Junpei still wasn't use to having Kouji around. This really was only their third night even having the guy around. Alright, no, that was a lie. He'd been around when they were helping those Digimon out on the mountain, but Kouji hadn't really been part of the team then. Junpei still didn't consider the warrior of light part of the team. The guy was grouchy, rude, arrogant, completely anti-social, and he thought trying to get Izumi's spirit back was a waste of time! How could anyone be alright with this guy on their team?

Junpei huffed as he gathered firewood, glaring at Kouji's back as the other boy did the same. They were in the Forest Kingdom now according to Bokomon. It certainly felt like it since they were surrounded by trees. It was a lot easier finding places to camp out here rather than when they were still trying to find the place. Food was a lot easier to find too, and so was water. It was all around the best camping experience he'd had since coming to the Digital World... Kouji and all.

"I think we've got enough," Kouji sounded off, breaking through Junpei's thoughts. The older boy jumped a little, almost dumping his armful of sticks to the ground. "What the heck is wrong with you?" Kouji raised a black eyebrow.

"Nothing! You're just so freaking quiet. Make some noise, would ya?!" Junpei yelped in a fluster. Not only was this guy frustrating and annoying, he was ridiculously quiet.

"Or you could just pay attention."

"Why you-!"

"Boys! Hurry up! We've gathered the meat apples!" Izumi called from back at their camp. Junpei was ready to knock this guy into next week when she'd yelled, so really she only saved him. Junpei shifted and huffed as he headed back, Kouji not far behind him.

Takuya was passed out - and rightfully so. Not only had he gotten his beast spirit, but he also fought Gigasmon. He got Tomoki's spirit back after Grumblemon stole it, and even grabbed the warrior of earth's beast spirit. It was pretty amazing, really. And it was definitely no wonder that he was laying flat on his back, snoring like a champion. They'd have to wake him up so he could eat, and that probably wouldn't be a fun task.

"Well someone looks comfortable," Junpei mumbled.

"He needs his sleep," Izumi sighed.

"Yeah, I know." Junpei wasn't sure why he was complaining. Maybe he was just irritable since Kouji was around. He really hated that guy.

Kouji was already setting his sticks up to make a fire. Junpei was usually the one who did it since he'd gotten good at it, and now this guy was taking over his job!

"I can do it," Junpei said a little more harshly than he'd intended. That earned a raised brow not only from Kouji, but from Izumi and Bokomon as well.

"Ok... then do it," Kouji eventually said, stepping away from the half made fire. Junpei huffed, mumbled something about the sticks not being right, then set down to make the fire. Kouji rolled his eyes. Junpei had been on his case since he'd gotten his beast spirit two days before, and it was getting old.

Kouji stretched his arms above his head for a moment before heading over to where Izumi and Tomoki were sitting, getting their meat apples ready to cook. They were skewering the apples on sticks they'd somewhat sharpened.

"Need any help?" Kouji asked after watching them poke sticks through the apples a couple of times.

"I think we're almost done," Tomoki responded, looking at the couple of apples they had left.

"Yeah, it was a lot easier to do it this time," Izumi said enthusiastically. "Live and learn!"

"Yeah, I guess," came Kouji's reply. Kouji watched Izumi for a moment, rather surprised at how energetic she seemed. He wasn't sure if he could be that full of energy if he'd been the one to lose his spirit. He'd probably be hating himself, thinking of all the ways he'd messed up, and how he should have reacted differently. Part of him wondered if Izumi was feeling that way and just covering it up while another part just admired that she wasn't held back too much by it.

"All done!" Tomoki exclaimed, gathering most of the apples in his arms and heading over to the fire that Junpei had just started up. It looked like dinner would be ready soon, which was great news to Kouji's growling tummy.

They sat about the fire, waiting for the apples to cook and debating when to wake up Takuya. He hadn't moved an inch from his spot. Junpei was all for waking Takuya up while the apples were still cooking, but everyone else agreed that they should let him sleep as much as possible.

While they were waiting, Bokomon pulled out his book and started to ramble about the Forest Terminal. It confused the lot that they were in the Forest Kingdom, not the terminal, until Bokomon explained it. The terminal itself was where the trailmon docked. He suspected there was something waiting for them there, though he couldn't imagine what.

"It could be a trap," Junpei suggested. "We don't even know who it is talking to us through these things!" He pulled out his digivice and flipped it in his palm. "Maybe it's one of Cherubimon's goons."

"If it is, then they've been helping us all along," Kouji replied. "Or tricking us. But we really don't have much of a choice. What else would we do?"

Junpei looked like he was ready to tell Kouji exactly what he thought the pony-tailed-boy should do when Izumi spoke up.

"Yeah, it's not like we have any other clues. We just need to be on guard when we get there, right?"

Tomoki nodded wordlessly.

A moment later, the meat apples were ready, and the lot tried to wake Takuya so he could eat. It took Kouji sitting on him and shaking him by the collar to get the goggle-head to wake up. The lot ate their fill, relaxed for a bit, and then started to work out the sleeping arrangements.

Takuya was already passed out again, so he was excluded from watch duty that night. That left Kouji, Junpei, and Izumi to take turns. Izumi volunteered to take the first watch, which Junpei disagreed with.

"You don't even have your spirit anymore!" he yelled.

"Keep your voice down!" Izumi scolded him. "And I don't need a spirit to watch the fire. Honestly. If we get attacked, I'll wake you guys up."

Kouji agreed, as did Tomoki, leaving Junpei the odd one out.

"Fine, whatever. Apparently I'm the only one who cares that you don't have your spirit," Junpei huffed as he laid down to sleep. "I'll take the last watch. Wake me up when it's my turn."

Izumi frowned at Junpei's back, wondering why on earth he was getting so worked up. Kouji didn't really care, and he said he was fine with second watch. Tomoki laid down to sleep as well, with Bokomon and Neemon close behind him. That left Kouji and Izumi sitting around the fire, staring silently at its flames.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" Izumi asked after several minutes of quiet.

"Not tired," came Kouji's short reply.

"Really? I mean you fought Takuya and all..."

"Still not tired."

Izumi shrugged. "Alright, whatever. But I don't need help keeping watch if that's why you're staying up." She sent him a glare, just in case she'd been right about that statement.

"It's not."

Izumi shrugged again, picking up a stick and poking at the fire.

It was getting awkward for Izumi. He wasn't saying anything, and neither was she. The night was quiet, the only sounds being the crackling of the fire, and Takuya's record breaking snores. Every few minutes, she'd send a look Kouji's way. He was just staring intently at the fire every time she looked at him. Izumi didn't even think he was actually moving at all. What was so fascinating about the fire?

Around the fourth or fifth time she looked at him, she noticed a couple of small twigs stuck in his pony tail. At first she didn't care, the only thought being 'Boys! Of course he wouldn't care about that!'. But after several more minutes passed, the offending twigs bothered her more and more. Probably about a half hour of silence and twig-glaring later, Izumi finally raised her hands with a mini-growl and marched over to him.

"What's wrong?" Kouji asked in a hurried voice. He assumed there was danger and moved into a crouched position to get ready to fight.

"There are twigs in your hair!" Izumi complained, pointing at the invaders in his pony tail with a glare.

"There's... what?"

"Twigs! In your hair!"

"And... that's why you got up?" If Izumi hadn't been so bothered by the twigs, she might have laughed at the confused expression on his face.

"Yes it is. Fix it."

Kouji just blinked at her for a moment. Izumi wasn't backing down, instead watching him and waiting for him to do what she said.

Silently, Kouji reached behind him to undo his pony tail and run his fingers through his hair. A few twigs came out before he went to bind the hair again.

"No no, you didn't get them all!" Izumi complained as she moved behind him to do it for him.

"What are you - "

"Oh shut up and let me get it. Honestly, boys. Long hair like this and you don't even take care of it!" she scolded, runing her fingers through his hair to get the offensive items out. A second later, she was done. "There!"

A tinge of red had creeped across Kouji's cheeks, embarrassed that there were twigs in his hair to begin with, and that she'd had to fix it for him. His hands moved to bind his pony tail again without a word.

After a while of even more silence, Kouji finally decided to lay down and get some sleep before it was his turn to take over. The rest of the night went on just as quietly, even with Takuya's snoring.