Chapter One

In foggy haze the sun was setting over the digital world as Ken and Yolei sat side by side, watching the colorful sky change from orange to pink. They were watching Wormmon and Hawkmon playing with each other. Ken's heart was pounding in his chest as he gently rubbed Yolei's hand, looks deeply into her eye as he leans closer to her. Yolei smiles back him as she closes her eyes moves closer to meets Ken's lips. Ken pauses for a moment "Wait, Yolei I have to tell you something."

As he almost kisses Yolei, he hears as evil laugh. A portal for the Dark Ocean appears a few feet away from them. Yolei stands as the evil laugh gets louder. "Who is there? Show yourself we are not afraid!" She stands up and walks to the portal. "Come on, who are you?"

Ken grips her hand as she slips away from him. She steps closer to the poral. "Yolei, wait!" Ken rushes to Yolei as the Shadowy Figure pulls into the portal. The portal closes Wormmon and Hawkmon rush over to him. "Yolei! Come back! Yolei!"

Ken wakes up sweating as Wormmon sleeps beside him. He notices his bedroom door open and a light coming from his brother Sam's old bedroom. He grabs his cell turns on the flashlight app. He exits his room slowly enters Sam's the computer was flashing gray. He rubs his head and looks at the floor, notices wet footprints. He faces the computer screen it turns off by itself.

As his cell phone rings! Ken wide-eyed drops his phone. He quickly picks it up and answers. "Hello" Ken as holds the phone to his face he looks at the tip of his finger, it was bleeding a little.

Davis loudly voice coming from the cell phone. "Are you awake? "

Ken oddly looks around with cell phone to his ear. "I am now." Ken exits Sam's room walks back into his room as Wormmon awakes.

Wormmon jumps up looking at Ken. "Are you okay?"

Ken smiles at him with a nod.

Davis's voice still coming from the phone. "Can you pick up Yolei and take her home tonight? I am kinda busy."

Ken sits on his lower buck bed with Wormmon. "Why? Is she okay?"

"Some guy keeps bothering her at the end of her shift. So, I offered to give her rides home, so the creep does find out where she lives. Can you go pick her up?"

"Yes, what time?"

"9pm"

Ken looks at the clock and sees 8:50PM. "Okay, I am leaving now."

"Maybe, you can ask her out this time or tell her how you feel about her. Ken stop fighting your feelings it's not healthy."

"I got go." Ken hangs up the phone.

Ken puts on his Jacket grabs two motorcycle helmets. He turns as Wormmon reaches up to him. "Come on, let's go get Yolei." He picks up Wormmon, then grabs his keys.

Ken with Wormmon on his gas tank in front of him revved up his motorcycle and sped off into the night, the cool breeze whipping through his hair. As he made his way to her Family's store where Yolei worked, his mind raced with thoughts of the mysterious footprints and flashing computer screen in his brother's room. But for now, he had a more pressing matter at hand. Yolei needed him.

When he arrived at the store, Yolei waved at Ken to quickly enter the store. She looks relieved to see him as He walks over to her. "I am sorry, I am late. Davis just called me."

"It's okay, can you please come closer" Yolei watch a twenty something year old man with a loaf of bread walk over to them.

Hawkmon shakes his head at the man closer to them. "Not again, this man needs to get a clue."

Yolei smiles at the man. "You're always in here, when we're just about to close. I hope you found everything you needed."

Ken glares at the man as he looks at Yolei inappropriately. He angry grips his motorcycle helmet. Wormmon, sadly looks Ken thinks to himself, "I haven't seen him this angry since he was the Digimon Emperor."

The man smiles at Yolei. "Not exactly. I was really hoping you would agree to go on a date with me this time. What time to you get off? I can take you home."

Yolei on points to Ken who was glaring at the customer. "I can't, I have a boyfriend now. Plus, we are not allowed to date the customers."

Ken wide-eyed looks at both. Yolei shoves Ken

Ken rubbing his hands nervously. "Yes, sorry. She is currently in a romantic relationship with me. We are not just friends."

Yolei and the customer both look oddly at a smiling Ken. Yolei bags the man's bread, while holding out her hand as he hands over the cash. "He isn't a very good boyfriend. If you were my girlfriend, you would never have to work."

Yolei tosses the man's change and bread in his face. "Excuse me! You can leave now. Never come back here again."

The Man leans towards Yolei pointing his finger in her face. "I want to speak with your manager."

Yolei stomps her feet point to the exit. "I am the manager; you will leave my store now for I call the police!"

Yolei's father comes out from the office runs in between Yolei and the man. He turns faces her. "Yolei! How dare you talk to the customers this way."

Yolei points at the man "Father, but he-"

Yolei's father cuts her off with, "Maybe, I put too much responsibility on you."

The man stands in front of her father. "Thank you, sir. All wanted was to take her on a date. She and her boyfriend rudely reacted to me."

Ken steps closer to the man with his fist ready to go. "Are you serious? You have been bothering her a while now."

Yolei's father looks at Yolei, then point the man to the exit. "Leave my store now sir. I am sorry, Yolei." He watches the Man exits as he walks over to Yolei. "Are you okay? I need to lock up, we can talk about this later at home."

Yolei's grabs her stuff looks at her father. "I will see you at home. Come on, Ken, Hawkmon and Wormmon.

Ken couldn't help but feel a pang of protectiveness as he handed her a helmet and helped her onto the back of his bike. As they rode through the city, Ken couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. He kept glancing over his shoulder but saw nothing. Yolei noticed his unease and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. When they finally arrived at Yolei's apartment, Ken stops and parks near the door she hops off with Hawkmon.

Hawkmon near Yolei's. "A much safer ride, than with Davis."

Yolei tugs Ken's arm. "Do want some tea? It is a little chilly tonight."

Ken looks down at Wormmon. "I don't know."

Yolei pulls him by the hand. "Come on, you deserve a reward. Thanks for saving me from that Creepy Guy and giving me a ride home." She escorts him into her building.

A few minutes later, Yolei walks with Ken into her house. Yolei put her house keys in her pocket and walked towards the kitchen "Mom! Anyone!"

No response as Ken follows her into the kitchen, she goes back at him. "I guess she is locking up the other store." She grabs a tea kettle and starts heating up water on the stove. He hands Hawkmon a bag of snacks. "Share with Wormmon, let him pick first he is the guest."

Hawkmon walks the snacks over to table as Ken picks up him up places him in a chair. He holds up the bag to Wormmon. "Take one."

Yolei looks at Hawkmon. "I just said share two seconds ago."

Ken sits at the kitchen table. He watches her move about the kitchen. "I am sorry for what happened to you, that guy was a real jerk."

Yolei getting two cups placing them on table. She sadly looks down. "It's not your fault. My father thinks I am too outspoken. Maybe, I could've handled it better."

Ken gently lifts her head with his hand. "You handle it very well, plus saying whatever you are thinking that's your best trait. I wish I could be that brave."

Yolei smiles at him as she places two cups on the table. "I don't say everything that's on my mind. I am sorry for saying you were my boyfriend. That guy comes in there all the time bothering me for a date. That's why I have Davis take me home.

Ken helps Yolei with the tea. "Anytime."

Yolei sees Hawkmon and Wormmon pigging out on the snacks making a mess on the kitchen table. "Let's go into the living room."

They walk towards the living room. Ken places the cups on the coffee table. "How come you didn't want to go on a date with him?"

Yolei puts creamer in both their cups. "I just didn't like his vibe, plus I like someone else."

Ken looks away from her. "Who is it?"

Yolei turns to him trying to change the subject. "Let's watch some TV."

They sit on the couch Yolei reaches for the TV remote, but Ken places his hand on it. "Let's just talk. You don't have to tell your crush. Did you decide on your plans after graduation?" Ken drinks the tea

Yolei plays with a spoon in her teacup. "Yes, well me and Davis talked about it. I guess he never told you. I am staying here going to the same business college as Davis, it's near the police academy."

"Maybe, we can still be friends."

Yolei shoves her shoulder into his, "Always, you know what we should get apartment with Davis. We would save on rent. Maybe, when we're not in school we could travel."

Ken face turns red for moment thinking of living with Yolei. "I guess. What business are you planning on starting?"

"I want to help my mother and father run their stores; my siblings have no interest. Plus, I can make their store internationally known."

Ken watches her as she talks. His cell phone rings. He answers it, "Hello, yes, I did. We are having tea at her house. Davis!"

Yolei grabs the phone from Ken, "Thank you for picking me up, Davis! Let me guess you were too busy playing videogames. Yes, I am still your best friend. That's why you didn't pick me up. He probably doesn't stay out of its Davis! Goodbye!" She hangs it up and hands it back to Ken. "So, where were we? So, what do you think?"

"Your plans sound good. I can't wait to graduate and start my future."

"You are the best Ken." Yolei lays her head on his shoulder. "Just think the future is so bright for us. We can go to school during the week, and on the weekends, we can use the Digi ports to travel the world. Maybe, me and you can do a solo trip together. If you want to, or we can bring Davis and Cody. What do you think?"

Ken looks at her with a smile. "That sounds great. Now, we are talking about the future. I have to tell you something. Something I have wanted to tell you for a long time."

Yolei sits up and looks at him with a big smile. "What is it? "

Ken looks at her and thinks to himself, "What if tell her how I feel, and she rejects me? It would ruin our friendship. Davis! This your fault."

Yolei lightly pushes Ken. "Ken, Are you okay? What is wrong? You can tell me anything."

Ken looks at Wormmon and Hawkmon with full bellies sleeping on the kitchen table "I must go now. It's late for Wormmon."

Yolei frowns, "Okay, let me walk you to the door."

She walks Ken to the door, and she hugs him. "Thank you, for tonight."

Ken carrying a sleeping Wormmon to the door. "Goodnight."

As Ken walked out of Yolei's apartment, his heart was pounding in his chest. He couldn't believe he had chickened out to tell her how he truly felt. He had been so close, but the fear of rejection had held him back.

As he walked down the street, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. He knew that he had missed his chance, and now he would have to live with the what ifs.

###

Next night, Yolei is working in the store when the outside lights go out. "Dad! The lights went out!"

Yolei's Father walks by her with ladder, "I got it."

He walks outside Hawkmon was fixing the items near the display beside her. The cash register starts flashing gray light, then the lights go out. "Great!"

The lights turn on Yolei's father and Davis walk into the store. "Yolei, your friend came early probably for free snacks."

Hawkmon looks doesn't see Yolei. "Yolei!"

Father points at the cash register. "She was just here. Yolei! Yolei!"

He runs with Davis up and down the aisles. "Yolei! This isn't funny."

Hawkmon flies above the shelves as her father and Davis run around the store. She was gone without a trace.

Yolei's father picks up the phone. "My daughter is missing come now!"

###

Yolei unconscious on beach as Daemon leans over her taking a vile of her blood. He creates a shadowy figure, and it turns a darker version of Yolei, but she has dark purple 's eyes. Another version of Ken wearing sunglasses appears. He was dressed in dark blue with his Digimon Emperor hair style "Go get the items, I need."

Dark Ken holds and Dark Yolei's hand they disappear.

Daemon points to a cave. "Lock her up." Shadowy figures Appear and grab here and fly towards the cave.