Chapter III
Yamato was taking his turn at watch when he heard footsteps. He jumped up and looked around, only to see Setsuna. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep," she told him.
"It's okay. How's T.K. doing?" Yamato inquired.
"He's sleeping. Gatomon isn't though. She's afraid of him. She pulled herself over to Kari."
"That cat always was a bit protective. T.K. won't hurt Kari unless he has the virus totally. He'd kill me before he'd lay a hand on her."
"I wish it was the same with me and Taichi, but even though he was mine when Kabuterimon attacked it was Sora he shielded. They were both taken and only me and Tiaramon escaped. Now he and Sora have that damnable virus."
"Tai always did have a thing for Sora," Yamato said.
"I still don't think I can forgive him."
"I don't blame you. Tai has always been reckless and unreliable. He was one of the reasons I almost didn't come back here, but I'm glad I did."
"Why's that?"
"I have always found Angemon to be the absolute most annoying digimon. I finally got a piece of him and I didn't get yelled at for it," Yamato said, smiling. Setsuna just laughed.
"You know Taichi always said you were the silent moody one who could never be relied upon."
"Figures," Matt said. He remembered suddenly that most of his old friends were taken by the virus. "Who all has this virus? I know about Sora and Taichi."
"Every one but Jyou. He didn't stay in the digital world because he said he couldn't fight his friends."
"I don't blame him. I couldn't fight Sora, Mimi, or Izzy, but I'll have to. Mimi used to hate to fight," Yamato said. Afterwards, he and Setsuna just sat in the silence, knowing it would not last. After a while Learmon awoke and climbed into Yamato's lap. Yamato petted him, gently, because he was still tender from his battle.
"Amazing little guys, aren't they?" Yamato said, but he received no reply. Setsuna had fallen asleep. Yamato just smiled and pushed Learmon gently off his lap.
He then stood up and went over to Setsuna and picked her up. He carried her back to camp. He gently set her down and then turned to Learmon and said, "Keep her warm." Learmon nodded and curled up next to Setsuna.
~~~~
The next morning Kari awoke to find Gatomon curled up beside her. The cat-like digimon was asleep, so Kari carefully moved her before standing up.
It was early morning and T.K., Yamato, Learmon, and of course Gatomon were still asleep. Only Setsuna and her digimon, Tiaramon, were awake.
Kari looked over to see T.K.'s slumbering form, and even his sleep seemed troubled to her. He had tossed and turned all night long.
Kari walked over to Setsuna. "You can sleep now, if you want to," Kari offered.
"That's okay. Gatomon's still in no shape to digivolve...It's a good thing Yamato found her."
"I'll be happier when we find my brother," Kari stated.
"Who's that?" Setsuna asked.
"Taichi Kamiya. We just call him Tai." Setsuna noticeably paled. After a long moment of silence, she said, "You're Hikari. He used to talk about you a lot."
"You know him?" Setsuna nodded.
"He WAS my boyfriend. Then he saw Sora again, and, well, I didn't have a chance. You know that virus we've all been talking about? The one that nearly took T.K."
"Yes," Kari said meekly, fearing the answer she had already guessed.
"It has him. It has everyone but me, you, Yamato, and Jyou Kido. He left though." Kari sat down hard, in stunned silence.
"I won't let it get Takeru!" Kari vowed after a long moment of silence.
"If it does..."
"It won't," Kari interrupted sharply. After a long interval of silence Kari got up and went back to Gatomon and T.K. T.K. was beginning to awaken.
"Hey Takeru," Kari said.
"Kari...What's wrong with Angemon...and me?" T.K. asked. It was the first thing he had said since getting away from his digimon.
"It's a virus Takeru, but you're stronger than this." T.K. smiled.
"I'm only strong because you're strong for me," he said. He reached out his hand to take hers, but he brushed Gatomon and the digimon awoke and scratched him.
"Don't touch me! Infected one!" the digimon spat in contempt. She was a little stronger than before, so her scratches drew blood.
"Lightening..." Gatomon said, beginning her attack.
"Stop it Gatomon!" Kari demanded. Gatomon stopped, but glared fiercely at T.K. He stood up and began to walk away from the infuriated cat digimon.
Kari stood up and followed him, leaving her digimon behind. She caught up to him, outside of camp, and caught his arm.
"T.K. stop...please."
"Forget about me Hikari, I'm infected!" he said.
"No, you're not. Not yet. Not ever. I'm sorry about Gatomon, she was attacked by Angemon."
"Kari, none of them want me there. Not really, only you. Why?" he said, while running his fingers through her hair.
"You know why," she said quietly.
"Fine, Kari." Kari smiled and threw her arms around T.K.'s neck, and T.K.'s arms folded around her. (Isn't that cute?)
"Anyway, what is Hope without Light," T.K. whispered into her ear.
~~~~
Meanwhile, back at camp Yamato was now awake. He noticed at once that his brother and Kari were gone. He roused Learmon from his deep slumber, he was even snoring.
"What?" The digimon answered sleepily.
"Get up," Yamato said. He then scratched the digimon's ears. "Awake now?" Yamato asked.
"Yes!" Learmon said. He got up and wagged his tail.
"You're such a pup, Gabumon..." Yamato stopped himself from saying any further. He forced Gabumon out of his mind, because his memories of the other digimon were still an open wound.
"Why so sad?" Setsuna asked, walking over to Yamato.
"Nothing," he said.
"Doesn't seem like nothing. I heard you say Gabumon."
"Now you know, happy?" he answered coldly.
"Sorry. I just wanted to thank you."
"For what?" Yamato asked.
"For having Learmon keep me warm. He makes a great little heater," Setsuna said. She then smiled with satisfaction, at seeing Yamato blush crimson.
~~~~
T.K. and Kari were walking back to camp. Suddenly, T.K. heard something. He stopped and looked around. At first he saw nothing, but a moment later he saw Lilymon.
"It's Mimi!" Kari said. She then waved. "Hi Mimi!" she called.
"Hey, what's wrong with...Run, Takeru!" Kari said. She bolted back to camp, with T.K. a step behind her. Kari could not believe she had forgotten about Mimi.
After a few moments Kari ran into camp, with T.K. behind her. "It's an evil Princess of Pink!" Kari yelled. Setsuna and Yamato came over to her.
"What is?" Setsuna asked.
"Mimi."
"What stage?" Yamato asked them.
"Lilymon," T.K. told them, just before she came.
"Tiaramon!" Setsuna said.
"Okay." Tiaramon digivolved into Firamon, a black lion with red ear tufts, mane, and tail tip.
Firamon came over to Lilymon, and attacked with her Fire Claw. Mimi jumped away from Lilymon and headed for Setsuna.
Yamato stepped in front of Setsuna. Mimi still came.
"Sorry, Yamato. This is my fight. You can't hit a girl," Setsuna said before pushing him aside and stepping towards Mimi, but the yowl of pain from Firamon distracted her and then Mimi struck her, hard, in the gut.
Then Firamon digivolved further, into Nefernalmon. The cat-angel was black furred, but was garbed in red flames.
"Learmon, digivolve just in case," Yamato told his digimon. Moments later, Daemon stood where the rookie had been seconds before.
Setsuna dodged a blow Mimi threw at her easily, but she left herself wide open for a knee in the gut. She backed away from Mimi, but the girl followed. Setsuna punched the girl as hard as she could, and knocked her back.
Nefernalmon attacked Lilymon with her Night Fire attack, but almost missed when Lilymon dodged it. She became infuriated and attacked Lilymon blindly. She tackled the other digimon and hit her with Night Fire multiple times, yet Lilymon managed to break away from Nefernalmon and hit her with her Flower Cannon. But Nefernalmon, enraged at being shot, shook it off and began her attack anew.
Setsuna was sick of the pink-haired girl. She kicked the girl's leg as hard as she could, and the girl fell. Mimi tried to stand up, but the leg would no longer hold her.
Nefernalmon knew the other digimon wounldn't be able to stand any more abuse, but she was unsure of herself as well. She attacked with her Night Star and caught the digimon's wing. She watched the digimon plummet to the ground, and return to its rookie form, Palmon.
Mimi moaned and clutched her head. She looked around and saw Lilymon fall. Then she saw Palmon lie there, limply. Mimi tried to stand, but her leg would not hold her. She crawled over to Palmon.
Nefernalmon returned to Tiaramon. The cat digimon began to approach Mimi and the exhausted Palmon.
"Stay away!" Mimi screamed. Yamato came over to her. Somehow, though he didn't understand it, the virus had left the pair.
"Mimi!" Mimi turned when she heard the familiar voice.
"Matt! Get that digimon away! She hurt Palmon," Mimi said, sobbing a little.
"Tiaramon, go to Setsuna. I'll explain. She doesn't seem to remember." Tiaramon nodded and ran to Setsuna.
"My leg hurts. So does my head," Mimi whined; if Yamato had any doubts about it being the normal Mimi (I know it sounds so wrong, Mimi and normal being in the same sentence it's an oxymoron) they vanished at her whining.
"Palmon attacked us. You attacked Setsuna..." he said, he then explained about the virus.
"Whose digimon is the black wolf?" Mimi asked, pointing to Learmon.
"Mine. Gabumon...he's infected. He gave me Learmon," Yamato told her.
"Oh. I'm..."
"It's okay," Yamato interrupted. Palmon then began to come around.
"Pick up Palmon. Bring her over to Setsuna. She'll bandage her up."
"Where's Jyou?" Mimi asked.
"He's not here. He didn't want to fight you, at least, that's what I heard from Setsuna," he told her, moments later he noticed her slight blush and he laughed, which earned him a scowl from Mimi.
Kari walked over to Mimi and sat down. "Hi Mimi."
"Hi Hikari. Who's she?" Mimi said, pointing to Setsuna.
"Setsuna Imella," Kari told Mimi.
"That doesn't say much," Mimi said.
"Neither does she, except to Yamato."
"It was nice seeing you all again."
"Are you leaving?" Kari asked.
"I think I will," Mimi decided.
~~~~
Mimi had finally said her goodbyes. She transported back to the real world.
