Author's Notes: Hmm... So I forgot to mention Kishibe's password yesterday... So yeah, "rie-chan_moe_moe"... Translated to "rie_k*totes_adorbs"... Both are equally obnoxious for a grown woman but the moe one feels a bit more threatening to me... Mainly because she's trying so hard to be moe it terrifies me. Seriously... I wonder what her previous password was... but then again, I don't really want to know. Also... it's too bad her room is only available in that one moment... There's no returning there at any point in the game. Not that there's any reason for Takumi to ever go back into that hell hole... It's actually the same with the Special Ward... Which sucks because I want to be able to actually visit Takumi's real body every now and then... It's kinda sad actually, that Takumi has to break into a hospital just to visit himself...

~EXPANDING~THE~NOKIA~CORPS!~

"Cron's been quiet lately," Takumi frowned as he returned from an excursion to EDEN. "I'd have expected for there to have been something going on between Rebellions and Zaxon, but there's nothing."

"I know I said not to worry about it, but how do you think Nokia is doing?" Kyoko asked. "Is she still looking for allies in Cron?"

"She's doing well," the redhead nodded as he pulled up his DigiLine log for the detective. "She has a lot of Tamers gathered, but it looks like she's still short on combat hackers."

"Why don't you join her?" Kyoko chuckled.

Takumi shook his head. "I'd rather not. I can't just choose between Nokia and Yuugo. The two of them want the same thing, in a sense. As a Cyber Sleuth, I'm taking a stance of neutrality." The redhead worriedly reread his logs before sighing. He grabbed another case off the whiteboard and prepared for another Connect Jump. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check up on her. Nokia doesn't have a forum room like Zaxon or the Demons, so Galacta Park should be a good place to start."

Takumi looked around the empty park before a tamer spotted the curious redhead. "Y-you're Akkino's guy, right?"

The Cyber Sleuth blinked at the capped boy. "Um… I'm Nokia's friend, yeah…"

"I have a request for you!" the boy smiled.

"Like a case?" Takumi tilted his head to the side.

"Oh, that's right," the Rebellions tamer nodded. "You're the Cyber Sleuth! I'll send the case info ahead to your office."

Client: Rebellions Tamer Yasu

Place: Galacta Park, Cron

Details: I want to help Akkino! But I am totally powerless… I need you to help instead of me!

"Oh?" Yasu brightened when Takumi returned to the park. "You came to see me!? Thanks, dude! I'm a newbie in Rebellions. My name's Yasu! I'll get to the case details in just a sec, but first there's something I wanna check." Yasu leaned towards Takumi and intently studied the Cyber Sleuth. "Basically, I just need to know. Are you a member of Rebellions? What are you? What aren't you?"

Takumi sheepishly scratched his cheek. "I'm just a Cyber Sleuth…"

"What do you mean?" the boy smiled. "That seems a bit vague… Akkino didn't mention you, but it seems like you want to join Rebellions. So, please, keep watch over Akkino! That is your duty! You're the one who changed her, so it's the least you can do!"

"W-well, of course," the redhead nodded. "But… uh… that doesn't make me a part of—"

"If you let her get into danger… I will never forgive you!" the excitable teen cried out. "And… well… I…" Yasu looked away from Takumi. "I l-l-l…" he mumbled a word Takumi didn't quite catch, "her… s-so…"

"Huh?" Takumi smirked at the impressionable hacker. "Love? Like? Leap?"

"Wahh!" Yasu shook his head. "W-w-w-what do you mean!?" he asked the laughing Cyber Sleuth. "I'm screwed. I love her, but I like her and I want to leap around too!"

"I see," Takumi chuckled.

"P-please don't make fun of me! I'm being serious!" Yasu frowned. "I don't know what I'm gonna do…" He suddenly became serious. "There are rumors that some of the hackers who Akkino invited to join us have something against her. I'm powerless… If anything should happen I want you to protect Akkino!"

"Sure," the redhead nodded.

"Thanks!" Yasu gratefully smirked at the skilled Cyber Sleuth. "Akkino is on Cron's first level now. Let's go and look for her!" he cried before taking off.

Takumi spotted Nokia ahead of them and looked over to his client, spying on her from afar. "What are you doing, Yasu?"

"Huh?" Yasu blinked at him. "Is this okay? I'm asking you to do your best to watch over her, secretly."

"That's a bit… creepy… And what if she gets into trouble?"

"If there's an emergency, that's a different story!" Yasu exclaimed. "Otherwise," he looked back towards the leader of Rebellions, "just watch her from afar. That's what a real man does!"

"S-sure," Takumi chuckled as he watched Nokia try to recruit another hacker to join her Tamer Group.

"Huh? What is it?" the girl asked with a smirk. "You wanna join Rebellions? You'll join, right? You wouldn't have talked for so long about this if you weren't interested."

The blond boy frowned at her. "Why should I join such a shady group?"

"Do it for EDEN," Nokia seriously stated, "for the Digimon!"

"Those problems will be there whether I join or not!" the knucklehead hacker shook his head as he placed his hands into his pockets. "And anyway, I'm the last person who could change things! I never got good grades in school. I don't have a girlfriend. I don't have a job…" he frowned at his pathetic life. "There's no way I'm gonna change anything…"

"That doesn't matter!" Nokia shook her head. "There will come a time when we and the Digimon need all the help we can get, even the little things you can do!" She nodded and smiled at the boy. "Also, if you join Rebellions your grades will get better!"

"What!?" the boy blinked at her.

"You will get a girlfriend! You'll even find a job!" Nokia encouragingly stated.

"Really?"

"I don't actually know!" she answered with a grin. "Everyone gets different results! But I believe in you!" she earnestly nodded. "You can do it!"

"Heh… 'I believe in you'…" the boy repeated her words with a chuckle. "It's been a while since I heard someone say that to me… If you're being truthful with me… Alright! It's a deal!" he nodded. "I'll join Rebellions!"

"Really!? Awesome! Thanks!" Nokia triumphantly cheered.

Yasu smiled at the successful recruitment. "Awesome! That's amazing! Akkino, you have a gift for recruiting, you know? Yasu: coming to a cinema near you!"

Takumi frowned at what he just witnessed. "So… people end up getting swept away by her energy and join… Somehow… that makes sense… for Nokia, at least…" he blinked when the blond boy smirked at his friend.

"Actually, now that I think about it," the new recruit began, "you're actually really pretty! Is it okay for me to date the leader?"

"Huh?" Nokia blushed. "Oh… um… That's… That might be a problem…"

Takumi quickly grabbed Yasu before the Rebellions Tamer could stir up trouble. "That jerk is pushing his luck!" Yasu cried as he struggled against the Cyber Sleuth. "How can he just make a pass at Akkino so casually!? I'm gonna put a stop to this! I'm gonna beat the crap out of this guy!"

"Hey, Yasu…!" the redhead frowned. "Calm down!"

"What!? Let go of me, Takumi!" the novice hacker cried out. "Let me at him! Let me aaaat hiiimm!"

Takumi looked up towards Nokia and the blond and noticed the other boy was ready to set off. "This is great! I'm gonna tell everyone about this!" the blond smiled. "They have to know about how I met a hot girl!"

"Ah! N-no!" Nokia's eyes widened. "Wait! Don't!" She paused for a moment before grinning to herself. "Huh? A hot girl, you say?" she giggled.

"Nokia, you did it!" Agumon cried out.

"Yeah! Apparently I'm a 'hot girl'…" she smirked.

"No, not that! You successfully recruited him!"

"Ah, oh yeah!" Nokia crookedly smiled. "Yeah, that's great…!" she faltered a bit.

"Are you seriously more happy about being called 'hot'?" Gabumon asked her. "But of course you did it. Haven't you gotten used to the fact that you're the leader now?"

"Thanks! But we still need more members!" Nokia nodded to the two Digimon. "Also…" she frowned.

"Also?" Agumon blinked at her.

"My ability to lead is not quite there yet, either," Nokia admitted to them. "I still can't face Yuugo or Fei. They're too strong. I can't always keep relying on Takumi to bail me out either…"

"I see…" Agumon frowned. "Maybe if we got stronger…"

"Oh, no!" Nokia looked at the Digimon in surprise. "No! I didn't mean you guys! I'm worried that I don't have what it takes!" She took a moment to think about something. "Not enough practice maybe?"

"Not enough practice maybe?" Gabumon repeated with a tilt of his head.

"Yeah, me neither, actually…" Agumon mused.

"All you need is a bit of motivation…" Gabumon nodded.

"Huh? Really?" Nokia blinked at the shy Digimon. "Hmm… motivation…" She shook her head and smiled at her two friends. "Well anyway! Standing around here trying to figure this out won't do any good! Right!" she psyched herself out. "Time to go recruit more hackers! Let's go!"

"Yeah!" Agumon raised his arm before the three of them rode the elevator up to the next level of Cron.

"Wow…" Yasu smiled. "Akkino, so brave, so tender…" He let out a wistful sigh. "I'm falling for her…" He blinked as she disappeared. "Ah! She's getting away! I've gotta protect her!"

Takumi seriously frowned at the elevator as he considered Nokia's words. "It looks like she's going deeper into Cron…" he told himself as he scratched his cheek. "You're really doing your best, aren't you, Nokia?"

"Hey!" Nokia called out to the capped hacker ahead of her. "Do you want to join Rebellions to help protect the Digimon? Please!"

"I understand your feelings towards Digimon, but…" the boy lowered his gaze. "I honestly doubt Rebellions is going to change anything…"

"That all depends on how hard we try!" Nokia earnestly cried out.

"But the team has just been set up recently, right?" the boy asked her. "You guys are no match for Zaxon…"

"Whether we are or not, we still have to try," the girl honestly stated.

"You have to try?" the hacker blinked at her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she nodded, "because if we don't, no matter how much time goes by the Digimon's situation won't change," she frowned.

Takumi blinked when another hacker passing by shook his head at her. "Wowowowow! Hold on there! You're that girl who's been going around asking hackers to join you, aren't you!?"

"Who are you!?" Nokia glared at the nosy boy.

"Oh!" the capped hacker tensed up. "Wait, stop! I don't want to get dragged into this!" He quickly turned around and ran away before he was caught up in any trouble.

"Oh… but… wait!" Nokia frowned. "Wait!" She glared at the new hacker. "Hey! Who're you!? You let the guy I was trying to recruit get away!"

The hacker laughed at her. "You don't know about me because you're an outsider."

"Huh? Outsider?" Nokia crossed her arms.

"I am feared, loathed, despised and shunned by the hacker community," the boy explained. "I am a Legendary Hacker of Infamy!"

"Legendary hacker of infamy?" Nokia knit her eyebrows together and frowned at the strange boy.

"Don't 'legendary' and 'infamy' mean pretty much the same thing?" Agumon asked.

"Huh?" Nokia blinked. "Oh, I get it!" she glared at the hacker. "You're the annoying comic-relief character, right? Well, if you're looking for a moron position, I'm afraid I'm not hiring right now. We've got too many morons as it is."

"Huh!?" the hacker frowned at her. "What did you say!?"

"Oh no!" Yasu tensed up. "This is a bad situation!"

"Say WHAT!?" the self-proclaimed legend glared at Nokia. "Oh, that's it. I'm gonna pound your face into dust!"

"Oh, so you're going to fight me then?" Nokia asked. "You wanna battle?" she nervously glanced over toward Agumon and Gabumon.

"You think this might foreshadow something?" Gabumon asked.

"Exactly!" Nokia nodded. "You get it, Gabumon!" She braced herself for a fight. "Well, if that's how you want it, bring it on!"

"Akkino is in danger!" Yasu cried. "Takumi!" he turned towards the Cyber Sleuth already calling out his team.

"Nokia!" Takumi quickly got in between her and the hacker.

"Huh!? Takumi!?" the girl stared at her friend in confusion.

"Ah!?" the hacker blinked at Takumi. "Who the hell are you!? Are you her back-up?" He shook his head as it didn't matter. "What!? I don't have time for this. Let's finish this! BlackWarGreymon! MetalGarurumon (Black)!"

"WereGarurumon (Black)! MetalGreymon (Virus)!" Takumi cried out as his two Perfect-level Viruses countered the pair of Ultimate Digimon. The Cyber Sleuth's blue eyes widened as he sensed this battle wasn't one he could win. He grit his teeth and continued the battle anyways as he called out to Lilimon. "Switch out with Rapidmon!"

"Black Tornado!" BlackWarGreymon began spinning and spiraled itself into MetalGreymon (Virus).

The mechanical dinosaur let out a pained roar as he struggled against the powerful Ultimate. "Giga Destroyer!" He flinched when the explosion of his attack also engulfed himself.

WereGarurumon (Black) skillfully dodged all of MetalGarurumon (Black)'s exploding projectiles as he made his way closer to the robotic wolf. The werewolf leapt into the air and attempted a strike of his own. "Full Moon Kick!"

MetalGarurumon (Black)'s eyes flashed as it jumped towards the Perfect Digimon with its mouth open. "Metal Fang!" it cried before sinking his teeth into the werewolf.

"MetalGreymon (Virus)! WereGarurumon (Black)!" Takumi winced as his Digimon was tossed aside. He quickly hurried to them and prepared to defend them with his own body if he had to. "H-hang in there!" he told his team as he dug through his bags for anything to help them.

"What!?" Nokia frowned at Takumi's defeated team. Who is this guy…? He's so strong!" She began trembling as she knew if Takumi couldn't win with his team of Perfects, there was no way she would with just Agumon and Gabumon. "What is this…? I thought he was all talk, but…!"

The self-proclaimed legend laughed as he prepared to delete their accounts. "You lose!"

"Not yet…!" Takumi braced himself to keep going. "We can't lose here…!"

"We have to help Nokia!" Agumon cried.

"With all our strength!" Gabumon nodded in agreement.

Both Digimon were enveloped in a bright light and Nokia stared at them in surprise when their forms changed. "Ah! Agumon? Gabumon? What happened to your bodies?"

"I am WarGreymon," the bipedal Digimon nodded to her.

The mechanical wolf at his side nodded. "I am MetalGarurumon!"

"Our desire to help Nokia…" WarGreymon began as he inspected his new body.

"…has made us evolve!" MetalGarurumon finished.

"E-evolve!?" Nokia blinked at them.

"Come on, Nokia!" WarGreymon glared at his dark counterpart. "Let's do this!"

"We will show you our power!" MetalGarurumon howled.

Yasu quickly ran over to Takumi's Digimon and applied a recovery spray. "Takumi…! Please do your best, one more time! Your health and stats are back to full now!"

Takumi straightened up and nodded at his Digimon. They all smiled at each other in understanding before Takumi faced their opponent. "Everyone! Let's go!"

BlackWarGreymon roared as it charged towards the Cyber Sleuth's team. "Black Storm Tornado!"

WarGreymon quickly countered the multiple tornadoes with one of his own. "Great Tornado!" He rammed into his Virus counterpart before raising his arms up for another attack. "Dramon Killer!"

Rapidmon quickly circled behind the two aerial Digimon and aimed his arms at BlackWarGreymon. "Rapid Fire!"

MetalGreymon (Virus) roared as he also joined in. "Giga Destroyer!"

Takumi jumped to the side as WereGarurumon (Black) rejoined the fight against MetalGarurumon (Black). "Use your Full Moon Kick!"

The werewolf howled as he leapt into the air and fired a blade of energy at the mechanical wolf. MetalGarurumon howled too as he reared back onto his hind legs. "Freeze Bomber!" he cried as a large missile launched out of his chest plate. The Virus wolf robot froze in place as the missile exploded into ice.

MetalGreymon (Virus) pointed his mechanical arm up towards BlackWarGreymon and roared. "Trident Arm!" He quickly pulled the flying Dragon Man from the air and slammed him down onto MetalGarurumon (Black).

"Now's our chance!" Takumi cried out. "Xros Combo!"

"Rapid Fire!"

"Full Moon Kick!"

"Giga Destroyer!"

WarGreymon raised his arms above his head to charge up an attack. "Gaia Force!"

MetalGarurumon opened up all of his ports, revealing every missile on his body. "Grace Cross Freezer!"

The self-proclaimed legend blinked as his defeated Digimon fell to the ground. "I… I guess I'm not such a legendary infamous hacker after all… Damn!" He shook his head and recalled his team before walking away.

"We did it!" Nokia cheered. "And thank you too, Takumi!" she turned to her reliable friend. "But, why are you here? I mean…"

Takumi sheepishly scratched his face. "Well, you know me… I tend to show up every now and then to help."

"Ah… I see," Nokia gratefully smiled at him. "You were worried about me? Well, sorry about that…"

"Actually," Takumi shook his head and nodded towards Yasu, "I'm here for a job. If you really want to thank someone, that's your guy over there."

"Akkino!" Yasu happily smiled at her. "That was amazing! Agumon and Gabumon got so strong…!"

"Yasu!" Nokia blinked at the Rebellion Tamer. "Did you ask Takumi to…?"

"Y-yes! I did!" he nodded. "To be honest…" he chuckled. "I'm sorry. I know it's a bit much, but… I was worried… Also, you don't need to call me Yasu, just Yas is fine…" he blushed.

"Yeah, I got it!" Nokia brightly smiled at him. "Thanks, Yasssssu!"

"Oh, no, that's not it," Yasu's face grew even redder. "It's…" he chuckled. "Never mind…"

"From now on we should all do our best, as members of Rebellions, okay?" Nokia nodded to him.

Yasu quickly turned around, but nodded.

"Eh, what?" Nokia blinked at him. "What's wrong?"

"Woohoo!" he suddenly cheered.

"All right!?" Nokia was a bit taken aback by that. Takumi raised an eyebrow at the boy but smirked.

"See… see you later!" Yasu called out to them before taking off.

WarGreymon tilted his head to the side. "That guy had a red liquid coming from his nose…" he noticed. "What was that about?"

Nokia crossed her arms and nodded as she answered her Digimon. "That's evidence of a direct hit to the love center of his brain by my pheromones…"

"So you evolved too, Nokia?" MetalGarurumon asked in surprise. "And that's your special move? Awesome!"

Nokia giggled at that. "Girls are like Digimon. We're always evolving!"

"Nokia…" Takumi sighed. "What have I told you about teaching the Digimon weird things?"

"Anyway!" Nokia smiled at her two new companions. "Agumon and Gabumon! You really turned into impressive looking Digimon!"

"It's all thanks to you," WarGreymon nodded. "We Digimon can only become really strong when we have a close relationship with our master."

MetalGarurumon nodded in agreement. "I will get as strong as I can to protect you!" he declared.

"WarGreymon… MetalGarurumon…" Nokia gratefully nodded to them. "Thank you both! You are the best Digimon I could have asked for! Right!" she smiled. "Let's get pumped up! Rebellions, time to go kick some ass!"

"Well, it looks like you don't need me around anymore, Nokia," Takumi smiled at his friend. "WarGreymon, MetalGarurumon, I leave her to you. Good luck!"

"And how was Shiramine Nokia?" Kyoko asked with a smirk as she crossed her arms.

"Agumon and Gabumon warp-evolved," Takumi seriously told her. "A good thing too since it looks like my team of Perfect Digimon isn't going to cut it anymore," he frowned as he considered a training regimen for himself and his team. "Whether they evolved through their bonds or just Nokia's will alone, I'm not sure…"

"Well, she's not the kind of girl to give up easily," Kyoko pointed out. "Anyway, that's interesting about Agumon and Gabumon evolving… I assume this will make Rebellions' activities even more intense than before… Attention will now be paid to activities of hers that were previously ignored…"

"Yeah…" Takumi wore a concerned frown. "I know I said I'd leave her to WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon, but by just having two Ultimate Digimon, she's an even bigger target than before."

"Maybe she will be able to change minds after all," the detective mused.

"You think so?" Takumi smiled.

"Huh? You don't know?" Kyoko raised an eyebrow towards him. "Any great historical figure who changes the world is inevitably not appreciated in their own time. They say there is a thin line between foolishness and genius." Her eyes shone as she studied her assistant carefully. "Perhaps they are right…"

"Eh?" Takumi blinked at her strange gaze. "You're still talking about Nokia, right?"

The detective only replied with a knowing chuckle. "Well, this case was a success," Kyoko stated. "Thanks for the effort you've put in." She sat back in her desk and smiled to herself. "You kids and your Digimon are all growing so fast, more than you realize. It's really a lovely sight to see unfold right in front of me…"

~FLOWERS~FOR~SAKURA~

Takumi blushed as he read Yuuko's DigiLine message to him. "I'm glad she had fun eating out with me…"

"Oh?" Kyoko peered over his shoulder to read what it was their client sent him. "And here I thought you were a professional," she smirked at the teenager. "Has the allure of youth finally caught up with you, my young assistant?"

"Maybe," Takumi jokingly grinned. "But Yuuko-san is still our very important client and I would never overextend myself in such a way."

The detective plainly stared at him before a small smirk appeared on her face. "Oh? So is there a reason for your red face?"

Takumi blinked at her a few times before his crooked smile grew. "Yuuko-san has the cutest smile when she eats…" The red-haired teenager closed his eyes as he remembered the girl's expression of pure happiness as they ate. "Ah… That cuteness can only be rivaled by Pete… It's not fair…" He opened his eyes when he still sensed Kyoko's eyes on him. "Is my crush on her that obvious?" he asked. When the detective didn't answer, Takumi worriedly frowned. "I-I swear I won't let it impede my work, Kyoko-san! B-besides, with my body the way it is, work has to come first!"

"Is that so?" Kyoko smiled at how mature her assistant was. "Well, what you do with your youth is your business. I know you well enough by now to understand you won't let your emotions get the better of you. It's for that reason you make a wonderful assistant."

"Thanks, Kyoko-san…" Takumi smiled at her. He took in a deep breath and let out an easy-going laugh. "In that case, is there anything you want me to look into?"

"Apparently your friend is moping around K-Café again," Kyoko sighed as she returned to her seat. "I suppose it's a tough age…"

"Ah… Ryota's love problems with Sakura?" Takumi guessed. "I'd better check on him then."

"Hey, Ryota," Takumi walked up to the brunet sitting at a table in K-Café. "Is something wrong? Are you thinking about Sakura?"

"Yeah…" Ryota sighed. His eyes were closed as he was deep in thought. "Hmm…" he opened them and glared at the table. "What to do? What to do…?"

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Takumi asked.

Ryota's eyes widened as he just noticed his friend staring at him. "Oh! Takumi!? How long have you been there!?"

"Just a few minutes," Takumi shrugged.

"It looks like your many years of experience as a detective have made you a master of stealth…" Ryota breathed in awe.

"It hasn't even been an entire year…" the redhead crossed his arms and frowned. "Anyway, do you have another case I can help you with?"

Ryota stared at his friend for a while before shaking his head and frowning to himself. "No, that can't be right…"

"So it's something I can't help you with?" Takumi asked in concern. "Is it that bad? You seem pretty worked up over whatever it is."

"Hmm? What am I worrying about?" Ryota smiled. "Damn it. How could you tell!? You're too good at this detective stuff…" He crossed his arms and nodded to his ever reliable friend. "Well, maybe it's better to ask you about this anyway. It doesn't seem like I'm gonna solve this one on my own…"

Client: Takei Ryota

Place: Broadway

Details: Oh… What should I do!? What can I do!? Is there something I can give to win over a girl's heart…?

Kyoko blinked at Ryota in surprise. "Your girlfriend will be getting out of the hospital soon and you want to give her a present!?"

"Ah!" Ryota panicked and looked around nervously. "Kyoko-san, keep your voice down a bit! Sakura… She's not my girlfriend yet…"

"Huh? Not yet?" the woman teasingly smirked at the poor boy. "What on earth does that mean?"

"Eh… um…" Ryota squirmed in his seat. "I… well…"

"Look, if you want to give her a present, just give her whatever you want…" Kyoko brought her hand up to hide her amused expression.

"Come on, Ryota," Takumi nodded in agreement. "You and I know Sakura pretty well, so it shouldn't be that hard."

Ryota shook his head at the redhead. "I'd like to get something a girl would like," he explained. "Could you help me choose something?"

"But…" Kyoko sternly looked at their client, "you know you'll have to pay for this if it's an official case, right?"

"That's okay," the high school student nodded. "I just want her to have the best possible present," he said with an honest smile.

"If you say so," Takumi smiled back at him and placed his hands on his hips, ready to help.

"Well, I mean," Kyoko smirked, "she's just getting out of the hospital, that's all. Don't you think you're taking this a bit too far?"

"Ah, but he's in love, Kyoko-san," Takumi laughed.

"Jeez, give it a rest already!" Ryota glared at the two and crossed his arms. "I know you're detectives and all, but stop constantly analyzing every little thing for once!"

Kyoko chuckled at him. "It's a personal rule of mine not to take on a case unless I completely understand it." She shook her head as she decided to take on his case anyways. "But, okay, I suppose I can make an exception, just for now…"

"E-eh…? 'Just for now'?" Ryota frowned. "That sounds scary…" He shook his head and sighed. "I need money in order to buy the present, so I'll get back to my part-time job! I heard about some good haunted spots outside of EDEN," he smiled at them. "But I'll still need your help to come up with a perfect present!" He stood up and gratefully bowed to them before leaving them to their work.

"Hmm, he's still working in ghost photography?" Kyoko blinked.

"It looks like it," Takumi shrugged.

"Well, I guess that's fine…" Kyoko smirked as she looked over towards Takumi. "So, we're looking for something a girl would like." She chuckled and shook her head at the request. "Sorry, but I stopped thinking like a girl a long time ago, and you're too worldly, so that leaves us with a bit of a problem." She crossed her arms as an idea came to her. "In this situation, I'd say you should ask your feminine friends."

"Eh?" Takumi blinked at her.

"Hmm, your feminine friends…" Kyoko stared at her assistant as she wondered who that could be.

"What about Arata?" Takumi shrugged.

"Well, he's not really feminine, but if I had to say I'd say he seems like a kind of childish romantic to me…"

"Maybe Yuuko-san?"

"Well… She's not really the type," Kyoko shook her head. "She's naïve and probably wouldn't care about what kind of present it was, I'd say."

"Nokia then?" Takumi finally suggested.

"Perfect!" the detective smiled. "She's probably not really that kind of person, but at least she will try her best… or at least that's how she seems to me."

"No, that's Nokia alright," the redhead chuckled.

"Hmm, I think she's in Shinjuku right now…" Kyoko mused. "Go and ask for her opinion on girls' presents."

"Understood," Takumi nodded before taking off.

"There you are, Nokia!" Takumi greeted the girl with a smile.

"Hm? What's up?" she curiously looked up to him. "Is there some burning question you desperately need to ask me?"

"I'm looking for a present that a girl might like," Takumi nodded.

"Huh? You're looking for a present for a girl?" Nokia blinked at him. "Do you have any more information than that?"

"Not really," he shook his head.

"Hmm… a girl's present…" Nokia frowned at the redhead. "But, Takumi, why are you asking me about this?" Her eyes widened and she suddenly squealed. "OMG! You LIKE someone, don't you!?"

"Eh!?" Takumi blinked at her. "No, this is for—"

"But… you already have me…" Nokia stated with a blush. "Wait, is that why…?"

"Nokia, be serious," he tried to reach her. "I'm working—"

"But since you can't have me all to yourself you need to find someone else…" Nokia smirked at him. "That's probably it…"

"You're not listening to me, are you?"

"I guess I'm just too intimidating for most guys…" Nokia giggled, "But if nobody ever gets close to me because they're afraid… Not a good sign…"

"You know, you're like my sister, right?"

"But…" Nokia paused, "Takumi and me. We aren't like that."

Takumi let out a relieved sigh. "So you agree," he wryly smirked.

The girl nodded. "As Tamers of Rebellions, we all share the same goals, the same ideals… We have a special relationship that can overcome any obstacle!"

"Ah…" Takumi sighed. "You really weren't listening to me…"

"So," Nokia crossed her arms and smirked at the boy, "what's the request again?"

"A present a girl would like," he reminded her.

"Ah, it was about a present for a girl," she nodded. "You came to the right place! I happen to be an expert on the matter! When it comes to presents for girls, you can't go wrong with accessories!"

"Accessories…?" Takumi blinked.

"ACCESSORIES!" she nodded. "Girls eat, sleep and breathe accessories! They're a little pricey, but what about a necklace from Vivian's?"

"Uh…" Takumi brought his hand up to his chin as Yuuko and Sakura didn't seem to be like that. "I… see… I'd better discuss it back at the office."

"A necklace…?" Kyoko considered it. "Not bad…" She looked up towards Ryota and chuckled. "I think anything over a thousand bucks would hurt a high school student's wallet a bit too much."

"Y-yeah…" Takumi nodded with a frown on his face.

"Yeah, the price is one thing…" Ryota began as he crossed his arms, "but honestly, rather than getting her something so girly… I think it would actually be better to give her something romantic, a present that shows that I've put some thought into it."

"Hmm…" Kyoko thoughtfully stared at the brunet. "A romantic present…" She crossed her arms and smirked at their client. "I know I said I wouldn't ask too many questions, but I have one for you now…"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ryota panicked.

"You know she's just getting out of the hospital," Kyoko stated. "Why are you so concerned with getting her such an amazing present?"

"This…" Ryota frowned, "this is a chance for me…" he gulped as he worked up the nerve to completely answer her, "for me to tell Sakura… to tell her how I feel."

"Oh? 'Tell her how you feel'? Hmm…" Kyoko's teasing smirk returned. "And what exactly would that be?"

"Well, I mean…" Ryota looked away from the detective. "You know… that I… that I love her…"

"Love?" Kyoko raised an eyebrow at him. "Love!? You like this Sakura girl?"

"Well of course I do!" Ryota exclaimed. "Why else would I want to tell her how I feel!?"

"I see… but, why do you like her?"

"Well, I don't really know…" Ryota blinked at the woman. "I guess I just can't leave her and I want to be with her…" A determined expression appeared on his face. "I'm the only one who can protect Sakura!"

"Oh… 'I'm Ryota. I'm the only one who can protect you, Sakura'!" Kyoko stated with a nod. She continued to tease the boy by repeated the last sentence again. "I'm the only one who can protect you, Sakura! I'm the only one who can protect you, Sakura!"

Takumi laughed as he joined in too. "I'm the only one who can protect you, Sakura!"

"Wait, hey!" Ryota frowned at them. "Stop that! Stop saying that! STOP IT!" He shook his head. "Enough already!" He stood up and prepared to leave. "That's it. Now do what I hired you to do!"

Kyoko chuckled at the easily flustered teen. "He really is such a self-conscious teenage boy… But he's an honest kid. We should definitely keep helping him."

"It's not like I can say no to a friend in need," Takumi chuckled.

"Well, then…" Kyoko crossed her arms and turned to her assistant. "Hmm, a romantic present… I think you need to go looking for a romantic friend of yours and ask their opinion about this. What do you think?"

"Sure," the redhead nodded as he pondered who to go to next. "But who?"

"So, a romantic friend…" Kyoko nodded.

"Maybe Yuuko-san?"

"Well… I think she is more passionate than one would expect, but she's not the romantic type," Kyoko stated.

"How about Arata?"

"Exactly…" the detective nodded. "You wouldn't think so, but I'd say he's quite the romantic. I think he's in Akihabara…" she smirked. "Go and ask him about a romantic present."

"I wonder what his answer will be," Takumi thoughtfully stated as he left.

"Sanada Arata, I have something I need to ask of you," Takumi grinned as he got down to one knee.

"Oh, you've got a question for me?" Arata raised an eyebrow at the red-haired boy. "Then what're you being so formal for?"

"Will you," Takumi reached for the older boy's hand, "help me find a romantic gift that a girl might like?"

"Huh? You're looking for a romantic present for a girl?" the raven-haired boy frowned as he pulled Takumi up to his feet.

"Yeah, romantic," Takumi nodded. "You know, like red roses and candlelit dinners? That sort of thing."

"Romantic!?" Arata chuckled at that. "Pff, that's kinda old-fashioned, don't you think? Anyway, why are you specifically asking me this?" he frowned.

"Because you're a romantic yourself!" Takumi answered with a bright smile on his face.

"Huh? I'm a romantic?" Arata blinked at the younger teen. "What are you talking about!?" he asked as his face went red.

"That's what Kyoko-san said, really," Takumi explained.

"What? You're here at Kyoko-san's behest?" the hacker frowned as he wondered what that woman was up to. "I can't think of why she would say such a thing…" he muttered. "Hmm…" he crossed his arms. "Romantic you say…" He closed his eyes to give it some thought.

"Any ideas?"

"That's it!" he smirked.

"What's it?" Takumi asked.

"How about something like poison and a dagger?" Arata suggested with a smirk.

"No way!" Takumi frowned at him.

"What with the face? It would be such a romantic present!" Arata shook his head.

"How?"

"You know, like Romeo and Juliet? You've heard of them, right?" the older boy chuckled.

"I know about them, but… I was hoping for an answer that wouldn't be based off a romantic tragedy," Takumi crossed his arms.

"So it's one of Shakespeare's tragedies about the forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet…" Arata shrugged. "Romeo thinks that Juliet has died so he drinks poison and kills himself… But Juliet is actually alive and when she sees that Romeo is dead, she takes a dagger and sticks it in her own heart. So what do you think? Romantic, right?"

"Sure, it's romantic… sort of… but that's not the type of thing a girl would appreciate as a gift!"

"Well, I don't know," Arata smirked. "There's just something touching about such a profound and dramatic gesture…"

"That's still a bit morbid…" Takumi closed his eyes and brought his hand up to his chin as he considered what to do now.

"It's a romantic present and that's that!" Arata defended his position.

"You really are strange," Takumi sighed.

The older boy stared back at him before laughing. "It's a joke! Just a joke! You're the one who labeled me a weirdo. I was just getting back at you!"

"I'm working an important case here! You can at least try to give me a useful answer, Arata!" Takumi scolded him as he placed his hands on his hips. "I can't just go back to Kyoko-san and tell our client to buy a dagger and poison!"

"Hmm…" Arata crossed his arms as he truly considered it for a moment. "A romantic present… How about a ticket to a theme park? Have you never heard that memories are better than possessions? Ride the rides, see the parades, kiss underneath a starry sky… Girls like that kind of stuff, right?"

"Do they?" Takumi thought it over. "Well, it does sound romantic. I'll discuss it back at the office."

"Wow… Going to a theme park, kissing under a starry sky…" Kyoko chuckled at Arata's answer. "Just as I thought, he's quite the romantic." She looked up at their picky client. "What do you think? Should they enjoy a date at a theme park?" she asked her assistant.

"It definitely sounds nice," Takumi smiled.

"Hmm, uh, a date…" Ryota frowned as he crossed his arms. "A date…" He shook his head at them. "I feel like going on a date should be the next step. First, I'd like to get her a present that really grabs her."

"Hmm… You sure do have a lot of conditions…" Kyoko noticed.

"Actually, I've been thinking," Ryota lifted his gaze from the table. "I'd rather the present wasn't too unusual… Something simple but elegant!"

"That sounds nice too," Takumi nodded. "Something simple enough to let your emotions shine through but elegant enough to grab Sakura's attention and cherish it forever."

"Hmm…" Kyoko thought it over herself. "Actually, you have a good point there, but 'simple but elegant' is a bit ambiguous."

"Okay then, I've got to go to my job!" Ryota exclaimed. "Please go on. I'll speak with you later!"

Kyoko watched the brunet leave again and sighed. "It's the third time he's done that. I guess I should be used to it by now, but I don't get why he keeps leaving us to do all the work!"

"He's our client," Takumi shrugged. "And I'm used to this anyways, considering you to this to me all the time, not that I complain about it much."

The detective decided to ignore her assistant's little complaint. "So, something 'simple but elegant'… She's not 'simple', but there's only one friend of yours who I can think of who could give you that kind of advice…"

"Hm? I have a friend like that?" Takumi thought it over. "So… Yuuko-san?"

"Yeah, it looks like she's at Kamishiro right now…" Kyoko smirked at the redhead. "Please go and ask her about something 'simple but elegant'. She should be able to tell you something useful, anyway."

"Alright, sure," the boy nodded.

"Don't forget to be professional about it," Kyoko teased him, "my youthful assistant."

"But of course," Takumi smirked at the woman's goading. "Yuuko-san is our ever important client and must be treated as such. Still… I wonder how she's feeling today… Will I be able to see that adorably sweet smile of hers again?"

Yuuko jumped when someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. She glared at the person when she noticed it was just Takumi. "While our relationship may fall within the bounds of 'friendship', to touch me so brazenly is…" she paused when she noticed the red-haired boy wore a small apologetic smile on his face.

"S-sorry… I didn't think you'd actually consider us to be friends, Yuuko-san," Takumi admitted to her while averting his gaze.

"W-we're not!" Yuuko quickly corrected herself. "We are…" she frowned as she didn't really what term to use to describe their relationship. "Acquaintances…?"

"Business associates?" Takumi suggested.

"Yes," the girl nodded and smiled at the boy. "That's it, exactly. We are business associates." She blinked when she wondered why he was here. "Ah…? You've got something… to ask me?"

"Oh, that's right," he nodded. "Do you know of something simple and elegant I can give to someone as a gift?"

"Huh? You're looking for something simple and delicious, or…?"

"Delicious…?" Takumi tilted his head to the side.

"Oh, sorry," Yuuko lowered her gaze out of embarrassment. "You said 'simple and elegant'. My bad…"

"It's fine," Takumi chuckled. "Personally, I also think a good gift should be delicious." Takumi noticed her smiling at that but she quickly brought her hand up to cover it. "So, does anything come to mind?"

Yuuko closed her eyes and pondered his request. "Um, what do you mean, exactly?" she asked him, looking up at the taller boy. "Please explain it in a bit more detail…"

"Are you sure?" Takumi wryly smiled. "It's a bit of a long story…" Yuuko patiently nodded to him and the redhead explained it as best as he could. "So my friend submitted a case to the agency because he was having trouble finding a gift for the girl he likes… I already brought up a couple of suggestions that ranged from something girly like a necklace to romantic like a date, but he rejected them saying the gift should be simple and elegant."

"Of course," Yuuko nodded in understanding, "you're looking for something a girl would like… I get it now. But…" Yuuko looked away from the Cyber Sleuth. "I don't think that's the best plan…"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Takumi asked her.

"For starters, it's a present for someone that's been picked out by someone who doesn't know them," Yuuko told him.

"Ah… you're right…" Takumi frowned.

"The gift-giver needs to think about what the recipient might like…" Yuuko continued. "What might make her happy? Think seriously. Consider it. Ponder it. Mull it over and then choose the best possible present… That's what giving a present is all about," she gently smiled at the kind-hearted boy. "It's not what you get. It's the time and energy spent thinking about what might make the other person happy. That's the present's true value."

Takumi smiled back at her and nodded his head. "Yeah…" He chuckled to himself. "I guess I got swept away by Ryota's thoughts and feelings for Sakura and ended up forgetting that fact…"

"Please tell this client who can't decide on a present to think as carefully as he can about the person he wants to give the gift to," the raven-haired girl told him with a nod.

"Yeah, thanks for the advice, Yuuko-san," Takumi gratefully smiled at her. He paused for a moment and averted his gaze. "But how about you? What would you consider to be the best possible present someone can give you?"

"Huh? Me?" Yuuko also looked away from him. "What would make me happy? Hmm, that's a good question…"

"Would it be alright for me to hazard a guess?" Takumi asked. "I'll write down my answer of what I think it is and show it to you after you answer, okay?" Yuuko nodded but still didn't look at him. Takumi didn't mind as his smile grew. He quickly jotted down his guess and hid the slip of paper behind him. "Alright, I'm ready."

"Onigiri!" Yuuko firmly stated.

"Eh!?" Takumi paused at that.

"That's really what I'd want," Yuuko simply stated, "Onigiri… made with love. A nice, big onigiri…"

"Ah…" the redhead wore a crooked smile as he continued to stare at her.

"What?" she lowered her gaze and frowned. "Onigiri's no good?" She stared at the slip of paper the boy held behind his back. "What was your answer?"

Takumi frowned to himself and closed his eyes. "I'd… rather not say…" he said with a wry chuckle.

Curious, Yuuko reached behind him and grabbed it from him. "Eh!?" Her eyes widened at his response. "Bento…?"

The Cyber Sleuth nervously backed away from her. "It's not that strange of an answer, is it? That's just the type of gift I'd make for someone who I'd want to impress… Or what I'd want if someone was trying to impress me… A home-made bento specifically arranged with care with all sorts of delicious foods in it…" He quickly brought a hand up to his drooling mouth. "Ah… I'm getting hungry just thinking about it…"

"Hm?" Yuuko stared at Takumi's reddening face. "I see," she smiled at the boy. "It sounds both simple and delicious," she nodded.

The two awkwardly stood together in silence before Takumi quickly cleared his throat. "I-I'd better get back to the office," the Cyber Sleuth stated. "The sooner I make my report, the sooner I can go on my lunch break." He crossed his arms as he considered what he wanted to try today. "I could probably go for curry rice…"

The raven-haired girl brought her hand up to her mouth. "That sounds nice," she mused. "Can I join you?"

Takumi tensed up at that. "Like as a date…!?"

"Eh!?" the girl stared at him in surprise before chuckling. "Your jokes always seem to fall flat, don't they, Takumi-san?"

The Cyber Sleuth nervously laughed off his tension. "S-sure…? B-but, uh… you… want to come along?"

"Why? Is something the matter?" Yuuko frowned at him, wondering why he was so fidgety. "We went out for a meal before as business associates. This time… we can go as friends." She lowered her gaze and smiled. "Meals always taste a lot better with others…"

"Y-yeah…" Takumi blushed as he thought so too. "Um… Well then… I'll let you know when I'm ready. I'll… see you later… Yuuko-san…"

Kyoko brought her hand up to her mouth as she considered Yuuko's response. "She said that the time spent thinking about the best possible present was the true gift? Hmm, she has a point there…"

"Woooow! Of course!" Ryota nodded as he crossed his arms. "That's it! That's exactly what I should do! I'll think about it, seriously and on my own! I'll think about what would make Sakura happiest!" The brunet cheerfully rose to his feet. "Okay! Thanks, Takumi and Kyoko-san! Woohoo!" He quickly took off from the agency.

Kyoko stared at the door in silence before a smile appeared on her face. "Does he really need to go off running and shouting like that…?" Kyoko crossed her arms. "And where the hell is he going, anyway?"

Takumi chuckled at his friend's simple-mindedness. "Who knows?"

"Youth is wasted on the young," Kyoko chuckled.

"Do you really think so, Kyoko-san?" her assistant asked with a laugh.

"Hm?" the detective studied her assistant carefully. "You're also so full of youthful vigor…" she noticed.

"Eh!?" Takumi tensed up at that. "I-is it that obvious?"

Kyoko chuckled at the teenage boy. "I'm curious to see how this budding romance turns out in the end. I wish him the best of luck out there in courting her…"

"Yeah," the redhead nodded. "Ryota will need it."

"The same goes for you as well," the detective smirked. "Although, I highly doubt you need any luck in this sort of thing."

"Nope!" Takumi grinned. "Now if you'll excuse me, Kyoko-san, I'm going out for lunch with a friend!"

~LA~MISSEL~

Takumi blinked at the unknown Caller ID on his Digivice. "Hello?" he cautiously answered.

Yuugo's face suddenly showed up on the display. "I need to discuss Nokia… of Rebellions," he stated with a slight frown on his face. "Can you come to EDEN?"

"Um… I'm a bit busy with work right now, Yuugo," the Cyber Sleuth frowned at him. "And you never usually request things like this…"

"I understand," the Zaxon leader nodded. "I will send a formal request to your office concerning this matter."

"That's not what I—" Takumi blinked as the light-haired boy suddenly hung up. The redhead shrugged it off as he decided to take the case. "Besides… there's something I want to ask Yuugo about…"

Client: Yuugo

Place: Zaxon Forum

Details: I have some concerns about Nokia. There is something I need to ask you…

Takumi put the note away as he spotted the light-haired boy waiting for him. "So you wanted to talk, Yuugo?"

"Thank you for coming," Yuugo curtly greeted the redhead with a nod. "How is the Cyber Sleuth business going for you?"

"It's good," Takumi smiled. "I'm not really a hacker, but I'm not really an officer. It's a good balance I have between freedom and the law."

"I see…" Yuugo fell silent as he studied the Cyber Sleuth's face.

When he didn't say anything else, Takumi began to frown. "So… you mentioned something about Nokia…?" he nervously scratched his cheek.

"Ah, sorry," Yuugo apologized. "That was what I sent the request about. Okay, I'll get straight to the point. I… want you to put an end to Nokia's activities with Rebellions."

"Eh!?" Takumi blinked at the legendary hacker. "Yuugo…!"

"Do you understand?" the boy coolly asked, placing his hand on his hip. "Her existence is nothing but an annoyance to me. I want to unite all the hackers once more under my leadership and restore order to EDEN."

"Wouldn't it be better for you both to team up?" Takumi suggested. "You want to protect EDEN while she wants to protect the Digimon. They're not mutually exclusive, Yuugo. You should know that. I'm doing both, aren't I?"

"It would be better to cooperate?" Yuugo frowned at the soft-hearted boy. "Of course you'd say that…" He brought his hand up to his mouth. The Zaxon leader remained silent for a while before curiously glancing up at Takumi. "This world… This EDEN… Do you like it?" he asked.

"Hm?" Takumi tilted his head to the side. "I don't really know what you're asking, but… I like EDEN. It's a community that allows people and Digimon to connect with each other. In this world, you're never alone…"

"I see…" Yuugo smiled at the boy's answer. "I love EDEN, too," he nodded.

Takumi smiled back. "Of course you do, Yuugo… It's obvious from your actions. It's why I can't help but worry about you."

The light-haired boy chuckled at his friend's observations. "How about we go for a short walk?" Yuugo suggested. "I want to feel more at one with EDEN…"

"Sure," the Cyber Sleuth nodded.

"Right. Let's go to the EDEN Community Area…"

Yuugo took a look around the area and spotted an empty area for him to speak with Takumi. "There… How about we talk on that bench?"

"Alright," Takumi nodded. "But… I want to ask around about something first. Will that be okay?"

The light-haired hacker curiously raised an eyebrow at the redhead but nodded his head. He watched as the Cyber Sleuth began asking the people around them if they liked EDEN too.

"Everyone always says that people in EDEN just lie about who they are and you can never know their true intentions, but…" a girl began, "People aren't bound by the ties of their real lives here, so actually they can say how they really feel. That's why I love EDEN."

"Huh? Do I like EDEN?" a man blinked at Takumi in surprise. "Whether I like it or not, it has become an integral part of life now and it has made my life easier."

"Do I like EDEN? That's a stupid question," an old man scoffed. "I used to be skeptical of the virtual world, but since my retirement EDEN has completely changed my life. In EDEN, I can leave my worldly, restrictive body behind and do whatever I wish. In the real world I was a late-bloomer and never got the girls, but here in EDEN I'm a hottie! I have ten girlfriends!" he laughed.

"I reeeeeally love EDEN!" a girl stated. "My best friend moved away so I couldn't see her, but here in EDEN I can play with her right away!"

When the two boys had heard enough, Yuugo looked out over the terrace of the Community Area. "Hmm… Just as I thought," he stated with a smile. "It is indeed a good place."

Takumi noticed the far-off glint in the boy's light grey eyes. "Yuugo…"

"Do you know why EDEN was created?" he asked Takumi as he turned to face the detective's assistant.

"No," Takumi shook his head.

"EDEN was created to set the mind free," Yuugo told him. "This world is the pursuit of a dream to free the self from the shackles of the earthly body…" he stated as he stared down at his avatar's body. "EDEN is a truly unique place where people are freed from the obligations of their everyday lives, where they can express their true selves."

Takumi let it sink in as he stared down at his own half-cyber body. "I see…"

"The developers of EDEN worked themselves to the bone trying to achieve such an ideal world," Yuugo continued. "The developers passed their enthusiasm on to the users and EDEN became a haven for the virtuous as they gathered here. But what has become of EDEN now?" he sadly asked. "The hackers are on a rampage, oppressing the weak with their evil will. Such are the reports flooding in. This world is in turmoil. EDEN as it is now is not how it was supposed to be…" he shook his head. "Not at all."

"When you put it that way," Takumi clenched his right hand and placed it over his heart. "No, it isn't…" he agreed.

"I understand them, the developers who poured their hearts and souls into the great ideal that EDEN represents," the Zaxon leader stated. "So for that reason I want to protect EDEN. More than that, it is my duty to do so." He seriously frowned to himself. "I will preserve their legacy."

"Yuugo…" Takumi looked up at the light-haired boy. "That's not a burden you can carry on your own… Why not ask me for help? Or even Nokia. If you explain this to her—"

Yuugo shook his head at Takumi. "Nokia is a good kid," he stated. "She genuinely loves EDEN and Digimon, from the bottom of her heart. The hackers… well, tamers really… who follow her… They are the same as her."

"Then why not rely on them?" Takumi asked.

"I don't want to get them mixed up in any of this…" Yuugo replied, bringing his hand to his forehead. "Myself and those self-centered, egotistical hackers are the only ones who should be at risk."

Takumi frowned at him as he understood what the hacker was trying to say. The Cyber Sleuth was the same after all, but he couldn't completely agree with the Zaxon leader's methods. "Yuugo…"

"You are the only one who can stop her…" Yuugo steadily gazed into the Cyber Sleuth's blue eyes. "Please… I need you to convince her."

Takumi lowered his gaze. "Let me think on it…"

"Just the answer I'd expect from you…" the Zaxon leader wore a gentle smile. "You get my point, but you can't abandon Nokia, is that it?" He gazed at Takumi with a soft expression. "You are very kind. You always were, even back then…"

"When do you mean?" Takumi asked with a sad smile of his own.

Yuugo chuckled at the fond memories he had of the irregular hacker. "There was the time you saved those three Digimon… And that time you sneaked into the head office of Kamishiro… Even then you were always running around concerned for everyone else. We really are alike…"

Takumi chuckled at that. "But still… we are different… Yuugo, you don't have to—" he paused when his Digivice began to ring. He quickly picked up in case it was urgent.

"Uh… um… Takumi, isn't it?" a strange tamer appeared on the screen.

"That's right," Takumi nodded. "Are you a Rebellions Tamer?"

The boy nodded. "I tried to contact Nokia, but it seems she was caught up inviting someone to join us, so I didn't get through to her. She said I should contact you if I was ever in trouble. I'm in a bit of trouble here… I'm in Cron. Please, come and help me!" He panicked and looked away from the screen. "What!? Wait… No… Stop… Wahhhh!"

The call quickly ended and Yuugo frowned at the message. "It seems like an emergency… Aren't you going to help him?"

"Of course," Takumi nodded.

"I'll come too," Yuugo stated before the two of them set out for EDEN's underworld.

"Ah… wait, no… that hurts!" the Rebellions Tamer cried out. "Stop!" he screamed.

"Huh!?" the ferocious hacker attacking him scowled. "Don't say such selfish things! You're talkin' outta your ass!"

"What!? N-no…"

"Don't lie to me! You called me a 'has-been hacker', didn't you!?"

"Eh, no, it wasn't me. I didn't do anything!" the Tamer shook his head. "I… I didn't say anything about you!" He spotted two boys running towards them and brightened at the sight of the Cyber Sleuth. "Ah! Takumi!? And… is that Yuugo from Zaxon?" He shook his head as that didn't really matter right now. "P-please help! I was just trying to help out Nokia by getting this has-been hacker to join us, but… well… then this happened!"

"Whaat!?" the hacker frowned at the Tamer.

"Ahh! Takumi! Yuugo! Help!"

Yuugo coolly studied at the hacker before them. "A has-been hacker, eh?"

"Huh? Yuugo?" Takumi blinked at the Zaxon leader beside him.

"We will need to change with the times too, I suppose…" Yuugo put on a small smirk.

"Y-you're going to stand up for that little shrimp…?" the hacker blinked at Yuugo in disbelief. "He was mocking us hackers!"

"So what?" Yuugo asked. "If what that little shrimp blurted out is enough to hurt your pride then I guess your pride is pretty easily hurt, don't you think?"

"Whaaat!? What are you talking about!?" the hacker frowned at Yuugo. "Now you're mocking me too!?"

"I could easily smash a pathetic poser like you to pieces," Yuugo narrowed his eyes. "Come on. Let's go!"

"I don't care if they call you a living legend…" the hacker glared back. "That… that's just a load of hot air!"

"Takumi, let's do it," Yuugo glanced over to the Cyber Sleuth.

The redhead nodded as he readied his team. "Ready when you are, Yuugo."

"Bring it on!" the ferocious hacker roared.

"Mugendramon!" Yuugo sent out his mechanical dragon. "Booster Claw!" His Digimon immediately responded by stabbing his arm into one of the hacker's Digimon.

"Ankylomon! Shake it off!"

The large spiky Digimon struggled against Mugendramon's claw before leaping into the air. "Megaton Press!"

"Garuru Kick!" WereGarurumon (Black) leapt into the air too and kicked the heavy Digimon away.

Takumi scanned the other two Digimon on the field and smirked as he didn't need to rotate his team to face off against the Okuwamon and MegaSeadramon. "Rapidmon! Take care of Okuwamon! MetalGreymon (Virus)! Use Giga Destroyer!"

MetalGreymon (Virus) roared as he fired off his organic missiles. As MegaSeadramon was busy dealing with the attacks, the large dinosaur quickly charged forward. "Metal Slash!"

In the air, Okuwamon dodged Rapidmon's attacks before trembling in rage. "Destructive Impulse!" The large bug began thrashing about in the air.

Rapidmon quickly backed away before forming his triangular barrier. "Golden Triangle!" Okuwamon was knocked back by the blast, allowing the cyborg poodle to take aim at the large beetle with both his arm cannons. "Rapid Fire!"

Yuugo nodded as Okuwamon crashed onto Ankylomon. Glancing towards MegaSeadramon, the Zaxon leader smirked as MetalGreymon (Virus) lifted the sea snake up before tossing him towards the others. "Mugendramon!" Yuugo called out to his Digimon. "Let's end this."

The Ultimate growled as his eyes and cannon lit up. "Mugen Cannon!"

The ferocious hacker began trembling as his team was utterly decimated by that one attack. "S-so… this… this is the power of Yuugo of Zaxon… He's on a whole different level from me!"

"You have the ability to change," Yuugo nodded at the hacker, "to improve. If you want, you can visit the Zaxon forum. Our door is open to everyone."

The hacker studied Yuugo for a moment before walking away without another word. Takumi crossed his arms as that show of power did more than just sway the hacker. The Cyber Sleuth chuckled and shook his head at his friend. "Impressive as always, Yuugo."

The tamer they rescued nodded in agreement. "Just what I'd expect from Yuugo of Zaxon. Demonic strength and an ability to bring new members in with ease… It would have been better to do this with Nokia…" he sighed.

"Tell me," Yuugo studied the Rebellions Tamer. "Why did you join her Rebellions team?"

"Huh? Why?" the tamer blinked at him. "Um… well, I… I suppose it's because Nokia is honest."

"Honest?" Yuugo knit his eyebrows together.

"I like EDEN. Actually, to be honest it's more than that. I'm a complete EDEN fanatic," the tamer smiled. "I hate what EDEN has become. So I wanted to do something about it, but… I had no idea what I should do… I was lost… Nokia is protecting EDEN and the Digimon in her own straightforward and honest way. When I saw this, I felt like a fool. Like I needed to do something, anything. So I decided I would help Nokia with her simple, honest approach!"

Yuugo considered the boy's answer but said nothing.

The tamer blinked when his Digivice began to ring. "Huh!? Ah, speak of the devil, I'm getting a call from Nokia! I… I've got to go and take this!" he quickly walked away as he answered his phone.

"It doesn't look like we can stop her," Yuugo finally concluded with a small smile. "Takumi, I have a favor to ask of you," he looked over to the Cyber Sleuth.

"What is it?" Takumi tilted his head to the side.

"Could you please protect her? Nokia, I mean."

The Cyber Sleuth seriously nodded. "Who else could you mean?" he asked with a smile.

Yuugo chuckled and smiled at the soft-hearted boy. "You and I really are similar."

"In what way?"

"We're being led on a wild-goose chase," the Zaxon leader responded.

"Is that so?" Takumi chuckled. He paused as he felt something strange from the boy's avatar again. "Hm?" Takumi knit his eyebrows together.

Yuugo must have sensed it too since he quickly turned away from the red-haired boy. "Yes, we're very much the same, you and I… That's why I can't ask you to join me." The legendary hacker closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "But please be ready," Yuugo told Takumi. "Next time we meet we will be enemies." Without another word, he left the Cyber Sleuth alone in Cron.

Takumi frowned at the hacker's parting words. "Yuugo… You're really intent on doing this yourself…" He closed his eyes and sighed as he didn't really get a chance to ask his question, but in the end, he might have gotten his answer anyways. "Yuugo… now I know what it is about you that's bothering me…" He opened his eyes and sadly stared at his gloved hand. "You're also caught in EDEN's dream…"

"He asked you to protect her?" Kyoko asked Takumi.

"Yeah…" Takumi sighed. "Despite him saying we're similar, I seriously don't know what he's thinking."

"At first the case was just to hinder her activities, wasn't it?" the detective recalled. "That boy is confused… From what I'm hearing from your story it sounds like his feelings for EDEN and sense of duty are just teenage angst…" She chuckled as that was what marked Yuugo to be completely different from Takumi. "Well, that's good."

"Huh?" Takumi looked up at that.

"Most people are not moved by mere words," she told him. "The possible events of the future should propel you forward."

"I see," the boy nodded. "You're saying that even if I do have to face against him, I shouldn't hold back…"

Kyoko nodded to him. "Anyway, the boy paid us our fee. Honest and proper, that. He may be a little confused, but he was raised right."

"Yeah," Takumi chuckled. "I can sense that coming from him since we really are so similar…"

"Actually, it's probably because he is so well raised that he is confused," Kyoko mused. "In that respect, the two of you seem to be complete opposites."

"That's also true," the redhead wore a sad smile. "That's why we'll have to face each other. I won't let Yuugo continue on his path alone. I'll show him the strength he's taught me but hasn't quite learned himself. He was the one who introduced me to my Digimon after all…" Takumi stared at his gloved hand before clenching it into a fist. "Yeah… I've made up my mind. Even if he doesn't want me to, I'll help him in the only way I know I can."

Kyoko smiled at level-headed teenager. "You manage to attract quite the diverse group of people," she noticed. "You don't know how rare that is in a detective to have that trait. It's probably your ability to draw in others' fates at play again, but I'm certain you'll be fine."

"So long as I have friends like you and my Digimon who believe that much in me," Takumi nodded, "I know I will be, Kyoko-san."

Final Notes: You know... besides shipping Takumi with Yuuko, I also ship him with Yuugo. Because Yuugo is awesome. And they complement each other pretty well. I seriously wish he showed up a lot more than he actually does. But anyway, Nokia is the first of the main cast, besides Yuugo, to evolve her Digimon to Ultimate. I mean... Takumi should have Ultimates at this point, but... since I don't really spend time raising my Digimon in my playthrough, Takumi doesn't get a full team of Ultimates until later. No matter... A team of Perfects is still viable. None of the battles are particularly difficult anyways. Even fighting against other Ultimates is simple. But I think it makes sense to give Nokia Ultimates before Takumi. She really begins to surpass him as a protagonist around this point. At the very least, she's caught up to him. And then Ryota's case... It's a nice break from all the hacker drama and you really do get a good feel for the personalities of all of Takumi's friends. Yuuko really is too cute sometimes... Although... Takumi is still a bit too formal around her... Also... when Kyoko described Takumi as worldly, I looked it up and there are two definitions: "sophisticated" and "concerned with ordinary life rather than spiritual existence". I take it Kyoko was referring to the first meaning, since Takumi is pretty mature for a high school boy and he's quite the philosopher, especially with Kyoko. I don't know what the original Japanese was, but I'm sure it made more sense than "worldly". As for Nokia and Arata, I completely expected that to be Nokia's answer, but Arata... I actually took his first answer seriously... Imagine my relief when he finally said it was just all a joke... Still, the cool poser really is a dorky romantic...