Always Work Before Pleasure

by HevnoAngered

With their jobs tearing them apart, Tai and Mimi wish to renew their marriage during their upcoming anniversary, but with Witchelny digimon looking for the infamous Wall of Fire, this anniversary just may be their last. - Chapter 2 Added!

1. Always Work Before Pleasure

A/N: I do not own Digimon.

The original digidestined refer to each other with their nicknames (Dub Names) though the narration will always refer to them with their full name.

This takes place Twenty Five years after season 2 (Epilogue era).

Many thanks to my betas Unolai and Gabriela_Romero. They were awesome.

Also JT is for Japan Time. EST is for Eastern Standard Time. I don't use time stamps for the Digital World or for flashbacks. Japan is 16 hours ahead.

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Dramatis Personae

Taichi Yagami; UN Representative, Digidestined (Male) Partner: Agumon

Mimi Yagami; Cooking Show Host, Digidestined (Female) Partner: Palmon

Teru Yagami; Student, Digidestined (Male) Partner: Mushroomon

Seito Yagami; Student, Digidestined (Male) Partner: Agumon

Michael Washington; Movie Star, Digidestined (Male) Partner: Betamon

Hikari Yagami; School Teacher, Digidestined (Female) Partner: Gatomon

Hiro Yagami; Student, Digidestined (Male) Partner: BlackGatomon

Sayuri Hida; Student, Digidestined (Female) Partner: Armadillomon

Emelie Ishida; Student, Digidestined (Female) Partner: Biyomon

Motoko Ichijouji; Student, Digidestined (Female) Partner: Falcomon

Dante Valux; Student, Digidestined (Male) Partner: BlackAgumon

Sarah Elam; Student, Digidestined (Female) Partner: Labramon

FlameWizardmon; Digimon (Witchelny)

Wisemon; Digimon (Witchelny)

Witchmon; Digimon (Witchelny)

Sorcerymon; Digimon (Witchelny)

Mistymon; Digimon (Witchelny)

MedievalGallantmon; Digimon (Witchelny)

xxxxx

Always Work Before Pleasure

Yagami Residence (Odaiba Japan)

January 23th 2027 (Saturday)

9:26 A.M (JT)

Taichi Yagami and Mimi Yagami were in love. That's nothing new; they've been in love for many years. They're married with two kids, but unlike most families, they are rarely together. Though it kills them, with their busy schedules they do not have enough time to spend with each other. Questions have always lingered in their mind; will they drift apart? No. It's about time for a change.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of glass breaking.

"Sei! What the hell?" A voice yelled out.

Taichi Yagami was thirty nine years old. He'd cut his hair, when he joined the UN as a diplomat for the digital world. It wasn't that he wanted to, but everyone pretty much urged him to. He still kept in shape with a soccer player's mentality, so he wasn't too bad off.

The house he lived in was a two-bedroom apartment, in which his two sons shared a room with a bunk bed just as he had with his sister. They could actually afford something more, but with how infrequent he or his wife stayed here it was a better investment to stay with the apartment. Much to the dismay of his sons.

Speaking of which.

Taichi Yagami got up from his bed and made his way to the kitchen. Sure enough he could see broken glass all over the floor. Staring at him as if he had just been caught trying to sneak cookies out of the cookie jar was his youngest son, Seito.

Seito looked just as Taichi did at his age, brown hair in all directions with a slightly darker complexion. Seito was eleven years old, but wanted to be treated like a teenager. Though you wouldn't know it by the way Seito was scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, when his father arrived.

Something poked Taichi's back. He turned to see his oldest child, Teru, staring back at him. "Dad, let me sweep it up before you come in here." Teru took after his mother more than Taichi himself. He had her honey colored hair and fairer skin complexion. He was the older of the duo, at age thirteen. A year older than Taichi was when he first entered the digital world.

Taichi quirked an eyebrow; from what he had heard earlier, he had figured that Seito had broken the glass. So then why did Teru have the broom?

"I don't need you to do that for me! I can sweep on my own, Teru!" Seito exclaimed, clearly irritated at his brothers' disregard for his independence.

Of course. Seito wasn't the type to ask for help from others, while Teru was his polar opposite in that aspect, giving help even when others didn't ask for it. Needless to say, that brought the two brothers into many a confrontation.

The older boy rolled his eyes; their reddish tint not unlike his aunt Hikari's eyes. "It's just sweeping, Sei. But here,"

"Don't-"

Teru tossed the broom, causing it to knock over the glass – Taichi had continuously told his kids not to leave them on the edge of surfaces - that shattered on the ground. Taichi winced at the sound and sighed.

"Crap," The honey haired kid said, turning to his father.

"It was bound to happen," the man looked at his son and just smiled. "You two really love to compete at everything. I'd hate to think of what would've happened if Sei had broken a window. Teru, grab the dust pan. Sei, get the broom."

Three minutes later the mess was cleaned and Taichi was pouring himself a glass of milk. "Where are your partners anyway?"

"Left for the digital world early this morning. Hey do you think today- Teru that's the last Pepsi Ice Cucumber!" Lost his train of thought. Typical Seito.

Teru took off the bottle cap. "This is my second one. You've had like ten of them!" And the bickering began.

Taichi sighed. That was an interesting start of his day. He hoped that would be the most interesting part. He could do without constant reminders of his dilemma: the empty bed, the TV dinners, and most of all his kids pretending that everything was all right. It wasn't. It really wasn't.

It was nerve-wracking. It was-

The phone rang.

That centered his thoughts, at least. He stood in front of it and realized the caller ID was foreign.

"Yagami residence."

Meem's Cooking Studio (New York)

January 22nd 2027 (Friday)

7:56 P.M (EST)

"And that's the recipe for today! See you next time on Mimi's Recipes to Fame!" Mimi waved to the camera. Five seconds later she began to eat the Crème Brûlé she had made during the show.

"Pssst. Mimi. We're still on the air." Palmon whispered to her, just loud enough for the camera to hear.

Mimi looked up at the screen dumbfounded, before winking - it was all part of the act. The cameras were then shut off.

"Cut!"

"Great work, Mimi." The director called out. Mimi just smiled.

A few minutes later the duo was back in the dressing room. "Are you okay, Mimi?" Palmon asked. She'd wanted to ask her all day, but never had the chance.

Mimi sighed before replying. "One more episode. Then the season's over."

Palmon kept her gaze on her partner. "Then we can go back home. Just in time for-"

"Our anniversary."

"Has he mentioned it at all?"

"I haven't had a chance to speak with him much lately." Mimi looked down at her partner, who in turn stared back up at her with knowing eyes.

The days of Taichi and Mimi smiling in a field of flowers as the radiant sun shined above were long gone. Responsibilities pulled them apart or perhaps it was more than that. It was ambition. She had dreamed of becoming a professional chef and he supported her. He had dreamed of being the front runner of a digital revolution and she supported him. It was those ambitions that kept them apart.

"That's too bad, but hey you both have time off that coincides with each other, right?" Palmon said, trying to lift her partner's spirits.

Mimi appreciated the gesture, but it was unwarranted.

"Enough about me, how about you? Are you going to the digital world when we're done?"

Palmon shook her head. "I'm staying with you."

Mimi nodded slowly. The sound of glass breaking caused both of them to jump. An upbeat tune soon followed. Mimi grabbed her cell phone and answered.

"That's the last time I allow you to touch my phone, Michael!" She yelled into it.

"Awww come on, Meems."

"What is this anyway?"

"Stone Cold Steven Austin's music. You know him right? From wrestling? Wait, I'm getting off topic. Mimi, a digimon appeared in the time square. He says he wants to speak to one of the eight originals."

"Digidestined?"

"Yeah. I think he might go ballistic. I'm trying to calm the New York team down, but they're raring for a fight. We won't get anywhere like that. . .especially with what your husband is trying to build."

Mimi nodded. "I agree. Hold them back, I'll be right there. Bye." She clicked her phone shut then turned to her partner, "Game face, Palmon."

Palmon clasped her hands together. "Really?"

"Yeah, you're going to mode change, like Imperialdramon."

"What?"

"Diplomat mode."

"Mimi. . ."

8:15 P.M (EST)

A hot pink Corvette C6 ZR1 raced down Seventh Avenue with Mimi in the driver's seat. "Almost there,"

"I wonder what digimon is causing the problem." Palmon said, looking out the window.

"Crowd of people," Mimi said, placing her designer sunglasses on. She followed by putting her cowboy hat on her head. She made a quick turn into an alleyway, parking her car and paying extra attention to setting the alarm on.

She was about to walk around the corner when she noticed Palmon wasn't following. "What is it?"

"You put the sunglasses and hat on so that no one would recognize you. I'm still a dead giveaway. So. . ." She pointed to the roof of the building.

"Palmon. . .I'm too old for the theatrics- whoa Palmon!" Palmon wrapped her poison ivy around Mimi with one hand and launched her other hands poison Ivy to the roof and pulled the two of them up. It was a rush of wind for Mimi, whose hair was flapping behind her wildly as they approached the roof.

Mimi panted on top of the roof. "Don't do that ever again."

Palmon just smiled. "Well, we have a few more roofs to go through, so if you would like. . ."

Mimi sighed. "After today. Don't do that every again. And no skyscrapers. . .please."

After a nauseating three roof tops later, the two stared over at the center of time square.

An enigmatic red clad digimon stood waiting. He had what could best be described as a red wizards hat on his head, with goggles strapped around them. Mimi was struck by how similar this digimon looked to Wizardmon.

Trying to steal photo shots of the digimon were the paparazzi. They didn't know if this digimon was evil or some kind of danger, or perhaps they didn't care. Mimi could never figure them out anyway.

"What's the plan, Mimi?"

"We talk to him. See what he wants. Best case scenario, we get him back through to the digital world." She pointed at the streetlamp. Palmon nodded and used her Poison Ivy to bring the two of them front and center.

The excitement level of the crowd intensified tenfold and almost would have blinded Mimi with flashes if not for her sunglasses. She took a deep breath before marching forward. She saw Michael as she approached the digimon. The two nodded to each other.

The crowd had kept a safe distance a few meters from the bored looking digimon. Soon the voices died down as they wanted to hear the coming exchange.

"Palmon, who is that?"

"FlameWizardmon. He's a champion digimon who is said to come from a place called Witchelny. He's a bit arrogant." Palmon whispered, while keeping her eyes firmly on the target.

Mimi removed her sunglasses as she gained FlameWizardmon's attention. "Hi, I'm one of the original digidestined. My name is Mimi."

"Mimi what?" The digimon responded.

"Mimi Yagami, though you might be more familiar with the family name Tachikawa."

FlameWizardmon smirked. Mimi couldn't help from gasping. A memory had crossed her mind, long ago back in her first adventure in the digital world; the exact same smirk crossing Taichi's face. Something about the goggles FlameWizardmon possessed, they were so familiar to Daisuke's.

"I'm FlameWizardmon." The champion level digimon responded.

"You wanted to see one of the original digidestined?"

"Yes," FlameWizardmon said. "You see, I believe we can help each other."

"I'm listening." Mimi responded. Cameras were focused on the two of them in all directions. Palmon was beginning to feel uneasy.

"The digital world is becoming more and more integrated with this one. There are digimon who do not believe in the power of humanity. They do not want this integration, nor will they tolerate it."

"What can we do to help?" Mimi said.

"Give them what they want."

"And that is?" Palmon interjected.

"Power. To defend themselves."

"What?" Mimi and Palmon asked in unison.

"It's only natural. Not every digimon will have a human partner, just like how every human won't have a digimon partner. Should the ramifications of having a digivice really be left to the chosen? Or can we all bask in its glory?"

"You want us to become your partners?" Mimi asked, confused.

"No. Power. That is what we want. And you know where it is." FlameWizardmon replied and crossed his arms.

Mimi shook her head. "I don't understand."

"Apocalymon."

That name froze Mimi's blood.

"He crossed the Wall of Fire to gain his power. You know where that place is." FlameWizardmon said, stepping forward. "Tell me."

"No." Mimi didn't have to think about that answer.

"Not the answer I was looking for." FlameWizardmon took another step forward, forcing Palmon to act. Palmon stood in front of her partner.

"Back off."

FlameWizardmon sighed. "Diplomacy really isn't your strong point is it?" He then turned his back to them. "I'll be seeing ya." With that he walked away. The crowd parted to allow him to pass.

"So how'd it go?" Michael asked from behind.

"Ah!" Mimi and Palmon jumped up startled. "Don't do that!"

Michael responded with a charming smile, something he seemed to believe solved all problems. "Well? How'd it go?" He repeated.

"It went." Palmon said.

Mimi just shrugged. "Let's just say, I think it could have gone better."

The flashes of camera shots intensified once more. "And here comes the paparazzi." Michael grinned. "But you're use to it."

10:00 A.M (JT)

Taichi was in a bad mood. As if thoughts of his marriage and his lovely wife couldn't occupy his mind, he had to think of those digidestined in America - or more specifically, the digidestined from California; they wanted his youngest son to be part of their team. Something that could easily be scoffed off, if not for the fact that when Mimi was pregnant with their second child she was in America with him, accompanying him to a conference in California. Sure enough that was also where their youngest son was born. Born an American. And they wanted a Yagami. As if being a digidestined was all about politics now.

They called earlier wanting to speak with his son in which he obliged. But hearing his son, Seito, making plans to meet them in America was too much. He put an end to it. Whether it was because those American digidestined were trying to fracture his family further or because they were trying to play some political game, it was enough to irritate the elder Yagami to no end.

"Hey, Dad! Mom's on television!" Teru called out.

"She's always on television. She has a cooking show." He responded. He sighed; sometimes he wondered how much of his thick headedness his sons got from him.

"I know that! I'm saying she's on TV, but not on her show."

That got his attention.

"He wanted to speak with one of the original digidestined. During our first trip to the digital world, our final opponent was Apocalymon. He was a digimon that had crossed an area known as the Wall of Fire to attain power. I refused to give him any information regarding the subject."

"Do you believe that perhaps if one of the other originals had been here instead that they would have divulged that information?"

"This may come as a surprise to you, but I am not a psychic."

"Hahahaha, go mom!" Teru said. Taichi couldn't help but smirk, that's the quick tongue he fell in love with – though the smirk fell upon realization that he only witnesses this through the TV.

Seito had dressed himself in black jeans and a plain orange sweater. He was walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" His father asked.

With his hand on the doorknob, Seito responded. "Aunt Hikari's house. Hiro has that new Final Fantasy game that just came out."

Taichi nodded, only half believing what he heard. "Fine, but return before it gets dark out-" He was cut off by the slammed door. "I guess I'm talking to the door then."

Teru watched his dad fall into the couch right next to him. "You overreacted." He said.

Taichi knew this, but he had to let out his frustration somehow. Wasn't it an act of God that such a perfect opportunity presented itself? "When I'm gone, how does your mother deal with all of their pestering?"

"You know who Batman is, don't you?" Teru asked.

Taichi rolled his eyes. "Since before you were born."

"Well, you know how he always gets information. They cut off screen and then when they go back to it, the villain is telling them all of the information." Taichi nodded, vaguely remembering a scene like that. "Well, Mom sends us away for a few seconds and we don't hear from them in a long time. I mean that's the first time Dante has called in eight months."

10:15 A.M (JT)

Seito was in a bad mood as he traversed the streets of Odaiba. He kicked a rock from the broken concrete as he made his way to his cousin's house. Can't his dad understand that he wanted to go? It wasn't like he was even here most of the time anyway. Or his mother for that matter. Going to California would be so cool. Also he wouldn't be overshadowed by all of the powerful digidestined that were in Japan. He could be the main attraction out there with his Agumon.

Seito hadn't realized it but he had walked into a light fog. "Could you by any chance be, Seito Yagami?"

Seito stopped walking. He turned around to see a blue clad digimon, same wizard hat as FlameWizardmon and Wizardmon, with a staff in his hand and a cold expression in his eyes. "Who wants to know?" Seito asked, half-heartedly.

"Sorcerymon." The digimon said.

Seito looked at the digimon evenly. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to meet the offspring of one of the originals." He said.

Seito cocked an eyebrow. There was something familiar about his words, but he ignored it. "So you met me." He resumed his walk.

Sorcerymon watched as he left. He looked to his right hand as blue magic gathered into it. He clenched it into a fist. No. He must be patient.

10:18 A.M (JT)

He'd finally made it to his aunt's apartment complex. And he was just ready to kick his cousin off of the Final Fantasy game and put in a fighting game. Hopefully he had received the new Tekken game.

Floor 24 was where the elevator stopped. Seito stepped out of it and walked over to the fourth apartment on this floor. He knocked on the door.

Seito counted in his head. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. The door opened, revealing his aunt. "Hi, Aunt Hikari."

Taichi's younger sister was thirty seven years old, but she looked no older than twenty five. The story goes, as far as Seito can understand it, that when the second generation of Odaiba digidestined confronted the Cthulu creature Dragomon in the dark ocean, something happened between his aunt and the digimon that resulted in her agelessness.

"Sei," She called, ushering for him to come in.

"Is Hiro in?"

"Yeah, he and Salamon are in his room. Why don't you go drag him away from his video game."

Seito nodded. He went to walk past her, but she held her arm out to stop him. "Huh?"

"Sei, who did you bring with you?"

Seito looked up at her in confusion. "No one."

Hikari gave her nephew a warm smile. "Okay." She removed her hand from his way. He walked by.

"Hi, Gatomon." He said, walking past the cat digimon who was walking towards the door. Gatomon nodded back to him.

Outside the apartment, a blue staff began to glow, aimed at the woman in the doorway. "Crystal Barrage." A calm voice called out.

Ice shards launched their way towards the woman, but the digidestined of light saw it coming, staring at the attack with mild interest.

"Lightning Paw!" Gatomon raced passed her partner and jumped up level with the incoming attack to begin batting away the crystals with blurred fists.

Gatomon landed on the ground. "Just who-" She stopped herself, déjà vu filling her senses. Her eyes widened. "Wiz- no." Gatomon moved herself into a fighting stance. "Who are you?"

"Gatomon." Sorcerymon spoke. "I am Sorcerymon. I have come for you." He twirled his staff, as fog began to gather.

"Not where the kids can hear." Hikari said.

"And we wouldn't want your students' papers to be destroyed. . .again." Gatomon said, charging forward at a speed that surprised Sorcerymon. "Lightning Paw!" It only took one to knock him over the fourth floor balcony. She jumped off to chase after him.

10:20 A.M (JT)

"Arrrrrrrr!"

Seito chuckled from outside of his cousin's room. It seems Hiro was irritated again. Seito figured he'd irritate him further as he turned the doorknob and threw the door open. "Hiro!"

"Ah!" Hiro glared at his cousin. "How many times do I have to tell you-"

"Knock. I know. But this is always funnier." He looked at the game, which showed the game over screen.

"I told you someone was coming." The voice came from Hiro's partner, Salamon who was sitting in the corner of the room, curled up into a ball and closed his eyes.

Seito looked at the screen again. "How is the game anyway?"

Hiro pouted. "It's pretty fun when it doesn't cheat."

Seito tried not to laugh at the girly expression on his cousin's face.

The only thing that pissed Hiro off more than a game he claims cheats, is when people confuse him for a girl. He was a fifteen year old with a baby face that made him look like his mother. Even his hair came down the same way.

"Yeah, well let me try it out."

"Mom!" Hiro exclaimed, seemingly a sixth sense had kicked in. His D-3 began to glow.

Seito looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Huh?"

"Salamon Digivolved to BlackGatomon!"

The black feline raced out of the room, followed closely by Hiro. Seito was left baffled in the room. "What the hell is going on here?"

10:22 A.M (JT)

"Lightning Paw!" Sorcerymon kept his guard up, deflecting each attack with his staff. The fog gathered around more quickly than ever, which concealed the wizard digimon. "Ha!" Gatomon charged in after him only to hit air.

Hikari was watching from the fourth floor, her eyes squinting once the fog came in. That's when she saw something shooting up towards her. It was Sorcerymon riding his staff like a witch's broomstick. A ball of blue magic formed in his hand; he hurled it forward.

A blur of black shot past Hikari. "Cat Punch!" The ball of magic was sent back at him. He backhanded the ball right back again, which initiated the match of ping pong. Back and forth the ball of energy went, while off to the side, Gatomon was running up the side of the apartment complex, until she had passed Sorcerymon in altitude.

"Cat's Eye Hypnotism!" Perfect timing was required and Gatomon performed it brilliantly. She pounced just after Sorcerymon deflected his attack again. Sorcerymon found himself temporarily dizzy as the attack was sent back to him. Gatomon wrapped her tail around the back of his staff, hanging upside down. The magical blast struck Sorcerymon square in the stomach.

Gatomon outstretched her claw to reveal how sharp it really was. BlackGatomon saw this and grinned in response, doing the same thing. Before Sorcerymon had a chance to recover, he was mobbed by the two feline digimon, with a combo of slashes crisscrossed all the way back down to the street.

"Finish him, BlackGatomon!" Hiro commanded.

"Hiro!" His mother berated. "That's excessive!" Hiro shrunk under his mother's tone.

"Sorry."

10:32 A.M (JT)

Down on the concrete Sorcerymon laid on his back, staring into the sky aimlessly. His vision of the sky was blocked out by Gatomon's face, staring down at him. His attire had been shredded.

"Why are you here?" Gatomon asked. "And why do you fight like Wizardmon?"

"He was the first one of us to look for the Wall of Fire."

"One of you?"

"We are digimon, but we are not from your digital world." Sorcerymon said. "We are from-"

"Witchelny," Gatomon finished for him. She fell back on her rear to have a seat. "Wizardmon had told me about it before. I was still under Myotismon's control back then. So understandably, I didn't pay it any mind."

BlackGatomon clenched his fist and was about to punch Sorcerymon in the face, until Gatomon called out to him. "Cool it, kiddo. I'm not done interrogating him yet. Why did you attack us, Sorcerymon?"

"To avenge my fallen brother. We're different than you digimon that hatched here. When we are deleted we don't get reconfigured. We linger on as spirits."

"Sounds right, I met Wizardmon's ghost a long time ago. Sorcerymon, you need to understand that we are not responsible for his death. It was Myotismon who finished him." Gatomon's eyes reflected hurt, but she had long ago accepted what had happened that day.

"I know the circumstances, Gatomon! I communed with his spirit before coming here. I did my research. He died to protect you! He scorned his duty to us all and protected you."

10:35 A.M (JT)

Seito could see both his aunt and his cousin looking over the railing to the street below. "Is everything okay?"

Hikari stopped looking over the railing and looked to her nephew. "Everything's fine, Sei."

Seito nodded. "Alright, I'm going to use the computer then."

"The digiport is closed." Or in other words he was not allowed to go there.

"I didn't want to go to the digital world anyway," He lied. It was times like this that he cursed that he had a regular digivice while both his aunt and his cousin had those fancy D-3's.

12:15 P.M (JT)

"What're you going to get mom?"

Taichi opened his eyes, sleepily, and saw that his son was directly in front of him staring him down. "Do you mind?"

The honey haired kid took a seat next to his father, waiting for an answered. Taichi sighed. "Haven't figured it out yet."

"So that's where I get it from." Teru muttered.

"What?"

"My procrastination. Owww!" Honey haired boy grimaced at the red mark on his forehead his father had inflicted.

"You procrastinate because you're lazy." Taichi berated.

Teru crossed his arms. "Hey, if I'm so lazy, then why do I already know what you're going to get mom and you don't?"

Taichi decided he'd humor him. "And what exactly am I getting your mother?"

Teru grinned. "A nice romantic dinner in the digital world." Taichi cocked his eyebrow in interest. "Think about it, since you're off to work in England for the United Nations again in a few days, we need to maximize the amount of time you and mom spend together."

Taichi frowned, but quickly covered it up. His son was finally letting out his frustration on the situation. Of course it was in the form of helping, but at least it wasn't some kind of taboo topic anymore.

"Go on,"

"Instead of having her come all the way from America and dealing with jetlag and everything, we should instead have her go to the digital world and meet you there. Nice romantic dinner and you bring her home afterwards to. . ."

"Stop there." Taichi interjected. "How is she supposed to get to the digital world? As far as I know, no one in New York has a D-3."

Teru's smile turned upside down.

"It is a good idea though; a nice romantic dinner in the digital world, all alone under the moon."

"Alone? Who said anything about being alone?" Teru said. "You are an important person, and we can't just leave you two in the middle of the digital world without some kind of bodyguard."

Oh, this would double as an adventure as well. He should've known. "Agumon and Palmon will be enough." Taichi stated, testing his theory.

Teru shook his head. "Nope. What if a group of digimon attacks? You'll need a group of digidestined to back you up."

Taichi just chuckled. "And you're volunteering?"

"Yep. Everyone's already cleared their schedule for that day."

Taichi looked at his son as if he'd just been duped. "What if I didn't like this idea?"

Teru folded his arms. "What if my aunt had a mustache? She'd be my uncle."

"Very funny."

Hyatt Hotel

1:50 A.M (EST)

Mimi and Palmon were sound asleep in her hotel room. The sound of glass breaking was followed by a hyped tune. Horrible, horrible ringtone. It was way too early in the morning to be hearing noise like that. Mimi slowly reached for the phone determined to break it, she noticed the name on the caller ID and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mimi."

That was a familiar sensation. Hearing his voice and letting it soak in. She hated feeling like a giddy school girl, but it was almost two in the morning and this had caught her off guard.

"Hello, Tai." She said, suggestively. It was late and she was in a bed.

"Well our anniversary is coming soon."

Mimi twirled her honey locks. "I am aware. Are you aware of what time it is here?"

"And I had this idea, ya see. Oh. The time? Not a clue really."

Mimi giggled, sitting up in her bed. His ideas were always intriguing.

"What's that for?"

"Oh, nothing. You're not by any chance behind my hotel room door are you?"

"What? No Though I may think about that for next year."

Mimi giggled again in response and laid back down. "Alright, hit me with your best shot."

"Alright, so I thought maybe we can have a nice romantic dinner in the digital world under the moonlight. This doubles as a free trip to Japan too, because we can use the digital gates to meet."

Mimi was speechless. This was actually a good idea. Not last year's idea of skydiving together. Or the year before that where he thought it'd be fun to mountain climb Infinity Mountain. No this time, it was going to be a romantic meal in the digital world. And with the current state of their marriage where they usually only see each other on holidays and anniversaries it was just the thing to bring that extra spark back into their marriage. God knows they needed it.

"Mimi?"

"That's a wonderful idea, Tai."

"Great! I'll pick you up at eight. Tomorrow."

"Don't be late."

"Am I ever? Don't answer that! I love you, Mimi."

"I love you too, Tai."

Hyatt Hotel (Roof)

1:55 AM (EST)

FlameWizardmon landed on a rooftop. "What did you see, Wisemon?"

The digimon he spoke to was a digimon in a brown robe with a beige hood. His facial features were hidden beneath and he had wings outstretched from his back.

"They will meet in the digital world in two days. The leader of the digidestined, Taichi and his wife Mimi."

"I think I'll let the big guy know. We won't be taking any chances with this."

Hikari Yagami's Apartment

4:10 P.M (JT)

"Ummm, Aunt Hikari, do you usually let digimon who attack you become your house guests?" Seito asked.

"When I first met Gatomon, she was under orders to kill me." Hikari said. "Look at us now."

"I guess." Seito said. "I think I'll be heading home now."

"Not alone you won't. You don't have your partner with you and with more of these digimon from Witchelny out there; you are not going by yourself." Hikari said. "Hiro will walk you home."

"But, mom!" Hiro whined. "I can't do that. I have to get back to my game. The demon sword has corrupted one of my party members and he now wants to fight the leader for control of the group."

Hikari only laughed at that outburst. "Looks like Takeru's novels have made quite an impact on modern gaming." Hikari was reminded of Yamato's rebellion due to Cherrymon; the similarities were uncanny.

"It's okay. I wouldn't want people to see me walking with Hiro and accuse him of being my girlfriend." Seito said playfully.

Hikari rolled her eyes. "And here we go again."

"Take that back!"

"Why don't you make me!"

"Because I'm older than you and that would make me look bad."

"Yeah, well I'm a better fighter than you."

"Break it up, you two. Hiro, I'm not going to ask you again." Hikari said, as her son had balled up his fist.

"Fine. Fine. Come on, Sei." Hiro said impatiently. He put on his shoes at the door and led the way.

When they both were gone, Hikari turned to look at Sorcerymon who was seated on the couch. "Would you like anything to eat?"

4:20 P.M (JT)

"It's not fair!"

Hiro glanced at his cousin as they walked down the streets of Odaiba with BlackGatomon by their side. "What are you talking about?"

"My dad won't let me have a life. Dante called-"

"That American Digidestined?"

"Yes, him. He was telling me that there's an exchange student program that could allow me to actually live there for a year."

Hiro sighed. "Sei, you want to live there?"

"Why not? I am American after all."

Hiro rolled his eyes. "You were born there. But it's not like you know anything about the place."

"What's there to know? They speak English? Oh wow."

"California right?"

"Yeah."

"What's the capital of California?"

Seito was silent. He didn't know the answer and they both knew it.

"Well this gives me the chance to broaden my horizons. Right?"

Hiro knew his point hadn't been made yet. "What year was the Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima?"

"I don't know!" Seito exclaimed. "Stop with the twenty questions!"

"Why broaden your horizons about America when you don't even know your own country?" Hiro said. "That's all I'm saying."

"No this is your way of keeping me under your thumb."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Hiro frowned. "Seito!"

"Hiro!" Seito replied in sarcasm.

"Ugh, if you would stop being an annoying brat for just one moment."

"And what? What is it that you are trying to tell me? I want to do this."

They walked down another block in silence.

"And abandon your family in process?"

"I'm just following in my parents' footsteps."

Hiro stopped walking, staring at his cousin in disbelief.

xxxxx

The rain was coming down hard. Yamato's concert was a hit as always. Taichi hadn't bothered to enter the tent. They had been going out for six months, Yamato and Sora. He had pushed it to the back of his mind during the whole Oikawa fiasco, but once that settled there was nothing to preoccupy him from that one truth. Sora was gone. He was too late. And now things couldn't go back to the way things were.

If he had gone inside, he would've seen them all cheering. Everyone, his fans and digidestined alike screaming for the Teenage Wolves. And he knew none would be louder than Sora. So he couldn't bring himself to step inside and enjoy himself. He knew it would only be a lie.

So Taichi stood in the rain until it was over. Endless streams of people walked passed him. And ten minutes later, his friends walked out. Koushiro placed an umbrella over him. And the others gathered around, Miyako, Iori, Ken, Daisuke, Hikari, Takeru and even Jyou made it.

"Hey, man we've been looking all over for you." Yamato said."I didn't see you in the crowd."

Taichi smiled. "Got here late. I was actually in the back. You know you were too high pitched in that ending?"

"You think so? The girls love a high pitched voice."

"Ahem."

"Well you do, Sora." Yamato said.

Sora rolled her eyes. "Tai, we're going to get some food. You in?"

"No, I'm alright."

Yamato and Sora both looked taken aback. "You sure?"

"I'm fine."

"Want to borrow my umbrella?" Koushiro asked.

"What's the point? I'm already wet." Taichi said. "See you guys later. Great concert man."

"Thanks,"

And the group split. Taichi decided he'd take the long way home. He walked around the park. He went under the bridge for a brief reprieve from the rain.

xxxxx

4:40 P.M (JT)

Taichi reached his hand forward grabbing BlackGatomon by the tail. "Thought you could sneak up on me? I told you already."

"You are thirty years too early to sneak up on me." Taichi blinked after he realized he wasn't the only one who said that. Hiro and Seito had mimicked his words, already knowing what he would say.

Taichi let go of BlackGatomon's tail and looked over to his nephew. "Hey, Hiro."

"Hey, Uncle Taichi." Hiro said.

"I heard you were one of the volunteers." Taichi yawned out. "Though I hope you won't be the one cooking our gourmet food."

"That was one time! One time!" Hiro exclaimed, one finger pointing up.

"Yeah, yeah. You inherited grandma's cooking. Obviously it would be the one who looked like a girl." Seito teased.

Hiro was going to retort, but stopped himself. "Is Teru here?"

Taichi pointed his sons' room. "Yeah. He's in his room, I think. Why don't you go drag him away from his drawings."

Seito just stared at his father. "Do all adults say that?"

4:42 P.M (JT)

It was getting easier. The picture was getting clearer. Teru added an angelic wing to the drawing, carefully crafting each feather. The ever reaching arm he had started the drawing with seemed a little dull. He added a golden bracelet to wrap around its wrist. More arms were needed. He was getting close.

"What the hell are you drawing?" Seito asked, as he picked up the paper his older brother was drawing on.

Teru sighed, annoyed at the interruption. "I was concentrating, Sei."

Seito pointed at the paper feigning a looking of disbelief on his face. "This took concentration? What are you drawing?"

The honey haired boy shrugged, honestly unsure of what he was drawing. "I don't know."

Seito dropped the paper back down, which Teru grabbed. "K. Anyway, me and Hiro are going to the digital world. Want to come?"

"Hiro?" Teru looked up from his drawing. "Oh. Hey, cousin."

BlackGatomon stared at the drawing, curious to see what Seito had been criticizing, before his ears perked up. "We're going to the digital world?"

"Why?" Teru asked, knowing that his brother was still in one of his moods.

Seito rolled his eyes. "What do you expect me to say? It's fun."

"Fine. It's about time we pick up our partners anyway."

Hiro walked over to the computer with his D-3 held out. "Digiport Open." They were swallowed in a burst of light a second later.

Digital World

Proto Forest

"I don't like that look BlackGatomon has in his eye." Teru muttered.

"Relax. He's just excited that's all."

Proto Forest – a place Mushroomon loves to visit. Seito was marching ahead towards the monster tree sitting alongside the pathway, rooted somewhere in the midst of the abundance of plants. It was difficult not to appreciate the size of the grand tree; its branches were both wiry and thick, extending wherever an open space was to be enjoyed. The majority broached upward, evidence of its several years and decades. The haze of lilac and violet was further accented by the plantlife above - several grand trees similar and others far more distinct - travelling from another area entirely.

Teru noticed this and turned to Hiro. "He still angry?"

Hiro shrugged, contemplating whether to tell him about his earlier conversation or not.

"He is your cousin after all." Teru muttered, as if that explained everything.

"Hey! He's your brother!" Hiro countered.

"And he's my partner."

"Agumon!" Seito exclaimed, running and hugging his partner who seemed to appear from the sides behind one of the big trees.

"Eh, nice to see you too, Seito. But it's only been a few hours. No need to be melodramatic." Agumon said.

"Where is— oomph!" Teru was tackled to the ground from behind by his own partner.

"Let me guess, you were going to ask about me, right?" Mushroomon grinned.

BlackGatomon's ears perked up. "You guys know how to attract trouble don't you?"

A rustle through the flora alerted everyone to the approaching presence. Stepping into view was a digimon warrior, whose sword ignited in flames. Covered in armor garbed in red, this warrior digimon sported a cape as well.

"Children of the originals. Surrender yourselves to me and you shall not be harmed."

BlackGatomon smirked. "They won't be harmed either way, Mystimon."

"Who?" Hiro asked.

"Mistymon, Ultimate Level and a tough one I've heard. His sword is dangerous and so is his crystal ball." BlackGatomon said. "I'd like to see. . ." He paused. He grinned. "How tough." His claws outstretched.

Teru outstretched his hand to stop his cousin's partner. "Listen, we know what you're after." Teru said. "You're not going to use us as leverage against our parents."

Mystimon frowned, but nodded. "Then I have no choice but to subdue you and bring you by force. I am sorry about this."

BlackGatomon yelped in glee.

"We'll handle this." Teru said.

"Oh right, you're going to handle an ultimate. Good luck." The feline replied.

"Ah, relax we'll clean up the mess once they're beaten." Hiro said. "With a dramatic heroic appearance."

Teru looked at his cousin. "I hate you right now." He held up his digivice above his head. "Digivolve!"

"Mushroomon Digivolved to Ninjamon!"

Ninjamon landed on the ground. "Ready whenever you are." He said, while unsheathing his sword.

Mystimon charged forward, causing their blades to collide. Ninjamon immediately recognized his limitations with a sword fight. He focused on speed, while Mystimon focused on precision and power.

Ninjamon retreated, throwing ninja stars with his free hand to allow it. Mystimon effortlessly struck them down, slowly gaining ground. Ninjamon held up his free hand performing hand seals while Mystimon took that opportunity to burst into an offensive. The ultimate level brought his sword down to cleave his smaller opponent in half. He succeeded.

The shock on Ninjamon's face faded as the body that had been cleaved in two vanished. Mystimon took a step back, momentarily puzzled.

"Fire Enbuken!"

Mystimon's instincts and training had prepared him for sneak attacks; his sword blazed with fire as he spun around to collide with Ninjamon's own flaming sword.

"Dammit," Ninjamon broke off his attack.

Mystimon switched to the offensive again immediately, striking with his sword from multiple angles, with such speed and power that Ninjamon couldn't hope to defend. An upward swing disarmed the champion, and Mystimon pressed forward.

"Ninjamon! Get out of there!" Teru yelled.

"Blaze Blast!" A ball of flames struck Mystimon's back causing a burst of flames and smoke to erupt in every direction.

Tyrannomon roared into the sky. "No one kicks their asses, but us!" Seito yelled.

"Ugh!" Teru threw his arms up in frustration.

"Two on one? I suspected children could not find honor in combat." Mystimon said, pointing his blade to Tyrannomon.

Teru rolled his eyes. "This is not my fault. I wanted a one on one fight. They just butted in!"

Ninjamon's eyes rolled identically to his partner. "Not that I'm all broken up about it or anything." He reclaimed his sword and stood at the ready.

"Yeah, Teru! Not like you'd say thanks or anything!" Seito yelled back.

Flames danced around Mystimon's blade. "It's over."

The four of them looked to Mystimon in shock. "Blast Fire." Ninjamon was the first one to be struck down. He reverted back to Mushroomon as he slid across the dirt. "Blast Fire." Tyrannomon was next, being such a big target made it impossible for him to dodge. He reverted back to Agumon and slammed into a tree.

"Awww man!" Seito yelled. "Come on!"

Mystimon took a look up into the sky, seeing that dark clouds had formed above. He immediately turned around to see another digimon.

"It's about time you noticed." The digimon muttered, arrogance dripping with each word.

Mystimon gripped his sword and held it in a formal stance in front of him. A change in his eyes showed he registered the threat.

"Aren't you going to get in trouble?" Teru asked. "You're never supposed to allow BlackGatomon to digivolve to his ultimate form."

Hiro shrugged. "If I get in trouble for saving the family then this family sucks."

Teru nodded. "Granted."

Seito was a lot more excited. "I haven't seen Astamon in so long!"

Astamon was a humanoid digimon in a blue suit which could barely be seen under his demonic robe. He had a half demon half man face and small demonic wings sprouting from his back.

Astamon lifted his gun, Oro Salmon, and prepared to fire.

"I'd ask you to surrender, but that's just no fun." Astamon said. He pulled the trigger.

5:00 P.M (JT)

Taichi opened the door to his sons' room. "I should've known. No Yagami is that quiet."

Proto Forest

"Core Dart!" Mystimon's crystal ball levitated in front of him before igniting in a large flame. The incoming waves of bullets slammed into the growing wall of fire, but couldn't penetrate.

Astamon cocked an eyebrow. "Wow? You blocked that? I got to say my respect for you is growing." He sprinted forward, Mystimon's eyes widened as he felt the wind pass him by. Mystimon brought his blade in a horizontal slash behind him, forcing Astamon to duck or lose his head.

"Come on, kick his ass!" Hiro yelled. "Take it to thirty five!"

Teru glanced at his cousin. "Thirty five?"

"Where have you been?" Seito said. "Astamon's current kill count is thirty four."

"Deletion count." Teru corrected.

Seito rolled his eyes. "Same difference."

Mystimon's eyes were trained on Astamon. Just what was he fighting? This digimon's power was truly remarkable. Astamon was fast, strong, and if what those little runts were yapping about was true he was experienced as well.

Astamon grinned. "Well? Are you going to attack or stand there all day?"

Mystimon realized he was being baited. He closed his eyes.

"He's concentrating." Hiro said.

Astamon smirked as he pointed Oro Salmon at his foe. "Sayonara." The first bullet fired raced its way to Mystimon, flanked by half a dozen more. The first one was knocked from the sky with a quick slash, followed by several rapid successions that took care of the rest of the incoming bullets.

Astamon whistled. Mystimon's eyes remained closed.

"We've seen this before." Hiro said. "Come on, how many anime have we seen with a blind swordsman!"

Astamon nodded. He cracked his neck.

Mushroomon opened his eyes, seeing that he was lying in Teru's lap. "What happened?"

Teru looked down at his partner, relief replacing the concern that was there only a moment ago. "Lucky shot."

Astamon charged forward, gun in hand. Mystimon brought his blade to intercept only to have it slam into Astamon's Oro Salmon. Astamon began swinging his gun like a blunt object. Mystimon parried each strike with his own weapon.

The speed of their attacks increased with each blow. Flames danced around Mystimon's blade as he brought his weapon in an upward arc, cleaving Oro Salmon in two. The shock on Astamon's face drove Mystimon to move towards a death blow. He brought his blade around and prepared to overstrike Astamon in two.

"Psyche!" Twin blades shot from Astamon's sleeves into his hand, arming him and allowing the demon man digimon to hold initiative as he jammed the pair of blades into Mystimon's chest.

"Wahoo!" Seito and Hiro cheered at the same time.

Mystimon fell to his knees, staring up at his conqueror before fading into bits of data.

"Thirty five baby!" Astamon said, raising his hands in the air with the peace sign.

5:15 P.M (JT)

The computer in the Yagami residence exploded with light.

"Man that was so awesome." Seito said walking towards his bed.

"Was it now?"

Seito stopped walking. He looked up to see his father staring down at him with fearsome eyes. "Ah, dad. Hey!"

"Going to the digital world, one." He held up his index finger. "Without permission. And two." He held up his middle finger. "Even though we're being targeted right now. I mean we do not know anything about these Witchelny digimon, yet you run off to the digital world without telling anybody."

"Ah." Seito said. He couldn't really counter that. And he didn't want to press the matter on how his father knew they were being targeted. It probably meant that he had spoken to Aunt Hikari. This means he'd be in even more trouble if his father mentioned that he was already told not to go to the digital world.

"And you!" Taichi said, looking at his older son. Teru scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "The older brother. I expect you to look after him. You're quick to tell him off whenever he does something wrong, but here you are leading him into danger."

"I did go with him." Teru muttered under his breath.

"Calm down old man." BlackGatomon said, stepping forward.

Taichi glanced in the feline's direction. "Looks like you'll be in trouble too." He looked to his nephew. "BlackGatomon digivolved, didn't he?"

Hiro frowned. "Awww man, we were going to keep that a secret."

"Hiro!" Seito exclaimed. "We weren't going to say a thing! Remember what Daisuke's always told us; 'when in doubt, deny. Deny. Deny.'"

"Davis, huh?" Taichi said.

Hiro rolled his eyes. "We can't really hide anything from your dad. He's the Ace after all."

"The Ace?"

"Never mind. I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?" Hiro said.

"Yeah, no." Taichi replied. "You're not going anywhere. Not after being attacked."

BlackGatomon chuckled. "I wasn't attacked. They were," He pointed at Seito and Teru. "I was the heroic protector."

Veins popped on Teru's forehead. "Ugh!" He stormed out of the room.

xxxxx

"Tai! Pay attention!" Mimi said, slamming her hand on the table. Everyone in the diner glanced in their direction, only long enough to see if there was any trouble.

"Alright. Alright." Taichi said, taking a sip of his cola from a straw. "What were you saying again?"

Mimi smiled. "You're very easy to read."

"I'll take that as a compliment, I guess. I'm not one for touchy feelings." Taichi said.

"I beg to differ." Mimi said. She stopped there, giving Taichi THE stare.

Taichi stared back at her. "What?" He finally said annoyed.

"Nothing."

Taichi scoffed. "Obviously not, Mimi. If you have something to say, then say it."

Mimi took a sip of her coffee. "You're very hurt right now, Tai."

He started, opened his mouth then closed it.

"But it's okay, we're here for you." Mimi said.

Taichi looked at her thoughtfully. "How did we get on this subject about me, anyway?" He crossed his arms. "We were talking about you and Michael."

Mimi stared down at her coffee. "So you were listening."

"In one ear, out the other." He grinned.

Mimi rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Taichi." He winced when she called him his full name. "I'm telling you that Michael and I are about to break up and-"

"Wait, wait. Break up?" His grin faded.

"Oh, so you weren't listening." Mimi's eyes locked with his.

Taichi looked away unnerved. "Gah. Come on, Mimi. Stay on one topic."

"Fine. Well, we fell out of love with each other. It's as simple as that."

"That's it?" Taichi inquired, knowing there had to be more.

Mimi nodded with a very deep blush on her face.

"You're hiding something." Taichi muttered.

"As are you." Mimi quickly countered.

"Touché" He was quiet, watching her movements. She didn't drink her coffee anymore. She didn't seem to want to do anything anymore. "How about we make a deal."

Mimi's gaze drifted into his eyes. "That we tell each other our secrets?"

Taichi frowned, looking away again. "Am I really that obvious?"

"Maybe just to me. But sure, I'm game." She said. "If you go first."

"Uh." He stuttered.

"Well?"

"I have to warm up to it."

"Ah. Then let me help. Sora," She offered.

Taichi froze, staring down at cola. He knew he shouldn't feel this way anymore. But there wasn't really a how-to on erasing feelings.

"Look at me." Mimi whispered, reaching her hand across the table to his hand. Taichi's eyes immediately shot up to hers, as if challenging her. "And Matt." Mimi continued

"Yes, Sora and Matt are together. I wish it was me instead of him. I was too late. I told her my feelings, and she chose Matt instead. I hoped it wasn't too late, but the look in her eyes told me everything. I backed off when I should have persisted. When I should have proven to her that I really do have feelings for her. But now it's too late." He broke eye contact with her, moved his hand away from hers and looked down. "I'm just not handling it well I guess."

Mimi was impressed. Letting it all out with such little provocation. It was obvious that he was suffering, but he was actually handling it pretty well. She could tell. "You're right, you're not." Mimi said with a smile on her face.

"Ah thanks. No need to try to make me feel better, no thanks I'm fine." He rolled his eyes.

"As if you need any more pampering." She teased. "Though I will say, I'm glad your time away from the digital world hasn't made you any less courageous."

It was now Taichi's turn to be on the offensive and he took it swiftly. "What about you? It's your turn."

Mimi swished her cup around, staring at her coffee.

"Well?"Taichi egged on. "Not so easy is it." He challenged.

Mimi took a sip of her coffee before looking Taichi in the eyes. "Well, Michael and I were having relations."

Taichi blinked. "Relations? Like-?"

"Yeah." Mimi smiled sheepishly. "America is different than Japan you know. The culture is different."

"Okay." Taichi said, feeling very uncomfortable all of a sudden. "So you two were having s. . .relations."

"And I happened to mention someone else's name."

"Happened to. You can't be serious." Taichi said with wide eyes.

Mimi was beet red, but she held her composure. "Yes, I am serious, Taichi. I would not lie about something like that."

He really didn't know what to say. Why was she even telling him this? Wasn't this girl talk?

"I told him it was nothing. But as you can imagine, he didn't buy that." Mimi continued. "And it hasn't been the same between us since."

"Who?"

"What?"

"Whose name did you say? Someone he knew right? That's why he was mad about it?"

"Uhhhh, yeah he knows him. Sort of."

"Can you be anymore vague, Mimi? What's his name?"

Mimi shook her head. Taichi really didn't have any boundaries, did he? "That's not important." Mimi brushed the question off.

The two were quiet after that, each looking at their drinks. It was strange to Taichi. He knew this was supposed to be an awkward silence, but for some reason it didn't feel awkward at all. He was about to open his mouth, but she beat him to it.

"Do you feel better, now?" Mimi asked him.

He felt himself smiling. "Well, yeah. I guess."

Mimi smiled back to him. "Good." She stood up, dropping some yen on the table. "I'm going to the nail salon. See you later." She stopped as she felt him grab her arm.

"This was never about you and Michael was it?"

Mimi giggled. "Tai that would be telling wouldn't it?" And she left.

Taichi leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling."I guess it would be, Mimi."

xxxxx

Meem's Cooking Studio (New York)

January 23rd (Saturday)

7:56 P.M (EST)

"And that's the recipe for today. And for those of you that don't know, this is the season finale." Mimi pointed a leek at the screen. "So tell me, which of my recipes is your favorite?"

"I personally prefer your Thailand style duck over red curry paste dish." A sultry voice answered.

Mimi's eyes betrayed surprise at being answered, but she quickly masked it.

The camera which is usually stationary throughout the program shifted to the right. In its view was a red robe, witch hat, black cape wearing champion, with hands twice the size of what would be appropriate on her form.

"Why thank you." Mimi said, looking toward the camera man. She wanted him to shut it off.

"Oh the program is just getting started, dear." The unidentified digimon told her. She held her hand out and a broom materialized in it. She pointed it at the camera man. "You," She said, licking her lips. "Turn that off only if you want that to be the last thing you ever do."

"Oh, I don't think so." Mimi said, matter-of-factly. "And neither does my partner."

The camera man moved the camera to the left getting a clear shot at Palmon who was staring daggers at the champion level digimon.

"Witchmon, what brings you here?" Palmon said, tension clear in her voice.

"What can I say; I'm just looking for the finer things in life." Witchmon replied. "And well that means power. You understand, don't you?"

"Another digimon from Witchelny." Mimi muttered. "I thought I finished my discussion with FlameWizarmon yesterday."

"Oh you finished it alright. We decided perhaps you need a talk, woman to woman." Witchmon said.

"The answer is still no."

Witchmon took a step forward, causing both Palmon and Mimi to tense. "Don't be like that. After all, we wouldn't want anyone to get hurt now would we?" She pointed her broom at the various others who helped run the show.

"You won't get the chance."

"Why is that? Is your partner here going to digivolve into a form too big for this building? Maybe cause a collapse? Crush the innocents in the rubble?"

Palmon looked absolutely livid.

Mimi just chuckled at the suggestion. "I have a question for you. Why would you want to keep the camera on? By now the New York digidestined are on their way."

Witchmon gave a Cheshire grin. "To humiliate you in front of an audience of course."

Mimi glared in response.

"Are you aware that your children were attacked in the digital world today?" Witchmon asked, already aware of the negative answer. "They probably didn't bother to tell you, did they? It's not like you're part of their lives anymore anyway."

"Shut up," Mimi seethed.

Witchmon tried to hold in her laughter, before letting it out in full vocal. "Do the sweet people who watch your show know you in the slightest? Do they understand that it's this very show that keeps you from your family? Keeps you from your wants and desires?" She motioned towards Mimi's recording staff, who were all staring at Mimi with shocked glances; some even with pity.

Palmon stepped in front of her partner. "Back off, Witchmon! That's enough."

"And here your partner is, defending you, even though she knows it's the truth. Notice how she doesn't deny anything I've said. And neither have you." Witchmon's grin seemed to widen further.

Mimi crossed her arms. "I could deny it, but you keep talking. I figured I'd let you talk all the way until the others break through the door."

"I plan to be out of here by then. Aquaria Pressure!" She pointed her broom into the air and instantly torrents of water seemed to burst from all directions – through the walls, from the floor, and also the roof.

"Everyone, run!" Mimi commanded. Her eyes widened in shock as Witchmon mounted her broom and flew towards her. Palmon's Poison Ivy wrapped around Mimi and pulled her to safety.

With one hand keeping her steady on her broom, she used her other hand to point in the direction of the duo. "Baluluna Gate!" From her hand an intense wind was released. Palmon altered Mimi's trajectory and took the full force of the attack head on, blowing her through a wall.

"Looks like you've lost all the will to fight. Are you feeling more talkative now?"

Mimi stood back up. What she needs to do, is skip the champion level altogether. But we've never done that. We've never needed to.

Witchmon raced forward, this time going for Palmon, who was sluggishly getting back to her feet. The tip of the broom stick rammed into Palmon's forehead sending her smashing back into another wall. Before she could get up, Witchmon's oversized hands grabbed her by her body and held her against the wall.

The water began to fill in the room.

"Palmon! You need to digivolve!" Mimi said.

"No, what she needs is for you to tell me what I want to know." Witchmon said, squeezing tighter. "Don't tell me you're going to fail her like you have your children!"

I've. . .been there. I've been there for Teru and Sei. I've been there for Taichi. I've always been there. I just-

Palmon screamed as her the pressure intensified. She was dazed as it was and didn't know what was going on due to Witchmon's earlier attacks, but the pain was very clear.

"So what're you going to do?" Witchmon asked, sadistically licking her lips. Palmon's cries were music to her ears.

I just haven't been able to see them. I'm still there, right? No! This is what she wants! She wants me to doubt myself. Well she's got another thing coming. No one assaults Mimi Yagami or her studio and gets away with it. Lillymon. We need you now.

The image of the ultimate formed in Mimi's head. Mimi raised her digivice into the air. "Palmon! Digivolve!"

Witchmon snarled. "What?"

"Palmon Warp Digivolved to. . .Lillymon!"

"She did it." Mimi said in awe. "She actually did it."

Lillymon brought both of her feet to Witchmon's face chest knocking the champion away from her. She needed space to perform her Flower Cannon and that's exactly what she did. "Flower Cannon!"

"Aquaria Pressure!" A burst of water rose like a geyser from beneath floor, shielding Witchmon from the attack.

"The studio is ruined." Mimi muttered. "Make her pay, Lillymon!"

"Well I think I've made my point!" Witchmon said, pointing her palm up. "Baluluna Gate!" The resulting force of wind destroyed the roof. Witchmon flew out from the opening, moving like a blur.

The water stopped filtering in from nowhere. The building had been abandoned, leaving a soaked Mimi and Lillymon panting.

"Some season finale," Mimi said.

Yagami Residence (Japan)

January 24th (Sunday) (Anniversary Day)

10:00 A.M (JT)

The Yagami family was just waking up. Taichi was making breakfast while his sons and nephew watched the TV.

"Hey, dad! Mom's on the news again." Teru called out.

Taichi walked in holding a cooking pan in his hand. "What happened now?"

"Shhhhh! She's about to talk!" Seito chastised.

Taichi was genuinely curious so he let it slide.

"And so it seems that these digimon have gone hostile. Rest assured, Michael Washington is working with the rest of the New York digidestined to find and neutralize the threat these digimon from Witchelny possess."

"And where will you be during all of this? I believe tomorrow is your wedding anniversary correct?" The news reporter had asked.

"That is correct. I will be returning to Japan shortly."

He couldn't wait. He just needed to see her face in person. He needed to feel her touch. He needed her and the more time they spent apart the more thoughts of her would enter his mind. He wordlessly made his way back into the kitchen.

There was a knock on the door.

"I got it!" Teru said, running over to the door and opening it.

"Hello, Teru." Hikari said with a cheery smile on her face.

"Ah, Aunt Hikari." Teru said. "What's up?"

"Mom? What're you doing here?" Hiro asked from the couch.

"I can't just drop by?" She asked.

"Ungrateful punks." Gatomon said, casually striding by Teru and making her way inside.

"Oh. Oh! Come in, come in." Teru ushered. "You can see my latest drawings."

Hikari giggled and stepped inside. "Where's my brother?"

"Cooking."

"Ah," Hikari made her way to the kitchen.

Hiro was looking very pale. Both of his cousins immediately knew the reason. "Relax, dad won't say a word."

"I heard about Mimi." Hikari said opening the hood to the pot of rice.

"Yeah." Taichi replied adding a bit of seasoning to the miso soup.

"So your charming sister has decided that she will pick Mimi up for the anniversary dinner." Hikari said, looking at the frying fish in the cooking pan. "You are aware that Hiro does not like fish, right?"

Taichi rolled his eyes. "You are aware that he loves miso soup right? And don't you mean creepy ageless sister?"

"That's not nice," Hikari grabbed the stirring spoon and took a sip of the miso. "Mmmmmmm, you made it spicy."

"Mmmhhhmmm." Taichi said.

"So did they visit the digital world yesterday?" Hikari asked.

"Ah? Yeah, they were there."

"And did BlackGatomon digivolve?"

"Nothing gets past you, Kari."

11:50 P.M (EST)

Hyatt Hotel New York

"Palmon."

"Can't sleep, Mimi?"

"No. These Witchelny digimon mean business. It's obvious they're going to appear tomorrow."

"We can't know for sure."

"Maybe we should call it off."

"You can't call off your anniversary. If you do, the terrorists win."

"Hahahaha, awww Palmon."

Digital World

File Island

Teru and Seito had chosen it. File Island - a place of beginnings, or what they hoped would be new beginnings. A new chapter. It was here that the digidestined first arrived into the Digital World and where they first stepped up to the challenge of saving the world. With all of the friends they made here it was the perfect place to bring their children on their own first steps into the Digital World.

With the sun beginning to drop the trees took on a color of "burning-teal" as the kids called it. They chose a clearing in which the flora graciously, as Mushroomon put it, left open for such occasions. It would give Taichi and Mimi enough space to really feel as if they were the only ones in the world.

"I'm hungry." Mushroomon said.

"Yeah, yeah. Finish picking flowers." Teru said. "Everything needs to be perfect when my mom gets here."

"Yeah, yeah." His partner said. "Everything IS perfect for her. Just look at this table."

The dining room table, dubbed The Empress was what the rookie was referring to. Handcrafted of select hardwoods and hand painted in an onyx black color, this table was a sight to behold.

"Yeah, she is a beauty." Teru ran his hand across one of its legs.

"What I don't get is why Catherine would let us use this." Seito said, sitting in one of the chairs looking bored. He pointed to a bottle of pink wine on table labeled Perrier Jouet Fleur De Brut Millesime Rose. "Or give them pink wine."

"Isn't she a digidestined? This can't be too surprising." Agumon said.

"Hey, Yamato can I use your rocket ship?" Seito said. "No. He'd probably say hell no actually."

"You got a point." His partner conceded.

"That's a first." A new voice called out.

Seito rolled his eyes at the newcomer. "Sayuri Hida."

Sayuri Hida was the daughter of Iori and Kasumi Hida. She practices Kendo with her father, but does not share his calm demeanor. Both of her parents are lawyers so she has a very strong sense of justice that has carried over to her outlook on the digital world. She has long brown hair and a love for wearing skirts. Surprisingly, or not so much anymore, she doesn't mind getting dirty causing her parents to resupply her wardrobe every couple of weeks. Her attitude could best be described as; what you get when you combine Taichi and Iori together.

"Manners, Seito. It's not just me. Armadillomon, Emelie, and Biyomon are here too." Sayuri reprimanded.

"Oh exalted Sayuri. I am sooooo sorry for not realizing you brought your groupies with you." Seito retorted.

"What was that?" Sayuri asked, a malevolent edge to her tone.

"Hey guys." Teru said, as if the exchange never happened. "We're just setting up here."

"Hi Teru!" Emelie and Sayuri said in unison.

Emelie Ishida was Yamato and Sora's oldest child. She was a tomboy like her mother, with looks closely resembling her father at her age. She is usually teased for it a lot and has developed a withdrawn personality similar to her father at her age.

"Nice table!" Emelie commented.

"Yeah, we got it from Catherine for this special day." Teru replied.

Emelie smirked. "Well that's interesting."

"What?"

"Isn't Catherine your father's ex-girlfriend?" Emelie asked. All the talking stopped as all eyes turned to Emelie. Emelie looked uncomfortable with the sudden attention and blushed a bit. "What?"

"How did you hear this?" Teru asked.

"Am I the only one not surprised by this?" Agumon called out.

"Well my mum and your dad were best friends. I ask about her days as a digidestined all the time." Emelie said.

"Ummmm, what's the big deal?" Mushroomon asked.

Biyomon shook her head. "Boys."

Mushroomon just shrugged, not wanting to figure out what she meant by that. "Whatever, I'm still hungry. When are Hiro and Motoko going to get here with our snacks?"

xxxxx

After a week of shock.

After two weeks of sadness.

After a month of anger.

All that was left was purpose. Taichi Yagami was a stupid idiot she had finally realized. He had broken up with her because he couldn't handle it. It was torture for both of them and she wasn't going to take it anymore.

Mimi was going to confront him once and for all. She hadn't been worried that he would relapse into his feelings for Sora. She hadn't been worried that he would hurt her at all. She knew him. And she knew that he knew her. So his entire reasoning had been bullshit and it was about time that she called him out on it.

The Yagami apartment complex was its usual quiet self at this time of day. She banged on the Yagami residence door.

"Who is it?" Hikari's voice called from the other side.

"Where's Tai, Kari?" Mimi answered.

The door opened. Hikari stared back at her, very surprised at her guest. "Mimi? What're you doing here?"

"Where is Tai?" Mimi emphasized.

"He's at a party. Soccer team is celebrating making the play offs again. I don't know why they celebrate because they make it every year."

"Where is the party?"

"Ummmm," Hikari looked down at her feet, uncomfortably.

"Spit it out!" Mimi exclaimed; nothing and no one would stop her.

"I don't think you want to go. He brought Catherine DeGaul with him."

Mimi's eyes narrowed. Judging by Hikari's facial expression this Catherine DeGaul was a person of interest. Perhaps Taichi had a new girlfriend.

"I don't know who that is. Quite frankly, I don't care. I'm going to give Taichi Yagami a piece of my mind and no one is going to stop me." Mimi said, staring Hikari down.

Hikari backed off. "The party is in Tamachi."

"Palmon Digivolved to Togemon!"

"Togemon Digivolved to Lillymon!"

Mimi raised her arm and her partner grabbed it. "To Tamachi!"

"I don't know where that is, Mimi."

"That's what GPS is for!"

Top speed flight had brought Mimi to her destination within ten minutes. The door was open and the music was blaring. She waltzed inside.

This was a house party. The big screen TV was showing highlights of some soccer game. Food was everywhere: all over the floor, on every table, on the couch. It was mostly pizza, which Taichi would've said automatically makes this a party. But there was some weirdo eating UDON in the corner. She didn't recognize the faces, as she never really interacted with his team before. Some of them gave her approving looks, seemingly preparing to engage her. She shot them down with a quick glare and continued her search.

"That's not a way to make friends." A voice called out to here.

She turned around, expecting to see Taichi, but was disappointed. "Where is Tai, Davis?"

Daisuke frowned. "You came all the way here for that?" He waved his arms in defense at her glare. "Sorry. It's just that, your prince is in another castle."

"Another castle?"

"He's not here, Mimi. He was here. But uhhh, he left."

Mimi analyzed him. "Continue, Davis or I will tell Kari how little help you were."

"Aye, aye. No need for threats. Catherine was feeling a little sick. So he was taking her back to her hotel room."

"Hotel room?"

"Catherine isn't from here. She's one of the French Digidestined." He said.

"Tai went to France during that whole Control Spire fiasco if I recall correctly." Mimi said.

"They, uhhh hit it off. But they only got serious a couple of weeks ago."

"So she flew out here to be with him for a couple of days." Mimi noted. "Understood. Where is this hotel?"

He looked her in the eye. "I don't recommend going there, Mimi."

"I'm not fragile, Davis. I know what's going on. Do you really think that's going to stop me? I flew here on Lillymon for god sake. Using only GPS!"

Daisuke shook his head. "Sheesh. Well the hotel is back in Odaiba."

Mimi's eyes had an intensity to them. "He would make this as difficult as possible."

"For the record Mimi. I'd do the same thing. For Kari ya know."

Mimi nodded. "I need a favor."

"Anything."

"Do you have a PA system here?"

"The coach keeps one in the car. Why?"

Taichi and Catherine were lip locking. The world had all but disappeared in their eyes as they only had each other in that moment. This French girl was very cute and seemed to be smitten with him.

He opened his eyes slightly, and saw that her eyes were staring into his. He quickly shut them. That was weird; shouldn't her eyes be closed too?

He could feel her arms trying to take off his shirt. She wanted him. It was permission to go the extra step. Her perfume was intoxicating. He couldn't stop.

"Monsieur Taichi." She moaned.

"I told you to just call me, Tai." He responded.

Her blouse hit the floor. He reached his arms around her, preparing to unclasp her bra.

He never got that far as his cell phone went off.

"Ignore it." Catherine told him, disappointed at the interruption.

Taichi glanced at the phone to see Mimi's name popping up in the caller ID. He waited for it to go to voicemail before closing the distance between him and Catherine. The cell phone went off a second time.

Oh she was in her persistent mood today.

Taichi sighed, "Hold on." He picked up the phone. "Mimi, I'm busy at the moment."

"Taichi, come outside right this instance."

"I'm not home."

"I know that. Come outside, or else."

"Look Mimi, we'll talk later. Bye," He slammed the phone shut.

Not even ten seconds passed. "Taichi Yagami! I know you're in there!" An extremely loud voice screamed out.

"What the hell?"

"And I know what you're doing!" The voice continued.

"Ahhh!" Catherine screamed as she held her blouse to cover herself. She looked left and right as if a ghost would appear any moment.

"Come out here and face me like a man!"

He knew that voice. And with recognition came fear.

"Did you really think it would be that easy to get rid of me? No one gets rid of Mimi Tachikawa, I get rid of you. Now get out here! My digivice tells me that there are two digivices in that room. You can't hide from me!"

"Mimi." Taichi muttered.

"Mimi. . .Tachikawa?" Catherine asked, stunned.

"Come out here, or I'll go in there! How much embarrassment can your ego handle? Think about that! Then come out here and hear what I have to say!"

Taichi was speechless.

"What does she want?" Catherine asked.

"Please."

Taichi's mind was made. The strong Mimi had given way to the soft side for just an instance; Taichi couldn't resist. He swung the curtains to the balcony open. He opened the sliding door. He was in his boxers.

"Oh." Mimi said. She had forgotten what she wanted to say now.

xxxxx

5:40 A.M (EST)

A bright flash expanded through the room. When it receded, Hikari stood there, in front of a laptop with Gatomon.

Mimi Yagami was brushing her teeth in the bathroom when it happened. "Kari, is that you?" She called out.

"Let's hope so." Hikari said, a grin on her face. "Almost ready?"

Mimi stuck her head out of the bathroom. "Let's hope so." She said, mimicking Hikari's words. Mimi spit into the sink and looked at her teeth. "Mmmmmm."

"Come on, let's go. You don't want to be late to your own anniversary dinner do you? Oh hey, Palmon."

Palmon smiled. "What do you mean? Isn't it more likely for Tai to be late?"

"And suffer the wraith of Teru and Sei for it? Not a chance." Gatomon said.

File Island

"So just then I got the idea to drop the rocks down on Infermon. He didn't know what happened." Sayuri said.

"So what you're saying is; you defeated an Ultimate by dropping some rocks on it." Seito said, not buying it.

"Of course. He didn't come out after that." Sayuri said with a charming smile.

"So this is where the party is at." Another voice called out, stomping down the argument that was about to follow.

Seito's eyes widened. "Dante! You're here!"

Teru rolled his eyes. "Who invited you?"

"I did!" Seito said.

Dante was a fifteen year old American digidestined from California. He had tanned skin and brown hair. His partner is BlackAgumon.

"Hello, Seito." A female voice said, making the younger boy blush.

"Ah, Sarah, I didn't know you'd be here."

Sarah was a fifteen year old blonde digidestined from California. She has braces on her teeth, which she was self conscious of. She was the second in command with her Labramon as her partner.

"Come to fill my brother's head with more nonsense about moving to America huh?" Teru asked.

Dante smirked. "Nonsense? There's a very real chance that he'll be accepted into the program. He is American after all."

"Still going on with that. You sound like a broken record." Teru remarked.

Dante and BlackAgumon took a step forward. "Do I?"

"Do I have to separate you two?" Hiro muttered, walking in holding bags of goodies for everyone.

All of the digimon stared at the bags.

Sarah walked up to him. "You're Hiro Yagami right?" It was then she noticed the person walking behind him. "Motoko Ichijouji?"

Hiro stared at her. "Yeah, do I know you?"

Motoko Ichijouji was the eldest child of Ken and Miyako Ichijouji. She had a dark shade of hair similar to her father and glasses that were identical to her mother's. Her partner was a Poromon. She was also known as one of the two strongest of this generation.

Sarah looked almost disappointed. "I am Sarah Elam. American Digidestined from California."

"Oh." He said, before turning away. "Anyway, everyone; eat up and be merry and all of that stuff."

"Here here!" All of the digimon said in unison.

"I didn't think celebrities would be here." Dante muttered.

Teru looked at him. "Celebrities?"

"Hiro Yagami and Motoko Ichijouji." Sarah said. "Those are the only two younger generation digidestined known worldwide. Well aside from the two of you, but you're only known because of your relationship to Taichi Yagami not because of the power you hold."

"Wait!" Sayuri interjected. "What about me? Sayuri Hida!"

Dante and Sarah both shrugged, but quickly looked to the sky when a shadow overtook the entire area.

"BlackAgumon!"

"Labramon!"

"Wait. Wait. We're okay. Calm down!" Teru yelled.

"Special delivery! Is there a Teru Yagami down there?"

Blimpmon was a machine digimon in the form of a blimp. Its sides were heavily armed with cannons.

"Yeah!" Teru waved upward.

A rope ladder was released from the bottom of the enormous digimon as two other digimon climbed down. One was a Geckomon wearing an apron while the other was a Burgermon.

"Your food is ready. One order of Blade Steaks with Rosemary White-Bean Puree and oneorder of Panzanella Caprese." The Geckomon said. "I still believe that a nice dessert would compliment this fine meal. Spiced Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting. How does that sound?"

Teru shook his head. "I told you already. The dessert they'll be having is not on the menu."

"I still don't understand what you mean by that. Is there anything we should add to our menu to make it more appealing to you?" Geckomon asked.

"No. No. We're fine. Thank you for the delivery." Teru said.

File Island

Undisclosed Location

"Where is Sorcermon?" FlameWizardmon asked.

Witchmon sighed. "It appears he got himself preoccupied."

"Please tell me he didn't engage the digidestined of light." When Witchmon didn't answer he slapped his forehead and sighed.

"Well he's always been obsessed with Wizardmon, so it's-"

"Yes I know!" He snapped. "It's just he should know how it would end going after her. It's a waste of our resources. We don't have an unlimited amount of soldiers."

"Stop whining. We don't need an unlimited amount." Witchmon pointed one finger up. "We only need one."

File Island

File Temple

Taichi was dressed in his black Armani suit. Agumon was dressed in a smaller Armani suit just for him.

"So let me ask you," Centarumon said. "If these Witchelny monsters are following you, what makes you think that you did not bring them here, now?"

"These digimon know their limits and following me is the most dangerous option they have." Taichi said.

"My reputation precedes me. I'm sure they've heard all about how I defeated the Dark Masters or fought BlackWarGreymon to a standstill. Ya know, the guy who was destroying the world. Yeah him." Agumon said. "Or they might want more current events. In which case-"

"I get it." The champion digimon said. "I will protect the location of the Wall of Fire with my life."

"Just giving you a heads up." Taichi said. "Anyway, I have to get to my anniversary dinner. See you later."

Taichi and Agumon left the File Temple in a hurry.

xxxxx

"How far do we have to walk?" Mimi asked, dressed in a green Ruched Marilyn Mock-Halter Dress.

"Not much farther," Hikari reassured her as she led the way through the forest to the rendezvous.

"Well, this dress isn't much for travel." Mimi muttered. "The sun is starting to set too."

"Not like you haven't been to the digital world after dark before. Right?"

"Besides," Gatomon chipped in. "Isn't it more romantic this way?"

Mimi pouted. "You win."

"Mom!" Teru exclaimed as the group exited to a clearing.

Mimi's pout turned into a genuine smile. "Hey, Teru." She was almost tackled to the ground as Teru ran into her for a hug. "Whoa whoa. The dress, sweetheart, the dress." She hugged him back with an arm over his shoulder.

"Yeah, Teru is such a momma's boy." Seito said to Dante.

Teru stopped hugging his mother and turned around. "Shut up, Sei!"

"So this is the gang huh?" Mimi said, looking from one to the other. "Emelie Ishida and Biyomon. Sayuri Hida and Armadillomon. My nephew, Hiro and BlackGatomon. Motoko Inoue and Poromon. Dante Valux and BlackAgumon. Sarah Elam and Labramon."

Sarah pointed at herself. "You know who I am?"

Mimi smiled at her and didn't answer.

"Relax." Dante said to his partner. "She's obviously done her homework. Unlike some people." He glanced over in Hiro's direction.

"I take it I'm early?" Mimi asked.

"No. No. You're just in time!" Teru said. "Come on, have a seat."

Teru pulled her chair out and Mimi sat down comfortably. "Nice chair," Mimi admired. "How'd this fit the budget?"

"Ohh, we got it from-mmm!" Seito was cut off by Sayuri and Emelie.

"We borrowed it from a friend." Teru finished.

Motoko turned to Hiro. Hiro just shrugged.

"Something smells good." Taichi's Agumon said. Everyone turned around to see the duo approaching.

"I'm not late am I?" Taichi asked.

"And with that, I'll be heading home." Hikari said. "Come on, Gatomon." She hugged her brother as she passed him by. "Happy Anniversary you two."

Taichi nodded to all of the kids there before taking his seat across from Mimi.

Taichi immediately opened the dome cover of his food only to be quickly mesmerized by his food. "Hello there."

Mimi cleared her throat. "How rude."

Taichi scratched the back of his head. "It's food."

"I'm aware of that, Tai." Mimi muttered. "When was the last time you marveled at my food?"

"The other day on your cooking show." Taichi countered.

"Ah," Mimi said, opening her own dome cover.

"I know that look." Taichi said, slyly.

"What look? I don't have a look!"

"Uh huh." Taichi said. "You're impressed."

"I could make this."

"Yeah, but come on. It's our anniversary; isn't it better not to have to cook for a change?"

"Ohhh, there you go. Finally mentioning why we're here. I had thought you'd forgotten."

"Hah! I was warming up to it."

"You'd take that to court?"

"You know I would."

They were smiling now. "Happy Anniversary." Taichi said.

"Happy Anniversary."

xxxxx

Seito laid down on the grass, staring straight up into the sky. They had moved to a quarter mile from the dinner, to give the love birds some privacy. "You know it kind of sucks that they get all of that good food and we're stuck with Cheetos."

"You complain about everything. It's not about us." Teru countered. "Besides, why are you laying down on the job? We are here for a reason."

Seito rolled his eyes. "As if someone would really attack them. Wasn't this just an excuse to hang out in the digital world for a while?"

Teru shook his head. "Have you already forgotten about those Witchelny digimon?"

"Well, no. But come on, the whole reason why they're after us is to get stronger. So they obviously don't have the firepower to tango with all of us or mom and dad."

"That's two times you've had a point in one day, Seito." Sayuri chimed in. "Who are you and what have you done with the real, Sei?"

"Just what is that suppose to mean?"

Sayuri pointed at him. "That's the Sei I know!"

"Ugh!" Seito threw his arms into the air. "Hey!" He said, noticing Dante, Sarah and their partners were walking away. "Where are you going?" He called out.

"Checking the perimeter." Dante said, simply before continuing his walk.

"Wait for me!" Seito was already on his feet, running after them.

Seito's Agumon just shook his head. "It's like I have no say in anything." He then ran after his partner.

xxxxx

Taichi poured a glass of the Perrier Jouet Fleur De Brut Millesime Rose into Mimi's glass.

"Pink wine, hmmmm." Mimi noted.

"Yeah."

"Where did you get it?"

Taichi paid special attention to his food after being asked that question. Mimi was reading his face and took up a grim expression.

"I assume this table was her doing as well." Mimi muttered. "Was this whole thing, Catherine's idea?"

He knew this could quickly get out of hand. "Teru's actually. My idea had to do with scuba diving."

"Scuba diving. Wait, wait, we're getting off topic." Mimi said.

"No, you're getting off topic."

Mimi crossed her arms. "I'm just wondering how you can. . .taint our anniversary with her image."

"She's not tainting anything. This is our day."

Mimi narrowed her eyes. "You know how I feel about her. Especially on this day."

"Calm down. Relax. She wanted to do this for us. As a friend." He said. "So please, don't get upset."

"You're hopeless. You think she would do this just out of friendship?" Mimi asked. "This is her way of telling you that you can rely on her."

"You're being paranoid."

"That's what I would do in her situation." Mimi countered.

Taichi frowned. "Fine. Next time she offers her help for something, I will deny her."

"You sound awfully defensive. Taking her side, sweetheart?"

"Just wondering how our first face to face conversation in a while can turn into something like this." He said. "Especially when you know that I will always take your side. I will always be by your side. I vowed it, if you recall."

"I remember a lot of things from that day." Mimi muttered.

"Here it comes."

xxxxx

"Do you love her?"

Catherine's eyes were sapphires, seemingly staring into his very soul. He could see the desperation on her face even if her voice didn't betray it.

"I'm going to marry her. So yes, I love her."

It couldn't be any clearer than that.

Catherine smiled at him. "I see. It's true what they say, then. Loving someone is learning to let them go."

Taichi scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry if this is hard for you. I didn't think-"

"That I'd hold onto you for so long?" She completed.

"Well, yeah."

"You know, you didn't even break up with me. You just stopped talking to me. It really felt as though she stole you away from me that night."

"I'm not very good with breakups."

"Oh, I noticed. So I'll make this easy on you." Catherine looked away from him. "I'm breaking up with you."

Taichi was confused. "Huh?"

"Now you can get married with a clear conscience." And with that she was gone.

xxxxx

"So you're sure it fits comfortably?" Sora asked, just as she was about to lift up the zipper.

"Yes, Sora." Mimi said. "Yeow!"

"Aww, are you alright?" Sora yelped.

"I'm fine. Just warn me next time."

Sora had designed Mimi's wedding dress; a strapless white satin dress without frills.

"So you're sure you like the dress?"

Mimi rolled her eyes. "Yes, Sora. I like it. You've asked me about a million times."

Sora exhaled in relief.

Mimi fidgeted and twirled her hair around her finger. "And I thought fighting Apocalymon was hard. I'm more nervous today than I've ever been."

"Not to add to it, but today is a pretty big day." Sora said.

"I knew I should've just had a small wedding in Vegas."

Sora sighed. "I didn't mean just for you. For everyone."

"Well, it is a big thing for my parents too."

"I mean, the world, Mimi."

Mimi blinked.

"I'm serious. I've done a lot of thinking. The world is changing, Mimi. Changing to accept digimon. And we, as digidestined, are the frontrunners of this change. Us especially, because we're part of the original group. A union of the two of you will be a symbol."

"A symbol?"

"Yeah."

"Well thanks for making this whole thing a whole lot more nerve wracking."

Sora hugged her best friend. "Mimi."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for taking care of him. Especially when I couldn't." Sora said. "He-"

"Was too focused on what could have been." Mimi said. "He's a man who lives on his regrets. Kari. You."

Sora took a moment to accept those words. "You're wrong, Mimi. He WAS a man who lived on his regrets. But you've changed him. He's now a man who can push on, because at the end of the tunnel, there is you."

Mimi gave an embaressed smile. "I wouldn't go that far. Besides he's still a reckless, no-romantic-bone-in-his-body, fashionless, big haired goofball."

"Couldn't even get him to cut his hair for his wedding." Sora said, sarcastically.

"Nothing short of a new soccer law that requires haircuts would get him to do it." Mimi said with a laugh. "But I'm working on it"

Sora smiled, as if she had finally made peace with the whole scenario.

"Mimi?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure the dress isn't too tight?"

xxxxx

They loved each other. And that was enough. With all of their friends looking on, they exchanged their vows.

Taichi was nervous, but his outside exterior hid it well. He felt like a clunk of led, barely able to move. But he made it work, his body moving as if it had been preprogrammed. He opened his mouth and began:

"Where do I begin? Mimi, I love you so much. And I want to share everything with you. From this day forward I promise you these things. I will laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow. I will share in your dreams, and support you as you strive to achieve your goals. I will listen to you with compassion and understanding, and speak to you with encouragement. I will help you when you need it, and step aside when you don't. I will remain faithful to you for better or worse, in times of sickness and health. You are my best friend and I will love and respect you always. Always."

Tears had welled in Mimi's eyes as she stared into those of the love of her life. She had prepared for this. She didn't want to cry in front of everyone. She had played through this in her mind hundreds of times and mentally prepared herself, but it wasn't enough. His words had moved her soul.

She hadn't moved. The pastor looked to her, signifying it was her turn to say her vows.

With composure she didn't know she had, she began.

"Taichi, I love you. You are my best friend and will be forever. I give myself to you in marriage to be your wife. I promise to encourage you, to laugh with you and comfort you. I vow to be true and faithful for as long as we both shall live. Because of you, I laugh, I smile I dare to dream again. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you, caring, loving, and being there for you in all life has for us. I will always be the person that you can trust, talk to, and I will always understand. I will make my home in your heart. These promises I give you today and all of the days of our lives. Taichi, my love, our love has given us wings and our journey begins today."

The pastor gave time for Yuuko Yagami and Satae Tachikawa to compose themselves, before clearing his throat.

"Do you, Mimi Tachikawa, take Taichi Yagami to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"And do you, Taichi Yagami, take Mimi Tachikawa to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, until death do you part?"

"I do?"

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Catherine DeGaul stood up from her seat and left.

xxxxx

"Hmmm, she did leave, didn't she?" Taichi said, rubbing his chin. "I didn't notice; I was focused on the goddess in front of me."

Mimi blushed. "You haven't referred to me as that in a while."

"Something I plan to change." Taichi said. He reached his arm across the table. She rested her hand in his. "We're going to be alright."

Mimi stared into his eyes, amused at the intensity radiating from them. "I know."

"I promise you. We'll figure it out."

"I know."

xxxxx

Seito stopped walking. "Yeah, I don't think we're going to find anything."

Dante turned to face him. "That would make things smoother, but things like that never work out for us."

BlackAgumon stopped walking, raising his nose into the air and sniffing. "Yep, we've just stepped in it."

"Huh?"

"Baluluna Gale!"

"Fire Cloud!"

"Move!"

A flaming gale swept the area.

"Agumon Digivolved to Tyrannomon!"

"BlackAgumon Digivolved to BlackGreymon!"

The two champions arrived in a burst of light, shielding their partners from the flaming storm. Sarah and Labramon were kneeling next to Dante.

FlameWizardmon stepped into view, with Witchmon not far behind.

"How many times have we done this now?" FlameWizardmon raised his matches into the sky.

Tyrannomon roared into the sky. "Don't worry; this will be the last time!"

Seito smirked. "I'd have felt cheated if this didn't happen."

"What's the play here? Defeat us and use us as bargaining chips to pump the Yagamis for information?" Dante asked.

"Not all of you." Witchmon snickered. "We're done playing nice. We only need the boy."

"And the rest of us are expendable." Dante concluded. "Be that as it may, you are outnumbered here. You're only champions."

FlameWizardmon shrugged. "Two on two seems fair to me."

"Labramon Digivolved to D'Arcmon!"

D'Arcmon was a champion level angel digimon. Equipped with four wings, a sword and a staff she is nicknamed the Goddess of the Battlefield.

"Oooh, increased difficulty. I like." Witchmon said, already on her broom and taking off towards D'Arcmon. The angel digimon flapped her wings raising her into the sky.

FlameWizardmon looked at the two ascending digimon. "She sure loves her chick fights."

"Nova Blast!" An inferno was released from BlackGreymon's mouth heading for FlameWizardmon, who pointed both of his match sticks at the blaze. The attack dissipated as the matches were now lit on fire.

Without missing a beat, FlameWizardmon chucked both match sticks at the viral Greymon that detonated on impact. "Magical Ignition!" BlackGreymon was lost in the flame.

"Haaaa!" Tyrannomon tail swiped down to crush the smaller digimon, but FlameWizardmon lunged himself out of the way.

D'Arcmon's sword began to glow, as she swiped horizontally at the magical digimon. Witchmon decreased her altitude enough to avoid the attack, placing her in perfect position to place her palm on D'Arcmon's stomach.

"Baluluna Gale!"

D'Arcmon's cry was silenced as she was blasted into the stratosphere.

"Hahahahaha, too easy." Witchmon looked down as a massive fireball was heading in her direction. "Whoa!" She cried as she steered clear.

"Hey this fight up here is none of your business!"

BlackGreymon didn't care. "Nova Blast!"

Witchmon faced her palm at the incoming attack. "Baluluna Gale!" The maelstrom of wind batted the flaming orb back at its progenitor.

FlameWizardmon dragged his matches across the ground, igniting them. "Come on, baby." With a twist he avoided Tyrannomon's tail swipe for the second time before jumping up into dinosaur's face. "Magical Ignition!" He tossed both at point blank range.

"Tyrannomon!" Seito yelled as his partner disappeared in an explosion.

"Dammit, we're mismatched here." Dante said.

"Are you saying we retreat?" Sarah asked.

"I don't retreat." Dante muttered.

xxxxx

"Honestly, how long does it take to check the perimeter?" Teru asked, impatiently.

"Dante's probably using this as an excuse to convert, Seito." Mushroomon suggested.

"Convert?" Sayuri asked. "You make it sound like he's part of a cult or something. Besides aren't you guys taking this whole America thing a little too personal?"

"We're out of cheetos, Motoko." Hiro said with his hand in an empty bag. "Do you think we should head back and grab some more?"

"I think we're going to be a little too busy for that." BlackGatomon said, ears perked up. "Poromon, do you feel that?"

Poromon glanced at his partner. "Hmmmm, Motoko." Her partner held up her digivice.

"Poromon Digivolved to Falcomon!"

Falcomon was a black bird digimon with purple gi.

Falcomon formed the Ram seal and closed his eyes. "There are two of them."

BlackGatomon smirked. "I beat you to it then. You didn't catch the third."

Falcomon's eyes opened. "You are in a more acute form."

"Excuses, excuses."

The group gathered together.

They suddenly felt a large weight brought down on them. Someone's pure power was dominating them. Clouds began to form in the sky as lightning started to streak across at random intervals.

Teru fell to one knee. "Crap."

"No more hiding it seems." BlackGatomon said. "Hiro."

Falcomon glanced at Motoko.

"BlackGatomon Digivolved to Astamon!"

"Falcomon Digivolved to Peckmon!"

"Peckmon Digivolved to Crowmon!"

Crowmon is a three legged brid digimon in purples and blacks around its body. Its wings contain two powerful Dokkosho's on its back it uses to attack.

"I guess it's that bad, huh?" Teru asked, noticing the decisiveness in which the two went to their highest forms. "Mushroomon."

"Mushroomon Digivolved to Ninjamon!"

"Armadillomon Digivolved to Ankylomon!"

"Biyomon Digivolved to Birdramon!"

"I don't think there's anything to worry about." Sayuri said. "Who would be stupid enough to attack us all at once?"

Descending from the clouds was a knight digimon. It had full body white armor jagged and rough with a red cape. He held with him the mightiest axe in the world, Dynas.

"I am MedievalGallantmon." It said. "I hail from Witchelny and seek thy cooperation."

"Something you will not be receiving." Astamon said pointing Oro Salmon into the sky. "Hiro. I want you out of here now, this guy is a Mega."

All of the digidestined's eyes widened at that comment.

xxxxx

"Dancing Sword!" D'Arcmon's blade had turned completely white as she went into a flurry of slashes. Witchmon had gotten off of her broom and began using it as a blunt object deflecting D'Arcmon's attacks, all with one hand. The other hand was sending out a steady pulse of wind to keep her afloat.

"Quite the multi-tasker." D'Arcmon said between swipes.

"It's easy when there aren't any tasks that are overwhelming," Witchmon replied between blocks.

D'Arcmon broke off from her attack and gained distance. "What is going on over there?" She said, glancing towards black clouds that had formed. "Isn't that where the others are?"

"What do you see, D'Arcmon?" Sarah called out.

"I think the other's are in trouble!"

Dante frowned. "A two pronged attack."

"What do we do?" Sarah asked.

"I'll tell you what we do." Seito said. "We kick Witchelny ass and head out to rescue the others."

"The others have Hiro and Motoko." Dante said. "They are fine."

"And if they aren't?" Seito asked.

"Then trust them to hold on until we can help them."

"Blaze Blast!"

"Magical Ignition!"

xxxxx

"Hell Fire!" A torrent of bullets collided with MedievalGallantmon, without leaving as much as a scratch. The mega slowly approached them.

Energy began to gather within the Dokkosho. "Savage Emperor!" The gathered energy released in a ray of destruction also slamming into MedievalGallantmon. Both attacks didn't so much as slow him down.

"He's still coming." Teru said.

"Meteor Wing!" Birdramon soared above before unleashing her flaming attack down to add to the others.

"I'll get him." Ninjamon said, before disappearing.

"Ankylomon, what're you waiting for?" Sayuri asked.

"There's nothing I can do while they're firing their attacks."

Ninjamon appeared behind MedievalGallantmon with his blade aimed at the mega's neck. With one powerful motion, MedievalGallantmon swiped his axe with such force that it dispelled all of the attacks he had been mowing through. Ninjamon's blade was sliced clean in two, the champion himself only survived with a desperate dodging maneuver.

Astamon tossed Oro Salmon onto the ground. "Fuck it," A black aura formed around the ultimate.

Ninjamon was struck with the butt of MedievalGallantmon's axe, sending the champion skidding across the ground, before stopping as a Mushroomon.

Emelie looked at MedievalGallantmon nervously. "Who's up for getting Mr. Yagami?"

"I'm not ready, just yet." Hiro said. "Neither is Astamon. And if he won't give up, neither will I."

"No. We need dad." Teru disagreed. "Birdramon!"

"You do what you want." Hiro said, his eyes focused on his foe.

xxxxx

"I think maybe we should switch opponents."Sarah suggested. "FlameWizardmon is too much of a mismatch for either of you."

"Yeah, well Witchmon can fly! Can't be more mismatched then that!" Seito countered.

"Trust me! It's better this way!" Sarah said. "Dante, have BlackGreymon cover D'Arcmon's retreat."

Dante nodded. "You heard, Metallo," Sarah flinched at the nickname.

"Nova Blast!"

"Ugh! I'm bored!" Witchmon said, unleashing Baluluna Gale to deflect the attack right back.

"I wonder how much more you can handle." FlameWizardmon said at his panting enemy. Tyrannomon growled. "That's the spirit. I'd be disappointed if all you did was roll over."

"Dancing Sword!" D'Arcmon found her sword blocked by one of FlameWizardmon's match staffs.

BlackGreymon and Tyrannomon stood side by side.

"We could do this more often, ya know." BlackGreymon said.

"That's for Seito to decide."

"Are you two boys planning something?" Witchmon asked from atop her broom.

"Yeah. What are we doing?" Seito asked.

"I got it." Dante said. "You're the key, Tyrannomon. Your flames spread while BlackGreymon's flames are concentrated. We'll use you to defeat her."

xxxxx

Ankylomon raced ahead, closing in on MedievalGallantmon. Before reaching him, she slammed his tail into the ground with enough force to catapult himself into the air and somersault bringing his Tail Hammer down on the mega. MedievalGallantmon brought his free hand up and caught the attack, the force of which indented him into the ground. Reversing his force, Ankylomon was able to back flip, release his tail from MedievalGallantmon's grip and bring it full circle to collide with the mega's body. She succeeded. No effect.

"What?" Sayuri exclaimed.

"She's just a champion. Get her out of there!" Hiro yelled.

"She knows what she's doing!" She shot back.

"If she is not out of there, I can't be responsible if she's caught in the crossfire!"

Sayuri clenched her fist until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Do as he says." Motoko told her.

"Fine. Ankylomon fall back!"

"Astamon! Now!" Hiro ordered.

"It's like he's a different person." Sayuri muttered.

Astamon shot forward in a blur. MedievalGallantmon followed his movements before attacking. Dynas pierced nothing but air.

"Got ya!" Astamon said from behind. "Maverick!" All of that dark energy he had gathered was released in one spot, colliding with MedievalGallantmon's side with a mighty kick. It was as though a mighty eruption of darkness exploded from the epicenter.

xxxxx

"What was that?" Dante asked, seeing a plume of black smoke in the distance.

"I think that's what happens when you piss Hiro off." Seito said. He looked up at Witchmon. "And now she's distracted by the pretty explosion too."

Seito and Dante nodded to each other.

"BlackGreymon!"

"Tyrannomon!"

BlackGreymon grabbed Tyrannomon by the tail and began to swing him around in a circle.

"Hey, Witchmon!" They said in unison.

Witchmon looked down at them and cocked an eyebrow. "Just what the hell are you two doing?"

"We thought this battle would be better-"

"If we got up close and personal!"

BlackGreymon released Tyrannomon lunging him into the air heading straight for Witchmon.

"And you're expecting me not to dodge?" Witchmon asked making a minor adjustment to her position, allowing Tyrannomon to fly right past her. "Pathetic."

"Nova Blast!" BlackGreymon fired his attack at the Witch digimon causing her to point her palm at him once again and deflect the attack with Baluluna Gale.

Tyrannomon alternated his position in midair and aimed his own attack at her. "Blaze Blast!"

"Shit!" Witchmon turned around and fired another Baluluna Gale to push back Tyrannomon's midair flames. But that wasn't the only effect it had. It fueled the fire, causing a full maelstrom of flames, too close for comfort.

"Nova Blast!"

With one hand keeping the flames at bay, she used her other hand to point back at BlackGreymon. "Baluluna Gale!"

"That should do it." Dante smirked.

The chain reaction caught Witchmon in her own power, feeding the flames until they consumed her. Even without Tyrannomon or Greymon adding to them the flames grew exponentially.

"We got her." Seito said, raising a fist into the air. That is until the ground began to shake.

Dante forced himself to keep his balance. "What now?"

A crack formed in the ground. "Aquary Pressure!" From the ground a burst of water shot into the sky like a geyser dousing the flames in the sky.

Seito slowly lowered his fist. "You've gotta be kidding me."

FlameWizardmon and D'Arcmon were in a battle of pure strength as the former tried to push his match wand forward and the latter tried to push her sword forward.

"Seems we're evenly matched." The fire digimon commented.

"Not quite." D'Arcmon said. "La Pucelle!" D'Arcmon's wings scattered from her body before rushing forward as razor sharp projectiles at point blank range, shredding into FlameWizardmon's body in quick succession. "Dancing Sword!" D'Arcmon's gracefully slashed, as if it was a dance, first knocking away both of FlameWizardmon's weapons before laying into him multiple slashes.

The Witchelny digimon fell. D'Arcmon panted. "And that's that." D'Arcmon looked to Sarah for approval.

"Fire Cloud!" With the last of his strength, FlameWizardmon released flames from his hand that overtook D'Arcmon. It only lasted a few seconds, and didn't harm D'Arcmon, but when it was over, FlameWizardmon was gone.

xxxxx

"This guy is unreal." Sayuri said. "Where the hell are Teru and the Yagami's?"

Astamon and Crowmon were circling around MedievalGallantmon whose only sign of visible damage was the disintegration of his cape.

"Go!" Astamon said, rushing in with his knives in his hands.

"What makes this bad is that MedievalGallantmon has been on the defensive most of this battle." Motoko said. Hiro clenched his teeth.

Sayuri looked wide eyed back at the battle. "So what happens when he decides to get serious?"

"Astamon will kick his ass before we find out." Hiro stated.

"Enough." MedievalGallantmon said, slamming the butt of his axe into the ground. "Thou has seen thine strength compared to thee. Yield."

"I won't fall to the likes of you." Astamon jumped into the air and brought down knives with both hands, only for MedievalGallantmon to slash them in two faster than the ultimate could register.

The next blow was a kick to Astamon's stomach, slamming into him so hard that a shockwave was released from the point of impact. The ultimate fell to his knees, hitting the ground and reverting back to Salamon. MedievalGallantmon kicked the rookie sending him crashing into the ground in front of his partner.

"Salamon," Hiro said in disbelief.

MedievalGallantmon quickly turned around to see Crowmon's Dokkosho's emitting a powerful light.

"Point blank, bastard! Savage Emperor!"

Sayuri, Hiro, and Motoko had to cover their eyes from the light of explosion.

"Did he get him?" Sayuri asked.

Motoko removed her forearm from her eyes. "Getting him and hurting him are two different things."

MedievalGallantmon was on one knee.

"Yes!"

Crowmon flew towards the others. "We need to get out of here now!"

MedievalGallantmon's momentarily lapse of weakness was over when he stood back on both feet.

Sayuri shook her head in disbelief. "Man, just what is this guy made of?"

"Black Feather!"

MedievalGallantmon was brought to the attention of feathers that were being released from Crowmon's retreating form. They began to radiate a darkness that overcame the battlefield.

"Now's our chance to run." Motoko said.

"Rage of Wyvern!" MedievalGallantmon's axe began to radiate a white light that overtook the darkness of the battlefield. He pointed the axe towards Crowmon and unleashed a mass of energy that travelled to fast for the ultimate to block it.

"Crowmon!"

The force of the explosion was so powerful and so close to them that the digidestined were knocked off their feet and sent flying. Falcomon lay on the ground when the smoke cleared. MedievalGallantmon began his march towards the fallen children.

The first to rise to their feet was Sayuri, standing in front of the others. Ankylomon stood by her side.

"You're not getting past us." She said.

"Unlikely." MedievalGallantmon replied, taking steps closer towards her.

"Yeah, probably." She admitted.

MedievalGallantmon now stood directly in front of the girl. She wasn't intimidated, just staring up at him without emotion.

"She's going to get herself killed." Hiro said, slowly pulling himself to his feet.

MedievalGallantmon raised his axe into the air. Sayuri and Ankylomon braced themselves.

"Wait." Another voice called out.

MedievalGallantmon turned to the source of the voice. "Taichi Yagami."

Taichi and Agumon both smirked. "Seems you know me."

MedievalGallantmon began walking away from Sayuri. Only when he was a few feet away did Sayuri and Ankylomon breathe again.

"Hast thou come to divulge information?" MedievalGallantmon asked.

"Not really, I've come to stop you from ruining my anniversary." He said, irritation evident on his face. "You seem plenty powerful on your own; why would you need more anyway?"

MedievalGallantmon remained silent.

"Are you guys alright?" Teru asked coming up from Motoko. "Looks like we made it in time, but you all are looking a bit roughed up."

"We're fine." Motoko said. "Physically at least. I'm not sure how Hiro is feeling right now. And I definitely don't know what kind of state Sayuri is in now either."

"Sayuri?" Teru asked.

"I see, you wish to do battle. I am afraid I cannot afford to allow you to engage." MedievalGallantmon pointed his pole axe at the rookie and charged ahead.

"Agumon,"

"My pleasure."

"Agumon Warp Digivolved to. . ."

MedievalGallantmon moved to strike Agumon as he transformed; he swiped his axe horizontally to cleave the rookie's head from his body, only for the little lizard digimon to fall back from the attack matrix style. The mega moved for a follow up as he saw the enormous tail of Greymon lash out at him, causing him to dodge out of instincts instead of out of any real danger sense. He lunged forward as the dinosaur digimon took to the sky, covered in metal to avoid the next strike. And it was as the warrior claw of WarGreymon came down slashing at MedievalGallantmon's face scoring a direct hit.

"WarGreymon!"

MedievalGallantmon fell back and recomposed himself. He felt his face to see how deep the slash marks had been. He counted himself lucky. "You are as good as they say."

"Quit while you're ahead." WarGreymon said. "It only gets harder from here."

MedievalGallantmon crossed the distance between them in an instant, the grass ripped apart with each step before the warrior digimon hurled himself into the air and came down with a downward swing of Dynas that would scatter many a digimon. WarGreymon maneuvered out of the way, instantly happy with his decision as MedievalGallantmon's collision caused a makeshift earthquake that fissured the ground.

"And now we know what he's like when he's serious," Motoko frowned. "Is even WarGreymon enough?"

WarGreymon took to the sky, gaining altitude at an alarming rate; MedievalGallantmon wasn't privy to being left behind and was quickly after him. Their first collision, dragon claw versus dynas, was so powerful a shockwave parted the clouds above. WarGreymon moved away upon realization that a crack had formed on his left gauntlet, but MedievalGallantmon would not let him get far as he followed up with a horizontal swipe that the Dragon Warrior had no choice but to defend. WarGreymon's entire right gauntlet was shattered upon impact, but he had successfully defended against the mighty strike.

"Are you alright?" Teru asked, worry evident in his lowered eyebrows.

Sayuri nodded her head. "I'm fine. He didn't hurt me."

"You're as reckless Sei sometimes. You know that?" Teru frowned.

xxxxx

The entire forest was being flooded. Seito found himself battling against every wave, trying to grab hold of a tree.

"Will someone please stop her?" Seito yelled out.

The cause of the water was the champion digimon in the sky. Witchmon was using her magic to create an unlimited flow of water to drown her adversaries.

"I can't! Get! A! Shot! Off!" Tyrannomon said in between waves of water. "Black! Greymon!"

BlackGreymon was in a similar situation, trying to stand upright against the tide, while aiming at the Witchmon above.

While sitting on her broom, Witchmon was manipulating the water with waves of her hand. "Hurry up and drown, must you draw everything out?"

With all of her attention focused downward, she was not aware of the Fairy Digimon approaching her at top speeds. At least not aware of her until she was nailed with right hook that sent her flying off of her broom.

With a quick Baluluna Gale, Witchmon was able to upright herself as her broom made its way back to her. "Well, if it isn't Lillymon." The champion rubbed her bruised cheek and stared at the new challenger. "Where's your worthless partner? Has she come to surrender the information like we've asked?"

"Oh she's hanging around. I'm here to shut you up for good." Lillymon said, matter-of-factly. "You have a lot of nerve. Wrecking the studio, her image, and now you have the audacity to try to ruin her anniversary. You may be the most evil witch I've ever known." Lillymon's eyes turned to daggers.

The water receded without Witchmon's concentration, leaving humans and partners all gasping for breath.

Seito coughed up water and gasped. "I thought she said she wasn't going to kill me!"

"Maybe she thought you could swim?" Dante said, standing on two feet.

The two looked at each other before laughing.

Tyrannomon dedigivolved back into Agumon. "Your mother is here. Or at least Lillymon is."

Lillymon stared at Witchmon. "The funny thing is, you're not even that strong. You're very crafty, but what happens when I don't let up?"

Witchmon growled in response as Lillymon closed the distance between the two as fast as she could. Witchmon's broom took off; leading her away from the attacking ultimate, but Lillymon was in hot pursuit. "Flower Cannon!"

"Baluluna Gale!" The burst of wind deflected even the ultimate digimon's attack back at her, but Lillymon easily maneuvered to the left and remained chasing after her from another angle.

"Flower Cannon!" Without even seeing what resulted in that attack, Lillymon maneuvered to another angle, in hot pursuit, before firing another Flower Cannon.

Before long, Witchmon was being assaulted from multiple angles, faster than she could keep up.

"That's it!" Witchmon declared. She concentrated the magic into her whole body, before releasing a Baluluna Gale that used her body as a conduit in all directions, instead of just the palm of her hands.

Lillymon challenged the attack with her own body, as she flew directly into the incoming gale. Closer and closer she approached, while Witchmon was letting out everything she had.

The trees below were blowing like crazy causing digidestined and partner alike to hold onto them for dear life.

Lillymon was not fazed as she fought her way through the gale, until finally she had reached the source.

Witchmon stared at her with dread as Lillymon's Flower Cannon was aimed at her face at pointblank range.

"Bitch," Witchmon said, as the green energy blast engulfed her.

Seito looked up at the sky, fully exhausted. "She did it."

Mimi stepped into view. "Of course she did,"

"Mrs. Yagami." Dante said, acknowledging her.

Mimi was expecting a hug from her youngest son, but was instead greeted with his warm smile.

"Where did you come from?" The Taichi lookalike asked.

"Lillymon dropped me off on top of a tree while the water was still hitting. Climbing down during all of that was a task in itself." Mimi muttered.

"Guys! Guys!" Another voice called out, revealing itself to be from Sarah. "We defeated FlameWizardmon, but then he disappeared!"

"And if the others are dealing with MedievalGallantmon, I don't think they're thinking about another sneak attack." Mimi said.

"MedievalGallantmon?" Seitio asked.

"I'll explain along the way. Come on." Mimi led them away.

xxxxx

The children were witnessing a spectacle. Two digimon of similar power battling it out in the sky above, occasionally shifting the ground below them from their immense power. When the Dragon Warrior charged up his Terra Force, the Witchelny Warrior charged up his own energy attack within Dynas.

"Close your eyes." Motoko said. The collision was so bright that Sayuri screamed as her retinas were being overwhelmed. "I told you."

"Like I knew what you meant!" Sayuri yelled back.

"Guys." Teru's voice called to them. Motoko, Sayuri, and Hiro all turned around to see the young Yagami in the hands of FlameWizardmon.

Motoko immediately turned to look at her partner. "I don't know. He just snuck up on us. Sorry."

"Now, don't follow us." FlameWizardmon said, his red match staff pointed at the back of Teru's head. "March, little one. Towards your father."

Cracks and dents had come across WarGreymon's body. "Looks like I've knocked the rust off."

MedievalGallantmon's body had cracks and dents as well. "You are a formidable one."

"Ummm, yeah you too." WarGreymon said, not really use to compliments during a battle.

"Dad!"

Taichi had been staring up above at the battle, but was brought back to reality when he saw his son walking up to him with FlameWizardmon behind him.

"Mr. Yagami. We haven't met, but I'm FlameWizardmon. Your wife knows me." He chuckled.

Taichi could tell this digimon was only barely standing. "Is she the one who roughed you up like that?"

"No that was courtesy of another." He muttered. "But that's not important. What is, is your cooperation."

"The Wall of Fire." Taichi said, already aware of where this was going.

"Yes." FlameWizardmon said. "No more games! Take me to it, or your son dies."

Taichi stared at the abomination before him. Of all of his adventures in the digital world, he had never felt like this. He wasn't just appalled at what the digimon had done. It was deeper than that. This was a personal assault against his family. And to top it off, it was on his anniversary.

Despite this, his outer appearance hadn't showed just how angry he was. He kept a calm resolve and turned around. "Follow me."

"Dad. No." Teru's eyes welled up, as he was marched behind his father. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe he'd be such a liability. His whole idea had been that he'd protect his father, not be the reason behind his defeat. And worst, what would FlameWizardmon do once he found the Wall of Fire? Would they be free to go? Or would he just kill them?

"Final Crest!"

WarGreymon found his chest marked with a dragonic symbol. It became harder for him to move as the power of the crest dominated his body. MedievalGallantmon took this time to attack, swinging and landing blows with his axe with quick succession. All WarGreymon could do was bring out his brave shield and weather the attacks as best as he could. With each blow, another crack formed on the shield. MedievalGallantmon elevated higher than WarGreymon and brought Dynas down with all of his might, shattering through WarGreymon's brave shield and sending him rocketing into the ground forming his own crater.

"WarGreymon!" The spectators exclaimed in disbelief. It wasn't what any of them was used to. WarGreymon didn't lose.

And so Motoko, Hiro, Sayuri, and their partners were surrounding the crater WarGreymon's body had made.

"WarGreymon. Get up!" Motoko demanded.

"You can't lose!" Sayuri said.

MedievalGallantmon descended slowly. "Move aside!" He commanded, his voice bellowing to all in the area.

Hiro looked up at the incoming Witchelny Warrior and gritted his teeth. "He's coming."

"Flower Cannon!" The emerald green attack smashed into MedievalGallantmon from behind.

"Back off!" Lillymon said, flanking the mega.

WarGreymon's eyes slowly regained focus. He could see the children gathered around, staring at him with worried eyes. He could hear. He could hear Mimi questioning them.

"Where's Taichi?" Mimi demanded of her nephew.

"FlameWizardmon came and took Teru hostage." Hiro said. "He told us if we follow him, then Teru is as good as dead. I'm sorry."

Mimi began putting it all together. "Crap. He's going to File Temple." She said, frowning. "Everyone, get back to the digiport. Get out of here."

"We can't." Sayuri countered. "We can't leave WarGreymon like this. And we can't leave Teru in the hands of that monster!"

"There is nothing you can do!" Mimi reprimanded. "When your enemy is that strong, leave and regroup!"

"What about you?" Motoko asked.

"I'm going after my husband and son." Mimi said. "Lillymon can hold him off long enough for you to escape. So hurry! And I'll hurry." She said, sprinting off.

"Dammit," Sayuri said, before she turned around to look at Seito. "Sei. . .are you alright?"

If he didn't get up out of this crater, then Lillymon was as good as dead. And without either of them, Taichi, Mimi, and Teru were goners as well.

He could do it. The fact that he hadn't reverted back to Agumon was proof that his body hadn't given out on him yet.

Lillymon was moving as evasively as she could, avoiding swipe after swipe after swipe from her opponent. She couldn't hold out forever and her Flower Cannon had did squat against that armor of his, even if it was already damaged.

"Flower Cannon!"

MedievalGallantmon swiped the attack in two and continued forward hoping to press his advantage. It was at that moment, Lillymon realized just how exhausted the mega digimon was. Her attack couldn't damage him, but he's in the state of mind that he needs to dodge or defend against it.

"Flower Cannon Barrage!"

The Ultimate unleashed a volley of green energy that raced its way towards the Witchelny Warrior who began cutting the attacks in two as they approached him.

WarGreymon slowly rose out of the crater, his armor peeling off as he ascended.

Motoko was the first to notice. "WarGreymon!" This caught everyone else's attention.

"What're you guys still doing here?"

"We're not just going to abandon you guys." Sayuri reasoned.

WarGreymon's voice was low. "Hiro."

"Yes?" Hiro stood at attention.

"Get them out of here. And to your mother. We need your mother."

"I understand." Hiro said. "Guys. Everyone!" He looked at Dante and Sarah. "We need to get to the digiport like Mimi said. If we hurry we can still be of some use to these guys."

Reluctantly, they all agreed. Everyone except Seito.

"I'm not leaving my family. You guys go. I'm going to save them." Seito said. He took out his digivice, seeing where the radar would lead him.

Lillymon sighed in relief as she saw the kids retreating, but that relief was short lived as she ducked a horizontal swipe by MedievalGallantmon.

"What is it that a digimon like you even needs power for?" She asked, eyes widening as she saw the butt of MedievalGallantmon's staff heading straight for her. It slammed into her forehead, with such force that she reverted back to Palmon on the spot and fell from the sky.

Before she could hit the ground she was caught by WarGreymon.

WarGreymon set her back on the ground and turned to look at his foe. "Looks like you tired him out a bit more."

WarGreymon rose until he was level with MedievalGallantmon. "You've succeeded. You've distracted me long enough for your friends to take advantage. But that's where your success ends. I'm ending this right now."

"Cometh!" MedievalGallantmon challenged.

"Terra Force!" The orange orb of power was formed in his hands.

MedievalGallantmon gripped Dynas especially tight.

WarGreymon lunged the ball of energy at his opponent.

MedievalGallantmon readied himself, preparing to slice the attack his opponent had put so much in too, in two.

WarGreymon did not remain idle. He lunged himself at his own attack and kicked it. The result was instantaneous: the Terra Force increased in speed and velocity, catching MedievalGallantmon off guard and nailing him head on in a burst of explosive energy.

Palmon missed the climax, as she came too. However, she saw Agumon's fallen form and MedievalGallantmon slowly dissolving into data. Even though they were low on strength, she knew this was far from over.

"We need to save Teru." A voice called out to her.

Palmon turned around to see Mushroomon limping his way over to her. "They're all in danger. FlameWizardmon is dangerous."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get Agumon and go."

File Temple

Taichi had led them to the entrance of File Temple.

"So this is the place. Looks pretty ancient, so at least it doesn't seem as though you're bullshitting me." FlameWizardmon said.

"I'm not," Taichi replied, calmly. He was about to make his way inside when he heard footsteps approaching.

"After you warn me that something like this might happen, you assure it?" Centaurumon accused. He aimed his arm cannon at FlameWizardmon.

"Don't." Taichi said. "You may hit my son. Let us pass."

"Apocalymon was the last person to step through the Wall of Fire. Do you really expect me to allow another one?"

Taichi turned back around to see the wizard digimon grinning malevolently behind him. "Trust me. Everything will be alright."

These words puzzled FlameWizardmon and Centaurumon alike. However, to Teru it seemed as though the words were directed at him. And so he dared; he dared to believe in these words.

Taichi looked back at Centaurumon and began walking. Teru and FlameWizardmon followed behind him. Centaurumon allowed them to pass.

It was a maze. And Taichi led them through.

Mimi arrived at the entrance to the File Temple. She saw Centaurumon standing at the entrance looking inside wordlessly.

"Centaurumon!"

The centaur digimon turned around. "Your husband has already made it inside. Whether he has doomed us all is for fate to decide."

"How long ago?" She asked.

"Five minutes." He said.

Mimi ran passed him.

It's not like you're a part of their lives anymore anyway. Witchmon had told her.

She would prove her wrong. She would save them.

I promise you. We'll figure it out. Taichi had assured her.

She would prove him right. She would save them and then they could all go home together as a family.

Flames raged upwards, before dancing sideways. This was the Wall of Fire. It was a never ending inferno of hellish flames that blocked access to the mysteries of the beyond. There was a crevice separating the two sides.

"You've lived up to your end of the bargain." The wizard digimon said.

"Now let my son go." Taichi said.

"Hmmmm," FlameWizardmon pondered. "This could still be some elaborate scheme you've set up. Jump across."

That was the last thing Taichi had expected him to say. "You can't be serious. I'm human."

"Either you go across, or young Teru here goes across." FlameWizardmon said. "Can you live with that?"

Teru shook his head. "I couldn't live with it if you went across!" He declared to his father. "I'll jump across! I'll-"

"Stop." Taichi said. "I'll do it. I'll cross the Wall of Fire."

There had been a time when Taichi had failed his family. It was many years ago when he was still a child and his younger sister had barely stopped being an infant. He took her outside to play soccer even though she was sick. It resulted in her catching pneumonia. He swore he would never fail them again.

Taichi wasn't sure how things had progressed so badly so quickly. "Son," He said turning to look at Teru. "We take what is given."

And without another word he jumped into the flames.

"NO!" Teru cried. "NO! NO! NO! DAD!" He clenched his teeth, staring at FlameWizardmon with all of the hate that he could muster.

"I'm fine." Taichi's voice called back to them.

"Holy crap! Dad! You're alright! But the flames! How?" Teru asked.

FlameWizardmon whispered into the boy's ear. "You're next."

FlameWizardmon grabbed Teru by his shirt, but before he could do anything more he was tackled to the ground. Teru was freed and he saw the honey haired woman that was his mother. "Mom."

Mimi got back on her feet and pulled Teru behind her, staring daggers at the wizard digimon. "Where is my husband?" She demanded.

"Mom, he jumped across."

"Tai!" She exclaimed.

"Mimi? I'm alright!" Taichi's voice called back. "I don't know how, or why, but I didn't get burned."

"Thank god." She muttered, before staring at the digimon that started this all. "This is what you wanted right? Then why haven't you crossed? Are you afraid? Your Witchelny partners are defeated. You are all that remain. And now it's all for nothing, because you're too afraid to cross."

"I'm not afraid of anything." FlameWizardmon said. "Especially not my own element." He said turning his back to them and facing the flames. "And thus a god is born." He jumped across.

Taichi saw the Wizard digimon. The two only glanced at each other as FlameWizardmon passed him by.

"Tai!" He heard his wife's call. "If you're alright, are you able to jump back across?"

He reached forward to touch the flames, but they burned him this time. "Ouch! No. I'm not able to. It's weird."

"HAH!" FlameWizardmon hadn't left, and had returned taking this opportune moment to push Taichi back into the wall.

He fell, into the flames. And this time he screamed.

"Taichi!"

Teru didn't know what had happened, but his father was now screaming bloody murder. "DAD! DAD!"

I promise you. We'll figure it out.

Mimi gritted her teeth and jumped across the Wall of Fire without a second thought.

On the other side, she could see Taichi's hand holding on.

And Mimi wasted no time reaching to grab it. And she let out a scream once her hand touched the flames, but she fought through it grabbing his hand and trying her best to pull upward.

"Mimi." Taichi's voice was weak. "Let go. You're hurting yourself."

"Please don't tell me our time apart has made you an idiot, Tai!" Was Mimi's only response.

"Please, let go."

"I vowed I would care and love and be there, for everything! Everything!" She screamed at him.

"I'm coming mom! I'm coming dad!" Teru said, reaching his hand forward, only to have it burned. "No! Why? Why is it only burning me on this side?"

"What the hell is going on here?" Seito said, arriving with Agumon.

"They're dying!" Teru sobbed.

Seito shook his head in disbelief. "How'd they get over there?"

"They jumped!"

"Then why are you here! Get up! I'm going after them!" Seito said as he ran forward preparing to jump. Teru tackled his brother to the ground.

"No! If you go, you'll die!" Teru denied.

"Teru!" Mushroomon said, running forward, Palmon and Agumon right behind him.

"It's horrible Mushroomon. They're on the other side. They-they."

Taichi's Agumon and Mimi's Palmon jumped across the Wall of Fire instantly.

The ground began to shake.

"What the hell is happening now?" Seito said. His eyes looked at the Wall of Fire in wonder as the flames changed from the reddish hellfire to a bluish flame.

The wall began to crack as fissures appeared across the ground.

"We need to get out of here." Seito said. "This place is falling apart."

"What about mom and dad?" Teru screamed, his eyes full of tears.

"No! We have to go now! They're mom and dad! They'll be alright!" Seito said. It's what he's always believed. He's always believed his parents were invincible. Only today had that truly been tested.

Mushroomon hoisted up his partner and began running in the opposite direction.

"Let me go, Mushroomon! Let me go!" Teru yelled.

"No! My job is to save you! We're getting out of here!" Mushroomon denied.

Seito and Agumon were right behind them as they exited the File Temple.

Centaurumon waited as they approached. "Too many have crossed. And now the temple is destroying itself. I have failed as guardian."

The File Temple crumbled.

File Island

Nefertimon landed in front of the File Temple ruins. Hikari jumped off of her partners back and landed on the ground.

"We're too late." Nefertimon said.

Hikari didn't reply, she just walked forward. Coming in to her view were her nephews. Both of them were sitting and staring at the wreckage before them, with their partners by their side.

Teru and Seito both felt a hand on their shoulders. They turned around to see Hikari looking at the wreckage ahead.

"Where's my brother? Where is Mimi?"

xxxxx

It had been several weeks since the Yagami anniversary and many things have changed. The digidestined were now organizing search parties to find Taichi and Mimi Yagami, but have come up empty.

Everyone was dealing with the loss in their own way.

Sayuri and Emelie would coordinate digital world visits at night, spending all night searching. Sayuri refused to believe they were gone and Emelie wanted to stop the sorrow filled eyes of her mother. By the time morning would roll around the two would be found in their own beds, exhausted.

Seito had filled out the application to become an exchange student and was accepted into the program, much to Teru's dismay. He left just yesterday, on the last day of February. If he wasn't around his family, he wouldn't always think about them, was his excuse.

Hiro was as he described, rehabilitating his cousin Teru. Teru had been having meltdowns ever since his parents disappeared. Being preoccupied with this erased the thoughts of getting stronger that had been engraved into Hiro's mind following the battle with MedievalGallantmon. Motoko had come over every day since then.

Teru had moved in with his aunt and cousin. They've been taking care of him physically and emotionally since he arrived.

Hikari Yagami's Apartment (Odaiba, Japan)

March 1st 2027 (Monday)

9:37 P.M

"I think I get it now." Teru said, laying on his futon.

"Hmmmm?" Was Hiro's only reply, as he lay in his own bed.

"Dad wasn't scared. So when he crossed the fire, it didn't burn him. Mom wasn't scared either; her only thoughts were rescuing my dad. So she wasn't burned. I was terrified, and the moment I touched the fire, it burned me."

"Oh."

"I can never be afraid again. My dad has the crest of courage. I have to be like he is." Teru said. "I have to be."

Unknown

"Taichi, our love has given us wings. Our journey begins today."

---

A/N: First off, thanks for reading! Glad you made it through! I wish my 'spaces' were not deleted. I thought it paced the story better. So much for that huh? Still I'm not disappointed with how it came out.

Pepsi Ice Cucumber is an actual flavor in a Japan. It was part of a top ten strange merchandise in Japan I saw a while back.

I've been an avid fan of Michi for a while. I thought I'd finally write one.

Formatting was inspired by the fic Kill Beatrix: The Revenge of Nikkia Bell by ToddyEnglish. I felt the formatting was clever and refreshing so I used it.

The purposes of the Flashbacks were to give a complete experience of how Tai and Mimi got together, though it is still a bit vague. But I like vague at times. Hope you enjoyed it.

I thought the names for Tai and Mimi's kids would be two syllables because Taichi and Mimi are both two syllables. Teru's name even starts with a T! Hah!

Whoa whoa. Why would they have their anniversary dinner on File Island the one place where they should stay away from? Easy, the kids arranged it. Where do you think their parents took them on their first trip to the Digital World?

As the last line attests, Tai and Mimi are not dead. And they are together, just as they wanted. Seito got what he wanted, going to America. FlameWizardmon got what he wanted also.

Oh, and yeah this is a one shot. Later!