This is based by the discpntinued fic written by LittleMissWolfie, which was up for adoption. I decided to take it in, partly out of this desire to satiate some old shipping feels and partly out of a desire to see how this story plays out.

Note: This story's ratings may change in the future to correspond with the mature themes of this story. I won't update regularly given my upcoming A -Levels in November, but I'll try my best if I have any free time.

/

The night was silent at the Takaishi residence. There was no thunderstorm, no howling winds; nothing that would disclose the events that were about to occur that night.

The Takaishi residence was a house that stood out from the rest of the nearby houses in the neighborhood, due to it being constructed in a unique and perfect harmonization of traditional Japanese and Western architecture. Its stone-grey structure gave it a somewhat more modest appearance despite its noticeably large size.

The house was actually constructed during the early 1910s by an English poet who had decided to set up a permanent residence in Japan. The house managed to live past its owner and miraculously through the ravages of the war. The house eventually fell into the possession of the poet's family for generations, costing about a fortune that would have deterred most people who were drawn in by the allure of the house.

But for Takeru Takaishi, such costs did not deter him. He was able to purchase the house thanks to his earnings as a renowned writer, and he and his newly wedded wife were able to move into the house. Takeru had a certain attachment to this particular house, due to his own French roots on his mother's side of the family. His wife Tetsumi noted that the house really suited him and his tastes.

Takeru sighed as he rested into his seat; notebooks filled with crinkled pages were laid out before him on his desk. Eraser dust was strewn everywhere, coupled with pencil shavings. The man then turned behind to gaze at his partner, Patamon, who was snuggled up against the blankets of his bed, sleeping soundly. But for Takeru himself, sleep seemed to elude him at every corner.

Ever since he started working on a draft for his new story, Takeru had difficulty in getting enough sleep while struggling to keep up with the deadline of his story. This, however, only added to the burden of being a single parent. If Tetsumi was still around, Takeru could stay up as late as he wanted, since she would always be there to wake him up in case he is late for work. She would then prepare breakfast for the family while he will wake up their son for school.

Speaking of his wife, the man could not help but sadly look back at the photograph that was framed on his desk. In the photograph contained a young beautiful woman with wavy black hair, and blue eyes that matched his own. She wore a simple white sundress, standing in front of the garden of their house. She held in her delicate arms a bundle of blankets that wrapped around a tiny head that was topped with blonde locks of hair.

But ever since that fatal accident, Takeru had to cope with the struggles of being a single parent and a writer at the same time. He now knew what his mom had to go through when she and his dad had split up, having to cope with deadlines while driving his son to school everyday.

Letting out another sigh, Takeru decided to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water, or anything else that could cure him of his little insomnia.

He walked past the nearby bedroom, the door left slightly ajar. Takeru peered into the room, and saw his son Takuo inside. Like Patamon, the little tyke was fast asleep, comfortably wrapped in a bundle of blankets.

Takeru sadly smiled to himself as he quietly closed the door, and proceeded to the kitchen. He wondered how his son had felt since Tetsumi's passing. He knew the pain of having a single parent, but unlike with his own parents, Takuo had no chance of seeing his mother again.

Entering the kitchen, Takeru picked up a small glass from the cabinet and filled it with warm water from the kitchen sink. Proceeding to guzzle down its contents, Takeru could feel the effects of drowsiness beginning to take the desired effect. His eyes began to droop slightly, his grip on the empty glass slackening. He made sure to put the glass back into the cabinet in case he accidentally drops it.

Satisfied, he walked out of the kitchen and was about to go back up to his room to finally take a well-deserved rest. Suddenly, he heard frantic knocking on the front door that momentarily snapped him out of his trance.

Letting out a small groan of frustration, Takeru started to the door. Who could be coming at this hour?! He thought to himself, bewildered.

He reached for the door and pulled it open, prepared to give whoever was at the door a piece of his mind. He was already in desperate need for some sleep, and had little time for pleasantries.

However, his held his tongue once he saw who was at the door.

It was her. His first love.

"Hikari?" Takeru exclaimed in shock. Anything related to sleep immediately went out the window upon seeing her. She looked slightly disheveled, looking just as sleep-deprived as he is. Her shoulder-length hair of auburn, usually straight, was now ruffled. Her reddish-brown eyes seemed…frightened, and seemed as if she had been crying.

Despite this, in his eyes, she still looked as lovely as ever.

By her side, stood her twelve-year old son Yuuji. Even after seeing him for so many years, he couldn't help but notice his uncanny resemblance to his mother, from the shape of his face to his mop of brown hair that was similar to his mother's when she was only eight. Like his mother, Yuuji looked dead tired, leaning against his mother's side for support.

But Takeru also noticed the hands that firmly held Yuuji's shoulders. They seemed to be trembling. Shock was soon overtaken by concern. "What's wrong?"

"Takeru…I'm sorry for coming here at this hour, but can we come in for the night?" Hikari asked, a slight tremor in her usually kind and gentle voice. So slight, that only someone as close to her as Takeru could detect.

Takeru nodded, and opened the door wider to let the two in. He directed the two to the living room couch, and knelt forward to Yuuji, giving as much as a fatherly look to the boy as he could despite his own exhaustion. "Yuuji?"

The boy drowsily looked at Takeru in response. "I bet you're tired. You can sleep in the guest room if you would like."

Hikari smiled gratefully at Takeru as he guided her son up the stairs to one of the guest rooms. Once Yuuji quietly went inside, Takeru shut the door behind him and proceeded back to the living room.

"Hikari, you look terrible…" Takeru looked at the shaken woman sitting on the couch before him. "Do you want a drink or something?"

Hikari simply shook her head. She was too exhausted from the strains of today's work… and what had happened earlier… "Thanks for letting us stay, Takeru," she softly spoke, staring blankly down at the floor. "I'm really sorry for barging in like this…"

"It's okay, Hikari. You're free to stay here as long as you like." Takeru said, moving to sit beside Hikari. He then held her hands gently. "What's going on? Does Hijeme know that you're here?"

Suddenly, upon hearing the mention of her husband's name, Hikari clasped her hands around her mouth and let out a choking sob. Takeru could see tears beginning to brim in her bloodshot eyes, and immediately regretted whatever he had said.

"Hikari, it's okay." Takeru placed a reassuring arm on her shoulder. "You can tell me what's wrong."

After a few seconds passed by, Hikari reluctantly lowered her arms. She turned her head to face Takeru, and she could see in those mesmerizing blue eyes an expression of concern. It was a look that she had not seen for such a long time. Those eyes gave her reassurance, and she calmed down.

Wiping her eyes of tears, she began to speak.

/

One hour ago…

Hikari Yagami pulled up her car on the drive of her home. She heaved a sigh of relief as she parked the car and undid her seatbelt; exhaustion had filled her eyes as she struggled to keep them open. Beside her was Yuuji, who was leaning against the window, an expression of peace on his face as he slept. Hikari then gave her son a gentle nudge on the shoulder as she opened the car door. "Come on, Yuuji. We're home."

In response, the boy let out a soft and disappointed moan as he stretched his arms and yawned. Hikari hated to wake up her son up like that, knowing how exhausted he was. But she had no choice, unless she wanted him to sleep in the car as opposed to the comfort that his bed had to offer.

Guiding her son out of the car, Hikari then walked to the back and opened the car door. In the back seat, Tailmon slept just as peacefully as Yuuji. She was peacefully curled up, her arms and legs tucked underneath her body. Hikari then roused her partner from a peaceful slumber, telling her that they're home.

Hikari had just came back, picking up Yuuji from school. He had some club activities going on that required for him to stay back a lot later than usual. Fortunately, dinner was provided for the club, so Hikari did not have to worry about Yuuji not having enough to eat. Before that, Hikari was preoccupied with a staff meeting in school. She had to go through with the rest of the teachers regarding plans for upcoming school events. By the end of the day, she too was just as drained as her son was.

As she ushered Yuuji to the door, she noticed something odd at the entrance. Her husband, Hijeme's black office shoes were loosely scattered at the side of the entrance door. Hikari was curious, since Hijeme was an organized person; he had always arranged his shoes in order so as not to stress Hikari out when cleaning the house.

But what really caught her attention was a pair of pink high-heeled shoes that lay scattered next to Hijeme's shoes. She never recalled buying shoes like these, much less wearing them before.

Shaking her doubts away, Hikari opened the door and entered the house. However, she could still feel a sense of unease in her stomach.

"Hijeme? We're home." Hikari called out as she placed her handbag on the coffee table.

There was no response.

Feeling her anxiety spike up again, Hikari decided to go to their bedroom. He must be asleep already. It is pretty late. She thought to herself, in hopes that the uneasy feeling in her stomach would subside.

Hikari tiptoed to the bedroom and quietly opened the door to peer in. "Hijeme?" She whispered, careful not to disturb her loving husband.

But what she saw turned all of her fears into reality.

Her husband Hijeme was sleeping peacefully on their bed, his half-naked torso was barely obscured by the sheets. But what truly horrified her was the bed's other occupant; a beautiful woman with long blonde hair. Hijeme's arm was wrapped around her sheet-covered torso, pulling her figure into his body. Clothes law strewn all over the floor, underwear included.

Suddenly, Hikari felt the world around her begin to distort and fall apart. She instinctively leaned hopelessly against the frame of the door, trying to comprehend the sight before her. The air that was filled with sweat and sex soon became a putrid stench that induced Hikari with a sense of overwhelming nausea.

She slid against the doorframe, no longer able to support her body weight as her legs began to feel weak. Tears began to flow freely down her face as she struggled to breathe against that nauseating feeling.

No. No. No. No. This can't be happening! This is just a bad dream! Hijeme would never do something like this! NEVER!

Unable to bear the sight of her husband any longer, Hikari struggled to stand up, trying to remain undetected by the room's occupants. She staggered back to the living room where her son and Tailmon were waiting. The former had taken sleep on the couch, too tired to make the trip to his bedroom.

"Hikari? What happened?" Tailmon gasped in shock as she saw the terrible state that her partner was in. All thoughts of sleep had been flushed out of system. She rushed forward as Hikari fell to her knees, hands cupped to her face as she tried to stifle her sobs.

Tailmon gripped her wrists, trying to pull them away from Hikari's face. "Hikari. What's going on? What happened with Hijeme?"

Suddenly, Hikari wrenched herself free from Tailmon's grip, exposing her bloodshot eyes that were mangled by the tears that were still flowing down her cheeks. "Tailmon…" she choked. "Get some my clothes from my bedroom… And some of Yuuji's clothes too. I'll bring Yuuji to Takeru's place. C-Can you meet us there later once you're done?"

"Okay." Tailmon nodded. But before she could head to the room, she felt Hikari tug her back by the arm.

The cat digimon turned and saw a pleading look on Hikari's tear-streaked face. "When- when you enter my bedroom… Please… Don't get angry. D-Don't do anything to Hijeme…Please…"

Reluctantly, Tailmon nodded and proceeded to rush to Yuuji's room. Whatever was bothering Hikari, it must have something to do with Hijeme.

As Tailmon disappeared from sight, Hikari got back on her feet and walked to the slumbering form of her son. Nudging her son to wake him up, Hikari wiped her tears clean so that her son would not notice.

Shaken awake by his mother, Yuuji drowsily opened his eyes and looked up. He saw his mother with eyes that looked both lost and forlorn.

"Mo-Mom?" Yuuji exclaimed in shock and concern. "What's wrong? Where's daddy?"

Hikari fought back the urge to let the tears leak out again. Biting her lip, she gave her son a reassuring smile. "It's nothing, dear. We're going to uncle Takeru's place for tonight."

Yuuji's eyes widened in shock upon hearing his mother's words. "B-but why? We already have a home to stay in. Why do we need to stay at uncle Takeru's place?"

"It's getting late, dear, so I'll explain it to you tomorrow. Anyways it'll be Saturday tomorrow so there'll be no school. You can play with Takuo tomorrow if you would like."

Even though his mother's words seemed calm, they did little to reassure the little boy. He could see in his mother's eyes that something was greatly distressing her, something very painful. But he decided not to speak another word of protest, fearing that he might say something hurtful.

Reluctantly, Yuuji nodded as his mother ushered in into the car once again. Once every thing was settled, Hikari drove off into the night, to the one person that she could trust.

/

As she finally concluded everything that had transpired that night, the dam began to break. Hikari fell forward into Takeru's neck, and flung her arms around him letting out a choked sob. Takeru instinctively wrapped his own arms around her petite body comfortingly, allowing Hikari to cry and cry and cry as much as she could into his shoulder.

"I just… I couldn't think of anywhere else to go! Taichi's in the Digital World on business, Sora and Yamato are having their anniversary trip today, Ken and Miyako are already busy with their family already…" Hikari continued to sob, holding onto Takeru as if he were her only life support.

Takeru could feel his shirt getting soaked as Hikari cried on and on. He hadn't felt Hikari hold onto him for so long with such desperation… They had held each other so many times in the past; in the relative innocence of their childhood days, and the not-so-innocent days of their teenage years. A strange feeling began to spread all over the blonde.

But none of that mattered now. What mattered was that his best friend was in need. He had to take care of her, just like he'd promised Taichi all those years ago.

END OF CHAPTER 1