"HONK!"
I heard that sound probably 15 times as I weaved in and out of traffic with my old beat up truck. I'm completely aware I'm a reckless driver. Notice I said reckless not bad, there's a major difference. A bad driver loses control and crashes, I as a reckless driver keep control and just do stupid stuff on the road, I can get myself out of bad situations.
Agumon, is sitting in the passenger, clinging to the seat covers in terror. I indulge in a small chuckle at his reaction. He's one of the few that will even get in my car with me, most people are too frightened to brave the dangers I pose on the road. Maybe it has to do with the crest of Courage? I don't know, it doesn't really matter.
I see the restaurant up ahead and I smoothly slide into an open parking space, I almost had to peel Agumon off of the seat and I take a look in the bed of my truck:
"Thank god!" I exclaim, pulling out a small wrapped package that said "To: Kari" on it. I got lucky this time, I remember her present. And if I remember correctly what I got her, she's going to love this one!
The two of us make our way from the parking lot into the side door of a nice little café. The name is French so I can't really read it…yeah go ahead and judge me I don't care. Though the French name does remind me of the time T.K. and I went to France to take care of the evil Digimon there. Haha that was one hell of a night, and we kissed Catherine…no one but us gets to know about that. (It wouldn't matter in my case but there's no sense in Kari being angry with him.)
"Tai!" I hear as I enter the party room. Kari jumped out of her seat and ran to hug me, I accept happily lifting my little sister up and spinning her around. "You need to visit more often! My room just isn't the same without you, It's weird having a room to myself actually…"
"I was thinking the same thing the other day!" I add tousling her hair playfully. I look past her and see the rest of my family waiting on me to make it to the table, T.K. sitting with them, hat sitting on the corner of the back of his chair, but Patamon still enjoying the view from his head.
I sit and have a quick chat my parents, then I greet T.K. who then asks who else is coming.
"Well I invited all of the Digidestined…" Kari looked down at the floor sadly, then at the unopened door. She knew that some of the older ones had things that they needed to do. But the new Digidestined should have been able to come.
T.K. walked up to her and put his arm around her comfortingly. "Don't worry Kari, I know for a fact that Matt and Sora are coming, and come on, Davis wouldn't miss this for the world."
This caused Kari to smile and kiss her boyfriend on the cheek softly. I shake my head at the two, they were just too cute, and strangely perfect for each other. I wonder if there's anybody out there like that for me…
My self- sulking is interrupted by the entrance of a hyperactive Davis, followed by Cody and Yolei. Ken is nowhere to be seen, but I'm sure he'll show up. It was nice to see that he had been able to find a place on this team; he'd lost that sad, distant attitude that he always had when he'd first stopped being the Digimon Emperor, it seemed that I had taken that spot…not a comforting thought.
That's when Matt and Sora entered the restaurant. Now I know I said I didn't hate them, and I don't! Believe me when I say they're still my best friends. But I do always seem to get tense when they're around, particularly when they're together. I just never know how to act, especially with Sora! Should I act chummy? Just keep to myself? I have no idea! This is such a complicated thing.
"Ummm hey guys," I wave from my seat. Gabumon and Biyomon enter behind them, immediately going over to Agumon. It's nice to see that they're relationship hasn't changed. You know what? Why can't we all be Digimon? Life would be so much simpler…Eat, Sleep, Kick-ass… the good life!
"Hey Tai," Sora gives me a shy smile. Damnit stop doing that to me! And Matt walks over to shake my hand, obviously happy to see me. He motions me over to a different table, the same one that the Digimon were occupying and the three of us sit down, Matt and Sora begin talking while I awkwardly sit there, unsure of what to do.
I listen to their conversation for a while thanking God that they aren't acting lovey-dovey around me. Matt will steal a glance at me everyone once in a while, and Sora is doing the same. I see something in their eyes…Is that guilt?
Davis jovially jumps over to me and gets right up in my face. My junior begins a new saga, telling me about his awesome soccer games in the past week, their travelling team is pretty good this year, with Ken and Davis leading the team. I snicker and playfully shove him away.
"It's the goggles not you sorry bud!" Agumon and Patamon bursting into laughter at my comment. Patamon now resides on Agumon's head as they sit and listen to Davis and I's back and forth, in the end I win (as usual) and Davis sulks back to his seat near T.K. who's still talking to Kari.
Now I space out, maybe because I don't want to hear their conversation, thinking instead about soccer, I wish it was still fall so I could just play on a team again, practicing by myself is fun and all. But I'm at the point where just kicking the ball around isn't going to make me any better, I need competition.
We are joined finally by Ken and Izzy who just got out of class. Wormmon and Tentomon accompany them conversing quietly in the background.
"Those non-insect Digimon just don't understand the delicious taste of grasses Wormmon, it takes a very select and sophisticated pallet to enjoy such delectable food." Tentomon stated pointedly to the worm Digimon next to him.
"I couldn't agree more! I met a nasty little Digimon the other day that started making fun of me for chewing on a plant outside. I had half a mind to Digivolve into Stingmon and show him who is boss!" Wormmon answered in assured agreement.
"Settle down you too." Izzy said calmly before greeting everyone with a smile and taking his place in the last spot at our table.
Now that everyone is here, the food starts to come in waves. My parents must have asked them to cook everything in massive quantities, they was starting to learn that part about Digimon, they eat! Agumon was first in line, grabbing a whole pan of spaghetti for himself, amazingly it didn't even make a dent in the cornucopia of food from all different countries. That's weird; I thought this was a French place…Oh well!
Everyone went through the line and was back to their seats quickly, tucking into the food with gusto it was an entertaining sight, I heard my mother say "T.K. slow down you've gotta leave room for my cucumber cake!" I really hope that's a joke, I want to keep down my plate of chow mien thank you very much.
Izzy started to speak to Sora about something he was working on with the digital world. I ate in silence before being tapped on the shoulder.
"So Tai.." Matt was looking at me with those sympathetic eyes again, "Have you thought anymore about my offer? We could really use your voice." He said genuinely. I liked the idea of being in Matt's band, but how much in his shadow would I be?
"I'll change the name to 'The Wolfasaurs!" He laughed at his combination of wolves and dinosaur's. That made me smile, but I still wasn't sure. Until someone else piped up from across the table.
"Come on Tai, you're really good! They could use you!" Sora said sweetly causing me to freeze and do a 180 in my thinking.
"Shit now I can't say no…." I rolled my eyes in frustration, but played it off as being modest.
"Alright Matt, if you need me to sing so bad I GUESS I could help you out." I emphasized the word 'guessed' as though it would interfere with something. The truth is I'm glad I accepted the offer, sometimes I need to get a push to hop over my wall of pride.
My father whistled through his fingers, signaling that it was time for presents.
Kari grabbed the ones from her fellow 'new' Digidestined and opened each one carefully: From Davis she got…a mug? And Cody gave her small kendo sword, (every girls dream right?) And Yolei got her a cat toy so that she and Gatomon could play with it. Gatomon had immediately snatched it from her hand before she could get a good look at it and she scampered off to a nearby corner, purring incessantly. We older kids couldn't help but laugh, apparently we knew her better than her own group did!
She opened Izzy's next, revealing a computer adapter that would allow her to look into certain spots of the Digital World without actually going there, it would help with surveillance. Sora's gift contained a cute little dress that she had designed herself. And Matt's were free season tickets to his concerts, including backstage passes! Not bad gifts, it was all stuff she would use and enjoy. But mine would take the cake, I was sure of it.
Keitaro picked up the small wrapped box, and shook it a little bit next to her ear, I smiled at her and urged her forward. She slowly pulled the paper off, bit by bit. I cut the tape on the box for her with my pocket knife. She opened up the lid and looked at the two items inside quizzically, as if she didn't understand.
She pulled from the box a small picture of Wizardmon, smiling happily with Gatomon by his side. Kari looked at the photo, then at me, and then she silently moved the frame to reveal the final part of the gift.
The damaged remains of Wizardmon's hat were placed gently in the back portion of the box.
Gatomon had since stopped playing with her toy as soon as she heard people go silent. It was almost an eerie feeling, that none of us were talking, even my parents who truly didn't have any idea what was going on.
Kari was starting to cry, tears dripped out of her right eyes first, then a stream from her left joined it and she along with Gatomon were both bawling. At first I thought I had done something wrong, was this gift really that bad of an idea?
My doubts were quelled when my little sister swayed her way up to me and embraced me; she spoke "Thank you Tai…thank you so much," She choked out with tears still in her eyes. Gatomon nodded her agreement; her eyes were still glued to Wizardmon's photo.
Kari released me and thanked everyone graciously for their gifts and for coming; she was slowly getting her emotions under control. Wiping the last of the tears from her eyes she sat back down and leaned into T.K.
"That was really sweet of you Tai," Sora said, wiping her own tears from the corners of her eyes. Matt agreed as did Izzy.
"Where did you find it anyway?" Matt asked curiously.
"I went up to the top of the tower again, for old time's sake. And I found it lodged in an air conditioner. It was kept out of the way of the weather and I'm kind of impressed it was that still so intact." I shrugged. I am glad Kari liked it though, it was a gift she'd always keep, I knew that for a fact.
After the gifts came the cake and I'm terrified to find that my mother really did make a cucumber cake, my fear is relinquished however when my father brings out a real birthday cake. After several comments from my mother about 'how she's not appreciated' we cut the cake and hand it out: One per person, two per Digimon.
Conversation takes everyone and were all wrapped up in our different groups. By the time people start to leave it's almost 10 o clock at night. Finally we gather all of our things and head out the door, my family taking T.K. and Kari, Sora leaving with Matt, and I'll be taking Izzy home much to his displeasure
"Just grab onto Tentomon, I won't be busting it tonight." I laugh as he climbs into the passenger seat.
Now I've got to say goodbye to my dating friends…Joy! I slowly approach the two and I shake Matt's hand, thanking him for the offer of joining his band. It's Sora's turn…The most awkward turn of my head I've ever experienced.
I catch her eyes in their entire beautiful splendor. I take a sharp, and sadly noticeable, breath. Before I can go further I stop myself and throw on my cocky smile, which doesn't feel as real as it used to. "Catch ya later Sor!" I shout and give her a playful, yet awkward punch to the shoulder. And do an immediate 180 degree and start tromping back to my truck. I'm stopped by the call of an angel.
"Take care of yourself ok Tai?" Sora called after me sadly, feeling the pain I was feeling. She looked guiltily at Matt who shared the same expression. I didn't even bother to acknowledge them again as I hop into my truck.
When we get back out onto the road Izzy gives me a hesitant and cautious smirk "Still not over her I see…"
"Izzy shut up," Damn you'd think with the crest of knowledge he would know now is not the time to be pissing me off. I grunt switching the radio from rap music. I hate rap music.
"Would this have something to do with your gradual change in behavior?"
"I said shut up!" He got the message this time and slumped in his seat. Agumon and Tentomon both looked at one another and shrugged, not knowing what to do.
The rest of the ride was silent; I drove more calmly than usual and I could tell Izzy was happy with that. I pull into a parking garage that's close to our apartment. I hop out and see a lot of people out on the street looking upward, as well as a few fire trucks.
My breath catches in my throat at what I'm going to find. I step out on the street with the others and I look up to my apartment.
I'm surprised to find it's no longer there; just a pulsing inferno of flames lies in its place…
