Chapter 2: Finding the Right Balance

"Koushiro, why am I helping you buy Christmas gifts for your kids when you have a husband of your own?" Yamato whined.

"Taichi would tell," Koushiro reminded. "You, however, have the voice of a church mouse."

"I'll take that as a compliment, I guess. So how old are the buggers now? Same-ish age as Tsuku? You know he has a crush on Bug, right?"

"Oh, I heard. I'm not so sure if Taichi is too fond of it, though. His daughter dating an Ishida and all."

"Hey, Hikari married one."

"Ah, true, but to be technical he's under the Takaishi name... Anyway, the twins are fifteen."

"Tell me, is Bug as grumpy as Hana-chan?"

"Not really..." Koushiro trailed off. "But I'm sure it's just a phase."

"Jyou said I should try and spend more time with her..."

"You know, daughters without a stable father figure tend to be promiscuous. May be something to think about."

"Oh, not you, too, Izzy," Yamato remarked. "I was nothing like the rumours. Girls made those up because I didn't want to committ to them."

"Oh, here, here," Koushiro said, darting into a store. "See this telescope. Don't you think the kids would like it?"

"Well, you know Bug is taking after her other father..." Yamato smirked. "Better stock up on soccer balls now."

Koushiro sighed. "Taichi was against it at first. He didn't want her to end up like him, but he seems to realize her life isn't his and he hopes she can win a World Cup some day, too. So, is there some kind of optimum soccer ball I can obtain?"

"Ideally you would try a atheletic store, Koushiro," Yamato said. "I'm not used to any of this sciency stuff anyway. Maybe if I got Hana-chan an instrument for Christmas, she would be able to vent or something."

"This coming from a man who is about to go back into space. I worry for our future astronauts."

"You know what I mean," the blonde pouted. "Space is different from science. That's like.. dissecting animals and stuff. What is that, anyway? Serial killer 101?"

"All that aside, Hanako does take after you a bit... not just in looks."

"That's what I'm worried about," Yamato admitted. "Aiko is like the perfect child. He would rather be graced with our prescence than get a gift. Tsuku spent a week making a thoroughly planned list that included a live T-Rex like Uncle Taichi's. Hana-chan, though... I know she just wants to see her mother."

"There's a restraining order, right?"

"Well, she did try to take the kids with the help of her mother," the blonde remarked. The two walked down the crowded sidewalk. Yamato was glad Koushiro had grown up tall and thin, because if this had been when they were in elementary school, he surely would've lost the boy. "Enough about them, how is Taichi doing? He never called since that bout of depression he had."

"I guess he's ashamed," Koushiro sighed, holding his hand up to one of many wreaths stuck to the light posts for balance as he turned to face his friend. "But, he's just the same old Taichi nowadays. You two could talk if you didn't usually end up fighting... Not to be rude, but I guess I should ask you how you're doing since your Mom passed."

"Fine, I guess," the blonde muttered.

"I heard you're getting re-accepted into NASA. Does that mean you're participating in the Mars project?" Koushiro asked, quickly changing the subject. He had grown used to that look or tone of when Yamato clearly wasn't going to talk about something and although Koushiro had asked out of genuine concern, he could still see Natsuko was not a topic to be discussed.

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"They want to send a couple to Mars in about five more years," Koushiro explained. "The Digital World has greatly effected our understanding of technology. It isn't what it was before we went there..."

"Yeah, I remember you explaining that," Yamato said. "Almost makes you wonder if we would be where we are without the Digimon. Look at us..." the blonde laughed as they waited for the light to change, "We don't even really remember them. It's all like a fucking twisted dream. Hell, I've blocked out most of it by now."

"I have thoroughly fond memories of my time there. In fact, I often look at the years passed and wonder what our old friends are up to."

"Koushiro, that world doesn't exist anymore. Like any childhood fairytale, it was all in our heads. An escape. Now, we're here, back home in Kansas."

"Eh, Kansas?"

"Nevermind," Yamato smiled. The two crossed the street and finally hit up a small athletic store. Koushiro then proceeded to spend thirty minutes deciding on a soccer ball, until Yamato finally convinced a nearby employee to, "For the love of Digi-Jesus, pick him one" or he was going to let Koushiro carry all the presents home by himself.

Evening was beginning to befall them and Yamato was handed nearly the last of the bags as Koushiro checked another pocket for his keys. "Eheh, maybe I misplaced them?"

"Just knock," Yamato whined, kicking the door down.

"No, what is it with you impulsive apes?!" Koushiro shrieked. "Give me those. If the kids see these then I'm screwed. Now, go distract them!" The maroon haired man snapped up all the bags and ducked back into a corner. Yamato sighed as the door opened to him and him alone and he had to think up some lame excuse for why he was there. Taichi and the little buggers looked up at him like he really was Santa, and Yamato was thankful that he didn't have the presents.

The blonde brushed back his bangs, "Hey, Taichi. Yo, kiddos."

"Alright, where are you hiding him?" Taichi ordered, pulling Yamato inside. "Search him!"

The kids started patting Yamato down and sighed, "No presents..."

"Damn, he's smart," Taichi remarked, looking around the porch a moment. He then ducked back inside and shut the door. "I thought maybe you were the unlucky sap Koushiro chose to go present-galumphing with."

Yamato blushed, "No... I just wanted to come see my friend. Is that a crime?"

"I guess not," Taichi shrugged. "Haven't seen you since the hospital."

Yamato cocked his head, "Same."

The two adults meandered into the living room and the kids rushed off some other direction. Yamato could see the shadows in the hall where Koushiro was sneaking in and turned to Taichi, who limped over to his chair. "See that it's never gonna fully heal is it?"

"I could ask the same about you," Taichi sighed, slumping in the recliner.

"Screw off," Yamato replied, sitting across from Taichi. "I'm doing better since I've been with Jyou. Not my fault Sora's a crazed wingbat."

"Is that some kind of PicoDevimon joke?" Taichi giggled. "Why are you even here, Yamato? It's seven in the evening and you didn't just stop for a visit."

"I just needed out of the house. Hana-chan's got a real attitude problem. I don't know how much more I can take lately."

"Ah," Taichi noted. "Well, what's eaten her? Not a boy I hope?"

"That's not even funny," Yamato remarked, staring daggers at Taichi, "Look, she's just missing her mother lately. I can't control that."

"Why are you trying to?" Taichi replied. "Just let her go see Sora."

"Hell no, then I would never see my daughter again!"

"I think you're overreacting a little bit, man."

Yamato gritted his teeth, "Yeah, well, you weren't married to her for sixteen agonizingly long, accusing years. Do you have any idea?"

Taichi set his jokes aside a moment and hobbled over to the liquor cabinet and returned with a little scotch. Yamato took it gladly, listening as Koushiro hid the presents somewhere upstairs by now. Taichi stood near his friend a moment and then limped again to his chair, "Look, my father never approved of me, Yamato, but you know what you have to do? Let it go."

"I've never been able to let anything go my entire life," Yamato admitted.

"That's precisely you're problem, dude," Taichi chuckled. "At least you realize it."

"...I can't lose Hanako. I never got to give her the childhood she deserved," the blonde said, tears forming in his eyes. "I can't even give her the remainder of the childhood she deserved and I've done everything I know how to do... I'm going to let her down, Taichi. Just like I've been letting everyone down my entire life."

"Hmm," Taichi said, taking a sip from his glass, "Doesn't sound like the Yama I know. Yama I know has been letting himself down his entire life. There's a big difference."

"I didn't come here to argue with you," the blonde snapped.

"Who's arguing?" Taichi smiled. "You're here trying to hide the fact that Koush is somewhere hiding our presents and I'm being a dick because you lied to me about it, that's all."

Yamato shook his head, "There's a reason we don't get a long, you know. It's that careless, reckless attitude."

"I'm reckless?" Taichi blurted. "Hey, this is only a limp, you know. Don't think I can't come over there and still beat the sense into you. In fact, I have a cane now-"

"Hey, enough of that," Koushiro said from the door. He was a tad sweaty, but seemed proud of himself. "I had to hurry," he said when he caught the two men staring, "I knew if I left you two alone too long, you'd kill one another."

"Thanks," Yamato remarked.

"So, where are those presents?" Taichi asked, rubbing his hands together. "BUG! KAYA! THE HUNT IS ON!"

"Oh no it isn't!" Koushiro ordered, stamping his foot. "Both of you stay where you are or I'll ground you for a month!"

Yamato closed his eyes and smiled, taking in the laughter and ruckus a moment as the kids rushed in and tried to beat Koushiro up the stairs. "I should get going. I have my own family waiting."

"Yeah, they should their father smile for a change," Taichi smirked, standing up. His cane clicked against the floor as he made his way to the stairs and he went to join the rest of his family, too. Yamato finished his drink and left, wondering if he would ever be able to fully cherish what these two men had or not.