New chapter. Nothing clever to say here.

Disclaimer: To say that Digimon is my intellectual property is an outright lie, and my upbringing has told me that it's inapporpriate to lie. So instead, I'll just say that Digimon is a very good friend of mine.

LAST TIME:
DAICHI: After we got thrown off Locomon, Dracomon and I ended up in a Mojyamon's cave. While we were there, we learned about GranDracmon, supposedly the Digimon at Castle Drac. But then, we found ourselves under attack by Wendigomon. Mojyamon tried to handle him, but didn't last long. Even though I was reluctant, I had Dracomon Split Digivolve to Coredramon and take the monster down. After that battle, Locomon appeared next to the cave, ready to pick us up and look for the others.

Chapter 30
Trickery

Wormmon woke up to find himself in what appeared to be somebody's room. He stood up and found he was covered in a blanket. He shook it off and looked at his surroundings carefully; the room was lit only by whatever daylight could get through the snow and into the window. The only things in it were the door leading out of the room and a bed that he found Isamu sleeping in.

Wormmon tried to remember how he got here. All he could bring up was getting thrown off Locomon and hurtling down the mountain. He must have blacked out because he couldn't remember anything after that. He got up on the bed, landed next to Isamu, and tried to shake him awake. But the human seemed to be very unconscious; Isamu didn't even stir. But Wormmon could tell that he was breathing.

Seeing that there was nothing more he could do, Wormmon decided to look outside their door to see if he could find some more answers. The door opened outward and he poked his head around the corner; he found what appeared to be the living room area. There was nothing remarkable about it, just a few standard pieces of furniture and a fireplace.

"Well, hello there," a female voice called. Wormmon ducked behind the door. "Don't be afraid," the voice said; Wormmon noticed it seemed very gentle. He cautiously stepped into the room and saw, to his surprise, a human woman. She was clothed in a red dress with no sleeves and a small cape behind her of the same color. Her eyes hid behind a pair of sunglasses. Wormmon noticed that her elbow-length gloves and hat were decorated with a spider motif. She seemed much older than the kids, but not as old as Gennai, even with her silver-gray hair. She wore purple shoes that pointed up at the toes.

"I'm glad to see you're awake," she said, as kindly as before.

"Um, thanks," Wormmon said, not knowing how to take the entire situation. "If you don't mind my asking, Miss…" He trailed off.

"Call me Yokai," she answered.

"I was just wondering," Wormmon continued, "how are you here? Unless I'm in the human world…"

"Oh no," Yokai said, "you're still in the Digital World. I've been here for a long time now. I found some portal in my own world and ended up here. It's not been easy, but I've managed. I found you two about half an hour ago. I heard something crash outside my cabin and saw you two knocked unconscious. Speaking of which, how's your friend?"

"Well, he hasn't woken up yet," Wormmon said, "but his breathing is stable. I think he should be okay."

"Thank goodness," Yokai said. "I was afraid I'd acted too late." She walked to what appeared to be her kitchen counter and took out a cup of coffee. "Here, have something to warm you up," she said as she handed him the cup. Wormmon accepted it and walked to the fireplace.

As he drank, Yokai said, "If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing up here anyway?"

Wormmon swallowed and answered, "Well, we were crossing the mountain via Locomon when were attacked by a horde of Bakemon. They forced us off the train, in the most painful way possible, and… Hold on, I just remembered. By any chance, was there anyone else with us?"

"Sorry," Yokai replied. "You were the only two out there. Who else was with you?"

"Two more humans, Daichi and Kiyoko," Wormmon answered, "along with their Digimon partners, Dracomon and Gatomon, respectively."

"Definitely haven't seen them yet," Yokai said. "But if you ended up here, then maybe they'll show up eventually."

There was a pause between them before Yokai walked back to the kitchen area of the house. "I'm getting dinner ready. Maybe it will give you two more strength to find your friends and get where you're going."

Wormmon decided to use this time to check on Isamu. He went through the open door and hopped on the bed. When he landed, he heard moaning and the bed began to shift. He looked at Isamu and found he was moving.

"Ugh," he finally said. "Where am I?"

"Safe," Wormmon said. Isamu regained full awareness and looked at his partner. Although he lacked a horizontal mouth, Isamu could tell that he was smiling.

"Hey, partner," he said. "What happened? I remember getting thrown off Locomon but that's about it…" He held his head as though trying to concentrate.

"Someone found us outside her home," Wormmon explained. "You won't believe this, Isamu, but there's another human here."

Isamu came out of his concentration. "What?" he asked in disbelief. "Is she a Digi-Destined?"

"I don't think so," Wormmon said. "She's much older than you, and I haven't seen any other Digimon or any Digivices. She calls herself Yokai."

"Okay, I think I got it," Isamu said. He was still struggling to fully wake up. "Tell you what, you go and let her know I'm awake. I'll be along in a minute."

Wormmon jumped off the bed and walked out the door. He saw Yokai standing in front of the fireplace. A large cauldron was over the fire now and Yokai was pouring a bucket of water into it.

"Good news, Miss Yokai," Wormmon said. "Isamu just woke up."

"Glad to hear it," she responded. "I'd hate to think I was making this stew for just two."

Wormmon looked at the cauldron. "By the size of that cauldron, you may end up having leftovers anyway."

"Never hurts to be too careful," Yokai said as she sprinkled some spices into it.

The door to the bedroom opened and Isamu walked out. He still looked rather tired; he was rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"Oh good," Wormmon said. "You two haven't been properly introduced, yet. Yokai, this is Isamu, my friend and partner. Isamu, meet Yokai."

Isamu finally looked up. "Nice to mee—" But he stopped in midsentence. He froze as he looked at Yokai, almost like he had seen a ghost.

"Wormmon! Get back!" he shouted suddenly. All Wormmon could do was stand there in confusion. "Get away from him!" he said, this time to Yokai, before running to Wormmon and attempting to grab him.

Wormmon jumped out of the way. "Sticky Net!" The complete web that shot out of his mouth stuck to Isamu's face and wrapped his arms and legs. Isamu lost balance and fell, but he struggled against his bonds.

"Wow," Yokai said. "I know that it's been a while since I left the human world, but I think humans still had something called manners." It was the first time, Wormmon noticed, that Yokai spoke with a slightly angry tone.

"My apologies," he said, bowing his head. "Isamu's normally not like this."

Yokai's expression softened some. "Well, I expect he still hasn't fully awakened yet." Isamu grunted as though insulted and struggled more.

"I'll just take him into the other room," Wormmon said, "and see if I can't talk some sense into him." Wormmon used his Silk Thread to pull the webbed Isamu back into the bedroom. When they crossed the doorway fully, Yokai closed the door for him to give them some privacy.

Wormmon used his front limb to tear the web from Isamu's mouth. After Isamu grunted in pain, Wormmon said to him, "Alright Isamu, what happened back there? She saved us and you treated her like she was a monster."

"Like a monster?" Isamu said. "It's a wonder you're still alive!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Wormmon asked, affronted.

"Wormmon, she's not human," Isamu said forcefully. "She's a Digimon!"

"How can that be? She said herself she used to live in the human world."

"Oh, I remember seeing her back home, all right."

"You mean you know her?"

"The last time I saw her, it was during the later episodes of Digimon Adventure 02." Isamu paused to let the words sink in.

"She's a character from the show?"

"Under the name Arukenimon," Isamu said with a certain darkness. "She uses that human guise to fool her prey long enough to lower the bite."

"But that doesn't give you the right to call her evil," Wormmon countered. "You remember what Gennai said: not everything from the show really happened or is even real."

"Gennai also said that I have the Crest of Justice," Isamu argued. "And that I can recognize evil even when others can't."

"You barely even met her," Wormmon pointed out. "Five seconds does not a convincing incrimination make."

"Then consider this," Isamu said. "Did you see her put anything into that cauldron of hers? All I saw was water, as well as the spices in her hand. Unless she's in the business of making her own brand of flavored water, the only ingredients she'll use are right here in this room."

"Are you trying to say that she wants to…?" Wormmon started.

"With all the trimmings," Isamu finished. Wormmon looked like he was about to throw up.

"But she saved us from freezing to death," Wormmon said, mostly to himself.

"Probably because she hadn't eaten in so long," Isamu replied. "You are right about one thing, though." Wormmon looked up hopefully. "I've only known her for so long. I don't know, maybe something inside me wants to believe she's okay, but this has all the signs of the classic witch-in-the-woods scenario."

"So how do we know for sure?"

"Well, we can't just ask her; whether it's the truth or a lie, she'll just deny it." Isamu thought for a second. "But I think I may have something. For now, let's just go out there, and act like everything's okay. Assuming you get me out of these webs first." Wormmon, after an apology, bit through the webs and they fell away from Isamu's body.

Isamu stood up and opened the door. He let Wormmon go through first. "He's fine now," Wormmon said to Yokai, who was back at the cauldron, stirring the liquid inside. Isamu then walked through as well.

He made a face that made him look like he was embarrassed. "Sorry about that earlier, Miss Yokai," he said, trying to fake an apology. "I'm sometimes not myself when I just wake up."

"It's all right," Yokai replied. "No harm done."

"Actually," Isamu said, "now that I think about it, the circumstances behind my behavior are pretty stupid."

"Oh?" Yokai exclaimed.

"See, back home," Isamu explained, "you probably may or may not know this, what with you being human and all, there's actually a show that centers on Digimon. One of the villains was an Arukenimon that could take the appearance of a human. But now that I think about it, you really don't look like her at all. I don't know what I was thinking. Again, sorry about all that." Isamu went to the sofa behind Yokai and Wormmon soon joined him.

"If you were trying to go for subtlety," Wormmon whispered, "it didn't work."

"Wasn't trying to," Isamu simply said just as quietly. Wormmon looked at him quizzically. "Just be ready to move when I give the word."

Both Isamu and Wormmon noticed that Yokai's continued stirring seemed a bit different. It looked as though she started moving the ladle faster. Isamu never took his eyes off her, almost like he expected Yokai to make some sort of move.

Finally, very slowly so as to be barely noticeable, Yokai moved her free hand up to the bottom of her hair. She placed a strand of it between two fingers and quickly plucked it from its position. It wasn't the full length, but long enough to be seen by Isamu, who became even more focused when he noticed her movements. Suddenly, the strand of hair stiffened, becoming a straight line.

"Duck!" Isamu yelled, almost at the same time Yokai yelled, "Spirit Needle!" In one fluid motion, she turned and threw the hair at the two. Because of Isamu's warning, it missed them both. They turned to see where the hair had gone; it hit the door, which seemingly melted, revealing the rest of the wooden wall behind it. Whether the door was actually a fake or Yokai just created the wall was something Isamu could not decide.

"I'll give you this, human," she said, with a certain venom now in her voice. "You're a bright one. Not many have been able to see through my deception until it was too late."

"Glad I could impress you," Isamu returned. "Looks like dinner's canceled."

"I'd rather say it's just delayed," Yokai said. "You two will be much easier to subdue when you're both dead." She pulled another strand of hair from her head. "Spirit Needle!" She threw it and they both dodged, causing it to land on the couch they sat on; the couch exploded.

"Wormmon, Digivolve!" Isamu yelled, holding his D-3.

Wormmon Digivolve to… Stingmon!

Yokai smiled. "You think that will stop me? Spirit Needle!" She plucked another hair.

"Not stop," Stingmon said. "Delay. Moon Blaster!" He held both his arms in opposite directions and fired white energy shots out of both arms. One of them hit Yokai, knocking her back and forcing her to drop the hair. The other went to the area where the cabin door used to be, blowing a hole in it.

"Come on, Stingmon," Isamu said, running to the hole, "we're blowing this joint." ("I think I already did that," Stingmon quipped as he followed.)

They both stepped into the icy cold winds and immediately felt a strong contrast in temperatures. Stingmon was forced to De-Digivolve because of the cold. Isamu picked Wormmon up and held him in his arms.

"You two are really starting to annoy me," they heard Yokai say from the exit they made. She was standing just outside the cabin, surprisingly unaffected by the cold.

"We just like surviving," Isamu said.

"Well, I like prey that cooperates," Yokai said. "One way or another. Looks like we'll have to do this the 'other' way." She held her arms out and started to shake, but not from the weather. Her form began to change, the most obvious difference being her in her lower body: rather large and round, striped red and purple, and complete with six legs resembling a spider. Her arms grew wider down to her hands, which also became larger and had a red charm on each. Her head changed the most dramatically; her hat was replaced by two devilish horns and her face looked less like a human's, sporting a wide mouth with teeth. Her head was connected to her lower body by a torso that was the only thing remotely human about her.

"Is that…?" Wormmon asked.

"Arukenimon," Isamu replied. "She's an arachnid virus type Digimon at the ultimate level, sometimes called the Dokugumon Queen. Her Spider Thread gives new meaning to the term, 'that's a wrap.'"

"So, how about it?" Arukenimon asked. "You gonna come quietly?"

"Well," Isamu said, "seeing as how you won't be merciful either way, I'll take the option that gives us a chance at surviving."

"I'm all for that," Wormmon affirmed.

"Too bad," Arukenimon said. "Now your deaths will be slow and painful. Spider Thread!" She held her hands in front of her and two cords whipped out of the charms. Isamu jumped out of the way, taking Wormmon with him.

"I say it's time we use the elements to our advantage," Isamu said. He took his D-3 and let go of Wormmon.

Digi-Armor, energize! Wormmon Armor Digivolve to… Togemogumon, the Crystal of Friendship!

Togemogumon started by using a Hail Barrage. Many of the ice crystals struck Arukenimon, but she did not give in so easily. "Acid Mist! She opened her mouth and a green spray came out of it. "Crystal Shield!" Several of the crystals jumped up to form a shield that blocked the mist. Arukenimon ran up to him, passed the shield, and used another Spider Thread, wrapping him tightly. Togemogumon extended the crystals on his back, breaking the cords.

"I'll give you this," Arukenimon said, "I've never had such a workout before dinner before."

"And thankfully," Togemogumon returned, "you never will again. Not since you're so close. Hail Barrage!" Arukenimon didn't even have time to think before she realized she was being shot at pointblank range. The crystals pierced her body until she dissolved into specks of data.

Togemogumon De-Digivolved to Wormmon and went back into Isamu's arms. "Sorry I doubted you," he said.

"Not your fault," Isamu replied. "Even I was willing to give her a second chance. Guess it just comes with the territory of wearing the Crest of Justice."

"Just one question," Wormmon said. "How did you know she would reveal herself?"

"Simple really," Isamu answered. "All I had to do was let her know that I was aware of her identity. She would deem us too dangerous to live and attack." The two were suddenly interrupted by what sounded like a train whistle.

Realizing it was most likely Locomon, Isamu ran up the mountain hoping to reach the tracks before the train passed. To his surprise, however, a white line appeared beside them and Locomon could be seen coming towards them.

Locomon slowed to a halt with the passenger car in front of the two. "Thought something odd was going on here," Locomon said. "So, you wanna get in or not?"

"Seeing as there's warmth and actual safety in there…" Wormmon said.

"Don't have to tell me twice, partner," Isamu said as he walked into the car. When they got in, they found, to their surprise and delight, both Daichi and Dracomon.

"Hey, guys," Daichi said as he stood up to greet them. "Thought we'd lost you for a while."

"At least until we saw Togemogumon and some red thing," Dracomon added. "What happened?"

"Kind of a long story," Wormmon said. He hopped down off Isamu's arms and took the seat next to Dracomon.

"So quick question," Isamu said, changing the subject. "How is Locomon able to create tracks?"

Daichi answered, "Well, the way he says it, it looks like he met up with that Wizardmon Kiyoko told us about. I'm sure you can guess the rest."

"Hey Digimon, hey Digimon," Isamu said to himself. "So is Kiyoko on board?"

"Not yet," Daichi admitted, "but we found you guys pretty quickly, so maybe we'll—" But he was interrupted by an odd sight; a strange black hole with a swirling yellow design appeared on the ceiling of the car.

What is that? Does it have anything to do with Kiyoko? And how's she faring? FInd out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters!

Hope you're all enjoying this. Well, I gotta go. Volunteering at the library and all that stuff.

This is CF signing out.