Foreword: And we're back! At long last! I knew this arc would be a tough one but wow. Needless to say I had a lot of burn out to deal with (and muggy weather with always does bad things to me) but I'm overall happy with how it came out in the end.


Taichi shivered as he stepped through the school halls. He never really liked school at the best of times but, right now, it was just creeping him out. The walls were lined with lockers but as far as he could tell, he was the only one here. The lights were on but the light seemed to dim very quickly, like it was being smothered, making the halls darker than they should be. And where were the classrooms? Just locker filled hallways, no doors, no windows. How'd even get in here? Why was he here?

A scream! It came from somewhere ahead and from a voice he'd recognize anywhere! Hikari! That's why he was here! He was looking for Hikari because… why was she here? It didn't matter! He had to find her now! He tore through the halls, hearing more screams. When he got his hands on whoever was responsible, they were going to be doing the screaming, before getting on their knees to beg Hikari's forgiveness.

He soon found himself in a classroom with just two others. Hikari and… Great. Mika. His heart sank. Nakamura Mika, the principal's daughter, and Hikari's constant tormentor. What that little bitch had against his sister, Taichi couldn't imagine, but he could imagine how good it would feel to drop kick her. Unfortunately, she was a girl. Being a boy, he would get in big trouble for giving her the smack she deserved. Knowing her father, he'd probably get expelled. He normally had to get Sora; being a girl she wouldn't get punished as severely, and Mika knew it. One look at the older girl and she'd be gone. But Sora's not here. It's just me.

Mika gave Hikari a shove, knocking her to her rear. "Please stop!" Hikari sobbed. That's it! Time to smack a bitch! No one hurt Hikari in front of him! He charged right at Mika with his hand raised for a good slap.

Trembling, Hikari stood up, and Mika's hand went across her cheek, throwing her down again. You little bitch! He pushed himself harder. "Stay in the dirt where you belong, Plague Rat!" Why wasn't he getting any closer?! "And quit crying! That's exactly why Taichi-san left you!"

"WHAT?!" Taichi pushed himself as hard as he possibly could! He was going to slap Mika into next week! But he still didn't get any closer.

"Onii-san would never leave me!" Hikari protested.

"Then where is he?" Mika sneered, "Or Sora-san?! Where's she?! She's sick of you too!"

"N-No! Sora-san-" Hikari was cut off as Mika slapped her again. Taichi used his growing rage to push himself hard, despite making no progress.

"They're done with you! All you do is get sick! They're gonna be way happier without you!"

"Shut up! Shut up!" Taichi shouted. Why the hell wasn't he getting any closer?!

And then he was in front of a door. The door to his apartment. What was he doing here? What about Hikari? He reached for the door and it swung open. It looked like his apartment inside but with that smothered light. Did he dare enter? What about Hikari? A familiar sob answered both questions and he bolted through the doorway.

There was Hikari in the living room, trembling as she held a picture. He immediately rushed over to her but, once again, he couldn't get any closer. But he was close enough to see the bruises. His anger reignited. Did Mika do that?! Principal's daughter or not, when I get my hands on her-"Please come back, Onii-san," Hikari begged, "Whatever I did, I'm sorry. It's okay if you still hate me. I need you and Sora-san."

"I'm right here!" he cried out, "Hikari! I'm right here!" She just continued looking at the picture, silently crying. Why didn't she hear him?! Why couldn't she see him?! Why couldn't he get any closer?! He desperately looked around for something that could get her attention, or tell him what's going on, or… anything!

His eyes fell on the door to his and Hikari's room. How'd he get here?! Oh, forget it! He needed to talk to her! Tell her he was here! Tell her where he's been! Tell her I don't hate her!

Footsteps behind him. He whipped around. It was his mother and she looked awful. Her hair was a mess and the bags under her eyes were huge. It looked like she'd gone a week without sleep. He didn't even have to wonder why she looked so bad, not considering how long he'd been missing and what Hikari had to deal with.

She walked right past him, not noticing him at all, and opened the door. Then she screamed. "Mom! What is it?!" No answer of course! He rushed in past her and… "HIKARI!" There was his little sister, lying in a pool of blood. Her wrists were cut and the knife was still in her hand. "HIKARI!" He ran over- no, he ran in place again! What the hell was this?! "HIKARI!" Was it Phantomon again?! Please tell me this is just one of his illusions!

He looked for a sign that it was all fake. Instead he found himself looking at a stone carving of Hikari's name. And the date she was born. And the date she… He backed away from the tombstone. It was a lie! It had to be a lie! Two others were next to it. Did he dare look? Against his better judgment, he did. They were for his parents. Complete with an inscription saying they couldn't live without their children.

Was this it? Was this what he survived the Digital World for? This is what he was coming home to? "It doesn't have to be," a gentle voice said from behind. He straightened up and spun around. The figure had green skin and a muscular body. His eyes were filled with compassion. He was bald except for a ponytail and his face had a goatee. His vest and pants looked like they came out of a desert.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"A minor genie," the genie answered, "and I will help you prevent this future."

"A genie?" So this wasn't real? That was a relief but… "This is the future?"

The genie sighed. "A minor genie. I'm afraid I'm not equal to those 'any three wishes you want' types. But I can at least get you out of the Digital World."

"You can save us?!" Taichi tried to contain his excitement. There was a catch. There was always a catch.

"No, just you. Well, I should be able to get Agumon out too, considering how small he is. But that's my limit." Aaand, there's the catch.

"But what about the others? I can't just leave them." So much for that ticket out, but Taichi would never forgive himself if he abandoned the others.

The genie shook his head. "You don't understand. What you saw is your family's future. If you don't get back, and very soon, that is what you'll be coming home to. You know how dependent Hikari is on you. Your parents already think you're dead. When they lose her, they'll lose the will to live." He pointed at the trio of graves. "You have so much to lose. Your friends will understand."


I knew this was a mistake, Yamato thought as he stared at the tree. The tree had a bulging trunk with two extra thick branches that almost made it look like it was reaching out. No matter how upset Yamato was feeling, a visit to this odd tree always calmed him down and he'd hoped it would again. But he'd forgotten why it calmed him down. TK had named this tree Treegre since, according to him, it looked like an ogre, and he always came up with some weird story behind Treegre. It was used to seal away evil spirits but then it was put on a diet. It was an ogre who set up and ambush in a forest but in the wrong location and got overgrown. It was the first step of the mole people's plan to conquer the world.

But that was when he and TK were still brothers. Thanks to his selfish parents and their love of screaming at each other, TK was taken away from him.

"Um, are you okay?" a girl's voice gently spoke behind him. He suppressed a sigh. He really didn't want to be talking to anyone right now. Anyone except TK.

"I'm fine," he grumbled.

"It's just…" her voice took on a nervous tremble, "I-I saw a woman and a little boy leaving your place. They had… They had a lot of stuff… and the boy…"

"They're gone, okay?!" he snapped, whipping to glare at the nuisance only to be taken aback at how pretty she was. She had long black hair and her dark eyes were filled with compassion. She was dressed almost formally with a dark blazer over a while blouse and dark pleated skirt going just past her knees. She wasn't just pretty, she was beautiful, and she didn't seem at all bothered by his outburst.

"A divorce?" she asked, her eyes starting to water, "Th-That's terrible! And that little boy, he's-"

"My brother," he answered more softly, "He was my brother but because our parents are selfish idiots, he's gone!" The girl shook her head.

"He is your brother," she said firmly, "Nothing your parents can do will change that."

"He's in a different city now," he said, "I can't even go see him." The girl suddenly hugged him. "Uh, what are you-"

"You need one," she said, "And don't worry about your brother. You won't lose him. I promise." Yamato closed his eyes, taking in her scent. She smelled like TK's favorite types of cookies. All of them, which was a lot. Yet, instead of bringing that painful reminder, he simply felt an overwhelming peace.

After what felt like hours, he reluctantly broke it off and opened his eyes. Where was she? She was meeting me right here, just outside the school gates. He shook his head. That girl couldn't hold a schedule to save her life. Even so, he really needed her now. First day of school only a week after that Digital World nightmare, he was still too on edge from the Wardens and… the other… Why can't I remember? Ugh, why am I even trying to? Just forget it all.

"Yamato-sama!" her cheery voice interrupted his thoughts as the girl threw her arms around him. His faced heated up. It was embarrassing being called that but according to his girlfriend dating was the precursor to marriage and she was very old fashioned about such things. Embarrassing or not, though, he couldn't describe how wonderful it felt to have someone who took such commitments so seriously. "You're here!"

"Where else would I be?"

"I was just worried you were whisked off again." Maybe telling her about the Digital World was a mistake. She worried about him constantly. But then again, it wasn't like he was never a good liar to begin with and she always saw right through him. "Poor Takeru-sama is still having a hard time. I cannot believe Hikari-chan did that to him!" Yamato nodded. TK was traumatized by the whole experience. When he can Hikari were playing together, something triggered a memory and he completely fell apart. Now she was denying ever knowing him. Some best friend she turned out to be. But what can I expect from a Yagami?

"Doesn't matter," he said, "TK has us now. Speaking of which…" He looked around the apartment his live-in girlfriend picked out for them. A big living room and kitchen. Only two bedrooms but that was enough. One for him and her, the other for TK. Even better, it was in a country side. "Dare I even ask how you managed to score this place on our budget?"

She just giggled. "A girl's got to have a few secrets. Takeru-sama will do so much better here, away from that smelly city." Yamato nodded, his anger returning. The traumas the Digital World inflicted on TK stayed with him, and the woman Yamato no longer regarded as their mother had completely given up. She was about to just abandon him in an institution but, thankfully, Yamato's girlfriend found this place that was big enough for all three. Now TK would be with him, where he belonged. She's doing more for TK than Sora-kun, Mimi-san, and Hikari-chan ever did.

"Yamato-sama," she interrupted him, her voice both annoyed and amused, "I know this is overwhelming, but please focus." Focus? On what- oh! Right at the altar too! That was just embarrassing!

"Sorry," he said, "I was just thinking about how lucky I am." His eyes scanned the chapel. It was a bit of a sorry wedding, especially on his side. None of his actual relatives cared enough to show up. Just the few of the Chosen Children who were willing make token appearances. But that didn't matter. It was him, her, and TK. What more did he need?

Her side was more filled but it was too dark to see their faces. She had insisted on only candlelight for the wedding, one of her odd decisions he just never bothered to question. They always turned about better than whatever he was planning.

The girl started giving her vows. They were nothing new, just more the same endless love and support she'd given him since they'd met. A love that far outlasted whatever bond he had with others. Just him, TK, and her. His fell on the two wedding rings she wore. One for him, the other was for right after when she'd marry TK too. He had the same type of ring, it was some kind of gold and silver mixture, but with an unusual glint to it. It appeared almost dark in a way that highlighted the gold and silver. Off to the side, TK was staring at his, while patiently waiting his turn. Yamato couldn't blame him; that ring was pretty mesmerizing.

"I'm happy you appreciate the ring," the girl's voice cut in, "but I'd like you to focus on me." Oops. Right on their honeymoon too, no less.

"I know I keep saying this, but sorry," he said, "It just feels like things are going so fast. Like we just met." She smiled and closed her eyes.

"And here we are, ready to become one. I too am a little overwhelmed." She took a deep breath. "Especially given that this will be my first time and you are so strong. Please be gentle with me." Yamato caught his breath. Were they really… he couldn't even think it! Yet, looking at her, lying on the bed, looking at him with so much love in her eyes, he wanted to. Badly.

But something held him back. "Yamato-sama?" she asked, "Is it still bothering you, the fact that Takeru-sama is second in everything?" What? Well, actually it did a little. She was Yamato's girlfriend first, moved in with him before TK did, and married him first. Now he was doing this first too. He understood why, TK never fully got over what the Digital World put him through, and the girl was just starting on Yamato to make sure she didn't do anything that would hurt TK. And TK was okay with it, so it really shouldn't have bothered him.

But it did. Or… no, it's not that. Something else! "Please, Yamato-sama," she spoke up again, "Come into me. This is what you wanted. Remember my promise?" Yamato nodded. That promise that she would make sure he and TK would always be brothers. Which they were whether she was there or not. "When you come into me, we will be one. Then when Takeru-sama comes into me, he and I shall be one. Do you understand? Though me, you and Takeru-sama will never be parted again."

Yamato's heart started racing with excitement. This is what he waiting for ever since they met. Even before he understood, he wanted her, and she was going to give him TK too. But something still held him back.

"You're such a wonder big brother," she said, "Wanting Takeru-sama to have me first. But he's just so little and I'm inexperienced. I'm afraid I'll hurt him. Please, Yamato-sama, you must have me first." That was true. TK was little…

Yamato practically shrieked as the horrific realization dawned on him. TK's seven and a half! I'm eleven! He looked at the girl again. She was his age! And her eyes… that wasn't love he was seeing. It was a hunger that simultaneously frightened and excited him. He looked back at the wedding ring, the dark glint deeper than before, like it was forged in an abyss waiting to consume him. An abyss she would lead him to. An abyss that a growing part of him wanted to enter.


Sora stared at the door to her apartment. She was home. She was finally home. She survived that hellish experience. Well, physically at least. It would probably be a good long while before she could sleep without a CoreBlaster or CoreSaber in hand. Piyomon would probably forgive me before that happens. She allowed herself a rueful smile. Piyomon was never going to forgive her, the hate in the loving bird's eyes made that very clear. Nor should she.

She slowly opened the door and stepped inside. "Oh, Sora, you're back!" her mother exclaimed. Was that it? She was in the Digital World for months, wasn't she?

"Um, yeah," she cautiously answered. Something caught her eye. Who was that in the living room? He was sitting in a chair, back turned. Wait… Daddy?! She hadn't seen her father since, well, oh who cares?! She hurried over. "Daddy! Long time no-" she stopped. It wasn't her father. She didn't even know what it was. It was tall and covered in a large black hoodless cloak with horns around the collar over its black body suit. Its head was just an upright white oval with a fold about a third up from the bottom. A second fold with straight down the middle, connecting to the first. In its thin, bleached white hands it held a mirror with a black frame and handles on either side. "Um, who are you?" Something about this thing terrified her and it wasn't its appearance.

Something appeared in its mirror. She risked a look. It was herself, shooting something… a Goblimon… The Order of the Green! The mirror was throwing that atrocity back in her face! The first of many! She stepped back and looked away, her stomach threatening to erupt.

"Oh, so you've met," her mother said, walking in, "That's a real fascinating mirror, isn't it?" She chuckled a little. Fascinating?! Sora didn't want to be reminded that incident! She wanted to forget it! To wake up and find it was all just a horrible dream! "What's it showing now?"

"No!" Sora reached out. Too late. Her mother recoiled back, a look of pure horror on her face. "M-Mom, I-I can-" she started.

"Get out," her mother hissed. Sora fell silent. She heard that wrong, right? It was just a mirror. Her mother would let her explain- "Get out!" She didn't even notice the tears streaming down her face.

"P-Please! I-I can explain!" she begged. She couldn't be thrown out of her own home! She just couldn't, not after everything she'd been through! Her mother's hand struck her across the cheek, leaving a sharp sting.

"How dare you set foot in this apartment after all that!"

"Mom, please!" Sora sobbed.

"I have no daughter!"

Tears filling her eyes she ran out the door. This was even worse that the Digital World! Where was she going to go now? What was she going to do? She looked back at the door to her- this was Taichi's apartment. When did she get here? It didn't matter. She and Taichi weren't exactly on good terms anymore but he wouldn't turn his back on her. He saw what she went through. He'd understand a little, right?

She nervously knocked on the door. It opened revealing Hikari. "Sora-san! It's nice to see you!" The small girl's polite greeting brought a slight smile to Sora's face. Little Hika always managed to cheer her up. And the fact that Hikari was still so friendly with her meant that Taichi didn't tell her about the things Sora had done in the Digital World. Even as bad as things are between us, he's still a good friend.

"It's nice to see you too, Hika. Is Taichi around?"

"You just missed him, but I do have a new friend I'd like you to meet." A new friend? That was unexpected. Who could it be? Was she finally secure enough to introduce TK to her? Might be a bit awkward, given how afraid of her TK was now, but Sora really needed to repair what few friendships she had left.

It wasn't TK. No, waiting in Hikari's room, sitting on her bed, was that creature. And it was holding its mirror. Sora felt her tears return. "Why?"

"I know he looks a little weird," Hikari said, "but his mirror shows neat things!" It raised its mirror. "Its going to show something!"

"No, Hika! Don't!" Sora desperately reached for the little girl. Too late. The look of horror growing in Hikari's face ripped Sora's heart apart. To think that little Hika, who Sora had held the day she was born, right after Taichi, would look at her in that way. It was even worse than losing her mother.

"Please leave," Hikari whimpered.

"Hika, please," she desperately pleaded, "You know me."

"Please leave," Hikari repeated, her voice cracking as tears formed. Sora started to reach out to her, give her a hug, remind her that she was still "Sora-san". Hikari flinched as her hand moved. "Go away!" she sobbed, "Just go away!"

Sora backed away, her heart in pieces. The impossible had happened. Hikari actually hated her now. Maybe even more than Piyomon. And if Hikari hated her, then whatever remained of her friendship with Taichi was as good as dead too. She suddenly felt out of breath. Just like that, she'd lost her home and her closest friends.

She turned and ran out the door. Her mother, Hikari, and now Taichi too. She'd lost them all. She remembered all those desperate battles in the Digital World. The things she had to do to survive. At least a few probably qualified as war crimes. I should've just let them kill me! But no, she wasn't fighting for herself. She was backing up Yamato and- Yamato-kun!

That's right! Yamato was there with her! He'd understand! That thing's mirror wouldn't turn him against her! She just had to get to his apartment where… ever it was. She let out a moan. She had no idea where he lived. She leaned against a nearby wall- a window? She stepped back from it and looked. It was the window of some kind of clothing store. Her eyes wandered over the mannequins, wearing the types of clothes her mother tried to make her wear. Mom didn't really ask all that much. But now it's too late.

She noticed one taller than the others with some sort of black cloak… and mirror. "Leave me alone," she begged as the creature angled its mirror to face her, "Please, leave me alone!" She turned and ran, not paying attention where. She had to get away from that thing, and whatever grudge it had against her.

She found herself in a very crowded park. No sign of the creature. She waded her way in through the people, trying to keep an eye out for someone she might recognize. Taichi was a lost cause now but that didn't mean she had to give up on the others. They were there. They knew what she went through. Most of them at least. TK never really understood.

She could feel everyone's eyes on her. What was going on? Did she look that bad? She looked away, her eyes falling on a body of water. She was heading right for the park's lake. I really need to start paying attention to where I'm going. On the other hand, that water could end her problems. It wasn't like she'd be missed.

She stared into the clear water, trying to find a reason not to go in. Let it do the job the Digital World couldn't. Something floated into her view… "No! Not again!" she shrieked as the creature floated by, its mirror poking just above the surface. She backed away, her heel hitting a rock, and she fell back. "You already won," she sobbed as it rose from the lake, towering over her, "You took everyone from me! What more do you want?!"

Its answered was to merely point its mirror at her. And in it she saw herself holding her CoreSaber and it was dripping with blood. The people in the park, however, all appeared as dead bodies, sliced apart by a bladed weapon.


TK's eyes opened. It was hot and it felt like the heat was sitting on him. That meant only one thing: the monsters were back. "Y-Yama?" he started. He didn't want to bother his older brother but Yamato always scared the monsters off. They all knew he was stronger than any monster.

No answer. "Yama?" he tried a little louder. Still silent. Then he remembered why. Yama's gone. And Daddy. Now what? He couldn't face the monsters alone. Maybe Mommy can- he stopped that thought. He woke her up last night because he was feeling lonely without Yama and she got mad. She said her job is so hard she has to sleep. If I keep bothering Mommy, she might make me leave like Yama and Daddy.

But the monsters were back. They probably knew Yama wasn't here to scare them off. The magic light! TK suddenly remembered. It was right next to his bed too! Yama gave it to him. There it was, in Grizzo's arms. Grizzo was a teddy bear Yama mailed to him. The magic light looked just like a normal flashlight but Yama had told him it was a magic light that would shrivel up the monsters.

Turning it on, he slipped out of bed and quickly shone the light underneath, just in case any monsters were thinking of grabbing him. None, or maybe the light just worked real fast. Yama wouldn't just give him just any magic light after all.

Bed was clear. Now for his dresser drawers. One by one, he slid each out, shining the light in as soon as possible. No monsters.

His bedroom door. Monsters usually had portals but some liked to be more direct. Creeping the door open, he shone the light through the hall, moving it along the walls and ceiling. Any monsters coming through there were in for a surprise.

TK smiled to himself. With his magic light, these monsters were nothing. Just the closet now. Just like before, he put the light on it as he slowly opened it. Something was there. It was completely flat and its skin looked like very old paper. From the middle of the bottom, it was torn, the tear going half way up its body, leaving exposed ribs. On the left side were two eyes. On the right was a smiling mouth. And the magic light wasn't affecting it.

He started to back away. He needed to find Mommy. He saw his bed. The top of the headboard, instead of being flat, had a round lump on top with two eye holes, almost like a weirdly shaped skull. The eye holes contained a green light. Two bony hands were reaching around the side of his bed. Surrounding it were teeth, very sharp teeth and gums. The magic light didn't work on this one either. Grizzo was nowhere to be seen. Did the monsters get him?

Outside his window he saw faces moving by. Lots of them, looking anywhere from like they were enjoying watching the monsters come for him to looking as scared as he felt. Others looked like they hated him. Were they the monsters Yama scared off?

He finally found his door. Good thing he left it open… It was pitch black. The magic light couldn't light it at all. But he could tell there were more monsters past it. He was trapped with monsters that the magic light didn't work on.

All he could do was scream.