Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

Chapter 6: New friends

When Takato awoke he really didn't want to get out of bed, he knew that questions would be asked the moment he entered school and he didn't want to tell them. He knew that he would be unable to tell them, he wouldn't be able to hide his emotions if he did and he wasn't ready for that.

Slowly he opened his eyes, he had dreamed of his father's death over and over last night and his clothes were covered in his sweat. The fight yesterday had made him remember in detail the events of last year and now he couldn't forget it again. He had spent six months in the Digital World fighting for his life every day to forget last time but if he needed to again he would.

Looking down he saw BlackGatomon lying curled against his chest, she had one eye open looking up at him and Takato could see the worry in her gaze. Not speaking he sat up in bed and started to climb out, he needed to think and his Digimon picked up on it. They kept silent as he made his way into the bathroom to wash, they were all worried about him and watched him closely.

BlackGatomon had seen the damage done by the death of his father and she knew what he had been through. She had seen him at his worst when all he cared about was the next battle and threw himself at any opponent that had got in his way. She remembered clearly his state of mind upon entering the Digital World, she had thought he had a death wish the way he had acted and it worried her that he might end up like it again. Takato had taken it upon himself to guard and protect any virus Digimon he had encountered, he hadn't wanted anyone to go what he was even if they were Digimon.

It had been his kindness that had first made her wish to be his partner, seeing that kindness while his whole world fell apart around him though had made her admire the boy. The cat like Digimon had learnt over time that Takato always had a reason for doing something, all actions he took held a purpose for the boy or it wouldn't happen. The day he had returned to the Real World walked into his parent's bakery his mother had not even recognised him, it hadn't been until she had noticed the Digimon behind him that she had stared into his eyes in shock asking his name.

He had changed over the six months in the Digital World, he had lost his nervous stuttering around girls and learnt to trust himself more. It had also changed the way he thought of others, he had kept the kindness that BlackGatomon loved about him but he now only showed that side of himself to those he respected. The tamers where he used to live had learnt of the change the hard way, they were so used to him respecting other tamers no matter how they acted that him breaking the noses of three of the group had scared them all. Their actions the night his father died had shown him that they needed help training but when they didn't thank him for saving their partners and then started on virus types in front of him he had lost control of his anger at them.

After slowly getting dressed he made his way downstairs for breakfast, like with his Digimon he could see the worry in his mother's eyes and he knew what she must be thinking. She still remembered losing her only child for six months last time and she didn't want to have to go through all that again. They didn't speak over breakfast, the Digimon had explained last night most of what happened and she knew he didn't need the questions right now.

For Takato the trip to school was a haze, thinking of the past he quietly made his way into the school not seeing the looks the other students were giving him.

Rika awoke slowly this morning her body not wanting to move, yesterday was again the first thing she thought of and she found herself wondering how Takato was dealing with it. She had been shocked by what she had seen, Renamon had told her that he was part Digimon but it was different knowing then fighting with him in his digivolved state. Then there was Guilmon's mega form without Takato, just the memory of the armoured dragon sent a chill down her spine.

She could feel Renamon in the room as she sat up, a small smirk on her face "You went to see him again?" it was both a statement and a question. Renamon froze, Rika was smiling and experience told the vixen that it wasn't a good thing.

"Yes Rika," there was no point in lying to her tamer.

"Well?" the girl asked impatiently when the Digimon paused.

"He had already known that I was going to come," she started slowly "but I could see in his eyes he hoped I hadn't. He explained the digivolution to me, showing me its stats before he passed out on his bed." She was a little worried when she saw Rika pale when she said 'passed out' and a little worry appear in her eyes. Knowing that the girl would demand all the answers she continued "He explained that he was able digivolve because he was part Digimon but he could only go to one form. He told me that his omnivice allowed him to create his form which is why he can still use the omnivice while like it as well as the reason it's a mega and not a random level. As for the picture and data, they're in a notebook in his bag and I was Takato just needs rest and that he will be better today."

"Extra hour of training for going behind my back again" Rika stated as she walk out leaving her partner to moan at the thought.

Rika arrived at school just as Grani landed, she watched as Takato and his Digimon made their way inside and to her the boy looked like he was in a trance. He walked into the building not even noticing to looks he was getting from the people around him, following him into school she saw him again as she walked into class. He was leaning back in his chair staring out of the window, his Digimon standing around him protectively. Rika just walked over and sat at the table in front of his, she knew he needed some time.

Kari entered the class with Gatomon, seeing the boy from yesterday sitting at the back she remembered what her partner had told her last night. She couldn't imagine why Digimon would try and delete the four, but she decided to have a word with him at lunch.

Takato sat through his classes, he couldn't concentrate on anything his teachers had said and his mind kept bringing up the image of Piedmon. It was in the last class before lunch when he finally realised he was getting strange looks, most of the students were staring at him in fear and the first tamers just avoided looking him in the eyes.

Kari found the boy sat under the tree at the edge of the school grounds, the two dinosaur Digimon were stuffing their faces behind him. He sat with his eyes closed and his back against the trunk, on his lap was BlackGatomon purring in contentment. Not bothering to say anything Kari just sat down next to him, Gatomon jumping onto her lap so Kari could stroke her and laid down facing her black counterpart.

"Sounds like you're enjoying that" Gatomon stated with a smile on her face before asking "is he really that good?"

BlackGatomon lazily opened one eye looking at the other Digimon smiling "He really knows how to use his hands" she said with a wink.

"If I didn't know any better I would have sworn that LadyDevimon was just here teasing me again" came the tired voice of the boy. "Oh and afternoon Kari, you too Gatomon" he said before opening his eyes.

The feline Digimon on his lap smiled up at him, Takato knew that normally meant he was about to be embarrassed "I have to tease, you won't let me do more than that." She then turned to Gatomon and asked "Do you want to swap laps? Then you can see how good he is for yourself" giving her a sly smile.

Kari was shocked when Gatomon gave a shy smile to her virus counterpart asking "Are you sure?"

"Go ahead" she said before getting off Takato, Gatomon then stretched and jumped on him to take her place. Still looking down at the white feline in shock Takato started to scratch behind her ear before hearing her start purring in delight.

Gatomon felt the boys fingers slowly start to stroke her, the firm but gentle pressure made it feel like he was massaging her and he knew the best way to relax each and every muscle. Kari couldn't help but stare at her partner, the cat like Digimon didn't get on well with humans and only spoke with a few Digimon but this boy already had her on his lap.

Takato spoke up suddenly "Renamon why don't you stop hiding now, I'm guessing ether you or Rika want to ask another question."

Kari stared at the boy like he was mad until the Digimon in question jumped out the tree to land lightly in front of him. He just smiled at the vixen "I'll take that as a yes to the questions" he said.

"Just one question this time Takato though Rika does want to see the drawing and data, what did Guilmon mean by 'we're in control this time'?" the vixen asked getting a smile in response.

"The first time we didn't have control and the Digital World was almost destroyed just by its existence" he said.

Surprisingly it was Gatomon that spoke next "Can I ask how you know what's happening to virus types in the Digital World?"

"Me and Guilmon had a run in with a Greymon before the D-Reaper's attack, BlackGatomon was hunted before coming to the real world and meeting me" the boy replied with a sad smile. "BlackWarGreymon I met while in the Digital World the second time, he had hid in the middle of nowhere to stop people attacking him to load the data of a mega as well as being a virus."

Gatomon stared at the boy in shock, she had heard of what had happened involving a Greymon deleting a human but that would mean "Y-your dead" she stuttered.

"Well it seems you've heard of our run, how much do you know?" Takato asked still smiling. Kari stared between her partner and the boy wondering why he should be dead.

The white feline looked at the boy in awe, he had just admitted he should be dead "I heard that a Greymon deleted a human when it protected a Digimon, I also heard the Digimon it protected loaded its data and digivolved before deleting the Greymon"

Takato couldn't help but smile before replying "So you know most of it," pausing to watch Gatomon's and Kari's faces freeze in shock "you just don't know what happened after the fight. The only bit you don't know was my boy was rebuilt after the fight using Digimon data making me half one and letting me digivolve." He quickly scratched behind Gatomon's ears before standing up and walked towards the school, as he drew level with Renamon he stopped. "Up to you if you explain to the others but I'm not repeating it all again" he said before walking back into school with his Digimon.

Kari was confused but picked up Gatomon, she was half way back to class when she heard "She was right you know" seeing Kari's puzzled look the feline continued "he really is very good with his hands" purring quietly at the memory. Kari blushed slightly, she had never seen Gatomon act like this but it made her wonder just how good his hands were. Shaking her head she walked to class, she would have to tell the others but that could wait till after school.

Takato was walking through the park after school trying to clear his head when the digital field appeared nearby, he sensed the group of Digimon inside wasn't megas but there were quite a lot of them. He made his way to where the Digimon were, upon getting close Takato heard a large explosion and sensed a tamers Digimon attacking them. Takato hoped that it was able to go to mega and that it had a smart tamer or they were dead.

As he ran into the clearing he saw a WarGreymon getting pushed back by a large group of Digimon, he quickly gave orders as he saw a small group go for the tamer.

DIGIVOLUTIONS ACTIVATED

BlackGatomon digivolve to …. LadyDevimon

BlackAgumon warp-digivolve to …. BlackWarGreymon

Guilmon matrix-digivolve to …. WarGrowlmon

"Our turn Angel" he said.

ALTERNATE DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATED

Takatomon fused-digivolve to …. Flamedemon

Flamedemon was already running towards the other mega's tamer, he knew that if he wasted even second the boy would die. While this was happening WarGreymon had lost his footing and as he fell he saw a group of Devimon diving at him. Just before he was about to get hit he heard someone shout "Terra Destroyer!" WarGreymon saw a massive black fireball delete the diving Digimon, jumping up he looked at where the attack had come from and saw three virus type Digimon attacking the wild ones. Turning to check on his tamer what he saw made him freeze, three IceDevimon were charging at Tai and then someone appeared in front of him.

Takato dived forward using his wings to close to extra distance to land in front of the tamer and the demon warrior threw out his arms and shouted out "Solid Inferno!" WarGreymon watched as this armour clad demon slammed the wall of fire out towards the IceDevimon deleting all three of them before pulling a card out nowhere and calling out "Digi-modify! Power Activate" as he slashed the card though a slot in his armour.

WarGrowlmon felt the sudden burst of power and aimed at a group of Devimon coming at them shouting "Atomic Blaster!" firing his two gun ports on his chest. The attack deleted two of the three before LadyDevimon's 'Darkness Wave' took out the last one, grouping back up by the tamers.

While Flamedemon took out the groups of IceDevimon attacking down the middle the other two megas took out the Devimon coming at them from the sides, the two ultimate levels take out any Digimon that stray out on their own.

When they were down to the last five Devimon and three NeoDevimon they split up, WarGreymon protected Tai from the Devimon while the others take out the NeoDevimon. Flamedemon took on the closest one, calling out "Burning Blade" slashing down at him as he landed. The fallen angel dodged backwards, but as Takato landed he fell to one knee calling "Solid Inferno!" pushing forward with his right hand. The wall of fire slammed into the off balanced Digimon swiftly deleting it, Takato looked over at the others to see how they were doing to see BlackWarGreymon's 'Dramon Killer' delete his opponent.

BlackWarGreymon had taken the second closest NeoDevimon, he slashed out with his Dramon Killers making the fallen angel jump back. The dragon warrior charged up the negative emotions needed then threw a 'Terra Destroyer' at the Digimon injuring it badly before calling out "Dramon Killer!" slamming his claw through its chest.

WarGrowlmon and LadyDevimon took on the last one, lacking the speed need for close combat WarGrowlmon used his powerful attacks to make the Digimon to dodge. LadyDevimon used the time for the android type to attack to close the distance between her and her opponent. Using the his power and her speed they were able to push it back and keep it off balance, "Digi-modify! Hyper Speed Activate" the android heard shouted. With a burst of speed WarGrowlmon called out "Radiation Blade!" the two blades on his arms glowed red as he rushed forward slicing the Digimon in half before it burst into data.

Tai was shocked when after the battle one of the Digimon turned into a human until he remembered that Kari had told him about this boy yesterday. The two boys had chatted for a little before parting ways, while talking Takato learnt that Tai had just moved into the area with group of friends and family and their Digimon.

He walked into the house still amazed that what his sister had told him was true, even after meeting the boy it was hard for him to believe it. Walking into the lounge he saw Kari sat on the sofa "You were right," he said, continuing when he saw her puzzled look "that boy you told me about really is an amazing kid."

Kari looked and her brother in shock and asked "When did you meet him Tai?"

"He helped WarGreymon out of a tight spot when a group of Digimon overwhelmed him" he replied with a smile.

"Well Gatomon found out a little more about him" she said before explaining what had happened at lunch. Like her Tai had been shocked to hear that he had died protecting his partner and that was why he was able to turn into a Digimon. It was that sacrifice that made Tai admire the boy, giving his life for the ones he cared was what made a real leader and he had worried about whether Ryo was good enough to lead. Hearing how Gatomon had acted around the boy made him laugh it seemed that it wasn't only humans that liked the boy. As Tai climbed into bed he wondered if Kari liked the boy, he had noticed the slight blush on her face made him think she did.

That night Gatomon thought of the boy, she wondered how he had learnt to stroke her like that and if he would do it again.