Disclaimer: This work is for purely entertainment purposes and is not for profit. I do not own Digimon or any characters previously seen in Digimon. If anyone who does own Digimon sees this I am more than willing to help with the next season. Enjoy.

Chapter Seven: Parents

Takato was up at six A.M. after not enough sleep. He wasn't up that early because he wanted to be, but he had promised to take Jeri out on a night on the town. That meant money he didn't have and so he had to get up before the store opened and sweet talk his father into a loan.

So Takato moved heavy boxes of ingredients and put on those embarrassing hair nets while helping his dad make dough as he built up the courage to ask his dad for a sizeable amount of money "um dad?"

"Yes Takato," his father answered while entirely distracted by the mixing.

"Um, could I ask a favor out of you?"

Takato's father was a skinny man with a big heart and a strong relationship with his son. He trusted Takato on most things and tried to help his son out where he could. That didn't mean that he was against giving his boy a hard time though.

"So that's why you're being so helpful this morning. What do you need, son?"

Takato took a deep breath and exhaled "Well I need an advance on my allowance."

The baker took his hands out of the dough and began washing them off in a sink nearby "Seems fair. How much do you need?"

Takato hadn't anticipated this. He had worried so much about his dad saying no that he hadn't thought about how much tickets, snacks, noodles, and everything else that the night entailed would cost.

Takato quickly did some math in his head and then blurted out a number he completely pulled out of his ass "About a hundred?"

His father pulled his wallet out and then thumbed through the bills "That's a mighty steep number to come at me out of the blue, Takato. You know I'm a humble baker."

Takato sighed, "Yeah I know, dad. I just need some quick cash fast. I know it's sudden, but how often do I ask for stuff like this?"

His father thought about this for a moment, his hand on his chin "That's true. Now I'm willing to give you the thirty we pay you each month for allowance in advance. The other seventy you'll have to haggle with me about. I need a good story. Some reason why my boy needs a huge amount of money right this moment. You haven't gotten into drugs have you?"

From somewhere in a back room Takato's mother called out, "I didn't hear the word 'drugs' uttered in my house did I?"

Takato started to stare perplexed and ask, "But how..?"

His father interrupted, "It's a mom super power. You see parents ears are attuned to certain words or phrases. You will never guess which words I'm attuned to."

Takato shook his head, not wanting to follow up that train of thought "So anyway, I was on the phone with Jeri last night and we decided to go see a movie and get some noodles. I just need the money so we can do everything I promised I'd do for her."

Takato's dad handed Takato the thirty for the advance "So how do I know Jeri?"

Takato recalled all the ways his father might know Jeri, "She's a regular customer here. She loves our creampuffs. I've known her for years now. She was one of the people that went with us to the Digital World. She was the one we rescued from the D-reaper."

Takato's father smiled and walked over to a framed picture on the wall. He lifted the photo off revealing a wall safe. The baker began entering the combination "So you're taking the girl you rescued out to a movie and then dinner?"

Takato interrupted, "And maybe back here afterwards if it's okay with you."

Takato's dad opened the safe and pulled out a single bill "Here's a hundred, Takato. With the thirty you already have that should cover any expenses that might surprise you. You were right to give me a bigger number than you actually need. You never know when some giant stuffed animal catches her attention."

Takato's mother walked in and noticed her son with the huge bill in his hand "Gee why is Takato loaded all the sudden? Did I finally forget his birthday?"

Takato's father put his arm around her and gave her a look of pride "No, dear. We aren't that senile yet. Our boy Takato has a date this evening."

Takato objected, "It's not actually a date."

His mother tilted her head and she got a devilish look in her eye. She tried to act innocent "Really? Well then if you don't have a date this evening then you won't need all this money. Your father and I will go out for a night on the town and you can mind the store while we're gone. I think he's old enough, don't you dear?" She asked her husband while tugging gently on Takato's hundred.

Takato quickly pulled it away "Ok it might be a date! Just let me have the money, please."

His mother squeezed his father in joy, "oh my little boy is becoming a man! So, Takehiro, who's the lucky lady?"

Takehiro responded, "Jeri. That girl he saved a while back."

Takato's mother giggled with the idea of gossip "Oh I knew it! Tell me the story again about how you flung yourself deep into the D-reaper just to save her. I do love that story."

Takato was now securely blushing "Mom, we aren't like that! She's just a friend. Besides you're starting to creep me out."

His mother didn't seem to hear "So will we get to talk to Jeri before the date? I want to give her the whole protective mother routine."

Takehiro added, "They'll be plenty of time for that later on tonight. He's bringing her home afterward." His father finished the sentence with raised eyebrows.

Takato's mother became paranoid "She's not staying here is she? I won't allow that. My son will not ruin his future by having a bunch of one night stands."

Takato was absolutely red by this time "Mom, I just want to show her my room. She's never seen it before."

Takato's father stepped in to help his son out "Now honey, this is only his first date. Hopefully this girl isn't like that. Come to think of it I've met her before and she seems like a very nice girl. Now our son is smart enough not to do anything stupid. He'll have a good time and we'll hear about it in the morning."

Takato's mother walked away; still gripped with paranoia over her only son "That's what I'm worried about; him having a good night. I'm old, but I'm still too young to be a grandma. I know how these teenagers are. Remember how we were when we were young?"

She trailed off as she left the room and Takato tried forcefully to block the entire conversation from his mind.

Takehiro gently gripped his son by the neck and took him out back so the two could talk in private "Don't worry. I don't think she can hear us out here. Now son, you know I can't give you a huge loan like this all the time, right?"

Takato nodded "Yeah."

Takehiro smiled "Good boy. Now here's what you have to do. Where are you going first?"

Takato thought for a moment "The theatre."

"And what are you going to see?"

"Whatever is playing when we get there."

"And if there are two movies playing?"

"Then whatever she wants to see."

Takato's father patted his son on the back "That's my boy. You see the date is all about the girl. I know you'll probably end up seeing a really girly movie. That's ok. They aren't too fun for us, but they make the girl think about relationships and she's going to plaster whoever she's with at the time into the male role of the movie. That means you. You see it's all very subliminal. Just try and act the best you can and you'll do fine."

Takato was utterly confused "…Um thanks, dad."

"Now what comes next?"

Takato quickly answered, "Noodles! We are going to get noodles at some noodle shop."

"Dinner. Great. Which shop?"

"I don't know. We decided whichever one we come across first."

Takato's father waved his hand in the no good sign "That won't work. You need to make reservations at some place. Do you know why that is, son?"

Takato was getting sick of his dad's coaching, but he went along with it "No, why?"

"Two reasons. One: it makes it seem like you're prepared and two: that way they can call out 'Matsuki: party of two.' you see SHE'S part of YOUR party. She's with YOU. None of this will sink in right away, but trust me, it works."

"But we decided to be spontaneous today. It won't seem very spontaneous if I have reservations."

Takato's father thought about his sons plan for a moment "That's actually a really good idea. Skip the reservations for now, but in the future it's a thing to keep in mind. Now during dinner don't slurp or chew with your mouth open. Only eat as fast as she does. Don't spill anything on yourself and during dinner is a good time to compliment her on her looks and such. Got all that?"

Takato scratched his head "Yeah, I think so."

His father continued, "Now next you're coming here right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll try and keep your mother out of the way as best I can, but no promises. If that happens just let the women talk. We can't win in that situation. Oh and clean your room. Don't have anything lying that you wouldn't want her to see. Oh and how are you taking her home?"

Takato thought for a moment "I was going to walk her home, but I'm guessing that's wrong. Right?"

His father simply nodded "That's right. Now what do you think is the right way?"

Takato thumped his head; hoping for an idea that would please his father. Then it came to him "Take a taxi!"

His father slapped him on the back "You've learned well. Now only do that if you have enough money. Fifty or sixty should be a really safe bet. Don't take it home though. I'm not made of money."

Takato was pleased with himself for finally getting one right.

His father continued, "I know this is a lot to take in in one dose, but first dates are important. Other than that be a gentleman. You'll do fine."

Takato exhale, happy to be free of his father's lesson "Thanks, dad."

Takehiro brought Takato in for a hug and brought the boy close. He looked left and right for anyone nearby and then whispered into Takato's ear in the most serious voice he could muster, "Now I know you're still young and this is only a first date, but if things start getting heated I want you to know three things. One is it's okay to say no."

Takato pulled away, his face beet red, "Dad! That's gross."

Takehiro continued in a whispered tone, "It doesn't make you less of a man to say no to a woman. Two is if you do something stupid remember to do it smart and use protection. I think you have enough to buy some if you need them."

Takato screamed as he tried to ignore what his father was saying about the birds and the bees, "DAAAAAAAAAAD!"

Finally when Takato had stopped flipping out his father leaned against the wall of his shop "Are you ready for the third thing, son?"

Takato was breathing heavily, trying to recover from his outburst "I don't… I don't think I'll ever be ready for it, but I know you're going to tell me so go ahead."

His father smiled and, while he was no longer whispering, the serious manner remained "The third thing to remember in that situation is the most important one of all. Listen carefully as this one can be the difference between life and death."

Takato was listening intently.

Takehiro's seriousness left and the joker reasserted itself "Never ever ever, under any circumstance, bring her, or any girl, here for that. I can help you in a great many things and I will always try to, but if your mother catches you, or even thinks she hears you, doing something like that then I can't save you or that poor girl from her. I will bring flowers to your graves every year though."

Takato watched his father go inside as the horrors of the strange conversation he had had sunk in. This was not how he wanted to prep for taking Jeri out that night. He went inside, climbed the stairs to his room, and fell down into bed with Guilmon. His mind gave in to sleep as he consciously tried to erase the whole freaky insane morning from his mind. At least he had the money.

Author's Note: The actual conversion for U.S. currency states that 100 U.S. dollars is roughly equivalent to 7721 Japanese yen. I felt the story flowed better and would read easier for different cultures if I stuck with the U.S. dollar system. Feel free to convert on your own if you're so inclined.