Disclaimer: I'm making up for taking so long by putting up all the way to thirteen! WEEE! I could've done this at any time, but I haven't been to the library. When I went to Rose's I forgot my disks. And Anna's computer doesn't take floppy or flash disks. So, have fun, people.

Chapter Thirteen

Waking Up

Iori walked to school, his eyes strangely blank. Armadillomon slept in his arms; drool dripping unto Iori's sleeve.

A young girl with black eyes and hair stared out her window in surprise.

"Wa fa?" She gurgled through toothpaste.

She spit it out and rinsed her mouth out. She raced down the stairs and flung herself out her door. Iori walked straight past her mutely.

"Hey, kid! I know you!"

Iori turned.

"My name's Chichi. Karisama, Chichi."

Iori blinked.

"Are you alive there, honey?"

"Don't call me that."

"So you can speak." Chichi smiled.

"Of course I can speak. I just didn't need to." Iori turned back around and started towards school again.

"Geez, mean much? You realize it's like…six in the morning? School starts at like, eight thirty."

"Like is not needed in either of those sentences. And it's six thirty-seven."

"Why are you, like, going to school so early?" She bit her lip to keep from sniggering.

"Stop saying like. And I don't have to tell you."

"And, like, 'and' shouldn't be used at the beginning of a sentence." She grinned.

"You're still in your pajamas."

"EEK!" Chichi crossed her arms over her chest. "Why didn't you tell me before?'

"I was waiting for an opening."

"You…" Chichi trailed. She bit her lip. "Will you wait for me? I wanna walk to school with you."

"Want to." Iori corrected automatically. His blank eyes were suddenly confused.

"Will you, please?"

"Why do you want to walk with me?"

"Because there's something wrong. I wanna- I want to talk to you." She smiled and ran back to her house. "I hope I see you in just a second!"

Iori stood, staring after her. He blinked, and suddenly his eyes were clear and unclouded. She's…different.

She came racing out the door just minutes later.

"Here. I brought some breakfast." She grinned holding out a bag.

"Dammit girl! You stole my breakfast!" Yelled a voice inside.

"Run!" She grabbed Iori's hand and dragged him down the street.

"What are you doing?" Iori exclaimed. "Who was that man?"

"My jerkoff father!" She grinned back at him. "He has to go work early every morning, so his breakfast was sitting there. You'll love it. I made it."

They finally stopped running and sat down outside the school back gate. The strange girl, Chichi, tore open the bag and pulled out a bento box and two pairs of chopsticks.

"Cute Digimon." Chichi said handing him the chopsticks.

"His name is Armadillomon."

"Does he always sleep? Or are you just an early riser?" Chichi opened the box.

"I...I don't know." Iori whispered. "I...can't remember...anything it feels like. I barely remember my name. I don't...know where I am. I do, I mean, I'm at school, but where am I?" He looked around, green eyes confused.

"I got the perfect answer for that."

He turned. She leaned over and kissed his lips quickly.

"You're with me, Chichi Karisama." She winked.

"Chichi, why did you leave so soon? And you made your father angry again."

"But it was for a good cause this time, partner." Chichi pouted. "Meet Iori Hida, one of our very own Deities."

"Hello, Hida-san. My name is Wizardmon. I hope my partner doesn't shock you too much." Wizardmon held out a gloved hand. Iori shook the hand of the digimon who had appeared so suddenly.

"No...she didn't. She's just what I needed."

"Aw, really?" Chichi shoved rice in her mouth blushing happily.

"Yes, really, Karisama-san."

"Call me Chichi, Hida-sa-I mean, Hida-Deity."

"Then call me Iori, please."

"Okay...Iori." Black eyes met olive. "I'm glad I was brushing my teeth at six o clock in the morning."

The two thirteen-year-old's giggled, blushing.

& & &

"Nice back hand, Ichijouji." Shinichiro gave Ken a thumbs-up.

"You're getting much better." Agreed the coach, Akizuki.

"Thank you, Akizuki-sensei." Ken bowed and turned to quickly serve to Eri.

"I think you guys are ready for the big tennis match." Taichi said, strolling onto the court, his hands in his court. "Where's Takenouchi?" Taichi asked.

"She hasn't been coming, Taichi." Eri answered. She swung hard at the ball.

"But Sora loved tennis."

"Loved? Excuse me, but the last time I checked, I still do love tennis." Sora walked up.

"Sora! Where have you been? And Yamato? Or Jyou? Have you seen Iori?"

"Why would I have seen any of them, Taichi?" Sora asked curiously.

"Because you and the other three have been M.I.A." Eri said. She caught the tennis ball and walked to the net. "Hopefully, M.I.A together. What's been going on, Sora?"

"I...don't really know. Me and Yamato broke up and then it gets all blurry. I...can barely remember my name." Sora rubbed her temple and looked up. "Where's Biyomon?" Sora looked around.

"Biyomon isn't here. She and the other Chosen Digimon have all been out looking for Lowvell." Gotsumon told them.

"Nani? No way!" Taichi gasped.

"Yes way. All of you have been taken over by shadows, so they're trying to help." Gotsumon explained. "Plus...the shadows might take over them, too. They couldn't let that happen."

"Oh my." Sora sat heavily on a bench. "This all my fault. I shouldn't have let my stupid problem get in the way. It wasn't even my problem. I've been such a coward."

"Takenouchi-sempai?" Ken queried hesitantly.

"Call for an emergency meeting. This time, I'll be there." Sora said.

"Okay, Sora." Taichi ran off.

"While we're waiting, let's hit some balls." Eri suggested.

"Great idea. I need to whack a few to clear my head."

Ken blanched slightly. That sounds so painful.

& & &

"Koku, I don't think we should."

"I do. This is a Chosen Children problem, not only yours." Yuuta brushed her hair, sitting on Koushirou's bed.

"Maybe when everything clears up with everybody, or when our Digimon come back."

"Izzy, everyone is supposed to let out all their secrets. You are not being fair." Yuuta rose and put a hand over his, stopping his moving of the mouse.

"I'm being smart. I don't want anyone having second thoughts while fighting Lowvell."

"Nobody but us." Yuuta whispered. Koushirou stood also.

He turned and held her to him.

"I'll find a different way. I promise, Yu-Koku."

"Okay." She didn't try to disguise her doubt.