He was late.

Kari sat in Izzy's bedroom, staring at her D-Terminal worriedly—everyone was waiting to hear more details about what happened with Ken, the kidnapped children and Oikawa the night before, but they were waiting on T.K.

Ken had only given them minimal information the night before, which they understood, he had been exhausted and probably did not want to have to go through all the multiple times—which was also why they were waiting for T.K. to arrive.

She glanced at her D-Terminal for the tenth time, still nothing.

Something was wrong.

It was awkward waiting around, Tai had tagged along with her, but other than him, Izzy was the only other older digidestined present.

It'd been more than 12 hours since she'd last seen him. All she could think of was the look he gave her, silently asking her not to object to his kind offer to Ken. Now she wished she had offered to walk home with him or something…anything other than just leave.

"Let's just get started." Davis finally huffed, crossing his arms in frustration. "We can fill him in later."

Kari sent him a look that he surprisingly didn't notice, clearly too agitated with T.K.'s tardiness to glance her way as he looked to Ken to start the conversation.

Izzy seemed to agree with Davis, also oblivious to Kari's expression, but not out of frustration, just simply to move things along. Afterall, T.K. was the one who was late, not them, right? "That's probably a good idea."

Tai caught the look though, so did Ken, which stalled them further.

Tai shifted from his perched spot against Izzy's desk and sat down next to his sister on the floor in front of Izzy's bed. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head and smiled. "Nothing. I'm sure it's fine."

He raised an eyebrow at her, clearly not convinced, but he didn't press the subject.

Ken shifted uncomfortably and started the conversation by going over who Oikawa was and how he knew him, how he'd met him as a child and that he implanted something called a Dark Spore inside of him. The looks of surprise and realization dawning on everyone as he continued to explain—he'd implanted all those kidnapped children with Dark Spores as well.

It wasn't a long, drawn out conversation, but it was enough to temporarily take her mind off the missing member of their group. It wasn't until Ken had finished and Izzy had begun discussing the kidnapped children and how they should split into groups and check on them, that her thoughts returned to T.K.

She reached for her D-Terminal again and saw there was still no response. "Where are you…?" she murmured to herself.

"Okay, what's wrong, Kari." Tai nudged his sister gently.

A beep on Izzy's computer made everyone stop and look his way. The concern on his face as he typed furiously on the keyboard silence the room.

"What is it, Izzy?" Tai asked, stepping over to look at the computer. "Is that the bay area?"

Izzy nodded. "That's strange…"

Kari shifted uncomfortably. "What's wrong?"

"I'm picking up both an aggressive digimon attack at the bay and T.K.'s digivice."

"Are you kidding?" Davis shouted. "We waited how long, and he's just out doing his own thing?"

Izzy ignored Davis' outburst. "Whatever's happening, we should probably make our way down there and help out. I'll call Matt since it's not far from his place down by the wharf, he and Gabumon can go check it out."

Everyone was already standing and gathering themselves to leave before Izzy finished talking.

#

Matt's phone buzzed on the table next to him. He barely heard it over the strumming of his guitar as he was tuning it. He frowned and glanced over—seeing Izzy's name he could assume it was digimon related. Glancing at his sleeping partner across from him on the other couch, Matt contemplated letting it go to voicemail. After traveling to Mexico with Ken just a couple days ago, they were both pretty was worn out.

Gabumon stirred at the third buzz and looked up to see Matt staring at it disgruntled. "What's that, Matt?"

Matt sighed and reached for it, answering it slowly. "What's up, Izzy?"

Gabumon sat upright and watched Matt. "Is something the matter?"

"What?" Matt muttered into the phone. "T.K.'s alone?"

Gabumon watched Matt's expression turn from annoyed to confused to concerned in just a few seconds, standing up he walked over to his partner, giving him a questioning look. "What is it?"

"Got it. We're heading that way." He paused. "Yeah, no. It's not far. I'm glad you called. Thanks." Another pause. "Mm. Yeah, see you there."

Matt hung up the phone, standing up he slipped it into his pocket and set his guitar down. "There's some trouble a few blocks up at the pier. T.K.'s there already, the others are on their way."

Gabumon saw the wary look on Matt's face as he explained. "I'm sure he's fine."

Matt nodded. "Yeah."

#

Matt ran toward the waterfront, despite the crowds running the opposite direction making it rather difficult. He wasn't sure what was happening, but it was clear that something was off. He could see Angemon attacking in the distance, but he couldn't tell what.

"Should I digivolve?" Gabumon asked as he ran beside Matt, everyone in too much of a panic to even see the little digimon.

"No, you'll just cause more panic. Wait until we get closer." He was almost shoved down by another wave of frantic people. "Damn it!"

After what felt like forever, Matt finally ran out into the open, slamming into the railing in front of the bay from the momentum, looking out across at the tourist section where all the shops and food vendors were, watching in horror at the scene.

Gabumon looked just as dismayed as Matt. "What's happening? Why—"

Matt took off down the road, leading toward where mostly abandoned shops. "What's he doing!?"

"I don't know!" Gabumon was on his heels. "I think I should digivolve now, Matt."

Angemon was mercilessly attacking the pier, with no visible target. Just causing massive destruction.

Matt skidded to a stop as a blast to the wharf sent debris flying everywhere. "What are you doing?!" he shouted up at the digimon.

Angemon stopped attacking long enough to turn toward Matt.

Gabumon shoved Matt away, knocking the wind out of him, just as Angemon's attack shot down toward him out of nowhere.

Matt coughed roughly and tried to regain his footing; he couldn't believe what had just happened. Garurumon was suddenly standing over him, protectively. "Angemon!" he snarled.

"Matt!" Tai's voice called to him.

Matt felt himself take in a deep breath as he was pulled from his whirling thoughts. "Tai!"

"Are you alright—" Just as he was about to close the gap between himself and Matt another attack shot forward. Garurumon had grabbed up Matt and tossed him onto his back before he realized what was even happening, clinging to his fur rather uncoordinatedly to stay put as the digimon bounded away.

Once Garurumon stopped, he realized he was right next to Tai and all the younger digidestined…all of them except.

"Where's T.K.?" Matt hissed.

Tai looked up in surprise. "He isn't with you?"

"No!" Matt slid off Garurumon. "Why isn't he with you guys? Why is Angemon on a rampage?"

Tai looked at Matt worriedly. "We haven't seen him at all today."

"Izzy said—!" Matt was interrupted by a shockwave as Stingmon and ExVeemon combo attacked Angemon, sending him crashing into the water.

Matt and Tai winced and shielded themselves from the spray of water that hit them.

Izzy ran up beside them with his laptop out. "His digivice signal is on Angemon."

Matt stared at the sky, panic overcoming him. "What do you mean?" He looked back at the group. "Where's my brother?"

Angemon exploded from the water and his attack grazed by Aquilamon, sending him diving back toward the bay area, his wing injured.

"You need to DNA digivolve!" Davis yelled out at his and Ken's digimon.

"Wait!" Matt was suddenly next to Davis, yanking him by the collar. "Just what do you think you're going? You can't—!"

ExVeemon crashed into the ground just a few feet away from the group, sending most of them down to the hands and knees or staggering.

Stingmon was holding his own against Angemon due to his speed, but Ken's lack of resolve during this fight was apparent. "This isn't right…"

Davis shoved away from Matt and went to ExVeemon's side. "You alright?"

"He hits hard!" ExVeemon groaned as he stood back up. "He's being controlled by a dark spiral!"

"What?!" Davis yelled, looking back at Ken. "Come on! If we don't stop him, more people are going to get hurt!"

Tai saw the anger in Matt's expression. "Hey, he's right, you know."

Matt clenched his fists. "But it's… we can't…" he stuttered. "Tai, it's Angemon!"

Tai grabbed Matt's arm. "Do you think T.K. wants Angemon to hurt innocent people like this? You think Angemon wants this?"

Ken looked up at Matt, terrified. "I don't want to…"

"You guys have to stop him." Matt clenched his jaw. "Save him."

Gatomon stood at Kari's side, her fists shaking. "Kari, let me fight."

She shook her head. "I can't, it's…"

"Please!" She begged. "Let me try!"

"T.K.…" she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. "T.K. where are you?"

Gatomon touched Kari's leg gently. "Let me try and get to the spiral. Please."

Kari looked down at her partner, conceding. "Go." Her voice shook.

"Leave it to me, guys!" she hollered as she ran, catching Matt's eyes as she passed him, giving a reassuring nod.

Gatomon ran down the pier and called out to Stingmon. "Can I get a lift?" He dove, dodging another attack by Angemon and caught Gatomon as she faithfully dove out over the water.

"What's the plan?" Stingmon asked.

"Get as close to him as you can, I'll do the rest." Gatomon clung to Stingmon's shoulder tightly as he nodded and zipped through the air straight at the angel.

Gatomon narrowed her eyes and leapt just as they made contact. Angemon whipped his staff and sent Stingmon flying down toward the water. Gatomon barely made it in time, but she slashed the dark spiral with all her strength. As it shattered and dissolved, she saw T.K.'s digivice had been trapped beneath the metal—Angemon immediately burst into light and reverted back to Patamon. Both of them and the digivice were falling toward the water in a hurry. She grabbed the device and clung to Patamon and closed her eyes, readying for the impact of water. Just in time Aquilamon dove beneath them, catching them on his back.

Gatomon opened her eyes and relaxed. Glancing over she saw that Patamon was in rough shape and unconscious. She couldn't be relieved just yet—T.K. was missing and he didn't have Patamon or his digivice with him. They had no way to find him.

As they landed, Gatomon held onto Patamon so when Aquilamon devolved, he wouldn't sustain further injury.

Matt was there at her side as she gracefully landed on the ground. "Gatomon, is he alright?"

Gatomon grimaced. "He'll live."

Matt knelt and took the little digimon. "What happened? Where is T.K.?"

Gatomon reached out her paw, showing Matt and the approaching kids that she had T.K.'s digivice. "This… doesn't look good."

Matt just stared at the white and green device, unmoving.

"Matt…" Tai reached down and touch the blond on the shoulder. "Hey…"

"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" His voice shook.

Kari knelt beside Matt and ran her hand over Patamon's mussed fur. "He and Patamon walked home alone last night."

Tai frowned. "What? From where?"

Gatomon saw the growing guilt in Kari's eyes. "From Highton View Terrace."

"Are you kidding?" Tai shouted.

Matt's grip tightened involuntarily around the little digimon. "Why?"

Ken spoke this time, a wet Wormmon in his arms. "It's my fault." His timid voice was barely above a whisper.

Matt shot a glare his way. "I don't care about faults. Tell me what happened."

Ken looked at Matt with surprise and then averted his gaze to the ground guiltily. "He…"

Davis walked up next to Ken, watching his friend struggle. "T.K. gave Ken the last seat in the car last night."

Matt swallowed. "And you guys just drove off, and left him on the side of the road in the middle of the night?"

Kari felt that wave of nausea wash over her again, that pit in her stomach growing larger and deeper. This wasn't supposed to happen. "I should have gotten out and walk home with him."

"Just stop, okay?" Matt rubbed his face with his free hand and ran it through his hair. "Damn it."

Patamon began to stir and everyone went silent.

"T…" Patamon moaned. "K…?" his weak voice shook.

"Hey." Matt cuddled the little digimon gently. "What happened, Patamon?"

Patamon finally opened his eyes, tears flowing down his cheeks. "They have him, don't they…?"

Matt's breath hitched. His mouth went dry. "Who?" he managed to say, he didn't care that his voice broke.

"Oikawa." Patamon blinked heavily and passed out again, a flash reverting him into Tokomon.

Kari scooped up the little digimon as Matt stared at the ground at a loss. "Tai…" he choked. "T.K…" he shook his head. He hadn't even realized his eyes were watering until he blinked and felt the tears fall.

Tai knelt beside Matt. "H-hey. D-don't freak out. We're going to find him, alright?"

Kari stared at her brother, usually a voice of confidence in dire times, he was reduced to stammering whisper. "Tai?"

Tai looked up at her, the worry in her face mirrored in his own. "I swear. We'll find him—"

Kari's D-Terminal beeped. She reached down and pulled it out. Her eyes widened at the sender, her heart skipping a beat. She opened it hurriedly, her expression must have told the others what she wasn't verbalizing, as they crowded around her.

It wasn't from T.K., but it was from his D-Terminal.

If you want to keep your friend alive, come to the Odaiba Bulk Port tomorrow at 2pm, with Ichijouji.

Kari read the top part over and over "If you want to keep your friend alive." Now she understood where the apprehension in her brother had stemmed from. They weren't dealing with just another evil digimon. They were dealing with a human. Someone dangerous. Someone who had been targeting Ken for years. Someone who had just kidnapped a dozen children and Ken the day before. Someone who they'd angered countless times. Someone who they knew almost nothing about. Some strange man had T.K. and they couldn't do anything about it.

Tai took her D-Terminal and set it down on the ground, making her look up at him. "Kari, you need to breathe. Alright? Look at me. Just—Kari!"

She passed out.

Thanks for reading. I should have Chapter 3 ready soon. Back to T.K.'s POV. Thank you for the reviews :)