It is so hard to write sometimes when you live with your parents because they can be so distracting lol. But this chapter is written and the plot is moving at a steady pace without going too crazy.

13. Tainted

Sora had been with Matt long enough to know something was wrong. He was always quiet by nature, but his face was usually not this pale. He was walking a little slower too. At first, she had thought it was just because he was worried about Gabumon and upset at Gennai's betrayal.

But his eyes were unfocused as if he weren't there even though they were in a very familiar area. It was the beach with the broken phone booths. The water had dried out so there was only sand and the shattered glass of where the phone booths had once been. This was the place they had been attacked twice by Shellmon.

"Matt," Sora broke the silence softly. "You've been pulling away again. Talk to me, please."

Matt paused, frowning and looking away from her. "I'm just worried about Gabumon. Omnimon's pretty powerful so Gabumon might be a massive target from the enemy." He refused to meet her eyes as he said this.

Sora was about to probe further but was quickly distracted by an attack from Triceramon. Matt tackled her to the ground to protect her from an oncoming attack. Her heart raced. Being a DigiDestined, near-death experiences were a part of the job description, and she had been used to this since she was a small child. But this time, it felt different. They did not have their digimon partners to protect them from this threat. Matt guided her to run, and she moved automatically, palms beginning to sweat.

Would they die here? Would she never get to grow old with Matt? Would they never get married and have their own children? She wanted to make these thoughts stop but they raced into her head as if they were here to stay. She had thought back then that even though they were coming here without their partners, they would be okay.

They had Chibimon and Patamon as well as Miya and Mikemon. Until they reunited with their partners, three digimon would be enough to protect them. What she had not expected was for them to get separated like this and be in a situation where they would have to figure out how to survive themselves. Just when she thought were done, two attacks came, stopping Triceramon in his tracks.

"Petit Fire!"

"Magical Fire!"

Gabumon and Biyomon had found them in just the nick of time to force the enemy to retreat. Matt let go of her hand to hurry over to Gabumon's side. She took a moment, breathing out and letting go of the breath she had been holding before she ran over to Biyomon's side as well.

"That was close," Sora whispered, voice still a little shaken as she spoke but that had been terrifying.

"Too close," Biyomon agreed softly.

"Are you ok?" Sora and Biyomon asked each other at once.

Biyomon laughed and smiled, curling into her and Sora hugged her. "Now that you're here, we will be." Her face suddenly fell into a frown though as she looked back at Gabumon. Sora followed her gaze, and a frown overtook her own features. Whilst Gabumon had looked fine when he had defended them, he was clutching his right arm.

She opened her mouth to ask what had happened, but Matt beat her to the punch.

"Gabumon?" Matt asked softly. "What happened? Were you hurt?"

For a moment, Matt forgot what he had gone through anything. Katsuya sexually assaulting him felt like nothing compared to what Gabumon had and was going through.

"I'm okay," Gabumon assured him. "I wasn't attacked but I think Agumon isn't okay. Being one part of Omnimon, I can feel it. Omnimon isn't okay. I don't know how it's possible and I don't want to believe in the rumours that have been going around. Digi mouths like to gossip, after all."

Matt bit his lower lip, when Gabumon said that Omnimon wasn't okay. Being one of the most powerful digimon in both the human and the digital world, Matt had expected this. He knew the enemy would take an interest in them and he couldn't help but just be grateful that his partner was here in front of him.

At the same time though, as selfish as it was to think and a part of him hated that thought, he was glad it wasn't Gabumon who was hurting. Ok, he was technically hurting but at least he was still here.

"Climb onto my back," Matt said gently. "Please. We can talk about whatever rumours you've heard once you do."

Gabumon hesitated and shook his head. "Matt, I'm not that hurt. It's fine. You don't need to worry so much."

Matt shook his head. "I can't change what you've been through. It must have been scary…Omnimon is so powerful too and this enemy, everything we've heard about them so far, they sound like they're going to be a challenge. We're not fighting right now so for when we have to, you need to be well rested."

Gabumon's hesitation faded, and his expression cleared as Matt said this. He then climbed onto Matt's back. Sora picked Biyomon up in her arms and the four of them began walking. They walked in silence for a little bit.

Matt hoped the digimon would not attack now that they had physically seen them reunite with their partners. He kept a watchful eye just in case because with the condition of the digital world, one could never be sure.

"What did you hear?" Matt asked softly. He could feel Gabumon shift on his back, feeling his partner's body tense at this. Biyomon flinched as well, looking down and Sora's grip tightened around her.

He exchanged a glance with his girlfriend, heart sinking into his chest. How bad could it be? While it was important for them to know, he almost wished he hadn't asked when his partner answered. Because his reply made Matt's blood turn cold.

"The rumours are saying that Palmon sold Agumon out to the enemy."