It was 8:51 am and school starts at 9, but Takato wasn’t even half way there. To make things worse, it was raining hard and it didn’t look like the storm was going to stop anytime soon.

The tamer was soaked to the bone, but he didn’t care about that, nor did he care that he’d be in deep trouble if he was late. Takato just kept walking in the rain in his own slow pace. The brown haired boy was still occupied from his dream-rather his nightmare from last night.

“Why did this have to happen…” thought the leader angrily. “How could that Digimon hurt me?” thought Takato mentally. He stopped walking and pulled off his yellow wristband on his right hand. The tamer was startled at sight of it. Takato’s wrist was still red and swollen and bleeding a bit. The brunette flinched a little when the rain came in contact with the wound. The angry and confused tamer quickly covered the marks with his wristband and continued walking.

“I don’t get it, what does MetalMyotismon want with me?” asked the Tamer, still angry.

“He said something about taking over both worlds,” thought Takato, “ Maybe I should warn the rest of the guys- but they won’t believe me…”

“Not even Jeri believed me when I heard that voice at the beach, much less believe a Super-Digimon is after me…” thought Takato hopelessly, “Even if they do believe me; how will we fight? We don't even have our partners... ” The Tamer had finally arrived at school. Takato dragged his soaked and tired self into the building. Takato took a deep breath and braced himself for a barrage of nagging from Ms. Asagi as he opened the door.

“So, we then multiply X with the formula and-“ said Ms. Asagi who was writing on the chalk board, but she stopped when a wet Takato entered the room.

“Nice of you to join us Mr. Matsuki.” Said Ms. Asagi sternly. She always called Takato “Mr. Matsuki” when she was mad at him.

“Sorry I’m late,” said Takato lifelessly.

“You’re half an hour late! What’s going on with you?” asked the enraged teacher

“Sorry, I was distracted,” answered Takato not looking at the teacher.

Ms. Asagi sighed, “Sit down Mr. Matsuki, it’s a weeks worth of detention for you,”

Takato sulked and slowly returned to his seat. The other kids couldn’t help but snicker at him but Takato shot they a death glare. The laughing almost immediately stopped. The tamer could not concentrate on any work or pay attention to the teachers. His grades were slipping and always getting in to trouble. As if that wasn't enough, MetalMyotismon kept harassing him  for days on end when he slept. Takato was deathly pale and had bags under his eyes;  he also seemed to snap at everyone that talked to him.

***

"Hey guys do you know where Takato is?" asked Kazu.

"I don't know, why do you ask?" asked Juri as she took a sip from her carton of fruit punch.

"Well... it's just that Takato looks pretty down and I thought that I'd cheer him up," informed Kazu.

Rika scoffed, "Since when did you care about anyone but yourself?"

"Hey! Kenta and I were Takato's friends way before you guys came along!" Kazu shot back.

"Whatever, Takato's nothing but an ignorant loser," said Rika

"Come on Rika, you know he isn't," said Henry.

"Well good luck finding him," Rika said, ignoring Henry. "I  haven't seen Takato much since we came back from the beach," Rika said, she took a bite out of her sandwich. 

Kazu scanned the cafeteria and found Takato sitting by himself eating his lunch.

"Hey, there he is," Kazu said to himself and walked towards him. "Hey Chumly! What's up?" asked Kazu as he sat down beside the tamer.

"The sky," mumbled Takato irritably.

"Ha ha, very funny..." said Kazu.

"What are you doing here?" questioned Takato.

"Well, I just happen to know that you've been kind of down in the dumps, so I'm here to cheer you up," explained Kazu cheerfully.

"Look, I appreciate what you're doing, but I just want to be alone," grumbled Takato before he took a sip from his can of coke.

"Come on, I'm not going to rest until I make you smile," said Kazu confidently and leaned closer to Takato.

"Then you better start drinking coffee, because you won't be resting for a while," answered grumpily Takato, " Now leave me alone,"

"You don't mean that, you know what? Why don't I tell you a joke?" suggested Kazu, "Now, there was this man-"

"Kazu, you're really starting to annoy me, so why don't you just go away," hissed the Tamer.

"I'm just trying to cheer you up," said Kazu.

"I don't need you to cheer me up so go away!" shouted Takato.

Kazu was stunned for a moment but then stood up and remarked icily, "You know what, Rika was right about you,"

"Oh?" was Takato's reply, "And just what was she right about?" said the tamer coolly.

"That you're an ignorant loser, and an idiot, I guess that's all you'll ever be," answered Kazu sourly, he then prepared to leave.

Takato could feel his anger rising, but he kept himself from snapping, but only barely. Instead of killing Kazu he remarked coolly, "You know what Kazu, I'm also right about something too,"

Kazu stopped walking, "And what would that be?" asked Kazu angrily, with his back facing the Tamer.

"That you a pathetic wannabe Tamer that doesn't know when to keep his nose out of other people's business, and I guess that's all you'll ever be," spat Takato. Kazu could feel his body temperature rise and his face started to turn as red as Guilmon, "I am a Tamer!" shouted Kazu with rage. He turned and tried to punch Takato, but Takato simply dodged the punch and grabbed Kazu's arm, twisting it behind his back. Kazu shouted in pain.

"Next time, I'll break your arm," hissed Takato and then released his grip on Kazu and stormed out of the cafeteria. Kazu could hear the other kids murmuring and talking about what just happened.

"Bastard," mumbled Kazu to himself.

***

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!! The bell rang, indicating that school was over. Takato was relieved and started towards 
Ms. Asagi's room, to serve his detention; on his way to his locker, he could see that he was being followed, "Kazu..." thought Takato angrily. The tamer tried to evade the person and then started to run when the figure grabbed his arm. Takato closed his eyes and balled his free hand into a fist and then hit the target as hard as he could.

"Ah!" shouted Henry as he clutched his stomach and fell to the ground, "Takato what the hell is your problem?!"

"Oh God, I'm so sorry," said Takato and helped Henry back on his legs.

"What did you do that for?!" asked Henry, still in pain.

"Um, what were you following me for?" asked Takato, trying to change the subject.

Henry frowned, "Here, you forgot your notebook in class," and handed it to Takato.

"Um thanks... do you need to go the the nurse's office?" asked Takato with a little guilt.

"No, I'm fine," mumbled Henry and straightened himself out, "But the question is are you fine,"

What do you mean?" asked Takato as he walked to his locker and entered his combination into the lock.

"Well, maybe it's just me, but first of all, you look dangerously pale, second, you look like you haven't slept in a week, thirdly, you seem to isolate yourself from everyone and-" said Henry.

"Look, I know that you're trying to look out for me, so just go away," answered Takato and put his books into his locker.

"I'm only trying to help you, tell me what's wrong!" urged Henry.

"You wouldn't understand even if I did tell you everything," replied Takato.

"Wouldn't understand?!" repeated Henry, " Takato, I'm your best friend, I've known you for three years, you can tell me anything,"

"I told you! I know you wouldn't understand!  Just go away!" shouted Takato and ran outside.

"Hey Takato where are you go-" said Henry but then his cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket and answered the call, "Hello, this is Henry," grumbled the Tamer.

"Henry! Don't use that tone when you're speaking to me!" scolded Janyuu on the other side of the line.

"Err- Sorry Dad... Why'd you call?" answered Henry.

"I need you to get all of the tamers and meet me at Hypnos in 30 minutes," answered Janyuu quickly.

"Um, sure, but what's so important?" asked Henry.

"It's something big, I'll explain it all when you get here. Remember, meet me at Hypnos at 4:00 sharp," answered Janyuu and hung up before Henry could reply.

The tamer turned off his cell phone, "I hate it when he does that," thought Henry. Just then, Jeri walked by, "Hey Jeri, wait up!''

"Oh, hi Henry," answered Jeri with her usual smile.

"My dad called me, he wants the Tamers to meet at Hypnos in half an hour, and I need you to tell that to Takato," said Henry.

"Why can't you tell Takato yourself? I mean you are his best friend," answered Jeri.

"Well there's a problem. I tried to return his notebook to him, then he started to run, so I grabbed his arm and then he punched me! After I recovered enough to speak, I told him that he's been acting strangely and then he ran off," Henry explained.

"I see... I think that I have an idea where he might be," answered Jeri and left. The female Tamer thought that Takato would be at Guilmon's old shack. She was right. When she stepped inside, she saw Takato sitting in a corner with his knees tucked to his chest.

"I thought that I might find you here," said Jeri.

"Why are you here?" asked Takato not looking up.

"Henry and Kazu told me what happened between the three of you," said Jeri finally, "They're concerned about you, we're all concerned about you."

"What are you talking about?" asked Takato, not liking the conversation.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." said Jeri sternly. "You're all edgy and nervous, violent, what's wrong with you today? In fact, not even today, you've been like this all week."

"I'm. Perfectly. Fine!" He yelled.

"No you're not, you nearly broke Kazu's arm!" yelled back Jeri, just as loudly.

"He was asking for it! Kazu's lucky that I didn't break his other arm!" Takato shot back fiercely.

"You attacked Henry!" Jeri retaliated.

"He snuck up on me, I thought he was Kazu!" Shouted the Tamer.

"Even if it was Kazu, why would you even punch him?!" asked Jeri.

"You know what? I don't have to answer any more of this," replied Takato angrily and got up on his feet.

"Yes you do! You owe it to all of us, what are you trying to hide?! Answer me damn it!" said Jeri with annoyance and anger in her voice.

"I can't tell you." Said Takato a little more calmly this time

"Can't? Or won't?" questioned the former tamer sternly- very sternly.

"I told you. I. Can't. Tell. You!" Takato sounded out.

"Takato please." said Jeri as she calmed down a bit and put her hand on Takato's shoulder, "Please, let me help you."

"No! I'm fine! I don't need any help, I don't want any help! Now just leave me alone!" snapped Takato angrily, he turned his back to her.

"Fine. Yamaki wants you meet us at the tower in 15 minutes." said Jeri plainly, as she prepared to leave.

"Wait-Jeri I'm sorry that I yelled at you." said Takato finally and walked closer to Jeri. "Please, I'm sorry."

"I'll see you at the tower." said Jeri as her voice stated to break. Even from across the shack, Takato could see a stream of tears come out of Jeri's eyes as she disappeared.

"Wait, Jeri come back!" shouted Takato, but she was gone.

"How could I let this happen?" Takato asked himself, as began walking to the towers and got in to the elevator and pushed button to the 100th floor.

"I can't believe I did it again!" thought Takato angrily. "First I twist Kazu's arm, next I punched Henry and then I yelled at Jeri"

"What's happening to me?!" He shouted angrily, soon after Takato's tantrum, the door opened and he stepped out of the elevator. There he could see all of the tamers gathered around Henry's dad.

"You're late." stated Yamaki from behind.

"Oops, I guess you just had to wait," He replied rudely, walking over to everyone else. Yamaki gave him a glare but Takato ignored it.

"Alright kids, now I called you here because I want to warn you about something." said Janyuu as he typed on the computer.

"A week ago, we encountered a digimon that crashed the computer core." explained Janyuu, as he looked down at the children. "We've been able to repair some of the damage but repairs are progressing slowly. We've hardly been able to get any information on it, but what ever it is, it's completely impervious to our technology. Nothing we did could damage the Digimon, we tried the Yuggoth, Juggernaut- we threw everything that we had at it and it didn't even scratch him, even scans were deflected. It's pretty safe to say that the Digimon has surpassed the Mega Level-,"

"Hey Dad, what's this blot over here?" He asked, pointing at a small blot, on the computer screen.

"Hmm I don't know," Janyuu sat down on a chair and began to type. The square that Henry pointed to was isolated. Janyuu continued typing. The square was magnified but only turned out to be a distorted blot on the computer screen.

"It's nothing more than a blot," said Ryo as he stared at the screen.

"No there is something...the sensor logs are just too damaged to give us a proper picture, I think that I may have an idea..." stated Mr. Wong and resumed typing on the keyboard. The blot then started to clear up, but it only showed a green wire frame of the object. Janyuu continued to type and then stopped, "I think that I've inputted everything," and pressed the Enter button, "This should be picture of the Digimon that attacked us said Janyuu. Slowly bit by bit, the Digimon materialized on the computer screen.

"I remember him." Takato thought silently, as he stared as the materializing digimon.

Slowly bit-by-bit, the wire frame turned in to an exact duplicate of MetalMyotismon.

"So this is the digimon that attacked Hypnos." Said Yamaki as he fiddled with his lighter.

"Him!" Takato cried out angrily.

"What's wrong?" Asked Jeri, looking at him in concern.

"That's the-the-the thing that's be haunting me these past few days!!" Yelled Takato, only partly in shock.

Yamaki walked over to Janyuu and turned off the screen thinking that he hologram may the vocal point of Takato's anger.

"What is it Takato? What's wrong?" asked Janyuu.

"Look, goggle head, you have information that we need so just spit it out!" said Rika harshly as she stepped up to Takato.

"Leave him alone!" defended Jeri, which caused everyone to be quite, even Rika.

"Takato, please, tell us what happened, does this have anything to do with the voice that you hear at the beach?" asked Jeri calmly as he gabbed a seat for Takato. "Please Takato, let us help you." She encouraged.

Takato hesitated but finally spoke, "Yes it does, it all started a the beach, I kept hearing this voice that said that he was going to get me."

"So the digimon is related to all this, the entity appeared at approximately the same time that the when we detected the biomerge." said Janyuu astonished

"You said that you recognized the Digimon." remarked Yamaki as he crossed his arms.

"He's -He- -," strained Takato "He's called MetalMyotismon," said Takato finally.

"Are you sure about this? Maybe it's just all a dream, dreams aren't real." said Jeri

"This isn't a dream! And there's nothing fake about this!" shouted Takato angrily as he removed his yellow wristbands to reveal red marks and bruises. Since it was a week from the encounter, some of the marks have disappeared but it was still shocking enough to make Jeri gasp..

"How did you get this?" asked Ryo shocked.

"Like I told you, it started at the beach." said Takato and then explained to everyone about the dream and that MetalMyotismon was planning to kill everyone and then take over both worlds.

"I never knew." said Jeri on the verge of crying, "I had no- I had no idea what you've been through...."

"That's- that's all right." said Takato as he covered up the wounds with the wristbands on and prepared to leave. Yamaki was debating whether to have Takato detained for safety and security reasons, but deep inside he knew it wouldn't matter. Even if Takato was to remain at Hypnos, what protection could they offer? Even at maximum efficiency, Hypnos couldn't even lay a finger on MetalMyotismon let alone defend Takato. Yamaki could do nothing but to watch the fatigued tamer enter the elevator and leave.