Digimon: The New Breed

By DigitalFlagDancer

Chapter Two:

"Good Old Accepting"

T.K.'s P.O.V.

Sometimes alarm clocks ruin your day before it even starts. I would know. I got an hour of sleep this morning. "Riiiiiiiing!" The sound of the blasted contraption blazes through my ears, popping them and giving me the beginning of a morning migraine as I grumble loudly and force myself up out of bed to go shut it off. Ugg. Damned thing. I look at the time: 6:00 AM. Yup. Unfortunately. Time to get ready. I don't want to, but if I don't start now I won't have enough time. Thus, I head to the bathroom.

Making my way down the hall and shutting the door behind me, I look in the mirror. My hair is a big blonde mess. It's puffind out in all directions, light yellow spikes pointed everywhich way almost like an albino Izzy of old but without the strange but mystifying aura of intelligence. How he pulled off red spikes and looking at a genius at the same time I still don't know. Either way, the pinecone-do isn't working for me and it needs to be gotten rid of. As do the obvious circles of sleep deprevation I have around both my eyes and the blank expression on my face which reads a mix between stoned out teenager and undead zombie. I suppose I could always be a horror movie actor when I get older if nothing else works out.

I put my thoughts aside and step into the shower. If I want to look presentable I have to wet my hair down and wipe off that grungy school morning feeling first. I always sike myself up for the first day of school, feel determined that it's gonna be the best thing ever and I won't have anything to worry about this year. My mood has been even moreso this year since I've moved back and all, but at the moment I don't think anything could really make me feel excited. I'm just...groggy. And nasty. And tired. Oh well. Deciding its time to actually relax and let my head go I turn the water on high and let it cleanse me. I get my hair wet throughout and wash it, using a bottle of shampoo I borrowed from Tai a while ago and still haven't given back. It smells too good. No surprise there, really: If you're going to keep a permanent bird nest on your head it might as well be a clean one.

After what seems like an hour under the water I step out and dry myself off. Patting my hair down, I decide that it looks not perfect but well enough and go back to my room. I read the clock: 6:30 AM. So I took longer than intended. Oh well, I still have plenty of time. Rummaging through my closet I find a nice yellow and blue striped shirt and a pair of comfortable green pants. Looking for a finishing touch I grab my white hat from the top of my dresser—I've never worn it much before, but it fits the occasion somehow. I feel like it makes me look good in a way I can't place my finger on. I decide it will more than do and drop the matter, heading to the kitchen.

Mom is already up and typing at her computer in the office as I pass by, and I peer my head in and ask: "Hey, Mom. Up already? I thought you didn't have to work until eight today?" "Oh I don't, but I really need to get some more work done on this paper before I go in. It's all about the historical significance of toilet paper," she explained. Wow, I thought. How totally not interesting. But gross. Like Numemon. "Ah, okay. Well I'm gonna get a quick bite to eat and go to school, okay?" I replied. "Ah, yes, they do have you all start early here don't they? Sorry I can't drive you there but like I said, I've got this paper to do. Have fun on your first day back and tell Kari 'Hi' for me if you see her!" Mom said. "Will do!," I said, walking the rest of the way to the kitchen and grabbing a protein bar. I'm not in the mood for an actual meal this morning. I slip on my shoes, put on my backpack, and walk out the door.

Our apartment is roughly just ten feet from the elevator and I press the down arrow button beside it. After about thirty seconds the elevator comes down and stops. The doors open. I see two other kids who look about my age. I wonder if they go to the same school as me. "Oh, hi, you must be the new kid that just moved in. Takaishi, is it?" One of the kids asks, a female, tall with purple hair partially kept up in a blue bandana and large clear circular glasses. "T.K., yes," I answer. "T.K. Takaishi." "Ah, well it's nice to meet you T.K. I'm Yolei Inoue. And this is Cody," the girl says, directing my attention to the shorter one of the pair. Cody is small with dark brown hair and plain yet formal looking clothes. His face looks a little troubled for a moment but then he looks up at me and smiles: "Hi, T.K.! I'm Cody Hida! It's nice to meet you. Are you going to Odaiba Middle School, too?" he asks. "Yep," I say. "Seventh grade, Class A. You?" I ask. "Sixth grade, Class A. But at least we can walk to school together," he smiles. I grin back and step in, the elevator starting to move back down. We get out after passing just a few more floors.

"So Yolei, are you in my class?" I ask. "Nah, I'm in the eighth grade. It'll be nice to have someone new to walk with though, like Cody said. How are you liking it here in Odaiba?" Yolei asked. "Oh I like it well enough. I used to live here about seven years ago actually, back when I was still a little kid. We moved away after my parents got divorced, though," I said. "Oh," Yolei said, a frown taking shape on her face. "Sorry." "It's okay," I smile at her. "I'm back now since my mom got a new job here. Hey, speaking of people living here, do either of you know a girl named Kari Kamiya?" I ask. "The name sounds familiar. I've never actually talked to her but I think she's in your grade," Yolei said. "She always seemed nice," Cody added. "Yeah, she is. She was my best friend a while back so I'm hoping to see her again today," I explained. "Oh I'm sure you will. She's one of the smarter girls in your grade so she should be in Class A with you," Yolei said. "Awesome," I replied.

"Hey Yolei, before I forget, my computer's been having some problems again lately. Can you come over and fix it again after school today?" Cody asked. "Sure," Yolei said. "But only if you promise to have your mom make me some of those awesome brownies I love again," she grinned. "Sure. I'll call her during lunch and let her know," Cody said. "Perfecto!" Yolei grinned and looked back over to me. By now we had reached the front of the school and there were several bands of teenagers hanging out outside it. "Hey T.K. I've gotta go meet up with some friends before class starts but good luck on your first day back!," she said smiling, waving back at me as she ran over to some girls on the other side of the lawn. "Thanks! You too," I smiled and waved back. Cody looked up at me right then as well. "Sorry to leave you so soon but I've gotta meet Mr. Ayanami and turn in some summer homework before the bell rings. See ya, T.K.!" Cody said, making his way into the building.

Hm, all alone, I thought. Again. Oh well. Time to make my way inside and see if what Yolei said about Kari was really true. I hoped so. As I walked closer to the front entrance I noticed a group of boys playing soccer on one side of the front lawn. Hm, they're getting ready for the season already? I thought. I suppose it never hurts to practice. Scanning the scene before me I caught a glimpse of dark brown curls bobbing atop one of the soccer players' heads, decorated with a black pair of goggles. Tai? I thought flabbergasted, stopping to get a closer look at the boy. Upon a second glance I could tell that the boy was not Tai, but the resemblance was striking. Just then I saw a ball coming towards me and with a lightning fast reaction caught it before it could whack me in the face. It was the soccer ball the boys had been using. One of them ran over to get it from me. The brown haired goggle boy.

"Hey, can I get that back?" he asked. Still slightly stunned by his appearance, it took me a few moments to reply. "Y-yeah, sorry," I said, tossing it back. "Sorry. You just look like someone else I know," I said, turning around and walking back toward the door. The boy had a somewhat confused look on his face. I smirked. I must be going crazy. That boy's hair wasn't nearly as long as Tai's and besides, Tai was certainly a better soccer player than that kid had seemed to be for the few moments I had seen him playing. I looked back again: The brunette was looking back at me too, smiling at me for a moment as he drove the ball back towards his teammates. I couldn't help but feel my eyes drift downward a little bit. I have to admit though, I thought. The kid's ass ain't half-bad. Smirking at my observation I finally walked through the front door and looked up at the clock to see that I had barely a minute left to get to class. Hurrying, I climbed up the steps to the second floor. Barely making it in on time, I turned to look at my teacher. Thankfully I didn't have Mr. Fujiyama again. I think I might have shot myself if I did. Instead, the man's nametag read Mr. Marsh.

Looking up at him, I said, "Sorry, sir. I'm new here and don't know my way around yet." A lie: I had sometimes been here when meeting up with Kari for some of my rare but precious visits back home. Nonetheless, it was a convenient fallacy as Mr. Marsh had no way of knowing that. "That's ok. You must the new kid from Shinjuku they were telling me about. Why don't you introduce yourself to the class," Mr. Marsh said. I nodded and turned to the several rows of desks in front of me, mostly filled with unfamiliar faces. I scanned through them searcing and found Kari in the fifth row back. I smiled: She returned the gesture. "Hi everyone, I'm T.K. Takaishi. It's nice to meet you," I said to the two dozen or so teenagers whom did not interest me nearly as much as my best friend. "Yes well I'm sure everyone here will make you feel perfectly welcome. Feel free to ask me if you need any help figuring out where your afternoon classes are located at. That said, why don't you take a seat next to..." Mr. Marsh's eyes scanned the rows of seats before him for an empty desk. I looked back to Kari and saw that she had used her bag to save me one. I grinned. "...the girl with the camera around her neck," Mr. Marsh finished. I nodded and made my way down the aisle to my seat. Sitting down, I smiled at Kari. "Together again," I whispered. "Just like old times," she grinned back.

Two rows behind me, a certain brunette was fuming. "That guy's trying to make a move on my girl!" I heard the soccer player from earlier grumble. I snickered. Yeah, like you really have to worry about that. She's totally the one I find more attractive between the two of you, I thought sarcastically, looking back up to Mr. Marsh and the blackboard. He was writing his name up on it in chalk and getting ready to give us a beginning of the year speech. Not really caring, I looked back over to Kari. "Notes?" I whispered. Pulling out a blank piece of paper from under her binder, she grinned: She was already two steps ahead of me. I took the paper and smiled, taking the cap off my pen and beginning what was sure to be the start of our long needed catch-up time. It had been a while since the last time we got to hang out in person, and I intended to catch up as quickly as possible. I was ecstatic to have my friend back, and there was a lot to tell her about: Maybe even what I'd told Matt. I'm sure she wouldn't care, I thought smiling. She's always been accepting of me. Of everyone, really. That said, my thoughts began to gravitate back towards the grumbling brunette a few seats behind us. And maybe I'll even tell her about him. Err, a part of him. She's always been blatant when talking about cute guys. I smiled. Good old accepting Kari. This was going to be a good year.