(Digimon: Digital Monsters does not belong to me. I'm not sure who owns it now, so to whoever owns it, I'm not making any money!)

Kasey: Konnichi wa minna-chan! I guess you all liked the first chapter if you're here on Chapter Two! I will so try to keep up with this story, so please bare with me. Enjoy Chapter Two!

The Discovery of the Ninth Digidestined

by Kasey Sanada

Chapter 2: Sakura Izumi, Peace Keeper of the Digital World

It all began four years ago," Izzy said as he began his painful story.

Four years ago....

Six year old Izzy woke up to a loud noise coming from outside. "Huh?" He leaned across the bed he shared with his twin sister and shook her gently. "Sakura, wake up."

Sakura stirred and opened her eyes and looked over at him. "Izzy, what's wrong?" she asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

"I just heard a loud sound outside," he whispered. Another loud boom was heard, this time shaking the apartment the two lived in with their parents. This woke Sakura up. "Izzy, what's going on?" she asked, scared.

"I....I don't know. Let's go check it out." He grabbed his sister's hand and they went out the sliding door in their room. What they saw next was amazing. There were two monsters fighting each other in a white light.

Sakura looked at them in awe. "Koushiro, what are those?"

Izzy didn't answer. He couldn't take his eyes off the two large monsters. One looked just like a T-Rex, and the other looked like a giant bird. It was simply amazing to see. Just then the white light flared even more brightly then before. Izzy covered his eyes, trying to block the bright light. After a moment it disappeared and Izzy turned to see if his sister was alright. When he saw her gone, he looked around franticly. "Sakura?!?"

"Koushiro!" Izzy looked up to see Sakura floating up towards the bright light. She stretched her hand out towards her brother. "Koushiro, help me!!"

"IIE!" Izzy tried to grab Sakura's hand, but missed it by mere inches. He watched helplessly with tears rolling down his cheeks as Sakura disappeared through the white late. "SAKURA!"

"KOUSHIRO!" Sakura cried out before disappearing completely.

"And that's what happened." Izzy fought back the tears that wanted to break. "All I knew when we first came here was that she was somewhere in the digital world. That's why I wanted to figure out all those hieroglyphs. I thought they might help me find her somehow." Tears slowly started to roll down his face.

"Oh Izzy," Sora said, wrapping her arms around the younger boy. "You should have told us sooner. We could have help you." Izzy did nothing but weep into Sora's shoulder. T.K., Kari and their digimon looked at each other helplessly.

Tai looked at his hurting friend, pain stabbing at his heart. He hated to see Izzy like this. He needed....no WANTED to help him somehow. His eyes brightened when a idea came to mind. Tai knelt down next to Izzy and Sora. "Hey, I just got this great idea."

"What's that tai?" Sora asked worriedly. A lot of Tai's ideas somehow got them into trouble.

"Let's go look for your sister." He blinked as everyone looked at him. "Nani?"

"Tai, this might be your best idea yet!" Sora said, grinning.

Patamon started jumping up and down. "Let's do it!"

Izzy looked at Tai. "You would really do this for me?"

Tai grinned. "Of course! You're one of my best friends! I'd do anything for you."

A huge smile grew on Izzy's face as he wrapped his arms around the older boy's waist. "Arigato Tai," he whispered. "You don't know what this means to me."

A tint of rose appeared on Tai's face. "No problem."

T.K. and Kari looked at each other knowingly. "They would make a cute couple, wouldn't they T.K.?" Kari whispered to her best friend.

T.K. grinned. "Now if they would just stop hiding their feelings towards each other."

The digimon looked at each other and shrugged. They still didn't understand their human's feelings towards one another.

"If Matt doesn't stop doubting his friends, or himself, he'll be stuck in the Cave of Self-Doubt forever."

Gabumon's eyes widened at the girl's words. "We have to do something to help him!"

She nodded and looked at Matt. "Hai, but how?" They were quiet for a moment before the girl spoke again. "I think what he needs to know is how much you all care for him. Why don't you try it?"

Gabumon nodded before looking at Matt. "Matt, please look at me!" Matt slowly raised his head and the girl noticed that his eyes were a soul-less back, even darker than her own. 'This isn't good,' she thought.

"Gabumon, leave me alone," Matt said emotionlessly before putting his head back in his lap. Nobody needs me. Why would they, I seem to only care about myself."

The girl grabbed Matt's face and made him look at her. "You're wrong! If you only cared about yourself, why did you go looking for your brother when Devimon split you up?"

Matt blinked and color began to come back into his eyes. "How....how did you know about that?"

Her eyes widened when she realized her mistake. "That's not important right now," she said quickly. "What is important is your friends need your help and you're not there to help them! So stop feeling sorry for yourself and help them!"

"You're right," Matt said, the blackness in his eyes leaving completely. "My friends need me. I have to stop thinking about myself." Suddenly a green glow surrounded him.

The girl backed away in surprise. 'It can't be! He can't be....' Her question was answered when she saw a pattern coming through Matt's shirt. The Crest of Friendship. As it glowed, the Cave of Self-Doubt disappeared.

Matt stood up and looked at Gabumon. "Gabumon, gomen nasai for ever doubting your friendship. Can you ever forgive me?"

Gabumon smiled at his friend. "There is nothing to forgive Matt. You were just having a bad day."

"Arigato, Gabumon." Matt then turned to look at the girl. "Who are you, and how did you get into the Digital World?"

The girl put a hand on her chest. "My name is Sakura. I am the Peace Keeper of the Digital World. I'm not exactly sure how I got here, but I have a pretty good idea why."

"What's that?"

"I will explain soon Digidestined of Friendship, but right now we must get back to your friends, who I assume are also Digidestined." She looked at Gabumon. "Gabumon, do you think you can change into Metalgarurumon?"

Gabumon nodded. "Hai, I think so."

"Good, because we have to get back to the others, and fast. The Digital World doesn't have much time left."

Tai and the others walked aimlessly through the forest, due to the fact that they didn't seem to know where they were. "It's this way, I know it."

Sora sighed. "That's what you said a hour ago, Taichi!"

Well then, why don't you lead us Sora!" he snapped.

"I'd probably do a better job than you!"

"Will you two shut up!" Izzy snapped, shocking everyone. Izzy never lost his temper! "We're not going to get anywhere with you two fighting, so stop it!" He walked away angrily.

Sora turned to Tai. "You better go see if he's alright, Tai."

Tai nodded and turned to follow Izzy. When he caught up to him, he found him sitting in front of a stream, throwing rocks into it. "Izzy, gomen ne...."

Izzy shook his head as he stood. "Iie, I should apologize. I didn't mean to snap at you or Sora. I'm just tired. We've been looking for Sakura all day and we still haven't found any sign of her. I scared to think she even got sent here."

Tai put a hand on Izzy's shoulder. "Don't worry Izzy. I'm sure this is where she was sent. You just have to keep believing it."

Izzy blushed slightly. "Arigato Tai." Just then they heard T.K. yell happily.

"Matt, you're back! Who's this with you?"

Tai and Izzy looked at each other before running back to the others. Izzy saw who T.K. was talking about and froze.

"Hey Tai, Izzy, I want you to meet someone," Matt said.

Sakura looked over in the direction Matt was talking in and blinked. "Kou...Koushiro?!?"

Izzy broke into a huge smile. "Sakura!"

"Koushiro! It's you!" Sakura ran over and nearly knocked him over as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "It's really you! I thought I'd never see you again!"

Matt looked at Tai, confused and slightly jealous as Izzy and Sakura laughed and spun around in a circle. "Did I miss something?"

Tai nodded. "Sakura is Izzy's twin sister." Matt's eyes widened at this revelation.

Izzy stopped spinning and looked at his sister, who was slightly taller, and said, "I'm so glad you're alright!" He looked at her and frowned slightly. "There's something different about you, but I can't figure out what."

Sakura nodded slowly and looked at the others. "I suggest you all sit down. What I'm about to tell you might come as a shock."

Kasey: (hides from all the angry readers) Hai, I know, bad place to leave you all hanging, but that's what keeps you all coming back for more! Email me at kasey_sanada@hotmail.com or write a review. See you next chapter minna-chan!

Chapter Two written sometime in 2000

Chapter Two revised December 6, 2002