean, if Matty didn't know until I told him then I doubt Kara does either...

Having come to a decision, Mickey returned the female Digidestined's smile and said sweetly, "Of course you can. You know, it makes me really happy to see how far you've come since getting your Spirit Chip."

"I hope the same happens for you," Kara replied, giving him a quick hug. "Sometimes it's a little embarrassing, though. Like how Megumi and the other girls reacted when I told them that Dai and I are finally a couple."

"I don't blame them for being excited. I figured you must have mentioned your troubles to them at some point, so I'm glad you were able to ease their minds and let them know you're back to your old self. We're all happy for you and Dai, including me."

Now I just hope the same thing can happen to me...

"Thank you, that means a lot to me," Takara replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "For my part, I'm glad you were able to work things out with Dai, but...judging by your reaction earlier, I'm guessing you still have a lot on your mind."

So that's what you wanted to ask me about. Oh, Kara...I do want to tell you...

Since there was no point in denying it, Mickey ducked his head and said wearily, "If I tell you no, I'm guessing you'll scold me? I figured it must be pretty obvious, but..."

"Well, we all know you still have some things to work out with Matty and the Spirit Chip isn't helping, but I don't think that's the only thing bothering you," Takara said gently, giving him a reassuring smile. "Am I wrong?"

"No, you're not wrong. I just..."

"For the record, we've all guessed there's still something going on between you and Sam," Dovemon butted in, getting right to the point. "No sense in hiding it."

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but I just wanted to let you know we're here for you if you need us," Takara finished, her words leaving no room for argument.

In his heart, Mickey knew they were both being sincere, and fighting back the stinging sensation burning his eyes, he mumbled, "I never doubted that. I know you're worried and so am I, but I don't think this is a quick fix. It's not that Sam and I are fighting, so I don't want you to worry about that. If anything, I think...our hesitation is more of a communication issue, if that makes sense."

"I think so," Takara said slowly, motioning for him to keep moving so they wouldn't get left behind. "And I take it that's become an issue on both ends?"

"I would say that's probably a pretty accurate statement. Hey, Kara...what do the others think about all of this?"

I know how Matty feels, but the others aren't aware of what's really going on...

"I can't speak for the adults, since I have no idea how much they've been paying attention, but Dai and the others don't know what to think. They're just as confused as I am, especially since you and Sam have always been so close. It feels wrong to see the two of you acting so uncertain around each other."

Mickey understood perfectly what she meant, and thinking back on the evening Takara had gone home with Sam, he felt his heart stop in his chest.

I didn't realise it at the time, but maybe that was also intentional. Did she ask him the same questions, and even more importantly, did he answer? If so, what did he say?

"Mickey, is something wrong?" Halomon asked, tugging gently on his earlobe. "You look pale all of a sudden."

Ignoring his partner for a moment, Mickey turned to Kara and said bluntly, "Did Sam tell you anything?"

"No," Takara sighed, looking a little sheepish. "But he did make it clear he's very worried about you. If communication is the issue then don't shy away from him. He wants you to tell him what's on your mind, that much I know for sure."

Will he still want me to if he discovers the truth about my feelings?

Mickey wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer to that, and keeping his head down, he murmured, "All I can do is try. I promise I'll keep that in mind, and...thank you. I really do appreciate your concern and the fact that you want to help both Sam and myself."

"You guys obviously care about each other a lot. That much isn't up for debate," Takara insisted, giving him a meaningful look. "No matter what the issue is between the two of you, don't ever forget that. Promise?"

"I promise."

It's hard to tell, but...I don't think she suspects the truth? If she doesn't then Dai and Ryoko probably haven't yet either. I want so badly to tell them, but I don't think that's a good idea until I know one way or the other how Sam really feels...

As they continued on through the grove, Mickey had another thought. Takara had mentioned she didn't know if any of the adults were aware of the ongoing situation with regards to himself and Sam, and dwelling on the matter, Mickey wasn't sure himself. None of the adults had mentioned anything, including his parents, but knowing his mother and father, that didn't necessarily mean they were clueless.

Mom and Dad know me really well. Even if none of the other adults are aware of my hesitation when I'm around Sam, I'm sure my parents must have picked up on it.

Feeling suddenly flustered, Mickey glanced over at the two adults in question, who were walking with Ken, Yolei, and all of their respective digimon. At first, they didn't appear to notice, but then his father suddenly glanced back to look at him. As their eyes met, Mickey suddenly felt like he was being pinned to the spot, and before he could thaw himself out, his mother's gaze joined that of his father's. The look in their eyes was enough to convince him they were aware that something was going on, and he had a feeling they had every intention of speaking to him when the moment to do so presented itself.

There's no getting around it. They're going to want to talk with me, but I don't know if I'm ready for that. If they've discovered the truth, what am I going to say to them?