Surprisingly this chapter has been pretty easy to rewrite, or maybe I'm just getting a bit more lazy with my edits. Well hopefully not. Midterms are finally over so I have a bit more time to work on the chapters throughout the week rather than doing it all in one day. Anyway I don't own Digimon as per usual. I hope you enjoy the chapter and don't be afraid to favor, follow or review.


Chapter 3

A New Digitude


"The classroom is empty I think it's safe to come out now," Gatomon remarked. The last bell had released students from classes ten minutes ago, and already they noise have the hall had all but stopped.

"Hold on! I'm still taking the spelling test," Patamon complained.

Demiveemon, Shimon and other in training Digimon giggled, a bit too excited in their younger forms, at Patamon's jest. It had been hard for the Rookies to keep them all hidden and under control. "Shush I hear someone coming," Gatomon ordered.

"Smells like Davis," Demiveemon remarked. Instantly Gatomon hissed in annoyance, putting her paw over Demiveemon's mouth, hoping that whoever was outside the door hadn't hear the Digimon.

"Are you saying I stink?!" Davis exclaimed pushing the door open. The Rookies let out a sigh of relief, releasing the in training Digimon who ran to their partners.

"Kouki, I missed you so much!" Shimon rejoiced, jumping into Kouki's arms.

"It is Davis!" Demiveemon exclaimed throwing himself into his partner's arms.

"Did you guys have a good day at school?" Davis inquired

"Where's Yolei?" Poromon queried.

"Ya and Cody too?" Upamon questioned.

"Don't worry about it, they both are on their way over," Kari responded, pausing her discussion with Gatomon about the in training Digimon's behavior today. While they had been loud, they hadn't caused an accident or made contact with other humans, something the Digidestined had been worried about all day.

"Ah here's someone now," Davis remarked, as the door swung open.

"Sorry I'm late! I brought goodies from my family's store!" Yolei said walking into the room with a bag in hand.

"Good idea, in training Digimon are bottomless pits!" TK explained. Shimon nodded in agreement, jumping from Kouki's arms to join the rest of the in training Digimon who gathered around Yolei.

"Kouki?" she asked, confused at the lack of response from her partner when she left his hold. Shimon stared expectantly at him, waiting for a response. With a frown she nudged his leg, "Kouki? Is there something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry Shimon, I guess I spaced out a bit. Sorry, why don't you go get something to eat," Kouki responded with a smile. And just like that, Shimon figured everything was okay again, bounding off to join her friends.

"Can we eat it?" Poromon asked, poking at a package of cookies in front of him. With the encouragement of Patamon, the in training Digimon dug in, enjoying the human snacks as Gatomon watched in faint disgust at their rambunctiousness.

"Ready to go to the Digiworld, buddy?" Davis asked, sitting down in a computer chair, spinning in circles next to Kouki. The more antisocial teen watched Davis for a split second, wondering what exactly had sparked this conversation. They had, after all, only began frequently talking a few days ago.

"Yes, after Cody gets here, I think we'll be ready," Kouki responded carefully. Davis grabbed a computer desk, pausing his spinning. Instantly Kouki took a step back. Had he said something wrong?

"C'mon you don't have to be so reserved. We're friends, right?"

Were they really already friends?

Despite keeping the others waiting, Cody still sat in the lunch room using his fork to push a tomato around. "I'm so stuffed but I only have one tomato left," Cody muttered, staring at the offending fruit as it rolled across the plate.

"You don't have to eat every bite kid."

Cody's head shot up, making instant eye contact with the tall teenager dwelling over him. "Can you point me to the computer lab, kid? I'm supposed to meet a friend there," the teenager inquired

"Oh," Cody muttered, "I was about to go to the computer lab. I can take you there." With that the youngest Digidestined sliced his tomato in half, eating a piece.

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this latest story."

At the abrupt invasion of his thoughts, Kouki's head shot up to see the others collected around the computer watching the news. Davis, noticing his friend's attention waver from their conversation, turned as well, focusing on the news story.

"The results of the national computer programing contest were just announced although it seems the claimed first prize is unable to be found, therefore the winner is boy genius Ken Ichijouji."

"There were many well deserving geniuses out there and I am humbled to think the judges choose me to receive the top prize."

"Now let's go right to the sight of the contest with our field reporter Jerry."

'Thanks, now young Ken wowed the judges by creating a computer program that can brush your teeth for you. The rumor is next year he's planning something with floss! I can't wait back to you!'

"Ken talents include playing one game of chess while everyone watches. Just last week he balanced the world's biggest check book. And that's not all. He's a champion in Judo and the star on the all state soccer team. And girls he's single!"

"Whoa he's almost as good as me," Davis mused, earning a glare from Yolei.

"Now let's talk to the proud parents who raised this genius, Mister and Misses Ichijouji. What are some of the advantages of being mother to one of the smartest children in the world.

"Oh, he's great in the kitchen, his friend even taught him to make stuff from scratch!"

'Like father like son, he even guessed how many jelly beans were in a pickle jar!"

"I heard that this kid is so smart he even gave his teachers homework," Cody interjected, shocking the group at the computer at his arrival.

"Cody when did you get here?" Kari said as the group turned to face the smallest boy with the teenager behind him.

"About a minute ago," Cody replied, his attention focusing on Kouki. The latter was glaring at the teenager behind Cody, with unmistakable annoyance.

"What are you doing here?" Kouki snapped. Davis' eyes widened in shock at the normally quiet boy's harsh tone.

"Why, I thought you would be happy to see me, I'm hurt, Kou I really am," the teen jested, wiping away a few fake tears.

"This is Takeshi," Kouki explained to the many onlookers, "We can just leave him here, he doesn't need to go to the Digiworld with us."

"I'm so hurt," Takeshi sobbed.

"Hey! Maybe Ken knows how to defeat the D.E." TK suggested.

"Ken?" Takeshi questioned, frowning.

"Hmph I know more about the Digiworld than that kid!" Yolei pouted.

"Yeah you probably do," Kouki agreed. It had been a long time since he'd seen Ken, ever since he moved they had lost contact. But he severely doubted his old friend knew anything about the Digiworld.

"He might not know but he's still a genius!" Davis pointed out.

"Hey Kari?" Gatomon asked, nudging her partner.

"Yeah?"

"We're ready to go!" Patamon reported.

"All accounted for? Let's go!" TK said.

"Next stop the Digiworld," Davis cheered as he held his Digivice to the computer screen.

As the group clumsily landed in the Digiworld, Veemon and the others Digivolved back into their rookie forms, powering up upon their arrival in their world. However, the next second two things happened at once; all the Digivices started beeping and a blue dinosaur, a little taller than Veemon trumped out of the woods. To be more exact it was a blue camouflaged Digimon, wearing heavy armor and a helmet carrying a large rifle.

"Captain Kouki, Captain Saemon! I am on direct orders from Cornell Bearmon to partner up with Private Takeshi and help you on the battle front of saving the digital world once more," the Digimon, a Commandramon said saluting Kouki and Shimon at the end.

"Private?!" Takeshi growled in outrage, "Why I oughta! I thought you finally understood that I am obviously a much higher rank that Private! I almost killed myself trying to prove it!"

"Anyway, just ignore them," Kouki dismissed as the group watched the human and Digimon bicker back and forth about ranks.

"Right well they must be beeping because an egg is nearby," Cody pointed out, holding his own Digivice to his face, trying to make sense of the little map on the handheld device.

"Well let's go and find it!" Veemon proclaimed, starting the group's journey deeper into the forest.

"Right, the Digivice says that it's not far from here," Cody added.

"More Digieggs? We already have ours," Davis commented with a deep sigh. It wasn't like he was wrong after all, everyone with a new Digivice already had their Digieggs. Unless… Kouki's glance slid over to TK and Kari, perhaps it would make sense for them to join the group as well. It wasn't like fate was cruel enough to put Kouki in a group of new Digidestined unless he had some more experienced help as well.

"Who are they for?" Yolei questioned.

"We'll never know unless we look for them," Kari pointed out. Perhaps she wants to be of more help too, Kouki thought. Anyone could tell Gatomon was aggravated by her lack of power to help the new Digimon, but Kari—who always seemed calm—probably felt the same way. I hope the Digieggs are for them, I like Gatomon, Saemon added through their mind link.

"I'll do anything you want Kari!" Davis agreed.

"Even so, we should be careful. We need to be ready to Digivolve if we get attacked," Kouki suggested. The group nodded in agreement, all making sure they had quick access to their Digivices as they walked into a darker part of the forest.

"Hey, it's getting pretty dark in these woods. Here Kari hold my hand!" Davis said after a few minutes, latching onto the closest hand.

"I'm not scared," Kari ground out, obviously annoyed by Davis' constant flirting and attempts to woo her.

"I'm not that scared either Davis, so you can let go of my hand," Kouki voiced, snatching his hand back from his fri-partner's. Was it wrong to refer to them as friends? Kouki didn't know yet, he'd discuss it with Saemon later.

"Oh sorry," Davis exclaimed, flustered as he yanked his hand back.

"Aww does Davis have a crush on Kouki," Takeshi teased walking on the opposite side of the group as Commandramon, still angry from their fight.

"Shut up!" Davis yelled.

The Digivices started to beep louder, echoing throughout the otherwise quiet woods. "I'm getting something," Davis said, "It's just up there ahead of us."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" A voice yelled causing a few members to jump. Kouki looked at the source of the voice, which turned out to be a hologram of the D.E.

"Look out!" Yolei cried. Davis jumped in front of the group, leave it to him to play hero.

"I'll get you," Davis said starting to run at the hologram, "Once and for all!" Davis tried to punch the hologram but then stumbled right through it since it was just a well hologram.

"It's a hologram Davis, he's too much of a coward to meet us in person," Kouki snarled, inspecting the subject of said hologram. This close the Digimon Emperor did look a lot like Ken, despite the fancy clothes and spikey hair. Hopefully Kouki's sinking suspicion would be proven wrong.

"Who do you think you are sneaking into the Digiworld? What do you think this is? A movie theater or something?" the Digimon Emperor snapped.

"What do you mean?" Cody shot back. The rest of the Digidestined and their partners were equally agitated, most with Digivice in hand, ready to take down the Digimon Emperor.

"Normal children are not allowed in the Digiworld! Only the Digidestined are!" the Digimon Emperor explained slowly, as if talking to a small child. Honestly, if this guy really wasn't Ken, Kouki would be surprised. He had an awfully conceding tone, just like all the times Ken had outsmarted Kouki in something.

"We are the Digidestined!" Davis yelled.

"You? The Digidestined? That's impossible!"

"Why is that impossible!" TK shouted.

"Yeah why can't we be?" Kari added.

"It's simple, I have determined that only perfect human beings can be Digidestined, and of course I am the only perfect person!" the Digimon Emperor explained. He eyed Kouki and Takeshi carefully, as if expecting them to reveal his identity as any moment. Kouki merely looked away, unwilling to meet his eyes as he desperately hoped this villain didn't turn out to be one of his best friends.

"Oh yeah?! Well what about Kari?" Davis yelled.

The hologram disappeared and in its place, came the real thing riding on the shoulder of a Tyrannomon. "You are intruders in a place you don't belong you are ordered to hereby leave without further notice," D.E. snarled.

"The landlord told my uncle the same thing," Davis exclaimed. The group all eyeing the dangerous controlled Digimon.

"What kind of family do you have?" Takeshi asked with a frown. He looked anxious, and Kouki couldn't help but feel guilt for dragging him along when Commandramon couldn't exactly Digivolve without someone suspecting something was up.

"We have just as much right to be here as you!" TK snapped.

"This world and everything in it belongs to me! Now get out!" the Digimon Emperor retaliated. Maybe I should just start calling him Ken, it'd be a lot less work that constantly calling him the Digimon Emperor, Kouki mentally sighed to Saemon. He grinned when he saw his partner stifle a laugh, drawing the confused stares on the fellow Digimon.

"Try and make us!" Yolei snapped back.

"Why must everyone question my orders?" the Digimon Emperor sighed, "Get 'em Tyrannomon!"

"Blaze Blast!"

The group ran as the Digimon fired a blast of fire at them.

"Is that all you got?" Davis growled, holding his Digivice up.

"Kouki, we need to Digivolve too," Saemon said.

"Right, Digiarmor Energize!"

Flamedramon and Shisoumon stood side by side, ready to charge the Tyrannomon but also knowing they needed to keep their partners safe.

"See this is why I'm a genius and you're not. You keep using the same attacks against me while I keep coming up with something new," the Digimon Emperor smirked.

"He's right, we might have to go against Katsuo's orders soon," Takeshi muttered, loud enough for only Kouki to hear. It was true, but didn't make the idea any more appealing, surely Katsuo would react badly should Kouki demonstrate his power. And who knew how his friends would react. Would they be mad at him for not revealing Saemon's strength and fighting the Digimon Emperor by himself? Would they blame him for what was happening?

"Dude, chill," Davis hissed softly, "Everything's gonna be okay, we've beat the Digimon Emperor before, we can do It again." Oh. Davis thought he was worried about beating their foe today, he was trying to help him. Despite how Davis acted most of the time, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to have him as a friend.

But before Kouki could respond, one of the Tyrannomon knocked Shisoumon out of the air with a punch, getting in position to hit the armor Digimon again. "Shisoumon!"

"Fire rocket!" Flamedramon quickly shouted out, standing in front of his friend as the ice and light Digimon slowly picked herself up. However, instead of doing any damage, the Tyrannomon just deflected the blow with its tail.

"No way!" Davis yelled.

"Now Yolei?" Hawkmon questioned his partner, watching his friends attempt to fight the Dino Digimon. Hawkmon Digivolved into Holsmon in a moment, hitting Tyrannomon with Tempest Wing as Flamedramon and Shisoumon temporarily withdrew.

"You think you can beat me with a little addition?! How do you like multiplication?" D.E. growled. With that four more Tyrannomon appeared changing one to five. Great, just great.

Cody Digivolved Digmon who quickly joined the others as they regrouped in front of their partners, apprehensively eyeing the Tyrannomon.

"Should I?" Takeshi whispered, his knuckles turning white as they watched the armor Digimon struggle to battle off the Dino Digimon.

"We might not stand a chance but maybe if we can make an opening for TK and Kari to get to those eggs we can get some back up. It's a big gamble, they could not even be their eggs but… But it's worth a shot, just go to Champion," Kouki replied quietly.

"Commandramon, your about to Digivolve by accident," Takeshi whispered to his Digimon. Suddenly Takeshi's Digivice started to glow causing heads to turn. In Commandramon's place stood a good-sized cyborg Dino Digimon called Sealsdramon.

"Sealsdramon!" Takeshi yelled acting surprised that his Digimon could Digivolve.

While Sealsdramon had Digivolved the Digimon Emperor had been distracted by using his first Tyrannomon to target Gatomon and Patamon who couldn't Digivolve. As two Blaze Blast fired at the rookies, Sealsdramon jumped in the way covering them from the blast and taking it himself. When the dust cleared he looked unharmed.

"That's impossible! How did you Digivolve?" the D.E. cried.

"Digimon Digivolve when their friends need their help, you can't take away the strength within each Digimon's heart!" Takeshi growled. He really couldn't have said anything cheesier, Shisoumon laughed. And here I thought he'd just tell the Digimon Emperor the real reason instead of something like this, Kouki sighed. Yet, the shine in Takeshi's eyes only grew brighter as he lifted up his Digivice again

"Stop it," Kouki hissed, slapping his hands down, knowing that if given the chance Takeshi would power up as much as possible just to show off. Takeshi glared for a second but nodded, tucking his Digivice back in his pocket.

"Death Behind!" Sealsdramon had started to attack one of the Tyrannomons creating an opening. Finally, this was their chance.

"We're outpowered! Kari, TK take your rookies out of here, Cody I want you to guide them to the Digieggs," Kouki ordered watching Shisoumon get batted away by one Tyrannomon again.

"But we don't know who they belong to!" Davis pointed out.

"It doesn't matter either way we can get five assets out of the danger zone," Sealsdramon growled backing up Kouki.

"Alright I'm getting something this way," Cody said leading TK, Kari, Patamon and Gatomon away.

At least he knew Cody, TK and Kari would be safe.

The five Digimon and four humans were backed up to a cliff having to keep retreating. All the Digimon had Dedigivolved too exhausted and beaten up to fight any longer. "Ready to give up?" the Digimon Emperor jeered gleefully.

"Never," Davis growled. Maybe if Kouki wasn't actually fearing their potential loss right now, he would admire Davis' courage. But at this point Saemon was too tired to Digivolve, he knew that if his bet on Kari and TK owning the eggs wasn't right this could be their end. Hopefully those Dark Rings didn't work on humans.

"Look behind you! Where do you think you will run to?" the Digimon Emperor questioned.

"Davis we're here!" Cody yelled riding on Pegasusmon with TK, Kari was behind them on Nefertimon. The two Digimon of hope and light landed and the rookies shakily got up.

"Don't think armor Digivolving will save you," the Digimon Emperor growled jumping off one of the Tyrannomon as he began to withdraw, already recognizing that he was beat with the reinforcements, his own servants tired out as well.

It wasn't long until the Dark Rings were destroyed, freeing the Tyrannomon and saving the Digidestined. "I wanna get a picture of this for my computer scrap book," Kari said holding up her camera and taking a picture as the Tyrannomon trudged off into the sunset.

As soon as they returned to the human world Takeshi and Kouki said their goodbyes before leaving, Shimon had already made herself comfortable in her partner's arms as they headed home.

"Katsuo said that he might be coming tomorrow. He doesn't know if we can rely on these others and if things turn worse, he will take care of it personally. He also wants to give you permission to do that Digievolution stage," Takeshi informed as they walked through the dark streets, "But for now, we have a bigger problem. That was Ken wasn't it, what should we do?"

"I'll," Kouki sighed, shifting Saemon's weight into one hand as he rubbed his temples, "I'll call him, don't worry. Maybe he'll listen to me."

After they parted, Kouki pulled up his contacts, his finger dwelling over Ken's name for a moment before calling.

"Hello?"

"Ken this is you first and final warning. Stop what you're doing in the Digiworld. I have yet to get serious about it, but I will defeat you if you harm any of the others," Kouki said into the phone then hung up not waiting for a response.