Chapter 11: The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Day 12 - Digital World, Cliffs of Tapirmon: Isamu Ito

"Magomon!" Isamu sighed in relief.

"It is nice to meet everyone once more." Magomon took off his hat and bowed low.

"Excuse me! My name is Assombrirmon. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I am Yoshi's new Digimon partner." Assombrirmon bowed with a slight curtsy. "Lueurmon said that I should be act like a lady in front of you. He personally taught me this formal way of introduction. Did I do great?"

"Yes, it's perfect. No need to act formal, if it isn't in your nature." Magomon inspected her up and down, memorizing her features. "Lueurmon must enjoy your company."

"Eh, I act as an annoying little sister." Assombrirmon twirled her scythe. "Like yesterday. Yoshi, don't tell Lueurmon that I was the one who made the pepper and salt sludge!"

"I'm pretty sure Lueurmon already knows." Yoshi looked doubtless. "The look he gave you earlier said it all."

"I thought I got away with it!" Assombrirmon pouted.

"Excuse me, if you haven't noticed, we have a fight to attend." Honomon was annoyed. "The two over there seem to be out of shock."

Witchmon and Boogeymon seemed to have adjusted to the new member of Isamu's group.

"I never thought I would see you here so soon." Witchmon grumbled. "If only we had more time. We could have gotten this over by now."

"Time to send you back to Primary Village!" Assombrirmon pointed her scythe, ready to slash when need be.

"No, capture one of the two. Both is fine also." Magomon adjusted his top hat. "Even if it may be easier to send them back, we need information."

Lopmon nodded. "Good idea."

"Lucky Die!"

Magomon summoned six die. He directed them towards Witchmon and Boogeymon. Boogeymon dodged the first one, and the die crashed to the ground. Lightning erupted and rained down the area where Boogeymon once was.

"Spearing Chains!"

"Wah!"

Boogeymon was trapped in the shadow chains created by Assombrirmon.

"Score!"

Boogeymon began using his trident to break the chains.

"Blazing Ice!"

The ice hit Boogeymon, deterring him from removing all the chains.

"Crimson Fists!"

Honomon charged forwards, hands blazing with fire.

"Aquary Pressure!"

Honomon was hit by the high pressurized water, crashing near Isamu and Yoshi.

"Honomon, you okay?" Isamu helped Honomon up.

"Water. It's a bad matchup." Yoshi shook his head. "Assombrirmon and Magomon should deal with Witchmon. Honomon and Lopmon should fight with Boogeymon."

"It's okay. I can deal with Witchmon." Honomon stood up. "I'm strong."

"You're not." Isamu grabbed Honomon's arm. "Don't bite off more than you can chew."

Honomon swatted Isamu's hand away. "Trust me. I can do it."

"I've seen you. Your attitude." Isamu began. "You don't think I noticed your bloodlust? Why are you so eager to fight?"

"To protect you. It's all for you Isamu." Honomon's voice was unwavering. He truly believed what he was saying. "I know that I can do this."

"If you're trying to prove yourself to me, it's not working!" Isamu started to yell. "You're just showing me how incompetent you are!"

Honomon flinched.

"It's true that you couldn't really fight well with Schneemon. What could you have done? You were surrounded by the ocean. Honomon, having the resolve to protect me is all I could ever ask for. Just suck up your pride and go fight Boogeymon. Please!"

Finished, Isamu looked up and saw Honomon. Honomon seemed paralyzed by Isamu's last remark.

"Honomon, hurry!" Lopmon called. "Assombrirmon can't hold off Boogeymon much longer!"

Honomon turned around. "Fine, I'll do what you say." He ran off to assist Assombrirmon.

After a bit of silence and digimon fighting, Yoshi tried to say something. "Isamu, are you okay? I know we haven't talked much, but I'll help you with Honomon if you'd like."

Isamu contemplated Yoshi's offer. Isamu began to fiddle with his goggles.

Should I get Yoshi's help? Honestly, I would go to Seiko for assistance. She's more reliable, and I've known her longer than Yoshi. Yoshi does seem reliable though, despite his clumsy moments. Would Honomon even listen to anyone else besides me? Even though he follows me, it looks like he'll disobey me anytime. Honomon has different ideals than me. I will admit that I thought Boogeymon shouldn't have been spared since the first meeting. Seiko, Boogeymon's going to kill us! He has no remorse. I regret the decision we made together. If we only got rid of him earlier... no no no don't think that.

"Isamu?" Yoshi was worried.

"No, it's fine." Isamu faced Yoshi. "This is my problem after all. Let me deal with it."

Yoshi didn't look satisfied with Isamu's answer. "Okay, but really, I'll help you with anything."

"Thanks. Maybe for something else." Isamu looked to the fight. "Seems they're doing okay."

"Trick Staff!"

Magomon summoned a staff out of thin air. It was pitch black, with cuts all around it. The top was decorated with the the four symbols of cards: spade, clover, heart, and diamond. Their respective colors were blue, green, red and yellow.

"Aquary Pressure!"

Witchmon aimed the water towards Honomon who was engaged in Boogeymon.

"The next trick is electricity." As Magomon stated the line, and his weapon turned yellow, with lightning engulfing the top end. He pointed the staff towards the water. The two forces canceled the other.

"Tiny Twister!"

Lopmon aimed the twister towards Witchmon. She lunged to the left.

"Spearing Chains!"

"Da-" Witchmon was encased with multiple chains, even more than Boogeymon had been. One of the chains had covered her mouth.

"Got her! Got her!" Assombrirmon cheered, jumping up and down.

"Assombrirmon, there's something coming! Dodge to the left!" Lopmon cried.

Assombrirmon lurched to the left. Magomon who was a few yards behind her, got hit by the incoming dragon shaped fireball instead.

"Magomon!" Assombrirmon went to aid him.

"Jaenryu!"

Assombrirmon dodged the same fire dragon from earlier. Honomon deflected Boogeymon's pitchfork and hurried over to his injured ally. Boogeymon took the time to retreat to where Witchmon was.

"You," Magomon supported himself with his staff, "I knew you would show up sooner than later."

A blue fox emerged from the thick haze. The digimon was modeled after the legend of the nine tailed fox. The collar of the fox was white, and it had yin yang symbols on its legs as well as it's forehead. A striped white and greenish-blue ribbon was tied around its neck. It was on all fours.

"Where is Minoru Yamamoto's Digiegg?" Magomon questioned.

The blue nine tailed fox remained silent.

"I don't think you should be questioning honey." Witchmon giggled. She was free of her bonds. "It's three champions to two and a half now."

"I'm not a half!" Assombrirmon shouted. "Lueurmon and I are both one whole digimon!"

"Inexperienced digimon aren't very strong." Boogeymon pointed to Assombrirmon. "It's a shame, really. Lueurmon would have provided a much more exciting fight."

Assombrirmon tightened the grip on her scythe.

"Assombrirmon, don't be egged on," Yoshi tried to refocus her attention, "they're just trying to cause you to take rash actions."

"I know Yoshi, Assombrirmon sighed, "but it's just so hard!"

"You can learn a lot from one fight," Honomon stated in an educated manner, "Lueurmon tends to say that a lot when he was alone with... with any close digimon. Doesn't he say that to you?"

"A lot," Assombrirmon groaned, "to the point where I cover my ears with shadows!"

Lopmon looked fettered. "They're about ready to attack!"

"Change of plans. Capture Youkomon, the blue fox. That's all that matters." Magomon sounded tired. " The next trick will be associated with the properties of water." The staff turned blue.

The three digimon plus Lopmon lunged after their enemies. Their opponents did likewise.

Everything please turn out okay...

Day 12 - Digital World, Cliffs of Tapirmon: Sasha Alkaev

"Blue hair."

"Hm? Did you say something Sasha?" Seiko flipped her hair, the long locks seemed like waves.

"Oh just wonderin' where you got your pretty hair." Sasha ruffled her short hair. "I mean, mine's a one to your 9000."

"That blond is lovely." Seiko smiled. " You should treasure yourself a little more, no? Your eyes too, it is a lovely blue compared to my own."

Crystal clear eyes blinked to a muddled blue. Seiko would be the definition of perfect if it wasn't for those gray-blue eyes.

"My hair," Seiko began fingering a strand, "I am not quite sure where it came from. For sure it was not my natural hair color." The two fish hair bands from earlier were now tied to some strands on the right of her hair. The fish were swimming in an ocean of blue. "In much of my pictures, I had brown hair. For three years, I have lived with this color. Right now, I'm guessing I gained this anomaly when we came here before."

The digimon with them were whispering amongst themselves. Fine, I'll just talk to Seiko and we'll have secrets too!

"Wouldn't your hair like, I dunno, catch public attention?" Sasha questioned. "I mean, it's not natural. I've never heard of natural blue hair."

Seiko was willing to answer. "Wigs. I wear the ones that previously matched my old hair color. I do want to live an ordinary lifestyle."

Sasha inspected Seiko up and down. Perfect looks, smarts, and background. What is ordinary about you? I mean you go to that super rich hard to get into school I've been tryin' for the longest time to get into! Yoshi told me your rank one too! Golly, what can't you do?

"What do you think of Isamu?" Sasha inquired.

"Hm?" Seiko processed the question. "I think Isamu's alright. He is dependable when need be. For someone who does not seem very brave, he is willing to help when the time calls for it. When we were separated, Isamu helped save me, and he looks over Kiyoshi well. He told me that he had a sibling too. Her name is Natsuki Ito."

Sasha absorbed the information like a sponge.

Then what Seiko said next was something Sasha thought that she would never say. "The strangest thing is, I detest people like Isamu. However, there is someone who I dislike more than them. The latter will be a secret."

"... What are you talkin' about?" Sasha tried to think of anything about Isamu that was negative, besides his obvious lack of any physical skills.

"To answer the first question, I do not like people who put themselves down in an excessive way." Seiko answered. "To me, Isamu is the epitome of someone who does exactly that. I know you must be shocked by my statement."

Sasha nodded.

"It aggravates me whenever anyone lowers themselves because they cannot stand who they are." Seiko admitted. "It is extremely obvious that Isamu believes this. This does not mean that I hate Isamu. I just wish he would start to care about himself a little more."

Sasha contemplated before she said anything else. "Isamu is pretty self hatin'. You know, back then, I think his eyes were like this." Sasha used her hands to narrow her eyes.

Seiko chuckled. "That would be an interesting sight to see. If he really was like that, is that not a complete 180?"

"He was!" Sasha then explained to Seiko her dream.

"If the sources of information we've gleaned over the course of around two weeks are true," Seiko began curling a lock of hair, 'it is not hard to piece together certain facts around. If we entered three years ago, we must have had the personalities our child selves had. If we also failed in saving Hitomi and the world as a whole, maybe our personalities changed. Isamu being different from now seems plausible, if those memories of defeat still linger in us today."

So Isamu could have been that stuck up jerk that kissed my hand to tick me off or somethin'? Maybe that dream meant I didn't get along with him? We do interact without any arguments in the present... so improvement from there? Gah! He ticks me off. That boy, wait until I find out about the past.

"If only Minoru could tell us about the past," Seiko was deep in thought, "so many mysteries could be cleared."

"Yeah." Sasha stated. "And only if our digimon told us everythin'."

"Magomon would kill us." Eismon was listening closely to any ambushes. "Literally. In his state, Magomon can take any one of us down. What I was going to tell Kasaimon earlier, that would have earned me a ticket straight to Primary Village."

"What does he have to hide?" Terriermon adjusted himself comfortably on Sasha's head. "He's seems like a pretty chill digimon."

"That's what he wants you to think." Vetermon waggled a finger. "That's what we all want you to think. We seven have our own secrets to keep. Well us, Sir Minoru, and our partners if they remembered."

Wizardmon nodded. "There's some things better left hidden."

"How is it your right to decide what's best for us?" Sasha blurted. "I mean, if Minoru can take all that stuff in stride, Seiko and me can too!"

"I agree." Seiko butted in. "In my opinion, I would rather know the truth than be oblivious to the past and our present situation. The truth will hurt, I know."

"Halt!" Eismon commanded. "I hear something."

Sasha didn't.

"It's... run for it! Tapirmon!" Eismon swiveled around and ran at top speed.

Sasha kept looking until she saw several glowing eyes in the distance.

"Nightmare Syndrome!"

"Waaahhhh!" Sasha ran like a track star. A dark aura beam thing almost grazed her.

"Run for it!" Terriermon yelled while clutching onto Sasha for dear life.

"Why are we running?" Seiko pointed to the digimon with them. "We have a champion, our partners, and a digimon most likely stronger than those Tapirmon. Tapirmon are rookie level, are they not?"

"Then let's engage!" Vetermon turned around, beginning to uncover her sword. "Air Burst!"

The Tapirmon scattered, but began regrouping.

Eismon grabbed her by her collar and began to drag her. "Vetermon! I know you can't see, but there's a more than a hundred to one of us. We'll be slaughtered! I don't want to become a Digiegg so soon!"

"This is Tapirmons' home territory." Wizardmon lagged a bit to help Eismon pull Vetermon. "It's better to run away for now. They are angered by something or someone, and they believe we're the cause."

"Stop!" Terriermon shouted.

Sasha halted. She almost fell down a deep chasm. Looking down, she couldn't see the bottom. Sasha gulped. Hey, good thing I didn't fall down like Isamu.

"We're jumping." Wizardmon prepared to dive down. "It's now or never."

"You crazy?!" Sasha stared at him in disbelief.

"Okay, I'll jump first." Seiko was teetering, one foot already off solid ground.

Sasha pulled her back. "Wanting death that badly Seiko?"

"No, I just believe in his words." Seiko was fully convinced. "Wizardmon wouldn't lie and send us off to our deaths." Then she jumped off, bringing Eismon down with her.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Vetermon pushed off Sasha and Terriermon

"Kyyaaaa!" Sasha fell, tears blurring her vision. Oh god I'm dead. Pushed off by my own partner. Someone please write that on my gravestone.

Then they stopped. Sasha opened her eyes. We're floating? What?

Wizardmon was levitating them with his staff. "I'll gently let everyone down."

As soon as Sasha's feet touched the ground, she felt relieved. "Vetermon, I thought you would really kill me."

"Miss Sasha, preposterous!" Vetermon was aghast. "Don't think that, ever! I would never betray you!"

"Wait everyone, quiet for a moment!" Seiko had her D-Links out. "A signal! It must be a digiegg!"

Sasha brought her D-Links out as well.

"It's green." Terriermon motioned his ear to the dot. "Minoru's was purple."

"Than it must be Germogliomon, Kiyoshi's partner!" Vetermon was elated. "This is where she was! I'm just so glad she's safe."

"Yes, I'm glad too." Eismon frowned. "Why is she here though?"

"We'll have to figure that out when we reach the destination." Wizardmon was looking at Seiko's screen.

XXXXX

A reptile-like digimon decked out in kendo armor pointed a bamboo sword straight at Seiko's face. Eismon looked shocked. He pulled Seiko away from the kendo digimon.

"We're here to retrieve someone or something." Seiko spoke calmly. She was completely unfazed. "We bring no harm."

"I don't believe you lady!" The digimon spoke in a high pitched voice trying to sound commanding. "Where's your proof?"

"Well, we're human and we have D-Links." Sasha brought hers out. "D-Links means saving the Digiworld, right?"

"Y-You!" The digimon pointed the sword at Sasha. "We meet again you brat."

Sasha took his weapon and hit him on the head. That was easy. "Say that again and you get another hit pipsqueak!"

"Give it back!" The digimon struggled, but couldn't get it out of Sasha's grasp.

"Kotemon, apologize to those young ones please." A mechanical digimon appeared behind him. He appeared to be a squat, reddish brown android. "They can be trusted. Lead them inside."

"I am deeply sorry." The Kotemon bowed down low, reluctantly. Sasha handed him his bamboo sword. Hesitantly, Kotemon snatched it. "Next time, I will treat guests better."

"Sorry. Name's Guardromon." The android digimon spoke. "He's still on the way to reformation. Hey hey hey... Dynasmon?"

Dynasmon? He's Dynasmon? Ugh, got to tell everyone this later. Wizardmon's definitely the Dynasmon with Hitomi then.

"Craniamon?" Wizardmon's eyes widened. "What are you doing here, wasting away in this place?"

"Protecting Germogliomon of course!" Guardromon laughed heartily. "That's what I've been doing all this time while you were cooped up in Witchelny Crossway! And this little guy," Guardromon patted Kotemon on the back, "is the Musyamon from earlier Sasha Alkaev. The one you defeated? Same one! He's going to become the new Crusadermon!"

Vetermon coughed. "You?"

"That's right so you better be prepared next time!" Kotemon wildly swung his bamboo sword.

"What an interestin'... turn of events." Sasha tried to interpret the scene before her.

"I'll say." Terriermon and Eismon both spoke in unison. They looked as confused as Sasha.

"Let's get Germogliomon now!" Guardromon led them into a temple.

Inside, lay not a digiegg, but a digimon. Germogliomon was suspended in the air by multiple vines wrapped around her. Flowers of different colors glowed softly, illuminating the room.

Germogliomon was asleep. She was wearing a spring green dress that stopped right at her knees. There was a black layer underneath as well as a ribbon with a four leaf clover button where the v neck on the green dress ended. The dress had one sleeve reaching to her elbow. A trailing mark of a snake was visible from her hand up. A glove beginning from her elbow down was on her other arm. Her medium length, bright green hair matched her outfit perfectly. Germogliomon's green boots was the same color as her dress, and she was wearing black tights. A pink feathered pin was attached to the left side of her hair.

Seiko approached, but the vines attacked her.

"Schnee Wind!"

The vines became frozen, and dissipated into bits.

"Ah, so I guess we need Kiyoshi Suzuki after all." Guardromon shifted from side to side.

"Why?" Sasha was puzzled.

"Germogliomon told me that only Kiyoshi could come and get her." Guardromon sighed. "She purposely set up those vines that way. I didn't believe her until now. Where's Kiyoshi anyway?"

"We were separated." Eismon explained, a bit disheartened.

"We'll be back with Kiyoshi in tow." Sasha was determined.

"Yes," Seiko nodded, "just wait a little longer."

"What are we waiting for, let's go!" Terriermon was ready to leave, turning Sasha to the exit.

"Guardromon, we need to talk once Germogliomon wakes up." Wizardmon stated.

"Yes yes, we do." Guardromon was in a thinking position. "I want to talk with Magomon though."

"Magomon? He knows about this place?" Vetermon questioned.

"He went to go track down the digiegg of the tall white haired boy." Kotemon answered. "Said he'd be coming back once he found it."

"Then this will be our rendezvous point." Seiko suggested.

"Great idea!" Sasha stated. "Now let's get to findin'!"

Day 12 - Digital World, Cliffs of Tapirmon: Hitomi Suzuki

"Hitomi?" Minoru cupped his hands on her face. The distance between them began closing in as he leaned forwards.

So... so close!

Hitomi pushed Minoru away and stood up. There was awkward silence as Hitomi realized Lueurmon was there as well as a Syakomon. To break the tense atmosphere, she brought out a bad pun. "I once heard a joke about amnesia, but I forgot how it goes."

"Pff!" Kiyoshi, now awake, was trying to suppress a laugh.

"Hitomi... is it really you?" Lueurmon questioned, raising his lantern.

"This is Cliffs of Tapirmon." Hitomi spoke rapidly. "Dreams can manifest if the desire is strong. Right Minoru? You should know. From back then."

Minoru slowly nodded. "Yes, that's how it went."

"So what are you supposed to be?" Lueurmon lowered his lantern.

"A manifestation of Minoru's desire to..." Hitomi felt her face going red "... to see me."

Minoru was turning red at this point too. "Y-yeah."

"Man, this is getting complicated." Syakomon said.

Kiyoshi rolled his eyes. "You can say that again."

Syakomon did just that.

XXXXX

"Come on slowpoke! The early bird catches the worm." Hitomi tugged on Minoru's sleeve. Minoru was lagging behind the rest.

"All right, all right." Minoru smiled and quickened his pace. To Hitomi, his expression was unatural.

Oh no oh no... what happened to everyone these three years? Minoru's unsettling... he's been acting super friendly and such. Like I was never gone. Kiyoshi looks pretty melancholic too. What happened with my family? Dad and mom? I've been gone too long... I should try to find out what happened to everyone first.

"Minoru, how's your life been?"

"Stellar." Minoru's lying smile widened. "It's been quite a content life. Mamoru's doing well."

"That's great!" Hitomi played along, giggling. "How is your family doing?"

"Yes." Minoru's smile began to falter. "I've been getting along with my family a lot better than I used to."

A lie. Things are probably bad as ever. "Then what about your art? Gaining any recognition?" Hitomi asked.

"Oh that," Minoru smiled again, " I've been spending a lot of time on those recently. I think I've been slacking on my academics. I'm third this year in school. You know the school we wanted to get into? I'm going to that one."

"The school with the lame name? Future of Tomorrow School?"

Minoru nodded. "That one. You shouldn't make fun of the name though, Yoshi's mother is in charge of the school. Seiko and Yoshi's going too. Funny how the school with one of the most lamest names became one of the most influential."

"Remember the joke from school? I'm reading a book about anti-gravity." Hitomi sighed.

"It's impossible to put down." Minoru finished for her.

Hitomi puffed her cheeks. "Minoru, it's not a joke unless I finish it."

Minoru chuckled. "That was an easy one."

"I wish we... could go to school together." Hitomi sighed.

"Yeah..." Minoru had a wistful look on his face.

Hitomi noticed Minoru staring at her hand with a longing face. She took his hand and started to swing it. Minoru flinched but let her go on. She then sped up and grabbed Kiyoshi's hand too. Hitomi did the same with Kiyoshi. The three were all linked together like old times. There's so much I want to ask Kiyoshi too. Like, how's mom and dad? Or, how was school? What was the last thing dad made for the family? Right now, let's just be quiet. Just for this second, don't let this moment end.

"Is this... what you were leading us to?" Minoru asked. He looked down into the abyss.

"Yes!" Hitomi answered in an enthusiastic manner. "There's the temple down here."

Lueurmon looked down at the cliff below them. "How would someone like you know?"

"Yeah. Aren't you like... Minoru's projection?" Kiyoshi was puzzled.

"Minoru knows, am I right?" Hitomi asked. "The temple that should be down there."

"The empty one?" Minoru asked in return. "Didn't we purposely make it deserted? How did the digimon find it anyway? We placed it somewhere obscure."

"The Digimon World evolved without us." Hitomi asserted. "There are new digimon you and I do not recognize as well as changes in the landscape. It's inevitable that a digimon living in these environments could discover it one day."

Minoru seemed to be organizing his thoughts. "That's true. The world was vastly different than when we used to be here three years ago."

"Nothing..." Syakomon stated. "Nothing at all. It's super dark in there."

Tell me about it. I was trying to get down there earlier... no Magomon, no luck. Can't fly. I'll be a stain on the floor.

Suddenly, several people and digimon shot up from the crevasse.

"Ou-ouch..." Minoru was one the ground with Sasha Alkaev on him.

"Oof! Oh, Thanks Minoru!" Sasha's smiled widened. "I would've been a goner. Both Seiko and I must be super lucky today!"

Hitomi approached Sasha casually, not to arouse suspicion. Any hesitation can bring someone to suspect me. I'm supposed to be a manifestation so I need to act how Minoru will think I will. Especially Lueurmon. Minoru and I created him to be the smartest of the Digimon Tsumi. "Are you okay? Let me help you up." Hitomi brought out a hand to help Sasha.

"No need," Sasha stood up, pushing herself up against Minoru's body. He let out a grunt of pain. "Who're you anyway? Not someone I've seen here."

"Hitomi." Seiko Sasaki entered the scene, with Schneemon. "That is your name, am I correct?"

"Yes! You must be Seiko Sasaki." Hitomi turned to Seiko. "It's great to meet everyone again." She smiled sweetly.

"Isn't Hitomi supposed to be dead?" A Terriermon on Sasha's head inquired.

My heart sank a little hearing that.

"Nah," Kiyoshi answered, "she's supposed to be some kind of spirit because Minoru wanted to see her again."

"Y-yeah." Minoru stuttered.

"So that's why she's here." Wizardmon was trying to make sense of the situation.

"I'm glad that everyone's okay." Schneemon looked relieved. "No one's hurt?"

"We're fine." Lueurmon was inspecting the other group for any damage. "No attacks with us. We were lucky as well. Your group?"

"Fine." Vetermon was inspecting Minoru and Sasha for any injuries. "Miss Hitomi," Vetermon approached Hitomi and bowed low, "as long as you're here, I will be treating you like everyone else."

"Why thank you." Hitomi curtsied. "Would you like to hear a pun now? It's associated with knights. A princess says to a knight 'Good night, don't let the bed bugs bite.'"

Everyone groaned except Kiyoshi who tried to stifle a laugh.

"Kiyoshi, you find that funny?" Sasha pinched his nose.

"Everyone has a different sense of humor." Seiko stated it like it was a scientific fact.

Kiyoshi rubbed his nose. "Well... it was funny." His jacket sleeve was beginning to slip from his shoulder.

Before Seiko could, Hitomi intervened and pulled up his jacket instead.

"Well, where did everyone come from?" Syakomon was still looking down deep into the dark.

"You see, there was this temple thingy in the middle of nowhere down there!" Sasha exclaimed.

"Oh, we were going there just now." Minoru was adjusting his hair back to its original style. He clipped his hair clips in the roman numeral seven. It made Hitomi warm inside when she saw him.

"Really? You know that place?" Wizardmon asked.

Terriermon tilted his head. "How?"

"Minoru knows of the place," Lueurmon answered, "we were going there to try to discern our location in these huge cliffs."

"Well then, you are in for a surprise Kiyoshi." Seiko was brought out her D-Links. "If you will just come over here a bit. Actually, all of you who has D-Links."

I know what she means. Germogliomon. Everyone did exactly what Seiko suggested. Their D-Links began to glow. A green dot appeared on the screen.

"Wait a minute... the color's green." Minoru was trying to process this discovery.

"Germogliomon?" Lueurmon was shocked. "What's she doing here?"

"Our questions exactly." Vetermon was on the lookout for something. "We won't know until she wakes up."

"And we need Kiyoshi for that." Scheemon added.

"Why me?" Kiyoshi was confused. "Wouldn't she be in egg form?"

"That's not the case!" Sasha suddenly butted in. "Germogliomon's already in rookie form."

Even Hitomi was confused by this notion, but there was something else on her mind. "Wait, Germogliomon's in rookie form? I was going to mention this before, but why is Schneemon in champion form anyway?"

"We were attacked by some digimon on the way back," Seiko was close to Schneemon. To be more accurate, Schneemon was protectively guarding her. "Wizardmon, Buryamon, and Schneemon managed to fend them off, but they could be here hiding in the dark. Vetermon is in her rookie form because it was easier to carry her up the cliff."

"So basically you need me to awaken Germogliomon and digimon are after you?" Kiyoshi stressed. "Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"

Hitomi put her hands on his shoulders and smiled down at him. "We'll get that situated soon enough. Why don't we go and meet your partner?"

Day 12 - Digital World, Cliffs of Tapirmon: Yoshi Takahashi

We didn't win. It was a tie.

Magomon fell to the ground after the battle was over. He reverted back into his rookie form which Yoshi didn't know the name off. Magomon was battered and injured pretty badly.

"Magomon!" Honomon went and supported Magomon. Assombrirmon was fretting over him, competely clueless on what to do.

"They got away." Isamu pursed his lips. "At least we managed to equally hurt their Youkomon."

Not like that's a good thing. Who cares what we did to the other side? Our side is still hurt too. "If only Lueurmon was here!" Yoshi grabbed his hair in frustration. "He could have healed Magomon up in a jiffy!"

Isamu brought out his D-Links and pointed it towars Magomon. A profile popped up. "Magomon's rookie form is Illusionistamon. His moves are-"

Yoshi didn't hear the rest and ran up to Illusionistamon. Illusionistamon had his mask over his face, and Yoshi didn't want to look what was underneath. I don't think Magomon, I mean Illusionistamon, would want me to disturb his privacy. Other than that, Illusionistamon was wearing a white dress shirt with black vest and pants. He seemed to be from the Victorian Era with the clothes he wore. The mask was based on a Japanese fox. Yoshi also noticed a fox mark on the side of Illusionistamon's neck.

"He'll make it." Honomon was concerned. "Probably."

"No, it's he will make it. No probably!" Assombrirmon yelled.

"I...I'm alright." Illusionistamon whispered. "I know of a place..." Keep going east of here and a green signal should appear on their D-Links. It's a safe area."

"Then let's go." Yoshi was determined to repay all of Illusionistamon's help.

"What are we waiting for? Forward march!" Assombrirmon guided the group in the haze. Apparently, her dark attribute allowed her to navigate the cliffs.

Honomon was holding Illusionistamon in his arms. Illusionistamon's breath was slight. Isamu's face was grim for some reason.

"Isamu...what is it? Your face for a while makes me feel like Illusionistamon isn't going to make it."

"Oh, don't worry, he will." Isamu replied. "I've checked his pulse. It's steady. We just need to treat his injuries. At this rate, if the place is close enough, Illusionistamon only needs rest."

"Isamu, you sound like some trained professional." Yoshi tried to guess something. "Wanting to be a doctor or another career in the medical field?"

"I wanted to be," Isamu began,"but it's all gone now. Besides that, Illusionistamon's profile!"

"What about it? I didn't hear it" Yoshi answered.

Isamu looked intently into Yoshi's eyes. "Illusionistamon's profile listed his origins. The D-Links stated that he's one of a kind digimon. There's no one else like him."

Yoshi didn't see the point of this. "So? What about it? Our partners are also one of a kind too.. probably."

"It stated that Illusionistamon was created by a human, sent into the world to gather the Digimon Tsumi!" Isamu hissed in Yoshi's ear. "Isn't that weird? We're trying to destroy exactly what he wants to do. His objective is the same as our partners though... so are our partners wrong or the D-Links?"

Yoshi just stared, his mind already a blank.

What!?

End of Chapter 11! Wowza! It's already been eleven chapters and... around half a year since I started this fic. Sorry everyone, life pulls me away. Also, I'm using my mom's computer since my older sister (not the one that proofreads) took mine away since she broke her own. D:

Well, Hitomi is finally in the picture. I can't wait to write the next chapter. :D

please review. I love everyone's feedback