Maximize this window for best effect.
*A.S.D.A(All Standard Disclaimers Apply).

Perfect Flaws

by Nefertanya Dragongurl Ahhotep

Part 4

Chapter 13- When Personalities Collide

the sun was unusually warm that day, and by late morning the digi-destined were near despair, not to mention exhaustion.

"All right guys, let's take a minute." Tai wheezed as he wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his glove.

"No!"

Everyone turned in disbelief towards the last person they ever expected to turn down a break. Mimi stamped her foot again and declared, "We are *not* stopping, Taichi Kamiya! Not till we know where poor Palmon is!"

"But Mimi-"

"No Tai! We've wasted enough time! She could be trapped, or hurt, or, or...." Her voice wavered, but nothing else. Everyone discreetly took advantage of the situation by sliding to the ground. A battle of wills with Mimi Tachikawa was not easily won, and Tai was just as stubborn. Best thing to do, it seemed, was to stay out of harm's way till the dust settled.

The pair glared at each other from across the trail. Just as the tension was getting palpable, Tai slid on his rump, arms crossed. He smirked at the girl as the others let out a collective gasp of disbelief. Mimi, caught off guard by the sudden gambit, let out a shriek of indignation.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"I'm sitting. What else does it look like?" Tai asked with innocent sarcasm. The others turned to watch her response. The brown-haired female's mouth worked frantically, uttering a few squeaks. Then, without warning, her face scrunched up and she ran off, bawling.

"Oh great." muttered Tai. He glanced up to see the other teens watching him expectantly. Under their continued gaze, the wild-haired teen squirmed uncomfortably, but made no attempt to move.

"Tai!" Sora growled warningly.

"All right! All right!" he grumbled unhappily as he trotted off after the pink-clad princess. He finally found her behind a clump of young trees, sniffling and sobbing her heart out. He awkwardly stood beside her, and dug his toe into the ground with his sneaker. But she surprised him by speaking first.

"I'm doing it again, aren't I?"

"Huh? Doing what again?"

She wiped her eyes and looked up balefully at him. "Being insensitive. I'm pushing everybody to get what *I* want. But <sniff> I just miss Palmon so much <sob> and I'm so scared I'll lose her..."

Tai sympathetically kneeled down and pulled her to him, letting her bawl all over his shoulder. When she had regained her composure, she continued her tale.

"I'm just so mad at myself. I feel like it's all my fault. If I hadn't complained so much yesterday, the two of us would never have gotten into that stupid argument, and that, that Wasabimom wouldn't have attacked us..."

Tai put one of his gloved hands against her lips to silence her. "Listen Mimi. I know you're upset, but this isn't your fault! Those goons would've attacked us anyway, first chance they got! Who was doing the arguing didn't matter to them. It could've been Gabumon and Kari for all they cared!"
Mimi giggled slightly as she tried to imagine sweet Kari and gentle Gabumon at each other's throats. Tai continued:

"And I don't think they'll hurt her, either."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Kinda obvious, dontcha think? If they didn't want her alive, why'd they take her? They could've just deleted her while we distracted."

Mimi's brown eyes widened at the thought. "What if they *did* delete her? How would we even know?!"

"Well, those tracks that Sora + Izzy found-"

"Weren't made by Palmon! There's no trace of her anywhere at all!"

Tai grimaced and placed his hands on her shoulders with a sigh. "Mimi, you've got to have faith and believe, like I do-like we all do-that she's alive and unhurt. I can't give you any more assurance than that, but just know that me and Matt and Sora and the others are all on your side."

The pink princess smiled gratefully up at him. "I do believe it Tai. Thanks for being there for me." She hugged him tightly and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He blushed fiercely and threw his arm behind his head in embarrassed pleasure.

"Eh, what're friends for?"

She giggled, then leapt to her feet, yanking him up as well. "Well, c'mon! Let's hit the trail!"

"Mimi-"

"After, we have a little snack." she smiled.

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888

Chapter 14- On The Right Path At Last?

"AHHHHHHH!!!!"

"Huh? Tentomon, what is it?" asked Izzy, momentarily distracted from his computations.

"Over there! Big !Mean! Bad! Whoo-hoo! Run! Hurry! Hide! Ack!" The flying beetle shrieked, buzzing around the computer whiz's head, frantically waving his claws.

"Whoa! Slow down, buddy! What's over there?"

Tentomon took a deep breath, then screamed, "It's a gorillamon!!"

"A gorillamon?! Hmm. I wonder if it's possible it's part of the group that attacked us the other day?"

"How should I know?! I didn't stick around to ask!"

The spiky-haired teen's brow furrowed in thought. "This is definitely something worth looking into... Hey guys!"

If they could've, Tentomon's eyes would've widened in shock(a/n: and wouldn't THAT be a sight?). "WHAT?!?" You can't be serious! Izzy!!"

But it was too late. Izzy had already located Matt + Tai and relayed his digital partner's discovery.

"That's great Izzy! I say we track him and see where he goes!"

"Yeah, but we gotta be careful," interjected Matt, "these gorillamon are real dangerous."

"We're not going to attack it, Matt! We're going to *follow* it"

"I *know* that, Tai! I'm just thinking about our safety!"

"And I'm not?"

"If the shoe fits..Mmph!"

The retort and Tai's subsequent reply were cut off by a pair of hands that quickly attached themselves over their mouths.

"Isn't this where we came in?" Sora chastised. Both boys quickly pointed at each other and made a muffled cry that sounded remarkably like "He started it!"

"All right, all right." she sighed, exasperated. "Now, one at a time, what's going on?"

"I'll start." Izzy piped up. "Tentomon has discovered a gorillamon in the area, and we have reason to believe the possibility exists that it may have been part of the group that attacked us."

"I see!"

Tai took opportunity of Sora's distraction to slip away from her hand. "yeah, and I think we should find it and follow it before it finds us! But Matt doesn't agree!"

Matt made another muffled cry, then-

"EW!! HE LICKED ME!!" cried the hand's owner, who happened to be TK.

Now free, he gave his opposite a piece of his mind. "I never said that, Tai! I *only* said we should be careful!"

The two boys balled their fists and started towards each other. Before they got too close, however, TK jumped in between.

"Shut up! You're *supposed* to be friends, remember?"

The dueling duo was sufficiently taken aback to pause, and blinked at the youngest team member blankly.

"That's right, you two. We have to remain a team! Now *I* say we go after that big ape-" she glared at Tai as if daring him to contradict her- "*carefully*!"

And so, with Agumon and Gabumon shoving a very reluctant Tentomon ahead, the digidestined minus one set off in search off the stray monster who might just hold the key to their completion.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 888888888888888888

Chapter 15- Gorillamons In The Mist

"Man, look at the size of him!"

"Shh, TK! He'll hear you!"

"Aw, c'mon! You could light firecrackers in his nose and not wake him!"

The group had easily found their quarry, mainly due to the fact it had been snoring so loudly, they needed only to follow the ground's vibrations.

"Ok, we found him." Mimi asked nervously. "*Now* what do we do?"

"We wake him up!" answered Tai cheerfully.

"*WHAT*?!?!"

The sleeping simian snorted and shifted in his sleep, making the teens' hair stand on end. After several excruciatingly long moments, they collectively sighed in relief as the monster settled back down.

"Whaddya mean, 'We wake him up'?" Matt hissed.

"Tai, you promised you'd be more careful!" Sora was getting a bit tired of playing baby-sitter to the blonde and the brunette. Thank goodness *I* wasn't kidnapped. Those two would've died from loss of blood! she thought with a scowl.

"Why would *anyone* want to wake *him* up??" Tentomon whimpered as he tried to shrink back to the trail. Unfortunately for him, Agumon and Gabumon were still directly behind.

"Because how else are we gonna get any info? Read his thoughts? Sorry, but I must have been sick the day they were handing out psychic powers!"

"Telepathy."

Tai blinked at the spiky-haired laptop. "Wha?"

"Telepathy. The supposed psychic ability to hear the unspoken thoughts of another. Also called mind-reading-"

Okay, okay, I get it, I get it. So has *anyone* suddenly developed this ability?"

The team shifted uncomfortably. Their previous encounter with gorillamon still stung in their minds, but it was true-to find their missing friend, they needed to know what he did. And that meant....

"But we don't even know if it's one of the gang that attacked us!" squawked Joe

"Yes it is!" Agumon contradicted. " I remember giving him that scar when I was WarGreymon!" He pointed to the recently scabbed wound on it's leg. "See?"

"Great! Now we know for sure!" Tai cried triumphantly, ignoring Joe's groan of despair. "Now here's the plan-I walk up to the big guy, alone-no, don't start Agumon-wake him up, and try to get the info we need. You guys will stay here for back up."

Matt shook his head. "I don't think you should go alone, Tai."

"Me neither!" cried Agumon in a panicky voice, his eyes wide with the horrible thought of his best friend and ward being pulverized as he watched on the side.

"It's a lot more dangerous if we all go, Matt. And he may remember Agumon from the battle, and think we're getting even. No, Better for me to go alone."

Not alone. I'm coming with you."

"Matt! You can't be serious!!" Gabumon leapt to his feet. Had they all gone nuts?? As much as he wanted back Palmon, he didn't want it to be at the cost of his other friends. What the heck had been in those fruits Mimi served for breakfast anyways?

"Matt-"

"One of us can be a distraction if he *does* attack. Now let's go before he does!"

The blonde teen stood determinedly and began to walk to the clearing's edge, pausing only for Tai to shake out of his admiring stare and catch up. The rest stared in awe at the dynamic duo from the safety of the undergrowth, each trying to figure out if they were the two bravest souls in the digital world, or just the dumbest.

"Psst! Hey! <poke, poke>Hey, wake up, will ya?"

The white furred monster grunted softly and turned over.

"Oh, for crying out-He's *mooning* us!!" growled Tai in frustration.

"Man, this guy snores louder than you!"

I do not snore, Yamato Ishida!! Now get serious and help me wake him up!"

Matt stared at the giant, his face scowling in deep thought. Then, he shrugged, walked up to the giant rear, and...

"AHHRAHHHAAHH!!!"

...gave the gorillamon one good swift kick in the tail.

Thrashing around violently, the gorillamon reared up and beat on his chest. Landing back on all fours, his gaze settled on the two boys as his nostrils flared with fury.

"Go on! Get outta here!! Git! Git!!" Matt had begun screaming and flailing his arms the moment the monster had woken and the wave of fear had passed. He turned back to the confused and irate digimon and said coolly:

"Sorry about that. We were just passing by and saw another digimon trying to steal your fruit pile there. lucky for you we're a couple a nice guys, huh, Tai?"

Color slowly returning to his facial features, he nodded dumbly, eyes still wide as saucers. He was amazed he hadn't wet his pants after *that* stunt.

>>"Geeze! That Matt's got some balls!" Joe muttered unconsciously from the safety of the brush.

"Joe!!" squealed Mimi, crimson staining her cheeks. Realizing he had said that aloud, Joe blushed as well as the others giggled as quietly as they could.>>

"You kick me?!" the ape-mon demanded.

"Um, yeah. Sorry." The blonde teen spoke as if it was everyday he dealt with killer monsters on his own. "I *was* aiming for the other guy, if it's any consolation."

The gorillamon snorted and stared at the boy, as it's slow mind worked out thoughts. Matt didn't even flinch. Neither did Tai, though his heart was practically leaping out of his chest. Suitably convinced, the rusty wheels stopped their desperate churning, and he relaxed it's posture and peered about the clearing.

"What him look like?"

Tai elbowed his best friend silent. "Short guy, spiky haired, brownish-gold color.."

The simian's eyes widened in fury and recognition. "Me Know Him!" he roared in fury.

"Nice work!" Matt whispered.

"Lucky guess." Tai smiled back

"Me *know* him be trouble!" he continued his ranting, tearing up the ground in frustration. "Brothers not agree! Say me silly! But me know better! Where he at?! Me POUND him!!"

Hey, calm down, calm down! He's most likely long gone by now! Who is he? You say you've met him before?"

The white haired ape grunted and nodded. "Him called Wasabimon. Offer brothers and me all the fruit we could eat if we fight for him. Him say, 'Take fruit, fight creatures.' Me not want to fight for small stinky digimon. But brothers agree."

The two boys looked at each other in curiosity. "Why did he want you to do that?"

He scratched his rear as he answered. "Him want a Palmon."

>>Joe and Izzy scrambled to clamp a hand over the scream of righteous indignation that was emanating from Mimi.>>

"A Palmon?" prompted Tai.

"Yup."

I wish there was an easier way of getting a full answer out of the big guy, he grumbled in his mind. "Surely there must be a better way of getting a date!" he joked.

Matt groaned softly and the gorillamon just blinked in confusion. The teen decided he'd better take over again. "Do you know why he took her-it-the Palmon? Or at least, where he went?"

The mammoth mon sat back and scratched his chest for several l-o-n-g moments, a glazed look in his eyes. The digidestined were just about to give up on this lead when he finally spoke:

"Me not know why. Older brothers go to big castle that way." He pointed towards the West. "I stay behind to guard fruit. Follow the sun. You will see it."

The boys could no longer contain their excitement. Finally, a real lead! "Thank you! You have no idea how helpful you were!" breathed Tai.

"You protect my fruit. You help me, me help you. We even now. Good-bye." And with that, he gathered his fruits and shuffled off through the trees in search of a 'safer' spot.

"Maaaaatt!!! You're a genius!" Mimi screamed as she came tearing up the field in a dead run, the rest trailing behind. Upon reaching him, she gratefully threw her arms around him and pecked him one on the right cheek. Fortunately, the others were too busy fussing and talking and laughing to notice the event, or Yamato's deep crimson colored face.

"Oh man! That was *awesome*!" TK babbled as he leapt around, Patamon barely able to cling to his green cap.

"Yes, but Matt! It was very dangerous for you to kick him like that!" Gabumon figured that he'd lost at least ten years off his life with that maneuver.

"Eh, how much danger could I have really been in with you to protect me?" The boy in question affectionately smiled and scratched behind the wolf-lizard's ears.

"This is a most prodigious turn of events!"

"*Provided* that he was telling the truth, Izzy."

"Joe, please!" Gomamon protested as he clawed his way up the blue-haired boy's back and hugged Joe's neck with his flippers. "That gorillamon was too *stupid* to lie!"

"Well only one way to find out for sure, right Matt?" Tai beamed, new confidence in his eyes for his best friend.

"Right, Tai!" Matt smiled eagerly.

"Let's go for it!" squealed Mimi.

"YEAH!" They all cried in unison, then looked expectantly at the silent Joe. The bearer of Reliability looked from one eager face to another, finally settling of the sea green eyes perched on his shoulders. And caved in.

"All right." he sighed. Then he threw up an arm in triumph, an equally eager grin on his face.

"Let's follow the sun!"

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 888888888888

Chapter 16: Do U Know What I Know?

Following the sun, as it turned out, was not as easy as it sounded. While there *was* a clear trail, it twisted and turned around hills and groves, sometimes becoming so narrow they were forced to walk single file, and squeeze through the trunks of rough barked trees.

"I'm beginning to think that gorillamon did lie to us." Joe grumbled. His neck was sore from having to carry Gomamon's dead weight on his back for so long. The little seal digimon, completely exhausted from exertion and the warm sun, had fallen asleep there and was merrily drooling down Joe's neck and shoulder.

"Just a little further." answered Tai in a monotone.

"You've been saying that for the last half hour!" he cried out, "and I'll bet we're nowhere near that stupid castle! In fact-"

"I found it!" Tentomon buzzed happily from out of the blue.

"You were saying, Joe?" smirked Tai. The older boy threw up his hands in frustrated defeated and sighed. "How much further is it, Tentomon?"

"It's just over the next two hills!" He buzzed brightly as he pointed a claw at a rather large hill several miles off.

Fourteen voices chorused a mighty groan. Tentomon's antennae drooped sadly.

"Well, hey, don't kill the messenger." he pouted. He'd thought he was being helpful, bringing useful info.

"Sorry Tento. It's not you." Izzy patted the bug's arm reassuringly. "We're just all tired of walking."

"Well, we're not gonna get any closer to it by standing here, that's for sure." Tai said sternly as he turned on his heel.

"Tai?"

"Huh?" he looked down at the tugging on his sleeve, which happened to be caused by Kari. Her face was grungy with dried sweat and dust, and her eyes were dull with exhaustion.

"Couldn't we just stop for a while, Tai? I'm awfully hungry."

Tai broke her gaze and studied the faces of his teammates. The same weariness that held his little sister captive hung over the rest of them like a lead blanket. Even Matt-though he'd never admit it aloud-looked ready to collapse on the spot. Agumon stood faithful at his side like always, the truest friend he'd ever known. But the little dinosaur's eyes were half-closed, and he wavered back and forth slightly.

Finally, he settled his eyes on Mimi. She quickly cast her eyes downward, not wanting to admit she needed a rest stop badly. She felt horrible, wanting so bad to sleep when she was so close to finding her best friend. Tai watched as her heart and mind tore her apart. He looked at his sister, frail-looking in the setting sun. And he made his decision.

"Sure Kari. We can stop." He smiled warmly at her. "I think we're all hungry."

To tired to even build a fire, they simply collapsed close to each other and chewed on some edible herbs that grew nearby. One by one-some not even finishing their dinners-they slipped into dreamless slumbers. Around them, the digital nightlife stirred. Without firelight to impede them, they gathered quite close to the teens, excitedly talking. They gathered around two larger shadowy creatures with tangible anticipation, awaiting instruction.

"Go tell all who are loyal!" The commanded with large hisses, sounding like leaky tires. "Tell them that the Master has chosen! The gathering will begin! Go! Quickly!"

With excited squeals and whisperings, the smaller shadows began to chant 'The Master has chosen! The gathering begins!" over and over. The teens slept blissfully through it all, even when some of the creatures used Patamon as a springboard to the trees.

The calls and whispers abruptly stopped when the sun rose. As the morning gathered strength, a shaft of sunlight pierced it's way into Tai's eyes like an arrow. He stirred, blinked, and rubbed his eyes. Momentarily forgetting his predicament, he stared stupidly around him.

"Uhhhh.....How long have I been asleep?" he asked no one as his head cleared. A quick glance showed that it was well past eleven. Around him, the others stirred and stretched sleep-stiffened muscles.

"God morning big brother." Kari greeted sleepily, Gatomon in mid-stretch besides her.

"Morning sleepy-head. Sleep well?"

"Uh-huh." she yawned as she rubbed her eyes. Tai stood up slowly and cleared his throat. When he was sure he had the others attention, he asked:

"Well? Now what?"

The only reply was each turning to the others with questioning looks. Sora then smiled, stood up, and walked into the fruit-laden trees, taking Biyomon and Mimi with her. Joe and Gomamon went to look for water, fashioning a couple of fishing poles just in case. Izzy proceeded to open his laptop while Kari, TK, and the would-be angels went looking for suitable kindling.

Tai blinked. Everyone was doing something productive without complaint or democratic "discussion." Had he missed something? When had the pods taken over?

"O-o-okaay..."

"Hey Tai! Quit your daydreaming over there and give us a hand, will ya?!" Matt barked from where he and the two reptile digimon were clearing an area for a decent "kitchen". "Our is our leader too busy striking a pose to do any actual work?"

Tai smiled as he knelt down near Agumon. At least *some* things never changed.

Go On!

Back