Author's Notes:

I have been gone for too long! I apologize to everyone who had been waiting for the next chapters. I just transferred to a new university so I was in a transition period. But now, I think I have a new scheduling tactic on hand and that is why my stories can possibly be updated on a regular basis now. Yay!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Digimon.

CHAPTER 4

"But how? We defeated the void. After you… well..." Melody decided not to continue talking.

The void was, and always will be, the bane of the Original Digidestined's existence. It was not a digimon, nor was it anything they've ever encountered. It was a living nightmare to fight and for Taichi, young as he was during those times, it was something he will never forget.

"I don't know for sure how it came back. But I know it has something to do with your crests reactivating so suddenly." Taichi said. Melody tilted her head at what she heard.

"Taichi, how did you know our crests deactivated?" Taichi gasped. He had completely forgotten that he had died right in front of them before they came back from the digital world. In Melody's perspective, he had no way of knowing what happened afterwards. He assessed the situation. Melody knew him in a way. She's not one to be fooled so easily and she certainly won't let him leave now until he explained. He sighed.

"When I regained my memories, I also was able to see you four… post digital world."

"That still begs the question, who gave back your memories?"

"Origin." Taichi looked at her, expressionless.

Melody backed away. Her eyes were fixed on Taichi's. It had never occurred to her that he had also remembered Origin. But now she has more questions piling up in her head. She saw Taichi and his friends, she assumed, as they ascended to the sky transporting them back to the digital world. He had another digimon by his side, an agumon. Did he remember them during that time? Or did he return to the digital world without knowing anything about it? Could it be that his life was rebooted? And what of Origin? Did they meet once more during that event? When did he give back his memories? What did Taichi do after tthey left? She had no idea how to voice out her questions.

Taichi walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Overthinking again are we?" he said. Melody nodded slowly. Taichi gave her a gentle smile and spoke once more.

"Let's… sit down for now." he spoke as both of them sat on her couch.

Taichi started telling Melody about his adventures in the digital world. All his friends and what happened during the summer. He spoke of the enemies, his experience with the new Digital World and how he gained a new crest along the way.

"And what of Origin?" Melody asked. Even if he doesn't show it, the subject still stings him very deeply. But nonetheless, he still told her the truth.

"Origin is gone… he sacrificed himself to save my life..." he said grimly. Melody fell quiet. She smiled in a sad but caring manner towards Taichi as he held his hand.

"I'll be fine. In times like these where people depend on you, it's best to live with the pain and push through it rather than letting it consume you."

"You've really grown up Taichi. I wish I was like you back when I was sixteen."

"You won't like it if you do. Who would want to live my life?" He gave her a faint smile and stared outside the window. Melody knew what he was talking about and, just like Origin, gave him a look of pity.

"It sure is dark out." he said.

"Maybe you should head home. You're sister might get worried." she said as she looked outside the window as well.

"We're all worried. Do you still have contacts with the others?"

"The last time I saw Rin and Riku personally was 2 years ago. I can still contact them though. It's best to let them know as soon as possible."

"Where are they now though?"

"They're in America."

"America?"

"Yeah. You know Rin, he's always wanted to go there and luckily for him, his father got a job in New York. And Riku, well… last I heard, he was in last summer's sports program."

"Really? I was there as well. For soccer purposes and a possible recruitment. Did he continue playing baseball?" Melody nodded.

"Oh, and Inori."

"Inori?" Melody thought and jumped off the couch to which Taichi responded by moving away in an awkward fashion.

"Inori just got back a few days ago from a trip to Paris! We've always gotten together when I visit Japan. I can actually call her tomorrow." Melody said energetically.

"That's great Melody!" Taichi said standing up as well. He had never imagined looking for his friends could be accomplished sooner than he had anticipated. Then he remembered something.

"That phone call… what do you think about that? Other than the distortions, I mean."

"I've never heard of phones just deleting numbers like that. Neither have I heard of a type of glitch that is caused by that. Did it affect your phone?"

Taichi checked his phone contacts and looked up 'Hikari Y.' and saw one result. His heart skipped a beat and he spoke.

"No, it didn't." he paused for a moment. "Uhh, Melody?"

"Yeah?"

"Who is Hikari anyways?" Melody looked at Taichi in shock as he gasped at what he just said.

"Melody, what just happened." he said baffled. "Why did I say those things?"

END OF CHAPTER 4