In-Between-Time

chapter four

a/n: Ta-da! Chapter four is here, and I'm going to flunk out of college. -sigh- I literally just sat down at 11pm to write a paper, whipped out my fic instead, and now it's 8:30am the next morning, and I have a new installment for you. So please leave a review, or I'll be ruining my future for nothing. ;) Quotes in italics are from The Crest of Friendship—hands down my favorite Digimon episode of all time. Also, sorry for the short chapter. More is on the way. Enjoy!

Shameless Plug: Check out my new post! "Secrets, Lies, and Pumpkin Pies: A Holiday Interlude." Sequel to "After All." It's lonely and needs reviews.

Soundtrack: "Run" by Snow Patrol, "Songs of Love" by Ben Folds.

Disclaimer: Digimon's not mine, but someday, some show will be.

It really wasn't one of those moments where time slows down and everyone watches—in slow motion, as an opera singer holds out an impossibly high note—as their once-upon-a-time friend and leader flies through the air, and it's like poetry, or ballet, and lovely really…no. It was faster than that, and sudden, and before Tai hit the wall with a pained cry and slumped to the ground, dazed, Sora was already running at the monster, and Matt was already running to Tai.

Matt could hear Sora yelling indistinctly, and reminded himself firmly that she was strong, and scared the hell out of him even, and she could take care of herself. Still, he peeked over his shoulder once, just to reassure himself, and then dropped into a crouch before Tai, who was being anxiously guarded by a determined Gomamon.

"You okay?" Matt asked the Digimon.

"I am now," Gomamon said, and turned to rest a clawed paw against Tai's leg.

Tai's eyes were squeezed closed tightly, and his forehead was lined with concentration. Matt eased in close to him, instinctively reaching out to lend some support, then pulled back, hesitating. But when it came down to it, the person in front of him was still Tai, no matter how long it had been, and some things never changed.

"Hey, buddy," he said gently, and did let one hand fall against Tai's shoulder, holding him upright carefully.

Tai's eyes came open, and for a moment he looked like he was coming apart, but then a grateful-yet-wicked grin erased all traces of anything else, and Tai said, "You're late."

"Sure," Matt said, "but you knew I'd come."

Matt held out a steady hand, Tai reached out to take hold of it, and Matt pulled him to his feet. They stood like that for a long moment, and then Tai laughed.

"I never doubted you for a second, Matt," he deadpanned.

"Smartass," Matt said, and they both whirled to face the battle at hand.

"Tai!"

"Matt! You made it. I can't believe you're here."

"Yeah, I made it Tai. Hang in there, buddy!"

"I never doubted you for a second, Matt. I know it didn't always seem that way."

"Thank you, Tai, for believing in me. I'm just sorry I was so late. Tai, you have to know how much our friendship has always meant to me. And I swear nothing will ever come between us again."

As Matt and Tai looked on, Sora, her back to them, stood weaponless, arms spread wide, and blazed up at the monstrous Digimon. It was insane, but neither of them doubted for a moment that she would stop it if she had to, with her bare hands, with all of the fire and strength she had inside of her, with her sheer force of will.

She turned to look over one shoulder at them, and now time did slow, and her hair flew out all around her and then settled on her firmly squared shoulders. Matt heard Tai's breath catch in his throat.

"Go!" Sora yelled, and whirled to hold her ground.

Matt turned to face the doorway where the others still stood. "Kari!"

"I'm on it," she said, and sprinted for the entrance, pushing back the darkness with her own white-hot brilliance. TK was close on her heels. Tai stood dumfounded, and Kari sent him a look as she passed him by, her long straight ponytail flying out behind her. Tai swayed on his feet.

Matt reached out to brace him, and the white beast roared. Small, dark Digimon like the guards they'd encountered before began pouring into the room at every entrance.

The enormous white Digimon took a step forward, but Sora didn't budge.

"Just try it," she grated out, her voice furious and shaking.

Mimi was already on the move—her feet flying as she crossed the room, her mouth set in a firm line. She skidded to a near halt, scooping Gomamon up from the floor in one smooth motion, and took off for the front door without missing a step. In the meantime, Izzy threw his weight into one of the ceiling-high tapestries, and with a pop it came free of the wall and fluttered to the ground, landing on several guards and throwing them into confusion.

"Get him out," Izzy yelled at Matt, and went after the few Digimon who hadn't been trapped under the heavy wall-hanging.

Matt didn't waste a second. He tightened his hold on Tai, who seemed to have lost all ability to speak, and ran for the entrance, dragging Tai after him. After a few clumsy seconds, Tai came out of his startled daze and ran. Matt let go of his arm, but matched his stride, staying close.

Kari already had the barrier open, and Mimi, TK, and Gomamon were on the other side, waiting anxiously.

"Sora and Izzy?" Mimi said.

"They're coming," Matt said, and they waited.

Izzy came first, and he didn't slow down when he crossed the barrier. He just ran on by, and straight down the mountain trail.

"Run!" he yelled, and that was when Sora burst out the door, taking off after him. She didn't look back.

Kari's light abruptly went out, the barrier snapped shut, and they ran. It wasn't long before they heard quick, light footfalls behind them, and an earth-shattering roar.

"Crap," TK said breathlessly.

"What's the plan?" Izzy yelled over his shoulder as he led them around the second switchback.

"We can stand and fight once we get off this mountain," Tai replied instantly. "I know we only have one Digimon, but…we…wait, where's Joe?"

"He's not here," Matt said firmly.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Tai said.

"Where is he?" Gomamon asked, panicked. "Is he okay?"

"This is really not the time!" Sora cut in. "What do we do?"

Tai switched gears instantly. "We can lose them in the forest. Matt?"

"No objections here," Matt said.

"Fine," Izzy said, and with a final burst of speed, he hit the hard-packed dirt around the mountain's base and took off for the trees.

They ran, ducking branches and jumping gnarled roots where they poked out of the earth, and once, Sora stumbled, but Matt had her back on her feet before she hit the ground. The group of Digimon crashed through the trees behind them, and it sounded like they were gaining.

"So, we're in the forest…" Izzy yelled.

"I'm thinking!" Tai shot back.

What must have been the shaggy white Digimon roared, and all around them, leaves were rattled right off of their branches.

"Oh, we're so screwed," Mimi gasped.

"Hiding tree!" Kari said suddenly.

"Yeah, that'd be great," TK said.

"No, there!" Kari said, veered off to the right, and disappeared into an enormously thick trunk.

The others stopped so abruptly that they nearly all went over like dominoes, and then untangled themselves and scrambled after her. They could feel the white beast's footsteps now in the soles of their feet as he charged through the forest after them, and he was so close…so close…

And just as the last of them leapt into the hiding tree, their pursuers rushed into the space they had occupied only moments before, and there were several long tense minutes as they all stood, quietly gasping for breath inside the deep purple-and-blue paneled column of the tree, white faced and scared. It was a tight fit, but they didn't mind, glad for an excuse to take comfort in proximity. Finally, the sounds of the guards from the palace faded into the distance, and the silence stretched on, until they were all sure they were safe.

And one by one, they went out into the quiet forest, where sunlight streamed down through the trees, and glittered like all was right with the Digital World, even though it wasn't, and a light breeze ruffled their hair. Tai was last coming out of the tree, and he stepped almost shyly into the half circle of his friends, who stood and took in the welcome sight of their sometime leader, a little taller, all lean muscle and tanned skin, the same old pair of goggles hanging around his neck against his dark shirt.

"Hi," he said nervously, and smiled.

Kari was in his arms at once, and holding on for dear life, and Tai placed a hand against the back of her head, messing up her neat ponytail.

"I missed you," Kari said, sounding eight years old again.

Tai just buried his head against her shoulder, and they stood like that for a long time, until Tai regained his composure and pulled gently away, his eyes suspiciously bright.

Kari stepped back, and Tai was nearly knocked off of his feet by a bubble-gum-pink haired blur that leapt onto him, wrapping her legs deftly around his waist.

"Mimi!" he laughed, staggering back a few feet before getting his balance.

She nearly squeezed the life out of him, and then kissed his cheek casually and dropped back to the ground to beam up at him, hands on her hips.

"Stick close this time, will you?" she said lightly.

"I'll consider it," he said.

"Good."

Tai turned to look at the tall blonde boy who was sticking close to his sister's side and shook his head in wonder. "TK, if I didn't know it was you…"

TK smiled. "It's good to see you Tai."

Izzy was standing quietly to the side, trying to disappear, and Tai walked over to stand in front of him, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression warm.

"I assume this was your doing," he said.

But Izzy suddenly looked like he was going to cry, and Tai, startled, uncrossed his arms and took a surprised step forward. "Hey…Izzy…"

"Tai, I'm sorry," Izzy said wearily, scrubbing a hand through his short red hair. "I tried to get here sooner, but it's been years, and you were depending on me. I wish I could have come through for you, back on the trolley. We didn't want to leave you behind, but-"

Izzy trailed off at Tai's expression, and then bit his lip. "What?"

Tai just reached out and clasped Izzy's shoulder. "Thanks, Izzy."

"Oh," Izzy said, caught off guard, and turned a little red. "Um…you're welcome."

Tai grinned, turned around, and then the grin fell away, replaced by something soft and uncertain. Sora was standing there looking like she didn't know what to do with her hands, her ruby eyes wide and lovely, and Tai forgot his own name. Luckily, Sora wasn't doing much better.

"Hey," Tai managed finally, and then mentally smacked his forehead.

"Hey," Sora said, amazed, and her level stare didn't falter.

And they both felt like they should say something else, or take a step closer—anything to break the electric silence—but they didn't, and someone suggested that they move to a safer location, so they walked, both sneaking curious glances in the other's direction as they left Infinity Mountain far behind.

a/n: Reviews make my world go 'round.