For a moment that was burned in eternity the two stood their staring at the other. As though they believed the other would disappear from their sight as quickly as they had appeared. As though they would wake up suddenly and find this all to have been only another dream. A dream they had believed that would never come true.

Finally Yolei spoke as she turned to look of the vast forest below. "It's beautiful, is it not?"

Matt walked up next to her, his icy blue eyes sweeping over the area. "That it is." He paused then added "So the Digimon Emperor didn't kill you after all."

Yolei frowned as she turned. "Of course he didn't. Why would you think that?"

Matt narrowed his eyes. "You were kidnapped, and you never came back. When we accused him of killing you he didn't deny it. Where have you been?"

Yolei looked down. "I woke up in a cave, laying on a table dressed in this. I saw you all fighting the Emporer a few days ago, but I cound't bring myself to go to you all... I was afraid."

"Of what?"

Yolei bowed her head. "That you all had forgotten me."

"Yolei...." Matt said, his voice soft. "We never forgot you."

Yolei looked back up into his eyes. "Really?"

He rached up to brush a stray tendril of blond hair from his face, but Yolei beat him to it. Her hand hovered there after brushing it aside. Gently Matt touched her hand. "I've... that is me and the others, have missed you."

Yolei smiled. "I'm back....how do you think the others will react?"

Matt grinned. "Trust me you'll be bombarded my hugs and such." Matt stared deep into Yolei's depthless eyes. How he'd missed her. How much hate he'd felt when he'd thought she was dead. That she had died at the hands of the Emperor. He had hated the Emperor before, but the thought of what he'd done to Yolei had intesfied it."Y- Yolei?" He said her name with uncertainty.

Yolei's face peaked. "Yes?"

Yolei stepped closer. "Yes?"

He looked away from her eyes. "I- I... it's great to see you again." he forced out, calling himself a coward inwardly as he did so.

Yolei looked down, expecting his words to be something much defferent from that. Gazing back up at him she smiled. "It'll be sunrise in a few hours. You... You and I can go back to the real world then, or we can start looking for the gateways now. Its up to you. Your Digimon, or at least I think that's your Digimon, should be fine by the time he wakes up."

Matt nodded. "We can go now, I'll go wake Gabumon."

Yolei nodded. "Sure. I'll be waiting... here." She said the last part faintly, almost sadly.

Moments later Matt returned, Gabumon in his arms. Silently they began walking down the terran of the cave and into the forest. It was night, so they shouldn't have to worry about the Digimon Emperor. At least they hoped they wouldn't. He had never attacked at night.

It wasn't long before they finally neared a gateway. Yolei smiled both happily and nervously. Matt's eyes clearly showed his joy, though no smile lit his face. But then again, Matt had never been one to smile a lot. Unless something that he held dear made him happy.

Slowly they both pulled out their Digivices, casting eachother a small look as they did so. Just as they where about to hold the Digivice against the screen, and return to the real world it exploded into thousands of peices.

"Leaving so soon?"A voice they knew all too well rang through the air.

They turned slowly. Yolei knew who it was without bothering to look. The Digimon Emperor.

Throwing back her head in the pride a regal king would respect Yolei spoke. "Well your party is pretty lousy. So we decided to take our leave. You make a bad host anyhow."

Even through his glasses Yolei and Matt where able to feel the glare he bestowed upon them. Wary of this, Matt stepped slightly in front of her his arms outstretched defensively. Ken frowned ans emitted a low, annoyed grunt and a cocky respose. "Really? I think the other guests would love for you to stay."

The crack of a whip rang through the air, and Yolei and Matt found themselves surrounded by DarkTyrannomon, and many outher Digimon. Yolei glanced at Matt, then at Gabumon. A silent question passed between them. Matt shook his head lightly as he looked pointedly at the Control Spire not far away.

"Do you surrender?"

Yolei growled her hands clenching into fists, Matt showed no emotion; though inside he was smoldering.

"Not a chance!" Yolei barked.

"Yeah! You'll have to do better than a few lousy magic tricks to catch us!" Matt yelled mockingly at him as he glanced at Yolei she smirked slightly and they took off running.

Each in the opposite direction, though still knowing where the other was. Suddenly Matt tripped over an outcropping of a rock. As soon as he hit the ground, he felt the veins of Veggimon wrap around him. He was done for.

Yolei longed to turn and go after Matt, but knew that she would succeed only in getting herself captured. Again. Her breath becoming ragged she ran on. Her breath had soon become short and her lungs and legs were on fire. She glanced behind her to see if anyone was following, she breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw no one.

Her comfort, however, did not last long. She tripped on a rock, both spraining her ankle and sent her rolling down a hill. She held back a scream of pain as her quivering body collided with countless sticks and stones. She finally rolled to a stop, after whapping her head up against a bolder. Yolei moaned in pain, the last thing she saw before the world around her faded into darkness was a flash of a midnight blue cape.

Red, dull pain dominated all of Yolei as she returned to reality. Pressing her hand gently agenst her forhead she glanced around. A cell. Which meant...

"Oh no.... " She groaned. "Ken's fortress...."

'Matt' was the next thing that entered her mind... where was he? Yolei glanced around frantically before forcing her injured body into a standing position.

Yolei walked around in her cubicle as she searched for both a way out for herself and Matt. She found neither. Frowing in anger and from the slight pain in her head and everywhere else she walked over to a corner of her cell and let herself slide back down to the floor.

"So," she muttered to herself. "When's his royal ego himself comin'?" As she expected she recived only the vibrations of her own voice in return.

Matt sat silently in his cell. His icy eyes focused soley an the ground. Yolei. Her name and face plagued his thoughts. They shouldn't of split up. But then he'd given her a chance, however small, at escape. He hoped she was O.K. With any luck Ken hadn't captured her as he had him.

He found it strange he was so worried over her. He hadn't known her that well 2 years ago and he didn't know her well now. All he knew that was when he was around her he felt this sudden need to hold her. To kiss her. To protect her. These feelings made little sense to him.

He'd always been the aloof one. Never letting anyone in, other then his younger brother T.K. and he didn't even let him in too much. He was the lone wolf. Other than his bandmates that helped him music that was once his passion, he'd never really hung out with anyone but the DigiDestined. He had other friends, of course, but only surface friends really. They claimed to know him, but they only knew what they saw.

He couldn't believe how much he'd come to actually care for Yolei. The feelings he felt couldn't be ignored. For they immediately intensified at the mere sight of her. Matt Ishida had finly fallen hard for someone. Only the thing was, he wasn't sure if she felt the same way. There where a thousand guys in the world, why would she choose him?

Yolei was snapped from her reverie as she heard footsteps from down the hall coming to her cell. Yolei leaned comfortably against the wall. She knew already who was coming. She would show him no fear. That she wasn't a peice of clay he could mold as he saw fit. But inside Yolei felt underlying fear of the boy called Ken Ichijouchi. She hated him. But her fear was stronger then her hate.

"Well, well what is this? Is the little DigiDestined afraid of me?" He mocked lightly.

Yolei's eye twitched. Her fear was replaced by a much stronger feeling. Anger. Somehow she managed to keep it under control.

"Is she getting a little mad? Now thats not very polite, especially in front of someone so superior."

That did it. Yolei snapped. Within half a second she was up against the bars and slapped him so hard his glasses went flying off. Anger seeped into every fiber of her being, never before had she felt such rage.

Slowly Ken turned to face her again. His cheek had a bright red handprint, his amethyst eyes showed anger and shock. "How dare you!" He snarled and slowly opened the door and raised his whip.

Yolei's eyes widened, immediately feeling that maybe her rash decision hadn't been so wise. But it still felt damn good to have slapped him. He deserved it. Yolei backed away from him untill she felt her back hit the wall. Fear froze her anger and Yolei bit back a whimper of fear. She felt a lump rise in her throat as she prayed her punishment would be over soon. But knowing Ken, it probably wouldn't be.

Yolei winced as the whip tore through the tender flesh of her arm. She bit her tongue though to keep in the cry of pain that lifting heavily in her throat. She bravely held back the tears that glazed in her eyes. Never would she give him the pleasure of seeing them. Never. So she merely stood there. Calmly. Though inside her emotions were like a hurricane hurling through her. One was anger. The other, pain. The next hate. The next fear, and round and round they went. Each fighting for control. Despite the chaotic emotions within she merely stood there. Her crimson brown eyes flashing defiance.

He lashed out again, only to have his whip caught in Yolei's hand. "Don't even think of doing that again." She growled.

Ken glared at her and jerked the whip from her hand. "I highly suggest that you don't speak in such a manner to your superior, girl." He tilted his head, "you look very familiar. Though I've not seen you with that patehtic band of Digifools before. What is your name?"

Yolei cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "You have not the privledge to know my name."

He hardened his gaze. "I am the Digimon Emperor you are to reply immediately!"

Yolei held her head high. "No. You're just a boy. A boy playing what he thinks is a game." She stepped toward him. "A boy that is playing make-belive in a place that is as real as you and I." Ken steeled himself, refusing to step backward. "A boy who thinks he is superior to the entire human race when in truth he is not." Yolei's voice grew in strength and determination as she spoke. "You may be 'Digimon Emperour'," she spat the tittle as though it where a curse, "in this little game of yours, but I am a human being and you've no power over me!" She said this slowly, dangerously. By this time she was toe-to-toe with him.

The Kaizer was both angered and suprised by her comment. He hardened his gaze on her. Finally he opened his mouth and spoke, his voice low and cold. "Its not a game, and they're not real. And I happen to have a great deal of power over you."

In a quick motion he grabbed her wrists with one hand and kissed her- hard. His other hand on the base of her neck. Disgusted by his actions Yolei tried to move away, failing in her attempt. After a moment or two he allowed her to push him away.

Enraged, Yolei let her hand fly through the air, ready to let him have it. Ken caught it less then an inch away from his face and kissed it gentlyly, a disturbing smile playing on his face. She pulled it back from him, as though she was burned.

"Fairwell, love." Ken said mockingly as he turned and walked from her cell, locking it behind him.

Yolei ran up to the bars, her golden brown eyes blazed in anger. "Don't call me that! You've no right!"

Ken smirked. "Ah, but I have every right. Farewell....lover." He said as he turned and left.

Yolei turned bright red. "Don't call me that either!" She yelled after him, Ken ignored her.

The Digimon Emperour, sat silently in the control room. His amethyst eyes narrowed in thought. That girl, where had he seen her before? She was so familiar, yet he didn't recall ever seeing the likes of her with the outher Digidestined.

He would have definately noticed her. Her lavender hair would have given her away immediately. If not with the Digidestined, then where? Back when he was in the real world? But if that where so she wouldn't have known about his... other identity. He glanced up at his monitors, his eyes finally landing on a boy with blond hair. Matt Ishida. If he was with the girl, he had to know something about her!

Flashing his trademark smirk he took off down the corridor, toward Matt's cell. Toward answers.

Matt leaned silently against the cold wall of his cell. His face holding no expression of any kind, even his eyes where cold and empty looking; devoid of any emotion. His thoughts dwelled upon a certain lavender haired girl.

He was worried about her, that much he would admitt to himself. He refused to even consider the fact that he might consider her to be a little more than a friend.

"Enjoying yourself behind bars?" A mocking voice peirced the air.

Slowly Matt looked up, his gaze bored. Slowly he stood up and leaned against the wall. His eyes surveying to the young tyrant. "What do you want, Ken?"

Ken's body tensed visibly. "Stop calling me that! I am the Digimon Emperor!"

Matt raised an eyebrow. "You're right. The real Ken died years ago, leaveing only a husk of a cold, heartless fiend behind. Call yourself what you wish, but you will always be just Ken Ichijouchi. Whether you like it or not."

Ken sneered. "I am not 'just' anything. I am the only perfect human being. You are aren't even worth the spit cleaning my shoes. Your lucky I even grace you with my presence!"

Matt chuckled. "You've never graced my presence, or anyone else for that matter."

Ken narrowed his eyes, his hands clenching his whip. "It would be in your best interest to show respect to me, boy."

Matt tilted his head. "Why would that be? Becouse you'll kill me?" He snorted, "I'd like to see you try. Or would you have one of your 'slaves' do it for you, since your such a coward after all."

Ken's face contorted in fury, then just as quickly sliped into smugness. "Belive what you will, boy, but I won't be harming you nearly as much as that Digimon of yours or that girl with lavender hair...."

Matt's eyes widened. "Gabumon... Yolei..." He murmured their names, far too low for Ken to hear though, before returning his gaze to the Digimon Emperor. Matt's eyes where full of anger and hate as his eyes bore into Ken's. Blue liquid fire raged in their depths. "You'd better not do anything to harm them!"

Ken grinned slightly. "We will see. If you want them to be alright, you'd better start answering my questions."

Matt narrowed his eyes in anger. What could he do? Yolei... Gabumon.... if he didn't answer Ken's questions, God knows what would happen to them! His teeth grit he said, "what do you want to know?"

Ken grinned triumphantly. "For starters, who is that lavender haired girl? I've not seen her with your pitful little band of DigiDestined before."

Matt winced inwardly at the insult. He bit back a retort, reminding himself why he was doing this. "You should know who she is. You boast about killing her at our every battle. We fought you also to avenge her."

Ken furrowed his brow in suprise. "Yolei? Yolei Inoue? Thats her?!"

Matt gave him the 'say duh' look. "Of course. Though, she is not dead, why did you say she was dead?"

Ken smirked slightly, regaining his composure. "I don't have to answer your questions, slave. You answer mine."

Matt's eyes flared up. "I am no one's slave, especially not yours!"

Ken's lips parted into something that would have been a smile, but it held no laughter, no love. "You are really pitiful. Well, I must be going. I should pay Yolei-chan a little visit."

With that he turned and left, not tarrying the Digidestined of Friendship a respose nor a second glance.