"You are dealing with something far over your head. Do you even know anything about this key?" Tommy asked as he handed the picture back to Hanshin.

"It will help stop a dark queen, who is planning to destroy all."

"From whom?"

"What?"

"Who told you this?"

"It doesn't matter, does it?"

Tommy stood up and placed a hand on the arms of Hanshin's chair.

"It does. Who told you this that there was a dark queen coming?"

"The Watcher."

"You don't need this key. You don't want this key. You shouldn't want it."

"Dad! This about the safety of the -"

"Don't just repeat the Watcher's words to me. Hanshin, this key was meant to lock away great powers, to keep it from everyone."

"We need it. This queen -"

"Who is she? Do you even know who she is?"

"No." Hanshin looked away as his father walked away. He could hear his father take a deep breath. Clearly, this was not going as expected. "What is so wrong with this key?"

"It's dangerous."

"If it's in the wrong hands. Dad, you're giving it back to the digi-destined."

"Son, that key is lead to the destruction of everything if in the wrong hands."

"Dad, we need those fragments!"

"You don't. You can't. Is that understood?"

"If Shireika asked you, would you give it to her?"

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"Answer me!" Hanshin stood up.

"No."

"So, you wouldn't help any digi-destined?"

"Hanshin, that key is more dangerous than you realize."

"It could save this world if -"

"If, Hanshin. If!"

"But -"

"This discussion is over."

"Dad, but -"

"Hanshin! No more. No more on that key! You're in over your head if you get that key."

***

Shireika sat at her kitchen table. She hear most of the conversation between her father and Hanshin.

"Such a fool," she muttered as she read through the messages on her computer. She grabbed her computer and her bag, which she had packed with a few books to study. As she left her apartment complex, she began writing various messages.

[Hanarei: Let me know if anyone comes by. We all might want to meet up and figure out a plan, but it looks like Idiot Boy and crew won't get very far. - Shireika]

[Tomeo: Good work. I'm heading out to the park next to Tokyo General Hospital, so if you pass by, come join me if you want. - Shireika]

[Tegiwa: Be careful. I don't need you picking fights with Idiot Boy's crew. I'll see you later to study, right? - Shireika]

She folded up her computer as she entered the park, which was a ten minute walk from her apartment complex. It was nice to get away from the house and study outdoors, as distracting as it could be sometimes.

"Shireika, look!" Alatausmon pointed out when Shireika let him out of the bag. He hopped onto the park bench that Shireika had sat down on. "Look at it!"

Shireika looked up at the large black raven in the sky.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Alatusmon asked. "I might look like that when I digivolve!"

"Really?" Shireika asked.

"Probably."

"Cool," Shireika whispered as she watched the raven flew away into the trees.

"I thought you'd like it, since you seem to like birds so much," Alatusmon rambled as Shireika pulled out her latest literature book. "That firey bird isn't real, is it? The one in your room?"

"No, it's just a picture of a phoenix."

"I can see why you like that one so much though."

Shireika looked over at Alatusmon, slightly shocked.

"What do you mean?"

"Those birds are so beautiful."

Shireika smiled and laughed a little before looking back at her book.

"Yeah," she whispered as she glanced at Alatusmon briefly and then started reading.

***

"Hey, Tegiwa-kun." Tomeo aknowledged back to him and was about to reply as he took his earphones out, but didn't get it in before Tegiwa sped off. "Never mind." he said in place of what he was about to say, and started jogging in the other direction. Tegiwa must have been taking Shireika's suggestions rather seriously, and it seemed obvious since the two of them seemed to be close friends. He would have to send him and e-mail later, asking him what he had meant.

Follow the dots? On the digivice? He had barely grabbed the concepts of crests, to even think about using his. He hadn't been playing around with it because he was afraid he could accidently cause Parumon to accidenly digivolve, or something. He hoped Parumon was having fun swimming in the pool in his backyard while his parents weren't home, and considered looking at his digivice tucked away safely in his pocket as he circled around the block again.

His computer beeped again, and Tomeo had to change the settings from the pedometer setting and turn his music off to read the new e-mail from Shireika. "Good job?" he echoed, and recalled he had said in his last e-mail he was on a jogging route. It wasn't a big deal since he usually went for runs on a Sunday, except this time he was looking out for people instead of concentrating on his running. He acknoledged Shireika's invitation to join him, following the street back down towards the park.

He ran down the street next to the Tokyo General Hospital and turned into the park, stepping past a slow-moving ambulance, and thought to himself how lucky it was that he didn't live twenty years ago and didn't have to deal with any major ground traffic, since most of the cars nowdays were of the flying variety. As he moved down the main walking path he spotted a familiar red-headed girl doing some excercise on the grass nearby, and unplugged his small ear-phones once again.

"Hey... Asayake!" he called out in-between heavy breaths, slowing down and waving a hand to catch her attention. He leaned over forward to catch his breath again for a moment, inhaling deeply, then exhaled as he looked up again. "How's it going? I was just doing some jogging myself, on my way to meet Shireika. Can I join you?" he smiled.

***

"But Mr. Mayonaka, please!" Yuu continued.

"I told you my answer and it remains no," he snapped back. "Besides what do you need the key pieces for anyway?"

"We need those pieces in order to save the world from the Dark Queen." Somehow both Nikko and Hanarei seemed to have flinched at those words at the same moment.

"Those key pieces are not meant to be used, period. And I am not going to hand mine over to you!"

"Can you tell me where I might find one if we do need them. The Watcher said the Dark Queen is coming and we need to prepare for her. The fate of the world depends on it."

"That's enough!" he snapped. He turned his back on Yuu. "There are reasons why we won't tell you about the key pieces, but I will leave it at that. I suggest you go back home, Yuu." He started to walk back toward the stairs but stopped because of Hanarei sitting it the middle. Hanarei hadn't taken her eyes off of Yuu and continued to stare at Yuu. "Hanarei...." She stood up and went back upstairs but still kept an eye on Yuu till she was out of sight.

Once back upstairs, Hanarei decided to take a random chance. "Could you tell me where this key fragment is?" she asked.

"The goes for you," he said in a tired voice.

Hanarei threw her hands into the air. "There's a big surprise; You keeping secrets from me. One of these days I will find out everything about you." She heard her min-comp beep and pulled it out to read Shireika's message. "I'm going out." She hopped back down the stairs, passed Yuu without saying a word, and headed for the park.

Nikko watched his eldest daughter and sighed. "Sadly, you may what happened sooner than you think."

***

Hanarei ran a few blocks away from the house before stopping. She saw a few vending machines near on of the walls and walked over to one. She jumped into the air and kicked off of it to get to the taller stone wall next to her. "The only way to travel," said Hanarei as she starting walking along the thin wall. She pulled out her min-comp and typed a message to Shireika.

[Could you tell me where this meeting might be taking place or will I have to play the guessing game?]

***

Yuu was rather taken back by how Mr. Mayonaka reacted about key fragments. She didn't say anything as Hanarei passed her. She turned around to leave when Kosame appeared. "Are you two finished then?" Kosame asked.

"Yeah, I guess so," said Yuu. She couldn't stop herself from asking, "Is he always like that?"

"Oh no, you must have landed on one of his sensitive topics."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh there are somethings Nikko always seems to avoid talking about. I haven't figured out what they're all about. He's really a sweet man, there are just times he doesn't show it."

"I hope so," Yuu said quietly. "I better head on out then."

"Okay. Take care." Kosame waved Yuu goodbye as she left the flower shop.

Yuu pulled out her mini-comp and typed a message for Hanshin.

[Sorry Hanshin. I had no luck with Hanarei's dad. Things didn't go as smoothly as we hoped.]

***

Asayake broke out of her trip to La-La Land midway through a spin-kick, whipping her head to the side to see who was talking to her. Unfotunately, the momentum from the kick, and the movement of turning her head so quickly made her extemely dizzy; she ended up completing a 180 degree turn before toppling over. She landed as gracefully as she could manage on her rear-end, holding her head until her brain settled back into the correct position in her head. "Oh, Tomeo, hi. You scared the bejeebus outta me!" She inhaled deeply a few times to slow her breathing, stood up, and attempted to brush a few grass stains from the backside of her sweatpants. "Oh yay. I have a green bum." Snatching her bag from near-by, she took a water bottle from inside, squirted some into her mouth, and tossed to to Tomeo. "I'm not sure. Have you ever sparred before? I'm not a runner like you, Speed Racer, but I enjoy kicking ass -- if you're not too attached to yours, that is. It's no big deal if you've never done it before; it's not too hard to learn or to teach. I'm a little rusty, so it should be closer to even."

As an after thought, she added, "Why were you meeting Shireika? Did she find something out?"

***

Naoko crept quietly from her room dressed in denim pants, the only pair she had with a raised waistline, and a simple black tee. Heeled, roman sandals made from dark leather served her as footgear. Her windbreaker vest was a light purple, and it matched her nail polish. At her side was a small, bulging duffel, and Suzumon was doing duty as a fluted foil hanky in her tee pocket.

Tegiwa had fell into a hard sleep in her arms after less than an hour. That poor boy burnt his candle at both ends, and she was ready to take advantage of it. She left him asleep on her bed, and left to visit Ms. Itoh after making preparations to keep Tegiwa out of the way should he wake. “If I do this right, He’ll never know I’m gone.”

“Yeah, yeah. Good one Nikko. But, I feel sorry for the lad.” Suzumon barked.

“Don’t. He’s just a useful obstacle right now. He’s in Hanshin’s way.”

“I thought you liked him.”

“Not really. No. He’s a bit of a waste of time, really. No style. Now hush, my sister’s at the table. As usual.

“Hello, sis. Still studying I see.”

Mariko didn’t lift her eyes from her homework, and answered with a monotone “Yes.”

“You remember that guy I came in with? He’s still in my room. I doubt he’ll leave, but could you keep him back there and quiet if our folks return?”

“Uhm, yeah. I remember.” She glanced up cautiously from her book. “What do you expect of me?”

“Oh, nothing. Just make sure he doesn’t make trouble. I need him here for a bit. I’ll back for him later.” Naoko’s face split into a wicked grin. “Just do what I’d do. He’s your type.” She gave a wink and then left.

Mariko’s face blanched at her sister’s suggestion, then grew scarlet. When she was certain Naoko had left her emotional dam burst, face buried in her arms, she sobbed relentlessly.

***

Naoko learned that his mother worked from her office at home, and she rarely left the house during the day. She was fairly certain his father was tied up with extra duties due to the civil troubles these days. She felt things would be easier speaking digidested to digidestined.

Naoko checked the address on the building against the one in Tegiwa’s mini-comp. “He ought to learn to protect his files. Anyone could read them. Ah, well. This looks like the place Suzumon. Part of me cringes at arriving unannounced, but it can’t be helped.”

She pressed the buzzer with resolve and waited to be admitted to the Itoh residence.

After a few minutes, the door was opened by a pale woman who was still a few inches taller than Naoko despite Naoko’s two inch heels.

This apparition had snow white hair cut short, and eyes that were a foggy grey. Her shirt was ash, tights white, and blouse white with a dark purple ribbon at her throat. Her eyes seemed to be staring through what was in front of her.

All and all, Naoko found the presence of this strange being disconcerting enough to want to run down the hall and forget about any key; however, she persevered. “Uh…y-yeah. I need to speak to Ms. Itoh about something important, please. I’m Hanashi Naoko, ma’am.” She made a slight bow.

“I’m Mrs. Itoh. Please come in.” Sho-rei guestured toward the main room.

“Forgive the intrusion.” Running down the hall was looking better all the time, but she entered the residence because Hanshin would expect her to find something useful. She hadn’t guessed Tegiwa’s mother to be like this. Glancing at the ubiquitous family photos, she wondered if she might have something in common with this strange woman after all, for the son’s looked nothing like the photos of their father either. She repressed a smile. Maybe she could connect with this woman after all!

Naoko sat on the divan Sho-rei indicated.

Sho-rei sat in the seat across from her with an impatient look on her face. She blinked hard twice and her grey eyes cleared to their natural red. “Sorry. Implants. I was reading my email.”

Naoko nodded nervously. Red eyes. She didn’t see this as an improvement. “Ma’am… I came to ask you about…Uhm, to request…”

“You seem to have developed an interest in my son, yet you normally associate with that wild brother of Shireika’s. Why? Oh, don’t look astonished. I have two sons and a few friends at that school. I hear a bit of everything. It’s hard to run from your reputation.”

“I-I see.” Naoko seriously felt light throwing up. She was mad and scared at the same time. “Actually…I came to ask you about….” She held up her digivice.

Sho-rei’s eyes were drawn to the metallic and amethyst bauble on Naoko’s keyring. She stood and knelt by Naoko’s side. “Where did you get this?” She turned it over in her hands. “Yes, this is a real one. I don’t know this symbol though. What is your crest?”

“It came with a message from the Watcher, Ma’am. It said I had the crest of loyalty (ooc: :P).”

Sho-rei raised an eyebrow. “I new the fates had a sense of humor. But…”

“Ma’am! Even if what you have heard about me is true, please remember you have not heard everything about me!”

“Quite right. I’m sorry.”

Suzumon unfolded folded himself from her pocket, and refolded in Naoko’s lap. “Naoko, you’re supposed to be asking her about the key!”

“Key!” Sho-rei’s jaw tensed as she gazed at the little digimon.

***

Shireika looked away from her reading when Hanarei emailed her. She picked up her computer and began writing another message.

[Hanarei: I'm at the park near Tokyo General Hospital. It's basically just to check in on things. - Shireka]

She took in a deep breath. She suspected that none of Hanshin's side would be successful in getting the keys. No, she knew they wouldn't get it. If she recognized the danger of the key, the former digi-destined would as well. After all, the key was fragmented for a reason, wasn't it?

***

"Dad! We need it!" Hanshin protested.

"Hanshin! Enough of this!" Tommy shouted back. He sat down at his desk and turned on the television. "I have work to do before practice tomorrow."

Hanshin stormed out of the room and into the kitchen, hoping Shireika would be there. She probably had said something to their father about the keys, but when he entered the kitchen, he discovered that she had left. She probably was behind this. She probably told her father that he was after the key and to not give it to him. She would do anything to get in his way.

His computer was beeping that he had a few messages from others. He sat down at the kitchen table and began reading over the messages he had.

[Shouki: Not that I know of. My father wasn't too cooperative. I'm hoping someone will be willing to help us. - Hanshin]

He wrote another message to the others who had also agreed to talk with the former digi-destined.

[So, getting information is looking to be difficult. Let's all meet at the cafe near school later this afternoon to figure out a new plan? - Hanshin]

***

Tommy watched his son leave his study and took in a deep breath of relief. He wondered why Shireika wasn't involved in this, even though it appeared that she was also a digi-destined. Hadn't the digi-destined always been unified? It certainly was strange if it appeared that both his children were digi-destined and extremely unwilling to work together. At the same time, he wasn't surprised that the two wouldn't be able to work together. No matter how hard anyone would try, something would always separate the two of them.

He turned off the TV and picked up his keyboard to write a message to all the former digi-destined except Matsuro.

[Hey all. It looks like the digi-destined are up and running again. They're following a guy named the Watcher, and they want that key. We can't let them know anything about it - absolutely nothing. I have a bad feeling if someone named the Watcher is after the key. I worry that Matsuro's involved, since he has connections with the Fates now that he owns Gennai's old library collection. Have you heard anything about this? - Tommy]

***

Yuu sighed as she watched Nikko walk away. She suspected that because she wasn't related to him that he wouldn't tell her anything, no matter what. She wasn't related to any of the former digi-destined, so they probably weren't going to tell her anything. She left the flower shop and walked away. Wait, hadn't he mentioned that he had a key fragment? He could have been lying, but it could have been a slip. He might have a key, but any of the digi-destined could have had one of the fragments. This certainly wasn't going well for her. She hoped the others who were related to the former digi-destined were more successful than she was.

It was then that she received Hanshin's message. After reading it, she wondered if perhaps Shireika and those who supported her may have been right. No, they couldn't give up. They had to get this key. It was for the safety of everyone.

***

Hanarei, who was still walking along the thin cement wall, heard her mini-comp beep with a reply from Shireika. "I guess it's to the park then," she said. She quickened her pace and headed for the park.

In what seemed like no time at all, Hanarei found herself in the park and could see Shireika. "Hey there," she said. "Yuu came over to ask my dad for the key but he didn't tell her anything. I even asked for any info on it but he didn't say a thing."

***

Shouki was starting to head back home when he heard his mini-comp. beep. He checked it and read the email from Hanshin. He quickly wrote back a message.

[Hanshin - I'll head over there right now. Hopefully we can think of something that'll convince them to tell us about the keys.]

***

"Sorry!" Tomeo immediately apologised, right after he watched Asayake fall onto her rear end. He moved to offer a hand to help her up and was reminded of when Hanshin knocked her over, but was too late and ended up catching the water bottle thrown in his direction instead. "Um, thanks. Are you sure you're okay?" He took a quick spray of water into his mouth and threw it gently back to Asayake.

At Asayake's comment, he narrowed an eyebrow at her and smirked a little in amusement. "Hey, you're making it sound like I'm a pushover! Sure, I haven't practised any martial arts lately and I don't get into a lot of fights, but I can defend myself when I have to. But seriously, even though I'm sure you're more than capable of seriously kicking my ass, maybe another time. I shouldn't keep Shireika waiting." he said with half a smile, then shook his head. "No, I'm not sure yet. Shireika e-mailed me offering to meet up here, so I figured she must have something planned. She oughta be around here, somewhere... hey, there she is! Hey, Shireika! Hanarei! Over here!" he called out, spotting the two familiar girls and waving for them to come over.

***

Tegiwa awoke in a dark room where the air was heavy with the stale smell of old floral incense unsure of where he was. The soft sheets enveloped him in a warm embrace, lulling him in a rich fugue from which he loathed to escape. He was both tired and extremely happy. His pillow smelled of a feminine shampoo and conditioner that was familiar and confronting. He drifted on a cloud in the darkness for some minutes neither asleep nor awake, but he seemed to be dreaming regardless. Memory of touches and caresses filtered through the haze in his mind. He remembered each electric sensation when his bare skin had rested on some radiant being. He savored each memory as it came to him in the timeless dark infinity of this room.

***

/Look lady,/ Naoko thought, /I'm siting here thinking about how lousy a lay your son is. You better not disappoint me by playing dumb or playing games with me. Piss me off and I'll tell you exactly how bad your precious son is in bed. In detail. Maybe, you'd like that. Maybe you're better in bed and I'll get to find out. Be nicer than this little talk I was sent on./

Naoko raised her eyes to meet Sho-rei's then hastily dropped her eyes to the floor. No, she couldn't manage it. Those eyes seemed to look right through She was intimidated by the strangeness of the whole scene. She had to get back on track.

"The Key! Yes!" Suzumon announced.

"Y-yes. Itoh-san. The Watcher told us to retrieve the key fragments from the former digidested, so we could use the power to defeat an evil queen. We are going to need that power. Can you help us?"

"No, that Key is not your concern. You'll have to find another way. I am sorry. I think."

"Won't you trust a digidestined? Surely, that power was meant for.for us."

"No, that power was meant to be locked away for all time. It's protection was entrusted to us-as former digidestined. It was given, not by some Watcher, but by the Fates themselves. Please forget the key. If you are meant to face this foe, look in your heart for the means. You will find an answer there."

Sho-rei put her steady hand, on Naoko's trembling one. "Relax, you have a hard journey before you. I'll help in any other way."

Naoko felt less nervous. The odd pale woman's hand was warm and comforting. Her strange eyes had lost the contempt they had held.

Sho-rei continued. "And, I do have some idea what's going on. Be careful with my son. . He has a heart, and you could break it. You are a smart girl; you know not to play games with people who aren't playing themselves."

"Uh.you think I'm smart?" Naoko didn't want to touch upon the rest.

"Yes, I've heard a lot about you and the Wild Stallions. Not all of it was bad."

"Heh."

Suzumon pranced around. "Of course, of course! It wasn't bad! Naoko is best manager (what's a manager?) they've had. She's the greatest."

"Glad you have faith in your partner little one. She'll need it.

"And, Naoko? Leave before I remember what you've been doing with my son."

Naoko took her leave of the Itoh household, and dashed off a message in the lobby.

[Hanshin dear,

I bombed at the Itoh's. Sorry. She did offer to help us.much love, Naoko.

Ps. Want me to raise your spirits?]

***

Tegiwa came out of the dream. "What time is it? Naoko? Naoko? She's not here. I better find a clock." He slipped out of bed in the buff. "Ok, I'll need my clothes, and a light." He felt the wall for a light switch. Locating one, he prepared to turn on the light. For a split second his mind was crowded with images of the horrors Naoko's room might contain. He saw dungeons and leather, then kinky underwear and feather bolas. What if she had magazines and toys lying around? Screwing up his courage, he lit the room.

The light revealed the truth. Naoko's room was plain and neat. Her dresser was cluttered with band memorabilia and a dozen pictures of Hanshin. Only a few featured other band members, usually group pictures. One featured Naoko and Shouki together though. His own picture graced the wall. It was perforated with many holes as were the area around it.

"I feel targeted."

Her bed was a four poster with satin/silk sheets graced by throw pillows. The room was perfectly normal and rather boring. Tegiwa continued his survey. "Something's missing.wait..where are my clothes! Where's my stuff?"

The door opened, and Tegiwa turned to face the intruder. "hey, knocking ya know?" He found himself face to face with a girl he barely knew from school, Naoko's sister."

"You, keep it down. My parents are home. Oh, gawd! Put your clothes on. Naoko won't be back till later. " She averted her eyes, which Tegiwa noticed were puffy and red from crying. Her voice was tipped with acid.

Tegiwa covered himself with a Hello, Kitty throw pillow then backed up to the bed. "Sorry."

"Naoko wanted me to keep you quiet. I guess you think I'm just like her. Think I'm going to jump into bed with you two. I bet you even have the idea that we work together and tag team guys. I know that's what they say at school!" Her voice was strained and broken. Sarcasm laced her words. Her tears were flowing once more.

She started to pull her shirt over her head. "Well, I guess I might as well. The school thinks I'm loose, so I might as well get the experience to go with my reputation!"

"Hey, wait now. Don't do that, Mariko! What are you talking about?" He had dropped the pillow and moved automatically to stop her from undressing. He took hold of her by the shoulders.

"Oh! Am I not good enough? Am I ugly? Don't want to waste time on the little sister. If you are man enough her, you'll do for me!" She was shaking with anger and figting him

"Mariko! It's Tegiwa. Get a grip, girl. It's ok." He wrapped his arms around her and pinned hands to her side to keep her from hurting herself or him. "Shhhh, It's ok. Calm down."

"Tegiwa? Why are you in my sister's room? Ahh.you are just like the others." She flailed harder.

"Look, I'm here. But, I'm not here to jump you. What are you talking about? I've always though you were ok."

"Well, that's one.it means so much from a naked guy who was nailing my sister.sob."

"I mean it."

"Well the other guys.and some girls (damn, her). Don't know it. They think that since she's the town bike.no! she's public transport.that her sister must be a slut too! They think they can come up and grab me anywhere..in the halls.and say disgusting things to me. It's a wonder I haven't been raped because of her." She wasn't struggling anymore.

"Ok, I hadn't considered things might happen that way. Naoko isn't very sensitive about things like this. Well, I do know there are people who respect you. The teachers and the academic decathlon . Science club. We all wonder what is wrong with Naoko."

"Yeah..Do you love my sister?"

"Uh.I don't think she'd love me. So, I'm.trying to be in denial about it."

"That sucks. She's using you. I know she hates you and your girlfriend."

"Girl? No, I don't have one. Hates you say?"

"Yeah, talk bad about you all the time on the phone."

"I see you aren't just saying that."

"No, uhm, Tegiwa. Are you going to sleep with me?"

"No, not now anyway. Want to go to a movie?"

"Yeah, but, please put some clothes on. Having a naked guy hugging is weird."

"Sure, but where are my clothes?"

"Oh-no, she took them I think. Stay put I'll see what I can find. You may be stuck.since my parents /are here./ " She kissed him on his cheek and snuck a quick glace at him. "Be careful. You could put somebody's eye out with that thing.

***

"I figured. They're going to be desperate soon," Shireika said softly as she caught sight of Tomeo waving at them. She nodded towards him, signalling that she was coming. She shrugged as she stood up. "So, I guess we'll have to keep a closer eye on them now." She grabbed her bag as she walked over to Tomeo and Asayake. "Hey there. Any news on Idiot Boy and his group? Hanshin was asking my father earlier and no luck. Hanarei said Yuu had stopped by and was unsuccessful as well."

She looked around for Tegiwa. Where was he anyway? He should have been here by now, considering they were going to study together this afternoon as always.

"So, have you guys seen or heard anything?" she asked as she looked at Tomeo and Asayake.

***

[Naoko: it's okay. It looks like no one has had any luck with any of the former digi-destined. – Hanshin

P.S. Sure. Maybe after the meeting?]

"Damn," Hanshin muttered as he stood up from the kitchen table and grabbed his bag. A change of plans was needed. Such a pain. Shireika and her followers were probably behind this. He sighed as he left the apartment. "She'll pay if she said anything to Dad."

***

Hanshin sat down at a table in the cafe that was nearby their high school. Thankfully, he had his own car, which he was supposed to share with Shireika, but he had figured out a way to keep the car in his control. Shireika didn't seem to mind that much, since she tended to use their father's instead.

The cafe was fairly empty today, probably because school hadn't been in session today. That was a relief, and it would making having this conversation easier. They'd still have to be careful.

Suddenly, his computer beeped that he had a message. He quickly pulled it out from his pocket and discovered a message from the Watcher that was sent only to him:

[Hanshin,

The former digi-destined will be far from useful. They fear the key's power because the powers had been used for evil previously, and they do not realize the potential of using the powers for good. The Fates have told me that the House of Knowledge guards one of the fragments you seek.

The Watcher]

***

Enma sighed as she walked out of her room. She had spent an hour or so badgering her mother, but after the bad opening lines, her mother wouldn't say more than a few words to her. She pulled her yellow shirt down, before hugging both Mitikomomon and her favorite purse. She tiptoed out of her room, but the beeping noise coming from her computer made her stop and curse softly. "Damn...hell....where is it....shit, Mitikomomon, where's my computer?"

"In your room."

"Not that computer, the one from my purse."

"Oh...I dunno." Enma sighed, before finally finding it in the back section of her purse. She read Hanshin's email, before sending one of her own.

[Hanshin –

Mom won't budge on this 'I don't know, I've never heard of it before' mantra of hers, so we're stuck with her. I know the look on her face, though; it's the same one she gets when you talk about her sister...Just a hunch, but she knows something that she wouldn't even tell Nishi. I'm heading out now, I'll go to the cafe before my errands. - Enma]

She grabbed her sneakers before heading out in a rush.

***

Megami shook her head as she cleaned up from breakfast. The phone rang, but she didn't answer it; she was too caught up in her thoughts to do much of anything. That Enma was a digidestined didn't suprise her - Kou and Nishi were smart, but Enma was the brave one, the daring one - what suprised her was the sudden need for the key. And this Watcher...Megami didn't like the sounds of all of it.

Though, she never liked the sound of the Digital World to begin with, so her outlook was slightly skewed.

She replayed the message left on her answering machine from her mother, telling her to finish moving things out of her old room so it could be repainted. She sighed as she rubbed a sore spot on her neck, before she heard her computer beep. She moved over to it, opening her mail. She looked at the email, smiling sadly. "It's been a while, Tommy." She muttered to herself, before reading his message.

[Tommy

I don't know if Matsuro has anything to do with this - I doubt he does - but I've heard about it. My youngest, Enma, has been asking me about the key and whether or not I know anything about it. She just snuck out, too, so I don't know what's going on. I know they want it, and I don't like this 'Watcher' person; it doesn't sound safe...I mean, it sounds more dangerous than anything we've gone through...If you know anything, let me know. Or if you want to talk in person, you could come by my mother's apartment, I have to go over there today - invite the others if you wish, too. - Megami]

She sent it, before starting to get ready to leave.

***

Sarika heard a beeping noise. She perked her ears up and began to move downstairs to her old school technology. She clicked it open to find a message. "It's from Tommy?" she said looking at it strangely.

Images flashed in her head as she remembered a younger Tommy. "It's been a long time," she said feeling always left out of the loop. She looked at the list of names. It was there like she suspected. "Ni-kun," she whispered as she placed her index finger over the name and rubbed over it. It held memories that had been kind and the memories that hurt.

She shook her head. This was not the time for remembering. "So it wasn't just Shuuichi, there are others searching for the key fragments," she said.

[Tommy-

Shuuichi, my nephew, has been asking about it. I had told him stories of the digital world before now but I made sure to leave out things of importance, things he should not and would never learn about. I guess I guessed wrong. He came to me today. Could Matsuro have told him? Have the children been meeting without us sensing a thing? I didn't even know Shuuichi had a digimon until now. I am really worried that this has been under our noses longer than we have known.

-Sarika]

She sent the message immediately as she heard something upstairs.

***

Shuuichi had stuffed Squijimon in an old gym bag. He had slammed the back door behind him. It was the only way to get out without his aunt finding out. As he ran he typed a small message back to Hanshin.

[hanshin-

Nothing found here. Sarika knows about it but I actually couldn't get anything out of her. She is keeping me under watch. I had to sneak out of the house. I'll be there as soon as I can. The Fates, now you're sounding like Hanarei. Anyway I think the adults know we're up to something. Do you think it is possible for them to track us down and get us? Would the others help them?

-shuuichi]

He sent it as he skidded at a corner. He had to run there just in case Sarika would find out he was missing. He was almost there. Out of breath he finally reached the door. He took a deep breath and stood up straight as he walked into the cafe. "I just sent a message. You could read it if you want to or just let me say it outloud," he said sarcastically.

***

Sho-rei took time to respond to Tommy's email after Naoko left:

[Hey, all.

It's been too long since I've seen or talked to some of you. I've noticed my kids have been acting strange for some time. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I knew it wasn't like Tegiwa to be hanging around that girl, Naoko. Speaking of her, Hanshin's personal handler came by for a chat about the Key. I think we made each other equally uncomfortable, but I managed to get a little more out of her than she from me.

Indeed, the digidestined seem to be in operation. This Watcher seems to want them to get the key to have the power to save the world. Well, that Key wasn't made to open doors, but to close them. I'm sending my fragment to my dad for safe keeping. I doubt our children will take NO for an answer.

As for Matsuro, I trust him. He /is/ in contact with the Fates after all. He wouldn't act without good reason.

However, the Fates made Hanashi Naoko the Child of Loyalty. I wonder if they are feeling well. Perhaps, they hit their collective head on something hard that day.

Sho-rei]

***

[Shireika,

I'm on my way.

Tegiwa.]

Tegiwa recovered his clothing when Naoko returned home. He turned her down on seconds because he felt it would be rather crass to make love to Naoko in presence of her sister who had collapsed and curled up sobbing in the corner the moment Naoko seriously suggested they try a threesome.

"Really, I can show her what to do this way.."

"I don't doubt you, but you must think about her. She isn't like you Nao-chan."

"I know, senpai. It's so troublesome too. I try to help her but she isn't interested in guys or girls. What can I do?"

Mirako looked up and caught Hanshin's eye. She seemed to be waving in denial.

"Uh, maybe that's the way she is. I'm not Kaze after all."

"Yeah, leave me alone, nee-chan. Tegiwa asked me out!"

"You did what. Who told you to do that!"

"You just wanted all three of us in the bed."

"No! Not the same. It is not ok for you to have a relationship with my sister."

"Who asked you sis?"

"Mirako, sex is one thing, a relationship is another. You are old enough to know the difference. Tegiwa is not good enough for you."

"He was good enough for you."

"Not really. Hanshin's idea."

"WHAT! Naoko! How could you?" Tegiwa was less shocked than he let on. /Lucky!/

"You laid down and I climbed on. It's a basic position. Weren't you paying attention?" Naoko turned and exited the room. Red was rising in her face. Why could her sister be more like her? Relationships were trouble. If she stays with him then everything is ruined. I won't have much of a hold on him. But, Mirako might learn to loosen up which was a plus.. She had planned to get Mirako and Shouki together eventually. Yes, that's the route to take. Shouki is loyal to Hanshin; she wouldn't allow a Shireika supporter to date her little sister.

Tegiwa spent some time soothing Mariko. She clung to him while she said she did like guys as long as they were decent. "I think you might be ok. I trust you. Naoko doesn't like you, so you get bonus points in my book."

"Thanks, but I was nailing your sister an hour and a half ago."

"I can't say I wasn't disappointed in you, but Naoko was told to seduce you. Mitigating circumstance."

"That's mitigating?"

"Sure. She wouldn't go near you on her own."

"Odd comfort there. But, you don't think I'll go for her again?"

"No, since I'll slap the shit out you if you do."

"I hate to break it to you, but we aren't 'going out' though. We're going out."

"Yes, I'm not dense. I'll slap the shit out of you anyway. You are too good for her."

Naoko was still worked up by the time she found Hanshin. "I see where he gets it from. His mother is irritating as hell. Those eyes of hers looked like see was looking right through me. She was hiding something though; the Watcher is right she has a piece I know it."

Tegiwa joined Shireika sometime later. "Sorry, I was detained. In other news, Naoko has a sister. I had no idea Hanashi Mariko, a second year, and Hanshin's pet were related."

***

"She probably does have part of the key," Hanshin replied as he pulled Naoko into his lap. He looked up at Shuuichi anda then down at his computer. "They could track us down, but I suspect that they might be one step ahead of us. Knowing Shireika, she'd do anything to stop me from what I want, especially when she thinks I'm wrong." He also read Enma's message. "Yeah, she and the others must have been behind this. Shireika must have told them lies to get them to refuse to tell us anything." He shook his head. "So, I guess we have new plans to make."

"Hey there," Yuu said as she joined Shuuichi, Naoko and Hanshin. "No luck with our vice principal. What do we do now?"

"Who's up for stealing?" Hanshin asked.

***

"Detained?" Shireika asked, raising her eyebrows as she looked at Tegiwa, but now was not a good time to be asking what he meant. She'd ask him later, and if he was doing what she thought he was doing, she'd chew him out for it. Tegiwa was such a pansy when it came to women, no matter who it was, but he was always like that. If she told him to go take care of something, it would be done immediately. He used to be like that for Hanshin. Tegiwa never could say "no" to anyone, even if he really wanted to.

***

Tommy read through Megami, Sarika, and Sho-rei's messages. He relieved to see that they had kept the stance they had agreed on years ago concerning the key fragments. He wrote another message about the new digi-destined.

[No, our children are unlikely to taking no for an answer. Knowing my son, he most definitely won't take no for an answer. He's always been like that, and he won't let anyone stop him from what he wants. From what I could tell, he really wants the key, so we're going to have to be careful, especially those who have the key fragments.

As far as Matsuro goes, it's hard to say what's going on. He may have a deal with the Fates and have connections with them now that he has Gennai's library, but he knows more about what's going on than we do. And, unfortunately, he's not allowed to tell us most of the information we will need.

Anyway, the Fates are up to something, and I don't like it. We all need to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and be careful. The Fates may have the best intentions, but they can do strange things to all of us.

Take care.

Tommy.]

***

Hanarei also raised an eyebrow when Tegiwa joined the group. She also didn't like the way he used the word, detained. She leaned over and whispered into his ear so only he could hear her. "When you say detained, do you mean you and the prostitute did a little dance, make a little love, basically get down tonight?" When she was finished, she stood back.

"If I have a good idea on how pretty boy thinks," she said to the group, "he will try some hair-brained scheme in order to get those key pieces. We may have to keep a closer watch on them than we thought if we're going to keep up with them. I asked my dad about the key pieces but he won't say a word to me either. I have a feeling it'll be the same for the other digidestined if we were to ask with our side of the story.

***

Since Shouki had never been in the neighborhood where Mirai lived at before, it took awhile to find his way back to the school and then to the cafe. He was relieved to finally be there. "Hey guys, sorry about being late," he said as he entered. He made it just in time to here Hanshin's new plan for them.

"What?!" he said in shock. "Are you serious?! B-b-but that's illegal. We could get into serious trouble doing that. Are you sure that's the only option left for us?" Shouki figured that this sudden action for them to steal the key pieces meant that everyone else was unsuccessful in their attempts too.

***

Nikko was back in his office going over several reports when his computer beeped, signaling he had mail. "Open new mail," he said to the computer. The email opened and Nikko saw it was from Tommy to the other previous digidestined. "Not that unexpected but still a nice surprise," Nikko mumbled to himself. He set aside the papers and focused his attention on the email. Once he finished, he typed back a reply.

[It's been awhile, Tommy. There have been several signs over here showing the digidestined our back. I had to have a long discussion with my daughter when she wanted to know about digimon while she was holding one in front of me. I never told her the stories. My key fragment is in a safe place. I'd hear about if it wasn't. I had someone come to me and ask about it but I turned her down. I remember the oath we took back then. And as a side comment, I completely agree with you when saying the Fates act in strange ways.

Take care and good luck, Nikko]

It had been so long since Nikko had last seen some of them (Sho-rei being the exception because of frequent meetings with Kaze). In fact, there were some of the previous digidestined he hadn't seen since they all split up and went their separate ways. He noticed one of the other email addresses that stood out to him. He sighed as memories came back to him. They were happy memories and yet... remembering them didn't make him smile. "So many things have happened... Sari-chan," he mumbled to himself.

***

"Sorrysorrysorry..." Enma said as she ran into the cafe. She was panting as she fell into a chair near Yuu. "I had no ride, I had to run here." She smiled shyly, before catching Hanshin's idea. She smirked as she thought about the idea, before nodding. "I've never tried petty theft before, it sounds like it should be added onto my list." She looked at Hanshin. "What's your plan?" She asked, before looking over at Shouki. "We might not have any other option, since no one's going to hand them to us on a silver platter...or a dirt-encrusted platter either, for that matter." she said, not unkindly, before shrugging. "Theft is the only way to get anything out of anyone, but..." Her eyes widened. "Shit...I can't do anything to Tegiwa's mom, she knows me too well." She pointed out. "I used to hang out there almost every day last year with Kaze." She thought. "Though..." She settled back into the chair, waiting for Hanshin's idea.

**

Megami looked around her mother's apartment. Her parents were both getting the club ready for some gala event her mother was singing at, so she had the apartment to herself. She went over to her room and peered in. It was almost perfectly vacant, minus some pictures of herself with Fukushin from college, and her wedding picture, with Hitori looking less than comfortable in his tuxedo. She picked the pictures up and placed them in the cardboard box, before tracing her hand lightly around the wall, touching the opening to a crawl space where she had always kept important things after her dark side had ruined her photo album. She sighed as she looked around the room. "It's the safest place." She said to herself, before picking up the box and heading out.

***

Naoko patted Shouki’s shoulder in a way she hoped would reassure him. “C’mon Shouki. You are such an innocent. The key fragments and their power are rightfully ours as digidestined, so it’s not like we are actually taking something that doesn’t belong to us. We have a duty to save the world you know. Saving the world is not against the law either.

“I have full confidence in our wonderful and incredibly sexy leader. Hanshin will come up with a plan that can’t lose and we will have the key pieces by this time next week.”

***

Tegiwa felt shame when his best friend and ‘sister’ looked at him. He was closer to her than any other female even his mother. At one point in his youth, he assumed he would end up with her, but as she retreated more from the world she also retreated from him. He could merely follow her, not be with her. At some point in the back of his brain he had given up on her. The fact that he had gone with Naoko was proof of that. But, what of his heart? He loved Shireika more now than he ever had, he just didn’t understand the nature of his feelings. He got a headache every time he went to sort them out. No sister could be closer than Shireika to him. He had figured (analytically) they would lose their virginity together, but he never thought of her in a sexual way; he thought he was above that.

Now, Shireika was the only one he /would/ talk to about Naoko. He trusted no one else, but he was going to get the tongue lashing of his life. After that, he doubted she would speak to him. He also knew he would wound her on some level. Shireika kept grudges like other people kept pets. He’d be repaid, in full, with interest some day.

He looked at Hanarei with a smile, but he was sweating. “I asked Mariko out...”

***

"Stealing!?" Yuu very nearly got right out of her seat again. Going and asking about the fragments was one thing, but just taking them...? She took a moment to quiet herself. She was surprised how stirred up all of this was making her.

After several of the others had talked, she put in her say. "I know that everyone wants to get the fragments as soon as possible, but it doesn't seem right to simply steal them. I'm sure us talking to the older digidestined today must have been like re-opening old wounds for some of them, so of course they'd push us away at first. I think we should give them some more time to think about before considering something as drastic as theft"

She thought back to Mayonaka-sensei, and to what his wife had said afterwards. What had happened back then to make him so sensitive about it? Questions about the challenges the previous generation had faced bubbled within her, but still, she felt as if she should apologize to him.

***

"Look, we need this key, don't we?" Hanshin asked. "I know none of want to break the law, but we're digi-destined. We're not like other people. We have digimon partners. We have a duty to our world, the universe, and the Fates. The former digi-destined don't understand that we really need that key to do right for our world, to protect our friends and family. They've been protecting those key fragments from people who are going to abuse whatever powers it locks away, but we're using that power for good. We're using that power to stop evil from coming to this world, aren't we? If the former digi-destined aren't willing to help us, we're going to have to do what we must. We have to get those key fragments, or the world as we know it will be destroyed. I don't like having to steal them, but we have to. We have to if we want that key. We have to if we want to stop that dark queen."

He paused and looked around.

"So, apparently, Tegiwa's family has one of the fragments," he mused as he leaned back in his chair. He fiddled with a beltloop on Naoko's pants. "His mother's smart, and she knows what she's doing. The key fragments is going to hidden very well." He put his computer on the table. "The Watcher emailed me just before you came. It states in one part, 'the House of Knowledge guards one of the fragments you seek.' It could be at Tegiwa's house, so someone us should sneak in one night, unless..." He stopped. There had to be a reason for House of Knowledge. "Unless it's at Tegiwa's grandfather's place? There are enough of us that we could send people to both places. Who wants which place?"

***

Shireika raised an eyebrow. Somehow, she knew he was leaving some very important information out. She could tell just by the tone of his voice and his facial expression. That fake smile he used to put up whenever he had some secret going on, and she knew exactly how to get it out of him. She'd chew him out later and figure out what was really going on.

She looked at the others there with her.

"So, I guess we're just going to have to keep an eye on Hanshin and his crew," she said. "A close eye. I'm assigning people that you have to keep an eye on." She pulled out her computer, finding the email list that the Watcher had used to send messages a couple weeks ago. "Asayake, keep an eye on Yuu. Tomeo, you've got Shuuichi. Hanarei, I want you to keep an eye on Megami. Tegiwa, you get Shouki." She closed her computer and put it back in her bag. "I'll take care of Hanshin and Naoko. They're usually around each other, and if not, it's easy to predict where either one is. Sounds good?"

***

Tommy leaned back in the chair at his desk. He picked up the small, framed picture that was on his desk. He touched the glass gently with a finger, tracing the woman's face slowly. "Sutako," he whispered. "Watch over them, all of them. I know the Fates have plans for them, but I can't stand to see them get hurt anymore than they already have, especially Shireika and Hanshin. They still hurt from your death." He recalled Sutako's letter to him before she died. "I know you are with the Fates, doing your job as a part of them, but keep them from getting hurt any more than they already are. Sutako, they are our children. That's why we didn't tell them about the digi-destined. They don't need any further pain, Sutako. They don't. Keep them away from those key fragments, or at least the whole key." He brought a hand to his face. "Unless that's what the Fates want, but otherwise, keep them away from it."

He put the picture back onto the table and tried to recompose himself, but that was proving harder than he had expected. He hoped Sutako had heard him and was watching out for their children. Shireika and Hanshin didn't need more pain than they had already experienced after Sutako's death. They were innocent.

***

Hanarei stared blankly in surprise at Tegiwa. "... IT has a relative?" She turned in attention back to Shireika and heard her assigned target. "This is going to be an interested combination," she said. "The VP's daughter watching the Grief Counselor's daughter. We'll both get in trouble if either parent finds out about what we're doing. I'm not complaining though. I like the sound of the challenge."

"Do you have any suggestions for what to do if they get a key fragment," Hanarei said while forming an evil-looking grin, "or can we take matters into our own hands?"

***

Shouki turned to Yuu after she said her piece. "Unfortunately, I'm not sure if going back to them would help as much. When I talked to Mirai, she seemed perfectly happy but she still said no to me and sent me on my way shortly after." Again, he looked rather gloomy as he was speaking from personal experience again. "There are some wounds people carry that never heal."

He wasn't totally convinced by Naoko's logic. True the keys belonged to digidestined but they weren't exactly those digidestined. If the keys had some sort of contract, he figured that would be in some type of small print. "Well, I guess saving the world would outweigh, um, what we'll be doing," he said trying to convince himself it was somewhat reasonable. "Can I refer to it as commandeering instead of stealing? I heard it from some old movie on the Movie Classics Channel."

Shouki didn't know which of the two places to go to search for the key fragment. He decided to this leave this up to fate. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a coin. "Heads: Tegiwa, Tails: Grandfather," he mumbled. He flipped the coin into the air. He caught it on its way down and it showed Heads. "I guess I'll be going to Tegiwa's if it's okay," he said. "Since you've been there, Naoko, any advice?"

***

Tomeo shook his head at Shireika's question, just after Tegiwa had just joined the group. "I haven't had any luck so far, the only person I was able to bump into on the street was Tegiwa-san here. So, it looks like you found that 'dot' you were following before on your digivice, ne?" he said to Tegiwa, before listening up to the target that Shireika assigned him to.

"Hmm... Shuuichi, is it? Oh, that's the guy with the squid digimon, right? Squijimon or something? Got it. That's a good idea Shireika, now everyone should have someone to keep tabs on. But Hanarei has a point, what should we do if one of them has a key fragment? Wait, what am I saying? I don't know what a key fragment even looks like... I don't think any of us does. I guess that, at least, should hold back 'Idiot Boy's' group for a while, but I don't think we should go to 'extremes' unless we have no other choice. These are other people who we're talking about here, not animals. We should let each other know if we see one of them with something that looks like a key fragement, and then maybe we could work it out from there. Perhaps he can even destroy one of the fragments, so that the key is useless and no-one can ever get to that evil power..." He trailed off for a moment, thinking.

He clicked his fingers as a thought occured to him. There were others that shared their goal to stop anyone from accessing the key. "Hey, the previous digidestined are knocking back Hanshin and the others, right? So, if he's determined to get those fragments, he'll probably steal them or something worse. If we can warn the previous digidestined that they're after the fragments, we can prevent them from getting them. They might not be able to stop them completely from getting them, but at least we can give them a heads-up, if they haven't been given one already by the other digidestined inquring about them. So, Shireika, maybe we could also split the group up to go talk to the previous digidestined as well. What do you guys think?"

He looked around at the others. "That's about all I can think of for now. So if no-one has anything else to add, we'll start tailing these other digi-destined today and monitor they're activity? Tegiwa-san, buddy, I'm gonna need your help on this one." He took his digivice out of his pocket, looking over it's shiny surface. "I need you to show me how to use my digivice to follow the other digidestined without looking like a total idiot." He glanced up at Shireika, remembering her use of the word to describe a certain sibling. "Besides your brother, of course." He looked back to Tegiwa. "Do you think you can help me, please? Or at least point me towards someone else here who does, if you've got plans."

***

"Yuu?" Asked Asayake, scratching the back of her neck, "I think I remember her... She had short hair, right? Dyed, but growing out again?" She tried to call up a mental picture of Yuu, but could only get so far as a face; she figured that would be enough. "I didn't bring my digivice thing with me, but I've been playing with the buttons and i'm pretty sure I found the tracking feature. It beeped at me a whole bunch one time, and I thought I'd actually made it self-destruct or something. It stopped eventually, but it kinda freaked me out, since I thought I'd broken it. Anyhow," she shrugged, taking another drink of water, "I need to get back home for a quick shower, and to get my digivice. I'll see everyone later, okay?" Smiling and waving politely, Asayake started back home, stopping once to glare daggers at the old man who'd taken her favourite practise spot before moving on.

***

"I call grandfather's house!" Enma said. Even if she hadn't known Sho-rei's younger son for most of her life, it still felt safer to distance herself from the last generation of digidestined. She smiled at Yuu enouragingly. "It's not really stealing, or commanddering. It's more...borrowing without permission. Besides, we need those fragments, and that key, and if this is the only way to get it, then...it's the only way to get it." She said, shrugging.

***

"To think that I would stoop this low because some group of adults are stubborn. I'm in to this whole you know "borrowing" thing as Enma calls it, as long as I don't get caught. And if any of you guys get caught, I'm going to deny you and everything else and these digimon," Shuuichi said pointing to each person making his speech.

"I knew you would be just another rat," Squijimon said.

"I am not a rat, I just need to keep my family name up in the sky where it belongs, shining," he said.

"Just pick a person," she replied pouting.

"I pick Sho-rei's place. I have no clue who she is and I don't have any connections to anyone she knows. Well except for Sarika, but they don't talk to each othe,r ever. So how do we break in. I bet the old fashioned bobby pin in the lock doesn't work anymore in the future," he said.

***

Yuu sighed in submission. It really was starting to seem like the only way to acquire the key fragments, and this was a matter of saving people's lives. But she did still feel uneasy about the whole concept.

"I think I'd like to try for Itoh-san's grandfather, honestly" she answered to Hanshin's option. She felt inexplicably more awkward about taking something from the house of a classmate than from the house of his grandfather. And beside that, this man might possibly have the past far enough behind him to listen to their request and give them the fragment freely. She sighed again. She knew she was reaching, but it was the best she could do to convince herself to go through with this.

***

Naoko was kissing Hanshin softly on the neck, all the better to warm him up for later. She felt she was warm enough already though. She whispered naughty things in Hanshin’s ear softly, but clear enough to make the closest member of the group blush if they cared to listen. She shifted to straddle him with her legs and bury her face in his chest.

The questions came before she realized it; after this would be the end of the meeting; she could be with Hanshin.

Naoko gave Shouki an uncomfortable smile, “I recommend avoiding his mother, she’s creepy and tall. But, Tegiwa’s family lives in a house about five kilometers from our school. [author’s note: this a different house from last season. It’s a narrow 3 story walk up, plus basement. Very expensive since I assume Tokyo will be very vertical in 2065.] Now, his grandfather lives in one of those new habitats in Tokyo Bay. Here…here is the address and a map marked with both,” she accessed her ring while her arms were wrapped around Hanshin’s back.

She couldn’t look at the group, but spoke to them anyway: “There now, you all have maps in you email. Use them in good health. Please return with the key fragment.”

She pressed her lips to Hanshin’s and sighed, “Oh baby, you are so wonderful. You were born for power.”

***

“Naoko has a sister. Mariko is stuck with a sex crazed maniac who want to pimp her out or play touch me feel me. Mariko is quiet and studious. She has top Academic honors in her class and her GPA close to what my mom’s was at that age. So, they have as much in common as Idiot Boy and Shireika.” Except, he thought, no one would assume Shireika was ever like her brother. The two seemed planets apart.

“Okay, it will take just a second to show you guys how to use it. It’s like a wacky calculator really,” he hoped he could avoid Shireik a bit longer by explaining this. “There is one main button and a handful of smaller buttons around it. The small ones access the different functions including, map, map labels, PDA, GPS, and a number of functions that aren’t available now. I suppose they are for the digital world. Each function has its own controls and they are accessible by the touch screen. The map shows the city or at least a portion of it. The dots are the digivices’ locations; they are color coded by crest so we know which dot is which. You can zoom in on a dot too; however the map seems to have a limit. It will only show about half the city at a time. Perhaps, a bit more.”

He finished his lesson and looked at Shireika. No, he couldn’t avoid her. “I’ll follow Shouki. No Problem.”

***

Sho looked out his bay window toward the reef. He couldn’t believe his daughter had sent that thing to him. Whatever reason he had for accepting it was evaporating as he considered the danger it posed. Well, he knew it wasn’t the first time he and his kin had to play speed bump for the Fates. He hoped it was the last.

“Sho, dear. Did you take care of that package Sho-rei sent?”

“Yes, I watched the R.O.V. place the box myself. Soon the box will be encrusted with coral polyps and no one will be able to find it. It’s out of reach of everyone, especially certain children; however we can still keep an eye on it from here.”

***

Hanshin placed his hands on Naoko's hips and simply grinned as she whispered to him. He turned his head to listen to the others make their choices: Enma and Yuu choosing the grandfather's place, and Shouki and Shuuichi picking Tegiwa's place. He had kind of hoped that he'd be able to work with Naoko, since they were a good time already. They knew how to work with each other without even speaking sometimes. Well, at least in bed, they could do it without words. He figured they could do.

He heard Naoko mention that Tegiwa's grandfather lived in Tokyo Bay, which meant lots of water. Between Naoko and him, neither had digimon well suited for water, but Shuuichi did.

"Shuuichi, you think you could go to Itoh-san's grandfather's place instead?" he asked after separating his lips from Naoko's. "You have a water digimon, and the old man might try to be clever and hide things in the bay itself." He grinned at Shuuichi, not really waiting for the child of pride to agree to it. "Thanks. I'm sure you, Yuu, and Enma will be successful if the key is there."

He carefully pushed Naoko onto the rest of the bench, so he could have his hands free to discuss the plans.

"So, we don't really have time now to get the key," he started. "I'm thinking Saturday night. We have to be smart about this, and we have to do this right the first time. We can't risk having to go back anywhere. So, Naoko and I will do research on Tegiwa and his grandfather's homes. We'll use floor plans and whatnot to figure out likely hiding places. On Saturday, we'll meet right after school to discuss plans and figure out a system since we'll be split up." He looked around. "So, that's the plan. I'll see you guys on Saturday right after school." He stood up and looked back at Naoko, winking at her and teasing her to follow him.

***

"Whatever seems most appropriate," Shireika said to Hanarei. "It would be best if you wait for help if something bad happens. If it's an emergency, notify us and do what you can until we arrive. We have to keep them from getting that key." She looked towards Tomeo and smiled. "They already have a heads up, if they've asked all the former digi-destined. Knowing my family, my father has already contacted all the other former digi-destined and warned them of my brother's personality. We're going to have to keep a close eye on them, closer than the former digi-destined can do." She watched Asayake leave and sighed. "So, I guess that's it for now. Let's communicate often about anything suspicious we see from the other digi-destined and ask each other for as much help as possible. I'll see you later." She grabbed Tegiwa by the arm harshly as she began to walk away. "Come on. You've got studying to do."

***

"Fine, I change my mind, I'll go to the grandfather's place. Not because you suggested it but I rethought about Sarika and how it would break off connections possibly if I went and tried to steal something from someone she knew," Shuuichi said.

"But that had nothing to do with the suggestion. It had to do with me being a water digimon," Squijimon said.

"A pitiful example of one but still a water type digimon, I suppose," he replied with a glare.

"Between now and then we also need to think of what to do about the digidestined of the past and the others with Shireika. The previous digidestined are locked up and won't tell us who or where the keys are. We already took care of the where by stealing. We also need to take care of them so that they don't stop us. Also we need to take care of Shireika's group so that they can easily lose us if they are watching," Shuuichi said as he stood up.

"Time to walk home," Shuuichi said as he grabbed Squijimon. The walk was going to feel like a walk of shame since he had a bad feeling that Sarika was still going to be there.

***

Hanshin walked out of the small cafe and down the street a little. He turned around about half a block away from the cafe and leaned against the building. The meeting had gone well, probably because Shireika wasn't around to interrupt all his plans and ideas and to argue with his every word. Though, he worried that Shireika might be planning something on her own to keep him from the key, but he had more followers than she did.

He crossed his arms as he down the street towards the cafe. He would get that key and stop that dark queen, whether or not he had anyone to support him. He had to. It was his duty, and no one was going to stop him.

***

Shireika hurried along back to her apartment as she dragged Tegiwa along with him. She didn't give him much time to say good-bye to the others. She slowed down a little and pulled Tegiwa alongside her.

"So, you were detained?" she asked coldly. "Detained? What is that supposed to mean? I somehow can't imagine you getting yourself locked in your own room, considering Kaze wouldn't dare try a stunt like that." She paused. "And how did you even meet Mariko? You've never talked to her before. You've never had a class with her before!" If she weren't in public, she would have smacked him in the head. "What are you thinking? Are you even thinking at all?"

***

Naoko grinned and ran after Hanshin. She was feeling frisky and bounced after him in an almost kittenish way. She took him by the hand, saying “We have time now....come with me to the palace of earthly delights. Oh, I hope you are pleases with the way things are going. I certainly am. That first piece will be ours soon. Then the entire key! Your sister won’t be able to look down her pointed nose at you. Everyone will know you’re the best. Now, get thee and me to the love hotel so I can remember just how good you are.”

She pushed him ahead till his feet moved fast enough. After a bit of walking, she pounced on him, grabbing him around the neck from behind and wrapping her legs around his waist. She breathed in his ear sweet words of love; she kissed the lobe of his ear and his neck before dropping to ground. Her sandals made a faint slapping sound as their hard leather hit the walkway.

“Oh, honey, guess who is so spaced that he leaves all his personal information in a an unprotected file on an open system? Why, yes, it is wonder boy Itoh! I won’t have any trouble at all getting the information we need, and I’ll have it early too. So, lets go celebrate, shall we? “ She lead him through the streets to her favorite couples hotel, the same one as before, and made her arrangements.

In the room, she carefully stripped off her outer garments and discarded them. She then removed Hanshin’s shirt and kissed him from the chest down with tiny kissed. She knelt before him and took the top corner of his pants flap a quick tug with her teeth to coax the material over the closure. She fished out the zipper pull with her tongue and used her teeth to open that as well. Naoko smiled devilishly up at him. “I think that feels a bit better doesn’t it? Not so tight in there, is it.”

She stood up and ran her hand up the inside leg of his trousers; she squeezed his thigh as she held herself to him tightly. She wanted him beyond understanding. She’d have jumped him in the lobby, but she knew he liked to be in control, if only just a little bit. “Hanshin, lets do it once for ourselves, for each other. Take me, and do as you would. Then, I’ll grant you a surprise. Promise me we can do it in the Itoh’s . In that ghost bitch’s bed if we can…Promise me this and you can call anyone you like to play with us.”

***

Tegiwa looked like a prisoner before his execution. Things just didn’t matter at this point. He didn’t lie. It was his policy. But, Shireika is the one person he would never lie too should he deicide to start. He respected her too much to lie. Now, the truth would reveal he didn’t respect himself, her, or anything. One day he had hoped to be a man, but he had tossed that away by being a guy.

“Hey, I like my arm attached thanks. Look we do need to talk. Ow! Don’t thump me until you know what’s wrong, because you will just deck me anyway. Ow! I said don’t… Ok… Ok… I met Mariko because I was at Naoko’s. Yes, for that reason. I fell asleep in her bed. She took my clothes and stuff before heading somewhere. Probably, my mom’s. Well, I ended up talking with Mariko. She’s sweet and nice-- everything her sister isn’t. I asked her out.” Tegiwa felt better when he thought of Mariko.

***

"Ah, you guys are no fun at all," Hanarei mock-pouted at the fact everyone suggested calling for others to help instead of her preferred option. "And Asayake," she shouted to her, "Yuu is about my height, skinny, and looks a bit undeveloped if that gives you a better picture." She now changed her attention to Tomeo. "And trust me Tomeo. The previous digidestined are well aware of what's going on with the other current digidestined asking for the pieces."

Hanarei grinned as she saw Tegiwa get dragged away from the group by Shireika. She liked it when someone was being chewed out and it wasn't her. She wished she could have seen it. "Well if that's it for the day, I'm heading out," she said. "I'll keep everyone posted if I see Enma up to something."

***

Shouki went over who was going where in his head. "Okay, Shuuichi, Yuu, and Enma are going to Tegiwa's grandfather's house, which means me, Hanshin, and...." He paused as he realized who he would be going with; Hanshin and Naoko. Shouki didn't mind either of them but he knew what they did when they were together with company or not. Shouki rested his head in his hand. "I hope I don't hear Naoko use a phrase that includes the word 'three' in it," he mumbled. He figured it would be too late and rude if he changed his mind on what team to go with.

'Oh Hikaru, please forgive me for what we're about to do and for whatever may happen,' he thought. He was once again playing with his prayer beads as he thought this over.

***

Tomeo nodded at Hanarei, who was the only other person aside from himself who hadn't left the group. He waved to the others respectively and turned his attention to Hanarei. "Okay, I got it. As long as the previous digidestined have the same goal as we do - withholding Hanshin and friends from the key fragments - then at least we have twice, maybe three times the number of people on our side. I would say we would have nothing to worry about, but then again we can't underestimate their ambition. There's no telling what they'll do to get those fragments."

He looked around the park. It seemed like a peacful day, and it wasn't nearly over half-way yet. "So, Hanarei, mind if I tag along and keep you company? Since everyone's pretty much run off on us, we might as well spend the rest of the day trying to find out what our respective digidestined are doing - unless your 'heading out' means you've got plans, of course. What do you say?"

***

Enma stretched as everyone started to head out. She picked up her things - a quiet Mitikomomon also - and started to get up slowly. "I guess I should go, too." She said, mostly to herself. She caught Shouki playing with his prayer beads. She bit her lip, trying to keep herself quiet, but she grumbled to herself as she sat back down. "Sorry...I just don't know how to make myself shut up." She said to him, before touching his hand lightly. "Those are very pretty prayer beads. Uh...did someone in your family die recently?" She was mentally banging her head against the closest hard object, realizing that she sounded like a complete idiot. "You know," she started, digging herself in deeper, "my mother's sister died in a car crash when they were both really young, and my mom was really hurt - her left lung popped, literally - and that's the reason why she's a grief councelor at school now."

She stood back up again. "And, now that I've made a complete idiot out of myself, I should get to work." She blanched at the idea of having to walk to her brother's shop, but sighed in submission of her fate. "At least I don't have to go home." She said to Mitikomomon, who was still doing his impression of a stuffed animal with alarming accuracy. She could barely feel him nod, but that was enough for her, and she hugged him close before started to trudge out of the cafe and down the street towards the garage.

***

Asayake gave her final pigtail a firm tug before tossing the still-damp braid over her shoulder. Shifting the bento box in her arms over slightly, she nudged the lid over so she could see what was inside. Her eyes lit up instantly and she whooped happily. "Yay! Papa made me rice balls!"

""Rice balls?" Asked a muffled voice from her drawstring backpack, nudging her shoulderblade, "What're rice balls?"

"Yummy things," Asayake said, poking around in her little carepackage for the smallest rice ball she could find. She pulled out a smaller one, which her father had put a dot of red food colouring on. "You can try this one, if you want," She said, passing the rice ball over her shoulder, "But be careful, that one has spicy things in it." She felt a few soft feathers brush her hand as Rogishimon snatched the little rice ball from her hand. A few bites into her own rice ball later, she heard a few happy chirps coming from her bag. "You like them? If you want another one, just nudge me twice and make a noise -- just make sure I'm not talking to anyone who would be afraid of you, okay?" Looking down into her bento box, however, she sighed. "And I hope you're hungry, because Papa went overboard again. There's gotta be two dozen rice balls in here!" She felt rogishimon nudge her again, and handed her another rice ball. "That one is tuna. You'll like that one, since Papa always puts lots of soya sauce in his tuna ones." She glanced over at the park, and smiled.

"Hey!" She shouted, hurrying over to Hanarei and Tomeo, "Have a rice ball! Papa went nuts, and made me way too many." She pulled the lid right off of the bento box, wafting a little bit of steam out of it with her hand. "The ones with the red dots are spicy beef, the orange ones are curry chicken, the green ones are salmon, the yellow ones are tuna, and the ones with no colours on them are veggie. I think he may have made a blue one, and that would be pork if there are any, but I can't find any."

***

"Only if there's time," he whispered to Naoko as he slipped his shoes off his feet and allowed his pants to fall to the floor around his ankles. He stepped out of them and kicked them aside a little while he rans his hands down Naoko's back. "We won't have all the time in the world, and Shouki will be there," he said as he placed his hands under her rear. "Right now, all I want to do is have you." Well, that's what he usually said to most girls. He didn't particularly care who it was that he was fooling around with. "The way you know I like it the most." He lifted her up and playfully tossed her onto the bed. Slowly, he crawled onto the end of the bed and slowly approached her. With his hands, he separated her legs as he lay on top of her. "Long, passionate, mind-blowing," he whispered as he positioned her legs around his waist.

While he enjoyed sex with Ami because she simply took control and did everything for him, he also enjoyed the times with Naoko. He took great satifaction in her complete surrender and submission to him. Among her various skills as a lover, she had a way of moaning his name when it was really passionate that was extremely satisfying. Naoko had a way of treating him like he was the center of the universe at all times, whether it was before a concert, in a private room or even the girls' bathroom at school. She always seemed to be willing to do whatever he wanted, the way he wanted, and he loved feeling like he had control over her.

Knowing she wouldn't suddenly turn him onto his back, he slowly slipped the straps of her bra off her shoulders. Hungry for her taste, he kissed her roughly on the lips and then down her neck. He placed his hands on her forearms, pressing them onto the bed so she couldn't touch him. He wanted her at his complete mercy and whim. He wanted to control her completely and do with her as he wanted.

It drove him crazy how the other girls would try to have him do it the way they wanted. He knew they just wanted sex, probably as much as he did, but with Naoko, she actually seemed to want him. She wanted sex with him, not just anybody, so he felt he could do with her as he pleased in bed, and that's how it generally went. He'd tell her what he wanted, and she'd do it. He didn't want it any other way with her.

***

"She took your clothes?" Shireika asked. She was nearly ready to just smack Tegiwa in the head.

"Uh, yeah," Tegiwa replied, feeling horribly embarassed, but he couldn't resist telling Shireika's the truth.

"While you were asleep because you were sleeping with her?"

He looked away. She spoke with bullets, and she was hitting right on target.

"That's not exactly playing around with her, Tegiwa."

"But -"

"You've been fooling around with her!"

"It was only twice -"

"Why did it even happen in the first place?"

Again, Tegiwa didn't reply. He could hear her angry and frustration as she questioned him. He somehow knew that this was going to happen.

"What, now I have Idiot Boy #2 for a best friend?" She stopped walked and crossed her arms.

"Hey! I don't think like him."

"No?"

"No, I don't. I only did it with Naoko, not half the female population at school."

"Only, you're still like my brother: you can't resist it when any girl offers."

"Yes, I can." Tegiwa trailed off as he felt Shireika's glare, piercing right through his lie.

"You can?" Shireika asked as she approached him slowly.

"Yes."

"Really," she whispered as she pushed Tegiwa up against the building they were walking by. She took a quick look around, making sure they were far from the other digi-destined, and then looked back at Tegiwa. She pressed her body up against him and leaned close to his ear. "You know you want it."

Tegiwa complete froze in place, letting Shireika take his hands and place them on her hips.

"And you know how good it would be," she continued as she caressed his face.

Tegiwa felt something rising, and it wasn't just his temperature. This was incredibly awkward and yet somewhat satisfying at the same time. He loved Shireika, more than he could love anyone else, perhaps more than his own family. He adored her for her strength and intelligence, and he never cared about anymore more than he did for her. She, in a few words, was everything he wanted in a woman.

And, yet, he had to resist her. She couldn't know that he had feelings beyond just friendship for her. Most of all, he couldn't demonstrate himself to be just like Hanshin. He could say no.

"Don't joke around like this, Shireika," he stuttered finally, but he didn't remove his hands from her body. In fact, he had pulled her a little closer to him.

"But I know you want it," she replied. She glanced downwards. She freed herself from his grasp. "You really have no ability to refuse do you?"

"Sorry," Tegiwa said softly as he followed her down the street. He tugged at his shirt to try to cover up an evident bulge in his pants. He sighed a little, thanking the Fates for making sure she stopped before he might have gotten carried away, before his real feelings for her may have surfaced.

Tegiwa felt very strangely as he followed Shireika to her apartment. She was like a sister, and he was like a brother. She had once mentioned last year that he was like the twin brother she wished she had. He felt like he had let her down by sleeping with Naoko. There was also an incredibly awkward feeling, almost incestous that he had feelings for someone who was like a sister. At the same time, she wasn't technically his sister. They were good friends, and she was the woman he adored, the woman who was everything he really wanted. He had shown himself to be no better than any other guy out there. In fact, he wasn't close to being a man, and that's what Shireika wanted and needed. He felt terrible.

"Look, just don't pull something stupid like that again, okay?" Shireika said as they arrived at her apartment building. "I don't need you to be like my brother, and I don't want you to be. You're better than that."

Tegiwa looked up at Shireika, seeing her usual smile on her face.

"Okay?" she asked. "You're better than most guys. I'd hate to see you be anything like them. All right?"

***

"Asayake? Oh, hello again. I thought you had left." Tomeo said inquisitively, and peered down into the bento box at the rice balls she was offering. "Hmm. Okay, I'll try one, thanks." He randomly picked an orange one, a chicken curry, and threw it into his mouth as he started chewing. After swallowing, he gave a satisfied nod. "Hmmm. Not half bad! Too bad Parumon's not here. She's always bugging me about fish when she's hungry, and I haven't been able to go down to the markets yet. I'm sure she'd love some of your tuna and salmon ones, Asayake. Do you think I could take some of them home for her later?" he asked, half-wondering if he could since he didn't have anything to carry them in.

"Anyway," he continued, "I was just saying to Hanarei if I could join her on a hunt to track down some of those digidestined after the key," he informed Asayake, "So if you two aren't doing anything, maybe the three of us can agree to meet later and split up to see who we can find. I'm pretty sure Shireika and Tegiwa won't be joining us today, but let's see what we can find out for them before we meet up with them again. Or, you know, we could wait for them and do it tomorrow. I dunno... I bet Hanshin and company are already scheming something after being knocked back from getting the key fragments. We'd better find out what it is before they do something stupid that they'll regret."

***

Hanarei thought over what Tomeo said. "Nah, you can come along. Heading out just means I'm going for a walk and I don't know where to yet," she said.

"I think the previous digidestined are a team of their own even though we have similar goals," said Hanarei. "We want at least one piece of the key to keep away from Pretty Boy's group while the ex-digidestined want to keep the key pieces away from all of us. Still, you're right in a way about us having some support."

"That may be a good idea about joining up to find the others later on. They may be trying to think of ways of losing us if they think we're spying on them. Plus I have a feeling the other group will be doing this in smaller groups as well. We'd have less time to wait for back-up then."

Hanarei looked at the rice balls Asayake had offered. "I'll take one of the salmon ones," she said as she picked one up. "I'm not much of a fan for spicy food." Hanarei was about to take a bite out of it when she heard someone from behind.

"Hey there, Hanarei. I didn't know you came around here." Hanarei turned around to see Yuki walking toward her. "How are you doing?"

Hanarei was also surprised by this and her face turned a slight shade of red. "Oh, I'm, I'm fine," she said. She thought quickly remembered what Yuki said before and continued from that. "Come arou...," she mumbled before say, "oh I'm just here to meet some of my friends." She now spoke with a cheery expression on her face. "This is Tomeo and this is Asayake." She pointed to the other two digidestined. "We were just having a little meeting to discuss somethings. Care to join us?"

Yuki rubbed the back of his head. "I wish I could, but I'm actually on my way to something. Maybe some other time then?"

"Oh." Hanarei looked depressed at this news. She looked down and remembered the rice ball she picked up from Asayake. "Well here," she offered, "at least let me give you a small snack for the walk there." She once again had that smile on her face.

"Thank you," said Yuki as he picked up the rice ball. "I better get going. Take care Hanarei. It was nice meeting you two as well." He bowed to Toemo and Asayake.

"Bye bye Yuki!" she called after him. As she watched Yuki walking away, she suddenly remembered the fact that Tomeo and Asayake were watching her, probably wondering what that was all about.

***

Shouki was rather stunned by Enma coming up to him and talking so openly about her mother and her dead aunt. He sat there thinking over what she said to him. He was about to answer when he looked up and saw her walking away. 'So,' he thought, 'her aunt died because of a car too?' He clung hard to his prayer beads and closed his eyes as he thought back to that scene that happened nine years ago.

***

There was a heavy fog all around and the lights from signs were dimmer than usual. Shouki, at the age of 8, ran through the crosswalk with a big smile on his face. It was possibly the last time he really smiled. "C'mon Hikaru," he called to his older sister. "We're going to be late."

"I'll be right there," said Hikaru, a young girl at the age of 13. As she stepped onto the crosswalk, Shouki's memory began to slow-down as though it wanted him to remember every detail. Hikaru slowly walking toward him; the light of a hovercar glowing brighter and brighter; the look of realization on Hikaru's face as she saw what was coming toward her and the lights that climbed over her body; and finally, the sound of a windshield breaking on impact. After that, time was set back to normal. The memory ended with Shouki screaming out his sister's name. "HIKARU!!!"

***

Back in the present, Shouki opened his two different colored eyes. That memory would always haunt him. He wondered if Enma's mother had the same thing too.

***

"Hey, Kiddo, you're late."

"Yeah, sorry." Kou looked up from the computer he was repairing, and gave Enma a quizzical glance.

"You sound happy...what's up?"

She made a face as she rolled up the sleeves of her shirt and hung her purse - now featuring a new blue fluffy 'keychain' - and shrugged. "It's just -"

Kou shoook his head and he handed a computer printout to his little sister. "No, let me see; I am Kou, the Great, the one with the Sight in this family." He pointed to his glasses, before humming like he was meditating. "It has something to do with Mom."

Enma laughed. "Partly." She conceded, looking over the paper, before blanching. "How can this many people need their cell phones fixed? It's not humanly possible to break this many cell phones in a week."

"Two weeks, you had a get-out-of-jail-free card last week when you were studying with those other kids, remember?" Kou asked as Enma started to open the casing of the first cell phone. "Oh..right." She picked up a screw driver, moving wires around to see what the problem was. "So...?"

"So?" Enma looked up, but Kou had gone back to working on the modem in front of him. She clicked her tongue, realizing what he was inquiring about. "Oh, that..." She shook her head. "It's just that some kids in school are in this huge war thing, and I'm kind of in the middle of it. I mean, I've picked whose side I'm on and everything, but it's not like I know anybody, and the only people I do know are on the other side." She found the problem in the phone, and sighed. "I have no idea how they managed it, but this phone needs to have two wires saudered together."

"Okay, I'll do that." Kou said, carefully placing the computer down on the worktable before picking up the saudering equipment, along with a mask. He started to put the mask on, but kept it up as he looked at Enma. "Look, I know you're my baby sister, and I have the whole big brother code of ethics on my back telling me to protect you, but...do you believe in what you're doing?"

"Well...yeah." She said. "I think, in some twisted way, if I do this, Mom will have a reason to be proud of me, and won't think I'm such a screw up anymore."

Kou chuckled. "She doesn't think you're a screw up now, Enma. She just...doesn't understand you." His tone became serious again. "Do you think you'd be happy if you had chosen the other side just because you knew the people on that side?"

Enma shook her head. "Definately not. I'd be an outsider...well, more than I already am." She smiled lightly, and Kou rolled his eyes.

"Well then, it seems to me you made the right choice for the right reasons." He hugged her quickly. "You know, I think you should go get me a soda." He winked at her, and nodded to the front entrance.

"Why?" She asked, but did as she was told. She let out a loud laugh, and ran back into the garage.

"Don't run, you might get hurt!" He said. She kept at her pace, mildly abashed, before grabbing his arm.

"Hortomi-san sold the garage to you?" She asked, still imagining the new 'Kodomomjimita-san's Repair Shop' sign that was now above the entrance. Kou nodded.

"But it's just a trial thing, to see if I can run the business... the sign's a hologram."

"But it's still great!" She stopped. "Does that mean I get a raise?"

"If you actually start working!" He motioned to the list. "There are twenty more phones where that one came from."

***

"I'm not sure about the whole plan of attack thing on... the 'other side'," Making quotes in the air with her free hand, Asayake made a face, "I'm pretty sure they'll actually think out a plan, rather than rush head-first into it again, seeing as it didn't work too well the first time. At least, I'd hope they wouldn't."

Asayake raised an eyebrow as Yuki walked away, but decided not to ask about him; obviously Hanarei knew him from somewhere, and –

"Who was that~?" Rogishimon chirped, sneaking another rice ball out of the bento box. After stuffing half of a salmon one into her mouth, she giggled, "Oh, oh! Is he your boyfriend? I hear you humans have mates like that. Apparently you don't always mate when you have a mate, which I kinda think makes having a mate that you don't mate with kinda silly, but --"

"Rogishimon!" Asayake said, shoving another rice ball into Rogishimon's mouth to shut her up, "You shouldn't do that, it's rude! Hanarei's friends are her own business! Say you're sorry!"

Rogishimon attempted to chew, a 'you-aren't-mad-at-me-right?' face in place as she spoke around the food in her mouth. "Oomf o'rr."

As an afterthought, Asayake frowned lopsidedly. "He's not allergic to peanuts, is he? Papa seems to like to use peanut oil when he cooks; he's kinda crazy like that."

***

"Bye, Yuki. Nice meeting you." Tomeo waved, and rubbed his chin with his right hand in afterthought. He didn't assume much about the relationship between Hanarei and Yuki; he seemed like a nice guy to be friends with. Although Hanarei didn't seem to act like herself when he was around... and what was with the tinge of red on her face? Was she embarassed about something? He couldn't quite place it, even though he swore he had seen Asayake do something simular before. Maybe, he thought, it was just some girl thing. But he had more important things to worry about.

"I dunno about Yuki there, but I'm pretty sure Parumon doesn't hate peanut oil. She'd love just about anything as long as it has fish in it. But anyway..." he spoke casually as he folded his arms seriously, trying to change the subject. "Okay, that's true, maybe we shouldn't rush head-first into things, either." he reasoned, looking to the side as he thought. "Tell you girls what - let's sleep on this and go our seperate ways. The others won't try anything for today, so we're safe for now. We have a better chance spotting one of the other digidestined if we're seperated, apart from Shireika who can keep tabs on her brother and Naoko. We can meet up from time to time if you girls want, but I don't think it's nessessary. I guess that's all for now, we could just hang out for the rest of the day..."

He looked at the time on his mini-computer clipped to his waist. "I don't have anything else to do today besides finish my run; other than that I gotta check up on Parumon at home. So what have you girls doing? Got anything planned?"

***

Tegiwa couldn’t help thinking he’d rather be anyone else other than himself at this moment. What she had just pulled on him was fundamentally unfair. Saying yes to Naoko was his own personal weakness that harmed only him, while denying her went against everything he knew. He would have done it with Shireika because she asked, even if he hadn’t wanted to…even if he felt she didn’t. Wait…oh shit, she was right. He was weak.

He had gone willingly with Naoko; he had not tried to refuse Naoko. That fact bothered him more than anything else. Why had he wanted her? He knew she didn’t want him. They had hated each other up till then, and she admitted to going after him on Hanshin’s orders. He was smart enough to have guessed that. He knew he was empty at the core with loneliness these days. Naoko presented an escape from that cold pit, and any escape was welcome

He never told these things to Shireika because she was all the life he had. To speak these things aloud would invite him to reveal the source of his woes which was her herself. Hw was careful with his feelings and ever aware that Shireika would not have shared them. He loved her, but he knew he was not what she was looking for; however, he suspected her feelings for him were strong enough to embrace him until she found what she sought. He knew such a turn of events would likely kill him. Better not to have her than to lose her. There, he thought, lay his strength in reason, love, and friendship.

Shireika was wrong, he could say no when he wanted. He had desperately wanted Mariko when she flung herself at him. He wanted her on a physical level that is. But, he could not take an innocent (presumably) to bed in the same room, in the same bed he had just shared with Naoko minutes before. So, he could say no. The yeses still bothered him. He should be as willing not to uas Naoko as he was Mariko. He should hope never to use his closest friend.

“Shireika, please kill me if I turn into your brother. I’ll hold you to your promise too!”

What did he feel exactly for Shireika was the next thing he must address. He did love her, but the same love that drew them together seemed to force them apart. He couldn’t get closer and he refused to ever leave her. He was comfortable in her orbit. She was more a sister than a lover in reality. But, now, he could not deny to himself that he wanted her for the evidence was before him.

Before Naoko he never really imagined her in a sexual way. Now, Naoko had given him so much to imagine. He felt guilty and dirty thinking these thoughts as he walked a pace or to behind her; however, it was hard not to with her walking in front of him. Oh, this was the worst. Before, he always felt his feelings for her were virtuous if not fraternal. She fit nicely atop a pedestal to be admired. Now, his feelings had a more earthy flavour. His soul felt dirty now.

He walked in silence as these thoughts tumbled over and over in his head. The silence lasted all the way back to Shireika’s place, and well into the study session.

“I’m sorry. I am better than that… I did… I did ask Mariko out tonight. I’m not sure how I managed it or how things will work out. First time I actually asked anyone out you know…well, asked and got a yes.” He felt warm, and realized he was blushing…well, are much as he could with a perpetual tan. “No, its not about that either. I can relate to women better above the waist anyway…”

***

“Shouki, ah yes, well, I suppose he could play lookout…he could actually search the rest of the house while we are under the covers.”

Naoko loved to let Hanshin take over. She could be swept away with ecstasy instead of performing for him. It was strange but this way she could give him everything, while her skin and senses drank Hanshin in enough to tide her over until the next time.

***

As Shuuichi walked onward he looked homeless peering into windows. This whole talk of spies and beign watched and the race for the key had made Shuuichi become a paranoid hermit. Everytime he peered into a cafe window he was afraid he was about to walk into some kind of trap. "I should just get home as if nothing is wrong," he said and jogged the rest of the way.

He quietly went through the back door into the kitchen hoping no one was there. Of course someone was there. Just not who he was expecting. "Sarika is already gone. Not looking for you of course but getting groceries. She'll be back soon I suppose," his sister said giving a cunning smirk to her older brother.

"What is that for?" he asked her.

"What is going on?" she asked.

"What?"

"What is going on? That isn't a stuffed animal," she said pointing to his bag as though she could see threw it and see Squjimon. "It bit me and talked to me," she said.\

"You probably imagined the talking. Unless you hit one of the tentacles. It talks when you hit the tentacles," he said.

"Do you really think I'm that stupid? That is some creature isn't it? Where is it from really Shu?" she said using his little kiddy nickname.

"Don't call me that! Don't you have some date with three guys or something?" he said sarcastically taking out a Ramune soda and some rice from the rice cooker.

"Even if I do I'll find out where it is from. I have the connections you know," she said as she grabbed her jacket and ran out the door remembering she did have a date out in the shopping district.

"Peace and silence finally. Doesn't anyone not want to care about me? I hate the attention," he said as he opened the bag up for Squijimon.

"You want anything to eat? What do you eat?" he asked.

"Just about anything," she said sliding on the smooth counter.

"Then here, maybe this will do," he said passing her a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks. He began to gulp his bowl down. She watched him use the chopsticks. Using her tentacls as fingers she also began to use the chopsticks to try and eat the rice. Finishing the bowl before Shuuichi, she smiled holding the bowl up with two of her tentacles.

"May I have some more?" she asked with a hint of a blushing glow.

***

"Fine, but don't be stupid again," Shireika said as she looked up from her chemistry problem set. She pointed a pencil at him. "I'm sure Mariko's a sweet girl, but I don't like the fact that she's related to Naoko." Her head fell when she said Naoko's name, and she shook her head. "I can't believe she managed to get you in bed. I mean, you know that she hates you and me." She sighed as she looked up at him. "Anyway, if you really like Mariko, then I'm happy for you. Just, be careful. Mariko is Naoko's sister, even if they are completely different. Naoko is protective of her sister. Understood?"

***

"Sorry to have to tie you down," Hanshin whispered as he kissed Naoko on her neck. He grinned as he looked down at her. Sweat glistened all over both of their bodies as he lay on top of her. She had felt good, really good, and the way she had moaned his name during their passion was immensely satisfying. For some reason, her completely submission turned him on even more. His hands ran up along Naoko's arms as he untied the ropes that held both her hands away from their bodies. "You know I need it sometimes." He gently kissed her chin and down her neck. He slid off her body and lay beside her for a moment. He gently touched her waist and hips and let her hands roam over his body. "I didn't hurt you too much, did I?"

***

Shireika twirled her pen as she read over her in-class essay. She seriously believed the twelfth grade literature teacher was insane. First, she scheduled an in-class essay on Halloween, one of the most distracting days of the school year when everyone came to school in costumes. Second, she calls in a substitute when she assigns an in-class essay. They seriously needed to fire the woman, but she had tenure so they couldn't get rid of her until she wanted to retire.

"All right, time's up!" the substitute teacher, Tsuyoikou Sensei, called. "Let's start turning those essays in."

Well, Tsuyoikou-san was better than their actual teacher. Shireika always found that class was more interesting when he was there, but anyone was more interesting than their real teacher.

She got up first from her desk, grabbing her bag as she shuffled towards the front of the classroom, and placed her booklet on the teacher's desk.

"Good luck today," Kousei said softly as she readjusted the bag on her shoulder. "See you before the game?"

"Sure," Shireika replied with a nod. She moved out of the way as others began to turn in their essays. "If you find me." She hurried out of the classroom and waited in the hallway for Tegiwa to finish up.

"Yo," another girl said as she walked by Shireika.

"Hey Keiko. Nice costume," Shireika replied. The two laughed a little. Keiko had gotten the girls together to coordinate their costumes so they would look like a gang. Some of the girls had managed to get custom-made jerseys for the entire team with nicknames. "What did they put on yours?"

Keiko turned around, showing off the name on the back of her jersey: "K-Dogg"

"Nice," Shireika said as Keiko turned back around.

"Though, 'Da Terror' is quite amusing, considering your glare can send half the opposing team running to find their mothers," Keiko added as she continued down the hallway. "I'll see you later."

***

Hanshin had managed to convince the teacher in charge of study hall to allow the class out early because it was Halloween, and he was very grateful for it. While it was still chilly, the sun was out today, and it was nice to enjoy the sunshine before it would get hidden behind rainclouds. Plus, he got to pick a table early and claim it. He hoped the other digi-destined he was meeting with would be able to recognize him behind his pirate king costume.

***

Yuu stood up from the cafe table and carefully pushed her chair back in. "I'll be leaving now, too" she said to the only remaining group member, Shouki. He was fingering his prayer beads again, as Enma had pointed out. His face looked as if he was recalling something... probably the person whom those beads were in memory of. He looked sad... more than usual. She wondered how it had happened.

"I'll see you tomorrow" she said as she waved a little and left out the door.

She was in a mellow sort of mood as she headed away from the cafe, so she decided to take the scenic route and walk home. On the way, she fiddled around with her digivice, trying to figure out what it could do. The buttons had no labels, of course, and most of the screens she found were rather cryptic, although she recognized a couple as maps. As she passed through a park near the hospital she noticed a few colored dots on one of the screens, but she was getting tired by then and didn't particularly feel like investigating this. She pocketed her digivice and continued on her way.

Eventually, she found herself on the road along the beach that led to her apartment building. Going over and sitting herself down on the inclined sand, she looked out over Tokyo bay, now tinted with evening, and sighed. "Out there, huh?" she thought aloud. She still didn't feel comfortable about stealing it, but if it was the only thing that could save the world...

The sun dipped towards the horizon, and Yuu stood up and headed home.

***

Ahh, Halloween. As Yuu gazed around the sea of costumes in the courtyard looking for Hanshin, she thought back to her school in Niigata. One of her closest friends, Rukia, was obsessed with anything occult or American, and especially both, so she would always come up with the most... interesting Halloween costumes, and convince everyone else to wear them too. In fact, she had made a point of calling yesterday and suggesting all manner of things that Yuu should wear to impress "those Tokyo kids." She giggled at the memory and adjusted her pack.

Against Rukia's requests, she was costumed conservatively in a white hoodie with a shimmering halo emblazoned on the top of the hood, along with a tiny backpack with a small pair of wings sticking out from either side. Simple, but she rather liked it.

Finally, she spotted Hanshin and went over to sit at his table. "I like your costume" she said honestly.

***

Hanarei's face was still blushed as she turned around to Asayake and Tomeo. "Oh no, Yuki's not my mate, er, boyfriend," she said with a huge, cheery smile on her face. "But he will be one of these days." She suddenly turned very girly compared to her usual tone and actually made a cute face. "And no, he isn't allergic to peanut oil. I happen to know this for a fact. And I'm free for the rest of the afternoon though I warn you, I may have this expression on my face for awhile ^_^."

***

Hanarei stood up in her seat and stretched in her costume; a tight black tanktop and black pants, metal bands around her arms, a pair of open-toed shoes, a piece of black cloth covering the lower half of her face, and a bandana with a small metal plate tied around her forehead and covering her left eye. It was a shame she couldn't bring her kunai knives.

'I wonder if Shireika has any news on her brother and the other digidestined,' she thought. 'I may as well tell her I haven't spotted anything odd yet.' She took one quick glance to see if Shuuichi was there (with the eye that wasn't covered) and then headed out the door. She was able to find her way through the various costumes and eventually spotted Shireika. "Hey." She looked down and noted the jacket. "As far as updates on the digidestined, nothing unusual so far. Notice anything odd with your brother other than the obvious?" She noticed the jacket Shireika had. "'Da Terror'? It doesn't suit you, Princess." She was glad there was a cover over her mouth because Hanarei was smiling at that comment.

***

Nikko and Kosame were walking around the display section in one of the wings at the national museum in Toyko. It was rather empty since it was Halloween. Plus, not many kids went to places like this unless it was a field trip.

"Seems kinda odd that you suddenly wanted to come here," said Kosame. She looked around at some of the displays of ancient Japan and admired the sets and costumes. "I still remember when you took me here before we were actually dating. But even then you were nervous and I knew it couldn't have been because of that midterm in history that was due that Friday. Are you sure it's okay for you to take a day off on today?"

"Yes it is," said Nikko. "The principal is well aware of it. Plus, I haven't taken any days off recently and thought it was time for a break."

"That's too bad. I was hoping for you to dress as the Grim Reaper while you were at school." Kosame had a big grin on her face and so did Nikko.

"That would have been hilarous to see how everyone would react, especially Hanarei." They both laughed quietly until they reached a display. Nikko stopped walking and started to gaze at it.

"Everytime," Kosame said slightly above a whisper. "But I guess it's alright. You did like history back in college." Nikko didn't answer but continued to stare at the display longer than he used to. Kosame became slightly curious by this. "Everything okay over there?"

"... ... Yeah, everything's fine," he said. Nikko then rejoined his wife and they continued to walk through the rest of the museum.

***

Shouki didn't know why he did it, but his sister was able to convince him to wear a costume of her choice for Halloween. He thought it didn't suit him but some of the girls seemed to like it. He wore a black leather body suit (or false leather since they were able to simulate it perfectly now a days) which had black straps running all along his legs and some on his sleeves. On the back there were a small pair of angel wings but they too were black. "How did my sister come up with this costume?" he mumbled to himself. He spotted Yuu and Hanshin and made his way over there, feeling self-conscious of his costume and not knowing how they would react. "Hey there," he said to them.

***

"So...what's this Hallowed spleen thing?"

"Halloween, Mitikomomon!" Enma expalined for the millionth time. When her digimon pouted, Enma sighed. "It's a holiday; it's when you get to dress up and pretend to be something you're not."

Mitkomomon nodded. "I get it!" He said joyously.

"I'm so happy for you." Enma rolled her eyes.

Mitikomomon frowned. "But I don't know what you're supposed to be, Enma-chan!"

"A witch." Enma said blandly. Mitikomomon scrutinized her outfit from his limited view.

"But you don't look like the story-book witches!" he said.

Enma smirked. "Because I'm different from the story book witches." She was wearing a very light pink halter top, a baby blue mini skirt, and a pair of thigh-high boots. One was light pink, while one was baby blue. She had pulled her hair into a messy bun, and a sparkly plastic wand was poking out of her bookbag.

"You're different, all right!" Mitikomomon chirped. Enma looked down at him, but when she realized that he wasn't trying to be mean, she hugged him.

"Hey, we match!" She teased.

Mitikomomon looked down. "Wow...we do!"

Enma rolled her eyes, before she saw Hanshin. She looked at his costume critically. "So...where's dear Frederick?" She asked, deadpan.

***

"'Sayake," Rogishimon mumbled softly, huffing a few feathery chucnks of trim out of her face, "I don't like this bag. It's pointy on the inside."

"Sorry, Rogishimon," Asayake said, chuckling down at the coffin-shaped purse she was carrying, "Mama always gets really carried away at Halloween. She loves dressing me up, no matter how old I get. I guess she goes all-out on me because Papa runs away from her make-up kit. How come you're not asking a whole bunch of questions about Halloween, though?"

"I was watching the news earlier in your room," Rogishimon said, sounding rather pleased with herself, "I learned. But... what are you supposed to be?"

"Well..." Asayake said, looking down at herself. She wasn't really all that sure; she was wearing a poofy tutu-style skirt, a bustier, a puffy peasant top, and a pair of rather tall ankle boots, all in black. She was also wearing a pair of red-and-black striped stockings, and had a few red accents here and there. There were also a pair of semi-transparent mesh butterfly wings on her back with red sequins sewn to them, and the white powder on her face made her nose itch slightly. Every time the wind blew she swore people sould see her underwear, and the puffy shirt was a little too low-cut for her tastes, but her mother had seemed so happy about dolling her up, she couldn't say 'No'; none of the teachers had said anything about it, so she figured she was at least remaining decent, no matter how uncomfortable she felt. "You know, I think I might be a dead fairy or something. Gothic lolita fairy, confused fairy, slightly depressed fairy... I like death fairy, so I'm a death fairy."

"A death fairy?"

"Just humor me. I need to be something, so I'm a death fairy." She again resisted the temptation to scratch her face, under strict instructions from her mother NOT to smudge the eye make-up she'd spent ages putting on that morning. She trudged over to Shireika and Hanarei, being careful how she walked to avoid breaking off one of her feet at the ankles in the oversized boots, and smiled as best she could. "Hey, you two. Wait, wait, let me guess..." Asayake said, pointing at Hanarei, "You're from Naruto... Or something like that, I think," She turned her finger to Shireika then, and smiled, "And you're, um... A soccer holligan-gangster? If you are, that's kinda wrong; funny, but wrong. Oh well, though, I had to make up what I was because I didn't know. I'm a death fairy."

***

Naoko lay limp and exhausted on the sheets certain she’d be walking funny in the morning. “No, Hanshin, that was wonderful. Perfect. Only you can move me like that. You make me feel so alive. I’m fine. I guess I’ll let you pick a friend next time. Unless, you think Shouki would…no, I don’t think he would, so don’t ask. He might agree because of you. I’ll keep working him out of his shell.”

“Next time, let’s do it like this, only longer. Do me the way you want to. You can be rough with me because I know you care.”

When he untied her, she caught him round the neck and pulled him into a passion filled kiss. “Thank you, again.” Seeing his face and feeling him against her produced a reaction within her unlike anything else.

***

Tegiwa got lucky with Mariko. Getting lucky with Mariko meant Naoko wasn’t there when he came to put up Mariko. He took her out to a movie and spent a good hour talking with her in the park afterward. On the way to the movie she had struck him as nervous, she sat as far from him as the car would allow. She seemed to warm up to him during the show, and by the time they hit the park, she was surgically attached to his arm.

Mariko was smart and funny when she wasn’t doubting herself. They both steered clear of any mention of Naoko though. The evening, which began with uncertainty, ended with them discussing couples costumes for Halloween. So, Tegiwa considered his first date a success. [authors note: the above evening was edited to remove the facts that Tegiwa lock the keys in the car, knocked popcorn down her shirt, and got too personal with her accidentally while reaching for her hand in her lap. Other than that, they had a wonderful time.]

***

Naoko stormed out of the house before her parents had finished with Mariko and Tegiwa. They never inspected any of her dates…never acknowledged them or her. In a manga, steam would be coming out of her ears right now. She was furious at Tegiwa for being with his sister, at her sister for existing, at her parents for being fools, and even a little at Hanshin for suggesting she seduce the incredible living scarecrow.

Steam would look cool with her outfit of course. She arrived at the school in a skin tight latex cat suit the color of blood. Her boots were her highest stiletto spike heel in patent leather. Her tail was long and pointed; it moved around it response to certain nerve impulses, but Naoko hadn’t quite got the hang of it so it just thrashed spastically. Her fake nails where long and black, stronger than real ones, and better attached. Two red horns protruded from under her black nun’s wimple. An inverted rosary made of chain and black beads formed her belt. A whip was coiled at her side and she carried a plastic pitch fork which the first irritating person she met just might get to eat.

Cheering slightly at the sight of her prime lover, she joined Hanson at his table. “Shiver me timbers, matey?”

***

Tegiwa wasn’t as lucky when he picked up Mariko for school. Naoko was glaring at him from the kitchen. Mariko’s parents decided to give him a more thorough quizzing this time around. They had been caught flat footed Sunday night. He answered the questions about himself casually, and he let his eyes wander around the room to keep from falling asleep.

He felt like a compleat idiot fielding questions more fit for a betrothal than an at school date. It didn’t help that he was wearing taped spectacles, a black robe, and grease paint lightning bolt on his forehead. The whole scene made him vaguely uneasy until he grasped an important fact. Mariko’s parents acted like the had only one daughter: Mariko. He expected them to be used to ignoring Naoko’s coarser actions; even now Naoko was at the bar making obscene gestures at him, but they never looked at her once! Their eyes avoided her. They never addressed her except indirectly. The photos on the mantel, as best he could tell, had only one person which he presumed was Mariko.

The parents pretended not to notice when Naoko stormed out of the house, but made him field more questions.

Upon reflection, this whole house seemed much sadder than it had before. He assumed Naoko was the most pathetic person on the planet, but he had to say he parent were worse.

Tegiwa seized a moment to escape while mumbling some excuse about being late. He grabbed Mariko and their school bags, while Mariko grabbed their brooms. They exited quickly and ran to the elevator.

He knew he looked like an idiot, but Mariko looked charming in her black sack dress, black wig, and red ribbon with a big red bow that tied back her hair. The wide push broom was hers and a bit too long for her, while his a classic straw broom much too short for him. He had a white owl (secreting robotmon), and she had black cat (labeled jiji) and old fashion miniature radio

At school, Tegiwa figured they’d go their separate ways, but Mariko had other ideas. They did the “cute couple” thing for her friends. After he had been shown off, he decided to do a little of the same. Locating Shireika, he journeyed over to her, and formally introduced Mariko.

“Shireika, this is Mariko. Mariko, this is Shireika, my best friend since we were born.”

Mariko let out a squeak like a stepped on mouse and hide behind Tegiwa when she saw who he was introducing her to. She peered out from behind his shoulder and looked at Shireika. “Uhm, sorry. I didn’t realize it was you….I mean, that he knew /you/ Uhm….Great game the other day….I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Fan of hers?”

Mariko turned red and nodded before hiding again.

“Sophmores.”

***

"You can ask the girls on my team about it," Shireika said to Asayake and Hanarei. "The name was what they came up for me." She pointed at the back of her jersey. "And why they wanted to be soccer gangsters - I have no idea. You'll have to ask them." She shrugged. She smiled at Mariko briefly before turning her attention to Asayake, Hanarei and Tegiwa. "Anway, on Hanshin," she said as she glanced over Tegiwa's shoulder to signal that this was all a private matter, "I'll see you guys outside. We've got things to discuss." She looked at Asayake and Hanarei. "If either of you see Tomeo, grab him. Look for me at the tables closest to the fields." She turned towards Tegiwa as she headed off to her locker, looking neither thrilled for his newfound relationship nor upset. "Nice meeting you, Mariko," she said as she walked past the new couple.

As she walked down the hallway, she shook her slightly. It hadn't even been a week, and they were already doing the "couple" thing. Well, at least Tegiwa wasn't fooling around with other women, but she didn't trust having Mariko around him. She didn't trust anyone who was in anyway related to Naoko: her family, friends, lovers, anyone who possibly knew her. And, of all people: Mariko. Well, it was Tegiwa's choice, and he could be as stupid as he wanted to be. It was his life, and she could only give him suggestions.

She sighed a little as she rummagged through her locker for her gym bag, which contained her soccer uniform and Alatusmon. This was surely going to be interesting.

"So, this qualifies as before the game?" a voice asked.

Shireika looked away from her locker, only to find Kousei leaned against the locker next to hers.

"I suppose so," she replied with a little grin.

"So, what's with this?" he asked as he tugged at one of her jersey's sleeves.

"My teammates came up with it," she said as she pulled her arm away from Kousei quickly.

"Well 'Da Terror' is rather fitting."

"Shut up."

"Well, you frighten most opponents and their coaches."

Shireika glared at Kousei as she slammed her locker shut.

"And probably most of the male population here."

"Thanks." Shireika began to walk away. She had to meet up with the others.

"Hey!" Kousei protested as he grabbed her by the arm. "It's what makes you different. It's what makes you who you are."

"What, frightening people off?"

"No. You just make others nervous. It's who you are." He smiled. "It's not a bad thing either."

Shireika narrowed her eyes.

"Okay," she said slowly. "I have to meet up with some friends. I'll see you around." She turned away. She really didn't understand Kousei either. For some reason, the people she was closest to were the most confusing in her life: Tegiwa, Kousei, her father, her grandmother. Then there was Hanshin. She had gotten the point where confusion turned into frustration, and she couldn't stand dealing with him anymore.

She walked outside, taking in a deep breath. Well, one of these days Hanshin just might change.

She sat down at a table near the fields and pulled out her lunch and Alatusmon.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"Tsuyoikou-Sensei," Shireika replied as she began eating a little.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Don't "nothing" me." She poked Alatusmon with a chopstick.

"Hey!"

Shireika poked Alatausmon again and giggled a little.

"Fine, I'll tell you later!" Alatausmon yelped when Shireika continued her attack on him. "Promise!"

***

"Thanks, Yuu," Hanshin said as Enma approached them. "Frederick. I haven't the slightest idea. He was always sort of wimpy, from what I remember." He waved his hands around to be emphatic. He chuckled and shook his head. "I was trying to go for a Jack Sparrow more than the Pirate King though." He nodded towards Shouki as the fellow bandmate showed up. He wasn't particularly thrilled as he waited for Naoko and Shuuichi to arrive, but as soon as Naoko joined the group, he instantly perked up. "So, did you get those floorplans and whatnot on Tegiwa and his grandfather's places?" he asked her as motioned for the others to sit at the table. He reached under the table for Naoko and slid a hand up her thigh.

***

"Very good Asayake," said Hanarei. "I see you know you're classic manga. It was either Kakashi or dress as Sakura. It went with Kakashi." She scanned Asayake's costume. "And a Goth Lolita. Nicely done. It must have taken forever to finish your costume."

Hanarei took note of Mariko's presence and nodded. 'And Shireika wonders why I call her Princess,' she thought after seeing Mariko's reaction. "So you're the thing's sister, huh?"

"Hanarei, be nice," whispered Himotomon from Hanarei's bag.

"Please excuse me for a moment. I think I'm getting some email on my mini-comp." Hanarei excused herself from the group to open her bag and peered into it to see Himotomon. "Whoops, forgot you were in there."

"Y'know it's really hard to see your reactions with that cloth over your mouth," Himotomon commented.

"Part of the reason why I decided on this. Now be quiet for a little bit while Mariko is here."

"Gotcha."

Hanarei closed her bag and rejoined the group. "It was nothing. Just some spam email." She snapped her fingers as she thought of her Mariko's costume. "Kiki, right?"

***

Shouki reached into one of his pockets and (after checking the third one) found his mini-comp. He opened his email and showed the document to Hanshin and Naoko. "I got it on mine," said Shouki. "I think it's rather ironic that I'm wearing this and the fact we'll be stea... borrowing without permission. My sister said this character was some sort of thief. Are you sure we don't have any other choices left?" He was hoping there may have been a change of plans since their last meeting.

"Ahh, one of the wings is uneven again." He reached around to his back but couldn't reach it. He turned around once in an attempt but failed. "Could someone give me a hand with this, please?"

***

Enma snickered at Hanshin's comment, before she turned to Shouki, giving him a perplexed look. She set her bag and Mitikomomon down, before moving over to him. "Uneven wings?" She asked, before looking at his wings seriously. She gently grabbed them, making them even, before stepping away. "Better?" She asked.

"Couldn't you have used the wandy thingy in your bag?" Mitikomomon asked.

Enma glanced at her digimon. "That's fake." She tried to explain.

"Oh..." Mitikomomon looked down at Enma's bag. "But then why did it turn your bag silver?" He asked. Enma looked down at her bag, also.

"Shit." She muttered, taking her homework and her wand out of the bag. Stepping away from the table, she upturned her bag, shaking it. She watched as thousands of silver sparkles fell to the ground out of her bag. When most of it was out, she placed her books back in the bag, but kept the wand out. She sat down across from Hanshin, and slightly farther away from the rest of the group. "So...do we have a more solid plan yet?" She asked.

***

Naoko grinned at Hanshin. “Yes, they should all have floor plans and maps as well as entry codes. I put a little bug in the lamebrain’s,” (Her hand motion did not indicate brain though), “mini comp. If any codes change in his palm unit, my unit will be updated instantly. I’ll update your computers via the net ASAP. For the group heading to Sho’s place, I have tidal charts and maps of the bay as well.

“Tegiwa’s email indicates that the fragment may be outside the Chikusa house in the water. There may be clues inside the place. So, we get to search a reef as well as the interior. Well, you do. I’m going to be inspecting the Itoh place with Hanshin. And, Shouki.

“Yes, all this is thanks to my hard work for Han….I mean for the cause, and I give extra thanks to that sweaty palmed dummy who let him self be compromised for a piece of tail.” She glanced toward Tegiwa while wearing a cruel smile, but was reminded that he was paired with Mariko. Her smile turned to a scowl. /C’mon. Do something to her. Put your hand on her ass or cop a feel or do something to prove you are a guy. Then, I can storm over there and punch you in the nose./

“Hanshin, would anyone miss Tegiwa if I killed him? He doesn’t matter after we get this keep does he dear? Please say I can kill him. Please. I was hoping she would take up with Shouki someday. I think she’d be perfect for him.”

***

Mariko nodded in agreement to Hanarei’s guess. “Kakashi, ne? Nice costume, but I can’t see your face.”

Tegiwa turned to Mariko and whispered in her ear. “I need some private time with my friends. They don’t want to talk about business in front of you.”

“I already know you guys are digidestined tho. Suzumon told me ages ago!”

“I know, but they won’t be comfortable talking around you. It’s best if I go alone.”

Mariko looked dejected and pouty, but she left to find her friends after getting Tegiwa to surrender another kiss.”

Tegiwa followed Shireika and the others out to the table. “Shireika, I trust her, but I trust her even more when she doesn’t know anything. It’s far too easy to let something slip around Naoko. So, any new developements?”

***

"Shireika would personally murder you," Hanshin replied. "Tegiwa is who he is. You're more than welcome to try, but Shireika would see to it that you don't get away with it." He shrugged. "As much as Tegiwa can be annoying, he's the only person who actually talks to Shireika on a personal level. She doesn't talk to people much about how she's doing, and Tegiwa's as close as anyone has gotten. She has learned the art of working around Dad's questions to avoid telling him much about what's going on in that head of hers." He shook his head. "Tegiwa's a good friend of Shireika's, and he'll be useful I hope. Keep him around."

He looked around at the others.

"As far as a more solid plan," he started, "we're going to have to be careful. At least one person should provide some sort of distraction to get them out of their home. Or something. We're going to need some way to get them to evacuate." He looked towards Naoko. "Were you able to find out anything about what they'll be doing tonight while we're planning to get the job done?"

***

"She knows that we're digi-destined?" Shireika asked. Her tone immediately changed from playful to serious. She sighed a little. "If I find out that Mariko uses you to get information for her sister." She stopped and shook her head. "You can trust her all you want, but be careful." She spoke sternly with Tegiwa. "I don't care how much you trust her. The fact that she has connections with Naoko doesn't make me feel any better about Mariko."

She thought Tegiwa and Mariko's relationship was odd. Either Tegiwa was up to something, or Naoko was up to something. Or neither was, and this just had to be strangest relationship she would seeing all year long.

"Hanshin and Naoko are up to something," she said. "Hanshin's been leaving his rehearsals earlier than usual all week, and he's been meeting up with Naoko pretty often. And they haven't been heading to their favorite couple's hotel. They were actually in your neighborhood recently and then out near Tokyo Bay. Either he's decided to start doing it with her more often, or they're doing something important to get that key. Hanshin would stick Naoko to the job. He trusts her the most." He thought for a moment. "And, she knows you." Her eyes narrowed. "Your mother was a digi-destined before, wasn't she?"

***

If you were good at reading expressions just by looking at eyes, you could've figured out that Hanarei was unimpressed. "You don't quite get the uptake on the costume, do you Mariko?" she said. Hanarei also heard that Tegiwa told Mariko about them being digidestined but keep that information to herself until the appropriate time. "Now if you'll just excuse us...," she said as she left to rejoin the others.

Now was the appropriate time. "Tegiwa, you idiot," said Hanarei. She whapped him on the back of his head with her palm. "We're not suppose to go around announcing this. Gah, I haven't even told my little sister. She doesn't keep secrets at all and will even turn the slightest bit of information into a children's song. But let's not go there." She gave off a small sigh. "Now as far as information goes, I've got nothing. I wish she did something I knew was out of the ordinary for her. And for Princess, that sounds too out of the ordinary for her brother even. It smells fishing and I doubt it's the Tokyo Bay or Naoko."

***

"Yeah that's better, thanks," said Shouki as Enma straightened his wings. He heard what Naoko said about him and Mariko and his face went bright red but from a mix of embarrassment and shock. "WHAT? When have you been planning this?" he asked, hoping that didn't sound rude in any sort of way. Quickly wanting to change the subject, he looked down at his mini-comp, pretending to be very interested in it.

"W-wow, I've never known anyone who could be so thorough," said Shouki as he scanned through the rest of the data Naoko had given to everyone. "But, Naoko?" Shouki said in an uneasy tone, "isn't placing a bug in Tegiwa's mini-comp a little...."

"Wicked?" said Kirimon as he popped out of Shouki's bag. Shouki quickly stuffed him back into his bag before anyone else could see him. "C'mon Shouki. There are humans dressed in really weird costumes. I bet I could come out and no one would think twice about me."

"Maybe so but I don't want to take that chance," Shouki replied.

"But I'm perfect for this holiday thingy. I'm a ghost-like cat. How could you not ask for anything better suited?"

***

Tomeo sighed in relief, rubbing his freshly-washed sweat towel around his head as he finished his final lap for the morning. He was glad that he had been able to finish the rest of his run after he had met in the park with Tegiwa and the girls, because it had sure paid off today. The coach had excused him and the rest of the track team to do more trials instead of class, which was fine with Tomeo because it meant he wouldn't be crammed into a classroom doing writing. As he leant over a bench outside the gym's change rooms, Parumon nosed her way out of his gym bag.

"Glad that's over. Now we can go find out what's going on with the others! Finally!" Parumon started, peering over the lip of the bag as Tomeo pulled his drink bottle out from next to her and sipped it down. "Your timing is lame. Just about as lame as that 'costume' you're wearing." Tomeo hadn't put much thought into his costume this year. He wasn't much too keen on the whole dressing-up and drawing-attention-because-he-looked-like-an-idiot thing. So he had remained in his usual casual dress, a T-shirt and jeans he usually felt comfortable in, with the exception of a rectangular sticker on his upper left chest. The sticker read in the upper left corner, "Hello, my name is..." and the space beneath it blank, the kind of sticker people could provide their names written underneath at parties of meetings for people to remember. But instead of putting his own name, Tomeo had gone with the most vague and humourously amusing character he could think of. In bold black texture, he had wrote: GOD. He hoped his friends would appreciate his sense of humour and the idea of the lack of effort he had gone to, otherwise he was going to get a lot of other looks and comments thrown his way.

"Yeah, I know." Tomeo replied flatly, wishing Parumon would just stop picking on him. Hoping to turn the insult back on Parumon, he smirked. "And just about as lame as when you soaked me with all that water you spat out from the pool when I got home."

"Hey, that wasn't lame! That was actually funny." Parumon giggled.

"No, it wasn't. It was lame. I had to tell my parents I fell into the pool." Tomeo took on an annoyed tone, dabbing his face with his towel. "And then you had to go pick a fight with the dog next door while I was at it."

"He was totally disrespecting me!" Parumon objected. "Plus the stupid thing wouldn't stop snarling at me."

"It was snarling at you because you stepped on it's tail while you were chasing it!" Tomeo corrected her. "And then when it growled at you, you turned it into a snarling contest! It didn't back down until you bit it in the nose, and then I had to explain to the neighbours how tooth marks got onto their dog's muzzle..."

"Hey, what can I say? It was self-defense." Parumon spoke in an uncaring manner, shrugging. "If the stupid thing didn't want to fight me, it should learn how to talk like we can."

Tomeo threw his arms into the air as if giving up, then threw his towel into his bag and slung it with Parumon over his shoulder, walking along the fields back to the school. " I just - I wish you could just give me a little respect, Parumon. You know? Like, try and not get me into trouble, for once in a while? It would be great since I give you free board and food in return, don't you think so?"

"Whatever. Just because I was sent here to protect you, doesn't mean we have to get all buddy-buddy." Parumon snickered, and changed the subject as soon as she could when she saw the other digidestined gathered around the table. "Speaking of buddies, there's ours. Move it pal, we better not get left out of the loop because of your whining."

Tomeo bit his lip, looking a little bit distressed, but tried his best to put an appealing smile on his face as he approached the group. He waved as he saw Asayake and his smile brightened a little, and it grew a little more with each of his friends as he glanced at them all. He observed their costumes for a moment, taking them all in, before he addressed them. "Hey, everyone. Sorry if I didn't see you guys in the halls today, had track practice. So, what's the latest?"

***

"You haven't missed too much, Tomeo; we're really just getting started." Smiled Asayake, giving in and scratching softly at the base of her chin. She sighed in contentment when the itch was gone, hoping she hadn't wiped too much of the powder from her face -- her mother might kill her. "I think something's going on between those two," Asayake whispered, nodding her head in the direction of Shireika and Tegiwa, "They seem to know something we don't. But that could just be my paranoia speaking."

"'Sayake, can I come out now? Your bag is making me itchy."

"Oh, Rogishimon!" She said, unclipping the coffin-bag so the little bird could get some air, "I'm sorry, you stopped making noise, so I thought you'd fallen asleep."

"No, I was growing faint from the fluffy air." She huffed, vaguely insulted that her digidestened had forgotten about her. She preened at the feathers in her wing, enjoying being free of the oddly-shaped handbag.

Asayake chuckled sheepishly. "Oh. Sorry."

***

Tegiwa was disappointed in Shireika’s reaction to Mariko. He had wanted to earn her approval after his fiasco with Naoko. Mariko was special to him; doubly so since this was the first girlfriend he had actually had, unless you count Yamamoto Michiru who had held his hand for one afternoon in elementary school. Their suspicious reactions shocked him to the core. He was about to take the matter personally when the thought struck him: they were right, at least in part.

It struck him, or more precisely, Hanarei struck him. “Whoa, what is this about? Naoko is one of us, even is she one of them. She’s the one who told Mariko about all of us. Well, to be more accurate Suzumon told her, but Naoko has a big mouth too. I just found out she knew the other day.”

He nodded to Tomeo, “You haven’t missed much. Shireika and Hanarei were just busy telling me how big a security risk I’m dating. I was about to floor everyone by….agreeing.

“Yeah, Naoko and Mariko are different, and Naoko torments Mariko by trying to make her into the next school slut, but yeah. They do seem close in a weird way. At the end of the day, all they have is each other. So, its best to assume anything said to Mariko could get back to Naoko. Naoko would not hesitate to use Mariko against us either. Solution: we don’t say things around her.

“I’m hoping to cash in on the reverse of this too, guys. Mariko might tell us of Naoko’s movements. She can’t stand Hanshin, worships Shireika, and wants her sister to be a better person. I think time will prove her to be cool. But, hey, they say keep you friends close and enemies closer, right? Mariko is as close as I want to keep Naoko.”

He slowly shook his head. Why couldn’t things be easy for him. One would think that one’s friend who is more like a sister would be happy for him getting a date, but Shireika was acting like someone pissed in her cornflakes. Tegiwa guessed that she thought she was special since even a teacher seemed to be courting her, and had forgotten what it was like to be an average person without a life. He didn’t want to let go of Mariko, ever. He might never find her again.

"Yeah, Shireika. My mom was a digidestined. She was the child of knowledge for your mother. My grandfather was with your grandparents. Hey, he has a place out in the Bay. That new development …They must be casing both locations.”

***

“Yes, it’s a little wicked. But, I can go running back to sleep with him if they change the door codes. This way is easier. Besides, it’s the former digidestined’s fault we have to do this. We did ask first. The safety of the world is at stake. We must sully ourselves for the greater good. Shouki, you are cute when you act like a boyscout, but we are adults in a hostile world. Kindly save your idealistic reservations for the manga.” She smiled admiringly at him and ruffled his hair with her hand.

“Ok, Shouki. We have it easy. This night is the tradition family get together for the Itoh’s and the Ishida’s. So, we’ll have the house to ourselves. Tegiwa will be on a date with my sister, so even if he wants to skip out on a family night; he’ll be able to caught up with my sister to annoy us. Hanshin, you will need a excuse to spring at the last minute. Shireika must think you will be there or she’ll want to follow. In fact, just slip out if you can.

“We’ll meet a little ways from the Itoh house. One of us will go try the door and alarm codes. If those work, that person will signal the others. I suppose I’ll have to be the tester; ne, guys? Since our Shouki is so worrisome, I nominate him as lookout. We’ll search the house Hanshin.

"For ojiisan’s, I’ve sent them an invitation to some science conference across town with tickets and hotel room. It’s legit, so I’m set back a bit this month, but to find the key for my Hanshin, its worth it. Guys, you get to pay for the love-hotel rooms for a while. “Shuichi, since you are social conscious you can play lookout outside while your digimon searches the water. You can pretend you aren’t even a part of all this. I think your skills qualify you to do all that.

Enma and Yuu. You sneak in like us…one then the other. Once inside, have a good look around. We aren’t sure which piece this is, so look carefully everywhere. Look for secret panels, hollow books, and look at the coffee table because they could leave the darn thing in the open.”

***

"Can do," Hanshin said with a grin. "As long as I stay for at least the meal, Dad doesn't get too upset. Besides, Tegiwa's parents are really only enjoy talking with Shireika and my father." Tegiwa's parents creeped him out a little, and, well, he knew they didn't like him too much because of his status as a band leader. "So, I guess that's the plan?" He looked at the others. "We usually have dinner around 6, so let's get this thing started around 8 tonight?" He glanced at Shouki. "No concert tonight, remember? Dad doesn't let me have concerts whenever these dinners come up." He nodded towards Shuuichi, Enma and Yuu. "You guys should meet up at Tegiwa's grandfather's place." He took a look at Naoko and Shouki. "And we'll meet at Tegiwa's. 8 PM." He pulled out his digivice. "Use these to communicate, and don't forget your digimon. I know Shireika and how she works. She'll figure out a way to keep us from getting what we want, and she'll fight for it. We'll need our digimon partners for it."

Though, he really didn't want to. Koumamon was overly serious, so serious that the horse-head thing wouldn't even go to school. No, he'd stay back at home and do whatever he did to get ready for battle with that dark queen. The digimon was nuts.

"So, I think that's it. Any questions?" Hanshin asked.

***

"Naoko, or should I say Suzumon, told Mariko about us?" Shireika asked. She swore that when she had the opportunity, she would strange Naoko. Her head fell a little. She didn't care how innocent Mariko seemed: Mariko's dislike for Hanshin, Mariko's admiration for her, wanting Naoko to be a better person. That didn't matter. What mattered was that is was Naoko and Suzumon who told Mariko. "Tegiwa, all I can say is that dating Mariko is risky. We don't know what she's up to, so just be cautious."

In Shireika's head, that mean avoiding the topic of being digi-destined completely. Shireika didn't need Mariko knowing about what was going on, and the others certainly didn't either. Mariko had the potential to help either side, and she could potentially destroy one of the groups as well. Shireika was not about to allow Hanshin and his group get any extra help.

"What's important is that we keep Hanshin and his crew away from that key," she continued. "We have to be careful around them. Very careful since they are deterimined, especially my brother." She took in a deep breath to calm down. "So, Hanshin's got something planned, and it involves Tegiwa's family. Probably because there are three generations of digi-destined, and they are likely to have one of those key fragments as a result perhaps. So, keep an eye on them for anything suspicious." She looked at the others. "And I mean really keep an eye on them, even if it means following them around. I don't think Hanshin would try pulling anything tonight. It would be too obvious considering we have the biomonthy Ishida-Itoh dinner. Hanshin wouldn't try pulling something tonight."

At least, she didn't think so. Hanshin would be an idiot to try escaping the family dinner with the Itohs. Dad would rarely let him leave early, and Hanshin always had to cancel his concerts when these dinners came up. Besides, if Hanshin were to try something, he'd have to leave while they were having dinner, and Dad rarely allowed that. Rarely, however, wasn't never.

***

Yuu nodded at the mention of her role in Naoko's plan. She had wanted to thank her for going through the trouble of acquiring all this information, but considering the way she seemed to have gotten it, that felt decidedly awkward.

"Kuinamon can help look outside in the water as well, if you need him to" she added. She had brought him out to the seashore with her once, and found that he made an even better fish than he did a bird.

She listened to Hanshin's talk and made a mental note about 8 o'clock. "Ah, yes" she replied to his query, "how do we use our digivices to communicate with each other? I haven't really figured mine out yet..." She pulled her digivice out a little sheepishly as she spoke.

***

"Princess, you've heard of the phrase 'expect the unexpected,' right?" said Hanarei. "Pretty Boy may just do something like that. If he does, I suggest you come up with some kind of excuse to leave your little dinner party."

"I have no trouble with my parents. Mom just wants me to take care of myself if I say I'm out late at night or something. Y'know, eat some food, don't go down dark alleys, don't start any fights... I'm usually one for three on those topics." She looked as though she was standing proud.

"I'm guessing you're smiling?" said Himotomon.

"Good guess. In any case," she said, turning back to the others, "I can stay close to Enma using the radar option on my digivice while staying out of sight. It shouldn't be too hard and I'll find something to help pass the time." Hanarei looked as though she was now serious. "But when your party is over and nothing has happened, you immediately call or email me so I don't spend the night sleeping outside."

***

Shouki nodded his head at Naoko's and Hanshin's orders. "Right I'm the lookout." He attention went elsewhere when Yuu askd about her digivice. "Can I have a look at that?" said Shouki. He went over to Yuu. "I fiddled around with mine awhile ago and I think I have the basics of it figured out. If you press here, then here, then, whoops, that took it to map mode. Maybe if you try this. Wow, I didn't know it had that feature on it...."

"Shouki," said Kirimon. "It's the one to your left. Press it twice." Shouki did what Kirimon said. "There, now you don't look like an idiot."

Shouki sighed at this and at something else he was thinking of. "Uwaa, it's going to be so hard to lie to my family. My sister can always tell when something is up."

"It's because of your expressions. Although you rarely change them, it's easy to tell when something is upsetting you and such. Even I could tell how you felt the first day we meet."

Shouki couldn't believe he was asking this question. "Any advice?"

"Two. Either be vague in your answers or don't look at them when you talk."

***

Enma listened to Naoko, nodding to herself. "Fine." She said, rather dryly, before putting Mitikomomon back in her bag, picking out some sparkles in the digimon's fur first. "Does that mean I can go now?" She asked.

"Isn't your mother gonna be worried that you snuck out again?" Mitikomomon asked.

"Kou will cover for me and say I'm working late." Enma said to the general group. She started to sling her bag over her shoulder, but stopped. She glanced around the area, before sighing. "What if we get followed by one of Shireika's group?" She asked. "I'm not sure exactly who lives where, but I live in a pretty populous neighborhood. How should we loose them if they find us?"

***

"Sounds alright to me. Though I doubt Squjimon will listen to you more than she does to me," he said crossing his arms.

"No, I'll listen to them. They might actually respect them and not give me to their sister just because I have..." Squjimon began but then Shuuichi clasped her mouth smiling trying to signal nothing suspicious.

"They have everyway to track us as we do them. We can watch their movements but the digivices. Or we can go in heavy disguise. Not too heavy that we can't move around but heavy enough that either we merge in or we don't look at all the way we usually look," Shuuichi said.

"You could cross dress Shuuichi. No one would believe it was you!" Squjimon said laughing.

"Why you... how embaressing would that be for me. Especially if someone caught me!" he shouted.

"It would work though."

"That is a little bit too drastic anyway."

"Anyway I'll need help with being watched probably," Squjimon said.

"Since I'm so little in this form it could be easy for me to get lost or need help. And who knows how deep it is," she said.

"Asking for help is a sign of weakness. Nevermind what she said. She doesn't need any help, she can do it by herself," he said.

Squjimon looked a little worried as she stared at Shuuichi. 'He'll be outside anyway. I'll ask for help when he is on lookout.' she thought.

***

Naoko climbed up on the table singing and sway to her own version of “Sympathy for the Devil.” She seemed to have gotten more control over her mechanic tail as well since it was moving in sync with the beat. Naoko was a reasonably talented singer although she was clearly karaoke quality and not professional. Her dancing was significantly better though. She had been in dance classes since she was a little girl. Somewhere, there was a dream down that road she left for other dreams. She kept this up for a bit making sure she waved her tail in everyone’s face.

She hopped down. “Shuuichi….this is the season to be dressed up at night. Don’t be so serious.” She touched him on the forehead. “Loosen up. I can think of a dozen ways to help you relax if that’s what you need. She looked him straight in the pants. “Yeah, you know you need it. Who said a stiff neck is a bad thing to have?” She patted him on the arm. “Call me later. Now, I’m off because I need to borrow something.”

Naoko wandered in the direction Shireika’s group had left in while setting her digivice to map mode. Locating them all together she burst in brazenly. “Excuse me Shireika, I just need to borrow something from one of your groupies.” She hauled Tomeo over to the side while keeping a loose grasp on his arm. She put her cheek next to his and whispered in his ear. Her warm breath was directed softly against his ear. “I don’t suppose you have an extra name tag sticker for me, Kame-sama? I need it for my costume.” Naoko and her costume were right up against Tomeo, and she hoped he was noticing. “I’ll repay your kindness, I promise.”

***

Tegiwa couldn’t believe his eyes. No, wait. This was Naoko. He could believe she’d break into a meeting…”Naoko, long time no see. Your outfit suits you. Thinking of practicing religion, or have all Hanshin’s groupies taken up Orders?”

Naoko turned her head back toward the group while encircling Tomeo’s shoulders from the side with both her arms. Her bust was against his right arm, and she looked about two seconds from dry humping his thigh right there. “Tegiwa dear, I hope you aren’t jealous. I can still fit you in next week. Come by my room after you screw my sister.”

“I am not screwing your sister.”

“Oh, that’s a shame, but I guess it must be a nice change for you. Usually, it’s Shireika you aren’t screwing. Or, are you her woman?” She shot a hate filled look at Shireika. “Now, don’t turn that color Miss Perfect. It doesn’t go with your eyes.”

“Naoko, you know any kids you and Hanshin have will be related to her. I don’t see why you hate Shireika…”

The playful tension Naoko had been achieving with her intrusion would have shrieked as Tegiwa’s words stretched to the breaking point and beyond with a resounding psychic snap.

The smile was gone from Naoko’s face as she withdrew from Tomeo. A dark cloud seemed to hide her face as she looked down at the pavement. When she looked up the cloud evaporated and a single tear rolled down her cheek. “That was a hellava thing to say….It was a nice….thought.”

She turned back to Tomeo, pulled the sticker off his chest, and pasted to his forehead. She wrote her number on the sticker with a marker she produced from her cleavage, and kissed Tomeo on the forehead.

With much less energy than she arrived, Naoko turned tail and left. She walked slowly at first, then gained speed heading straight for the girls lavatory.

Tegiwa looked confused. “I don’t get her.”

***

"Do what you have to," Hanshin said to Enma. "Shireika's probably got someone following each of us, so we're going to have to be careful. The lookout should attempt to intercept as much as possible, and if they catch you specifically, don't feel afraid to fight them. We are trying to get that key, and we have to do whatever it takes to do it because we're talking about the safety of the universe." He looked up at Yuu and pulled out his digivice. "This button." He pointed to a little button the side of it. "It'll allow you to have walkie-talkie like communication with the others in the group. Use it sparingly. Basically, whether you find the thing or not." He thought about it for a moment. "Bring you computer along with you too, since those don't require sound."

***

"Slut," Shireika muttered as she watched Naoko drop by and then leave. If Naoko weren't a digi-destined and if she didn't have so much self-control, Shireika would have gotten rid of her a long time ago.

Naoko, Ami, and girls just like them were the reason why Hanshin was such an idiot. They brought him down to their level, and he let them drag him down. So, it was all of their faults, but still. If those girls hadn't been around, Hanshin wouldn't have the sexual attention he was getting. It was disgusting. She even wondered how they managed to get into the private school with their personalities and interests. Then again, anyone could get in with the right application and connections.

"Sounds like a plan?" Shireika asked as she stood up. "Email me if anything comes up. Keep an eye on the others carefully." He glanced towards Hanarei. "Don't worry. If Hanshin leaves, I'll know. If he tries anything, he won't get very far." Her eyes narrowed when she turned to Tegiwa. "As far as Naoko goes, it's simple. She just wants a good lay." She looked around. "We got what we're supposed to do?"

***

"Why that little...!" Hanarei growled as she watched Naoko barge into the group, make a scene, and walk out. Hanarei tightened her gloves, getting ready to pound Naoko into the ground but she was gone before Hanarei could do anything. "Someday...," she mumbled to herself. "If anyone wants me to kill her, I'll give you my price sheet."

"Yeah, I know exactly what to do. I already have a few ideas on how to keep a close eye on Enma." Hanarei took a few steps back so everyone could have a full view of her. "As a side note, do you think I could wear most of this costume while I'm stealth watching Enma and not look too obvious?"

Himotomon looked up at her partner. "Maybe you should move that bandana so it isn't covering you eyes."

Hanarei looked down. "The key word in that sentence was 'most' of the costume, not all."

***

"Actually, I think Squimon has a good point," said Kirimon. "The idea of Cross dressing to hide your identity." Kirimon put his tail to the spot where his chin would be and looked as though he was thinking. He then glanced over to Shouki who then blushed and immediately said, "No way." "Hey, it was just an idea," said Kirimon.

"Anyway," said Shouki, "I'll do my best as a lookout and I'll bring everything that's necessary," he said to Hanshin and... where'd Naoko go? Shouki quickly looked around and spotted Naoko running away from Shireika's group but she wasn't rejoining into Hanshin's. She was heading in another direction completely. "Hmm, did something happen to her?"

***

Asayake regarded Naoko cooly, watching as she came and left. "I wish we had some sort of fly on the wall with the rest of us," Asayake grumbled, attempting to tug her skirt down so it coverd more of her thighs, growling at it when it simply bounced back into it's original place, "That way we would know what they were planning, when they were planning to do it, and where they were going to be. We wouldn't have to stand around, wait for one of them to do something funny, and then friggin' stalk them." She paused a moment while her brain deliberated on that. Finally she turned to Rogishimon, smiling. "Rogishimon, you could always fly over wherever they're meeting and do a bit of eavesdropping, couldn't you?"

"I don't know, 'Sayake," Rogishimon answered, ruffling her feathers, "I could, but I don't have the most acute sense of hearing. Not to mention I don't exactly pass for the birds you humans are used to. Noisy little buggers, they are, and not very nice company. They never shut up. They give bird-types a bad name, they do." "Hm. We could always put one of the other digimon on your back, someone as an extra pair of eyes and ears." She shrugged, "I guess it's up to everyone else. It'd be kind of risky, considering people arn't used to pure white tropical birds and things flying around and spying on people, but it's an idea. What does everyone think?"

***

"Um... no, I don't have an extra sticker." Tomeo had said to Naoko, feeling rather uncomfortable as Naoko suddenly introduced herself to him by pressing her body up against him. If he were in a magna, a huge sweat-drop would be hanging off the back of his head. Listening to the exchange of words between her and Tegiwa, and it wasn't long before he was starting to get an idea of what had been going on while he had been away. So Tegiwa had been seeing this girl, Mariko, who was Naoko's sister? It did sound a bit risky. He also felt a little sorry when he noticed the tear rolling down Naoko's cheek; the girl must have had some pretty bad experiences to end up the way she was now. Maybe there was a caring and sensitive side to this girl, but for now she just seemed to be covering it up with raw feminine sex appeal.

As Naoko made her exit, he exhaled a sigh of relief and relaxed a little as he pulled the sticker from his head. "Great. My first kiss from a girl, and it's from one that likes to sleep around... all style, no substance." He ripped the sticker into tiny pieces, throwing them away into the wind. "One thing's for sure, this is one male in the school who's never going to sleep with her." he announced with small proclamation of self-satisfaction to the group, and then turned his attention on Asayake's suggestion.

"I think it's a good idea, Asayake. Do you think you could fit on Rogishimon's back, Parumon?" he asked, switching his sights from Asayake to his digital partner.

"I dunno, but I s'pose I could try." Parumon suggested, looking over at Rogishimon. "My hearing and sight don't work too bad above the water, so it could work. We'll give Idiot-boy and his goons a run for their money."

"Okay. Well, I think I've got the general jist of what we need to do." Tomeo nodded affirmatively to Shireika. "Keep an eye on the others, even if it means following them - got it. Did you say that your family and Tegiwa's have dinner tonight? Hanshin could be there, but he could have the others set up to hit Tegiwa's place, or his relatives for that matter. What time is the dinner? Maybe for today, we can just keep an eye on the other digi-destined until the dinner's over. That way, we can be sure."

He looked at Tegiwa. "Tegiwa-san, buddy, I hope it doesn't have to come to it, but if I have to go after someone who's gotten into your home, I apologise in advance for trespassing into your house. And be careful dating Naoko's sister. I know everyone's been saying it, but don't expect she won't do anything for Naoko just because she's going out with you. Blood is thicker than water... and if anything, don't go out with her just because she has ties to another digi-destined. Date her as Mariko, and don't abuse the fact she can get information for you, if she agrees. She could think you're only using her just to get to her sister, and I hope that's not the reason you're seeing her. That's all I'm going to say, just remember it." he said defensively, and folded his arms against his chest.

***

Tegiwa couldn’t believe what just happened. He couldn’t describe it to wrap his mind around it. “Yeah, Shireika. She’s always been after sex. This was…I dunno weird. Oh,no!”

Through the crowd among the tables from the direction Naoko had fled, strode a very determined looking Mariko. Tegiwa’s heart sank to his knees when he saw she wore a face not unlike the one Shireika had wore while lecturing him last weekend. He knew he shouldn’t tease Naoko, but she made it hard the way she made an ass out of herself. Gods, he’d save himself another by apologizing upfront. It was the only way he could win. He started as she arrived. “Look, I’m sorry….”

She looked at Shireika and not Tegiwa. She bowed. “Forgive my intrusion on your group. I hope my sister’s rudeness will be overlooked as well. I need to borrow him for a moment though.” She snatched Tegiwa away by his ear and drug he well out of earshot of the group by marching him toward the practice fields.

Tegiwa looked perplexed as she released his ear. His lean figure seemed to be blown backward by an unknown wind as Mariko snapped at him with her fists clenched her posture inclined toward him. She was trembling. Tegiwa raised his hand palms up to beseech her, but all he got was a resounding slap for his efforts. He feigned innocence and indifference, but those actions only got him an intense lecture and repeated jabs in his chest with his finger. Tegiwa tried to act aloof and turn his head from her, but her words had obviously surprised him. His gaze fell to the grass as his defiance turned to resignation. After a bit he turned back and gave her a befuddled and penitent nod.

The two walked back to the group. “I feel like a ass. I do. If I had known hat it would hurt her like that… But, I don’t understand why you take up for Naoko so quickly. She treats you horridly all the time.”

“She’s my sister. Yes, she isn’t the best, but I expect her to act in certain way because of who she is. I expect things from you too, Itoh Tegiwa; my standard for you is quite a bit higher.

I’m sorry for the intrusion again minna-san. You can have him back now. Pardon me.” She left quickly and quietly as if the energy she came in with had drained rendering her shy once again.

“Shireika, the fates hate me. Everything I do is the exact wrong thing lately. I feel like the world thinks I’m better than I am or something too. I’m disappointing everyone.” He didn’t expect Shireika to be sympathetic, but she was his only true friend.

“Tomeo, I’ll be as careful with those two as I can. Don’t worry. Mariko knows why I’m dating her: I like her. If she didn’t care for me either, then she wouldn’t have stormed in here like a Chibi Shireika. Though, sometimes I wish some of my friends didn’t care as much. It would save time on me feeling stupid.”

***

Naoko rinsed her face with cold water for the fifteenth time. Her eyes were still red, but at least she had stopped crying. “Of all the things he could have said, why did he say that? It must have been an accident since he couldn’t know. No, he said it to be funny… I think. I wish he had chosen something less painful, like pulling my heart out through my nose. You expect some people to be better. If Shouki pulled that stunt I’d slit my wrists. Nice guys are my bane. Unintended venom kills just as quick….”

Mariko came in the lavatory. “I set him straight.”

“Oh Gawd, tell me you didn’t tell him.”

“I didn’t. And, he seems clueless.”

“He is. I slept with him.”

“Sis. You should stop too. “

“… Maybe. I’ll rather unhappy with him at the moment.”

“Let it go. It wasn’t personal.”

“In time, I will” Naoko looked at herself in the mirror. Tegiwa’s words were what she wanted, but could not have.

***

"Ah, I see" Yuu stated after the digivice function was explained to her. "Thank you Ishida-san, Houzuru-san" She smiled at both boys. "And I'll be sure to bring my computer as well"

She turned to look in the direction that Shouki had, and saw Naoko running towards the girl's bathroom. She looked upset. Yuu felt sorry for her; no matter how odd she was at times, she seemed one to always have a handle on her emotions, so something bad must have happened for her to be shaken up like that.

She turned back to the rest of the group. "So, you think that Shireika-san's group is watching us close enough that we should wear disguises?" she asked warily. A hand went tersely up to her hair, which, it occurred to her, was quite recognizable.

***

"They can track us down, probably," Hanshin said. "Shireika's smart, and she'll find ways to keep tabs on each of us. She won't just let me do something she doesn't agree with. Knowing her, when she's determined to really stop me, she will do anything to keep from it." He thought about it for a moment. "Plus, our digi-vices have tracking devices, I think. So, we're sort of out of luck." He shrugged for a moment. "I wouldn't make it too elaborate, seriously. Worry about getting that key fragment."

***

"If you want," Shireika said to Hanarei. "Whatever you need to do to get the job done." She looked at the others. "Just keep an eye on the people you're assigned to, and I'll make sure Hanshin doesn't get too far." She didn't really want to dwell on this anymore. She got up, grabbing her bags. All she really wanted to do was keep Hanshin from doing something stupid and risking the entire world. "I don't care what it is that you do, just keep them away from that key. Email me if anything comes up." She grabbed Tegiwa before he could sit down and hauled him off. "Keep me posted!" she said as she walked away to the others.

She dragged Tegiwa off towards the fields with her, where she knew that no one would bother them. The field was her turf, and no one, absolutely no one, invaded when she was there before a game.

"What's with you lately?" she asked. "First, you getting laid by Naoko. Then, getting stuck at her house naked without clothes, and then somehow asking Mariko on a date." She waved her hands around emphatically. "Somehow, something seems a bit strange with that. Either, you're being strange, or Naoko's up to something because asking a girl out so suddenly just isn't your style. Unless, you haven't been telling me things." Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "Well?"

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