…The Next Morning…

"Prodigious! I've found it!" Everyone instantaneously awoke at the computer genius's trademark vocabulary, and rushed to peer over his shoulder as he ogled the screen.

"What is it you found, Izzy?" Tai asked, and the others, who hadn't stayed awake long enough to know what Izzy was talking about, murmured agreements of confusion. The boy turned from his laptop to face the crowd, and they waited for his explanation.

"I spent the majority of last night looking for more information on Kari's virus, and I finally found what we need!" He pointed to his screen and explained. "Here are the symptoms to the virus, the average time span one can survive once it activates, the probability of surviving in different areas of the world, and several other topics that should help us in understanding what's going on inside Kari and possibly how we can lend the doctors a hand! Although, these men and women are professionals, so they probably know all of this input anyway, but it will definitely assist us in the long run."

"Nice work, Izzy! You're the man!" Tai congratulated, smacking him on the back, causing the boy to nearly fall to the ground.

"I try." Everyone laughed, and then a young nurse walked up to them.

"Pardon my intrusion, but I imagine that you're pretty hungry since I noticed you haven't eaten since early morning yesterday, so I was wondering if you would follow me to the staff cafeteria? I know you really aren't allowed in there, but since it is your daughter," She paused and looked Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya in the eyes before resuming her all-around conversation. "That is in such critical condition, I don't see how the chief could possibly say no. Would you like to take up my offer?" The Digigroup looked at her and then each other, silently asking the opinions of the others. Soon enough, they all turned back with gigantic smiles plastered on their faces.

"Yes, please!" They cried simultaneously, and the woman beamed cheerily.

"All right then, come right this way. Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Clairice, by the way." She led them down many a corridor before they finally were met with a door that read 'Cafeteria For Hospital Personnel Only'. She appeared to be peeking inside to make sure that her boss or any of her close co-workers were nowhere in sight before she twirled back to them and grinned.

"Okay, the coast is clear. Just follow me. IF anyone comes in, don't say anything. I'll do the talking." She winked and slowly opened the door.

"Why does it suddenly feel like we're in one of those old spy movies I used to watch?" Matt whispered into Mimi's ear, and she giggled quietly. Clairice led them into a large white room with five deep purple tables and chairs, along one wall, and along the other was the buffet-style cafeteria. It seemed as if they were the first ones there. "We have to do this quick so we can get out of here before anyone catches us!" Clairice hissed, and pointed to the exit door on the opposite wall. Mimi frowned as she looked about the room.

"What's with the depressing colors?" Clairice shrugged.

"They couldn't find anything that went with the walls, and then finally this gothic patient of ours a few years back suggested dark purple, so…it's basically always been this color. Not particularly my taste either, but, what can you do?" Mimi laughed at the girl's humor. She showed them where to pick up their trays and then they swiftly moved down the line of food, which ranged from salad to sandwiches for lunch, eggs, pancakes, or biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and roast beef, chicken, or rice bowls for dinner. When everyone had finished choosing, Clairice led them through the exit door and back to their seats. Clairice sat by herself in one of the chairs that was partially set apart from the others, and began to eat. She swallowed when a shadow loomed over her, and looked up to find Joe smiling at her.

"Hi, my name's Joe Kido, and I'm studying to be a doctor,"

"Really? It's nice to meet you, Joe! Oh, please sit down, there's plenty of room," After he was settled, she continued. "It's great that you're going into the medical field; we need more doctors here anyway. People tend to be getting sicker and sicker these days, what with all the diseases found around the world. Like the one that your Kari contracted; it actually originated from somewhere in the British Isles,"

"I have a question for you, Clairice," She nodded. "How do you know about Kari and what's going on with her?"

"Well, in a small hospital such as this, news travels fast. Also, with all the yelling doctors yesterday, it wasn't hard to gather at least some information."

"Oh, I see. Would you know how many cases there are of HDIRD on record?"

"Um…" She pulled out a clipboard and turned quite a few pages until she spotted the one she needed. "Oh! Here we go! It says…that there have been exactly…oh, dear,"

"What's wrong?" The sixteen-year-old asked worriedly.

"Well…it seems that there have only been six throughout the world." Joe's eyes widened in astonishment, and then he frowned as he peered over to where Tai, T.K., and Izzy were looking up the page on his laptop he'd shown them that morning.

"Great," He hung his head and closed his eyes in deep thought, knowing what this could mean for his friend's little sister.

Just in the midst of their breakfasts and discouraging conversations, Dr. Kayo came running up to them, and Tai stood instantly, as did his parents. The man was breathing hard as sweat dripped from his face and drenched his white coat, and his face was pale as his legs shook. He smiled at them, however, and the group was given new hope.

"You sister…is as stable as she'll…ever be for now. We've done all…we can for the moment. We'll just have to wait and see. It's…safe to see her now….if you'd like." At that, T.K. stood as well, and Tai smiled at him, the younger beaming with a relief unlike any the older had never seen. Mrs. Kamiya turned to the doctor.

"Is she awake?"

"Barely, but yes."

"Would you like to sit down?" The man chuckled as the younger immediately plunked down into the chair nearest him. Clairice got up from her seat and came back with a damp paper towel to lie on the exhausted doctor's forehead, which he greatly appreciated. T.K. stared Tai straight in the eyes, and the older boy smiled and nodded, silently accepting what the boy was inquiring. The younger then moved from his seat to be beside the Dr. Kayo, who smiled as he saw him.

"Excuse me, sir, but…"

"You are free to visit her now, if you are that anxious." He chuckled slightly, completely understanding the boy's reason for being in a hurry. T.K. grinned whole-heartedly.

"Thank you, Dr. Kayo."