Digimon Aftermath

By: David Carter

Authors Note: Digimon…what a great show. I enjoyed the first two seasons, never really saw seasons 3,4, and 5…which is currently on in Japan. This story takes place after season 2 and deals with the DigiDestined in their new lives. The stories main focus is on Tai and how he is dealing with not being with Sora. This is my second Digimon story, please review so I know whether to continue or not.

CH.1: Torn inside

Tai Kamiya stood in the pouring rain feeling like he had lost everything. In his hand was a letter with ink running down, he didn't care, he had read it 50 times, and to him the ink shined brighter. His green button up shirt clung to his skin and his casual blue jeans felt tighter. It seemed ages ago when he was 11 years and at camp with his friends. It was that year his life changed…and that of his friends. Tai was taken to the Digital world, a place where Digital monsters roamed around named Digimon. Tai met Koromon, in many ways similar to the Digimon he and his younger sister met years before. "I wish you were here Agumon-."

"Tai…is that you?" The former DigiDestined looked up and met the concerned eyes of Yolei. As he looked up he noticed he wasn't in Odaiba park anymore…but in front of Inoue Market. Yolei was part of the second group to enter the Digital world; she had the Digi-egg of love (much like Sora who had the crest of love). Inoue Market was a family business, so it never surprised him when he saw Yolei's sisters or brother helping elderly folk.

"Hey Yolei…rain or shine Inoue Market always open," Tai said with a grin. Yolei has the life, married to computer kid Ken Ichijouji and raising kids. Tai still found himself in the rain, for some odd reason he couldn't walk to shelter. "Listen Yolei, have you talked to the others in a while?"

"Now that you mention it," Yolei said thoughtfully, "Cody called asking if I could look after his daughter while he was away on some confidential case. I asked if his wife could do it, but he said she was taking his grandpa on a fishing trip." Yolei leaned against the supportive pole of the store and stared into the rain.

"Yeah…I remember young Cody…the kid had the intellect of a college professor who knew about life. I sure miss those days…you know when the Digital world was in trouble and we could round up our Digimon and save the world." Tai laughed and Yolei smiled remembering Hawkmon. Wiping away his tears he put his hand through his brown soaked hair, his posture was a dead give away that something was eating at his mind.

"Tai…how's the family?" I know marriage can be…hectic, but to walk in the rain…that goes beyond hectic and up to catastrophe. I remember the last gathering; we were all in the park with our families. I thought Tai was fine with Matt and Sora's marriage, so did his close friends. I feel so helpless, she thought staring at the wet figure.

"Oh…they are swell. In fact, any day now I bet my son will be top of his class. Yolei, I know we don't know each other that well, but if I don't talk to someone…I'll crack," Tai's eyes searched Yolei's eyes for understanding, when he saw her nod her head he began. "During that picnic…I talked with Sora. It seems she is a tennis pro…she told me she was thinking of going on this tour. My wife caught the transaction of words…she was a Meramon then-."

"She did know the talk was between friends, right?" Tai gave her a silent blank look and Yolei got the picture right away. Jealousy was one of the major issues that split up young couples; apparently Tai's wife was one of them.

"I can't believe she was jealous…I mean Sora has Matt, it's not like I still have feelings for-." The rain had not ceased its fall, but for Tai, it had. It dawned on him that he still hadn't erased his feelings for Sora, but she was married…to his best friend.

"Well Tai…it seems obvious, but Matt and Sora have two kids. You are a mature adult in your early thirties, no…late thirties, c'mon Tai…give up. Your past is gone, it is time to raise your family now. Look…you coming in?" I hate when one of my friends is down and wet, she thought, I mean he's a United Nations Diplomat for the Digital world! All his friends have moved on…but he still wants Sora.

"Maybe another time Yolei…just not tonight," Tai said walking off into the rain. When he finally made it home it had stopped raining, his son unlocked the door and gave him a questioning glance. "Oh…you're up…I thought mommy-."

"She left," he said still giving his father an accusing glare. Now that the rain was gone Tai could hear his heart, the way it beat made him even more miserable.

"Son…your mother and I had hit a roadblock in our marriage. I'm sure she gave you a reason why she left," his son let go of the door handle and turned his back on him.

"Mom told me…and now I am not sure about anything," it seemed like a cry for help, but Tai was glued to his spot. The letter he had in his fist had told him everything, but to hear it from her…he could tell why he resented him. His son had short brown hair like him; and blue eyes…like his mom.

"I'm sure your tired…I know I am," Tai finally walked in and made his way into the master bedroom. With a moan he fell face first onto the bed and wept into the covers. In the doorway his son looked at him…uncertainty and doubt filled his eyes. Koromon (his Digimon) was near his foot staring under Tai's bed.

"You okay?" The son of Tai was shaken out of his sadness and glanced at his pink friend.

"No…my dad and mom have separated…and I am so lost," he said feeling his own tears work up a downpour.

"I know…let's go to the Digital world! Maybe we can find Agumon and the others," Koromon suggested.

"Well…I guess its ok," he said wiping a tear away with his sleeve. Walking into his cluttered room he piled a few belongings into his backpack, then with one final look into his father's room he walked out the front door.

"What…must be my imagination…" Tai mumbled to himself as he let his head sink back into his pillow. With a frustrated yell into his pillow he got up (red eyed from crying) and went into his bathroom. There he took a seat on the counter and pulled out the smudged note, it read:

Dear Tai,

You have been my support and comfort for

Many years. Fact is the last picnic where we

Were all together you and that Sora were conversing.

I didn't mind (at the time) so I talked with Matt

(I never he landed on that planet…then again I'm

Not in touch with the news). Fact is I became jealous of

Sora; the last time I was jealous was when she came

Over to our wedding…and she danced with you.

Just so you know…you can keep our son…because he

Reminds me of you. Take care of yourself Tai.

Love,

Your ex.

"She had every reason to leave me," Tai mumbled, "at least I can relax about the custody battle." That is when he heard the door shut…his body stiffened and his parental senses became heightened. A sweat drop appeared on his face and with a mad scramble ran for the door. His son had left the house (his fault for choosing that time to take a nap) and what made it worse he knew where he was going.