-3-

Hoping off the motorcycle with Yamato was a relief because he was finally on solid ground. He had to leave Agumon with Gabumon at Yamato's apartment. It was better that way. They didn't know what they were going to encounter on the hospital and digimon were not accepted just yet. His mind flashed him images of Alphamon and Omegamon destroying the city fighting and the comments that came after that. Same with Ogremon and Greymon. He was troubled for his friends so they thought it was better to leave a grumpy Agumon and a resigned Gabumon at the apartment.

"Are you ready?" Yamato's voice broke through the fog that his mind came up.

He threw the helmet on the seat and turned. "Not really but… let's do it!"

Yamato just nodded and started the way to the hospital. Taichi could remember the amount of times he had being at the hospital. The last one was because he had a nasty foul on a soccer match and both Daisuke and Ken had to drag him to the hospital to get stitches on his leg.

Daisuke and Ken… Ken had transferred to Odaiba after a year of being a member of their team. His parents found a cute little apartment not too far from Yamato's. Taichi encouraged him to try for the soccer team at their school once both he and Daisuke were there and when they both got in, he was little the proud parent that can't shut up about his children. Yamato often joked that he was stealing his protégée from him. Ken always used to lean towards Yamato when he was conflicted, or simply when he wanted advice. It was like Yamato was the only one that could understand him or his troubles. Yamato always had time for Ken, which made Daisuke a little grumpy when Taichi was busy and couldn't meet up, and they often found themselves in a cute little coffee shop a few blocks from their apartments just laughing. The four of them were always up to something and the rest were just along for the ride.

Ken and Yamato were the balance Taichi and Daisuke needed. They were always rushing without thinking and their plans always implied more action than planning. Yamato usually tried to talk Taichi out of stupid plans only by saying his name with annoyance, which usually made Takeru crack up. Ken was Daisuke's right hand, always there for his best friend but when he had to stop Daisuke from stupidity, he did it so flawlessly that Taichi often marveled of their relationship.

But now Daisuke and Ken were unresponsive on hospital beds and there wasn't a way to know if they were getting out of it anytime soon.

"Onii-chan!" Takeru's voice let him know that, somehow, Yamato had directed them where the others were waiting. Takeru ran to embrace his brother and Yamato ruffled his little brother's hair. "I'm so glad you're both here now"

It was a given that every time the group had to make a decision about something, Taichi was the one to do it. It had been like this since he was eleven so… it wasn't going to change anytime soon. If Taichi wasn't there, then Yamato was the one to make a decision for them. Usually Taichi would confer with Yamato to analyze a situation before giving his opinion, that way they were both on the same page.

Taichi scanned the room quickly. Jyou was nowhere to be seen. Koushirou was typing on his laptop, seating on the corner of the room. Hikari was talking quietly with a couple that was seated closest to the door. Taichi realized quickly that the couple were the Ichijouji's. He was trying to locate the Motomiya's but couldn't see them anywhere. He then turned around when he felt Takeru's hand on his shoulder.

"We managed to convince Jun and her parents to go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. It was the least we could do. They didn't want to leave, but we told them it wouldn't do Daisuke any good if they got sick, so they did it. We didn't have the same luck with Ken's parents"

"They know what's like to lose a child. I'm pretty sure they don't want to relieve that situation" Yamato added from behind his little brother.

"Exactly. Ken's mother told us she wouldn't move from her spot until they let her see him."

"They aren't allowed inside?" Taichi asked, shocked and saddened for the Ichijouji's.

"Not yet. Jyou is trying to find a way to let us in, at least one of us at a time. He's talking with his father and his brother to see if there's a way to make it happen"

"What about Miyako-chan and Iori-kun?"

"They woke up earlier in the morning but as the doctor said, they are too dehydrated to even try to speak. Miyako-chan tried to, but ended up in a coughing fit and the doctor sedated her so she wouldn't hurt herself even more" Takeru then glanced at Koushirou "Koushirou is trying to find a way to go to the digital world and find their partner's digi-eggs on Primary Village. We thought maybe that would make Daisuke-kun and Ken-kun recover faster"

"Is that safe?" Taichi had to ask. He didn't want anyone stuck in the Digital World without a way of getting out.

"I'll do it if Koushirou finds a way" Yamato interrupted whatever Takeru was going to say next.

The youngest blonde sighed and looked at his brother with an eyebrow raised "I knew one of you was going to say that, Onii-chan. Hikari and I were going to go…"

"No, I'll do it. I'll have to bring Gabumon with me, just in case but, it's safest if there's only one of us there"

Taichi's blood ran cold in his veins. Yamato going solo to the Digital World… not that he didn't trust Gabumon in protecting his partner but, it was the mere thought of Yamato going there without him to protect him. He had jumped on that rigged cliff to protect Yamato and now he was going to leave him for the Digital World again. An unstable Digital World, a world that could destroy him easily.

"I'll go with you"

Yamato looked at him, annoyance written on his face. Takeru, instead, looked shocked. "Uh, Taichi, are you sure…"

"Yes, Takeru, I'm sure. I'll go with your brother to the Digital World if there's a way to do it. That way we'll have more firepower if we encounter anything on the way. We have Omegamon after all"

"Taichi-san, I'm not sure if you should go there right now…" Takeru said while looking at the floor "I don't know if it would be comfortable…"

"It doesn't have to be. And since I'm the leader of this group, I decided. I'll be going. Especially if Yamato goes!"

Yamato just rolled his eyes. He knew Taichi wasn't going to back down anytime soon. They then saw Jyou coming to the room. Takeru immediately went to the older of the chosen's side, Taichi and Yamato following because they were sure Jyou had some news.

"Hey, everyone. I just finished talking with my father and brother, and, just because my father is in the board of doctors and I might have begged a little, they're letting us see them. Just for a little bit and only two of us at a time, but… it's something"

Jyou didn't get so say anything else because Ken's mother went to hug him real hard, leaving Jyou blushing and spluttering. "Thank you, Kido-san. I can't thank you enough for letting us see our Ken-chan!"

Jyou didn't say anything else but let the Ichijouji's know where Ken and Daisuke were before turning around and making them all come together on the little corner where Koushirou still typed. Taichi noted how Hikari huddled by Takeru's side on the opposite side of him and it hurt. Yamato brushed the back of his hand with his, like he knew what was going on inside his mind. Koushirou stopped typing and turned to look at Jyou.

"Okay, here's the thing. No one knows what's wrong with Ken-kun and Daisuke-kun. They put them on the same room because they were found together and they both are experiencing the same condition. They are completely unresponsive and nothing shows on the scans besides the damage to their bodies"

"Damage to their bodies?" Hikari's voice was soft, like she didn't really want to know.

"Yeah, they both have a broken wrist – Daisuke-kun's left and Ken-kun's right; Daisuke-kun has a really bad laceration on the back of his head and several broken ribs. Ken-kun has broken ribs too and a bad sprain to his right ankle, but less than Daisuke. If I had to guess, Daisuke tried to protect Ken and that's why he's a lot more hurt physically than Ken. Ken also has a concussion and my father said that they won't know how bad it is until they wake up" Jyou made sure they were all listening and following along "Miyako-san and Iori-kun also have broken bones and lacerations but not as serious as the others"

Taichi wanted answers. Not more questions and situations he couldn't solve. "What can we do?"

"Well, they will interrogate Miyako and Iori as soon as they're able to speak without consequences for their health but they are just lost as to what to do with Daisuke-kun and Ken-kun right now. They will play the waiting game with them and hope they respond to something soon"

Koushirou half-closed his laptop and looked at them "I also have something. I managed to establish a connection with the Digital World. A stable one. We could go again there and find their Digimon. Wormmon, Veemon, Hawkmon and Armadimon should be on Primary Village right now and it would be a thing of getting there, grabbing the digi-eggs and going out"

Taichi closed his eyes and sighed. He wanted more time to try to get Yamato to let him go there by himself. He knew it was almost a moot point but he at least wanted to try.

"By the way, where are your digimon?" Yamato asked while Taichi tried to think of something.

"Cyberspace. We thought it was too risky to let them here with us. We still don't know what's going to happen now" Takeru answered with a shrug.

"Okay, you're right. Well, Koushirou I'll need to bring Gabumon but I'm ready whenever you are"

"Same here, I'll get Agumon and leave"

Yamato looked at him with an eyebrow raised "That's all? Really, you're not going to say anything else?"

"What's there to say?"

"I thought you were going to try to make me stay here" Damn, Yamato knew him so bad that it was pretty much impossible to try and fool him.

"Do I stand a chance?" Yamato shook his head "Then why bother… we're both going and that's it!"

The Ichijouji's came back looking like hell and Mr. Ichijouji had his arm around his wife trying to support her weight. Hikari and Takeru went immediately by their side trying to help in any way they could.

"You guys should go in now" Jyou said turning to face Taichi and Yamato "If you guys have to leave soon, then you better see them now"

Yamato nodded and turned around to go find Ken and Daisuke's room. Taichi knew he had to follow whether he was ready or not. He couldn't not see his friends, it wasn't an option. He walked alongside Yamato while remembering one of the last outing the four of them had. A couple of days before they were missing, according to what Koushirou could gather since they recovered their memories.

It was a nice Saturday so they thought they would change the walls of the coffee place for a nice shade under a tree at the park. Ken went inside the coffee shop to get their usual drinks while they waited outside. Yamato had a bag with sweets on his arm. Apparently he not only knew how to cook but also bake really good.

It wasn't long before they were at the park enjoying the cookies and cake Yamato brought with the drinks Ken got for them. It was a nice summer afternoon.

"Aw, man… days like these make me miss Veemon even more" Daisuke said with a sigh.

"I know what you're talking about. I miss Agumon and his incredible appetite!" Taichi replied and they all laughed "Seriously though, it would be even more perfect if they were here with us"

"I know!" Daisuke was suddenly on his feet with excitement all over his face "What about we do a picnic at the Digital World?! That way we can have a nice time with the digimon!"

"It could be fun…" Taichi said, actually thinking about the offer.

"Ken or me could open the gate. Hell, we will make all of them come with us. Make it a huge Chosen reunion. It could be fun" Neither Yamato or Ken had said a word while Daisuke and Taichi got even more excited by the second. Suddenly, Daisuke turn to watch Ken's face and deflated "Yeah… it's way too difficult and it won't probably work"

"Wait… what the hell?!" Taichi shouted, tossing a cookie at Daisuke's head "You were the one who got me excited and now suddenly are all gloomy!"

"It's my fault, Taichi-sempai…" Ken answered for his best friend "I don't think it's plausible to gather all the guys to go to the Digital World. And even if we could, there's no certainty that it will work… open the gates, I mean"

"Yeah, it's too good to be true, Taichi" Yamato added from his side "We can't put that kind of compromise on their shoulders. If it doesn't work, they would blame themselves"

"Yeah… you're right… it was an awesome idea, though" Taichi said to Daisuke to try and lift his mood, then remembering what happened "Wait… Ken communicated with you somehow?!"

Ken laughed softly and Daisuke grinned "Yeah, Taichi-sempai! It's the jogress bond! We are able to feel what the other is feeling, especially if we want to!"

"It's not exactly like that… it's more of a vague feeling." Seeing Taichi's confusion, Ken elaborated "I mean, when I was sick a couple of weeks ago, Daisuke knew that I was feeling poorly. The last time he thought he was a monkey and tried to climb a tree and fell, I felt his pain. It's like a sympathy bond…"

"That's… actually interesting" Yamato said with a sigh.

"We can also feel our hearts beating in sync! It's the coolest thing ever!" Daisuke was obviously excited about having that bond with his best friend "You can feel all that too, right?"

Taichi and Yamato looked at each other and shrugged "Never noticed" said both at unison.

"Next time Omegamon forms, pay attention. Then we'll share jogress experiences…" Daisuke finished while passing an arm around Ken's shoulders "I wouldn't trade that experience for the world"

Being side by side with Yamato, Taichi knew what Daisuke meant that day. He wouldn't trade being Yamato's partner for anything. The blonde grabbed his hand as soon as they stopped at the door marked with Ichijouji K. / Motomiya D. and squeezed it. He needed Yamato's support right now. He didn't want to see their young friends like that, but he also knew it couldn't be helped and he was going to do what he could to make them alright again, even if he had to hunt that Gennai lookalike to the ends of the Digital World.

Right now, he had to be there for his friends…

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

A/N:

Do you think Ken and Daisuke are okay? Are they the only one with a bond like the one Ken and Daisuke share?