Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Outcast ❯ Changes ( Chapter 8 )

The Outcast

Chapter 8: Changes

by Silver

Author's Note: Once again I prove that I can actually finish a chapter, given a month or two!!! This fic took a long time because I'm trying to put as much into each chapter as I can. It's my goal to finish this story in four more chapters.

Special thanks go Daisukefire and Chappel for proofreading my story. I would also like to thank Lynxara, a religious studies major who helped me hammer out part of this story. She's extremely nice and helpful, a real pleasure to work with. I hope you enjoy my latest work.

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*Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Digimon. The opinions expressed in this story are creations of the author and do not reflect the opinions of any person or organization.*

When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do.

-William Blake

The city lights glided by with a mild drone as the car skimmed down the road. A thousand people passed by with absolutely no familiarity to any of them. It was scary to think how many people existed in Odaiba, let alone the world. So many people, so many different views, and so many ways those views could bring about violence.

As he'd grown more aware of the outside world and its different aspects, Davis began to see that sometimes diversity and free thought weren't always good things. There was nothing wrong with individuals, but when they gathered together to become a group, people gained a dangerous power. Groups could either heal the world or rip it apart from within, depending on their viewpoints and how they acted in light of their views. And for every view in the world, there always seemed to be opposition in one form or another. Pacifism vs. aggression, integration vs. segregation, a multitude of religions claiming they were right and others were wrong, and pro-Digimon against anti-Digimon. The list seemed endless.

Davis still wasn't sure where Jun and Jim were taking him, but he was suddenly nervous about going. He wasn't afraid of conflict, but seeing people fight against one another was painful to watch. Why couldn't people understand that everyone on Earth, and the Digital World, was in the same struggle together? Individuals and countries often acted in self-interest, only to end up causing more harm than good. What if Jun and Jim were taking him to see a debate or some rally? He wasn't sure he'd be up to that.

Oh well. Whatever happens, happens. Davis had also learned that one couldn't dwell on the negative aspects of the world too long, or else they'd start filtering out the good aspects. Life was a bed of roses, with both flowers and thorns. The trick was to enjoy the scent of the flowers without paying too much attention to the scrapes from the thorns.

"Here we are." Jim announced as he pulled the car into a public garage. Davis looked out the windows. There were shops, restaurants, and countless people, but he didn't see anything outstanding.

Jun noticed him looking around. "Over there." She pointed towards a white building with a low triangular roof. A tower with a spire protruding off the top stood at one corner and served as the entrance. Davis hadn't seen many buildings like that.

"What is it?"

"It's a church."

"Church?"

Jun sighed, "A place where Christians-Catholics in this case- go for services. Like temples for Shinto, got it?"

Davis nodded, "Yeah." He'd never been inside a church. Since Christianity wasn't as big in Japan as other parts of the world, he hadn't focused much attention on its traditions. Hitoshi Ikari was the only example of Christianity he'd witnessed so far, and he hadn't like what he'd seen. Davis' family practiced Shinto, which worshiped spirits and divinities in animals and objects such as ancient stones. Shinto didn't have a large theology, and congregations weren't part of the practice. The idea of standing among a large group of people during a ceremony for a religion he didn't follow was troubling. "Are we going to go in?"

Jim nodded, "There's a priest in there I think you'd like to meet."

"A priest?" Now Davis was really nervous. What if this guy was like Ikari? Still, Jun and Jim wouldn't have taken him out to meet someone just like Hitoshi Ikari. Davis swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to keep a clear head.

Jun took his hand and gave a light tug. "You'll see. Just stay quiet and keep an open mind, okay?"

"Um, okay…" Definitely weird. The three of them crossed the street and entered the church. The moment they stepped in, Davis felt as if he'd left Earth all together and had been bounced into some other dimension again. There were long rows of wooden benches leading up to an altar. A long cloth hung just behind the altar. There was a base for something to be planted in. A flag perhaps? Davis wasn't sure.

Davis shifted his attention to the podium just off to the right of the altar. It was half the size of a man and looked like it was made of marble. There was also artwork hanging on the walls and featured on stain-glass windows. There were images of different people standing around with yellow circles on their heads. They all looked very solemn, or perhaps just dull. Not one of them was smiling. That's depressing.

One of the windows displayed the image of a man nailed to a cross. The man was almost naked save for a cloth tied around his waist. His arms and legs sagged, and his chest hollowed out, exposing the outline of his ribs. Why would people worship such a gruesome image? Davis winced. He knew that most religions had martyr of some kind, but he wouldn't be comfortable with an image like that. It looked like a lousy way to go. He did not want to think of how it must have felt for the poor guy, whoever he was. Davis was acutely aware that he was completely out of his element, which made him nervous all over again. Whatever appeal these images had for Christians were lost on him. He felt like he was being disrespectful just by being there.

Jun motioned him to sit down on the bench. There were about halfway to the alter. People were still finding their seats as a group of people gathered up front. Jun identified them as the choir. The people sitting down on the benches, or pews as some called them, kneeled before sitting. Davis felt even more uncomfortable since he hadn't shown the same gestures as them. I probably stand out like a sore thumb.

The choir began to sing. Everyone stood up and began to join them. Davis just stood along with Jun and Jim. None of them knew the words to the song, but they didn't want to be rude. So they stood silently and tried not to look conspicuous. The priest appeared from the back of the chapel, followed by a group of white-robbed assistants, one of whom carried a medium sized wooden cross bearing the likeness of the man Davis had seen in the stained glass windows. Another carried a large red book with a gold cross displayed on the cover. They proceeded slowly down the aisles of pews until they reached the altar and placed the statue in the base behind the alter.

The next few rituals passed in a blur. The priest would speak and the crowd would echo a reply, then the priest sat down. One of the assistants stood up and began to read from a black book, a story of God declaring His plan to liberate people from Judah and Jerusalem and to punish the people who had sold others into slavery and divided people into slaves and casts. This God guy sounds really pissed. After that, there was more singing and replies. It was strange how rituals could squeeze an eternity into fifteen minutes. Finally, the priest himself stood up and carried the red book to the podium.

He began to read a story about a lawyer who challenged a guy named Jesus, who was probably the man on the cross. The lawyer wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. When Jesus asked the man what the law said, his answer was that a person was supposed to "love the Lord your God with all your heart", and to "love your neighbor as yourself." The lawyer then asked, "Who is my neighbor?" It struck Davis as a very strange question. A neighbor's the guy you live next to!

The priest continued to story. Jesus launched into a tale about a man who was beaten and robbed while traveling on a road. As he lay half-dead and naked on the path, both a Priest and a Levite-whatever that was-passed him by without helping. Then a Samaritan came by and saw the man. Instead of simply walking on like the other two guys had, the Samaritan bandaged the man's wounds and carried him to an inn. The next day, the Samaritan left the man in the innkeeper's care and offered money to pay for whatever the man used while healing. He promised to return and pay for any extra charges later. Pretty trusting Innkeeper, Davis noted.

After finishing the story, this Jesus guy asked, "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" The lawyer replied that it was the Samaritan, since he had shown mercy. Jesus then said, "Go and do likewise."

Davis frowned, confused by what this story had to do with anything. He realized that he'd been focusing so much on his surroundings and the story that he hadn't looked at the priest very much. He was a tall and lean man who looked to be in his mid-fifties. He had dark blue hair, similar to Joe's, but streaks of silver were beginning to shine through. He had an aura of calm and peace around him. This put Davis on guard. Hitoshi Ikari also exuded a calm and confident demeanor, but even jerks could be confident.

The priest, identified by Jun as Father Shinju, began to talk on his own. "Tonight, I'd like to address an issue that the church has been avoiding for a while. I've been waiting for months to hear from Rome on the Church's stance on Digimon in the world. But sometimes the Vatican is a little slow in addressing problems. Odaiba, and indeed all of Japan, has been rocked by the debate of Digimon in society and how they might affect our people. Most people cite Kari Kamiya as an example of how we could be changed." Davis winced at the sound of Kari's name. She shouldn't be used like that.

Father Shinju continued, "One of the largest anti-Digimon speakers in Japan, Hitoshi Ikari, is a very devout Christian. I have met him several times and I have found him to be a very knowledgeable and competent man. But I do not agree with his view that Digimon are unnatural.

"We, as humans, seem driven by instinct to segregate ourselves into different groups. Be it through religion, political association, nationality, sexual orientation, or even sports teams fans, we always divide up into groups. We instantly fall into conflict with those who do not think or act like we do. And in our human arrogance, we sometimes condemn those not like us as unnatural. How many people have claimed that Digimon, as well as some humans, are unnatural beings that have nothing to do with God? Who are we to decide what God considers to be natural or unnatural? Such things are not up to our decision, thankfully."

His eyes swept over the crowd, taking in his audience's reactions. "I'm sure by now you are wondering what this has to do with tonight's reading. The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us many things. It shows model behavior for Christians as well as attacking racial prejudice. How does it attack prejudice you might ask?" He smiled, a little bemused by his overly dramatic question. "To explain, I'll have to preach some history; the kind of thing we all used to sleep through in high school." The crowd chuckled.

"The word 'Samaritan' has taken on a different meaning in our time from what it was in the past. To us, a Samaritan is a person who is generous and selfless, but this was not the case in Jesus' time. Samaritan was the name for a sect of half-Jews who rejected certain major teachings of the Jewish Torah. Because of these deviant viewpoints, the Jewish leaders declared them as traitors to the community and were considered unclean. And so, the Jews did what all of us still do today; they separated themselves from those they did not like. In fairness, however, I am sure the Samaritans felt a great deal of hostility towards the Jewish people as well. Hatred is rarely a one-way relationship, and must be fed by both sides to endure for very long.

"This fact makes the parable all the more powerful. To the people of Jesus' time, the title 'Good Samaritan' would be like one of us saying 'The Good Drug Dealer.' It was ludicrous to believe that a Samaritan would help someone while a Priest and a Levite- men of great power and prestige-passed him by. And yet it was the Samaritan who was willing to go beyond prejudice, beyond hatred and fear, to help a man who was near death. And in doing so, he showed that he was a fellow human being. He showed that he was a neighbor to this man in need."

Father Shinju took a deep breath. "A neighbor isn't just the man or woman living next to your house. Nor is a neighbor a person who simply lives in the same apartment complex. Neighbors, members of our community, are anyone who shows mercy to those who need help, regardless of social differences. We all need help at some point, and our neighbors will be there for us when that time comes. And it is because of this definition that I say that Digimon are our neighbors.

"Many people say that God hates Digimon, but they are really speaking about their own hatred, not God's. God is about love, not hate. We say that Digimon are unnatural because we fear them. And that fear leads to hatred. But I say that Digimon are our neighbors, because they show the kind of love and dedication that the Samaritan showed when he helped that naked, dying man." He held out his arms to take in the audience. "Most of us here have never spoken to a Digimon. We only know them from what we've seen on television and read in the paper. It is so easy to hate what you have never confronted yourself. But I have spoken with Digimon and I do not fear or hate them. I have found them to be loving, kind, supportive, and even funny. They treat their partners with the utmost respect and love; the kind of love that God asks of us. They do not replace the need for human friends, as some people think. Instead, Digimon enhance our friendships. Think of it, do your older friendships die when you meet someone new? Of course not. Rather, the new friendship enhances your older relationships.

"Another misconception is that Digimon partners are somehow a substitute for marital partners. But this is an unfounded concern. I have never heard of a sexual relationship between a Digimon and a human, and I hardly think the love between a human and a Digimon would be the same as the love between a man and a woman. In fact, I know several married couples who have Digimon partners. The Digimon often serve as go-betweens for the spouses whenever they have a fight and can't come together to reconcile. The Digimon also help advise in the marriage and provide different viewpoints for consideration. They don't replace the bonds between men and women, they strengthen them."

He stepped away from the podium and stood before the others. "If you take away only one thing from my sermons, please remember this: God loves everyone. He made all humans. Be they Japanese, English, African, homosexual, heterosexual, communist, democrat, human, or even Digimon, everyone is God's child and all have their place. We do not understand the purpose God has for each of us, but we live our lives as best as we can; and when we stray from his path it is love, not hate, that calls us back. Do not exclude people, or Digimon, based on your own fears and think in arrogance that it is what God desires. God wishes for us to stand together, united. Digimon act in the way that God wishes us to, and so I say that they have as much right to be here as we do. Some of you may disagree, but it is my fervent desire that you will reflect upon my words and find a truth for yourselves. I cannot make you love someone. You must rely on God's love to help you find the true path to eternal life, just as with the lawyer who confronted Jesus."

With that, he sat down. Davis sat transfixed for a moment, awed by the power of the man's speech. It was clear that many people had been shaken by his declaration. Several people were heading out the door. But many more people stayed and continued to pray together. Davis was impressed by this priest's outlook on life. He admired how there could be alternate viewpoints derived from the same source. Jun and Jim were right; Hitoshi Ikari was not a reflection on all Christians. "Jun," he whispered, "can we meet that priest later?"

Jun smiled and nodded.

* * * * * * * *

They stayed throughout the rest of the mass, which consisted primarily of more praying and handing out bread and wine. Davis and the others did not join in the ceremony since they did not feel they had the right to do so. They didn't understand the significance of the ritual. It seemed strange to Davis, Jim, and Jun, but they knew it was important to respect other people's views.

After the ceremony was finished, there was another round of singing as the priest and his party carried the book-identified as "the Bible"-and the cross out of the church. Jun led Davis to the church entrance where Father Shinju stood, saying goodbye to his guests. Many people walked away without looking at him or shaking his hand, but he either didn't notice or didn't let it upset him.

As the line of people trailed off, Jim stepped up front, "That was a wonderful speech, Father."

The elder man looked at Jim and his expression lit up. "Jim! What a wonderful surprise. I wasn't sure if I'd really seen you sitting in the back. Is Jun with you?"

"I'm here. Hello, Father." Jun bowed slightly. She gestured to Davis, "This is my brother, Davis."

Father Shinju bowed. Davis could see some surprise on the man's face when he looked at Davis' wounds. Still, he didn't comment on them. "A pleasure to meet you, Davis. Jun's told me a lot of good things about you."

Davis smiled, "And some bad things, right?"

"Well… yes." He laughed. Davis just glared at his sister, who feigned innocence.

Jim said, "We brought Davis here to show him a different view of certain religions. Hitoshi Ikari was giving him a bad impression."

Father Shinju sighed. "Ah yes, Hitoshi. He's not a bad man, really. But he's very misguided. He's confusing his own fears with his faith, a dangerous mistake." He shook his head and looked at the others. "But let's not talk about such depressing topics. Shall we go to my office?" The others nodded and he led them to the back of the chapel.

Father Shinju's office was small and could barely fit four people. There were shelves practically tipping over from the weight of all the books they held. A small computer glowed just behind the card table desk near the sole window. Father Shinju sat behind the desk and looked at his friends, Davis in particular.

"So, what did you think of my sermon?"

"It was really incredible." Davis smiled.

Father Shinju beamed, "I'm pleased to hear that. I'm afraid most of the congregation was very unnerved by my words. Still, I can't expect such statements to meet with instant approval from most people." He paused for a moment. "Davis, pardon my intrusion, but have you been in a fight recently?"

Davis nodded, "A bunch of guys from the Guardians Opposing Digimon beat me up because I know Kari Kamiya."

Father Shinju nodded, "Oh dear. I was afraid something like this would happen. Violence always accompanies wide-spread fear."

Jim asked, "Are you worried about Anti-Digimon terrorists? They might not like what you said tonight."

The priest smiled sadly. "We've received multiple threats already, even a bomb threat. But I will not stop telling the truth because of what bullies say. I will not be intimidated by those who feel that violence equals power!" He took a deep breath to calm himself.

Davis decided to change the subject. "How did you and Jim meet?"

Father Shinju smiled, happily for once. "I'm glad you asked that. Before I answer, I'd like you to meet someone." He glanced down to a gap between the wall and bookcases. "You can come out. It's safe."

There was a soft rustle and something moved in the shadows. Slowly, hesitantly, a small red paw reached out and pulled a large oval head into view. A crimson hued tadpole-like creature waddled into view and blinked at Davis' troupe with large round eyes.

Davis blinked, "Otamamon?" All the Digidestined had encountered Otamamon at one point or another. They and their evolved relatives, Gekomon, had been long friends to the group, especially to Mimi. The Digidestined had experienced less pleasurable encounters with their leader, ShogunGekomon.

But this Otamamon was different. He was dark red instead of purple. The small Digimon introduced himself. "I'm Otamamon. Nice to meet you." He bowed.

Davis asked, "But Otamamon are purple. Why are you red?"

Otamamon smiled, "You must have met my viral cousins. Red Otamamon are data-type Digimon."

"Oh." Davis nodded, but then another question burst into his mind. "Wait a minute, are you Father Shinju's partner?"

"Correct." Father Shinju bent down and placed Otamamon in his lap. "We've been together for about two months, and in that time Otamamon has become an important constant in my life."

Jim squeezed in between Jun and Davis and shut the door. "I met Father Shinju just after Otamamon arrived. He called in asking for some discreet help with a Digimon. Since I'm not as good at analyzing Digimon and the Digital World as Izzy and Dr. Takenouchi are, I volunteered to come down and try to help him."

Davis asked, "Is it okay for you to have a partner, being a priest and all?"

Father Shinju shrugged, "I haven't the foggiest. The Church has yet to declare an official stance on Digimon. Because of this, I have to keep Otamamon hidden from everyone else, lest it damage the Church's reputation in the eyes of the public."

Davis asked, "So, you didn't want to get rid of him?"

The older man sighed, "I'm sad to say that I did consider it at the time. To be caught in a scandalous situation- in this case, harboring a Digimon- has always been a fear for the Church and its ministers. People lose faith when they know they cannot trust the people who are supposed to help guide them. I had to weigh the danger versus the benefit. At first, it seemed clear to me that I had to get rid of Otamamon before I was caught. That was why I originally contacted Dr. Takenouchi; I wanted to know how to send Otamamon back. But then my new partner and I began to talk. I found that he had most remarkable insights and questions into humans and into our different faiths. One of his most amazing questions was, 'how do you know God didn't digivolve himself?' I'd never considered such a thing." He laughed. "It was then I began to realize that perhaps God had sent this creature to me as a means of seeing the world through different eyes. I decided to keep him secret, but to let him stay with me here on Earth. Jim helped me set up proper living conditions that were hidden from prying eyes. Now, I cannot imagine a life without my new friend here."

Jun asked, "So, you don't think it's bad for a priest to have a Digimon partner?"

He replied, "I am sworn to celibacy, but I can have a social life. Humans are enriched by the friendships they have. Priest such as myself simply choose to focus more of our attention towards understanding God than having more Earthly relationships. But I find that Digimon partners aid us in that difficult task, and so I see no problem with having a Digimon partner. I have often wondered what kind of Digimon would best suit the Pope."

Davis asked, "But what if your bosses say that you can't have a partner?"

Father Shinju grinned at Davis' choice of words. "If my 'bosses' say such a thing, I would most likely leave the ministry. I do not think such an order would be in the Church's best interest. In fact, I think any act of segregation between humans and Digimon will be ultimately self-destructive. I think the same is true for inter-human segregation. When we divide ourselves into classes, races, faiths, and other categories, we lose sight of the simple fact that we are all human and that we share this life together."

Davis nodded, "No argument here."

The four of them spoke for over an hour. The conversation ranged from Otamamon's snoring to Father Shinju's opinion on Kari. "While I cannot say I understand this strange power she has, I do not think it wise to condemn or fear her without exploring the extent of her… gift. We can do nothing to help or support her unless we first understand her. It may be that our intervention is not needed, but I can understand the need for security. Sadly, Ms. Kamiya is caught up by the need for public safety. Although I am sorry for her troubles, I am glad that steps were taken to protect the populace from any accidents."

Davis felt an edge to that last part. "Do you support locking her up in a lab and studying her like some freak?"

"Davis!" Jun glared at her brother.

"It's all right." Father Shinju held up a hand. "He has a right to be angry. In answer to your question, Davis, I would have to say, no. Ms. Kamiya needs to be understood in order to lessen the fear of others, but she must be respected as a human. Although it may become necessary for her to spend some time in isolation to understand her powers, she should still be provided with lifelines to the surrounding community."

Davis leaned back and nodded, but he didn't fully agree. In his opinion, Kari didn't need to be studied at all. She wasn't a threat and she deserved to live a normal life. Sure, she had accidentally thrown him across the room somehow, but that hadn't been her own fault.

The realization caught him off-guard. Intentional or not, she had thrown him across the room. He held no grudge over it, but there might be more to Kari's powers than he realized. Up until now, he hadn't allowed himself to consider the full scope of Kari's powers. They could actually be destructive. That being the case, however, the focus shouldn't be on understanding how Kari glowed, but rather how she could control it.

Jim checked his watch. "Davis, your parents are probably wondering where you vanished to. We should get back."

Jun nodded, "And Kapurimon has probably eaten me out of house and home by now. We can come back again."

"You'd be most welcome." Father Shinju stood up and shook their hands. "I will continue to pray for Ms. Kamiya. Please give her my best."

"I will." Davis smiled, "Thanks for everything, Father Shinju." The priest bade them goodbye and the three of them left the church.

"So, Davis," Jun asked as they entered the car, "what did you think of Father Shinju?"

"He's a really cool guy. Nothing like Ikari."

Jim said, "Well, I hope you now realize that not everyone under a specific faith thinks and acts the same way. Father Shinju has very different views from Ikari, yet they both follow the same basic faith."

Davis nodded, "I understand. Thanks for proving me wrong." He glanced at Jun. "Just don't make a habit out of it." His sister laughed.

On way home, Davis mulled over what Father Shinju had said about the possibility for Kari's isolation. It would kill him to see her locked away from friends and family; so much so that he almost denied the option completely. And yet there was the danger of Kari's uncontrolled powers. Even though he didn't like to admit it, Davis could understand the need to protect others. This was bigger than just Kari and Davis, this issue concerned the whole of Japan, maybe even the world.

But still, wasn't Kari isolated already? She couldn't go anywhere, and she barely saw anyone. Sure, Davis was there to visit her, as were her parents, and the others would be arriving soon. It was taking a long time for the older Digidestined to get away from college as Yolei had. It took a lot of time to put one's affairs in order to get away from college for a prolonged period of time, especially when one didn't know when he or she would return. Cody and Ken still had trouble meeting with Kari because she constantly delayed their visits. The only reason Davis didn't have that problem is because Kari knew he wouldn't listen if she told him to stay away. It was almost as if she wanted to be alone. Most likely it was because she felt her isolation protected others. So far, Kari's friends hadn't been attacked like Davis had because not many people knew about Kari's relationships. If the others were seen around Kari, they'd become targets as well, and Kari probably didn't want that. She was too selfless for her own good.

Davis thought back to what Father Shinju had said about lifelines. Kari could use more contacts with the outside world besides him. In fact, one name stood out in his mind as a candidate to contact Kari. Slowly, he began to concoct a plan for the next day.

* * * * * * * *

The clock on the wall mocked the Kamiyas with its rhythmic and uncaring ticking. Time dragged on while pressing upon Kari and her parents. Every minute took a year, and Kari could feel her tension mounting with each passing tick, tick, tick. She wanted to pull the clock off the wall and toss it in the garbage.

The sound of a car pulling up seeped under the front door. The Kamiyas looked up expectantly as they heard a car door slam shut. Presumably, all the security matters had been taken care of. The security guards in the adjacent houses shouldn't try to interfere. Of course, Mr. Takenouchi had made it very clear that paperwork was a slow and unnecessarily complicated process. Anything could hold up the request for security clearance, effectively blocking their next visitor.

Their worries vanished as a knock resounded off the front door. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya were the first ones to rush to the door with Kari less that two steps behind them. While Kari's parents had shed their relief, however, Kari's had merely been replaced. Now she was anxious about seeing the man who stood outside.

"Welcome home, Tai." Mrs. Kamiya said as she opened the door.

"Hi guys!" Tai Kamiya smiled as he gave a hug to his mother and father. He hadn't changed much physically since he'd left for college. He was medium height for his age group and very handsome. He'd cut his once long strands of dark chocolate hair down to short spikes that cut off just beyond the point of his nose. His face still beamed with confidence and energy. The years hadn't taken away any of his strength or leadership either. Tai was still one of the most popular students in school, mainly because of his star role on the school soccer team, but also for his ability to command groups in school while winning the respect of his peers. Kari had no doubt that her brother would succeed in becoming the first ambassador to the Digital World.

Tai passed his parents and hugged Kari. Although she was nervous to talk about her current situation with Tai, Kari returned the hug emphatically, happy to know that her brother was home to visit.

The four of them sat down in the living room and talked about college life for a short while. Tai surprised everyone by mentioning that he'd been dating a very attractive law student for several weeks. He hoped to bring her by some time for the family to meet. His parents were pleased that Tai was excelling in his classes, even though he usually ended up pulling all-night study sessions and last-minute homework assignments. No one mentioned where Agumon was. Kari assumed he was with Tai's friends back at college. It was certainly safer there for a Digimon. People who did not live in Odaiba were not as nervous about Kari's powers, although word had spread all over the country. Tai mentioned that anti-Digimon speakers were appearing on campus quite a bit, trying to recruit members. Many people jeered them away but a few people were willing to join.

That conversation led to the question Kari had been dreading all day. "Kari, why didn't you call me when all this started to happen?"

Kari fidgeted, "I… I didn't want to pull you away from your studies."

"Is that the only reason?"

"Well, I also didn't want to make it sound like a big deal."

"But it is a big deal. The last time you started glowing, all of our Digimon received enough power to fight Machinedramon. The fact that your powers are acting up again could mean that something is about to happen."

Kari shook her head. "I don't feel like there's another threat coming, not like the time before the Daemon Corps attacked. I know that the Dark Ocean has reappeared, but it hasn't made a move in weeks. I'm not sure what that means, but it could be they've lost interest."

"Still, you should have called me and the others right away. This concerns all of us."

Kari sighed. "I'm sorry, Tai. I'm so, so sorry."

Tai took a deep breath and shrugged. "Don't worry. I'm here now and I'm not leaving until this whole thing settles down. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Kari smiled, "Thanks, Tai. By the way… where is Agumon?" She couldn't resist asking anymore.

Tai smiled, "He's safe with friends. I don't think he minds if we spend a little time apart."

* * * * * * * *

"Ahhh… this is the life." Veemon sighed as he sank deeper into the hot spring. "Gatomon, you sure you don't wanna come in? The water's great."

"No thanks. Cats and water don't mix well. Besides, I'm enjoying myself just fine." She purred as a Gekomon massaged her back. She had to admit that Veemon had been right about taking a break and relaxing. The two of them had arrived at ShogunGekomon's castle and were warmly received by the Gekomon and the Otamamon. ShogunGekomon had not greeted them yet because he was still sleeping. That was fine by Gatomon; he was usually a very bizarre host. One moment, he'd be entertaining his guests, but if he got mad he started to blast everything in sight with bad song attacks.

They were currently resting in a large spa, one of several. The hot spring Veemon sat in was reserved for guests. ShogunGekomon's lake-sized spring was in the next room, but there was no need to go there. Apparently, neither the Gekomon nor the Otamamon were allowed to relax in the springs. Only guests had that privilege.

Veemon turned around to look at her, "See? A vacation ain't so bad."

Gatomon nodded, "Yeah, you're right. But don't start thinking we're done here. I still want to visit as many towns as we can before we can go back home."

An Otamamon entered and bowed to his guests. "We have new arrivals. They say they're friends of yours."

Veemon and Gatomon looked at one another. "Friends?" The Digidestined certainly had their fair share of allies, but they weren't aware of any old companions nearby. Gatomon asked the Otamamon to escort them in. She brandished her claws just in case it was someone looking for trouble. She hadn't survived for so long by being careless.

A few moments later, Gatomon could hear the sounds of almost a dozen pairs of feet. It was hard to tell the exact number, but it was definitely a large group. Gatomon motioned for Veemon to get ready. Veemon looked at her in bewilderment. He apparently hadn't considered that it might be a gang of anti-human Digimon looking to shut them up.

The first visitor arrived. Gatomon had expected an angry looking Digimon of some kind, but the sight she saw was even more surprising. A short orange dinosaur-like Digimon with large green eyes stepped in, followed by a yellow Digimon wearing light blue fur with navy strips.

"Agumon! Gabumon!" Veemon's jaw fell.

Agumon waved, "Hi guys. Long time no see."

"Don't forget us!" A voice sounded from behind the other Digimon. Biyomon, Palmon, Gomamon, Tentomon, Patamon, Armadillomon, Wormmon, and Hawkmon were standing outside in the hallway.

It took Gatomon a moment to find her voice. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Looking for you, of course." Gomamon replied as he eyed the hot spring with eagerness.

Gabumon explained, "Davis e-mailed everyone about what was going on. Since we heard that Veemon was going back to the Digital World to keep you company, we thought we'd tag along. The more the merrier, as they say."

Biyomon added, "We've been searching for you two for weeks. Every time we thought we'd caught up to you it turned out you'd already left."

Wormmon said, "And in your place were whole towns of Digimon talking about finding human partners. You've really had an impact."

Palmon complained, "But did you have to move so fast? We've been walking for so long. My roots are bushed!" The others laughed.

Gomamon said, "It's been hard keeping up with you guys, especially for those of us who don't have legs." Unable to resist anymore, Gomamon dove for the hot spring. "Ahh.." He closed his eyes as he buoyed on the surface. The other Digimon followed his example and dove in. Only Veemon, Gatomon, and Gabumon remained standing.

"You're not going to dive in?"

"No…" Gabumon blushed under his fur. He was still self-conscious of taking off his fur coat.

Gatomon asked, "Don't guys realize that you can't go home? We're stuck here for who knows how long!"

Gabumon shrugged, "We wanted to be of the most help as possible. And since we can't be there to help Kari, we all thought it best to come and help you."

"Besides," called Agumon, "We know we'll be home again some day. It's just a matter of time."

Veemon grinned at Gatomon, "Is it me, or does this conversation sound familiar?"

Gatomon grumbled, "It's you." Veemon laughed.

"Tentomon!" Biyomon complained, "Stop shoving your shell in my face!"

"I can't help it. Hawkmon's taking up all the room."

"I most certainly am not."

Armadillomon sighed, "This springs too small for all of us. Isn't there a bigger one?"

The nearest Gekomon said, "Well, there is ShogunGekomon's hot spring next door. It's a pretty big lake; but he gets really touchy if someone else uses it."

Patamon grinned, "But he's asleep, right?"

Wormmon nodded, "And what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

Agumon made it official, "Last one there's a rotten Digitamamon!" They all clambered out of the spring and ran down the hall, followed by a group of nervous Gekomon.

Veemon called, "Wait for me!" and ran after them, followed less than two seconds by Gabumon.

Gatomon strolled causally, not caring if she was the last one there. It felt good to have all of her friends with her. She'd always been closest to Patamon, since they'd shared more adventures together over two generations of Digidestined, but it was wonderful to have everyone there. She felt that she'd grown much closer to Veemon as well, but spending too much time together would have resulted in both of them annoying each other at some point. With a larger group, they could all enjoy the company and share in their strength. It wouldn't hurt to have other speakers as well.

The sound of splashing and yelling came from the next room. If that didn't wake ShogunGekomon, nothing would. Gatomon smiled, "What a bunch of dopes."

* * * * * * * *

Hitoshi waiting just outside the doorway to Heki's office. It was strange how he could feel so nervous about entering an office he must have visited at least twice a week. This time there would be no friendly chitchat between the two men, or toasts to their success and popularity. G.O.D. had lobbied for many of the laws restricting Digimon contact with humans, including separate hospitals and exclusion of Digimon from school grounds. Heki had been the power behind those movements, and Hitoshi had persuaded others to join in the cause. Now he was about to destroy their union of strength.

For a moment, he hesitated. Hitoshi had spent the previous night and most of the following morning tracking down anti-Digimon extremists who had been arrested. Most were in jail or prison, but some had been released on parole. Many had been teenagers, some too young for prison. Although the adults could not identify the man who'd given the armband, many of the younger extremists had recognized Heki when he'd shown them the other man's picture. Apparently, Heki had used intermediaries to contact the older radicals. Most young adults did not know who Heki Doutokou was. Caught up in youthful egocentrism and distraction, many children did not know of people beyond what they heard on either the news or in popular culture. Only adults with extensive knowledge of Japan's upper class would have know who Heki was, for he rarely appeared on television. He'd always commissioned Hitoshi to speak for him.

Was I a shield? A decoy to hide his other tactics. He would know the truth soon. He rapped his knuckles against the door.

"Come in." Hitoshi entered the office. Heki smiled at him, "Welcome, Hitoshi. Have a seat."

Hitoshi hesitated a moment to look around the office. Everything in the room broadcasted how rich Heki was. There were photos of him with celebrities and fundraisers, awards for donations and excellent business skills, and paintings of himself and his family. The rug on the floor was a dazzling weave of gold and red fibers, and the desk that rested upon the floor was made of an expensive type of dark red wood. Even the pens on Heki's desk carried excessive patterns of gold dancing over the green surface. Heki wanted to show everyone that he was one of the richest men in Tokyo.

Hitoshi sat down. Heki asked, "What can I do for you?"

There was no point in bantering. Far better to get to the point. "Why did you give armbands to the anti-Digimon radicals?"

Heki was silent for a moment, and then he laughed. "So I am found out? How'd you discover me?"

Hitoshi was momentarily surprised by Heki's honesty. "One of the boys you met with is a friend of my son. He identified you when he came to visit me."

"I see. Well, serves me right for meeting the boy in public. I'll have to be more careful in the future."

"There is no future for this! Heki, you will not endanger anymore lives with these acts of terrorism."

"That's a bit harsh, Hitoshi. I'm not trying to topple governments or drive people out of the nation. I am trying to get them to guide them."

Hitoshi wasn't sure what stunned him more; the honesty or the idea that what Heki had done was for the good of the people. "How can you guide someone by threatening to blow up their homes or beat them to death?"

Heki replied, "Sometimes you have to be forceful with people to get your point across. And some people don't listen to reason, so you have to be even more direct with them. Don't parents spank their children when they misbehave?"

"I never spanked Muri."

"Yes, and look what happened to him." Hitoshi clenched his fist underneath the table. Heki's matter-of-fact tone was even more enraging than his words.

"Why did you ask me to speak on behalf of the Guardians if you really just wanted to lead a militia?"

Heki sighed, "You're being very melodramatic today. If you're thinking that I asked you to speak for this organization because I wanted to use you as a shield, then you're wrong. Remember, we chose you because of all those articles you wrote for the papers about opposing Digimon. You had the same views as we and you were a powerful speaker. It was in the Guardian's best interest to try and educate people with words. My private actions are simply a way of dealing with people who won't listen to you."

Hitoshi shook his head. "We cannot educate people by hurting them. I can't believe you don't follow your own values." He gestured to the Guardian's values statement plaque, which hung on the wall behind Heki.

Heki said, "Hitoshi, what I am doing, and will continue to do, is in everyone's best interest, yours included. Digimon are a threat to us all. They're a pack of lies that will only cause people unhappiness."

"What do you mean?"

"Did I ever tell you that I once had a partner? One night I came home and I found this vile mound of green flesh waiting in my living room. It looked at me with those two eyestalks and said that it was my partner. The Nume-something was one of the most disgusting things I'd ever seen. I threw it out immediately and made sure security kept it away. Haven't seen the damn thing since. Can you image? A slimy monster as my counterpart? The idea's ridiculous! It was then that I realized that this whole Digimon partner idea was a lie. An inaccurate reflection on people themselves. Digimon just want to freeload off us. The want to live in our world and enjoy the benefits of our labor. That's why I founded the Guardians Opposing Digimon." He leaned back with a proud smile. His voice was calm and even, even optimistic. It was clear that he didn't feel the slightest bit wrong.

Hitoshi sat stunned. To think, Heki had started the Guaridans organization simply because he didn't like the Digimon partner assigned to him. It was childish, even sick! Hitoshi stood up. "It's over, Heki. You're under arrest." He looked to the doorway and several police officers stepped in. One of them brandished a pair of handcuffs.

Heki laughed. "You must be joking! Every judge in the city is in my pocket. No court in the world would convict me."

"Maybe not, but I will make sure you are expelled from the Guardians."

"Do that, and you lose more than half your funding. If I go, many of the other founders will withdraw. You really think I'm the only one who supports a more aggressive approach? Step off your cloud, Ikari. Everyone knew about the armbands except you." With that, he stood up and motioned the handcuffs away. He followed the policemen out the door, grinning broadly.

Hitoshi slumped down again in the chair. Everyone. The entire managerial board knew. For a moment, Hitoshi felt like an utter fool. How could he have not seen it? He'd never stopped to question whether the others would be involved in such a conspiracy. The Guardians were a terrorist group disguised as a political activist organization. The thought made him sick.

What do I do now? This had been the focus in Hitoshi's life for over five years. Now he could feel it crumbling around him. No matter what, I will continue to speak. The truth must be heard. He stood up and wandered back to his office with a new weight bearing upon his shoulders.

* * * * * * * *

Although he couldn't prove it, Davis was sure that school operated on a different time stream than the rest of the world did; a very slow time stream. Maybe the doorways were digiports to alternate dimensions where time passed slower than normal. How else could classes take so freakin' long? He wasn't even in school at the moment, and it was still taking forever for classes to get out.

Davis was waiting across the street from his former school. Even though he still turned in homework and took tests there, he didn't consider himself a member of the student body. If anything, most of the students weren't worth knowing anymore. If they were anything like Muri or Gendo, he'd be better off staying away from his ex-classmates. There was only one person he wanted to meet with, which was why he was wasting away outside waiting for school to end.

He checked his watch. Twenty more minutes? He'd left for school with the assumption that he would have arrived much later. After all, he'd been tardy so many times that the trek from his home to school seemed to be much longer. Now he was at the opposite end of the problem; he had too much time on his hands.

Davis shifted his gaze to the stores lining the road. There was a barber store on the corner, and there wasn't any wait. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. His spiked ball of hair had been a fashion for pretty much all his life, even when he was a little kid. But Davis wasn't the person he'd used to be. If he could travel back in time to when he first became a Digidestined, he was sure that he'd be very different from his former self. So why should he look the same? Davis nodded to himself. Twenty minutes should be plenty of time. He entered the store.

Thirty minutes later, Davis left the store cursing himself for wasting so much time. It turned out that his hair required a lot of work for one simple cut. Still, he thought it looked pretty good. His hair was now cut short with a few short strands spiking forward from his forehead. Now the only problem was if Kay Joshu had left for home already.

Fortunately, Kay was just leaving school. She always had been one to avoid the large rush of students leaving school, and she was too timid to stay for after-school clubs. Davis frowned as he looked at Kay and the others students. They were partially dragging themselves away, exhausted. Many of them walked in small groups. In fact, there was a visible gap between two groups. There was an unspoken tension among all of them. They were scared and divided. A person could feel the anxiety from the students without even being among them. Despite the negative feeling, Davis felt a sliver of hope that not everyone was against Kari. What else could cause such division between the students except different opinions about Kari?

Kay was hovering at the outskirts of one group, leaning towards the other. Davis wasn't sure what she thought about Kari, but they'd once been best friends, and Davis wanted to try to reunite them. Davis turned his back the school and watched Kay's reflection in a store window. He'd have to follow her and talk to her without the others students watching. He was a little troubled by the notion of stalking a girl, but this was for a good cause.

He followed Kay down the street to her house. Slowly the flow of students began to ebb away. Kay lived near where Kari's old apartment was, so Davis knew the way fairly well. He broke off several times to avoid being noticed but then returned to the route later on. Finally, Kay was alone; no other students nearby.

Davis approached from behind. He didn't want her to flee, but he didn't want to scare her either, so he had to block her line of escape. Stay calm. Kay's not the type to handle aggression. Don't blow your top. "Excuse me."

Kay jumped slightly and turned around. "Y-yes?"

Davis smiled, "Um… Hi, Kay, how ya been?"

Kay frowned, "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

That was a surprise. "Yeah. I'm Davis Motomiya."

"Davis?" Kay's eye bulged. "What did you do to your hair?"

"Huh?" He tried to glance at his hairline. "It's not that different, is it?"

"I hardly recognize you!" Kay's surprise faded and she became wary. "What do you want?"

Geez. I can't believe she didn't recognize me! Davis shrugged, then turned his attention to his real goal. "I came to talk to you about Kari."

Kay became even more uneasy. "I have nothing to say about her." She turned to leave.

Davis sprinted forward and blocked her path. "Then you can listen to me."

Kay stepped back, "I'll scream. Stay away from me."

Davis held up his hands, "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk. Kay, you were friends with Kari, weren't you?"

"I-I don't know. I thought I knew her and then she… she…"

"She glows. It's not that threatening, you know. I've seen her glow close up."

"But it's not normal! It's not even natural."

"Does that make Kari a bad person? I know it's scary at first but she's still the same girl she always was."

Kay fidgeted. "I can't face her. You don't know what's it's been like at school. The students are arguing and fighting all the time. Some of them hate Kari, others want to know what's going on before they decide. Many have joined anti-Digimon groups like G.O.D. because they think Digimon made her glow."

"I can tell you right now that's a lie. Our Digimon had nothing to do with it." He took a deep breath. "Kay, Kari misses you. She's been forced to stay in a hidden place for weeks. She's lost most of her friends and her life, and she thinks you hate her. I was hoping you could help her out." Kay didn't speak. "You don't have to see her. But she wants to talk to you." He handed her a piece of paper with a phone number written on it. "This is my cell phone's number. If you want to talk to her, give me a call and I'll put you in touch. Okay?"

Kay was still silent.

"Okay?"

She only nodded in response.

It was three days before Davis went to the Kamiya's again. Kay never called. Davis didn't want to give up on her, but the odds seemed to be against her calling. Still, since when had he cared about the odds?

Davis glanced down at his chest. The crest he found hung from a newly added string around his neck under his black shirt. Davis had zipped his coat up. He wanted to make sure he could hide the crest while still keeping it, even when it glowed. He felt a plume of warmth on his chest as he neared Kari's home. The crest was still reacting to her.

Davis had just stepped on to the Kamiya's lawn when a man dressed in casual clothes stepped out from the bushes towards the back, near the fence. He looked friendly enough, but Davis knew this was one of the security guards assigned to protect Kari. Davis paused and waited for the man to come to him.

"Hi there." The man smiled, "Mind if I ask what you want here?"

"I'm here to see a friend." Davis didn't want to say Kari's name in public.

The man said, "I don't recognize you. What's your name?"

"Davis Motomiya."

The man frowned and scrutinized him. "Can I see your ID?" He compared Davis' face to his driver's license. He continued to frown.

"I… got a haircut." Davis couldn't believe a security guard wouldn't recognize him just because of a stupid haircut! He'd been getting this from people ever since he changed his hair. His parents, Jun, Jim, and Kapurimon had all stared at him at first and questioned whether or not he was really Davis. It was getting old.

The man handed Davis' ID back. "I hope you and your friend have a good time." He whispered. "Update that picture before you come back again." Davis nodded and walked to the door. The man vanished into the back yard of the neighboring house.

Davis was surprised when Tai answered the door. "Tai! Hi! I didn't know you were back."
Tai blinked, "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Davis felt his face darken several shades of red. "It's me! Davis!"

"Davis??? Whoa, when did you get a haircut?"

"Several days ago." He walked inside. Tai called for Kari. Davis felt a surge of anticipation. The last time he'd seen Kari, she'd kissed him on the cheek. He could feel the crest glow against his thumping heart. He'd been wondering how to act in front of her. Should he try to impress her or try to stay the same? Neither option seemed to work. Trying to impress her as a kid had only resulted in his own humiliation, but things weren't the same anymore. Davis wanted to get to know her better, as something more than a friend. That desire hadn't died in the last few days.

"Who is it?" Kari stepped into view. Davis hadn't appreciated how pretty she looked in just causal clothes. Kari frowned, "Hello. Who are you?"

"AHHHH!" Davis felt all his emotions drain away into pure frustration. "It's just a freaking haircut! It's not like I got plastic surgery or anything!"

Kari blinked, "Davis?"

Tai laughed, "She recognizes you just by your scream."

Kari stepped closer and admired his new hairstyle. "I like it." Davis felt some of his earlier reverie return, until Kari saw the redness around his nose and eye. "What happened to you? Were you in a fight?"

Davis tried to dodge. "Yeah. Picked a fight with somebody. You should see the other guy."

Kari somehow saw right through him. "Who did you fight with and why?"

"Oh, you know, guy stuff."

"Tell me the truth, Davis." Davis lost the ability to lie with those words. He sighed and offered as quick an explanation as possible. Both Kari and Tai looked shocked by the time he finished. Kari excused herself briefly, which troubled Davis for some reason. Tai motioned for him to sit down. They chatted about Tai's college life for a while, and Davis' future.

Davis said, "Since I can't get into college on a soccer scholarship anymore, I'll have to pass the entrance exam. Kari's been a big help with that."

Tai smiled, "I knew she would make a great teacher." He paused for a moment. "So, your classmates are still a source for trouble, huh?"

Davis nodded. "Kay says that about half the class is against her while the other half is still confused."

"Kay? Kay Joshu? When did you talk to her?"

"Just after I got the haircut. I wanted to see if she wouldn't talk to Kari again. No luck, though. She's still afraid."

"I understand. She always was pretty timid. Still, it was good of you to try. My parents told me how much you've been around."

"Including the… um…."

"Yes, everything." Tai grinned, "I want to thank you for that. Kari's much happier thanks to you."

Davis relaxed. "Glad someone is. Your parents weren't very happy. By the way, where are they?"

"At a drive-in movie. They decided to get out of the house for a while. My Dad telecommutes to work now and my Mom doesn't have to shop. Now she requisitions. Kari and I urged them to take a little time off."

"You're not worried?"

"A little, but I don't think it'll be a problem. People shouldn't recognize them inside a car. Most people at drive-ins aren't looking at the other cars." Tai checked his watch. "Where the heck is Kari? She's been gone pretty long." They wandered upstairs and peeked in to Kari's room. She was on the phone.

"Kari?" Tai stepped in.

Kari gasped and turned around. "I'll talk to you later. Bye." She took the phone away from her ear.

Davis and Tai heard a voice coming from the earpiece. "Okay, b-" The phone crashed into the base.

Davis frowned. He recognized the voice on the phone, "Were you talking to TK?"

Kari nodded, "Just saying hello."

Tai arched an eyebrow. "You haven't called TK at all since this whole things started. Why now?"

"I just felt like it."

Something was wrong. Kari didn't abandon guests just to make spur-of-the-moment phone calls. She was hiding something. Davis asked, "What did you talk about?"

"Nothing important." Definitely wrong.

Tai said, "Tell us the truth. What did you say to TK?"

Kari sighed. "I asked him to call the others and to tell them to stay away. They shouldn't visit me."

Both Tai and Davis shouted, "What?"

Kari blurted, "I don't want anyone else to be attacked like Davis was because of me! If the others stay away, then they won't become targets. I've already put enough people at risk!"

Davis protested, "We're willing to take a risk! Don't worry."

"How can you say that? You were beat up. You could have been killed!"

Davis grinned, "Could've, but I wasn't. You shouldn't worry so much."

Kari shook her head. "I made my decision. No one else is going to be put in danger because of me."

"Kari…"

"Don't, Davis, please. Let's just do the homework, okay?" Davis looked at Tai, who shrugged helplessly. Davis nodded and put his schoolwork on the table. Tai went back downstairs.

The first hour and a half was laced with tension. Davis was certain that Kari was wrong. Telling everyone to stay away only made things worse. Couldn't she understand that they were willing to take a risk for her? Apparently not. His frustration ebbed away as time passed, and he began to think back to his hesitant feelings. Things were awkward now, but he couldn't resist looking at her. She caught him staring at her a few times, and was starting to look at him quizzically. He continually debated between asking how she felt and staying quiet.

The deciding moment came when he realized he'd been thinking about Kari so much that he'd made an obvious mistake in his work. He reached over for the eraser without looking. Instead of touching the rubbery cold block, he felt a warm hand in his. His head jolted up and he saw that he'd accidentally grabbed Kari's hand. "Sorry!" He pulled his hand away as if it'd been in the fire.

Kari frowned, "Are you okay? You've been acting very strange today."

Davis sighed. This wasn't working. It was either talk to Kari and get this out in the open, or keep his feelings hidden and go crazy while acting like a weirdo. Things probably can't get any more awkward than they are now anyway. Davis took a deep breath. "Kari, do you remember when we were on the ferrous wheel last week?"

Kari nodded, "I remember how much fun that was. Why do you ask?"

"Do you remember what you said about not having a boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"Did you really mean it?"

Kari looked puzzled. "I didn't mean that I don't want a boyfriend. It's just that I don't think I ever will, given all that's happened."

Time to ask. "I was wondering about that. Do you… do you ever think you and I could be-well- more than friends?"

Kari blinked. "More than…" Her eyes widened slightly. That wasn't the reaction Davis had hoped for. In the back of his mind, he'd envisioned Kari crying, "Yes!" and throwing her arms around him. But he could see that wasn't going to happen. If anything, she looked scared.

Davis blurted, "I'm sorry. That sounded stupid. N-never mind." Right, like she could just forget what he'd just said. Nice going, Dufus, you messed up again, just like old times. He stood up. "I should go. I'm really, really sorry."

Kari rose up with him. "No, you don't have to go. It's okay."

Davis could feel the panic rise up in him. The awkwardness of the moment pressed down on him like a Mammothmon's foot. "No, no, really. I should get going." He grabbed his papers in a clumsy pile. "I'll… I'll see you sometime." He rushed out the door before Kari could say another word. She didn't follow.

Downstairs, Davis organized his papers into his backpack while seething at himself for being so stupid. Why'd I have to go and ask her? "More than friends," give me a break. No wonder she looked so scared. She probably doesn't want to have anything to do with me now. Just when he'd been making such a big change in his life, he had to go and screw things up by alienating one of his favorite people in the world.

Tai glanced up from the table where he'd been reading a sports magazine. "What's going on? I thought you two would still be studying."

Davis tried to shrug like Matt used to. He didn't affect the same aura of coolness as his other mentor. "We decided to call it a day. I'll see you later."

Tai sighed, "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. Nothing at all."

"You're a lousy liar, Davis. I don't know how you get away with half the things you do when you can't even keep a straight face."

Davis sighed. "I made myself look like an idiot by asking Kari to be my girlfriend, okay?"

Tai arched an eyebrow. "Really?" That was better than most times. Usually, whenever Tai heard that Kari had a new boyfriend, his face darkened and he began to demand who this new guy was. Then again, Davis hadn't said that Kari was his girlfriend. Far from it.

"And what did Kari say?"

"She didn't say anything. The look she gave me said it all. No way."

"Are you sure?"

Davis looked up, "Of course I'm sure. From the way she looked at me, you'd think I grew a set of fangs and called myself Myotismon."

Tai grinned, "Kari's not used to having people ask her so suddenly. I think she was just scared by how abrupt you were."

Davis paused, "You think?"

Tai nodded, "Kari doesn't react well to sudden events like someone asking her out on a date. She feels awkward and uncertain. Maybe you should call back later and see what she has to say."

Davis replied, "No. I think I should just get lost for a while longer. I shouldn't have shot my mouth off anyway."

Tai said, "It's your call, but I don't think Kari's that upset with you."

"Are you actually encouraging me? I thought you didn't like boys going after your sister."

Tai nodded, "You're my friend, so I'm trying to give you support. I'll start disliking you if Kari ever falls for you."

* * * * * * * *

Kari paced back and forth in her room while rubbing her hands together. Why had Davis asked that question? How could he? He'd asked her out of the blue and expected an answer right there on the spot? That was ridiculous! Where did he get off confronting her like that? He'd always been bad at subtlety, but this was a worse than usual! Had he been acting so nice to her just to win her over? Kari could feel her face begin to burn. She wasn't sure if she was angry or embarrassed.

She forced herself to stop pacing and took several deep breaths. Why was she getting so mad at Davis? It was obvious that he hadn't been supporting her for the sake of being her boyfriend. A person couldn't fake the kind of kindness he'd shown her. He had stayed with her so long because of the friendship they shared, not for his own self-interest. But why had he suddenly expressed an interest in her again? She thought he'd given up that crush years ago.

Feeling suddenly dizzy, Kari sat down on her bed. Davis had been acting awkward all day, and she hadn't seen him since he'd snuck her out for that one wonderful day. Maybe something had changed in that time. They had been pretty candid and honest with one another lately. Davis had become as close to her as Tai or TK. She knew she could count on him and she finally felt she was at least beginning to understand him as a person. So why had she been so nervous when he'd asked her about being "more than friends?"

She'd gone through this with TK just before he'd moved away. She'd felt very close to him and wondered if they wouldn't make a good couple. But after much reflection, they both agreed that the bond they shared was different from romantic love. They were happy to be as close as they were and they didn't feel the need to pursue it in other forms. Did the same notion apply to Davis? He certainly wasn't like TK. Both men were kind, brave, supportive, and caring, but Davis expressed his emotions in different ways from TK. Davis was bold and direct. He didn't dance around the subject he lunged for it. TK was much more subtle, like Kari. Neither of them were good at confrontations.

Kari pressed a hand to her aching head. That was what troubled her so much about Davis' question. He'd asked it seemingly out of nowhere. Kari had been so surprised that she'd panicked and driven him away. He probably thought she was mad at him. So, how do I feel? Kari wasn't sure how to answer her own question. She hadn't considered a deeper relationship with Davis so far, but she couldn't say it was a bad idea.

Her head was throbbing now. Davis must have really upset her to make her feel so sick. It was then that Kari noticed the room was darkening. The lights overhead and the sunlight streaming through the windows began to fade away into a gray murk. Kari wasn't sure what was happening, until she felt water splashing against her legs.

* * * * * * * *

Davis was about to head out the door when a burning pain stabbed his chest. He yelped and reached into his shirt and pulled out the crest. It was pulsating furiously with hot pink light.

Tai walked over to him. "What's that? Is that a crest?"

Davis was about to explain when they heard a scream from upstairs. "Kari!" Tai and Davis nearly hit each other while lunging for a stairway. They scrambled up in a chaotic race to her door.

Kari lay crumpled on the floor. Her shoulders rose and fell in deep gasps. Both men rushed over to her and rolled her onto her back. Her eyes were closed but they could see her eyes darting underneath the folds of skin. Her whole body was covered in a cold sweat and she trembled. Tai cradled his sister against his lap while calling her name. Davis held her hand. "Kari! Wake up! Come on. Kari!"

Both their expressions froze in horror as Kari's body began to flicker and fade in and out of sight.

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Another cliffhanger! Kari struggles to free herself from the Dark Ocean while events conspire against Hitoshi Ikari and his son. Plenty more surprises in store in the next chapter!