“How much longer will it be until we get to Gennai’s house?” Sora asked that night when they were all around the campfire. “According to my calculations it could be a couple of days.” Izzy said, deeply absorbed into his laptop. “A couple of days? But what happens if it’s too late by then?” Joe asked. “Joe!” Mimi exclaimed. “Ex-nay on the too late-nay.” “Oh, what I meant to say was a couple of days is plenty of time!” Joe said. “No, it’s not,” TK said quietly. “He’s gonna die and there’s nothing that I can do.” “TK, that’s not true and you know it!” Patamon said sternly. “But...” “No buts TK, as long as you believe and hope, anything can happen.”
“Tai... tell me, please,” Matt begged, looking up weakly at Tai. “I- I don’t know Matt,” Tai said. Matt closed his eyes. “Tai, do you want to know why I took that shot for you?” “You mean you didn’t trip?” Tai joked. “Tai... seriously.” he said opening his now dull blue eyes. “Yeah, why did you do that Matt? Especially after that fight we had.” “It was because... because... I care for you Tai. You’re the first real friend I’ve had in a long time and I couldn’t stand to see anything bad happen to you,” Matt said. “Really? Oh Matt... I didn’t know.” Tai said, looking down at him to find him fast asleep next to him.
Early the next morning TK, Joe, Izzy, Mimi, Sora and their Digimon continued on their way. “Aren’t we there yet?” Mimi whined. “No, we won’t be there for awhile so stop asking!” Izzy yelled, frustrated at the tall, pink outfitted girl. “C’mon guys, this isn’t the time to fight, we have a job to do,” Sora told them. The two of them hushed up and carried on walking.
“Tai, are you okay? You’ve been awfully quiet,” Agumon noted. “Yeah, it’s just that... I can’t believe this is happening. Why now? And why to Matt?” Tai asked, on the verge of breaking down. “C’mon Tai, let’s go outside. Gabumon will watch over Matt,” Agumon urged, practically dragging Tai out the door.
“Now tell me what’s going on,” Agumon said, once they were both outside. “Agumon, last night Matt told me why he saved me from Syncmon’s attack.” “Why?” “He said that he cared for me and didn’t want to see anything bad happen to me. To think that I thought he didn’t give a damn about me. He considered me his first real friend...” Tai said, wiping away the tears that began to form. “Oh Tai,” the small dinosaur said giving him a quick hug. “ It’s alright, let it all out.” “To think I thought he was just a stuck up snob that only cared about himself and his brother, but now I know that he cared for us all, he just never showed it. I guess we all took him for granted until this happened. I used to wonder why he ever got the crest of friendship, he was the least friendly one in the group, but now I know that it really does suite him...” Tai said. “It’s alright Tai,” Agumon said as Tai leaned over and cried heavily on his shoulder.
“Ok, let’s all rest here for the night,” Joe said as they entered a clearing with a small lake besides it. “But we’re not at Gennai’s yet,” TK pointed out. “Yes, but it will still be a day or two until we get there and we won’t make it if we don’t rest,” Joe told him. “I guess you’re right Joe,” TK said. “Yeah, now let’s go and get some food,” Joe suggested. “Great! I’m really famished,” Izzy said, setting is computer down and stretching. The five of them split up with their Digimon and returned with plenty to eat.
“Mmm... this has got to be the best food I’ve eaten in a long time!” Tentomon exclaimed, happily shoving more into his mouth. “Well, there’s plenty so help yourself,” Izzy said. “TK, aren’t you hungry?” Patamon asked.”Not really,” TK said as he shoved the little food he had away. “TK? Are you still worried about Matt?” Izzy asked. The young boy nodded glumly. “Come over here for a sec, I wanna show you something.” TK looked up at the fiery red headed boy and reluctantly got up. “See this right here?” Izzy asked, pointing to two blinking red lights on his computer screen. “Yeah, what is it?” “That’s Matt and Tai’s Digivice signals, meaning that they’re ok. As long as their both blinking it means that they’re alive and doing fine.” “Really?” TK asked, looking at Izzy with wide eyes. “Yep!” Izzy smiled. “OK, well I guess I’m gonna get something to eat now,” TK said grabbing a fruit and munching away on it.
“Tai? I think we should go back now, I think that Gabumon could use a break,” Agumon told him. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Tai agreed as he got up and stretched. By this time it was almost an hour later, and tears were dry. “But first let’s go grab something to eat!” Tai said, always thinking bout food. “Oh Tai,” Agumon muttered but followed him anyway.
“Do you think we should wake him just yet?” Sora asked Joe. “Nah, let him sleep awhile longer.” he said looking down at the small boy asleep in a tight ball. “He really is taking this hard huh?” Izzy said, approaching the two. “I’m not surprised. Matt and him are extremely close and I think that he feels that it’s fault that this even happened,” Joe pointed out. “Him? But why would he think that?” Sora asked, confusion in her eyes. “Isn’t it obvious? Matt accidentally punching him when he was in the way sent him running and if Matt never had left we would ran into those Syncmon who did this,” Joe explained. The young girl nodded, understanding fully now.
“TK, what do you think you’re doing?” a voice all too familiar to the young boy asked. “Matt? What are you doing here?” “Never mind that lil bro... just answer the question.” “I’m looking for Gennai so he can tell us how to cure you,” he explained. “But he doesn’t know,” the voice answered. “What do you mean?” TK asked. “When Hope and Friendship reunite, the bond between the two will become stronger than ever and will never be broken,” the voice said. “What does that mean?” “I think you know TK, now turn around and head back before it’s too late...”the voice said, vanishing into the night.
TK woke up with a start and looked around vigorously. “Matt?” he choked out. Joe gave him a curious look from the other side of the campfire where he was keeping watch. “Joe, we have to go back right now!” TK told him. “But TK, we haven’t found Gennai yet.” “I know that! But Gennai can’t help us, only I can help Matt now.”
“I think his fever is getting worse guys,” Tai told the two Digimon. “What should we do?” Agumon asked. “Well, I don’t suppose any of you have a blanket on ya huh?” Tai joked. Agumon shook his head no but Gabumon nodded. “You don’t have a blanket!” Agumon argued. “Well, no not exactly a blanket but the last time Matt was sick, I covered him with my fur and he was better by morning.” Gabumon explained. “So, what are you trying to say?” “This,” Gabumon said as he took off his fur and placed it on Matt’s shivering morning. Tai and Agumon looked at him dumbfounded but quickly shook it off. “Here Gabumon,” Tai said taking off his blue shirt so he only had the yellow. “We don’t want you to get sick either.” “Thank you Tai,” Gabumon said as he slipped the shirt over his head.
“So what you’re trying to say is that Matt appeared to you in a dream and told you to come back? Sounds a little far-fetched to me,” Izzy said. The others all nodded in agreement. “Fine! If you don’t want to go back than I guess I’ll just go by myself!” TK yelled. “Wait TK, I’ll go with you,” Joe said. “You actually believe him?” Mimi asked. “Of course. Why would he make up a story like this when his brother’s life is on the line?” “He does have a bit of a point there,” Sora said. “So, are you all coming?” Joe asked. The group nodded and headed out again.
A few hours later the group stopped for a well deserved rest. “Hey Izzy? Can we see how Matt’s doing?” TK asked. “Sure, just let me boot the program up.” After a couple of minutes the screen showed two dots, one relatively bright and the other just barely noticeable. “Shit!” Izzy exclaimed. “What? What’s wrong?” Joe asked as everyone gathered around the screen. “Matt’s single is very weak... we don’t have much time left.”
