I officially hate writers block.

I had to write the end of this chapter at school because every time I sat down to write at home I'd stare blankly at the screen. I had no inspiration. Not to mention I'd forgotten half of the plot. But I remember now :).

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. But I do own Taro and Sala, I guess.....and the other kids.

Note: I know Kari teaches kindergarten or elementary school or something but in this story she teaches at Odaiba High School. It makes the story easier to write.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Kids, I'd like you all to meet a new student." Kari announced the next morning to her homeroom class. "This is Kamiya Tai."
Tai grinned and bowed to the class. "Nice to meet you."
Through this entire ordeal, Taro had been surprised and wide eyed at the newcomer, and then was glaring at him with ice daggers.
"Tai, you can sit at the spare desk next to Akira, the black-haired boy. Akira, put your hand up."
Tai made his way to the desk where the said-boy was waving his hand crazily.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Izumi Akira." Akira said. "I can show you around the school, show you the sights, the place where you sign up for clubs, the cafeteria-"
"No thanks, Akira, I think I'll manage." Tai interrupted before he found out whether Akira could talk as much as his father. Akira punched Tai lightly on the arm, to the astonishment of Taro.
"Aw, it's a pretty big school." he said. Tai shrugged.

"I'll be okay. It should be pretty straight forward, after all, right?"
"Well, I s'pose you're right."

After homeroom, Tai was leaving with Akira when Taro grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back afterwards.
"What the hell are you playing at?" he hissed. "What are you doing here? And aren't you supposed to be, like, I dunno, not able to be touched?"
"It's a ghost technique." Tai exclaimed calmly. He removed Taro's hand. "Look, little nephew, chill out. I'm here because there's nothing else to do."
"I don't believe you."
"Fine, I can't make you." Tai said. "But you might want to leave me alone; your mom looks like she's going to give you a detention."
Taro glanced at his mother, who was frowning at him. Tai left the class, and Taro went to the teacher's desk.
"Mom!" he whined. "Why's he here!"
"Special business." was all Kari would say. "Look, Taro, just be friends with him? You just don't like him because he was taunting you by using Sala. Look, I'm to Tai what Sala is to you. Tai wouldn't diss your sister like that. He wanted you out so he could talk to me. Tai wants to be friends with you."
"He keeps calling me brat and little and stuff like that." Taichi said. "He annoys me!"
"He acts just like you." Kari pointed out. "You take after him in a way I never foresaw. Sure, he's a bit more mature because he's been around longer, but he can't grow up physically, so he resorts to acting like a real sixteen year old. Trust me, Taro. Be his friend. He loves soccer, so, I dunno; get him into going to soccer practices. Jst say he's your mom's cousin's kid, who is also a teacher, so they should let him. I won't hesitate in giving him detentions either, so, he'll be treated like a proper student. But I need to ask you a favour."
"What?"
"He can only stay solid for three hours. You know all the teachers well enough to know when he's going to get a detention, so try and keep him out of most detentions."
"Okay, mom."

*******************************************************

"Where's Tai?" Akira asked as Taro arrived at the table he shared with four others; Akira, a brunette girl called Ichigo and the fraternal twins, Yukata and Ai. Yukata was blonde and Ai had a head full of auburn.
"Who's Tai?" Yutaka asked, his blue eyes following some people around the cafeteria. His twin sister Ai was copying him, but she was staring at someone entering the bustling room.
"Total sex-god hottie heading this way." she said to Ichigo, who nodded.

"Deliciously yummy." Ichigo agreed. The boys rolled their eyes and looked to see who it was, and then Taro's mouth fell open. It had been Tai they were gawking over. Tai stopped by the table and sat down next to Taro.
"Hey." he said to Taichi and Akira. Ai and Ichigo began to whisper behind their hands.
"Hi." Akira said. "Tai, this is Ishida Yukata and his twin, the red-head, Ai, and Tachikawa Ichigo, but you can just call her Ichi."

The girls waved shyly, blushing like mad. Yutaka rolled his eyes.
"Sorry about them." he said. "So where'd you come from?"
Tai shrugged. "I forget the names of the schools. I move around a lot."
Taro frowned and went back to his food. Tai and Yukata got talking, and Akira noticed that Taro wasn't being very sociable.
"You aren't very hospitable." Akira said.
"My mom knows him." Taichi explained. "Her cousin's son. That's why he's here. I don't want anything to do with him, though."

"That's a bit rude."
"Hey Tai, what classes do you have next?" Ichigo finally managed to get a word in while Yutaka paused to think about something. Tai thought for a minute, and took out a timetable.
"Chemistry and Maths."
"Yukata and I have chemistry next." Ai said. "And then Maths afterwards."
Yutaka took the timetable. "Yep, you're with us, alright."
"I have a spare seat next to me in both classes, you can sit with me." Ai offered. Tai smiled.
"Thanks."

After school

"Ai!" Ichigo whined as the girls emptied their lockers of the homework they had to do.

"What?"
"It's not fair!"
"What isn't?"
"You're in like, half his classes." Ichigo pouted. "Why do you get to get closer to him?"
"Ichi, I thought you liked Yutaka."
"That's it! I'm never telling you anything ever again!"
"It's just my brother, and under the circumstances, I'm not surprised."
"Pfft." Ichigo snorted. "Fine, I like Yutaka. I just think Tai is hot, that's all."
"Huge difference."
"There is!"
"Okay, okay, I believe you."
"So, do you think Tai's hot or do you like him? As in like, like."

Ai blushed. "Okay, so I like him. But he's so funny! His smile is great! He disappears every now and then between classes, but that's okay. He smiles a lot, laughs a lot, cracks a lot of jokes – it's like he knows me."

Ichi sighed inwardly. This was the first time Ai'd shown any interest in a boy since she was twelve.

"My little Ai is growing up." Ichi teased. "You want him....you want him bad!"
"Ichi!" Ai exclaimed, her blush growing redder by the second.
"Okay, sorry." Ichi said. "But what happened between you and Taro?"
"We're just friends." Ai said. "That's the problem. He's made it clear that's all he wants to be. Though, I can't help but think that Tai and Taro look similar."

"Yeah, I noticed that too." Ichi said. "Also, I remember reading something about the name Kamiya. Maybe some family came here, because I swear I read it."
"We're going to the library?" Ai asked eagerly. Ichi shook her head.
"No, but my mom told me that she knew a group of people who went to this school. Maybe she remembers someone called Kamiya. Or knows someone who might."
"Call me tonight."
"Sure. Bye, Ai."
"See you, Ichi."

********************************************

Ichi entered her apartment where her mom was at home cooking. Ichi's mother had never been married. She knew that she had been a mistake, but her mom still loved her.

"Mom! I'm home!"
"Welcome back, Ichigo!"
Ichi cringed at her name. She preferred Ichi, not just because it was the Japanese equivalent of the number 'one', but because Ichigo was 'strawberry' and being named after a fruit wasn't on Ichi's must have list. Ichi looked just like her mother. They had the same light-brown hair; Ichi's was long and hung past her shoulders, but was often tied up in a ponytail with two thick strands framing her face. Her mothers' hair was shorter and was about an inch shorter than her shoulders. Both had hazel eyes.
"Mom," Ichi said, sitting at one of the stools in front of the kitchen bench where her mom was working.
"Mm-hm."
"You know how you said you know people who used to attend OHS?"
"Mm-hm."
"Do you recall anyone of the name 'Kamiya'?"
Her mom glanced up sharply.

"Why do you ask?"
"Because there's this really hot new guy at my school and his name is Kamiya Tai, and I was wondering if you knew his parents or another family member."
Her mother seemed to think. Then she spoke softly.

"Tachikawa Ichigo, I did in fact know a boy of the name 'Kamiya'. But it would pay to not ask any questions."

Ichi sighed. "Yeah, whatever."
Her mother went to the phone and dialed a number, going out onto the balcony. Ichi, being nosy and sneaky, opened the door a little bit and listened in to her mothers' side of the conversation.

"Izzy! What the hell is Tai doing at Odaiba High School? Yes, yes, oh....it's just that he's become friends with Ichi! My daughter....yes she goes there! Oh, I see. That's how it is, huh? Look, Kari doesn't know. Uh huh. Sorry for spazzing out. I guess I freaked out. Why? My daughter thinks Tai is 'hot'! Yes that's a problem! Yeah, my dinners gonna burn. Bye."
Ichi quickly scooted away from the door and sat back on her stool.

"Who were you talking to, momma?" Ichi asked. "Someone important?"
"An old friend."
"Then why couldn't you talk in here?"
"I told you not to ask any questions."

**********************************

That night Ichi was talking to Ai and Yutaka on the phone.

"What are you saying?" Ai asked.

"I'm saying that I think my mom knows Tai!"
"He's only sixteen though so unless your mom is friends with his mom I don't see how that works." Yutaka said.

"Well, maybe I'm just overreacting."
"Ya think? You're just annoyed because your mom went outside to talk to someone." Ai said.
"Don't worry, Ichi." Yutaka added.

"I'm not worried." Ichi said. "So Ai, did you tell Yutaka about your crush on the new boy?"
Ichi could just sense Ai going bright red.

"Ichi!"
"Wow Ai, you got a crush on Tai?"
"No!"
"Whatever, Ai. Ooh lala."
"You're not a little kid, Yutaka!"
"See you guys tomorrow!" Ichi interrupted in a sing-song voice, and she hung up the phone, grinning.

******************************************

Taro was in a better mood the following day. And that was because he had Gym first. And Tai wasn't there. Ai came over to Taro, nibbling on her bottom lip.

"Have you seen Tai?" she asked. "The class is about to start."
"Maybe he's sick?" Taro suggested. Maybe he's packed up and left.

Taro's good mood was shattered however, when he came from History to the cafeteria and saw Tai sitting in between Ai and Ichigo. They were laughing about something, and even Akira and Yutaka were laughing along. Taro scowled.

First that idiot steals my parents and now my friends....who does he think he is? I mean, apart from the fact that he's my mom's brother....and the leader of my mom and dad's Digidestined team....well, whatever! He shouldn't be here. He's a bloody ghost, for goodness sake! And he's making a move on my girl....wait, Ai....well, I guess I sorta rejected her four years ago....but still! I like her now. Okay, Taro, you're being a jealous idiot. Tai's a ghost, it's not like he can be falling for Ai.

Taro shook his head as he made his way and sat down at the table.
"Not eating, Tai?" Taro asked. Tai was the only one without a tray in front of him.

"I don't eat cafeteria food." Tai replied.

"Do you eat at all?" Akira asked. Tai grinned sheepishly.

"I might." he said. Taro bit back a retort. His mom would kill him if he spilt the beans.

"Hey Tai, can I talk to you alone?" he asked suddenly. The two boys went outside the cafeteria, and Tai leaned lazily against the wall.

"What is it?" he asked. "Kari ask you to tell me somethin'?"
"No," Taro said. "Look, why do you have to become friends with my friends? Make your own."
"Are you jealous?" Tai asked. "Look, pal, I'm not stealing your friends or anything. It's just that I happened to become friends with Akira straight away and he introduced me to Ai, Ichi and Yukata. Not to mention I still haven't lost my habit. That's my old table when I was here twenty years ago. Yesterday I was making a beeline for that table out of habit."

"Well, I guess it's because you seem to be getting along better with them than I do." Taro mumbled. "Especially with Ai...."
"Do you like Ai or something?"
"No!" Taro exclaimed. "I mean, well, I kinda do...but I have no chance. You see she liked me four years ago but I kinda rejected her so now I like her but she's moved on."

Tai nodded slowly. He was remembering old memories

*Flashback*

"Dear Sora, I'm sorry about what happened, I haven't felt this bad since the time I accidentally threw up in your hat and didn't tell you about it before you put it on. Our relationship has been a little stormy lately. You said you loved thundershowers, so, what's a few raindrops between friends?

Love Tai."

"Thanks for your email Tai, I forgive you. I'm sorry for getting angry. I know you meant well.

Love Sora."

Four years later

"Hey Sora, are you going to the concert with anybody? Not that it matters....just wondering."
"No, I want to be free in case Matt is free afterwards..."
"Oh, I see. Matt, huh?"

"Mmm..."
"It's okay."
"You're not mad at me, Tai?"
"...No, of course not. Now get in there and say 'hi' to Matt for me."

*End Flashback*

"Hello! Earth to Tai!"
"Huh?" Tai was jerked out of his reverie. "Sorry, Taro."

I would give him comforting advice, but Taro and Ai are cousins, even though they don't know it. It wouldn't hurt, but Kari and T.K, and Matt and Sora are unpredictable with their thoughts, Tai thought.

"What were you doing? Fading into the ghost world?"
"It's the spirit world, Taro, and no, I wasn't fading there. I was just remembering something."
"What?"
"When I was alive there was this girl I really liked. I mean, this is different to you, I s'pose, in a way. I think she knew, but then again, maybe not. But you see, when I went to ask her out, she'd moved on. Now she's married to my best friend."

"But you died, so...."
"Yeah, I guess." Tai said. "All I'm saying is that you just have to ask her and see if she's moved on or not."

"But..."
"No buts. Just stop being all anti-social around me. You never know, they might pick up on something. And if you've never seen your mom really, truly, actually angry..."
"When I stayed out too late one night she threw a mental."
"Nah, that's not angry enough." Tai said. "I mean, like, angry. She'll be furious if word got out that I'm dead."

"Yeah, I guess." Taro mumbled. "But someone's gonna figure it out, I mean, you don't eat. Or do gym. Although that doesn't make sense."
"I can't change my clothes." Tai explained. "The best I can do is getting rid of my shoes when I go to someone's house or changing them for school."

"Oh, I s'pose that means you can't join us for soccer after school." Taro said. "Mom told me that I should invite you."
", but I'll come watch." Tai said.

"Will you be able to?"
"I'll just stay in ghost mode."

**************************************

After school Tai was talking with Ai and Yutaka when a black Ferrari pulled up. Matt and Sora got out and went up to the teens.
"Hi mom, dad." Ai said. Matt and Sora nodded with smiles as greetings.
"Hey mom and dad, this is Tai." Yutaka said. "He's new. He started yesterday."
Tai smirked to himself as Matt and Sora uttered hello.
"We've heard a lot about you, Ai wouldn't stop telling us everything she knew about you." Sora said. Tai bit the inside of his cheek to stop from smirking. Matt then pulled Tai aside.
"Mimi and Teeks told us you were here." he said. "Man, it's hard to keep secrets from those kids."
"Obviously they didn't get your stupidity." Tai said. Matt rolled his eyes.

"You're lucky you're stuck as a teenager otherwise I'd sock you one."
"Keep dreaming, Yamato. Gone to get the hair dyed today, I see. Your roots are showing, blondie."
"Tai!" Matt hissed. He sighed. "Look, I need to ask a favour of you."

"Shoot."
"Sora and I want you to keep an eye on the twins."
"What, like, babysit?"
"No, but after what Izzy said the other day we were thinking that if the Digimon is an old enemy he'll come here, mainly because Kari works here but also because our kids all come here. What if they and threaten our children to get to us? You're our best friend Tai. Please do this for us."
Tai sighed. "Fine." he said after some debating in his mind. "But only because you're my best male friend, Sora's my best female friend and I had a giant crush on her at one point when I was alive twenty years ago."
Tai hid a smile at Matt's face. "Chillax, man."
"You were joking?"
"No, serious, but I'm dead and those feelings are long gone."
Matt sighed in relief. "Speaking of that, I have something else to ask of you."
"Sorry, you're liable to one favour at a time. Come back in a hundred years."
"Tai!"
Tai grinned sheepishly. "Okay, what?"
"Can you promise not to fall in love with Ai?"

Um.....is that really something I can promise? Tai thought. He glanced sideways at Ai who was talking with Ichi who had been picked up by Mimi, who was talking with Sora. Ai was standing next to Sora. She looked like the spitting image of Sora when she was sixteen.

Well, I can promise, I guess.

"Sure. I promise. I don't have a heart anymore. Only common sense."
"For once."
"Hey!"
"Dad!" Yutaka called. "We need to go!"
Matt and Tai went back to the group and Sora gave Matt a look, who returned it. Ai raised an eyebrow, but turned from Ichi to Tai.
"I hope dad didn't give you 'the talk'." she said. "He reckons that because he was in a band twenty years ago and he thinks he "knows" what teenaged boys are like that things are still the same."
"They are a bit." Tai said. I should know; I've been around for thirty-six years. "But nah, not too much of the talk. But it's not like he needed to talk to me, right?"
Ai flushed bright red. "Um, n-no, of course not!" she laughed nervously and tucked some hair behind her ears. Tai laughed as well.

"I'll see you later."
"Bye," Ai said.
"See you tomorrow," Yutaka said.

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Lame. I know. So Ai has a crush on Tai. Cute. Tai promised not to fall in love with Ai. Not cute. Hm. I wrote that?

Well, please review and tell me what you think. I know I said it'd be a longer chapter but I ran out of things to say in this chapter.

R&R please!