Hi all. Been a while but I am back with my first full Digimon story. After getting my feet wet with one shots that were mostly well received, I feel like I am ready for my first chapter story.

This was inspired in part by my own band and other band stories as well. Most of the songs that will be featured do not belong to me so I am warning you ahead of time, although there will be original material featured as well.

So without further ado, let's start the show.

Dear Journal,

I am writing this to try and cope with being here. Don't know if it's going to work but we shall find out. Each day has been a new nightmare and to think it all seemed so bright at one point. Can't believe it really happened.

As I sit here in this rehabilitation facility, I sometimes look back and wonder whether it was all worth it. In some cases it was: we got money, fame, women. But in other cases it wasn't: we became addicted to our demons and they slowly tore us apart.

Now my best friend probably hates me and he thinks I hate him. I wonder: will this ever end? All I can think about is how I dragged him and my brother down into the depths of hell. This guilt I feel, will it ever go away?

I guess this really all started way back before we got famous. It all began one day when my old band decided to cut me out of the loop…

"Should we tell him?"

"I don't know how he's going to take it."

"He's gonna be mad, Hiroki. That much is certain."

Three young men stood around in a group huddle. They were in a warehouse with musical equipment scattered around the entire space: drums, guitars, a keyboard, microphones, and amplifiers. The band, called Knife of Day, were set to practice for their next gig in two weeks.

After their last few gigs flamed out, including one that got canceled due to electrical problems throughout the city, the three of them were not too sure about the band's future.

"He will be mad, Kenta, but he needs to know how we feel about this," the one called Hiroki said. "It's better than lying to him and putting on this ruse."

The door opened and in walked the other member of their group: Matt Ishida, bass player and lead singer. He placed his guitar case down on the floor and grabbed a notebook out of his backpack. With his blonde hair and boyish looks, it was easy to compare him to Kurt Cobain.

"Hey, guys," Matt greeted. "Sorry I'm late. Let's get started."

He opened up his guitar case and pulled his Fender Mustang bass out of it. He put the strap on and then put it over his head. Matt plugged his cord into his amp and turned it on. He was curious to see his band mates not have their instruments ready to go.

"Before we start, I have some new songs that we can work on for the show in two weeks. Let's go through them and see which ones we want to work on the most." He said, running through his notebook for the song that he had his mind set on.

"Matt," one of his bandmates, Kenta, spoke up but Matt continued on with his explanation.

"There's this one that I really like. I worked out some of…"

"Matt!"

"What, Kenta?" Matt finally stopped speaking. "If you've got something to say to me, say it, I'm all ears."

"Did you get my message?" Kenta asked, sounding like he was nervous for what Matt had to say.

"Message? What message?" Matt responded curiously before dismissing it quickly. "That's not important right now. We need to start working out some of these songs as soon as possible."

"Not right now, Matt." Hiroki shook his head.

All of these interruptions were getting on Matt's nerves. His body began to tense in annoyance.

"What is with you guys?" He demanded. "I'm trying to get us ready for the concert and you guys are interrupting me. If you have something to say to me, say it now. Tell me what it is you need to tell me."

Hiroki and Kenta looked at each other before looking at the other member of the group, Kaz, who raised his hands in a 'don't-get-me-involved' gesture. Hiroki pushed Kenta forward before he could do a thing about it. Kenta gives him a dirty look before turning to face their leader.

"We took a vote earlier, Matt," he explained. "And we all voted unanimously to discontinue the band."

It took a few seconds for the words to register to Matt. He stood in complete shock: his face not showing any emotion whatsoever nor did he show any signs that he was stunned by the news.

"What?" He asked calmly, making sure that he had heard correctly. "You said what? I don't believe I heard you correctly. What did you just say?"

"We took a vote and decided to discontinue the band," Kenta repeated slowly so that Matt understood what he was saying. "This is not going anywhere and the last few gigs have really been frustrating. It is all in our best interest if we stop. I know this is not what you wanted to hear but I hope you're not mad and we can all come to an understanding."

Giving a weak smile, Kenta waited patiently for Matt's response, hoping that it was not bad. He knew Matt had a reputation for being a hothead at times and hoped that this was not one of those times.

To his surprise, and to the surprise of Hiroki and Kaz, Matt did not look like a volcano about to erupt. Instead he looked as though he was trying to restrain himself from doing just that but his anger was clear.

"Oh I completely understand," Matt started calmly but just as quickly as he was calm, he flipped his lid. "How can you do this? This is outrageous! It's unfair!"

He charged towards Kenta, who pressed his forearm against Matt's chest to keep him at bay. Hiroki and Kaz came to his rescue and held Matt back by his elbows.

"How can you discontinue my band? The band I started for all of us!" Matt said, trying to break free of the hold. "And without my say in the matter!"

"Because we're going nowhere. Don't you see? We're just not good enough to land a record deal or even record an album! This is all just so hopeless." Kenta said, fearing that Matt would break free of Hiroki and Kaz's hold on him. Matt was practically foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog and wanted to charge at him.

Matt was finally released from the hold and instead of charging towards Kenta, he sat down and took a deep breath with his head in his hands. Exhaling, he finally gave his response.

"You all aren't quitting. You're all fired! Do you hear me? Fired!" He roared, motioning for them to leave. "You know what? I'm out of here. I will rebuild this band and we will make it big! You'll see, you sons of bitches!"

"Good luck replacing us, Matt," Kenta retorted. "You'll never make it anyway!"

"I'll show you!" Matt shot. "I'll show you all!"

Matt took his bass off and laid it in the case. He then shut it with a bang, locked down the locks, and got up and left. He slammed the door with a loud bang, startling the other three in the warehouse.

Matt stuffed his face with a large amount of ramen in his chopsticks while the sounds of television blared through the room. One large amount after another came in rapid succession as he tried to eat away his anger towards his now former band mates for stabbing him in the back like that. He was not so mad about them voting to discontinue the band as he was about them doing it behind his back like complete cowards.

'Idiots!' He cursed them. 'They couldn't vote for it when I was there. I'll show those cowards just how much I don't need them to make it. My next band is going to be the biggest thing to come out of Japan since Nintendo.'

Needing comfort food, he decided to go over to his mom's for a little while since his dad was at work. She was busy at the moment and TK was not around, which suited Matt just fine because he wanted to be left alone. He finally stopped stuffing himself with ramen to take a breath before shoving more noodles into his mouth.

"Hi, Matt. Do you need…?" His mother came into the living room from the kitchen but was met with Matt growling at her like an angry dog. She stepped back a little, obviously scared of him, before walking out. "Never mind then. I'll just leave you alone."

"Get me some egg rolls, will you?" He commanded as he ate some more.

"Okay, hon." Nancy replied back.

As he finished the bowl of noodles, he was about to request another one in addition to his egg rolls until a low rumble went through the entire building. He thought that it was an earthquake for a second but quickly he discovered that it wasn't. The floor was not moving in all directions like it normally would during an earthquake. Hearing crashes come along with the rumbling, it was obvious that something else was going on.

'What is that noise?' Matt asked himself. He put the bowl onto the coffee table and walked out of the apartment. The sound seemed like it was coming from the basement level. Taking the elevator down, he wondered exactly what was making that sound.

The elevator soon reached the basement and the sound was growing louder, like a train charging down the tracks. Matt knew he was in the right place. Following the sound through the dark basement, only exposed light bulbs lighting the way, Matt reached a closed door. The source of the sound was pounding against the door. He reached for the door handle and opened it.

Boom! Crash!

The sound of a drum solo attacked him head on like a train. A huge eight-piece drum set was set up in the center of the room and whoever was behind the set was going to town. Matt was blown away with how much power and rhythm that this drummer had. He had to ask him to join his new band.

But as he got a look at whom it was, he was stunned beyond words. A mop top of blonde hair was shown just above the toms and his face was revealed.

"TK?"

The fourteen-year-old blonde stopped his drum solo to look into the blue eyes of his brother. He sat still with his drumsticks in mid-stride as he nervously searched for an explanation for why he was playing, thinking Matt was mad at him.

"Uh…this…this is not what it looks like," he chuckled nervously.

"It looks to me like you are playing drums," Matt raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed across his chest like an authority figure would do.

"I…I uh…." TK searched for an explanation. "You're not mad are you?"

Matt stepped forward, the look on his face scaring his younger brother. His eyes were narrowed and he stood a little taller, like a father about to chastise his child for bad behavior. TK awaited Matt's response.

"I'm not mad," said Matt. "I'm absolutely furious…furious that you did not even tell me that you played drums!"

Before TK even knew what happened, he was wrapped in an embrace and was swung around the room by his absolutely ecstatic brother. At first he thought he was going to get the scolding of a lifetime but now he was just confused. Why was Matt so happy about him playing drums?

Matt put his brother down finally and squeezed his cheeks in his hands.

"Why didn't you tell me that you could play drums, Teek?" He asked.

"You never asked me if I did." TK replied, not liking the feeling of his cheeks being pinched. "What does it matter anyway?"

Matt finally let go of him. "What does it matter? WHAT DOES IT MATTER?!" He shrieked before a look of joy made its way on his face. "It means I still have a chance to get famous! My brother is giving me the key to this chance."

Matt started to run around the area like a man gone wild. He then gave TK a kiss right on the mouth. TK pushed him away, spitting and gagging to get the taste of his brother's mouth out.

"Please warn me next time you decide to kiss me again." TK wiped his mouth.

"Sorry, bro," Matt came down from his emotional high. "How would you like to be the drummer of my new band?"

TK finally had time to ask his important question. "What happened to your old band? Knife Of Day or something like that?"

Matt stopped running and turned to face his brother. "Those losers," he snarled. "I fired them. They wanted to quit the band behind my back so I decided that they were no longer of use to the music industry. But you, my brother, are going to be a famous drummer. I can see it now!" Matt hugged his brother tight again.

TK struggled to tell his brother that he was being squeezed to death. "Bro, you're squeezing me too tight."

"Oh sorry." Matt let go of his brother and started to pace the room. "How long have you been playing drums and how come you never told me?"

"Since when you were still in the Teenage Wolves, which I would say was about three years ago." TK replied. "I found a set you had and started off just goofing around on it. Then I got serious and taught myself how to play. I thought you'd be mad if you found out."

"I could never be mad at you, bro." Matt chuckled. "So what do you say? Want to join my new band?"

"Uh, sure, I guess." TK forced a smile and shrugged. Matt pumped a fist in the air and elicited a happy shriek and kissed his brother once again.

"You are the greatest, my beautiful, wonderful, little brother!" Matt ruffled his brother's hair.

"Eeugh!" TK cried in disgust. He wiped his mouth once again to get rid of the taste of his brother. "But what about other members? We will need to find some more of those. We can't be just a bass and drums duo."

Matt gave TK a sly smile. "That will be taken care of, my dear brother," he said. "How's about we call Tai and Izzy and see if they want to join the group?"

"They play music?" TK asked, wondering if his brother lost it. "I never heard of them even being able to play anything. I don't think it's a good idea."

"Who else do you suggest?" Matt retorted. "Davis? Paul McCartney? Lemmy? There's not too many other people I would trust more than them."

"Ok," TK relented with a shrug of his shoulders. "Whatever you say."

"Let's go upstairs and start calling them."

Tai's Apartment

"I'm shaving in the bathtub, Shaving in the bathtub."

Tai was busy… shaving in the bathtub while in the middle of a bubble bath. He was so busy singing that he didn't notice Kari knock on the door. Kari walked in and was shocked by the sight she saw.

"Tai, is this a bad time?" Her face turned red in embarrassment at catching her brother during a private moment.

"I'm shaving in the bathtub, I'm shaving in the bathtub." Tai then turned around. His face also turned red, reflecting his sister's. "I'm shaving… uh… you forget you saw this."

"Uh…ok," she chuckled nervously before handing him the phone. "Telephone for you."

Drying his hands off, Tai took the phone and lay back in the tub with the phone to his ear.

"Tai Kamiya speaking," he greeted.

"Hey Tai," Matt's voice came from the other line.

"Hey Matt. I'm kinda busy right now so better make it quick."

"Are you shaving in the bathtub and singing about it again?"

Tai's eyes darted side to side. "Maybe…" he chuckled nervously. "Now tell me what you need. What's up?"

"My old band broke up and I'm forming a new band," Matt began to explain before Tai interrupted him.

"Another one?" Tai snickered. "What happened to Knife of Day or whatever it was?"

"The guys voted to discontinue the band but I fired them all. I'm forming a new band instead. TK's gonna be my drummer but I'm in need of a guitarist or two." Matt explained. "Would you be interested in possibly joining?"

Tai was taken aback by the offer. Him in a rock band? That didn't sound right. The Japanese version of Pelé, sure, but never a big rock n roll star.

"Why are you asking me?" He asked. "I can't even play a triangle let alone a guitar. Plus I can't even afford one. My financial situation is not too good right now."

"Doesn't matter. Find one and learn how to play because you are going to be in the band," Matt replied, shutting down Tai's argument. "I'm short on options and I believe you'd be perfect for it."

"Well…I guess," Tai replied in an unconvincing tone. "I guess I could."

"Great! We start practice in two days."

"Two days?!" Tai's eyes widened in horror; how could he learn to play the guitar well enough in just two days? It was impossible. It couldn't be done. "I can't learn how to play well enough in just two days."

"No excuses."

"But…" The line cut off before Tai could ask his next question. He put the phone down beside the tub and leaned back underwater, splashing some water and soap on the floor. Coming up for air, he sighed heavily.

"What have I gotten myself into?" He asked himself. "I don't even have enough money to buy a guitar."

His thoughts drifted, thinking of how famous he could become, how Sora would view him. Yes… Sora would definitely love a rock star, and Tai would be the icing on the cake with his guitar skills. Without another thought, he dried off and stuck his head out the door.

"MOM!"

Matt and TK sat on their mother's couch with fresh egg rolls on a platter.

"Well Tai is in," Matt smiled, happy that things worked out with him. He took a bite of an egg roll. "Now let's try and work on Izzy."

"Tai is one thing but Izzy is entirely different," TK tried reasoning with his brother. "Izzy's more in tune with that computer of his than a guitar."

"Yeah. But Tai does not know how to play either," Matt retorted. "Not far-fetched that Izzy could learn."

"How about Joe?" TK suggested.

Matt laughed ferociously at that. "Joe? Are you serious?" He cackled. "If we needed someone to stand around and act like he doesn't want to be there, we would call him. Izzy is our only other option, like it or not."

TK shrugged. "Fine. If you insist."

"Great. I'll call him right away."

Matt pulled out his phone and started dialing Izzy's phone number. He waited patiently as the other line rang for Izzy to pick up. It was not long before he got a response.

"Koushiro Izumi's office. Please hold." The receptionist's voice said. Matt waited another few seconds before Izzy's voice came through the phone.

"Izzy here."

"Hey Izzy. It's Matt."

"Hi Matt. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" Izzy replied.

"No time to explain," Matt said. "Get a guitar and meet us for practice in two days."

"Hold on a second." Izzy protested. "Why do I need to buy a guitar? What happened to your old band?"

"I fired those idiots." Matt responded. "Anyways, just get a guitar. I know you have money for one."

"Shit, you've got me there," Izzy moaned. "I don't even know how to play so why should I buy one if I can't play?"

"Because I am a friend asking a friend for help," Matt tried using the friendship card. "Besides, it could help impress Mimi." He smirked.

Izzy blushed ferociously on the other line. "Mimi?!" He shrieked, a little higher than he normally would.

"I…I guess it could help if it would impress her." He sighed in defeat. "Damn it, I'll do it. You've got yourself a deal."

"Great!" Matt pumped a fist in celebration. "Practice is in two days. I'll expect you there."

"Wait! Where are we going to…"

He hung up.

"Come on!" He and TK slapped fives. Their new band was now complete. But one problem still remained.

"Where are we going to practice?" TK asked, remembering that Matt did not say where they would practice.

"I have the perfect place set up." Matt replied confidently.

A/N: So with the other members of his band now in place, will this scheme of Matt's work? Will they be the Japanese Beatles or flame out before their time? Find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

I hope you guys liked that. I've had this idea in my head for a while, inspired by my own band. In other news, I bought my copy of Tri: Reunion on the day it came out. Just as good as I remember it and now we have the news that the dub of Determination comes out in August. It's a good time to be a Digi-fan.

Leave a review and remember to like and subscribe…wait, wrong website XD I meant to favorite and follow it, as well as me. See you all next time.