"We are all afraid of the unknown. Let's not deny that fact. What we do not understand, we fear it. The darkness is one such thing. Even with what is known today about it, there is still much fear about it, of darkness' association with evil.
There is more to darkness than it seems in truth…But even then…
Light has to be careful…if it does not desire to be snuffed out…"

Chapter 7 : Dancing with darkness

The look in Regan and Kari's faces, yesterday night, was just purely shocking.
For a moment, they had been in contact with their partners, and the bonds between them could have easily been noticed…
But when the link was broken, it nearly seemed that the two Digidestineds' will had been extremely broken.
Even if Riza and Kylee, along with their digimon, had spoken some reassuring words to them yesterday, it didn't seem that neither Kari nor Regan were truly convinced.

"I kinda wonder…if Ysera hasn't done more harm to them than really helping them…" Riza said to Kylee. Both of them were walking together with their digimon. They hadn't really gone to see Regan and Kari right now, who had wanted to remain alone.
"It does seem that she actually did that. Was it the right thing to do?" Kylee asked, sounding discouraged.
"That Ysera kinda seems a lot weird from what you told us…" Veemon said with some worries.
"There's one thing I'm sure about her…is that she's not human…but something else…" Kylee added, seemingly sad.
"Kylee…" Riza started, putting himself in front of her and taking her by the shoulders. "Kylee…I don't want that you be sad like that…" he said. "You don't have too…"
"I know…" Kylee said with a sniff. "But it's Regan and Kari…

Something that really seems horrible happened to them. And that shouldn't have happened. They don't deserve that…" she said.
"I know…" Riza said.
"I think we should do something for them, right Riza?" Kylee added.
"Right…but…are you sure about that?" Riza asked.
"If nobody does it, who will? Nobody else knows them like we do. We must help them." Kylee replied, her partly sad eyes looking strait at Riza's.
Riza let go of Kylee and looked a bit down. "Yeah…but what could we do?" he said, starting to walk again.
"Hum, well…I guess it would have to be something to take their attention off a bit from what they're thinking right now…perhaps something really unusual…" Kylee said.
"Well…They must have seen a lot of things, but what do you think we could-" Riza said, but he got cut off as he bumped in someone he didn't noticed, considering he was looking at Kylee, and he fell on the floor.
"Oh, Riza, are you okay?" Kylee asked.
Impmon though, who was a bit behind, looked strait at the one Riza had bumped into. "What the…Darius Duke?!?" Impmon said

"Huh?!?" Kylee looked right at the other person, and noticed that Impmon was right. It was him, though, as Kari and Regan had said, he no longer had his tattoos.
"Uh…" Darius started, rubbing his own head from the shock he got then he noticed Kylee and Riza. "Hey, you're Kylee Henke and Riza Ryuzaki! The city's best Tamers!"
"Uh yeah, that's us!" Kylee said with a grin, though some uncertainties were present in her mind, concerning Darius…
"Never thought you two would know me." Darius said as he rose up, imitated by Riza and Kylee.
"Well, a few friends told us about you." Kylee said.
"Aren't they by any chances a boy with a cloak and a girl with a bang in her face?" Darius asked.
"Yeah, that's them." Riza said. "Well, I guess we gotta go, we kinda haven't-"
"Wait. Perhaps I could help you. I kinda overheard what you were talking about. I'd like to help you about those friends that seem to have a problem." Darius interrupted.
"What? You'd want to help us?" Impmon asked. He seemed to have doubts in Darius' honesty.
"Hey, what's wrong with me wanting to help?" Darius asked, slightly offended.
"Hum, no, it's nothing…" Kylee interrupted uneasily. "It's just…I don't think you could really help us…"
"Ah, too bad…I'd kinda hoped that I and my friends' restaurant along with our small music band would have helped…" Darius said.
"Wait a minute…" Kylee said, raising a finger. "What did you said?"
"Restaurant and music band." Darius said with a slight smile.
"You know…I think you could help us…" Kylee said with a growing smile, and a cunning one…
"Say, wouldn't you mind helping out for a…"

---

"A DATE?!?"

Both Kari and Regan were astonished…and were blushing fiercely.

"Yup!" Kylee said, crossing her arms in her back and happily talking, with an uncertain Riza and Veemon, along with a grinning Impmon. "Don't you think you guys could try to get a nice night? We just happened to find a guy who owns a restaurant with some friends, along with a small music band. Don't you think that'd be nice to spend out one nice night?" she asked.
"Spend one tranquil night, yes…" Regan said, pacing back and forth in between Kylee and Kari, his cheeks still tinted with red, along with Kari's.
"But you want us to go in some restaurant like as if dating?" Regan added, looking strait at Kylee, though having some difficulties staring strait at her, considering what she just said to him and Kari.
"But…Regan and I are just friends…" Kari said her cheeks still red.
"So?" Kylee said, now crossing her arms in front of her and gazing at the two Digidestineds.
"And you'd want us to choose to do that?" Regan asked with a glare.
"Well, no. We're gonna force you to do that!" Kylee said with a giggle, followed by a more sinister chuckle from Impmon.
Neither Regan nor Kari still seemed pleased about that.
Kylee stopped smiling and sighed. "Look guys. I think you need to cool off a bit, to do something else, do something unusual." She said, trying to encourage a bit.
"Besides, something good could come out of that…" Impmon said with a wink, which didn't made Regan and Kari feel better.
"Are you just trying to set us up or what?" Regan said, exasperated.
"Well…perhaps…" Kylee said with a sly smile.
Regan gave her another glare while Kari sat on the couch, trying to think.
"Hum Regan…would you come over here please?" Kari asked as she rose from the couch and walked slightly away. Regan turned and soon went to her, leaning his head close to hers, as both had their back faced to the Tamers, and both started whispering to each other.

Though…it was easily obvious Regan was sounding annoyed at this, and Kari seemed a little bit troubled about that.
"What the hell is she thinking about that?" Regan whispered angrily at Kari.
"I guess she just want us to have some fun...I guess..." Kari whispered hesitantly and troubled.
"Yeah...some fun that could be..." Regan replied sarcastically.
"Regan…" Kari moaned silently.
"…Wait a minute…I think I got it…" Regan muttered to Kari, a slight sinister grin creeping on his face. Kari wasn't sure that she may like what he could have as an idea…

Regan turned back to Kylee and Riza, followed by Kari.

"All right…we'll do it…" Regan said sourly.
Kylee smiled again while Kari was still a bit unsure.
"But…only if you two also go on with us!" Regan suddenly added, pointing at Riza and Kylee.

Both Kylee and Riza turned extremely surprised and both blushed. Veemon and Impmon were surprised as well, though Impmon's surprise soon turned into a grin.

"W-What?!? You want us to-" Kylee said.
"Yeah, a double date as you may perhaps say." Regan finished with a sarcastic tone and smile.
"Regan. What's the idea?" Kari whispered worryingly to him.
"I just want her to chicken out of her idea so that she'll leave us alone about that…" Regan whispered back.

Despite that she was still expressing surprise(along with blusing a lot), Kylee stared fiercely at Regan.
"It's that or nothing…" Regan said with a small, yet cunning smile. He really hoped that would discourage Kylee from wanting to go on with that idea of hers that, personally, he was finding stupid. Why the hell a date between him and Kari? They're just friends!

Kylee was furiously mentally debating between what she should choose. Of course, the real reason why she wanted the two Digidestineds to go out on a date, even if forced on them, was so that they could get their minds on something else rather than the constant trouble they had right now with their missing digimon.

But…that she and Riza had to be involved? They're just friends, not a couple!
She thought a lot about what she really be her priorities…
And unfortunately…
The Digidestineds' better state would be the prime one, rather than making a 'black mark' on her relation with Riza…

"Fine…" Kylee said darkly. "We'll come along…"

For a very breif moment, Regan was stunned about that Kylee actually said they'd do it, but he quickly caught himself back and faked a more triumphant expression, though it quickly turned to something more angered. "Okay then…When?" he said.

"Tonight…" Kylee replied.
"Fine…" Regan said, and started walking toward Kylee, and went past her, going for the door.
"Riza! Come on!" Regan suddenly shouted as he passed the opened door
"Uh…" Riza started.
"DO IT!" Regan yelled, as if he roared.
"Coming…" Riza said sheepingly before hurrying(as if his life depended on it) to the door and followed Regan, along with Veemon.

"You sure made him angry…" Kari commented. She didn't exactly looked pleased as well.
"Hehehe…" Kylee rubbed the back of her head hesitantly, with an hesitant and partly innocent smile.
"Aw, I'm sure he'll get up from that one. After all, he'll probably get waiting about that night…" Impmon said with a grin.
"No one asked your opinion Impmon…" Kylee said, giving a very dark glare at her digimon, who obviously took advantage the most of the situation.
"Why Kylee?…Why do that?…What's gotten into you to even want us to do that?" Kari asked. She looked worried, and also not quite pleased.
"Oh well…" Kylee started. She couldn't exactly say why she wanted Kari, Regan…and now herself and Riza, to do that…
"Well, we can all try to cool off our heads a little, right?" Kylee said with a grin.
Kari did not exactly seemed to appreciate the idea about that…
She sighed tiredly. "I just hope that there won't be anything bad that'll happen about that…" she said.

"So…anyway, I guess we should try to plan out what we'll wear for tonight, eh?" Kylee said with a partly innocent and uncertain grin. "I'll go get a few things at home so we can get ready here, okay?" she asked. "After all, we should try to impress them, right?"
"Okay…" Kari said with an uncertain nod…

---

Regan was obviously not pleased. That was something very obvious to Riza and Veemon.
But in all of this…
"Damnit…why the hell does she wants to go with such idiotic idea?" Regan stormed out as he walked. "Kari and I are no couple, damnit…"
"Well…Kylee and I aren't either!" Riza said, speaking more loudly. "So why getting us too in that?" he asked a bit more angrily.
Regan stopped and turned at Riza, his gaze hard. "I hoped that she would abandon the idea if she and you would get involved in it…but it seems she wants to go all the way with that…"
"And why do I have to be dragged in this too?" Riza asked with a moan.
"You're a good friend of Kylee." Regan said with a smile. "Just as Kari and I are good friends." Regan quickly added before Riza was going to say up something more angrily.
Riza looked dissapointed. Clearely, he had understood what Regan meant…
"I really don't like that…" Riza said that.
"Honestly, I really didn't wanted that too…" Regan said with dissapointement. "But we'll have to go on all the way with that, okay?"
"Okay…" Riza said.

"Oh, hey Riza." Someone said from behind them. Looking back, Regan, Riza and Veemon noticed Darius having come up to them. "So, is it still okay for Kylee's date idea?" he asked.
"So, you're the one she asked to help eh?" Regan said, eyeing Darius a bit darkly.
"Oh…so you're one of the two she wanted to do that too, right?" Darius said with a smile.
"Yeah…" Regan said on the same dark tone…then smiled cunningly. "And you can add up two more person on the date list tonight…" Regan added. "Riza and Kylee."
"Oh! So they're going too? Never thought they'd want to accompany you and your friend." Darius said.
Riza didn't exactly like what Darius said. "Excuse me but-"
"Yeah, suprising huh?" Regan interrupted, ignoring Darius. "So, aside from owning a restaurent along with a make-shift music band, you got anything else that could help us?" Regan said, still smiling cunningly, and crossed his arms.
"Depends what you'd need." Darius said.
"Some more appropriate clothes. Think you and some of your friends can help?" Regan said.
"Oh sure. So that the girls are gonna like it more, eh?" Darius said with a wink.
"You said it." Regan said, still grinning cunningly.
"Okay, come on. I think I got some friends that can give you a hand with that…" Darius said as he turned and walked away.
"Come on Riza." Regan said, the cunning grin still on his face.
"Hum Regan…you're really sure about going…all the way with that?" Riza asked uncertainly.
"Kinda." Regan replied. He slightly looked at him, more seriously. "I also have another idea about what we'll do…"
"I'm not sure that I'm gonna like this…" Riza whispered nervously.
"And I'm not sure that I'll like that either…" Regan whispered with a sweatdrop.

---

"So…what is it that you wanted to tell me?"
"I've found them."
"Is that true?"
"Indeed."
"So, where are they?"

---

6:30 pm
The time was approaching fast, and the girls' nervousness was increasing as well. They hadn't heard from the boys since a long while, aside from a phone call in which Regan asked that the digimon wouldn't come. He had also asked the girls to wait for the at the outside entrance of the building that served as Kari and Regan's hideout.

"Come on girls! Your boyfriends are gonna come over soon!"
"IMPMON!!!"

Despite that she had been yelling hard at her digimon, Kylee was busy in the bathroom while Kari was occupied in the bedroom.

The bathroom's door opened and Kylee walked out.
She was now wearing a beautiful golden colored robe that went a bit below at her knees, spreading out a bit. The dress also had transparent sleeves that covered the upper halves of her arms, covering her shoulders in the same transparent golden covering.

Impmon let out a whistle and grinned as she looked at Kylee.
"Wow! Now this'll be one awesome shock for Riza!" Impmon said with a large grin and a wink.
"Could you cut it out?" Kylee said, blushing a bit, looking at herself again. Her hairs had been well combed as well, though she hadn't decided to make some special hair style at all.

"Kari…you're ready?" Kylee asked.
"Yeah, soon…" Kari replied from the bedroom. The door opened as Kari walked out, wearing a small black dress, with some white sparklings on it, which went down to her knees and was sleeveless. Once again, she had put on hair dye to color her hairs to a darker shade of brown, and this time, she was wearing a hairpin, though this one was white and decorated with a fake blue gem. Along with that, she was wearing long black gloves, that had some sparklings on them as well, that covered all of the lower halves of her arms.

"You look nice Kari." Kylee said with a smile.
"Thanks." Kari replied with a slight hesitant smile.
"So…shall we go?" Kylee asked, still keeping the smile, but nervousness creeping into her.
"Yeah…let's go…" Kari replied. No doubt that she too was getting nervous.
"Have fun!" Impmon said loudly with a large grin as the two girls walked out of the apartment. Kylee fought the urge to run back and try to strangle her digimon as she walked down the stairs…

They walked out of the building to wait in front, as the night was slowly starting to descend on the city.

"I just hope they aren't gonna make us wait too long…" Kylee said. She spoke of that, considering that the night may get a bit fresh later on.
Kari said nothing, a bit more absorbed in her thoughts as she held herself, being a little cold. "I should have taken a-"

"Good evening milady…" someone said behind them. Both Kylee and Kari turned, and Kari slightly gasped.

It was indeed Regan and Riza…but with a much different set of clothing…
Regan was wearing a long sleeved red jacket with a white cape with the ends colored by a golden line. He also wore a dark blue shirt beneath, marked with a gold dragon on it, and he wore black jeans with red lines flowing around the belt level. It actually gave him a more…princely look…

As for Riza, it seemed he had a opted for a more simpler look with simply a black tuxedo…but still, he had a white cape like Regan, although not with the golden lined ends like Regan's.

"So, I hope that you're well for tonight milady..." Regan said very kindly as he walked up to Kari, and gently picked up her hand before making a kiss on the hand...which made Kari feeling more heat at her cheeks.

Kylee even looked surprised at Regan's acting. "So, milady, shall we go?" Riza asked, making a little bow to Kylee, though he was blushing. His words made Kylee blush as well.

"Uh...yeah..." Kylee said hesitantly. "You know the way?"
"Of course." Regan said with a princely smile. He offered his arm to Kari, who blushed a little bit before taking it. Riza also did the same for Kylee, who reacted in a similar way.
Meanwhile, Impmon gazed from the corner of the building's door as he snickered at the sight of the boys making quite a court to the girls.
"Hey there Impmon." Veemon said just as the two Tamers and Digidestineds were leaving. He carried a bag with him.
"Hey there Veemon." Impmon said, still grinning. "Can't believe they're actually doing it! This is just perfect, at last!" He then looked curiously at the bag. "What's that?"
"Oh, just Regan and Riza's normal clothes they wanted to bring back here." Veemon said. "You got no idea what I've been seeing for the whole afternoon. Regan's been giving some kind of lessons to Riza about those special manners." Veemon said.
"Oh...so that explains why they're acting weird. At least it works wonderfully." Impmon said, grinning again then sighed. "Too bad we can't come with them; I would have so wanted to be there..."
"Which is a good reason why you shouldn't go along..." Veemon said with an annoyed sigh.

---

The way to the restaurant had been a bit eventless...except for Regan having offered his cape to Kari so she wouldn't get too cold...That of course only caused Kari to blush more.
Aside from that, every four of them had remained quite silent...

"Welcome!" Darius said as he greeted the 'couples' as they arrived. He was dressed in a more casual way for the night as well. "We already got the tables ready. If you're willing to come..."

"Of course..." Regan said with a polite smile.

Darius led them inside, as they noticed no one else being here for the evening. A small band was calmly playing in one of the background, and the lights in the restaurant had been lowered, and a lower red light had spread around.

"Here we go." Darius said, showing them their tables, which were rather separated from everyone else...Indeed a more appropriate set...for a date...

"Thanks..." Riza said.
"I'll bring up the menus. In the meantime, you can get comfortable." Darius said before walking away.

"Sure…" Kari thought. "How you'd like to comfortable in THAT kind of situation?"

---

During mainly all of the dinner, Regan had showed out the same kind of manners he had shown at first, and Riza had imitated a bit as well, though not as much as Regan.

"So, it's going well?" Darius asked as he came to take up the plates and dishes.
"Well…kinda…" Kari said, with a slight tint of pink on her cheeks.
"Okay then." Darius said as he walked away a little bit happily.
"Uh guys, I gotta go to the bathroom." Kari then said.
"Oh yeah, me too…" Kylee added.
"Go on." Regan said with a shrug.

Both girls nodded before they rose from their seats and went for the bathroom.

Riza and Regan then let out a long tired sigh.
"At least we can take a rest now…" Regan said.
"You said it." Riza said, looking uncertainly at him then he rested his elbows on the table. "I can't believe we're actually doing all of that…"
"And I'd never think it would have done that much of an effect on them…" Regan muttered, crossing his arms on his chest.
"But, you know what?" Riza asked.
"What?" Regan asked.
"I'd…I'd never thought that Kylee would look…so cute…" Riza said, blushing a lot.
"And what about Kari?" Regan said sourly, yet blushing as well. "She…she does look cute as well…"
"Hey, hum Regan…I know I shouldn't really perhaps but in it others' things…but…does sometimes…Kari seem like an…angel, to you?" Riza asked with some uncertainties.
"Angel?" Regan said, cheeks red. "Couldn't have said it better. She's doing a lot for everyone of us, and she does believe that there can be good in all of us.
Of course, she knows that sometimes she has to fight, even if she doesn't like it…
It isn't easy for her…" Regan said a bit sadly.
"She helped me a lot before. She was the first Digidestined I met, but she helped me learn a lot about really being a Digidestined. I owe a lot to her. I think…that at first, I thought she was perhaps really strong, the best there is, in many ways, but I realized later that she could be rather as normal as anyone, but that she was really keeping up in being a Digidestined, for the sake of many.
That's why I want to help her as much as I can…as a Digidestined…and as a friend…" Regan explained.
"Wow…yep, it really sounds like you two are really good friends." Riza said.
"Yeah, we're friends…But just that." Regan said with a shrug. "Come on, how could we be a couple? She's an awesome girl…and cute too…But I'm not someone that awesome. She wouldn't fall for a guy like me, right?"
"Eehhh…I don't know…" Riza said a bit confusedly.

---

"Geez…I'd never thought they would have done that…" Kari said, slightly running in the girls' bathroom before quickly going at a sink to wash her hands. As she started removing her gloves, Kylee came to a sink besides her as she started to wash her hands, blushing a bit.
"Yeah, being so…I don't know…cute?" Kylee said, blushing at the end.
"Cute?" Kari repeated, looking at Kylee a bit confusedly. "Uhh well…I don't know either…but they're a lot cute…" she finally added, blushing in the end.
"And in all of that, you're kinda lucky that Regan's being so…nice…" Kylee said with a slightly envious tone.
"Well, I can't really say if I like that…" Kari said, still blushing.
"But hey, isn't Regan really nice in doing that?" Kylee asked.
"Perhaps a bit too nice…" Kari said while looking a bit down and toward the mirror in front of her as she turned off the water in her sink.
"What do you mean?" Kylee asked, a bit confused.
"Ever since I met him in the Digital World, we mainly traveled together, Regan and I. And many times, he did a lot to help me when I had a problem, especially when the problem concerned him and that I got involved…" Kari started.
"Like Ragnarok…" Kylee said.
"Yeah…But that hasn't been the only one…There have been many others…I know it's nice from him to help me…but sometimes…I think he's overdoing it…" Kari added.
"Overdoing it? How?" Kylee asked.
"Don't you think he may be overdoing it if he's nearly killing himself just to help me?
I nearly died once, and he nearly killed himself in trying to save me. And both of us would have been dead if not for Gennai finding us." Kari answered.
Kylee would have liked to press on a bit about Gennai, but there was no doubt she knew who it was, and probable he hadn't changed since the 'show'.
"I'm worried about Regan…I know he wants to help me…and sometimes…I know I need help…but…I wouldn't want him to help me…if he were to die because of that…" Kari said, faint tears forming up at the edges of her eyes.
Now Kylee started to realize what Kari meant. She did noticed that when they were dealing with Ragnarok, the last time Regan came in their world, Regan seemed insistent about dealing with Ragnarok, and possibly doing it on his own.
"So…you care for him?" Kylee asked with a small smile.
"Oh…yeah…" Kari said, her cheeks turning slightly rosy. "He's a really good friend…even if he's a bit cute, and I can understand why you'd think we'd be a couple, but we're not. Even if we care for each other, we're just good friends."
"Oh well, who knows how it could turn out later on?" Kylee said with a slightly teasing and happy tone. "I'll go back to our 'Prince Charmings' now. You're coming?"
"I'm nearly done." Kari said. "Go on ahead."
"Okay." Kylee replied before walking out of the bathroom.
Kari looked toward the door of the bathroom, then sighed again as she stared at her reflection in the wall. She then looked at her right hand, which she had closed on purpose…
She opened it and looked at her palm.
And in it, there was a strange mark. The Crest of Light. It was marked in her palm.
And it was something she preferred Kylee wouldn't know.
After all, how many Digidestineds had, a seemingly deeper link to their crests, in such a way that it left a mark on them? Even if perhaps Regan may have told the two Tamers about that his crest was actually marked in his hand, just like Kari's, she preferred not to really talk about that…not right now…

She finished drying her hands before putting back on her gloves and walked out of the bathroom, showing up a more satisfied smile.

"Alright boys, what else do you have in store for us now?" Kari asked, a little bit annoyed, yet a bit teasing.
Both Regan and Riza looked at each other, a bit unsure. Both shrugged before looking at Kylee and Kari. "Well, seems like we're done here and that we can-" Riza started, but got interrupted by a shoulder nudge from Regan. "What's wrong Regan?" he asked as he looked at the Digidestined. However, he wasn't looking at Riza, or at the girls.

A softer, more romantic tune had started being played by the local band in the restaurant.
"Heh…let's go full circle with that date anyway…" Regan said, as he showed a sly smile.
He raised up from his chair before offering a hand to Kari. "Would you honor me the pleasure of a dance, milady?" he asked.
Kari blushed again as she stared at Regan's hand, then at his face, and at a place that could be easily noticed as a stage to dance.

"We-Well…of course…" Kari answered, cheeks still red, before she took Regan's hand and rose from her chair before accompanying Regan on the dance stage.
Riza and Kylee stared uncertainly at Regan and Kari before Riza rose from his chair, blushing a bit. "So, Kylee…mind for a dance?" he asked.
Her own cheeks feeling hot, Kylee looked a bit uncertainly at Riza before nodding. "Okay…" she replied before she imitated Kari and took Riza's hand before both went to the dancing stage as well.

As both Kari and Regan stood in the middle of the stage, they faced each other before Regan brought his hand around Kari's waist, as she held his hand and then both started to dance, soon imitated by Kylee and Riza, who seemed more hesitant than the two Digidestineds.

Both Digidestineds and Tamers slowly spun and twirled around as they danced, each pair obviously looking at each other…though in some cases, there were some uncertainities…

"I never thought you were good at dancing Regan…" Kari said a bit uneasily.
"Thanks…" Regan answered, blushing a bit.

And on and on they continued to dance. A little later, Kari's eyes locked in Regan's dark blue ones.
It was true…Many times when she had been in troubles, Regan had often been there to help. True, he hadn't helped her absolutely everytimes…but he did helped often…
She had to admit, sometimes, it felt well to be with Regan…
Almost…like some feeling…of warmth…
Warmth? That surprised Kari a bit. She was feeling a bit of that warmth again, right now.
She had to admit…it was a pleasant feeling…but what could do be?

Could that really be love?
She blushed thinking about that as she still gazed at Regan…

He had to admit to himself, he wasn't so bad in dancing. For a while, both he and Kari weren't really looking that much at each other, but now, they locked eyes together, red and dark blue eyes looking strait at each other, both attempting to plunge into the deepness and mysteries there could be in the other's eyes.
Kari…in many ways, Regan knew her well…but to him, it seemed that Kari was keeping many mysteries as well…Just like him…
'Angel'…how odd for a term…yet, it some ways…it seemed to fit Kari well…
She seemed much like if she was an angel, a soft and sweet person that could always manage to bring out the light in others' hearts…In many ways, Kari seemed strong…and in many ways, she had truly impressed Regan. He had to admit that.
Yet…in other ways…Kari seemed so…fragile…frail…
She was strong…but she was weak as well…And because of such, Regan felt he had to help Kari, to help protect her whenever he could and it was needed…
He wondered about somethings…In some ways…he knew he cared for her…
But…Was it really care…or did he wanted more than simply caring for Kari?
Did he loved her? That thought made him blush, as Kari also seemed to blush for reasons unknown to Regan.

Time seemed to have lost all sense, as both Digidestineds simply stared at each others' eyes, seemingly seeking to discover some unknown mystery in each others' eyes…

"Hum...Regan?" Kari then hesitantly asked. Her cheek were still red though.
"Yes Kari?" Regan answered, still blushing as well.

"Ow! Watch it!" Both Kylee and Riza stumbled on the floor, making both Regan and Kari stop and looking toward the Tamers.
"Why did you stepped on my foot?" Kylee asked to Riza, sounding very annoyed and exasperated.
"I'm sorry..." Riza said sheepishly.
"Are you two okay?" Regan asked, letting go of Kari to check on both of the others.
"Yeah, I'll be okay..." Kylee sourly answered.
"Regan…mind if I go outside? I'd like to take some fresh air…" Kari said.
"Sure, go ahead." Regan replied.
As Kari started walking outside, Regan started giving out a hand to Kylee and Riza who were still rising up…

Outside, Kari simply stood motionless, looking a bit down…but also discouraged…
A very slight wind picked up, but nothing really noticable.
"Am I really sure about what I could be thinking? Could…could I really love him or not?" she thought.
"We've always been good friends ever since we met each other, always looking out for each other…but…it is okay, if there could be something more…or is there really something more?

But…in all of this…is it really the right thing?"

She slowly turned, still rather depressed, and started back for the restaurant…
But she stopped…as she heard whispers…
Uncertain, she started to turn back…

From the restaurant, Regan, Kylee and Riza suddenly heard a scream…and it was Kari.

"Kari!" Regan quickly started up for the entrance, where Kari had gone. The two Tamers quickly went after him, but as soon as they were outside, they found no traces of Kari.
"Kari! Where are you?" Regan shouted.
"She can't have gone too far…" Riza said.
"Hey guys…is it me, or does the air seem a bit cold right now?" Kylee asked, shivering.
Cold? As Regan wondered about that, he indeed felt the change in temperature, a cold that, somehow…could even strike him deep in the heart…
"This can't be right…" he said. Despite himself, he shivered.

Seemingly unknowingly, a fog slowly manifested behind them…

"Kari!" Regan yelled again. "Where are you?"
This time, there was an answer…a sob…
"Kari? Is that you?" Kylee said.
"But why is she crying?" Riza said.
More fog started appearing…and it seemed that Kari's voice came from it…

Grunting, Regan started for the fog, toward where he heard Kari's voice. The Tamers soon went after him.

The fog nearly blinded Regan, so thick it was. But…in this…there was clearly something not normal…but he couldn't quite place his finger on…
But it was familiar…somehow…
"Regan? Where are you?" Riza's voice came out from behind him, and close.
"We can't see a thing!" Kylee said.
"I'm right here." Regan said, stopping and turning toward where their voices came out. Soon enough both emerged out of the fog and saw Regan, clearly relieved.
"Man…something's not right in this…" Riza said, worried.
"I know…" Regan said darkly. "But…I'm sure I must have experienced something about that before…but where?"
"G-Guys…" Kylee said, blood having fled from her face as she pointed forward. She took a step back, looking very unsure.

Both Riza and Regan looked as well…before their eyes widened…
"No…" Regan muttered. Now he knew why it was familiar, somehow…

They weren't in the roads of Phoenix City…or even in the city anymore…
But on a beach…a beach that truly felt…dark…

"The Dark Ocean…" Regan whispered.
"That's impossible!
...Right?" Kylee asked.
"…Seems not…" Riza said looking as much uncertain as Kylee was. Even Regan looked drastically troubled.
And further up on the beach…there was a thin figure that stood half-sitting in the sand, holding itself…

"Kari!" Regan shouted as he started running for the figure, followed by Kylee and Riza.
Indeed, as soon as they neared, it was indeed Kari…sitting in the sand and holding her shoulders, looking down…crying…

"Kari…what's wrong?" Regan asked, slowly reaching out for Kari's hand and shoulder…
"…We're not strong…" Kari said after a while.
"What?" Kylee said. "What do you mean?"
"We lost our partners…Because we weren't strong enough to keep them…" Kari answered.

Regan gasped a bit and the Tamers looked at both Digidestineds uncertainly. Kari was only talking about her and Regan…saying that they weren't strong…
And it appeared that even with the 'date'…she hadn't forgot…or perhaps it made it worse…
"No…Kari…please don't say that…" Regan said, walking around Kari to kneel in front of her so that they could see eye-to-eye. But she still looked down, tears in her face.
"We're not worthy Regan…
We've been only failing…How can we be really heroes…when we're nothing?"
"No…this isn't right Kari…this can't be right…" Regan said desperately, taking hold of Kari by the shoulders…but Kylee noticed that his hands were shaking…
He too had doubts…just like Kari…

In the horizon far ahead…something dark seemed to grow…

"Regan! Kari! Get a hold of yourself!" Kylee said.
She suddenly started forward…before slapping both Regan and Kari.
"Kylee!" Riza said. "What are you doing?" he asked as he neared her.
Both Regan and Kari struck the sand before they slightly rose and looked wide eyed at Kylee.
"You guys aren't weak…" Kylee said fists tight. "I know that…Because I've seen how good you could be…So, how could you be weak right now?"
"Before perhaps…but now…" Regan said darkly.
"Stop that crap Regan! This isn't true!" Kylee yelled. "You got to be one of the strongest people I've ever seen! And I may not have seen or heard what Kari has been doing in the Digital World right now, but it's obvious that she must have been really strong!
There's no way you two are weaklings!!!" she added, tears forming in her eyes.
"…Yeah…" Riza added. "Regan…we learned to become stronger thanks to you…We learned a lot from you…So there's no way you could have been weak…
Because, if that was the case, would everything we did all together, as friends, been just for nothing? Come on Regan! And get up too Kari! You two can't just stand down! You know you have to fight!"

A loud roar suddenly shook the ground before everyone suddenly sprung up on their feets, even Regan and Kari.
"Huh? What's happening?" Kari asked, seemingly confused.
"I'm not sure…" Regan said, looking a bit confused.
"Look there!" Kylee said, pointing at the horizon. A large form stood in the distance, its features hard to distinguish…
"I don't think it wants to let us go easily…" Riza said.
"Guys…" Kari started, looking at Riza and Kylee. "Thanks…"
"Yeah…thanks a lot…for just being there, and being our friends…" Regan said.
"Ooohh, well…it was nothing." Kylee said with a small smile, which then faded. "But what about that big guy there?" she asked, pointing at the dark figure, which seemed to approach.
Both Regan and Kari looked at it for a while, before they looked at each other and nodded.
"We'll have to fight it…" Kari said.
"What? But what can we do? We don't have our digimon!" Riza said.
"Not you two." Regan said, pulling out his digivice from a pocket before strapping it on his wrist, just as Kari also took out her digivice, which Kylee hadn't noticed she had taken it with her before the date. "But we'll do it." Regan added.
"You really thought of bringing those with you?" Kylee asked.
"…Once a Digidestined…" Kari started.
"...Always a Digidestined…" Regan finished.
"Okay…I think we get it…" Riza said. "But…are you sure you can do it?"
"I don't know…" Regan replied. "The only thing we have is Bio-Modify, so we'll have to make due with only that."
"But…in some ways…our partners are always with us, right Regan? In our hearts…" Kari said, looking at him.
"…Yeah, you're right." Regan said, looking at her with a determined look.

"Who-Whooaaaa!!!" a voice came out…from above them…

And two forms suddenly crashed right on top of Regan and Kari, making every of them falling in a heap.

"Ow…what the…no way!!!" Regan started.
"Hey! I know that voice!" another voice added…and a very familiar one…

Kylee and Riza gasped as they noticed what had fallen on Regan and Kari…
A small dragon-like being, along with a cat with gloves and a long tail…
Lizomon and Gatomon…Regan and Kari's Digimon Partners!!!

"Lizomon! Gatomon!" Riza said.
"Huh?!?" Lizomon suddenly said, still half-standing on Regan before he looked toward Kylee and Riza, his face breaking into a large grin!
"Well! Riza! Kylee! That's nice to see you! Where are Regan and Kari?" Lizomon asked.
"Beneath us…" Gatomon said, half-moaning as she struggled to remove herself.
"Oh? Oh, Regan! At last!!!" Lizomon said happily before ramming his partner.
"Lizomon!!!" Regan said, more happily…and slightly pained from the 'happy ram' as he held his digimon tight.
"Gatomon…" Kari said, looking at her partner with watery eyes and held her tight as well.
"I missed you Kari…" Gatomon said, tears coming out of her eyes as well. "Hey, wait a minute…" Gatomon suddenly added as she pulled her face a bit back and looked more at Kari. "Why are you dressed that way?"
"Uh…" Kari started, blushing a little bit.
Lizomon stopped and quickly removed himself from Regan's grasp before looking at him…then at Kari…then at Kylee, and finally at Riza…

A sly grin came up on his face…
"No! No! No! This isn't what you're thinking!!!" Regan spoke loudly, waving negatively at his partner, but his own cheeks were a bit red as well.
"I sure hope you had some nice time together without us!!!" Lizomon yelled happily, obviously hinting a bit more about something else…
Both Kylee and Riza also flushed as well. "Hey! We didn't wanted any of this!" Kylee said. "It's-"

A large roar interrupted Kylee as the large dark figure neared the Digidestineds, Tamers and the two digimon. Its features were vague…but made of dark flames…

"Looks like we came up just in time, right?" Lizomon asked as he flew right beside his partner, looking toward the huge figure.
"Yeah, you could say that…" Regan said, a bit annoyed.
"Well, I think we'd have a job to do, right Kari?" Gatomon asked, dropping down from Kari's hands before also gazing up and hard at the large figure.
"Yeah, I think so…" Kari replied.
"Well…go kick that thing's ass!" Kylee said.
"Yeah, you can do it!" Riza said.
"You can count on that, shorty." Lizomon replied to Riza…with a large grin.
Riza's face turned red from anger. "Don't call me shorty!!!"
"Anyway, let's just deal with that thing, now!" Regan said. "Ready Lizomon?"
Lizomon looked back at Regan and nodded.
"Gatomon?" Kari asked her face serious again. "I'm ready." Gatomon answered.
"Bio-Merge, activate!" both Digidestineds shouted, Regan putting his right hand on his digivice, as Kari held out her hands together, as if praying…

Two great flashes of light, red and pink, emerged out of them, engulfing the two kids and their digimon, forcing the two Tamers to step back and shield their eyes…

Lizomon, bio-merge to…AtmaRyumon!!!

From the red light, four large dragon wings emerged before AtmaRyumon, the holy dragon knight digimon appeared, his sword and shield in hands.

Gatomon, bio-merge to…OrahAngewomon!!!

The pink light exploded, revealing Kari and Gatomon's bio-merged form…
It looked very much like Angewomon…but she wore her clothes colored pink instead, and most of the holes that where visible in Angewomon's suit were gone. Along with that, her wings were all marked with the Crest of Light. Her helmet was now golden colored while she now had two cloth lines, golden colored that floated behind her, and partly wrapped around her wrists. And her hairs were now colored of a light brown color, much similar to Kari's own hair color.

Both Kylee and Riza stared at AtmaRyumon and OrahAngewomon with awe. "Man…it's so awesome to see AtmaRyumon again…" Riza said.
"And OrahAngewomon looks cool too." Kylee added. "Go get that creep guys!"
Both digimon slightly turned their heads to the Tamers and nodded. "Don't worry, we will." OrahAngewomon said.

With that, both jumped in the air before fully opening their wings. AtmaRyumon also flew forward, charging at the large dark flaming behemoth.
The huge being raised on large clawed hand before slamming it down at AtmaRyumon, who pulled back just in time…
And at the same time, OrahAngewomon held herself in the air before pointing her right arm toward the large creature before she created a glowing golden energy arrow with her left hand and held it on the bow that formed with her right hand.

"Destiny Arrow!" she shouted, and released her arrow, which flew strait at the dark being, leaving a trail of light as it flew. The arrow struck deep on the monster, who roared madly, rearing up.
AtmaRyumon rushed forward, holding his sword high, glowing.
"Atma Blade!" he shouted before swinging his red glowing blade at the monster, cutting deep in the flames as well. The huge monster stepped back.

"We're doing it!" OrahAngewomon said.
"Let's keep this up!" AtmaRyumon replied before bashing in the behemoth with his shield.
OrahAngewomon clasped her hands together in a prayer, then her wings fully opened, the crest symbols glowing. "Celestial Strike!" she shouted, holding her arms high and to her sides. From her wings, multiple blasts of white, pink, golden energy and beams erupted before flying at the dark flaming behemoth.
AtmaRyumon quickly noticed the attack coming before he threw himself sideways as the attack impacted on the monster.
"White Flame Wave!" AtmaRyumon shouted as he flew back, and breathed out white flames from his mouth.
The dark monster once again stumbled back, nearly falling on one knee…
"Yeah! They're doing it!!!" Kylee said happily.

The large behemoth roared before holding his hands toward the two digimon. Large streams of dark flames rushed out toward them.
AtmaRyumon held out his shield in front of himself. "Atma's Protector!" he shouted.
OrahAngewomon also held out her arms defensively in front of herself before shouting "Heaven Shield!" and formed a pinkish and white glowing globe shield around herself, protecting her from the attack as it struck both AtmaRyumon and OrahAngewomon.

Both struggled to hold out against the attack, determination easily readable in their faces.
OrahAngewomon clapped her hand in front of her, in her shield, before a golden glow came out of her hands.
"Sacred Charm!" she yelled, and a large golden glow erupted, making her shield vanish, but a large golden energy barrier appeared in front of her, shielding from the attack…and rushing toward the dark flaming behemoth.

The beast noticed the attack coming and quickly focused all of its strength on it…but then a red beam came out, striking the monster, who lost its focus, and got struck by OrahAngewomon's attack.
AtmaRyumon held out his sword toward the monster, having shot the red beam. He looked at OrahAngewomon. "Let's finish this quickly! I don't want to waste any more time!" he said, and the angel digimon nodded.

AtmaRyumon flew closer to the dark behemoth who struggled to recover. He held out his wings fully opened as all of his five crest symbols glowed…
Meanwhile, OrahAngewomon flew a bit higher before holding her hands in a prayer again. This time though, a large golden glow surrounded her.

"Atma Crusher!" AtmaRyumon yelled then all of his crest symbols on his wings fired red and white flaming beams in front of his crest symbol on his chest, then one beam fired from it before the focused attack was lunched out in a large expanding cone of red and white flames.

"Heaven's Judgement!" OrahAngewomon shouted before holding her hands to the skies.
And above the dark behemoth, a large gateway opened…seemingly leading to elsewhere…
Large blasts of pink, white, golden energy rained down from the gateway, all focused as beams, pure blasts or meteors that struck the dark behemoth repeatedly as he was engulfed in the flames of AtmaRyumon's attack…
A huge pained roar was unleashed by the monstrosity.

But as the attacks faded, the dark being still held its own, now glowing as well.
"I don't get it! We sent out all of our attacks on that thing and it's still alive?!?" AtmaRyumon said.
"AtmaRyumon…perhaps we could combine our powers together…perhaps that may be enough…" OrahAngewomon said, flying to AtmaRyumon's level.
"…Yeah, you may be right." AtmaRyumon replied with a nod, after thinking a little while. "Okay then, let's do it."

AtmaRyumon pointed out his sword strait toward the dark behemoth, and OrahAngewomon put her hand on AtmaRyumonon's gauntleted hand holding the sword. One of the golden cloth lines around her wrists unwrapped itself from OrahAngewomon's wrist and half-wrapped itself around AtmaRyumon's sword.
The sword and the cloth line now glowed with great intensity.

"Banish thy Darkness!!!" both AtmaRyumon and OrahAngewomon yelled out before one single beam of light, so intense that it was without color, erupted from the cloth wrapped sword before it rushed strait toward the dark behemoth.
The monster shot out one large stream of dark flames to counter the attack… but the flames were quickly snuffed out by the beam.
In desperation, the monster formed out a flaming shield to protect itself…but the beam pierced right through the shield…and right through the monster…which exploded and dispersed into flames…

"They did it!" Riza said.
"Awesome work guys!" Kylee yelled out.

Both AtmaRyumon and OrahAngewomon sighed, tired but relieved. They flew down to meet out with the two Tamers.

They the two glowed before their lights engulfed everything around…

And the Tamers found themselves back in Phoenix City, with Regan, Kari, Lizomon and Gatomon standing in front of them.
"Damn, it's really nice to see you again Lizomon." Regan said to his partner.
"Same for me." Lizomon replied.
Kari and Gatomon simply stared out at each other, smiling.

"Well…I guess this night went out better than we thought, right?" Kylee asked.
That made Regan and Kari look a little bit uncertain.
"Oh…about that…" Lizomon said, a sly grin coming back on his face…
"Hey guys!" Kylee and Riza turned to see Impmon and Veemon running toward them.
"Impmon? Veemon? What are you doing here?" Riza asked.
"Darius phoned us out saying that you guys had a problem." Veemon said. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, we are now." Kylee said.
"So…how was the-" Impmon started, then stopped, glaring past Kylee and Riza...and strait at Lizomon. "You…" he started, looking hard at Lizomon.
Lizomon returned the glare before walking toward Impmon and meeting him face to face.
Everyone around looked a bit worried at what could happen.
Both Impmon and Lizomon stared out hard at each other…before they burst out in laugher.
"Hah, it's really nice to see that smug face of yours again Impmon!" Lizomon said while laughing.
"Well, I can't be sure I really missed the face of that overconfident lizard-wannabe!" Impmon replied, smiling sarcastically. Both laughed again.
Everyone around looked more relieved.
"Whew…for a moment, I thought this was going to get bad…" Kylee said.
"You said it…" Regan replied.
"So, how's it been doing Impmon? They still haven't kissed yet?" Lizomon asked.
Kylee and Riza started, blushing fiercely.
"Weelll… not yet…but they went out on a date today…and there was Regan and Kari with them as well…a double date in fact." Impmon said, grinning sinisterly.
"Yeah, I kinda noticed that." Lizomon said, grinning sinisterly as he looked slightly at his partner, who didn't look so appreciative…
"Now wait a minute!" Regan said. "We were forced on that date, because of these two!"
"Perhaps…" Lizomon said calmly before facing his partner. "…But aren't you the one who said to Riza that Kari looked cute? And that she kinda seemed to be an angel? After all, even Riza said that Kylee looked cute…" Lizomon said with a sly grin.

All four of Regan, Kari, Riza and Kylee blushed fiercely.
"W-How did you knew that?!?" Regan asked loudly, his cheeks very red.
"Memory reading when in Bio-Merge?" Lizomon said with an 'innocent' smile.
Regan's face dropped low as he heard that. Never did he felt so humiliated by his own partner…
"You know, when I think about it…I think Kari and Kylee spoke about something similar too when in that bathroom…" Gatomon said.
Now Kari and Kylee blushed even more, looking far more uncertain, as the two boys were clearly hesitant.
"And what about that dance?" Lizomon asked. "I think it must have been really nice to stare out at each others' eyes…and what were you going to ask him Kari?"
Kari only blushed more as she held her hands to her face.
"Arrrghhhh! Enough! Enough of this!" Regan yelled out angrily. "Let's just stop with that and all go 'home' NOW!" he added, while started to walk ahead, looking both 'humiliated' and angry.
Lizomon only grinned at him while Gatomon gave more of a glare at the dragon digimon.
As for Impmon, he smiled happily at Riza and Kylee.
"Let's just go home…" Kari said, still blushing.
The Tamers nodded before they started walking, followed by their digimon.
"So, how was it for you two?" Impmon asked to Lizomon.
"Well…not really pretty, but at least we managed to come." Lizomon answered.
"Oh, by the way…how did you two managed to get here?" Kari asked.
"Well, you two called us, that's all…" Gatomon said with a shrug, as if it had been obvious.
"Huh?" Kari was only more confused.
"I guess your bonds to each other must have been so strong that it allowed you to be reunited again…" Riza said.
"Perhaps…but I'm not really sure to completely understand it…" Kari said. In front of them, Regan was still walking, clearly still angry.
"Oh, by the way Impmon, haven't you noticed?" Lizomon asked.
"Noticed what?"
"Regan and Kari. Riza and Kylee.
Both girls' names start with 'K' while both boys' names start with 'R'.
Could that be a 'coincidence'?" Lizomon said, grinning.
"Argh! Enough of that!!!" Kylee yelled, clearly frustrated of that, and so were Riza and Kylee…and obviously Regan as well.
"Now that you mention it…" Impmon said before he chuckled.
Both Gatomon and Veemon sighed.

---

And later, that night…

In the school's yard, which was still closed, everything was calm…
Then, the wind picked up, becoming more intense…
Before a flash of blue light suddenly appeared in the middle of the yard, and it formed itself into a round shape…a portal…

The portal simply hung immobile for a while…before a growing shadow slowly came out to the edges…

One foot walked out of the portal, followed by another one…as one tall form appeared out of the portal.

Even with the light of the portal, the only thing that could be noticed about this unknown figure was that is was wearing a cloak that hid all of its features…

The unknown figure waved at the portal behind it before it vanished. And the figure stared around.

"So…they would be here…
Let's begin then…Wherever these two are in this city, they could be anywhere…" the cloaked form spoke, its voice not even giving out a possibility of its gender…

Then the cloaked figure started walking out of the school's yard, unnoticed by anyone…