Kari sat up and looked around at the buildings in her city. They were home. There was no fog and as Kari looked around, still no people.
"Well that was awful." Matt spat and he extended a hand to Kari. Kari smiled accepting it and looked around.
"Where are the others?" She asked and she was startled when Gabumon bumped into her legs.
"Sorry." The furry digimon apologized with a blush and Kari patted his fur.
"I don't know, I guess you and I got sucked up to here." Kari nodded and looked around. There were cars in the street but no one inside.
"I don't understand, where did everyone go?" She asked and Matt placed a hand on her shoulder,
"Come on kid, let's find your brother and mine, I'm sure they are both panicking to find you." Matt smirked but Kari frowned,
"And you too Matt." She mumbled and Matt chuckled,
"Somehow I don't think I'm pretty enough." Kari giggled and followed Matt along the sidewalk.
"Do you think Mr. Nishijima is around?" Kari inquired after several minutes of silence. Matt stopped and looked at Kari. He moved his mouth to the side while he thought. Kari then saw his eyes go wide and he slowly put his hand in the air,
"Speak of the devil!" Kari turned and put a hand on Gabumons head. She could see the high school teacher sprinting across the grass towards them,
"You two okay?!" He yelled as he got closer. Matt nodded and yelled back,
"Fine! Where are the others?" Mr. Nishijima stopped in front of them and took a moment to catch his breath.
"You guys disappeared. It was weird. You all just flickered out like bad signal on a television screen."
Kari winced slightly as she thought of the darkness. She gripped Gabumons fur.
"You three are the first ones I've seen! What happened?!"
"It's a long story. Any idea where all the people are?" Matt asked and Kari wished Mr. Nishijima had found Tai and the others first before herself Gabumon and Matt. She tightened her hold on the digimons hair.
"None. Everyone seemed to have vanished! Haven't even seen an attack by meicrakmon or ophanimon." Kari's eyes glazed over. Her parents were missing, people could be hurt or worse and her digimon partner was now missing as well. She felt her hand clench.
"Strange, this doesn't make-" Matt stopped as Gabumon shouted,
"OW!" Kari was startled by the digimons outburst.
"Kari that really hurt." Gabumon admitted and he stepped away from her rubbing his head. Kari had her hand in the air shocked she had managed to inflict pain on him.
"S-sorry Gabumon!" Kari apologized and she felt Matt'a hand land on her shoulder,
"You okay kid?" Kari looked up at Matt. He was clearly concerned and Kari didn't want to pull the focus away from finding the others.
"I'm fine. Sorry again Gabumon. We should probably find the others." She looked down and could still feel Matt's hand on her shoulder.
"Hey." Kari looked up at Matt.
"You're not okay. Just tell the truth. What's bugging you?" Kari was dumbfounded. She wasn't used to people calling her out. She nodded slowly actually appreciating Matt's bluntness.
"I'm worried." She stated and Matt nodded,
"The others, your family, Gatomon... I'm assuming the list goes on?" Kari blew out a breath and nodded. Matt smiled,
"Your brothers head is big enough to keep him going for centuries, so don't worry about him. Your parents are probably exactly like they were with Myotismon, just asleep. As for Gatomon, we're gonna get her back." Kari believed him. For the first time in a while she completely believed what someone had to say. She smiled lightly,
"Thanks Matt." Matt smirked,
"Alright let's get going. Mr. Nishijima any idea where to start?" The teacher thought a moment,
"Yes actually. Now that you three are here, I think I know where I might find some of the others." He turned and Kari Gabumon and Matt followed him across the grass.
Tai rolled over. He groaned as he moved. His body ached and he couldn't understand why. He felt sand on the side of his face and started rubbing it off his cheek with his hand.
"Tai?" Tai turned onto his left side.
"Mimi?" Mimi came into his view and hovered over him.
"I got Koromon for you." Tai sat up and noticed Koromon nestled in Mimi's arms. He smiled at his partner and stretched his arms out and Koromon hopped into them. Tai looked up at Mimi.
"Thanks. Where's palmon?" Mimi looked behind her standing tall.
"Right there with TK and Mei!" Tai watched her wave and stood next to her. He held Koromon in one hand and used his free hand to wipe some sand off his pants. He saw Mei, TK and patamon being lead by palmon. Tai took in his surroundings he was at the beach. His eyes widened,
"Were home?!" He exclaimed realizing he knew this beach. It wasn't far from his home. Tai pivoted ignoring the others trying to get a grip on his surroundings.
How did we get home? Where are all the people? Where are the others?
"Tai I'm dizzy." Koromon piped up and Tai stopped spinning. He looked down at his partner.
"Sorry little guy." He mumbled and then looked up at the others as they joined Mimi.
"Is everyone okay?" He asked focusing on leading everyone instead of all his burning questions.
"We're okay, thanks Tai." Mei replied and Tai looked at her quizzically, he thought she was blushing. He ignored the red on Mei's cheeks and looked to Mimi.
"What else have you found?" Mimi was caught off guard by Tai's question and looked like a deer in head lights for a moment.
"Oh Uhmm, just you and koromon." She informed and Tai focused on TK.
"Where's my sister?" He asked and he saw TK cower slightly under his stern gaze.
"I- I don't know." He gulped and Tai felt a smack on his arm.
"Ow Mimi!" He jerked his head to look at her and saw her lips pursed and her hands on her hips. It was Tai's turn to gulp.
"Back off Tai. Sora, Izzy, Joe, Matt and Kari are all still missing. TK is not responsible for anyone other than himself and Patamon. How about I start demanding things of you?! Where's Matt Tai? Where's Sora? Do you see how much pressure that puts on a person?!" Tai stared at Mimi's fuming face and did the only thing he could think of to get Mimi to calm down. He turned and looked at TK.
"TK I am very sorry." He said hurriedly and TK put a hand to his mouth and Tai frowned seeing he was trying to hold in laughter. He heard a light giggle and snapped his head to see Meiko laughing. Tai sighed and he then noticed Mimi standing proudly next to him.
"Don't worry about him TK. When push comes to shove, Tai's all talk." She winked and Tai glowered.
"Good pep talk Mimi." He said sarcastically. Mimi smiled and stepped in front of Tai.
"Let's find the others." She ordered
"Wow Mimi maybe you should be the leader." Palmon complimented and Tai slouched as if he'd been punched in the gut. TK snickered and Tai glared at him.
"Watch it TK." He warned and TK quickly turned and he and Patamon followed Mimi and Palmon. Tai sighed relaxing now that TK wasn't watching him. He heard Mei laugh and quickly stood up straight. She was smiling and Tai couldn't help but smile too.
"Don't worry your secrets safe with me." She winked and Tai felt his cheeks burn. He quickly shook his head and his face turned hard.
"Come on Mei." He held Koromon close to his chest and started walking with Mei.
"Tai? Your chest is bumping fast." Koromon commented and Tai squished his friend slightly trying to silence him. Tai coughed and craned his neck to Mimi.
"Meems? Any signals coming up on your digivice?" Mimi stopped and pulled out her digivice. She sighed and lowered her digivice. She shook her head and Tai walked in front of her.
"It's weird, the fog is gone but there's no one around." TK commented and Tai nodded.
"Let's keep-" a blast interrupted Tai and he quickly put his hand over his face to stop the dust from entering his eyes. He turned his body to shield his partner.
"Meicoomon!" Mei screamed and Tai looked up to see Meikracmon hovering above the group. Tai stepped back.
"MOVE!" He yelled and he pushed Mimi and TK back as he started to run. Meikracmon screamed an ear piercing shriek and the group stopped running as they tried to cover their ears. Tai awkwardly held his partner while holding his own head. The screech stopped and Meikracmon arched his back. Tai gasped seeing the digimon was ready to attack.
"Go, Go, GO!" Tai yelled and Mimi, Palmon, TK and Patamon started moving. Tai looked back at Mei and swore. She was standing still staring up at Meikracmon.
"You're gonna get yourself killed!" He screamed and he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way as Meikracmon threw an attack towards them. The ground cracked and Tai lost his balance as it shook. Mei landed next to him and Koromon was near Tai's feet.
"What is happening?!" Tai exclaimed as he watched the ground fracture in front of him separating him and Mei from TK and Mimi. Meikracmon shrieked again and Tai covered his ears and saw Mei do the same.
"She's in there Tai!" Tai lowered his hands to look at Mei. He frowned and pulled Koromon into his arms.
"Mei she tried to kill us!" Mei shook her head.
"She would have missed us! I know she's in there!" Tai growled and stood. He pulled Mei to her feet.
"We need to move." He pushed on her back to get her moving. She obeyed though reluctantly.
"Tai! Mei! Over here!" Tai could see Sora up off the beach. Tai pushed Mei towards Sora and they were close to her when another blast erupted cutting them off.
"Ah!" Tai and Mei screamed and Tai turned to see Ophanimon next to meikracmon. Tai gritted his teeth. The two moved and Tai glanced up. Meikracmon and Ophanimon started following. Tai stopped and looked to where Sora was. Her, Izzy and Joe stood together with their partners. He saw Biyomon step towards the beach.
"NO DONT!" He yelled and the three digidestined looked to Tai.
"Tai! You need help!" Sora yelled and Tai knew that but also wasn't sure anyone could.
"Just save your strength!" He yelled and he saw TK and Mimi running to Sora, Izzy and Joe. Tai looked for a way to his friends but the ground was cracked isolating him and Mei from the others. He looked up at Ophanimon and Meikracmon.
"They're only after us." Tai commented and Mei looked nervous.
"Wh-what do we do." She stuttered Tai knew what they could do. He had lied when he said they were after them. He knew the truth, they were after Mei. He gritted his teeth. They weren't going to stop. He had to do something. He noticed a familiar blond running towards them and he thought of a plan. He shoved Koromon into Mei's arms.
"Run!" He pushed her towards another direction but this time he had a plan. The corrupted digimon above howled and attacked just in front of Mei and Tai. Tai anticipated this and pushed Mei and koromon as hard as he could. He knew the digimon wanted Mei isolated from the rest of the digidestined. He wasn't sure how but he knew. He pushed with all his might. Dust separated them and then Tai felt the world fall beneath him.
Kari pushed herself into a jog. Matt was trying to keep a slower pace for her and Kari felt bad. She wanted to speed up wondering if Matt was irritated with the slow pace.
"When you guys disappeared I saw some flickering over by the water." Mr. Nishijima commented as he turned down a street. Kari picked up her pace to keep up with Mr. Nishijima. She felt a hand stopping her and jumped at the contact.
"Slow down short stack." Matt commented and Kari looked up at him. She hadn't noticed but she was out of breath.
"You don't have to try to rush. I don't want you to push yourself okay?" Kari nodded unable to speak. Matt released her shoulder and Kari looked down begging her breath to come back. A loud BANG snapped her head up.
"Digimon! They're at the beach!" Mr. Nishijima yelled and Kari looked to Matt.
"I'm going." He told her and Kari nodded.
"Let's go Gabumon!" Matt started running with Gabumon at his side. Mr. Nishijima stepped into Kari's line of sight.
"You alright?" He asked and Kari quickly stood strong.
"Fine, let's go." She said strongly. The two made their way after Matt and Gabumon. They were only a few blocks from the beach when another explosion went off. Kari pushed her legs to move faster hoping no one was hurt. She saw Joe and her heart raced as she yelled to him.
"JOE!" Joe turned and stopped to look back towards the beach. He then ran to Kari.
"Mr. Nishijima! Kari!" They stopped as soon as they were right in front of each other.
"What's happening?" Mr. Nishijima asked and Joe pointed behind him.
"Ophanimon and Meikracmon are attacking. I think Tai's down there." Kari didn't remain still. She quickly took off hearing her brother was in danger. She needed to get to him to help him. She ran to the beach and felt an arm grab her.
"Kari wait!" It was Sora and Kari never in her life thought she'd want to hit Sora until now. She was stopping her from reaching her brother and this made Kari angry. She squirmed a little and Sora held on stronger.
"Matts there! He'll save him I promise." Sora sounded sincere but Kari felt a small hole appear in her stomach. She didn't believe Matt would. She saw Mr. Nishijima run to the steps down to the beach. He paused abruptly and gasped.
"There's a-"
"Large crack we know. The digimon seem to be trying to isolate Tai and Mei." Izzy informed and Kari craned her neck to look at izzy."
"Mei is there?" Kari asked and Sora nodded still keeping her hold on Kari.
Kari looked down to her brother. She looked up at the digimon. Her own was in there somewhere but she didn't feel the connection she could see Mei felt with meikracmon. Something inside her knew Gatomon was not there, but somewhere else. She felt her world freeze as the digimon aimed another attacked towards her brother and Mei. Kari's lips parted as she could feel the darkness raidiating off the two digimon.
"It needs to go somewhere." She mumbled about the darkness.
"What?" Sora questioned but Kari barley heard her. As she spoke Kari watched a blast explode the earth in front of Tai. Kari watched unable to think waiting for the dust to settle. As it did she could see Matt holding Mei and Koromon. Her body became numb as she saw a large crack but couldn't see her brother. Sora's arms slipped from
her. She felt Sora step ahead of her. She knew Joe and Izzy were yelling but she couldn't hear it. She looked up at the two digimon still hovering in the sky. She watched a dark cloud grow above and then heard a voice.
"You think you're so clever don't you light. Good luck saving them." Kari could feel the person in her head and knew the others couldn't hear him. The dark Gennai spoke with venom in his voice. Kari inhaled feeling something pulling her. Her eyes started to widen as she recognised the pull. Someone was trapped somewhere and they were calling for help. And that person was Maki.
Kari slowly felt herself coming back to reality. She could hear someone yelling her brothers name. She slowly looked to her right and saw Mimi with tears in her eyes.
"TAI!" She yelled and Kari couldn't look at Mimi any longer. She looked at her shoes. She felt lost but something nudged her making her feel like her brother wasn't gone.
"Help." Kari whispered and she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Kari?" TK spoke delicately but Kari didn't look at him. She looked at the large cavern on the beach, created from the giant attack. Kari's eyes drifted to the sky where the black cloud was slowly absorbing Ophanimon and Meikracmon. There was a small whisp trailing from the bottom of the digimons feet towards the ground. Kari followed it and could see it drifting into the crack where Tai had been. Kari's lips parted as she whispered one word.
"Help."