Well, I know I said I'd have it out by the weekend, and it wasn't. I apologize, but I became busy. I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. Anyway, here is the second chapter. I hope you enjoy!
I do not own Digimon. I do not own its characters either.
The door opened and the four entered the apartment. It was quiet and peaceful.
"Mom! We're home!" Kari said, while they all discarded their shoes at the door. Kari looked at the kitchen counter, and saw a note written in her mother's handwriting.
"Dear Tai, Kari, Sora, and T.K.,
First, welcome back! I hope you had a fun time in the Digital world! I've gone out shopping for dinner tonight, and I won't be here to greet you. Enjoy some of my homemade liver sticks until I get there. See ya! –Love mom"
Tai looked at the note, then at the liver sticks.
"How much does she know?" Tai asked.
"T.K. and I told her a little on the phone, but she doesn't know about the Wishing World." Kari said. Tai nodded. They had decided not to tell their mom about their deaths, so not as to worry her.
"Where are Gatomon and Patamon?" Sora asked.
"They're still in the Digital World. Joe didn't want to risk Patamon gate traveling, so he had to stay. Gatomon stayed with him." Kari said. Sora smiled.
"I think they are closer than friends now." T.K. commented. Kari gave him a knowing look.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say they weren't the only ones." Tai said, giving the two of them a look. The two younger Digidestined both turned red. T.K. looked for an excuse to change the subject. His eyes hit the plate of liver sticks.
"Hey, why be hungry while we're waiting . . .?" He said, reaching for one.
"NO!!!" Tai and Kari screamed, and pulled his hand away.
"Haven't you been here before?" Kari asked.
"Yeah." T.K. said confused.
"And have I ever let you eat my mom's food?" Kari said.
"No, why?" T.K. said. Sora laughed.
"Let's just say your stomach needs a new lining if you're going to eat her food." Sora said laughing. "I think, given the option, I'll cook us something." Sora threw the liver sticks away, and started to pull out ingredients to cook. While she was preoccupied in the kitchen, Tai, T.K., and Kari went to go sit in the living room.
"Do you need help?" Kari called.
"No, I got it." Sora replied. They heard a buzzing sound.
"That's probably mom with the groceries. I'll help her bring them in." Kari said, getting up. T.K. stood up to join her, but he winced. After all, he had been badly hurt.
"No." Kari said, placing a hand on his chest. "You stay here and rest. You've been through a lot." He opened his mouth, closed it, and nodded. T.K. sat back down. Kari smiled at him, and he beamed back.
"Hurry back to me." He said. They had completely forgotten Tai.
"Always." She replied. She left, but all the while, their eyes kept locked to each other. Kari exited the apartment. T.K. sighed contentedly, and looked at Tai. T.K. gasped. Tai sat there with a look of contempt and distrust aimed at T.K.
"Tai, is something wrong?" T.K. asked.
"Well, as a matter of fact-." Tai began.
"Tai!" Sora called, coming from the kitchen. She had apparently seen this conversation brewing, and had been waiting for it. Tai's eyes wandered up to meet Sora's.
"Let me tell him, or you might end up saying something you will regret." She offered. Tai nodded gruffly. T.K. turned to Sora in question.
"T.K." Sora said. "Umm . . .Tai has concerns about you being around Kari." T.K.'s face contorted to confusion.
"Because," Tai answered. "I don't trust you, and I don't want you around my sister. And I sure as hell don't want you with her." T.K. stared in shock.
"Tai hasn't forgotten what you did. Even if I have." Sora explained. They were referring to when T.K. told Matt that Sora and Tai were secretly dating. T.K. remembered that Tai had hit him immediately afterward, and may continued to have done so, if Kari had not intervened.
"And . . . he does respect Kari's wishes and decisions, but . . ." Sora trailed off.
"If you hurt my sister." Tai said from his seat. "I'll find you. And I'll make you pay." He said lowly. Both T.K. and Sora stared at him. They had never heard the usually jovial Tai speak in such a manner. Just then, Kari and her mom entered the apartment.
"Hey everyone!" Tai and Kari's mom said, entering the kitchen. Then they heard, "Hey, what's this burning?" Sora's eyes widened, and she ran into the kitchen. Kari entered the room, and noticed Tai's expression of contempt, and T.K.'s of fear.
"What's wrong?" She asked. Tai seemed to soften at his sister.
"Nothing," Tai lied. "Just discussing the Dark Digidestined." He walked into the kitchen.
"Hey." Kari said to T.K., smiling. He managed a weak smile in return.
* * * * *
Ian and Adrian sat inside a cab, riding down the road. They had traveled all over the Digital World, but eventually, Ian convinced Adrian to come back to the real world. He had been walking all over town with her, leading her to new places, and some old ones. Ian had talked privately to their Digimon beforehand, and they agreed to stay behind in the Digital World for a bit. Ian had a plan, and he wasn't sure how it was going to work. Adrian looked at Ian questioningly, as their cab turned another corner. She suddenly realized where she was being taken.
"No . . ." She was unable to breathe. Ian frowned at her.
"Adrian, you need to do this." He said. The car pulled up beside her two-story house. It was a nice yellow house surrounded by a white picket fence. They both got out. Ian led Adrian through the white wooden gate. She saw the mailbox, which read, "The Isoukats". This was her parents' house.
"I can't do this." She said. She started back. He caught her arm, and twisted her around to meet him.
"You need to do this. They're your family. They love you and miss you." Ian told her.
"What do you know of me?" She snapped. Ian was unfazed, as he knew she was just afraid.
"I know only what you've told me. And you've told me that they loved you, and probably missed you. As you do them." He said. She nodded. Adrian then walked up to the door slowly. She rang the doorbell. They waited a few moments, before the door opened slowly. It was an older woman. She looked like an older Adrian, except with grayer hair. The woman eyed Ian, and then saw Adrian.
"Adrian?
"Mom?" Adrian said, her voice breaking. They pulled into a hug that included many tears. Then Adrian's father came out, realized what happened, and joined the hug. Ian stood there patiently and smiling. The three stopped hugging, and the four went inside. They went into the living room. It was very cozy, surrounded by furniture, pictures, and plants. It could be told that a warm family lived there. Ian looked around, and something in his heart ached. If he had a home, he had always wished it would be something like this. Adrian and her mom sat on the couch, her dad in a chair beside them, and Ian was invited to sit in a chair as well.
"Adrian, it's been four months. We were worried sick. We thought . . ." Her mom began, but she broke down again. Her husband put his hand on her knee.
"Never mind what we thought. What matters is that you're here now." Her dad said.
"Why did you leave?" Her dad asked. He glared at Ian across the way. "Was it because of him?"
"Dad!" Adrian said. "He had nothing to do with me leaving!" Her dad still glared at Ian.
"Then who is he, and why is he here?" Her dad asked.
"Mom, dad, this is my . . ." Adrian struggled at what to refer to Ian as. Were they still just friends? "This is Ian. He didn't make me go away. He actually convinced me to come back." Both her parents looked at him suspiciously. Ian blushed. They turned back to Adrian.
"It is so good to see you back. Now, obviously there was something wrong at school or with your friends. You'll just have to be restricted to things only we can go to. You'll need to switch new schools, and get away from the people there." Her dad said.
"But I don't think it was that." Adrian started. Her mom laughed.
"Sweetie, what else could it have been? You need a change in environment, so you don't feel tempted to run away anymore. We might even move."
"But what if we-." Adrian began, but her mom cut her off.
"Adrian, your father and I will talk. We'll help you through this." Her mom said. Ian looked from Adrian's father to her mother, and finally his eyes landed on her. She caught his eye.
"What have I done?" Ian thought.
"Mom, dad, will you excuse me?" Adrian asked. They nodded. "Ian, will you go with me please?" He nodded, and followed her out of the room.
"Well?" She said. Once they were out of earshot.
"They're great." Ian said, and then hesitated. So did she.
"Ian . . . I'd like some time alone with my parents." Adrian said. Her eyes were on the ground. He stared at her in non-belief.
"You're . . .you're asking me to leave?" He asked. She nodded.
"Listen, this last month has been great. But you were right when you said I needed to come home. I just need to forget these last four months, and try to pick up my life again." She said.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was your old life that drove you away." He said. She frowned and shook her head.
"No, I was just confused and angry." She said. This time he shook his head.
"No, Adrian, I heard what they said in there. They have no idea it was they who drove you away. You can't just come back and expect everything to work out okay." Ian said, his voice rising. She looked at him, angry.
"What did you think was going to happen when I came here?" Adrian said, her voice rising. "That I would cry, and reconnect with my parents, but then tell them I can't stay because they are too controlling? What would I do then? Go off, like you and live life in the world, free? I can't do that. I can't be like you." Ian flinched.
"But you can't live like this. Not the way your parents treat you." He said.
"At least I have parents that care about me." Adrian exploded. Ian took a step back, unable to conceal the look of hurt and betrayal on his face. She realized what she said. She stepped toward him.
"Ian . . ." She said. He swallowed hard.
"You're right. I should go. Goodbye." Ian said. He walked out the door. Adrian stood there, horrified at what she had done. She heard the front door shut. Ian was gone.
* * * * *
DING! A small timer went off. Mimi went over to the oven and pulled out the chicken. She traveled over to the table and put the dish down. The table was set.
DING DONG! Mimi smiled.
"Coming!" She shouted, pulling her apron off. She was wearing a simple, yet elegant pink dress. She walked over to the mirror, and checked her hair. She wanted everything to be perfect. After what had happened a month ago, Mimi had decided to enroll in a chef's school. Apparently, cooking was her passion. But she had to return to her home in America. While she was in America, she had asked Michael out. They had been talking for quite some time. Now, she decided to take their relationship to a new level: dating. Michael was standing there dressed in a nice, sky-blue shirt with light khakis.
"Hi." He said nervously.
"Hi. Would you like to come in?" She said quietly, stepping back. He walked into the apartment. She led him over to the table. He pulled out her chair and she sat down. She smiled at him. Not many guys she knew were so gentlemanly. Here, she found in America, guys were pigs, only interested in her looks. Michael was one of the few she knew that was interested in her personality. He nodded at her, and sat down at the opposite end. She looked at her meal nervously.
"I hope you like it." She said.
"If it tastes as good as it looks, I don't need to worry." He replied. They began to eat and talk.
* * * * *
"Hi-ya!" Cody's grandfather swung his kendo stick toward Cody, who blocked half-heartedly. Cody was pushed to the ground by the force. Cody's grandfather pulled up his helmet.
"Cody! You seem very distracted. What is the matter?" Cody's grandfather asked. Cody pulled up his helmet.
"Grandfather," Cody started, and then hesitated. "What if dad could come back?" Cody asked. His grandfather frowned.
"Cody, we've talked about this. He's gone. He can't come back." His grandfather said.
"But if he could . . ."
"Cody, what has brought you to this line of thinking?" Cody's grandfather asked.
"Nothing, I suppose." Cody replied. "I was just thinking lately." Cody paused. "Grandfather, say you could bring someone to life, except it takes the power of another to do so. Is it worth it?" Cody's grandfather slowly walked over near Cody, and sat down. He invited Cody to do the same, and he did.
"Listen Cody," His grandfather said. "Your dad was a good man. He valued all life, and wouldn't want anyone to sacrifice their life for him." Cody nodded. "Even if that meant saving his life or even bringing him back. He was a man of good morals. He always knew the right thing to do. As do you. You're more like him than you know."
"Cody!" They heard, and Armadillomon came into the room. "Your mom says it's time for dinner!" Armadillomon said enthusiastically. Cody's grandfather nodded.
"Let's go Cody. We'll talk later." They all walked out.
* * * * *
Davis Motomiya walked out of the store. His mom had asked him to pick up a few things from the store. He was in the frozen isle. He passed a girl who caught his eye. He stopped. Since he had given up on Kari, he needed to find a new girl. Someone he could care for, like T.K. and Kari. She was also looking at him. He leaned back against one of the freezer doors, and hoped to God his hair was decent. The girl passed by him.
"Excuse me." He said. "But I had to ask why you're in the freezer section, when you are so hot!" She smiled at him. Yes, he was in. Unfortunately, the door he was leaning on led to ice cream.
"Davis!" DemiVeemon shouted from Davis' backpack. "Ice cream! Can we get some? Can we?"
"Later!" Davis hissed, but it was too late. The girl left, with a weirded out look on her face.
"DemiVeemon!" Davis said, pulling him out of the pack. DemiVeemon laughed. Davis felt his anger at his partner fade. Sometimes, he could get frustrated, but if anything were to happen to DemiVeemon, Davis would be crushed.
"What?" The Digimon asked innocently. Davis shook his head.
"Never mind." Davis said, walking down the grocery isle. "Just remind me never to bring you on a date."
"Okay, so can we have ice cream?" DemiVeemon asked. Davis smiled.
* * * * *
Matt sat on one of the deck chairs thinking. He had taken that trip he had talked so long ago about with Sora. Though she wasn't going, he still went, with his dad. It was hard convincing his dad to go, but his dad took off work reluctantly. Gabumon also went too. They traveled, and enjoyed the air. Matt wasn't sure that he wanted his dad to come, but Gabumon insisted. Matt needed to talk to someone.
Gabumon was outside on the deck, sleeping. Matt sat beside him, deep in thought. His dad came out, drink in hand, and sat beside him. Gabumon snored loudly. His dad laughed.
"Is he going to sleep all day?" his dad asked. Matt looked over at Gabumon, and smiled a little.
"Matt?" His dad said. Matt didn't answer, he just continued to look at Gabumon sleeping.
"Matt?" His dad repeated.
"I heard you dad." Matt said.
"Are you okay son?" said his dad.
"No dad, I'm not." Matt told him. There was silence for a while.
"Do you want to talk about it?" His father asked. Matt sighed.
"Sora and I are no longer together anymore." Matt said. He could feel the pain starting to resurface. His dad must have sensed it.
"I'm sorry. I know how you feel." He said.
"Do you?" Matt yelled bitterly. "Do you know how it feels that your girlfriend has been cheating on you with your best friend? That they keep it a secret for a whole year and you find out by your brother? That it destroyed the two best relationships I had with anyone? You have no idea how I feel!" His dad remained silent.
"Do you think your mom was some one night stand?" His dad asked rhetorically. Matt's eyes faltered. His parents had divorced a long time ago and tore their family apart. Matt had carried the scars from that time, and so had, apparently, his dad.
"Right now, you feel alone, and betrayed. That if you could go back to not knowing, at least you would be happy. Am I right?" His dad asked. Matt didn't speak a word. "But what you need to do is move on."
"I can't." Matt said bitterly.
"Why not?"
"Because . . .I still love her." Matt said, and sat back, deep in thought.
Well, Matt still cares, but is it too late?
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