This is an alternate telling of the first digimon. The digidestined are older Tai, Sora and Matt being 17. Joe is 18. Izzy and Mimi are 16 and Kari and TK are 14.
It was hot, the summer was coming to an end but Tai still felt sticky from the heat. He sat up from the couch and went to the fridge. He grabbed himself a beer and cracked it open on the counter. He took a swig and looked around his place. It was a mess. He shared it with two other people and they were no cleaner then him. He was alone however and he preferred it. He took another swig of his beer as he went out to the balcony. The night air was cool as he slid open the sliding glass door. He looked over the city and could hear cars and drunks talking loudly below. His pocket vibrated and he pulled out his cell phone. The caller ID flashed his sisters name and he quickly answered,
"Hey Kar." He said and he tried to sound more awake then he felt,
"Tai, hey." She spoke quietly which wasn't unusual for her.
"Whats up?" he asked trying to sound casual. He heard the phone shift on his sisters end,
"Your coming tomorrow right?" Tai breathed out a breath, he had forgotten about tomorrow.
"uhmm, well…" He heard Kari sigh,
"You forgot." She said softly, Tai nodded,
"I'm sorry I guess it slipped my mind." Tai pulled a face, his sister was usually pretty forgiving. He waited for her reply. He instead was met with silence. He waited a little longer. Still, silence. He then heard her sniffle and exhale,
"Kari?" He was now worried, she sounded like she was crying.
"Please try to come. One o'clock." Tai nodded now wanting to do whatever he could to stop his sister from crying.
"Yes, I mean yes. Kar, I'll be there. I promise." Kari was again quiet and the silence filled Tai's chest with anxiety.
"Maybe don't promise" she said and Tai was taken back,
"What do you mean Kar? I want to be there!" He was a little surprised that she didn't believe him.
"Don't make promises you can't keep." She said softly and Tai narrowed his eyes. He was mad, but also knew he had hurt her.
"Kar, I'll be there." He waited for her response when it didn't come he spoke again,
"I love you." He said quietly. He heard Kari sniffle.
"I miss you." She said and then Tai heard the phone click as his sister hung up. Tai removed the phone from his ear and gazed at it a moment. He wasn't sure he'd make it. He wanted to, but he also wasn't sure he was ready to see her, the person he let down so severely. He put his phone in his pocket and then looked at the beer in his hand. If he was going to see her, he wouldn't be hungover. Tai turned and went back inside his apartment. He went into the kitchen and dumped out his beer in the sink. He then opened the cupboard and pulled out the recycling bin. He placed the empty bottle in the bin and then looked around the apartment. There were more empty bottles littered around the living room and kitchen. He looked at the time, it was after 11. He sighed and put the bin back under the sink. He didn't want to stay up late cleaning either so he decided to just go to bed. He walked into his room and pulled his shirt off. He then set the alarm on his clock and laid down in bed. He would see her tomorrow. Maybe he would be able to mend their relationship. His thoughts of tomorrow drifted as he slowly fell asleep.
The next day Tai found himself at a familiar spot. The camp ground was outside of the city and it took him a while to get there. It was peaceful though and suddenly Tai felt like he could breathe. The sounds of cars and busy city life faded away and now he could only hear nature. He entered the camp ground and started walking up the hill. Tai walked up the pathway leading to the cabins. He wasn't sure why this location was chosen but shrugged his shoulders as the cabins came into view. He saw a familiar head of red hair and cringed.
"Tai?" Tai sighed and then gave a wave,
"Hey Sora." he walked up towards the girl. She looked surprised,
"I wasn't expecting you to come." Tai smirked,
"What Kari asked me, of course I'd come." He tried to sound light. Sora looked worried,
"when did you see her last Tai?" She sounded so concerned Tai hated it.
"It hasn't been that long. Stop mothering me Sora." Sora went cross,
"you were barley in class last year Tai. You haven't been around anyone." Tai rolled his eyes,
"Whatever." He mumbled. Sora crossed her arms,
"you might want to-"
"what?" Tai spat interrupting Sora. Sora scowled and shook her head,
"Never mind just see for yourself." She turned on her heel and walked away. Tai shot daggers at her back as she walked towards some people Tai recognized from school. One was blond and Tai rolled his eyes, What is he doing here? He thought bitterly. He shook his head and started to walk forward. He wasn't looking where he was going and he ran right into someone.
"Ah! My computer!" The person exclaimed and Tai put his arms out catching the person before they fell to the ground.
"Jeeze didn't see you there." Tai said as he steadied the person. Tai could see like Sora, this guy had red hair as well. He was tall and lanky and looked pale. Tai let go of him and the boy quickly dove to the ground and Tai noticed there was a laptop on the ground.
"Shit, sorry man." Tai said running a hand through his hair. The boy looked up at Tai angry and then his eyes went round,
"Oh Tai, sorry." he mumbled and he quickly busied himself with collecting his computer. Tai was confused,
"Do I know you?" He asked and the boy shrugged his shoulders,
"er, kind of I mean we go to the same school, I'm a year younger though." Tai squinted. His memory was foggy but suddenly he could see this kid hanging out in the computer lab,
"Oh yeah you're the computer kid." The boy turned and looked at little hurt by Tai's words,
"Izzy is fine." He introduced himself. Tai nodded,
"Right Izzy." Izzy stood and backed up,
"I gotta go set up." Tai tilted his head to the side,
"For what?" Izzy looked to the ground a moment,
"Well apparently the aura borealis will be visible tonight. I wanted to chart the energy patterns leading up to the viewing." Tai nodded not really understanding what Izzy was talking about.
"Cool, good luck with that." Tai said casually. Izzy nodded and Tai gave him a small smile. Izzy returned it and then turned and jogged away from Tai. Tai watched him run and then put his hands in his pockets. He looked around at the other people around the camp ground. He could still see Sora talking with the blond and Tai quickly moved his gaze away from them. He saw a girl in a vibrant outfit yelling at a tall boy. The boy looked petrified as the girl stood in front of him shouting. Tai did not envy that guy. He then saw who he was looking for. A girl with short brown hair standing at the view point with a camera. He smiled, she had gotten so tall. He couldn't imagine her ever being this tall. He thought of her when she was 8 and had a hard time adjusting his eyes to her new image. He then saw a blond boy walk over to her snatch her camera out of her hand. Tai narrowed his eyes and started marching towards the two. He watched as the girl tried to jump to retrieve her camera and the boy taunted her with it.
"HEY!" Tai yelled as he got closer. The blond's smile slowly started fading from his face as Tai looked him in the eyes. He thought for a moment he heard his sister laugh and then he looked at her and she gasped.
"You came!" She exclaimed and then he wasn't marching anymore. He was rooted in place while his sister launched herself into him. Tai was quick to catch her,
"Tai!" She said excitedly into his ear. Tai smiled and held his sister close,
"Yeah Kar, I'm here." He slowly set his sister on the ground. She was beaming up at him and Tai could still see remnants of her eight year old self. He studied her face a moment, he couldn't believe she was 14 now.
"You've gotten taller." She commented breaking Tai out of his gaze. Tai smiled and rubbed her head,
"same goes for you kiddo." She swatted his hand away and then turned,
"TK, come over here!" She called and Tai looked to see the blond who had stolen her camera was walking towards them. Tai was suspicious of the boy approaching.
"Tai this is my friend TK. TK this is my brother Tai." TK smiled and handed Kari back her camera,
"Kari's told me lots about you. Its nice to meet you." He stuck his hand out and Tai studied it a moment,
"Oh so now you give my camera back." Kari teased and Tai could see TK wink at her. He didn't like it. He looked back at TK's hand and then shook it,
"Yeah I'm her brother." He said in an authoritative voice. TK nodded and slowly removed his hand from Tai's
"well its good we finally met." He said politely. He then stepped back and Tai still studied the younger boy oddly.
"Tai I'm so glad you came. I mean its so hard with school and dance and I know you don't want to ever meet anywhere in the city. So TK's brothers band is playing up here this afternoon and I just thought that being away from the city and all, it would be perfect place for us to spend some time together. That's okay right?" Kari was speaking very quickly and Tai took a second to absorb her words. He looked down at her and she was looking up at him like a small child looking for approval. He smiled at her,
"Of course Kar, this is perfect." Kari smiled and nodded,
"Good, well there aren't too many people up here, another reason I thought this would be good. No awkward run ins and what not." She rambled and Tai started to follow as she walked towards a picnic bench.
"Yeah, awkward run ins, about that." Kari stopped walking and turned. Tai saw her look at him perplexed,
"I, uh, ran into Sora." Kari gasped a little and then hit her self in the head with her hand,
"Oh I'm such an idiot, I'm sorry Tai! I mean I knew she would be here but I don't know I just hoped you might just see her in the distance. I'm really sorry." Tai smiled and shook his head, his sister was vibrating.
"Shh, Kar, it's all good. My problems are my problems right? Not yours. Don't worry about my shit." Kari scrunched her mouth up,
"You know you keep doing that your face will stay like that." Tai teased. Kari rolled her eyes and TK laughed,
"I keep telling her that but she won't listen." He commented. Tai ruffled Kari's hair with his hand and then looked to TK. He pulled a face,
"Hey TK, you mind giving me and my sister a minute alone?" TK nodded and flashed a grin at Kari,
"Course, I'll see you when the show starts." He turned and sauntered off and Tai watched him leave,
"That's not your boyfriend is it?" Tai asked in a dark voice. Kari shook her head,
"No, he's a good friend. One of my best. He's been really helpful these past two years." Tai turned to look at his sister. She was looking at her shoes her head hanging low. Tai was about to speak when something caught his eye. He could see on the back of Kari's neck, a dark line." He rose his hand towards her neck when her head snapped up.
"So how are you?" Kari asked and Tai quickly drew back is hand.
"Good, I mean good." He said and Kari frowned,
"I'm not sure I believe you." She said and Tai could tell she was studying him.
"How are you?" He asked now serious and Kari suddenly went meek,
"Oh, yeah I'm good." She said quickly. Tai could tell she was lying.
"I talk to Sora. I hope thats okay. I mean I trust you and when we talk but I just don't think you tell me everything." Kari leaned against the picnic table. Tai ran a hand through his hair,
"So what do you talk to her about?" He asked not too bothered that his sister and Sora talk.
"I just ask if you were in class. She says you're not there too often." Tai growled.
"I'm sorry I don't mean to pry." Kari quickly said and Tai shook his head,
"no I'm not mad at you." Tai then caught his sister looking at him a little sternly,
"Well don't be mad at Sora, I just ask and she tells me the truth." Tai looked past his sister to Sora who was now talking to TK which surprised Tai.
"So TK and Sora know each other?" Tai could see his sister turn her head to look behind her,
"Oh yeah, his brother and her are good friends." Tai quickly looked at Kari,
"Who's his brother?" Tai could see confusion in Kari's eyes. She shrugged,
"I don't know if you'd know him. I mean maybe he goes to your school but I doubt you'd hang out with him." Tai huffed,
"his name Kari." He demanded and Kari flinched and apologized,
"Sorry, Matt. His name is Matt." Tai growled, "should have known when you mentioned a band." Tai didn't want to be around Matt. He knew Matt. They did go to the same school and they didn't get a long.
"Listen Kar, I don't know how long I can stay." He looked down and saw his sisters eyes well up.
"Wait what?" She asked and Tai felt guilt riddle through his body,
"I mean I'm just not sure how late I should stay you know…" he trailed off and Kari grabbed his arm,
"Please Tai, I don't get to see you." Tai sighed and looked at his sister. She was pleading with him and she held on tightly to his arm. He slowly removed her hand from his arm and realized she was wearing a long sleeve shirt with jeans. He frowned,
"aren't you a little warm?" Tai asked looking at her confused,
"what?" She asked and Tai smirked,
"Your clothes, you cold or something?" He clarified and Tai noticed Kari suddenly looked embarrassed. She quickly wiped her eyes and Tai watched her awkwardly lean back,
"Mhmm, no I mean, I'm fine. Can you please stay?" She asked and Tai could tell she was avoiding something. He took a breath in and then looked at her camera which was still in her hand,
"Come on, lets take a couple of pictures." Her face lit up and she quickly nodded,
"Yeah, okay, come this way. There's a beautiful view point over looking the lake." Tai smirked and followed his sister. They walked over to the edge of the hill and Tai couldn't deny the view was beautiful. He could hear the click of a camera and looked over at his sister who had just taken a photo.
"How about one of us?" She suggested and Tai nodded. He turned around so the lake was behind him. He wrapped an arm around his sister and smiled,
"Cheese." Kari said as she clicked the camera. Tai shared a laugh with his sister and she turned the camera so they could look at the photo together,
"We have the same face." Kari commented and Tai chuckled,
"yeah it's like we're related or something." He said teasingly.
"What's that?" Tai heard someone say and he looked away from the camera and saw white specs falling from the sky,
"Snow?" Kari questioned and Tai couldn't believe it but his sister was right, it was snowing.
"Oh no! How am I to see the aura borealis if its snowing?!" Tai looked over and saw Izzy stomping his way towards them.
"Hey Izzy right?" Tai called out to him stepping away from Kari.
"Yeah, hey Tai." Izzy greeted and Tai looked up seeing more snow,
"Any idea whats going on?" He asked and Izzy shifted his closed laptop from one arm to another,
"No idea, this is a very strange weather phenomenon." Tai nodded and then saw the tall kid that was being yelled at earlier.
"Did you two say you know whats going on?" He asked and he pushed his glasses up his nose. Tai shook his head,
"No we don't, I guess you don't either?" The boy shook his head,
"not a clue." Tai turned away and saw TK, Sora, and Matt walk over. Tai gritted his teeth, he needed to leave.
"Jesus it's snowing? Summer isn't even over yet." TK commented looking up at the sky. Tai moved towards his sister but was stopped by an annoyed grunt,
"I hate the cold!" He turned and saw the girl who was yelling at the tall boy march towards them.
"Do you have any idea why this is happening?" She asked angrily pointing a finger at Tai. Tai shook his head,
"We don't have any idea Mimi! maybe you should go to your cabin." The tall boy commented through his teeth. The girl, Mimi scoffed,
"Some camp leader you are?!" She snapped at the tall boy. The tall boy looked to the sky,
"You take one stupid summer job to help pay towards med school and you get snobby customers like you!" he pointed a finger at Mimi who flipped her hair over her shoulder,
"Whatever George!" The tall boy looked about ready to explode,
"Its JOE!" he yelled and Tai could feel everyone else's awkwardness as Mimi and Joe just stared daggers at one another. Tai no longer wanted any part in the occurring drama. He turned,
"Look Kari-" he stopped and gasped as he saw an unusual sight. He heard Izzy yell,
"What the hell?!" And Tai was frozen, Water, lots of water was rushing towards them. Tai didn't even process his predicament before the water swallowed him whole.