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Disclaimer: We don't own Digimon, we never did, and never . . . well maybe we will own it some day when the world is perfect. Then well be rich. Richer than all imaginable mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha . . . ha. Not only that but it would be completely different. In fact it would be . . . oh right, disclaimer : We don't own Digimon, the characters or the surroundings. Unless it's the characters are the one's we made up. Thank you and have a nice day.

A/N: This is dedicated to Ezra who rote a great review, so we decided to focus on the Ezra's favorite part (and one of ours'). This story will make a lot more sense if you do read "From Generation . . . to Generation", but it does not matter because this is a story of it's own. This one is just as sad, or more so, it made us cry while writing it. And if your wondering if we only write stories like this, the answer is no, we have a few projects underway, we just have to finish them, and then type them up, well enjoy. And yes there is a method to our madness, if only we could find out what exactly it was . . . hmm . . . oh well.

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~*~ Eternal Love ~*~

Taichi Yagami wolfed down his toast as he rushed about his small, country house.

"What's the hurry, Daddy ?," his 8 year old son asked innocently.

"Well, Mini me, I've got to drop you off at Auntie Hikari's and Uncle Takeru's place, and I'm already late for work. The boss is going to kill me, and I'm starving!

Eating, though, is gonna make me even more late."

"Don't forget, you've gotta go down to Uncle Yamato's to pick up the report on his trip to Mars so that you can present it," his son said as he climbed up on his

chair, and fixed his fathers tie and shirt collar. "And you have to get papers Uncle Joe's got on relations between the real and digital worlds in the field of health care.

And you have to go to the University for a meeting with Uncle Koushiro."

Taichi chuckled lightly to himself.

His son looked at him suspiciously. "Daddy, . . . why do you have a meeting with Uncle Koushiro ?"

"An excuse."

"To do what ?"

"Both to get out of work, . . . and to see an old friend," Taichi smiled. "But, hey, where's Agumon ? We're late !"

"He's in his room. He says he can't find his bow tie."

"Agumon ! Hurry it up !," Taichi called. "We're LATE !"

Agumon rushed out, with Koromon on his back . . . literally. His ears were warped around Agumon's neck, and tied together at the front like a bow tie. "Will this

do ?"

Taichi rolled his eyes, untied Koromon, and stepped into Agumon's room. He emerged in an instant, wavering the tiny, red tie between his pointer finger and

thumb. "In the laundry . . . with yesterday's jacket . . . just like every day before," Taichi smiled flatly.

Agumon's yellow cheeks turned a deep, orange crimson with embarrassment as he took the tie, and put it on. "Thanks," he muttered, with a hint of a smile.

Suddenly, they all burst into laughter.

". . . Oh and, Dad ?"

"Yeah, Son ?," Taichi smiled, while wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

"It's my birthday next week, . . . and it's a happy day. But it's also when Mom . . . So it's a sad day too. Should I be happy, . . . or sad ?"

"Well, Son, . . . your mother . . . ," Taichi trailed off. He looked at a framed photo of Katherine, and soak his head clear. He refused to let the tears reach his

cheeks; where his son could see. ' I have to be strong for him,' Taichi thought firmly to himself. "It's all right to miss her, but she wouldn't want you to be sad on

your birthday."

Then his son asked 3 questions that hit him like a blows to the gut.

"Daddy . . . do you miss her ?"

"I -I . . . well . . . of course I m-miss her," he fumbled. "She was my wife."

His son's face was quizzical as they left the house, and piled into the car.

Taichi reached over, and did up his son's seat belt.

"Daddy ?"

"Yes ?"

" . . . Did you love her ?"

Taichi gasped, blinked, and tried to shake his head clear. Had his son really just asked that question ? "W-well . . . yes. Definitely ! She was . . . "

"Your wife ?," he interrupted knowingly.

"Why . . . yes. That's right."

"Do you wish Sora was your wife ?"

Taichi found himself almost slamming on the breaks. "I . . . to be honest . . . I did . . . she'd make a good Mom," he said simply.

His son understood form Taichi's tone that he shouldn't ask anything else or he'd be upset. " . . . Dad ?"

"Yeah ?"

"Are you happy ?"

"Very."

"Dad ?"

"Yes, Son ?"

"Are you sad ?"

" . . . Very," Taichi sighed.

They road on in a heavy blanket of silence . . .

~*~

But soon they reached Hikari's and Takeru's place.

"Hi, big brother."

"Hey, little sister," Taichi smiled at Hikari. Her hips were slightly larger; evidence that her third child was on the way. Her skin was slightly pale; evidence that she

hadn't been feeling well. But her smile was still sweet, and her eyes shimmered with girlish charm.

"Bye, Dad," his son and Koromon waved.

"See you later, son. Bye Koromon. I'll pick you two up at 8 o'clock tonight. Be here !" But Taichi eyed the lot of kids and digimon on the front lawn, and knew

better. Surprisingly, their parents were there too.

There was Mimi, Joe, and their two sons, Koushiro and his daughter, Daisuke and his son, Iori and his daughter ( his wife must haven taken their newborn to

her and Taichi's work for the meeting latter on that afternoon), Miyako and Ken with their three children, Takeru and Hikari with their non identical, twin boys, and

Yamato, Sora and their daughter and son.

Taichi's expression was puzzled. "They . . . we . . . were we all cloned in recent years or something ? So many 'Mini destined' Chosen Children."

Hikari giggled.

Taichi got out of the car with his briefcase. Joe handed him his papers, and Yamato handed him the report. "Thanks so much guys, but I'm in a real rush and

I . . . Oh . . . Hi, Sora."

"Hi, Taichi," Sora nodded.

Taichi remembered what his son had asked him in the car, and he lowered his head to hide his face. He could feel the burning in his cheeks as he closed his

briefcase. "You look beautiful today, Sora."

"Why, thank you. This is my best Komono. I'm modeling it for the new, summer season. Do you . . . like it ?," she asked timidly.

Taichi stared at the swirl of pink, primrose blossoms that wrapped around the delicate, white fabric of the background, and the soft, green, glasslike trim. "Yeah.

It's nice."

"You . . . w-would you like to stay for breakfast ?," she invited. "That is . . . if it's all right with Hikari," she blushed; remembering that she was not the hostess.

"That'd be fine," Takeru smiled.

"Great !," Hikari nodded.

"Yeah, buddy," Yamato laughed, wrapping his arm around Sora. "We're all imposing."

"I . . . alredy ate . . . I am still hungry, though. And I usually never turn down food . . . but today I'm late, and we've gotta get to town." Taichi's deep, brown

eyes met with Sora's. ". . . I'm . . . sorry," he sighed, shook his head, and hugged hid sister good bye . "Bye, Hikari. See you everyone ! Bye bye, kids ! Catch you

latter Koushiro !," he winked, grabbed his briefcase, swing into his car, and sped off . . .

~*~

The morning flew by for Taichi and Agumon. Soon it was afternoon, and they were in Tokyo; parked just outside the university.

"You wanna come in for a bit ?," Taichi invited.

"Naw. I'm tired. I'm just gonna crawl in the back seat and go for a nap, if it's all right with you, Taichi ?"

"Sure thing, pal," he smiled. "You rest up now. I'll be back in a bit; it won't take very long."

"Take care."

"You too, Agumon," Taichi smiled warmly at his digimon partner. As he watched Agumon loosen his red bow tie, he felt something come over him. It felt

strange, and he was a little afraid. "Agumon, you know . . . I wan't to thank you."

"For what, Taichi ?"

"For always being there . . . for protecting me when I needed the most protection . . . and for putting up with me when I was young and stubborn." Taichi's smile

was forced and filled with sadness.

Agumon sensed that something was wrong. "Taichi . . . don't go in there."

"Why not ?," Taichi laughed weakly.

"I've got a bad feeling about it. I don't want you to go."

"You're being ridiculous, Agumon. Listen, if I need help, I'll use my digivice to contact you. I'm just gonna go in there, have a chat with Koushiro, and leave

again, okay ? It'll be fine. Besides, it's not like me to chicken out of something," he winked.

Taichi's charm gave Agumon confidence. He nodded, yawned, and curled up in a little ball to sleep. "See you, Taichi."

"Sweet dreams, . . . friend . . .," Taichi whispered, and quietly shut the car door. He smiled at the sleeping digimon, and set off at a steady walk towards the

university.

As he was about to step inside, he paused. He felt a chill come over him, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. All those years of leadership had left his

senses sharp. 'Agumon's right,' he thought, as he eyed the calm terrain. 'I'd better keep an eye out for trouble.' With that, he stepped inside . . .

Outside, however, a black mini van with dark windows pulled in, and parked itself right next to Taichi's car . . .

"Well, Taichi Yagami ! I never expected to see you here."

"Hey, Shuu," Taichi smiled, and nodded to Joe's eldest brother of the three.

"Ooh. Hi there, Taichi. Are you looking for Koushiro ?"

"June Motomiya !," Taichi exclaimed. "Why, what are you doing here ?"

"I'm a secretary. Just started. And how many times do I have to remind you that it's June Kido ?"

"More than can be imagined."

"Oh, you ! Do you want to speak with Mr. Izumi or not ?"

"Oh . . . right. Yeah, I do. Thanks, June."

"I'll page him. ' Mr. Izumi to the front desk, please. That's Koushiro Izumi to the front desk. Thank you.'"

"She's good," Taichi blinked.

"Don't I know it," Shuu winked; flashing his golden wedding band.

Taichi laughed.

"Ha ! I knew it ! I did hear Taichi Yagami's voice."

Taichi sweatdropped. "M- Mr. Takenouchi ! I-It's you !"

"You . . . know each other ?," Shuu questioned.

"That's right !," Mr. Takenouchi grinned, and wrapped his arm around Taichi's shoulders. "This fine, young man used to date my baby girl."

Taichi looked nervous, and attempted to struggle free.

But Mr. Takenouchi's grip only tightened unforgivingly. And, yet, his smile was calm. "Yep. I spent many an enjoyable hour interrogating him. Really I was hoping

that my Sora would end up with Taichi, here. Oh well ! Oh my. Was I hurting you there, Son ?"

"Freedom ! I mean . . . no, Sir," Taichi smiled nervously, and rubbed his aching arm. "I'm fine; Just peachy !"

"You know, I never liked that Yamato. Reminded me too much of his father !," Mr. Takenouchi laughed. "Awh, just kidding. He's a good son-in-law. Well,

as good as any son-in-law can be to an over protective father who had his only little girl ripped away in her prime by the clutches of a blonde haired, blue eyed,

pretty boy player. But I'm not bitter. Anyhow, gotta go. After all, I've got classes to teach, and fresh, young minds to mold. Bye, all. Nice seeing you, Taichi.

Come and visit Susie and I sometime, K ? all right then. Bye bye, now."

Mr. Takenouchi left the three dumbfounded, and slightly unnerved.

"Umm . . . what's the problem with you three ?"

"Koushiro ! My savior !," Taichi cried happily, and dragged him away. "Let's get out of this nut house. Bye, Shuu ! See you, June ! Take care !"

With that, the two rushed off.

"Do you think we scared him ?," Shuu laughed.

"More than likely . . . it was the thought that Professor Takenouchi could've been his father-in-law that frightened him the most," June giggled . . .

"So, I've been getting this feeling."

Koushiro lowered his coffee from his lips. "What kind of feeling ?," he asked in a serious tone.

"I think something's up. Agumon can sense something too. I tried to reassure him, though. I don't want him to worry; He worries about enough."

"I agree. Tentomon's the same way; I suppose that all the digimon are. They're used to having to constantly protect us from danger. But, here, there's

not really any BIG, evil danger for them to fight for us. There isn't any monster that they can defeat and say that we're safe. There's just life."

"That's just it, Koushiro. Life's the monster. And it's like their going crazy because they can't protect us from these new dangers. They have power

now . . ., yet they're powerless."

"I feel that way sometimes, Taichi."

"What way ?"

"Powerless. It's like . . . there's nothing I can do to help the grand scheme anymore. Not the way I used to. I mean, when we were kids . . . every

day had a purpose. But now . . . now . . . "

"It's okay, Koushiro. We all have needs to play in our lives. And, hey ! We've saved, not one world, but two ! I'd say that's pretty good for a couple of kids and

their digimon, eh ?"

The two chuckled.

"Hey . . . Taichi ?"

"Yeah ?"

"When we were kids . . . I . . ."

"It's okay, Koushiro. You don't have to be sorry for anything. I don't even wanna hear it. But . . . I'm sorry for being such a pain. Like with the fighting, bullying,

the fence thing, and when Hikari was sick . . . "

"Shut up, Taichi," he smiled calmly. His dark eyes were warm, and his smile kind. "It's in the past."

"Friends for life ?," Taichi smiled; reaching his hand across the table.

"Uh-uh," Koushiro shook his head, and grasped Taichi's hand. "Much longer than that, my friend; . . . much longer . . . " The two old friends smiled at one

another . . .

~*~

Across town, another black mini van with dark windows was pulling up into the building where Taichi worked. A meeting was being held on the ground floor; a

meeting that Taichi had passed to make a visit with Koushiro; a meeting that the man in the black mini van was planning to attend.

He got out, and put on a pair of dark sunglasses. He was wearing a dark gray suit and tie, so that he could mix; camouflage if you will. He wiped his gun into it's

case on his belt; hidden underneath his jacket.

Calmly, coolly, he strode into the building. There was a woman's scream, yells, and a string of shots fired, . . . there was only the lonely, frightened cry of a baby left.

Another bang, and all was silence.

The man left the building calmly, with a twisted smile. "That wasn't so hard . . . I wonder how Akurei is doing . . . ?"

To Be Continued . . .