So, this is the first story I publish. It's digimon centered and I don't really know where it's going. I know the key scenes, but the details come as I write. I don't want to give away much of the plot. Let's see how it turns out, shall we?

Also, this happens a few years after Digimon Adventure, and the characters of 02 aren't featured here, basically because it would be too many characters to deal with (and 02 isn't my favorite season, to be fair).

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or its characters. No surprise there.

Chapter 1

It had been a few years since the life-changing events on that summer vacation camp. Now, most of the digidestined were starting to follow their dreams in life and even starting professional careers. Only Hikari and Takeru were still in school, but it wouldn't be for long, since they were graduating in only a few months.

Joe was accepted in Tokyo University and was studying hard to become a doctor. In fact, he studied so hard the last couple of years that he managed to get a scholarship to finish his studies in America, a feat only a few students had the privilege to achieve. He would be moving to the United States after this semester was over. For that, of course, his academic accomplishments had been outstanding so far. Joe had to be sure to keep it that way. He didn't want to give anyone excuses to take his scholarship away.

Mimi embraced the musical talent she discovered in the digital world and was trying to pursue a career as a singer ever since she finished school. Her parents are very supportive of her decision, since they think Mimi is already a star. Nothing big happened to her yet. No record deals, no official releases of songs or anything of the sort. Yet, she is happy and making her living by playing in small venues. Of course she still had an eventual financial help from her dad, after all she is a high maintenance young woman.

Sora had the hardest experience trying to find her path in life. She chose to go against her mother's wish for her to become a florist. Instead, she tried to become a professional tennis player. Unfortunately an injury on her right arm forced her to stop playing prematurely. She tried every type of therapy, but her shoulder articulation wouldn't heal properly. Because of that, she briefly went back to her mom's suggestion and worked arranging flowers for a while. Working with flowers inspired her artistic vein and woke up a hobby: fashion. She found happiness in her passion to design. She considered arranging flowers a form of design and just took it to another level by designing clothes. What started as a hobby soon was noticed and brought to the runways. The edge she had in this business was the inspiration no other could have: the digital world and digimon. She is now preparing to move to Europe to work in the fashion industry there.

Koushiro is still very intrigued by the functioning systems and mysteries of the digital world. He plans on devoting his full time to that once he becomes an established and accomplished professional in computer engineering. For now, though, he is one of the top students in his class in Tokyo University, and he doesn't even have to try hard.

Yamato devoted his best efforts to his band, but after some regional success, his band mates grew out of the dream to become rockstars, since bigger things weren't really working out for them. With that, Yamato decided to focus on something else, still in the music business. He is currently working to achieve a degree in music at university, with plans of being a music producer later on. Also, he got signed to a record label as a professional songwriter and makes his living out of it.

Finally, there was Taichi. He was still trying to become a professional football player. Or at least that's his excuse for being unemployed and for not pursuing any type of academic activities. Mostly he woke up very late in the morning and went out in the afternoon to "practice" (also known as playing around with his teammates). His parents were worried that his careless lifestyle was leading him nowhere. Tai was their dear, beloved son, but was also an uninterested parasite in their house. They were planning on telling him their thoughts. Very soon.

"Taichi" Tai heard his mother call softly from beside his bed. The bedroom was very dark, so she couldn't see him slightly opening his eyes before asking, with a husky sleepy voice:

"Is lunch ready yet?"

"No" was her response. And there was a long pause. She took the opportunity to sit on the edge of the bed and put her left hand over her son's and squeeze it lightly.

"Then why'd you wake me up?" Tai inquired, freeing his hand and turning his back on his mother, hoping she would get the hint he wasn't done sleeping.

"We need to talk"

"Talk? Can't that wait?"

She sighed as if he had just proven her point. "No"

"Okay. What's it about?"

"Just get up. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen" She said before standing to leave the room.

It didn't pass unnoticed that she avoided his question. Tai decided it was better not to push the issue. It was too early to start an argument. Or at least too early for him.

"Oh, and you should be up right away. Or else you'll fall back asleep" She turned around to say, just as she was closing the door.

Tai had no idea how she could read so well into him. He was indeed about to fall back onto his pillow. Instead, he decided to be obedient and stood up. He changed into the clothes he wore the day before and made a stop at the bathroom to wash his face prior to going into the kitchen. There, he acknowledged an unexpected presence.

"Dad, you're home" Tai stated as he went to give him a good morning hug.

It never failed to impress people just how affectionate Tai could be with his closest friends and family. He almost irradiated warmth and kindness without even having to try.

"Don't you have to be at work today?" Tai went on to the table where his mother was chopping ingredients to cook lunch and gave her proper good morning, with a kiss on the cheek.

"I could ask you the same" Mr. Yagami responded.

"What do you mean?" Tai asked, defensively.

Mrs. Yagami stopped what she was doing and went to wash her hands. Her discomfort was apparent. She was planning on bringing up the matter much more smoothly.

"Honey, your father and I think it's about time you start looking for a real job. That is, since you don't want to go to college like your friends" Mrs. Yagami interjected, bearing a worried expression on her face.

"Mom! You know that I'm trying to get a job. That's why I train hard every day. It's not my fault I haven't made it yet"

"The thing is, Tai, you have used that excuse too much for our liking. Don't you think it's time to move on?" The man said, in the most sympathetic tone he could portray.

Tai just stood still with an incredulous expression.

"Has it even crossed your mind that this football thing might not happen?" he elaborated.

Tai showed no reaction.

"Tai, honey, we're just worried about you. We've discussed this before and…" Mrs. Yagami looked over at her husband, asking for help.

"We wouldn't like you to be a mama's boy forever" Tai's father blurted out.

"Is that what you think? That I can't take care of myself? That I just sit around and do nothing in this house?" Tai said, becoming louder by each word, in a hurt tone. Thankfully, his parents knew that Tai was naturally loud. In fact, they were used to it and didn't misunderstand it for disrespect anymore. Still, Mr. Yagami was strict with his reply.

"You haven't exactly proved us otherwise, son".

With that, Taichi left the kitchen and went back to his room. He was thinking he should have never left his bed in the first place. Therefore he threw himself on his mattress and just laid there to think. He was feeling hurt, mostly because he could see truth in his parents' arguments, but didn't know how to deal with it.

Back in the kitchen, the adults remained quiet for an uncomfortably considerable amount of time.

"What do you think we ought to do next?" Tai's mother asked, unsurely.

"What do you mean? I don't think we should do anything more. He got the message. We don't need to bombard him with argumentations or confront him about it".

"I didn't mean Tai. I meant all of us. I don't like this animosity among the family. I don't want to give him reasons to distance himself from us. And how is this going to affect Hikari? She is going to pick up on the situation like that" the woman said, snapping her fingers.

"Honey, you're thinking too much ahead. We'll manage each detail as they come to us. Right now we need to worry about Tai"

"Yeah… He didn't seem so happy about the matter"

"He'll deal" was all he responded, indicating the end of that particular conversation.

***

A couple of hours later, the meal was already done, and the table set for lunch. Mr. and Mrs. Yagami were about to start eating, without Tai. They thought he would come whenever he was hungry, and decided to give him some space.

Nevertheless, Tai was standing at the kitchen door in no time. He must have smelled the food from his room. After all, his mom made the wise decision of cooking his favorite meal, foreshadowing that the previous conversation would upset him. Tai helped himself, sat at the table and started to eat without a word.

It was unusually and painfully silent. Tai's upbeat and bubbly personality never left room for awkward silence. In fact, Tai was uneasy himself with the quietness he was creating. So he just bluntly spoke.

"I'm moving out"

"Now let's not be extreme" his mother immediately reacted. "We're not kicking you out, honey. We're here to support you no matter what".

"I know that. I just feel like I have a point to prove now"

"Don't be silly. You're just being stubborn. You have no place to go and no income to maintain you" Mr. Yagami reasoned.

"I've made up my mind" Tai shot back at his father. The conviction in his words seemed to affect the man.

"We never meant to make you feel uncomfortable, honey" Mrs. Yagami stated, sincerely.

"Look, mom, dad. I'm not trying to rebel or anything. I'm making a decision with my life".

"But why does it have to be so sudden and radical?" His mother replied in a tone that hinted desperation.

"I didn't intend for it to be like that, but I really feel like I need to do this. It's like a turning point for me" Tai said, impressively calm. He knew he was being impulsive. But he felt almost glad about it. This was the same kind of impulsiveness that led him and his fellow digidestined to take the risks needed to grow and triumph. He hadn't felt those impulses in a long time and the nostalgic feeling made him sure it was going to turn out fine. He trusted that particular feeling blindly and religiously. When it wasn't there, everything wrecked at the price of a spontaneous action. The most memorable experience with that was when Agumon evolved into SkullGreymon. However, he wasn't worried this time. He was confident that leaving his parents house was going to pay off. But he couldn't explain the situation like that to his mom and dad. They just wouldn't relate to his experiences in the Digital World.

"I'm trying to understand you, Tai, but if you're really serious about this, you would stay home until you have everything sorted out" Mrs. Yagami was still disagreeing. "It would be the most rational decision. It would let the idea sink in for all of us, including you. And in the meantime we could help you find a place to stay, and figure out how you're going to support yourself…"

"But mom, we both know that if I don't do this now, I'll just procrastinate and keep postponing this moment".

The woman knew that. And at this point, was hoping for that too. Just as she was opening her mouth to reply, Mr. Yagami, who had been quiet for a while, rejoined the conversation.

"Stop it, love. It's time to let him go. Maybe make his own mistakes"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she consented implicitly.

"You're not going anywhere until Hikari is home".

A broad smile formed in Tai's face.

"Thanks dad… mom"

"You just have to know that we have our doors always open for you. Any kind of support you need, you can count on us" Mr. Yagami stated.

"I know. And I will".

With that, Tai went up to his room to gather some of his belongings in a bag.

"Just don't be a stranger, you know" Tai heard his mom say from the bedroom door. "You can call us anytime to let us know how you're doing"

Tai just smiled to her in response.

"And I want to know where you are staying"

"I will let you know as soon as I find out myself"

Tai didn't have much to pack. He took most of his clothes, his football, his cell phone, his toothbrush… and that was it. He was ready. He had other stuff he would like to take with him, but all his immediate priorities were in the bag. He could always come back to get his things later.

***

So, this is preparing ground for future chapters.

Tell me what you think. Constructive Criticism is much appreciated.

That's all folks!