Chapter 14
They had been traveling through this forest for quite a while, and Miharumon was getting hungry. After Miharumon's last complaint, Yumi said, "Miharumon, if we turn around, we'll never find the Digiegg." Miharumon knew that was true, but the others seemed fine with the consequences. T.K. was overlooking the lake, and saw a restaurant across from them. They soon reached it, and had a feast. Yumi wasn't that hungry, but Miharumon cleared a whole table of food. Yumi smiled, and finished her food. She felt she knew this place, but shook the feeling away. Yolei went to pay the bill, and a small argument broke out. Yumi sighed, standing. Obana followed her as they went to the cash register. Yumi saw Digitamamon and wondered where she'd seen the Digimon before. The memory nagged at her incessantly, and she asked, "Yolei, what's the matter?" "He won't take my money." Yolei said, slightly peeved. "Calm down. I'm sure we can work this out…" "You can. You just need to help in the restaurant to pay off the bill!" Digitamamon said. Everyone else came up, and Obana said, "But if we stay, we won't get home on time." "Not my problem!" Digitamamon countered.
Miharumon growled softly, baring her fangs slightly as a half memory came back, and it wasn't a good one. Yumi looked at him a moment before her eyes widened. "You're the one that ran that restaurant before…and Matt and Joe were stuck here paying a bill! Then you attacked us!" Old anger flared in her eyes, but this wasn't the time for that. Miharumon remembered, and her growl shot up in her throat, reaching a snarl. Yumi calmed down, and put a hand on Miharumon's head. Miharumon looked up at her, confused. "That was…a long time ago. I can forgive him." Miharumon understood, but, before the fight about the bill could continue, a new voice said, "It's okay. I'll pay for it." Everyone turned to see a boy Yumi and Obana's age, with a Betamon. Mimi came up from behind him with Palmon, saying it was an American friend of hers, Michael. Yumi greeted him, and Miharumon merely gave Betamon an acknowledging glance.
Yolei explained what the problem, and Digitamamon apologized, saying he had turned a new leaf after the Dark Masters were defeated. They sat down with the two new members, and Michael explained how Gorillamon had attacked New York four years ago, during the summer. "That was when Myotismon attacked Japan." Yumi said, making Miharumon snarl slightly at the name. Davis said he'd been one of the people held hostage at the convention center by the Bakemon, and Cody had been on the airplane that Garudamon saved after they defeated Venommyotismon. Yolei hadn't been involved in that, but she had sent e-mails during the fight between Diaboromon and Omnimon.
"So, we've all had an encounter with a Digimon at some point, so there may be others." Obana said. Yumi nodded, and Miharumon said, "It's possible. The Digital World must have been seen by millions of kids the day Venommyotismon was destroyed." "A good question is how many are there?" Yumi said, not expecting an answer. Digitamamon came up, saying, "Here's another good question; Who's paying the bill!?!" Yumi almost covered her ears, but everyone stood. Mimi talked to Digitamamon, and he ended up saying the bill was on him. No one minded, nor did Yumi…until the floor began to shake violently. Yumi was at the door in a moment, and saw the trees shaking, meaning a large Digimon was approaching. Miharumon was by her side, sniffing the air. "Gorillamon." She said, a growl deep in her throat.
Everyone joined them right before Gorillamon appeared. Yumi grabbed her Digivice, but Michael said, "I can handle this!" She lowered her Digivice as Betamon jumped into the water, Digivolving to Seadramon. Gorillamon shot an Energy Beam, and Seadramon used Ice Blast. A part of the attack was shot off course and was heading for the kids. Miharumon jumped in front, ready to take the blast, when Digitamamon, completely encased in his shell, jumped in the way, and flew through the air. "Digitamamon!" Yumi yelled, seeing him fly away helplessly.
Miharumon saw Seadramon and Gorillamon go underwater, and knew Seadramon would win. In a minute, a bright light flashed under the water, and Palmon Digivolved to Togemon. Gorillamon flew out of the water, and Togemon used Light-Speed Jabbing, destroying the dark spiral on his arm. He left a peaceful creature, and Miharumon asked, a bit of worry in her voice, "Where's Digitamamon? He hasn't come back."
T.K. and Kari went to go look for him on Pegasusmon and Nefertimon, leaving everyone else there to wait. Yumi sighed, saying, "I hope they find him soon." "Is this soon enough for you?" She turned to see Digitamamon, but immediately realized his eyes were red. "A dark ring." She said, and Miharumon snarled. Veemon, Armadillomon, and Hawkmon Armor-Digivolved to Flamedramon, Digmon, and Halsemon.
They tried to hit him, but he hid in his shell. The attacks had no effect, and Mimi ran in between the Digimon and Digitamamon. "Stop attacking him!" She demanded. She tried to make Digitamamon come back to himself, but Yumi could see he was about to attack her. "Mimi!" She tried to push Mimi out of the way, but both got hit, mainly Mimi. They both fell to the ground, and Mimi still insisted they shouldn't hit Digitamamon.
Yumi glared at him, saying, "I don't care who you are, but nobody hurts my friends without dealing with me!" Miharumon snarled, bristling. She was prepared to Digivolve and defeat him in one swift move, when Yolei stood. She said how she had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but pushing Mimi to the ground was the last straw. She may not always try to look into a guy before seeing if she liked him or not, but that she'd do that from now on. There was a powerful glow, and the Digiegg of Sincerity came out of the ground, and went to Yolei. Halsemon Dedigivolved to Hawkmon, and the Armor-Digivolved to Shurimon.
He used his Double Star attack, but it bounced off the egg. Digitamamon used Nightmare Syndrome, and Flamedramon and Digmon got in the way, holding the attack back. Nefertimon and Pegasusmon reappeared, and used Golden Noose. They lifted Digitamamon into the air by his legs, and Shurimon used his Double Star attack and hit the dark ring in his shell. He was knocked out as his attack disappeared.
He was unconscious for a while before finally waking up. He thanked Mimi and Yolei, and Yolei said, to Mimi, "Thanks to you, I'm going to be completely honest with people, especially boys, and I won't go out with them just because they're cute." "Good, then neither will I." Mimi said, smiling, when Sukamon and Chuumon appeared beside her, saying, "If you don't care about looks, then why not go out with me sometime!"
Mimi punched him so hard he flew across the lake. Yumi didn't want to be on the wrong end of that fist. When the sun began to set, they had to leave. Michael asked Yolei out before leaving, and she obviously accepted. They had to deal with her happy singing the whole way back, but Yumi was content with covering Miharumon's ears.