Chapter 2: Chrysalimon

"Ugh, we've been walking for hours," Kira grumbled as they walked, his feet and legs aching, his japanese fan waving consistently to keep him as cool as possible, and his head dipping downwards in exhaustion.

"Stop whining, it isn't proper, and yeah my legs and feet ache too, and my stomach, and the back of my head, and-" Sakura said only to start her own rant.

"Now who's whining?" Biyomon asked amused as he interrupted her.

"I prefer Kira's whining, it suits him better than it does Sakura," Dracomon remarked as he winked at the bird digimon who snickered alongside him, clearly these two were good friends.

"Thanks, I always thought my whining had a certain shall we say, beauty to it. I mean, it can't as annoying Sakura's," Kira muttered with a shared snicker with Dracomon and Kotemon, as Sakura gave them a frosty look.

"Think of this as an excursion, as an adventure, though it is starting to be physically painful." Michiru admitted, attempting to cheer them up and be optimistic though his own spirit dragged behind in exhaustion, nearly as far as Itachi, who coughed, sweated and panted almost twenty meters behind the rest.

"Um, guys. Itachi's fallen behind again," Kaitou pointed out, as he pulled on Sakura's dress, and pointed to the lagging kid, with Sakura, Michiru and Kira walking along the path side by side, while Kaitou and Sana walked behind them, with the digimon either in front of the oldest kids or behind the two younger ones, none save the brown-haired boy had noticed the other boy lagging behind, and this was only because Dorumon had reported it to him, after noticing Keramon was missing.

"We have to slow down." Sakura instantly decided.

"Why? His own fault for lagging, and for being a hindrance," Kira snapped unwilling to compromise in the slightest for the child.

"Um guys, he doesn't look too good," This time it was Sana who though weary from all the walking was managing it better than some, due to how accustomed she was to exercise.

"Yeah, he looks worse than Kira's hair." Biyomon noted a hint of concern in his voice.

"Hey!"

"Yeah, now I'm worried," Dracomon pipped up, "Why don't we stop somewhere, and soon."

"I could use a break myself," Elecmon added as always eager to stop and relax every five minutes.

"We can't stop now," Kira insisted in spite of his own exhaustion now, anything to grant Itachi a reprieve.

"But why not? We can't keep pushing him like this," Dorumon argued looking heartbroken for the small weary child, as maternal as ever (in spite of being a male digimon).

"Hey hurry it up back there," Sana shouted to the back, as Keramon noticed how they were waiting for them.

'Ugh of all the partners to get, it had to be the useless one,' Keramon thought as he glanced to the left at his newfound partner, the one that old fart had saddled him with when he had reprogrammed him after taking his data from the internet. It had to be this one, this sickly little dying weakling. The weak don't survive, this was a strong thread of thought and philosophy in Keramon's very core of his being, and yet he was being made to look after the weakest creature he had ever seen. 'Will you hurry it up?'

Panting, gasping and coughing as he all but fell to the ground the minute he reached the group, Itachi looked about as puckered out as he'd ever been. Falling onto his rear, he murmured breathlessly, "Why are we stopped? Have you found a spot to camp?"

"No, we were forced to wait for you, now stop holding us back already," Kira snapped before he stormed off, with Dracomon glancing between Itachi and Kira clearly divided, with Keramon looking as though he were considering the older Digidestined.

Glaring at Kira's back, with a quiet and dark anger, Itachi seemed to swallow and sag back onto him, as he stared down at the ground in helpless rage and pain, clearly frustrated by his sickly body. His was not a goodly lot in the jungle of life, his flesh all but a prison at times as often as it was a blessing.

"We can't keep going like this," Michiru concluded, as he looked about, hoping to find a restaurant or a house to stay at for the night.

"We need to stay together as a group," Sakura insisted.

"But what about Itachi? I'm worried about him," Kaitou said scared, having never seen anyone all that sick before or that weak, he felt as though it may be contagious or maybe as though if he blinked Itachi would suddenly die. A notion that for such a hearty little boy, was far more real and terrifying than he knew how to verbalize.

"Then keep worrying, what can we do?" Sana shot back, as Itachi gave them both looks.

"I can keep going," Itachi grunted not convincing anyone of this, only that he was stubborn and as angry as anyone ever was.

"Actually you can't, so therefore I'll carry you," Dorumon suggested in exasperation, taking pity yes but also compassion upon the worn infant, who seemed to debate mentally about whether to accept this offer of help.

Should he accept but be seen as accepting charity, and therefore be seen as weak? And if he did reject it, what would he do? He was exhausted, hungry and knew he could not walk for another kilometer never mind another few meters ahead.

"That's so cool of you Dorumon!" Kaitou cheered, before he turned to Sana, "My digimon is nicer."

"Good for you," Sana shot back irritably thinking he was insulting Biyomon, though he had no such intention.

"Aw don't be that way, everyone knows Dorumon is the nicest digimon around," Biyomon reassured her, as he grinned a little at Dorumon, not at all insulted or displeased as he himself adored his gullible prank victi-friend, yeah friend, who was in the midst of blushing at the praise.

"Either way, we need to keep moving," Kotemon replied indifferently, as he glanced back at Itachi, "Just get on Itachi, it'll be easier on all of us."

With a sigh Itachi moved to accept the offer, having learned not to rely upon Keramon in the past few hours, saving his life was one thing but open-handed compassion seemed foreign to the large strange-looking digimon, who stared at him and Dorumon as though he were calculating something.

'My partner, what would happen should he grow more dependent and attached to someone else? Or should I try to trick him into caring more for me, to need me more, would I garner more energy and power from him?' Keramon wondered to himself voicelessly as the conversation took place. Resentful of Dorumon, he did not trust the open kindness, the effeminate dragon digimon was showing as the older digimon considered the situation only to come to a decision. 'I hate weakness, but I must have my vengeance, and for that I need this pathetic human, perhaps I could turn him against Izzy, Tai and Matt in time.'

Manipulating someone else for his own ends, now that Keramon could live with and even jump onto however forfeiting his chance at what was rightfully his and being denied it by some stupid purple excuse for a male specimen, was disgraceful.

"I will carry him," Keramon said quietly as he stepped forward, turned his back to Itachi, and said over his shoulder, "Get on. Now."

The defiant look he sent Dorumon made the other digimon wilt, positively terrified of the glower sent his way, brave in the face of danger but cowardly in the face of other digimon's anger, Dorumon instantly peeled back a little. "Um, maybe it is for the best, you are his partner after all."

"Keramon is going soft." Biyomon chirped at the bug, who imagined blowing him up in a puff of feathers and fire, which made him smirk a little, not that the pink bird cared or was intimidated.

Itachi seemed to hesitate, as he considered his partner, he stared him in the eye long and hard, and for a long time Keramon thought he was going to reject his offer and favour that of Dorumon's instead. But then, he clambered forward and was picked up and with two tentacles to hold him in place on the larger Rookie's back, he nestled there and sagged forward wearily.

"Now that we have that settled, can we go now?" the ever impatient 9 years old girl asked, wanting to catch up with the others.

"What took you?" Kira had enquired impatiently, only to glance at Keramon who gave him a hard look back, which caused him to turn about and stomp forward, without pushing the issue further.

"We were held up by circumstances," Keramon retorted evenly.

"Try not to fall behind in the future, it's dangerous," Dracomon advised concerned as he fell into step next to Keramon and Itachi.

"I'm fine." Itachi mumbled weakly.

They all took a deep breath only to cheer when they saw the forest clearing up, giving way to another beach, this time though it looked vastly different; there was some distance between them and it, almost a half-hour's walk between them and the edge of it. As it stretched out, then curved then pushed to the east, in a curved mini-peninsula.

All along the beach though in the water stood huge cable and electric towers, which arced with electrical currents to the amazement of the children who gaped at it.

"Incredible," Sakura mumbled in awe.

"Aliens, the probability of my theory about intelligent life having arranged this, grows in probability," Michiru said to her, pleased with himself as Kira joked.

"Yes, it truly takes the greatest minds in the universe to make cable towers and set them up in the water."

"It does?" Dracomon asked dumbly only to then catch on to the sarcasm, "You were being sarcastic, weren't you?"

"Either way, the Electro Peninsula is the ideal place to make camp, it should be safe," Keramon decided as he stepped forward, having heard of the peninsula from his days as a Tsumemon when they were in the midst of waiting for their partners for all those eons.

"If you say so," This time it was Kaitou who pipped up, evidently he was learning to be careful in this strange world.

"Kid has a point, I'd still be a little careful, who knows if another digimon won't crop up." Elecmon added wisely as he moved in step with them.

The closer they got though, the lighter their worries seemed, until at last hope flared in all their bosoms and was further awakened when a light blinked on as from the edge of the peninsula the lights of the trolley flared on and let them know they were not alone.

This little slice of modern convenience and pleasure, was all they needed to give them a renewed burst of energy, as they all stared for several seconds only to all suddenly grin and charge forward.

"Do you guys see what I see?" Kira asked as he pointed at it, "It would appear that hope has rained down upon us from the skies!"

"Affirmative!" Michiru beamed.

"What is that?" Sana asked of Kira.

"Just something I read in my dad's study once," Kira replied as he leapt into action.

They all but barrelled inside hopeful to find other people. Surely the camp supervisor, one of the teachers from either of their grades would be there, or even a trolley-conductor. But all they found was some empty seats, more questions and their hope dashed.

"Nobody's here." Sakura said all but destroyed.

"It still looks nice," Kotemon assured her hopeful to salvage something of her earlier zeal.

"Who cares?! We're stuck! If no one is in here, and it can't bring us back to earth, then what is the point of it looking nice!?" She snapped with increasing heat.

"Well least there's ac, you can't complain about that," Kira replied neutrally, as full of despair as her, as he fell onto the ground in front of one of the seats, "Though it is disappointing."

"Sakura, it could be worse." Kaitou added ever the optimist on the team, only for Sakura to round on him.

"How?" She shot back at him viciously, only to catch herself.

"Sakura!" Kotemon hissed stricken by her behaviour.

"Sorry," Sakura mumbled aware of how she had just spoken to the destroyed boy, who looked visibly hurt by her words.

"Well least the seats look comfy, I'm gonna rest my legs," Sana said capable of some excitement though not much, anything to comfort her aching legs.

"I'm gonna roost on the roof," Biyomon decided thinking the roof looked more comfy.

"Now Sana be careful, we should check the seats for termites or something," Michiru suggested cautiously as he moved to do just that.

"But you could take forever," His little sister groaned back.

"He really is impossible sometimes right?" Elecmon said to her, as she nodded eagerly.

"It looks nice," Itachi commented bringing up the rear, indifferent to whether the others considered it comfy or not he glanced at one of the seats and plopped himself down on it. "Good enough for me."

"How can you say that?" Sakura asked still gloomy.

"Because, once you know worse, you know what better looks like," Itachi snapped at her seriously, causing Kaitou to look down at his feet with depressed eyes, Michiru to look away from the others and Sana to look confused if a little unsure.

"What do you mean?" Sakura wondered, only for her question to be ignored as Kira suddenly got up and left.

"Guys, I'm gonna go see about getting a fishing pole set up, we'll need some food." His tone was harsh and raspy, and his normally cheery melodramatic mood was struck from his tone and face and body-language.

'What's with him?' Michiru thought to himself, as he studied his profile as he left, Kira was a curious case he realized, a boy who could be as annoying and mouthy as can be, but then the next moment seemed angrier than anyone present. He was quite easily the second most selfish member of their team, as he then thought, 'Scratch that make that third, after Keramon then Sakura.'

It was a feeling of his that the grey digimon, the look of him and that odd internet battle that everyone had shrugged off months ago, that convinced him not to trust the internet bug. But what else could he do? Not to trust him, might cost him his sister's life and his own, and those of the group's. Suddenly viscerally in his gut a feeling of needing video games and some distraction tore through him, but he suppressed it; Kira was right about one thing; they needed food.

"If only we knew to hunt and forage," He mumbled.

"Don't you worry about that, we could do that." Elecmon stated, having heard him just as he heard most things within his own vicinity. "We already promised to do so, so we could do it for you also."

"You sure?" Sana asked hating to be a burden.

"Yes of course, I'd love to share what I catch with you Sana," Biyomon chirped up.

"It'd be the least we could do," This time it was Kotemon who spoke up, only to nudge his partner and joke, "Maybe it'll make you less prone to whining."

"I don't whine anymore than anyone else," She defended herself harrumphing as she planted her hands on her hips.

"Can you do it too Dorumon?" Kaitou asked of his own partner, who patted him on the head and nodded eagerly.

"Certainly!"

"Then I'll help!" He said back eagerly.

"I can help too." Itachi volunteered hating to be a burden and a charity case, he hated charity.

"You rest, else you'll be useless to us in the future," Keramon ordered as he dismissed his partner's assistance, his words akin to a knife in his gut as Itachi sagged in defeat, hurt and melancholic over the fact that he was truly a pity-case.

And so the digimon went off to hunt, forage and fish, with Kira and Keramon fishing, Elecmon hunting along with Biyomon and Dracomon whilst Kotemon and Dorumon searched for edible berries.

"This isn't a contest Keramon," Kira complained some time later as he fished alongside Kaitou, annoyed by how the cocky bug would comment about his small stack of two fish whilst he was already at six.

"Let's see if I can catch more!" Kaitou cheered having fun, having done a lot of fishing in his hometown.

Meanwhile Kotemon was teaching Sakura and Sana what berries and mushrooms are edible and which ones were not. Pointing to one group, he remarked, "Now see these ones are poisonous while those ones over there taste great, especially in a stew. A Palmon I know from Inari Isle taught me all about mushrooms and berries, be careful when selecting them."

"Wow, I didn't know you knew so much about berries and mushrooms," Sakura commented impressed by her partner, as Sana nodded.

"I thought this'd be boring, what with how we're not hunting." Sana added having wanted to go see the other digimon hunt and skin some animals more out of curiosity than out of blood-thirst, as she remembered one of Michiru's online friends from Canada or America had parents who were hunters.

"Kotemon knows all about berries and such, you should see him talk with the Motimon settlement, he also knows all about how to use wells and clean rain-water." Dorumon said admiringly, as Kotemon seemed pleased by the praise and puffed up beneath his kendo gear proudly.

"It's about contributing, we all must do so at some point," Kotemon replied as he fingered his men.

"Super Thunder Strike!" Elecmon roared elsewhere in the forest at a deer, shocking and killing it, as he stepped forward cheerily. "This outta feed us all, for nigh on a week."

"Ha, watch this!" Biyomon shot back as his competitive side reared its beaked head, as he took flight spotted some birds and went after one, "Spiral Twister!"

"Ugh, I'm not plucking the feathers," Dracomon grumbled as he went to work skinning the large deer he had spotted and let his friend shoot down.

"Hehe, what do you think Michiru? Michiru? Where'd he go?" Elecmon wondered as he looked about for his partner who seems to have disappeared, only to glance at his friend, "Dracomon did you see where Michiru went?"

"I thought you knew he had disappeared about half an hour ago, to go back to the camp." Dracomon retorted as he tore a whole in the beast, "Didn't you notice?"

"No, darn." Elecmon sighed as Biyomon cackled and pointed at Dracomon's bloodied face.

"You better jump in the river before Sakura or any of them see you looking like that Dracomon."

"You may have a point," The mini-dragon remarked sheepishly.

Upon returning to the campsite, Elecmon searched about for his partner, having left Dracomon and Biyomon, turning to Kira who looked annoyed by Keramon, "No need to gloat with that smirk, it wasn't a contest, geeze."

"Hey Kira, you seen Michiru?" Elecmon asked of the neon-green haired boy who glanced at him, blinking in surprise.

"No, why?"

"I was told he came back here."

"Did you see him, come back?" Kira asked of Kaitou in confusion, as the other boy looked even more confused.

"All I saw was Kira losing at his little contest and pretty badly." The last part was said with a guffaw.

"It wasn't a freaking contest!"

"Oh, but it was, and the score is six to nothing," Keramon retorted with a smirk only to turn to the other digimon. "He's in the trolley noticed him going in, while I was fishing ask Itachi."

Leaving the annoyed boy, the gleeful one and the pleased digimon, Elecmon leapt towards it breaking into a dead-run, as he made it there only to look about in the passengers' section and find Itachi absent.

"Now watch this, level ten should be a snap!" Michiru's voice could be heard from the front, the vaccine digimon rushed over to the driver's section, exiting the rear and opening the door to the aforementioned forward section in order to hop in.

"Michiru, do you have any idea how worried sick I was? Where were you?" Elecmon asked of his partner who was playing something on his computer.

"I was busy figuring out how to use this thing's power as a battery of sorts, for my laptop, and figured that this would be a more useful application of my time." Michiru replied with laugh and a dismissive wave of his hand, whilst Itachi looked from digimon to human sceptically.

"With games?!" Elecmon burst out once more, irritable as he ever could be.

"Least I'm entertaining Itachi, and found out my games work here even if internet access doesn't." Michiru replied indifferently, only for his interest to peak over something else, "Did you catch enough food?"

"Yeah no thanks to you," Elecmon grunted only to remark in a lighter tone, "Michiru tell me where you're going before you leave. Now what is so important about these games that pushed you to value them over our survival?"

"I didn't over-value them, I merely assessed that I was a nuisance and in the act of losing my lunch over what you were going to do once you took down a deer or buck, and opted to save my breakfast," Michiru replied steadily as he grinned at his own success in the game.

"You know this is your life, were you like this in the real world?" Elecmon asked now in frustration, as the human replied instantly.

"Yes."

"Is it worse here or there?" The thunder digimon grunted as he took the seat next to Itachi, with a scowl, as his partner's fingers halted for a second over the keyboard.

A flash of memory arced through Michiru, he remembered the humiliation, the shame of it, the irritation and anger caused by survival, the lack of proper gratitude and the hatred it had initially caused in him then the latter indifference, anything for Sana's survival, then he remembered her recent lack of gratitude for his-the game beeped and booped and his fingers flew back to the keyboard.

Suppressing the memories of the Real World, of how he wasn't exactly happy unless faced with a slice of code or data, of video games and their creation. If he could just change the world with a wave of his hand, if he could bring back-he squashed those thoughts, useless and futile they were, and they would remain such. If he could contribute nothing during a hunt, then best to remove oneself and focus on something to raise morale and contribute to the team.

"Michiru, is something the matter?" Elecmon asked more gently than earlier.

"No, everything is fine, thanks and I'll be more mindful of what you said today," the computer-geek said passively, filing the information passed onto him by his partner as important, for the future here, but not for the immediate present.

With a sigh of irritation Elecmon climbed down from the seat, as Itachi glanced at his retreating back, not having appreciated being thrown in front of the proverbial bull by Michiru, yet delighting in knowing secrets nobody else knew, he remained silent. He had noticed Michiru freeze along with Elecmon, and he wondered if there was a big dark secret, he wished he could know. But he supposed if it was anything like what anyone's secret usually was, it'd be plenty unpleasant.

Life was a terrible thing, he knew and accepted. He could understand that, but to just passively give up was something he could not fathom, why give up caring for what others did for and to you? Michiru was a mystery that made his head hurt a little, he wished he could ask Kira or Keramon, but he doubted they cared to answer any questions he may have.

"Michiru, do you not like Elecmon?" Itachi asked deciding to try finding out a bit more anyways, despite his instincts telling him to avoid asking questions.

"I like him just fine, I just figured you could use something to pass the time, you know how's about I show you how to fish later," Michiru offered hoping to change the subject.

"I'd like that." Itachi agreed instantly, eager to help but then he climbed down, to leave weary of Michiru's presence.

"Where are you going?"

"Out, one liar and selfish person is more than enough per room in my experience," Itachi explained as he stepped out, leaving Michiru hurt and contemplating his words, as he moved to join Sakura and Sana who were coming back with their arms full of berries and such.

"It's not like I enjoy, lying or being selfish," Michiru mumbled when the door closed, eyes fixated on his laptop.

"Look what we found, it's all thanks to Kotemon," Sakura was in the midst of cheering as she stared at the assembled branches and twigs, then at Kira. "Why didn't you get the fire started?"

"You have a lighter?" He shot back.

"No."

"Then how do I do it?" Kira asked back impatiently, though he didn't like him, Itachi was inclined to agree with him against all odds, as the question was a fairly stupid one on her part.

"Like this," Dracomon snapped as he returned with a large deer held between him and Dorumon who had been fetched to help him carry the large carcass, only to spit out a small fireball at the small fire spot. "Help me out here Elecmon, we'll need a separate fire for this thing."

"Sure," Elecmon bounced off into action which was unusual for him, as he assembled the leaves and tree branches and assembled them alongside Keramon who with a sigh decided to contribute, eager for a slice himself.

"You know Dracomon, you are definitely the handiest dude I've ever met," Kira complimented, causing his partner to grin.

"I know right?"

"And so modest, too." Sana muttered sarcastically as she laid down the berries on a large leaf that was serving as a tarp of sorts to keep them from getting dirty.

"This looks good," Itachi said excitedly as he stared at the food with a watering mouth, his stomach growling loudly.

"Can we eat now?" Sana asked as hungry as he is.

"Yeah!" Kaitou joined in, only for Dorumon to scold them a little.

"Now children, try to be patient, you know what they say about patience…"

"It's overrated?" This time it was Biyomon who chirped up with a cackle that caused the purple dragon to scowl at him.

"I'm trying to teach an important moral and life lesson Biyomon, no need to disrespect my authority and the lesson, it is important-" Dorumon began to lecture only to be interrupted by Kira.

"Okay, mom no need to get fired up, besides I think the fish should be ready soon." He interrupted as he took a stick and stuck the fish on it near the fire.

Dorumon sighed in irritation, but said nothing as annoyed as he was there was little he could do as he nodded his head, still glowering at the grinning Biyomon only for the three children to soon want to dig in.

"How are we supposed to eat without chop-sticks?" Itachi asked as he eyes his fish, uncertainly, some time later causing his partner to roll his eyes, and for Dorumon to blink at him at the same time as Biyomon, wide-eyed and mouth full of berries and fish, as they exchanged a glance.

"Use your brain for once, and just dig in with your hands," Kira snapped as he did just that, only for him to add to the surprise and disappointment of his partner, "Look at what I'm doing."

"Kira, don't." Dracomon whispered unhappily, he rather liked Itachi, sure the kid seemed fairly unhealthy in comparison to most, but the kid was as curious and eager as the other two, just more scared and confused was all. Of all of them, he was the only one to have not complained about being in Digiworld, which earned points in Dracomon's book. Not to mention, the dragon was weary of strife and of his partner's attitude towards Itachi.

"Kira, snapping at a kid is hardly the Japanese way," Sakura scolded sharply. "You need to shape up, and learn how to properly behave and think."

"And who died and made you boss?" Kira shot back at her, as he glared back, "Sakura if you haven't noticed we're not exactly in Japan."

"Not another fight," Kaitou mumbled looking destroyed, "Guys, don't raise your voices."

"Shut up Kaitou," Kira ordered.

"Don't tell him what to do, this isn't a monarchy but a democracy," Sakura snapped now, patience clearly at an end.

"Yeah, so why do you keep telling me what and how to think?" Kira retorted smarmily to her growing fury.

"Are they fighting again?" Kotemon asked in exasperation.

"Yup," Keramon confirmed indifferently, "Who cares?"

"I hate it when they get like this," Sana grumbled gloomily, 'I wish Michiru was here. He'd know what to do.'

As though he had heard her wishes, Michiru came hurrying along a sheepish look on his face as he eyes the meat and the berries, not noticing the tension between the oldest girl and the green-haired boy.

"Man, that smells good I am starved-what's going on? Did I miss something?" He wondered as he stared from one person to the next, confused.

"Nothing," Elecmon said pleased to have finally drawn him away from his games.

"Thank heavens, Michiru!" Sana said pleased to see her brother, as Kaitou looked up at him hopeful to have found an older kid who wasn't going to shout.

"You missed only Kira being a jerk to Sakura, and bullying her as she tried to force what she wants on us," Itachi informed him, as both older kids jerked their heads to stare at him, with Kira glowering as Itachi returned it with a little sneer of his own.

"Guys, we're going to need to work together, to get out of this mess. And we can't do that if you all can't get along, you don't see Kaitou, Sana and Itachi behaving so immaturely." Michiru reprimanded them, as he took his seat between Kaitou and Sana to dig into the food.

"I didn't do anything!" Sakura insisted now angry at both Itachi and Michiru as well.

After this the meal quieted down with little to no chatter, Sana looked uncertain of what to say, Kaitou looked as though he wanted to cry, Itachi looked indifferent, and Michiru couldn't help but wonder what was happening to their little group. Were they going to break apart after just one day of travels?

"I'm going to sleep." Kira declared as he yawned, needing an excuse to ditch them and be alone with his thoughts, and to get away from Itachi and Sakura.

"Wait Kira, we need to discuss one thing; how do we know it's safe?" Michiru asked as he glanced about the forest as though he expected danger to pop up out of nowhere.

"What do you mean?" Sakura questioned.

"What I mean is, I think we should set up watch, with maybe one or two of the digimon contributing as well." Michiru suggested as he looked from one kid to the other, "Well?"

"Hmm, I suppose it is an idea," Sakura said uncertainly.

"Sounds smart to me, but who goes first?" Kira wondered, scratching at an itch in the back of his scalp.

"I think it should be you, then Sakura, then myself then maybe Biyomon can pick up, for the rest of the night. Then tomorrow Dorumon can have a watch, and we'll go from there." Michiru theorized mildly, only to find immediate objections to his idea.

"Hey, I wanna help!" Sana objected instantly, "I can stand watch with Biyomon!"

"No you can't, you're young and need to rest." Michiru scolded her, shaking his head at her, only to add, "My decision is final Sana."

"You suck," She shot back as she raised her chin defiantly.

"I can help too," This time it was Kaitou who wanted to offer his help not wanting to be outdone by a girl.

"You need your sleep too," Dorumon decided for him now, as he turned to Michiru, "I can help tonight."

"We need you well rested for tomorrow, since you seem to be the only one who can digivolve to a higher level," Michiru explained thoughtfully.

"Okay, I guess."

As they spoke Itachi climbed to his feet to leave, full and disinterested in the conversation, he began to head back down the peninsula, only for Kotemon to notice this and remark. "Hey where are you going?"

"This decision is already made, so I'm going to go sit by myself," Itachi retorted not wanting to be near them anymore, tired and with his head pounding he just wanted to be alone. He had hoped that his partner would be more like Dorumon or something, or that Kira would soften a little, but he was in for only disappointment, as always he thought. Therefore, he just wanted to be alone, to think, to sleep and to look at the sky, without anyone to decide things for him.

"I'll go with you," Keramon said as he climbed up also, eager to follow and to see what he could do to peer into his partner's thoughts and mind, maybe it could give him a clue to how to turn him against Izzy, Matt and Tai.

"I need some space," Kira mumbled as he headed further down the beach, with Dracomon instantly offering to go with him.

"I'll go with you." He said brooking no argument.

While the kids and digimon moved to clean things up, and Michiru and Sakura moved about to transport some of the leaves into the trolley, then went to wash their hands in the lake first (who knew what might be hiding underwater they thought), Sakura turned to ask of the boy, considering him the wiser of the two older boys present.

"Michiru, have you noticed something about Kira?" She asked as she glanced in the direction of the boy off by himself.

"What exactly?"

"He doesn't seem to like Itachi, I just wonder why he hates him, the kid doesn't seem all that bad just quiet." Sakura remarked to him, unsure if she should be speaking out against anyone, wondering if it was the right thing to do.

"I'm sure he thinks he's got his reasons, Kira's got his good points from what I saw in school. He's popular, friendly to those he likes and can be melodramatic and funny, but he does seem to hate the boy. But it isn't any of our business," Michiru said as he cleared his hands of dirt and such.

"I guess."

Speaking of one of the aforementioned kids, the principal one they spoke of, he was in the midst of tossing rocks down into the lake, miserable and tired. With his partner brimming with things to say and to suggest as he sat next to his partner.

"So Kira, why do you hate Itachi?" Dracomon asked after a whole two minutes of silence, more than what he was normally used to.

"Do you have to ask me that? I'm not in the mood," Kira answered tired and not wanting to explain himself.

"Well I'm curious, so spit it out. It's only fair." Dracomon replied impatient with him, "You've been acting moodily towards him all day."

"I know okay," Kira retorted glumly. "I don't want to talk about it today, but if you need to know. I just don't like him, I remember being bullied by kids like him when I was younger, and you know something; I know some people like him still."

"But he isn't those people." Dracomon explained confused.

"I know okay? So drop it, maybe I'm just being emo." Kira shot back with a weak grin, hoping to get his partner to think he was telling the truth and being funny so he'd drop the subject.

"Keramon, do you ever wonder why you were born?" Itachi asked meanwhile, sitting outside of the trolley, with his knees drawn up to his chin, as he stared at the water.

"No. I know why, and how." Keramon replied shortly, unwilling to elaborate.

"I do." Itachi murmured sadly, "I hate being sad, or in pain yet all anyone ever does to me, is make me feel those things."

Keramon studied him out of the corner of his eye, startled and unsure. He had little compassion, little to offer the small child, he knew he needed him for digivolution now. He had seen the other digimon, seen how there was a bond between them and the humans. To be honest, he couldn't remember everything clearly from that time, he supposed there was some sort of data interference.

But he did know that, his creation was brought about by the programmer, the one who had created him then sought to destroy him immediately afterwards. Therefore, though he said nothing he smirked a little, thinking, 'what could this pathetic little human know of pain, of grief? Of betrayal?'

"Why do you say that?" Keramon asked feigning concern as best he could, though he didn't fully understand the concept as well as say Dracomon, Kotemon or heaven forbid; Dorumon.

Itachi seemed to hesitate, he didn't want to fully talk about it, but he had suppressed it, hidden it for a life-time. There were so many things he had hidden, so many things he had seen, he had hated, he had feared in his life, he had seen the monsters in the Real World, he had seen them but they never seemed to interact with the world, nobody noticed them except him. Though he was fairly sure, that Ms. Date had noticed them or knew of them, though he could be sure.

"It's just everyone is like Kira, is all." Itachi muttered, holding his knees close as he came to the decision that this was his partner, that maybe he ought to try as he had seen the others do with their partners, "I never had friends, not real ones I like being alone but why does everyone, have to be like Kira? Why was I born, if all they do is hate me? I didn't do anything to them. It's all their own fault!"

His loneliness, his pain and his obvious feelings of betrayal were ones Keramon could well understand, even if he was sure they could not compare with his own, he felt some degree of comfort. Nobody had ever shared much with him, in his short life, and this was as close to a connection as there was to be found, he thought.

"It is because they are jealous, or stupid. It doesn't matter, shut them out if need be. It is survival of the fittest, nobody belongs in our hearts, except what we want, and our own feelings. Let them burn, if it means you survive, I say." Keramon advised as he placed a large hand on Itachi's thick mop of dark hair, "But know that, though none of them are on your side, that I am not like them. We are partners, therefore nothing should matter to us except the other."

"I gu-guess, thanks Keramon." Itachi said quietly, as he took little comfort in those words, they seemed wrong and right at the same time, they fit them he supposed. He wondered though, if given the harshness of those words if maybe Keramon may be more like him than he originally thought, if maybe his partner had suffered more than he had originally assumed.

'Maybe we're more alike, than I thought,' Itachi mused as he studied the grey forbidding, grinning face that scared others, but not he. Where other boys had always liked tales of angels and fairies, he had always preferred stories of tricksters and darker figures, such as Hades or Odysseus.

"Oy! You two, come on in the last one in is a rotten egg!" Sana called out to the two sitting to the rear of the vehicle, as she spotted them there. "What are you two doing there? Playing hide and seek? Michiru and Sakura said, to be in bed now."

"Fine," Itachi grunted back, as he climbed to his feet, moving to follow her, for a brief moment though, as Keramon stared after him he thought he saw something. Something shimmer, was it around his partner? Or was it something in the distance, some dark figure that dived beneath the sea. When he squinted to get a better look, there was nothing.

Not one to dismiss any such threat, he would have warned the look-outs, but figured that since it was Kira that his safety mattered less than the rest of them, and that if it was a problem Keramon would take care of it in time. As to Itachi, he moved slowly back inside, with his partner following shortly after him.

"I still think I can stand watch," Kaitou tried to insist through a huge yawn.

"And we still insist that you're not going to." Dorumon replied firmly.

"Give it a rest already, you ain't gonna do it, so just give it up already," Sana grumbled doing a poor job of hiding her own disappointment at not being able to stand watch and prove she was as good as any bigger kid.

"Quit pushing!" Kotemon snapped meanwhile, at Dorumon, "You're taking too much room."

"Don't blame me, it's Elecmon's fault." Dorumon defended himself.

"I need the room." Elecmon grunted back lazily, as he reclined full-length on the leaf-covered floor, insensitive to the larger digimon's pains.

"Should have gone outside to sleep on the roof like Biyomon." Dorumon whined.

"Yeah, but how would you get up there?" Michiru asked, fascinated by the semantics of the question, could Dorumon climb up there Gargoyles styled, with his claws? Or would he be able to do as ancient Spartan warriors were mythically said to do, and jump such a great distance, and onto the top of the vehicle.

"Stop complaining you guys, Dorumon why don't you sit next to Kaitou, while Kotemon and Elecmon get the floor?" Sakura offered hoping to play mediator between the increasingly frantic and annoyed digimon, who were getting as cranky as the over-exhausted humans.

"Fine." Dorumon grunted as he took his seat next to his partner, who leant in to his fur, having been shivering a little.

"Thanks, Dorumon, hey Itachi why don't you sit on his other side and get his tail?" Kaitou called out to the new arrival, putting him on the spot to his annoyance.

"I'm sure that I can-" Keramon began reluctant to allow such a thing, not needing anyone to show too much concern or affection for the boy.

"I don't think-" Itachi also stuttered out, taken aback, still emotionally exhausted from the dinner they had just had.

"Just do it, there's nothing to fear laddie." Elecmon encouraged, "It'll get cold soon."

"I don't mind," Dorumon agreed with a warm yet hesitant look in his eyes, still obviously intimidated by Keramon, "If that's alright with Keramon that is."

"If we all say it is okay, then it is," Sakura replied as always, willing to wave away individual wishes for what she believed to be the good of the group.

"Fine," Itachi sighed as he gave up, too tired to fight especially over something such as this, as he was already tired to the bone. Keramon could have struck them all down, yet he did no such thing, instead he smiled as best he could and nodded his head, with false cheer.

"Very good, I'll take to the floor also." Keramon volunteered as he took the spot in front of where the dark boy would place himself a few seconds later.

"Thanks," Itachi mumbled shyly, as Kaitou smiled a little.

"It is a pleasure to help others," Dorumon answered warmly as he placed his head against Kaitou's as he closed his eyes to begin sleeping also.

'Everyone is so cranky these past few hours, they should be more unified,' Sakura mused with a grunt as she laid herself down along one of the cushions.

'I miss the basketball field near home, I just wish momma and daddy were here,' Sana thought resisting tears as she fell into a deep and troubled sleep, longing for family as she rested next to Michiru.

'We should be focused on getting home, yet all throughout dinner and afterwards, it has been one battle after the next.' Were the thoughts that plagued Michiru.

'I sure am glad grandpa's not here to contribute his crankiness to that of everyone else's,' Kaitou thought before he drifted off, unsure if he should be relieved or not for this little piece of fortune.

The boy next to him tried not to think, yet all he could do was think back and long for the one thing he had left at camp that he had from his mom (well that he loved); the old mp3 player which had the 9th Symphony, he wishes he could listen to it now. It'd comfort him, and make him think of the warmth he always hoped she'd had.

Kira yawned outside, as Dracomon stared into the flames of the fire, hating the awkward silence that lay between him and his partner. "Don't fall asleep on your first watch."

"I know, I just need to splash some water onto my face, is all." He mumbled sleepily, as he moved to head over to the river, they had relocated to the peninsula where they had started a second fire, this one to keep him warm and allow him to see into the darkness.

Walking towards the water just a bit to the left of where the fire was located, he tried to keep quiet more out of consideration for Biyomon, who was snoring on the roof of the trolley, than out of any great love of silence. It was times like this, he wished for maybe something to read, something like Euripides or Shakespeare, or something (he liked those two, so dramatic) and yet he had nothing to do.

He was distracted from those thoughts as he tripped over a huge claw, yelping loudly in pain, he caught his partner's attention who called out his name and rushed over to him. "What happened?"

"I don't know, I just tripped over this huge white thing!" Kira shouted back, only to in the next instant go flying off, before he could properly think he was crashing down into the water near the beach, and away from the peninsula.

"KIRA!" Dracomon screamed, only to be knocked aside, with a large 'oomph!' and into the water also.

The crashed and screams awoke Biyomon who grumpily opened one eye furious with them for interrupting his beauty sleep. "Hey what's the big idea? Can't you respect the fact that some of us are-OH BOY! Everyone awake! It's Gesomon!"

Everyone in the trolley jumped up, and hurried out to see what the commotion was about, as they stared at the huge sea-beast who glowered down at them. The first to notice Kira when he broke the surface, was Sana. "Hey Kira, what are you doing over there!?"

"Out for a midnight swim! What the heck does it look like I'm doing?!" He hollered back furiously.

"Well quit it," Sana joked back, just as Gesomon seemed to search amongst them for something.

"Give me, the catalyst!" Gesomon roared at them imperiously, saliva dripping from his humongous mouth.

"The what?" Biyomon asked unable to comprehend what he was asking for.

"Maybe he means our digivices," Michiru hypothesized.

"Who cares, what is that thing?" Sakura asked frightened by it.

Digimon Analyzer/Dorumon, "That's Gesomon, the meanest and most unkind thing at sea, with huge claws and large teeth he could tear even giants down. The only thing worse than those things are his breath and his manners, or lack thereof."

"Let's go guys, digimon attack!" Kotemon called out as he pulled out his shinai, and charged one of the claws, his shinai sparked with electricity then, as he struck at one of the claws, "Thunder Kote!"

"Spiral Twister!"

"Super Thunder Strike!"

"Bug Blaster!"

"G-Shurunen!"

"Metal Cannon!"

Of all the attacks, the only ones to have any real and lasting effects, were the two electric ones, and that of Keramon, with Dracomon firing from the sea even as he moved to rescue his partner who could barely swim, while the others advanced to the edge of the peninsula, in particular Kotemon who led the charge.

"Get him!" Sana encouraged her partner, "Turn that freak into our midnight chow!"

"Yeah! Dorumon digivolve time!" Kaitou encouraged also, but opting for a better tactic he thought only for his partner to shake his head.

"I can't, for some reason it isn't working!" Dorumon said in reply, only to be knocked back with a cry.

Meanwhile Michiru was by the river, more concerned for Kira than he was for the digimon, figuring they could take care of themselves for now, "Go Kira, get him Dracomon, we'll hold him off focus on helping Kira."

"Gotcha!" Dracomon called back, moving to help his partner.

"Coral Crusher!" Gesomon roared as he shook with one large claw the entire peninsula, sending everyone crashing off their feet and with the other, swept the digimon aside.

Michiru fell back, Sana, Sakura and Kaitou fell to the side, only for the two kids to be grabbed and pulled nearer to Sakura, who tried to protect them. The third and forgotten 9 years old, however fell forward a little, then into the water having been standing near Michiru, pulled between concern for Dracomon and for the other partners, as he had grown to like Dracomon in the past day.

Another Coral Crusher shook the area, and sent the boy falling into the water, as he immediately panicked, "I can't swim!"

Kira meanwhile struggled to remain afloat, heard him and biting his lip divided over what to do, though he hated the boy, to want him dead seemed extreme, so just as Dracomon neared him, he waved his arm to dismiss him.

"Never mind me, I'm fine. I can make it back to the beach, you go help Itachi, Dracomon." He ordered furiously, as he turned to head away.

"You sure?" Dracomon asked uncertainly, only for a short nod to be thrown his way.

"Yes, now go!"

"Gotcha! I'll be right back!" Dracomon replied only to start heading for Itachi, who sank beneath the surface.

As to the other partners, Keramon rose to his feet first amongst them, sensing something amiss with his partner he glanced where he had heard the cries, and biting his lip he moved to attack, better to distract Gesomon as Dracomon was a proven swimmer and should be able to help the boy, besides danger might be good for the digivolving process. "Bug Blaster."

"Help!" Itachi screamed, as he felt tears sting his eyes, 'I don't want to die!'

A faint glow began to emanate from the sea, from around him, from his digivice, it gained Gesomon's attention, it wasn't something many noticed, Michiru stared at it, but the others didn't notice really, not Kira and not most of the gang, so unusual was it.

"Ahhh! The catalyst!" Gesomon cried out overjoyed, as he swept the boy up in his huge claw, to pull him close to him, pulling him from the sea, "You're mine now!"

Itachi hacked and coughed, as it took him a moment to realize what situation he was in, and to forget his relief to be out of the water. Staring up, he froze in terror at the greedy wide smile that faced him.

"Itachi!" Everyone called out, even Kira, Dracomon and Michiru.

"We have to do something!" Kotemon called out to the others only to be laid down, by another Coral Crusher.

"He's mine!" Gesomon roared to the heavens and the Rookies, as he held Itachi closer to him, "I've found it! After years of searching, now I'm free of MarineDevimon's thrall, soon he'll call me 'master'!"

"Dracomon do something!" Kira screamed at him, panic filling his being.

"Elecmon!" Michiru called out also at the top of his lungs.

"G-Shurunen!"

"Super Thunder Strike!" And the two attacks hit, hurt and were replied to with two Coral Crushers, one that sent Dracomon flying onto his worried partner, who gave a yelp of pain then held the pain-stricken digimon close out of concern, while Elecmon was sent flying back onto Dorumon, who groaned with pain.

"Elecmon!" Michiru cried as he raced over to his partner.

"Now nothing, to distract me." Gesomon said gleefully as Itachi screamed.

"Somebody help me!" Itachi screamed.

"Wait, this isn't how it's supposed to work! Catalyst, digivolve me! Empower me! You are the catalyst of my kind, give me what I want!" Gesomon ordered, only to fail to understand why nothing was happening, "Maybe that Vademon was wrong. Then I'll just eat you and see if that works."

"NOOOOO!" Itachi screamed again, unable to believe his ill-fortune, in life first to live under Date's iron fist, then to die here? It couldn't end this way.

"Bug Blaster-ha!" Keramon called out, and blasted at Gesomon to his intense worry and hatred, as the Rookie roared at him, "He's mine, get your own!"

"What?! So you are the reason, the catalyst won't work for me!? Then you both die!" Gesomon hollered stupidly, foaming at the mouth with rage.

"No, don't hurt Keramon!" Itachi shouted his heart breaking at the thought of the only friend he'd ever had in his entire life, the first one since he was four. "You leave him alone! I hate you!"

And just like that, his digivice shined with a bright green light, that mixed with a dark one, that for any other digivice would have been a bad sign, yet for this one was a right and proper reaction.

'I'm digivolving! It feels… better than ever before, more complete and fulfilling than I remember it to be!' Keramon mused as he glowed brightly then darkly, as he felt his body twist, harden and begin to change, becoming more insect-like. "Keramon digivolve tooo…. Chrysalimon!"

"What's happened?" Sakura wondered surprised.

"I think he digivolved, duh," Sana replied obnoxiously.

"But into what?" Kaitou asked confused.

"I don't know," Kotemon replied speaking for all of the digimon partners.

Digimon Analyzer/Chrysalimon; "I'm Chrysalimon, my Data Crusher devours and reduces my enemies to nothing, therefore the mighty should look upon me and my power, and pay heed before I annihilate them."

"Grrr, Coral Crusher!" Gesomon roared as he tried to swipe at the newly digivolved Champion, who easily evaded the claw by taking flight, to the left, then circling to the right, capable of floating.

"He can fly?" Biyomon asked surprised.

"I think he can float or levitate himself," Michiru explained helpfully.

"I'll get you!" Gesomon roared furious at how the other digimon had dodged his attack.

"Hehahahahaha! You'll try, and fail." Chrysalimon taunted enjoying his fear, as one of his six bladed legs, cut into and draining the very muscle and blood from the claw holding Itachi, "Data Crusher!"

"YWAAAAAAAGHHHHH!" Gesomon cried out as tears of pain flowed from his eyes, having never felt such pain, the boy previously held in his claw fell to the sea with a cry.

"I've got you!" Dracomon said, having made his way back into and through the sea towards the battle, upon Kira's orders whilst nobody was paying them any mind.

"Th-thanks," Itachi murmured relieved as he was carried away, staring up at his partner, he gaped, "Wow, did I do that for him?"

"Yeppers, Chrysalimon is the only of his kind I think, he's incredibly powerful it looks like," Dracomon said with a smile at the boy, "I'll get you to Kira, he sent me to come fetch you."

"He did?" Itachi asked doubtfully, "I thought he wanted me dead."

"No way, he's more worried than anyone," Dracomon said reassuringly as he drifted off from the battle.

"Coral Crusher!" Gesomon screamed trying to ward off his relentless sadistic enemy, who with a cackle struck with all of his six claws after dodging the attack.

"Data Crusher!" Chrysalimon shouted as he planted them all firmly onto the main body of the other Champion who screamed, sank back into some of the waves and soon disappeared, as he was crushed and deleted, his data taking off for the heavens for Primary Village on the other side of the Net Ocean. "Victory is mine!"

"Itachi, you okay? What about you Dracomon? Are you still hurt?" Kira asked worriedly, pulling them both out of the water, having succeeded in pulling himself from the water, to the safety of the beach.

"I'm okay," Dracomon retorted cheerfully, to his friend as Itachi hopped down off his back.

"I'm f-fine," Itachi mumbled back, to the relief of the older boy who sagged a little.

"Good," Kira said only to catch himself, and then pull back a little, "I mean, whatever, don't you have a digimon to go check up on."

'Now if I could just pull enough energy to become Infermon, all will be complete this day, then tomorrow Diaboromon,' Chrysalimon thought gleefully, having enjoyed the suffering and pain of his enemy, only to feel his energy start bleeding away from him, 'What? No!'

Just as he moved towards Itachi, he began to de-digivolve, falling into the beach, where he was pulled out of the water, and into the arms of the worried child, "Keramon! Keramon! Speak to me!"

Irritated, fatigued and hungry, beyond what he had felt before, Keramon groaned in anger at the treatment he was receiving, just as he considered eating his partner, he stared up from the arms that held his face close to that of the human's, he was startled by what he saw; worry, love, gratitude and fear. Not fear of him, but fear for him.

"I'm fine," He said quietly, his mouth suddenly dry and his heart beating loudly, he felt a completion, some sort of feeling he could not figure out the name of, something that pulsed in him and which he had never felt from or for the programmer.

"Keramon, are you okay? You saved me, thank you!" Itachi was whimpering, as he gazed down with emotions Keramon never believed would ever be given to him.

"I said I am okay," Keramon growled only to see the hurt there, then remark slightly more gently, more for his plan than out of genuine feeling he told himself, "But thank you for the concern, and for the energy."

"No problem." Itachi said quietly, proud and smiling he hugged his partner close to him, to the surprise of the digimon, "Thank you again, Keramon thanks for saving me."

"Are you guys okay?" Michiru asked arriving alongside the others.

"That was incredible, now Keramon was like a super-hero!" Kaitou gushed impressed as Dorumon nodded his head energetically, in agreement.

"I am so proud to call you all my friends and babies," Dorumon added.

"You guys were cool, for boys that is." Sana also said.

"I hope you're all okay!" Sakura said checking up on them all, even Kira and Keramon, whom she liked less than Dracomon and Itachi.

"Man, you are all the topmost warriors I have ever seen," Kotemon cheered.

"Yeah, it's a good thing you guys took care of Gesomon, before I had to get involved," Biyomon joked before he patted Keramon on the back, earning a mini-scowl from him that lacked bite as he gave a small nod of approval at the jest and comradery behind it.

"But what do we do now? Do we take off, or stick around here?" Elecmon wondered as he looked throughout the party, with Michiru considering his question with crossed arms.

"I think that, we should-" He began just as Kaitou gave a loud yawn, only to sag a little, and wrap himself around Sana and Kaitou who had leant their tiny bodies against a nearby tree.

"Sleep, please." Dracomon suggested/pleaded as he pulled himself up next to them.

The energy had left the party, as they seemed to pull inwards, exhausted by the battle just as the sun began to rise, it would take time for them to recover as Michiru himself gave up, on pushing them forward as he was just as tired as they were.

"I think I'll also sleep some, just for a little bit," Sakura said, as she fell asleep between Biyomon and Kotemon.

Nearby, Michiru glanced over at where Itachi dozed holding on to Keramon tightly, as he mumbled to Kira who had got up to go rest a short distance away, on his own. "Thanks Kira, for sending Dracomon to help me."

"I-I-I, just sleep." Kira stuttered back embarrassed and irritated, as he pulled back, just as Itachi fell asleep with his partner doing likewise in his arms, enjoying the feel of his arms around him, for the first time filled with the warmth of another.

Michiru heard all of this, thought of his own relationship with Sana and the joy of being a brother, of being someone's hero. And he smiled, before he dozed off, proud of his friends, for beginning to make peace, and for the first true time since he got there, he felt certain that at least one or two of them would be alright.

'I'm so glad, I came here. Digiworld is so much better than camp and home,' Was the last thought Itachi had before he fell into a deep-sleep, happy to have met Keramon, full of gratitude for the first time for Kira, who stared at him for a long time while he slept.

They were not completely at peace, he still hated him, but at least for now they held a temporary truce and something to agree upon; they would all make it through this, even if it meant they had to put up with one another.


Keramon: Originally, Keramon was going to enter the story already redeemed with his redemption arc consistently mentioned, in a bit of a Lord Jim manner. However, when 'story-boarding'/drafting began for this story, this idea was dropped. Further, he was originally much more antagonistic towards everyone save for Kaitou, Michiru and of course Itachi. But, as writing went on, he changed. He became a harder person, a crueler character yet softer, with a stronger bond with even Sakura, Sana and Kotemon. With the idea being that he'd be over-protective of Itachi, who'd be much less sickly and much less vulnerable, yet somehow he became more like Piccolo in some ways.

Sure, he's at this point still fairly villainous, but the idea was also to have him be insanely loyal towards his partner almost to an unhealthy degree, with some minor creepy factors to it. Yet, as Itachi became more of a victim in the later drafts, Keramon became much gentler, more grounded and less um, insane. He also, became far less manipulative and more cunning in some other ways, with the idea being to turn him into some sort of strategist/leader for the team (which was purely accidental). As a character was needed to take command so to speak, and this character was Keramon, with his redemption arc judged to be more interesting than not, and his bond with Itachi still important, it was also judged that from there, he should be a wiser person with a stronger bond with also Kotemon, Agumon/Gabumon (later on) and even develop something of a strange relationship with Patamon, as well as to make him close to Dracomon.

Over-all, he went from having no relationships, to being surrounded by them, which makes him much funner and more interesting to write (and read I imagine). In turn, he also became snarkier, more entertaining and much deeper given we now see different sides to him.