The road leading to the junior high was blocked off. The police were instructing onlookers to move along. Tai halted seeing the barricades.
"I don't see Meicrakmon." He mumbled. He felt a hand on his elbow. Tai looked back seeing Izzy.
"I'll text Matt and the others, see where they-" Izzy stopped as a car came to a screeching halt in front of them. The drivers window rolled down.
"Tai kamiya?" The driver asked. Tai gulped,
"Uh, yes." He said unsure. The driver looked forward and spoke sternly.
"Get in." Tai's instinct said to walk away. He looked at Izzy who had let go of Tai's elbow and was looking curiously at the driver. He saw Kari who had her hand to her chest. He looked once again to the crowd of people. Eyes were starting to drift towards Tai his sister and Izzy. Tai then threw caution to the wind.
"Okay." He replied and he went and opened the back door. Izzy raised an eyebrow as Tai held the door open. He climbed in and Tai grabbed his sisters arm and guided her into the back of the car. He then slid in next to Kari and shut the door.
"The digimon is gone. We've taken your friends to a safe house. I'll drop you off there now." The driver spoke and Tai remained quiet.
"Who are you?" Izzy asked speaking up.
"No one important. Just doing my job." Tai frowned. He hated when people were cryptic. Gennai had been so cryptic their first time in the digital world, it left a sour taste in his mouth. Izzy opened his mouth to speak but Tai put a hand out stopping him.
"Just let it go." Tai whispered and Izzy closed his mouth.
The car drove on for nearly a half hour before the driver slowed down and put the car in park.
"We're here." He then unbuckled and got out of the car. The door next to Tai opened and he quickly stood and stopped to look at the driver. The driver pointed towards a bunch of bushes,
"Through there." Tai pursed his lips but stepped towards the bushes to allow Kari and Izzy to get out of the car. Tai stopped walking and heard the door shut. He turned and had his sister and Izzy stand next to him. The driver said no more and climbed back into the car and drove away.
"Now what Tai?" Kari asked and Tai narrowed his eyes,
"I guess we go through here." He moved to the bushes and gingerly parted the branches aside. He held them back as Izzy took over and then Tai moved through the foliage.
"Oh thank god!" Tai was attacked by Mimi as she jumped and gave him a hug.
"God you scared us!" She exclaimed and she quickly moved and tackled Izzy with a hug.
"You can't just leave us! You didn't say anything!" Mimi shouted at Izzy who Tai could see was red in the face. Tai then put a hand on Mimi's back.
"Easy Meems." Mimi let go and then put her hands on her hips,
"You two boys are giving me split ends!" She then walked over and looped her arms around one of Kari's. Tai moved aside letting Mimi lead his sister to a cave. He gave Izzy a smirk seeing the boy was still red in the face. The two then walked into the cave. Tai was greeted by Sora who gave him a light hug.
"You okay?" She asked quietly. Tai nodded,
"We're fine." Sora went over to Mimi and Kari and Joe walked over and put a hand on Tai's shoulder.
"Glad to see you Tai." He looked worried and Tai quickly gave him a reassuring smile.
"Same to you Joe." Tai looked around not seeing anyone else.
"Where's Matt?" He asked and Sora quickly answered.
"Mr. Nishijima took Meiko. Matt and TK went with them." Tai squinted wondering what Mr. Nishijima wanted with Meiko.
"Oh good everyone is here." Tai turned to the mouth of the cave and saw Mr. Nishijima standing with his hands on his hips. Meiko slipped past with her head down. Matt and TK entered together and Matt walked briskly over to Tai.
"You okay?" He asked and Tai nodded,
"Fine, what's going on?" Matt gestured to Mr. Nishijima,
"He'll explain now that we're all here." Matt whispered and he stepped to the side and stood next to Tai. Tai focused on Mr. Nishijima
"Glad to see you and your sister are okay Tai." He said politely.
"Take a seat. There is a lot we need to discuss." Tai stepped back and sat in between Matt and Izzy. He looked at his sister. TK had his arm wrapped around her shoulder. Tai scowled still uncomfortable with TK being with his sister. Kari then shrugged TK's arm off her shoulder and shook her head. Tai then sat tall watching his sister suspiciously. She moved away from TK who looked confused and hurt. She stood by herself at the entrance of the cave and Tai had the urge to pull her aside.
"I want to know everything that you all know about what is going on in the digital world." Mr. Nishijima started addressing the group. Tai then lifted his chin to his sister,
"Kar. You're up." Her eyes met his own and for a moment Tai wanted to come to her rescue. She looked pale and tired. He gritted his teeth and thought better of it. She has to do this herself. He thought and Kari looked at her feet.
"I, I'm sorry." She mumbled and her shoulders sagged forward.
"It started just before I found Puppetmon's house." She swallowed and Tai looked at TK who looked ready to console Kari.
"Cherrymon has been following me." She shifted and TK took a step forward. Matt quickly stood and pulled his brother back. Tai was grateful and looked back at Kari.
"He said they have taken someone. I think it's one of our digimon. But I'm not too sure. He's been inside my head." She stopped and Tai now felt his stomach curdle. He didn't mean to make his sister so vulnerable. He opened his mouth to stop her from continuing. But Matt beat him to it.
"It's okay Kari. I know what that's like. But you have to surround yourself around the people that bring you light. Otherwise, he'll win." Tai stood and went to his sister.
"Matt's right Kar." He put a hand on her shoulder and made her look him in the eyes. He wanted to say more but didn't feel it was the right time. He decided to try to redirect the conversation. He looked at the others,
"So cherrymon is involved which means, I don't think we were causing a problem in the digital world, but rather, we were preventing the darkness from taking over." Tai put a hand to his chin and saw Izzy stand.
"That would be the logical explanation but the question is what exactly the darkness is plotting?" His question hung over the group as they all thought deeply about it.
"That's why I am here. To tell you what I think." Mr. Nishijima spoke and Tai now anxiously awaited for the adult to continue.
"Meiko, I think it's time you tell the group how you and Meicoomon met." Tai's eyes went wide as he looked at the shy girl. She visibly started to shake but Tai didn't have sympathy. It was time someone started giving them answers.
Kari shivered but tried to keep herself composed. This wasn't about her and she needed to stop looking like the victim all the time. She watched Meiko stand and she immediately felt her heart ache for the girl. She clearly had something big to get off her chest and she wished she could rid the girl of whatever burden she had on her shoulders.
"I never got a chance to tell you guys what my parents, er well my dad, does for a living." Her voice was quiet and Kari watched the others lean in to hear her.
"My dad works in research. He's a scientist. He does a lot of work with genetic's." She didn't make eye contact with anyone and suddenly Kari felt that she knew what Meiko was going to say.
"After the digimon attacked hightonview terrace, he got obsessed with discovering everything he could." She hiccuped and Kari saw a tear roll down her cheek.
"He created an egg. And..." she trailed off and Mr Nishijima cleared his throat,
"Meicoomon was born." Kari's mouth was dry as she watched Mr. Nishijima continue.
"I think there might be an outside influence on the digital world. Meaning the people involved in the creation of Meicoomon, may be trying to manipulate the digimon." Izzy stood,
"How? And what would the gain be?" He asked and Kari tried to wrap her head around the information.
"Meicrakmon, I think, is just the beginning." Tai then asked the question on everyone's lips,
"The beginning of what?" Mr. Nishijima blew out a breath,
"An invasion that could wipe out our world completely." Kari's heart stopped as she heard the words and suddenly things started to make sense.
The group had now separated into smaller groups. Tai, Izzy and Sora we're talking with Mr. Nishijima. Mimi and Joe and Matt were now talking with TK who gave Kari a hurt look. He had tried to talk to her but Kari dismissed him and turned her back to him. She didn't want to talk to him. She felt she didn't deserve his kindness. Tai had been right, she was being childish. She needed to be stronger.
"So are you okay?" Kari was startled as Meiko came up to her. She took a minute to compose herself and then smiled at Meiko.
"I'm alright. I'm sorry about Meicoomon. I don't think any of it is true if that helps." Meiko tilted her head,
"What do you mean?" Kari's smile fell,
"I don't think meicoomon was made to be a virus. There's more to a digimon than just good data and bad. In our first adventure, a digimon who swore he was our enemy turned into a dear friend. It's not meicoomons destiny to be evil. And it's not your fault that this is happening." Kari turned to look out at the setting sun,
"There's something bigger then all of us at work. But if we work together, we can overcome it." She then looked back at Meiko and smiled,
"We just have to have hope." Mei smiled and then wrapped her arms around Kari. Kari returned the embrace and Meiko spoke softly,
"Thank you Kari." Kari squeezed the girl and nodded,
"Anytime." She was happy she could help lift Mei's burden. She knew what it was like to be riddled with guilt over your partner. She let go of Mei as she thought about Gatomon.
"Kar?" Kari looked over Meiko'a shoulder surprised to see her brother staring at her. Her mouth hung open slightly and Meiko awkwardly looked between the two siblings.
"I think I'm gonna see if Mimi needs anything." She stuttered out and then quickly left the two on their own. Kari didn't smile as she looked at Tai.
"Can we talk outside?" He asked and Kari saw a flicker of worry in his eyes. She nodded and turned to leave the cave. Once outside and out of earshot from the rest of the group Tai started pacing in front of her.
"I hate this. I really do." He started and Kari hated tormenting him.
"I'm sorry Tai." She tried to keep her voice even. Tai stopped and shook his head.
"No, come here." He held his arms out and Kari went to them and allowed her brother to hug her.
"Look I stand by what I said. You can't keep things from me or any of us. But I'm sorry how I treated you. I didn't realise how vulnerable I made you and I know you hate that." Kari nodded against his chest and Tai released her.
"So what do we do? What's going to happen now?" He asked and Kari for a moment didn't understand why he was asking her. He exhaled and Kari decided to answer,
"Someone, maybe the dark Gennai, has one of our digimon. I'd assume it's meicoomon but a part of me doesn't believe that's who they are talking about." Tai put a hand to his chin.
"Matt said Cherrymon spoke to him." Kari winced at the sound of the digimons name.
"Cherrymon said he corrupted her... Kari? I need you to be honest with me. Do you know who Cherrymon is talking about?" Kari bit her lip. She looked at her shoes. She felt two hands on her shoulders and looked up seeing her brother pleading with her,
"Please kiddo, tell me." Kari was still. She swallowed and opened her mouth the answer.
"TAI!" Kari's head snapped up as she saw something falling from the sky. Her brother instinctively held his arms out and Kari's heart soared as Agumon landed in them.
"AGUMON!" Tai exclaimed holding his partner close.
"I'm right here Tai! No need to make me deaf!" The digimon replied and Kari saw her brother tear up as he continued to smother Agumon.
"Sorry little buddy." Kari smiled and then looked up seeing the rest of the digimon coming toward her.
"PALMON!" Mimi shouted and Kari watched the two hug the other digidestined came out to greet their partners.
"Kari!" Kari was greeted by Patamon. She quickly held the small digimon and looked to the cave. She could see TK inside with his back to the entrance. She then moved away from her brother and Agumon and walked into the cave.
"TK?" TK didn't turn around and Kari decided to get straight to the point.
"Look who's here." TK slowly looked over his shoulder and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as he saw Patamon in Kari's arms.
"Patamon!" He cried and Patamon flew from Kari and crashed into TK. The two started laughing as TK hugged Patamon and Patamon nestled into TK. Kari smiled at the reunion.
"How is this possible? I thought I'd never see you again!" TK admitted and Patamon smiled,
"I heard you calling! I knew you needed me and then a big hole opened up and I jumped through it! I'm so happy I did!" TK chuckled,
"Me too." He hugged Patamon again and then mat Kari's eyes. Kari stopped smiling and felt the urge to slip away and leave TK and Patamon on their own. TK held his partner but walked up to Kari.
"Thank you." He said when he was right in front of her. Kari shook her head,
"I didn't do anything TK." She really hadn't and she didn't want TK to give her credit for something she had no hand in. TK shook his head,
"You did something I'm sure." He said mysteriously and Kari raised an eyebrow at him. He then smiled,
"Where's Gatomon?" He asked and Kari suddenly felt her stomach drop. She turned and left the cave and looked around. Everyone except for Mei had their partner in their arms. Kari looked up to the sky and her heart started beating heavily. The dark voice returned to her memory as she recalled its words
"We have her. She is ours. Her sacrifice will allow you to go back. But just know, you won't be back for long. Your time will come." Kari felt her throat close. Gatomon was the sacrifice. They had taken her partner and they were coming for her next.