Disclaimer: Digimon is a franchise owned jointly by Toei Animation and Bandai, and conceptualized by Akiyoshi Hongo. Doctor Who is a property owned by the British Broadcasting Company created by Sydney Newman. The concept of The Tamer v1.2: Another Digimon Adventure is a fanfiction idea. Please support the official properties.

The Tamer v1.2: Another Digimon Adventure

Chapter 21 - Starting Over

Matt wandered away from the other digidestined and the clean up briefly to speak with ShogunGekomon. The large digimon was busy overseeing the repairs to the portions of the wall that were destroyed in the fire of Kimeramon's rampage. It took some prodding to pull the digimon's attention away from the repairs so that Matt could ask for advice, although he never thought he'd be asking a giant orange toad for this kind of advice, "Say, ShogunGekomon. Where do you come up with the ideas for your music?"

"Hmm? This is hardly the time to ask," ShogunGekomon grunted as he looked about the destroyed village. Matt pocketed his hands and sheepishly added, "I just…needed help with…a…something."

ShogunGekomon noted the boy's bashful response and a devilish smile appeared on his face, "Oh…do you need some help wooing some young maiden's affection?"

"You said that a little weird," Matt maintained, still barely making eye contact with the large toad. The toad laughed out loud and motioned for Matt to follow, "Come with me, digidestined! I have a lot to show you."

"Wait, what?" Matt asked, as did the other subordinates who demanded to know, "'lord! We're still working on the repairs!"

"You can manage fine without me," ShogunGekomon replied as he ushered Matt along, "So, how would you like to use my musical talents? Musical production, lyrics, perhaps tuning your vocals to the music?"

"No, that's not what it is!" Matt stammered until ShogunGekomon countered, "Don't worry, I've helped plenty compose love songs to woo the target of their affections. Why, I helped Tamer once not too long ago! Or was it centuries ago? I don't remember. But it worked!"

"What? Tamer?" Matt felt a mix of anger and curiosity at the mention of his name. ShogunGekomon laughed, "Of course! Now tell me. Why are we writing this song? Is it someone you know or is it a way for you to break the ice?"

Matt became more embarrassed as he quietly admitted, "It's…someone I know and…things were getting along. We'd hang out and do stuff together, not like dating but just as friends. And…I was hoping it'd eventually be something…like that. Then a guy she knew way back showed up and…I don't know, I feel like I'm getting pushed out of the picture."

"Say no more," ShogunGekomon grinned excitedly, "Come! Let us write a masterpiece!"

"Please, just leave me alone," Ken said as he returned to bed and closed his eyes. He waited until he heard the door closed to be sure they were gone, but he could hear them talking just outside. His mother apologized, "I'm sorry about him. He hasn't been himself since he came back. I was hoping he'd be able to talk to one of his friends, but I wasn't sure he had any since he never brings them home."

"It's alright. He...has more friends than he realizes. I...can't imagine what he's going through but I think he just needs time," he heard Yolei say. His mom asked, "Do you know what happened Yolei?"

Ken sat up in bed, scared that she might spill the beans to his mother but nothing happened to his surprise. Instead he heard Yolei reply, "I'm sorry. I don't know anything."

Ken couldn't believe that she would even come to see him after he threatened her life and left her for dead. Yet she cared, a point that utterly baffled him. He couldn't find the words to explain it and didn't care to either. As long as she went away. As long as they all went away.

He drifted in and out of sleep several times after that and was unsure how much of it was real. He dreamt of Wormmon and Ryo in better times, of the Tamer and WarGreymon reminding him that he shouldn't run from who he was meant to be, and a strange woman in a red dress and thin silver hair standing over his bed. That dream in particular stood out because of how real it felt.

She wore thick black spectacles that concealed her eyes but her gaze still chilled him to the bone, "We had such high hopes for you. You failed. I don't know why we can't just finish you though. It'd be so simple. What do we have to gain by letting you live? As far as I see, you're a loose end that needs to be taken care of. I guess it doesn't matter. Everything is still going according to plan."

The implication that he was still being used angered him. Ken reached out to grab her, only to see her vanish into thin air. Then he awoke to his dark and empty room, seeing nothing but his digivice sitting on his brother's old desk and his computer. Once again, he was all alone. He shook his head and buried it in his knees, certain that this was what he deserved for the terrible things he did to digimon.

When the digidestined met with Sora and Joe that night, they were anxious to hear what the two learned and disappointed to realize it amounted to little. The only real discovery was that his story seemed rehearsed - and they'd have to look into as much of it as they could. When Mimi suggested they just follow him home, Izzy had to explain to her that they didn't want to cause any more trouble in case the guy had nothing to do with Tamer and just happened to look like him. After all, going that far would turn it into a stalking case and the police would become involved. A point Mimi derided, pointing out the odds that they'd find someone who looks exactly like someone they know with such stupid hair.

This led to some more bickering within their group, divided on how to pursue this situation until Yolei rejoined them. When asked about her visit with Ken, she explained that it didn't go well and that he seemed to have shut down from despair. TK commented that he seemed to be handling his brother's death worse than Mimi handled her mother's, although the digidestined agreed to leave that matter alone because of the frown she shot him. For now, they decided to call it a day and go home.

Everyone went their separate ways, with Matt offering to walk Sora home for the night. This left the younger digidestined and Mimi to walk home together since they either lived in the same apartment or in the same direction. Their walk back was quiet, with Davis resting his arms behind his head while DemiVeemon poked his head out of his bag occasionally, "Can we hurry home? It stinks in here!"

"We're almost there DemiVeemon! Just hang on a little longer," Davis stated glumly to his partner. DemiVeemon gagged and complained, "Easy for you to say, you don't have to sit next to your socks."

"It just means he practices extra hard," Kari mused quietly, watching interestedly as her partner busily chased pigeons that were scavenging crumbs off the street. Poromon bounced agitatedly in Yolei's arms, made nauseous at the recollection of joining the birds in eating food last time. Patamon watched the whole affair curiously, while asking, "So what are we going to do about Ken? He may have been bad, but he's still a digidestined."

Yolei hung her head quietly, reflecting on her visit, "I don't know. He just seemed so...broken down by everything. There has to be a way to cheer him up, y'know?"

"Why not a day at the beach?" Davis suggested from the front. The stares he was met with had him sheepish until he added, "What? Summer is around the corner and it's not like we need to worry about the Digital World right now. After everything we've done, I say we deserve a small break. Who knows? Maybe a day at the beach will help him clear his head."

"Y'know, I like that idea," TK nodded in agreement to everyone else's surprise, "I doubt that being alone will do him any good the way he is now. He needs other people."

"He may have been a bad guy but even he shouldn't be alone after what he's going through," Cody reasoned quietly, "But maybe we should give him a little space for now. Why don't we ask tomorrow?"

"I like tomorrow. It means we can do other stuff now - like get food. I'm starving," Mimi groaned, before quickly adding, "But nothing your dad makes, TK. I didn't even know you could burn milk. What was he making?"

TK shrugged in bewilderment as he'd never willingly eaten anything his dad made and wondered just how much of his home cooking Mimi had eaten. Whatever it was, it amused him to think that she had tried anything and only drew the line at burned milk. Perhaps she'd tried the home made macaroni and cheese or even his ill fated attempt at tempura. Then he shuddered as he recalled the fish casserole.

They hurried back so that Mimi could have something to eat, eventually parting ways with Davis and Kari who lived in another building. Then they left Cody and Yolei who lived on another floor. Anticipation grew as Mimi hurried to help herself to some food. Unfortunately, Mimi's hope for some good food fell apart as soon as she and TK got to the front door of his dad's apartment. His dad waited for them at a dining table with a cup of tea in his hands. Opposite him was another man, a disgruntled and sleepy looking fellow who glanced over once they'd entered the room. Slowly, his gaze moved from TK to Mimi and his face lit up in a smile. He hurried to her with open arms, "Mimi! Thank goodness!"

"Dad?" she managed to gasp out just in time for him to close his arms around her in a loving embrace. Mimi took one glance at TK, pleading for help with her eyes but TK could only step away nervously - unsure of if he should do anything as her father was clearly relieved to see his daughter alive and well.

His dad caught his attention and nodded to the door, hinting that he should leave and TK took the hint. He inched away despite Mimi's obvious pleas for help and mouthed an apology before closing the apartment door behind him. At the same moment, he noticed Matt just now coming home and he smiled, "Hey little bro. What's up? Mom out again?"

"No. Mimi's dad just showed up," TK mumbled. Matt hissed and ran a hand through his hair, "Well, that's not fun. What's going on?"

"No idea. Dad kicked me out," TK thumbed back through the door, then glancing over at the door to his apartment, "Mom's not home though. Nothing stopping us from eavesdropping."

Matt sighed and walked past the boy towards the door into the apartment, "Do whatever you want, just leave me out of it. I don't want mom yelling at me too."

"Don't make me out as the bad guy here, Matt," TK grumbled as he followed Matt, "How was Sora?"

"I walked her home. That's all that happened," Matt replied defensively, throwing himself onto the couch and turning on the TV without ever once looking at his little brother. TK picked up an empty glass and pressed it against the wall but couldn't make out anything on the other side beyond muffled talking. He sighed, "I guess it doesn't work in real life, huh?"

"Anywhere you gonna be, that's where I wanna be. Right now. Did I say that out loud?" Matt replied before he started humming to himself quietly. TK raised an eyebrow, familiar with how his brother came up with songs and asked, "What's that?"

"Oh...just something I've been working on," Matt replied quietly, "It's not finished yet. That's the only part I have."

"Well, I'd like to hear what you have," TK replied as Matt folded his arms behind his head, "Not tonight, little brother."

Ken wasn't sure what the time was when he finally awoke from his slumber. What he did know was that it was still dark. The only light in the room came from his digivice resting quietly on his desk. He tried to turn over in his bed away from the annoyance but the light grew brighter in protest. He understood what it meant. But he wanted nothing more to do with it. That was his choice - he wanted to be left alone. However, it seemed others had their own ideas about what he should do. The annoying voice of Agumon came from the darkness behind him, "Wake up Wotkin. You've done nothing but sleep for the last few days. I think it's time you got up and smelled the bacon!"

Ken turned in his bed to face the intruder, angered but barely able to summon the energy to convey his anger, "Leave me alone. Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Not really. I'm still on the run," Agumon sighed quietly, "Just came here to check on you. Haven't heard from you in a days and I was worried."

"Why are you here like that? Shouldn't you be WarGreymon?" Ken asked quietly, realizing Agumon wasn't flying around in his mega form. Agumon hopped back onto the bed with a laugh, "It'd be kinda hard to fit in your room if I were that tall. So, when are you going back to the Digital World?"

"I'm not going back to the Digital World," Ken grumbled, turning back on his bed to face away from Agumon, "I never want to go back."

"You have to."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"Make me!"

"Okay, would you do it for Wormmon?"

Ken paused at the sound of his partner's name and looked back at Agumon sitting on the foot of his bed. The little orange dinosaur's small legs hung off the edge and swung playfully as he added, "He's probably reformatted by now and is worried sick about you."

"I don't deserve to see him again. Not after what I di-"

Before Ken could finish his sentence, Agumon slapped his leg and grumbled, "Knock it off with that depressed stuff. It really doesn't work for you. I mean, I liked you better when you weren't manically depressed. Or maybe you always were and I just never noticed. Either way, it's time to knock it off."

Ken finally sat up in bed to glare at the dinosaur, "Wormmon died because of a monster I made, trying to get back a brother who just died again anyway. Don't tell me how to act right now."

Agumon nodded with a grim frown on his face, "Right, I see. Have it your way. I'm sure Wormmon will be just fine."

"He'll be better off," Ken spat out angrily, turning over in his covers. Agumon adjusted himself so that he could face Ken better and added, "That's not true and you know it. You guys are partners. More than that, he's your best friend. You can't just leave him. He needs you just like you need him. Now especially more than ever."

"I don't deserve his friendship," Ken answered only to be met with another hard slap on the leg by Agumon, "Then earn it. Quit moping, get up and start making up for some of the terrible stuff you did. Because there is a lot of it that you need to make up for."

"Guilt tripping me won't work!" Ken spat at the little orange lizard, who rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Yeah, no duh. Otherwise, you'd have already gotten up. So I have two conclusions: either you're still running from your destiny, or you're lazy. I really hope it's the first because I can't do anything about the second."

Ken and the little orange dinosaur stared at each other for the longest time before the boy finally broke his gaze away. He grumbled under his breath about how he seemed to fated to have to deal with this annoyance forever before asking, "So is this supposed to be my destiny?"

"It's your destiny to be a digidestined," Agumon leapt off the bed and approached the computer screen, "Do as you like. It's not my call. It's not like Tamer is around right now to stop you."

"Tamer? What about Tamer? Why isn't he around right now?" Ken asked, his curiosity peaked as Agumon approached the computer screen before him. Agumon pressed a finger to his lips and winked, "Sorry. That's a secret. Let's see...if I remember, Tamer pressed this and shouted, 'Digiport Open'!"

The screen of the computer flashed a bright light, leaving Ken alone again in his room. He glanced back at the light coming from his digivice - at a crossroads on if he should even follow the path that seemed to be laid out before him or if it would be better to stay here and lie in this bed, frozen into inaction by despair until the day he died. An eternity passed in silent contemplation until Ken finally rose off his bed and snatched the digivice off his desk. He pointed it at his screen as he had hundreds of times before and declared, "Digiport Open!"

Matt ended up spending the night with his mom and brother, giving Mimi and her dad time to hash things out at the Ishida residence. They only saw her again the next morning, on their way to school with Matt - where they found Mimi and her dad loading their things onto a taxi. By chance, Yolei and Cody came down at the exact same time to see her sudden departure. TK caught her attention by loudly asking, "Leaving already?"

She looked up quietly, forcing a half smile and trying to sound cheery, "Dad's taking me back to America."

Her tone betrayed her true feelings - she didn't want to go back. She hadn't even thought to call it home, instead calling it just America. The longing desire to stay burned in her eyes but it was obvious that she wasn't going to defy her father to his face. Her father patted her head to get her attention and motioned to the car, "Say goodbye to your friends Mimi. We'll have to get going if we're going to catch our plane."

She didn't even look at her dad but did nod, "It was good seeing you two again. And it was nice to meet you guys."

Yolei and Cody swapped nervous glances, aware that her goodbye was half-hearted. She didn't want to go and no one could blame her. Yolei said, "You don't sound like you want to go."

Mimi was surprised by the answer and her dad looked up impatiently as Yolei went on, "I mean…the whole time you've been here, you sounded happy. Cheerful. I mean, yeah, you got mad when Tamer's name came up. But that goodbye sounded like the most dishonest thing you've said. Well, aside from sneaking on a plane to get here. What I'm trying to say is you've never sounded so...fake before. So what gives? Why not just say that you don't want to go back to America?"

"It's not her decision to make," her dad said, finally joining the conversation and making it clear that Yolei shouldn't talk anymore, "It's mine. She's a kid. She's my daughter and I want nothing more than to protect her. I explained that to her and she understood. Maybe it's time you kids did the same...before you get yourselves killed. If your parents told you to not get involved, then don't! Get in the taxi, Mimi."

Mimi nodded sheepishly, obediently climbing inside with her back to them. For a brief moment, she flashed her D-Terminal to them and flipped it open. As soon as she was inside, she started typing while her dad came to talk to them. He brushed a hand through his hair and spoke to them plainly, "Listen. If you kids want to keep going off to this other world to get yourselves killed, then do it. But don't bring my daughter into it. We already...lost her mother. I am not going to lose her because of the stupid thing you kids are involved in. This doesn't concern us, and it shouldn't concern you!"

"Yessir," Cody said quietly as the others all nodded in agreement. His dad nodded approvingly and returned to the car to sit beside his daughter in the backseat. Just before he got in, they heard their D-Terminals beep. It was apparent that Mimi's dad didn't want her to try and sneak off again as he made sure her door was locked before gesturing to the driver to take off. As soon as he was gone, they all checked their D-Terminals to see Mimi's message.

Sorry guys.

You're right, Yolei. To be honest, I don't want to go. But going along with what dad wants is for the best right now. Because as much as I want to stay and help against Myotismon, I also want my dad to support me and cheer me on. And I can't do that if he's opposed to it. It'll take some time, but I think I'll get him to come around. Just make sure you leave some for me when that time comes.

:-)

Oh, and don't tell Izzy. The last thing I want is him trying to be the dashing hero. He's cute enough just being himself.

;-P

Love, Mimi

As the digidestined finished reading, Matt sighed, "Huh, never thought I'd see the day Mimi would be underhanded."

"Yeah, well, that's debatable," Yolei mumbled to herself quietly while she put the D-Terminal away. Cody grimaced, "I can't imagine anyone going against their parents like that and getting away with it."

TK looked at the others in surprise, especially Matt and pointed out, "Are we really not going to talk about how she just called Izzy cute?"

"What's there to talk about?" Cody asked, "Davis already said it's obvious Izzy likes her. It'd be weird if she didn't at least like him back."

"I guess I just thought this would have more fan fare," TK sighed, "Still, I guess if anyone can bring her dad around, it'll be her."

Cody remained uncertain of that explanation, still thinking on TK's personal history as a delinquent. Although he'd established that he was a good person at heart, Cody still had a hard time getting past the number of times he'd snuck out of class - even if it was for a good reason. As he started walking again, TK opened up his D-Terminal and started typing a message. Yolei peered over his shoulder as he walked, "What are you saying to her?"

"Oh...seeing when her school year ends and how big her apartment is," TK thought aloud, "Her summer break has to be coming up soon and I doubt she'll want to be alone for it."

Ken had no idea how long he'd wandered the lengths of the Digital World - across open plain, dense forests, arid desert, and misty shores. The amount of time he spent wandering felt like an eternity. Although he'd been here so many times before, he'd never felt so lost or uncertain of where he was. He even didn't know if he was going in the right direction, moving instead on a purely instinctual level towards his friend. With each step he took, he felt himself get closer to his partner. Wormmon was just ahead of him - in the resting ground of all newborn digimon in the Digital World. But questions remained to trouble him - would his partner remember him? Would his partner want to go back to him? Was there any point in any of this?

That question ran along his head head - if he remembered, would he want to come back to him? If he didn't, would he want to go with a total stranger? Or would he recognize him from the stories of the Digimon Emperor and the terrible things he'd carried out. It terrified him to think that his partner would look at him with disgust, and it was impossible to reconcile with the idea that he'd deserve it if that's how his partner reacted. He swallowed a growing lump in his throat and carried on into the familiar realm of cushioned ground, large toy blocks, and cribs that protected digieggs.

Unfortunately for him, some of those eggs had already hatched and were home to plenty of newborn digimon who became fretful upon seeing him. And their cries attracted the attention of their care taker: Elecmon. Their guardian came running, with electricity sparking from his tail - charging straight for Ken and giving him no time to react. Ken could've flipped Elecmon over his head, using his own skill to turn the tables and hold him down. But in his current state, all Ken could do was gasp when Elecmon tackled him to the ground. Elecmon bore his teeth and hissed, "You have a lot of nerve to come here Emperor. You're not welcome in Primary Village, now or ever. Leave or I'll destroy you."

Ken mumbled weakly, "I can't, not until I find my partner."

Elecmon hissed, "There's nobody here for you Emperor! Leave now! I won't warn you again!"

Ken felt his lower lip tremble but asked anyway, "Please. Have you seen Wormmon?"

Elecmon raised his claws and slashed at him again; Ken instinctively raised his arms up to protect himself. The claws tore into his clothes and cut into the surface of his skin. Ken kept his arms raised but made no other resistance, content to lie here as Elecmon mauled him with his claws. This was his destiny, wasn't it? To meet his fate at the hands of the ones he wronged. It didn't matter that he had good intentions, it was still wrong. He didn't even scream despite the terrible pain he was in. At this point, he welcomed his own death. Or so he thought until he heard a childish voice cry out, "Leave...alone."

Elecmon let up his attack briefly to see a small blob of a digimon by his side. It had a pink button nose and a large leaf resting upon its head - Leafmon. Wormmon's newborn form timidly tried to stop Elecmon, "Leave...Ken...alone..."

Ken felt his own heart skip a beat upon seeing his partner. Leafmon recognized him which meant he retained his memories. This would've included everything he'd done as the Digimon Emperor, but his partner still chose to protect him. He considered Ken his friend. And that meant more to Ken than he could express into words. He tried reaching for his partner, but Elecmon slapped his hand away. His eyes narrowed at Ken but he softly said to Leafmon, "Look away little one. This doesn't concern you."

"Ken...friend," Leafmon struggled to say, "Ken...good..."

Elecmon grumbled in disbelief and motioned to Leafmon to leave again, "No, he's the Emperor. There is nothing good about him. And as your guardian, I will protect you!"

"Leave...Alone!" Leafmon grunted, leaping from his spot on the ground to tackle Elecmon. Elecmon was much bigger and stronger than the little newborn digimon, so all Leafmon managed to do was bounce off Elecmon ineffectually. Elecmon raised an eyebrow and climbed off Ken to pick up the newborn digimon, "What are you doing little one? I'm trying to protect you."

"Ken...Friend...Ken...good," Leafmon whimpered weakly. With Elecmon distracted, he didn't notice Ken crawling towards the little digimon with his arms outstretched to hold Leafmon. By the time Elecmon realized it, Ken had already wrapped his arms around Leafmon and whimpered, "I'm sorry, Leafmon. I'm so sorry. I was wrong about everything. I was so wrong. I don't deserve you as a friend. Could you ever forgive me for everything I did."

Leafmon nuzzled into his chest from within his arms and answered with all the sincerity that could be expected of it, "Ken...good...want...best...to...help. You...nice. Don't...be...sorry...Ken. You...good...you...tried...best."

"I'm sorry," Ken said again, "I'm so sorry."

Elecmon grumbled angrily, "I don't believe this. Let the newborn digimon go and leave!"

"No!" Leafmon said defiantly, "I...stay...with...Ken! Ken...friend!"

Ken hugged Leafmon closer, refusing to let the digimon go to Elecmon and worried Elecmon may try to take him by force. Elecmon clicked his tongue distatefully, annoyed that his charge had openly defied him in front of the others. The newborn digimon of Primary Village were under his carge and he had to protect them. How he could protect them when one was so willing to go with Ken. Yet the digimon seemed content and apparently retained his memories. And the Emperor claimed he was his partner. So perhaps this digimon knew the Emperor better than he ever could.

He had to care for the little digimon, both their physical safety and emotional well being! But if he harmed the Emperor and made the newborn unhappy, he risked his role as the caretaker of the village. And part of that role was knowing when it was time for the digimon to leave. He sighed and stepped back, "If you wish to go with him, you can. But know this means you can never return. He is not welcome here."

Leafmon nodded in understanding and Elecmon sighed. He gestured for them to leave and Ken departed with his partner in his arms. He hadn't gone far before he collapsed, whimpering with his partner in his hands - just glad to have him back and looking into his beady little eyes with relief. Perhaps this was his role as a digidestined. He would have to raise and take care of Leafmon - he would have to do better.

Another day came and went uneventfully. The digidestined would go to the Digital World after school to help clean up and restore what they could, while some would stay to keep an eye on Taichi as he went about his life. It seemed he'd been gaining some popularity with the girls because of his soccer skills, although most thought he'd have to change his hair first. It wasn't until the end of the week when they met up again after school that TK brought up an idea he had, "I know we were planning a beach trip, but I was thinking we could also visit Mimi in America this summer."

"What, like right away?" Matt asked, "Because that's going to be expensive this late."

"Well, not right away and not all of us. But we should go see her to see how she's doing over there," TK explained, "Apparently they get three month breaks during the summer!"

"I'm all for going. It'd be nice to see another country," Izzy said excitedly, trying to ignore the looks he was getting from the other digidestined. It went without saying that he obviously wanted to see Mimi in person again after her abrupt departure.

"Me too. It'd be nice to not be here for a while," Kari said quietly, looking to the soccer field where the middle school boy's soccer team was busy at practice. Davis frowned at the sudden announcement, "But I thought we were going to have a beach day."

"We have all summer to go to the beach. Like we have all summer to go to America," TK explained, "There's no rush."

Patamon looked excited at the prospect of travel and asked, "Can we come too?"

"If you pretend to be dolls," TK answered, "For several hours. On a plane full of people."

"I think something like that needs a little more planning," Joe stated, "And I won't have time since I have to study for college entrance exams."

"My mom was already against me going to the Digital World," Cody nodded quietly, "I don't think she'd like me trying to go to America."

"We don't have to commit to anything now," TK reasoned, "We have all summer to plan it out and it's not like we can't talk to her with the D-Terminal."

"Besides, Izzy's been talking to her on his laptop for a while," Matt teased, slapping the boy's shoulder playfully. Izzy's face went bright red and he countered, "I was just trying to keep in touch with her after she moved so she would have an easier time adjusting. That's all!"

"Uh huh. Sure," Sora nodded playfully, further embarrassing the boy. The brief joviality ended just as they heard the coach's whistle signalling the end of the boys' practice. The team started to clean up, wiping off the sweat of a hard day's practice and getting water to rehydrate. In the midst of it, Sora noticed Taichi and Jun making their way off the field together - talking animatedly and both smiling playfully. Sora did a double take at the sight of it, as did the other digidestined. The tail end of their conversation seemed to give away what they were talking about, "So, I was thinking we could go do something this Sunday after the game - grab a bite to eat, see a movie, and just hang out."

Jun giggled like a little girl, "I'd like that yeah. There's a movie I've been wanting to see for a while but-"

"Jun. what are you two doing?" Davis interrupted them loudly, spoiling Jun's good mood while Taichi smiled stupidly at him. The other digidestined simply sighed at Davis's outburst, embarrassed for everyone was about to be involved in what was said. Jun tried to straighten a smile on her face and explained, "Oh we're just making plans for what we'll do Sunday. What are you doing?"

"Wondering what my sister is doing talking to one of the coolest soccer players on the middle school team," Davis answered stupidly. Taichi shrugged in his usual way, smiling as he said, "She was cute and I thought I should say hi. So I caught her at lunch and we just started talking."

Jun's cheeks became rosy at the compliment, and she looked away from Taichi although that didn't deter the smile on he face, "It's a good thing too. I forgot to bring lunch and he actually offered to get me something from the cafeteria."

Sora and Matt swapped looks, before Sora added, "Yeah...he does that."

"Wait, did he just ask you on a date?" Kari asked with an open jaw, looking at Taichi in disbelief.

Jun paused, her cheeks turning a deep red as she answered, "Well, yeah. I guess you could call it something like that."

Her cheeks became so red that she had to hide her face. The digidestined were still at a loss for words, trying to process what they'd just heard. The Digimon Tamer had been in the Real World for a a few days, and had already asked out Davis's sister on a date. Sora especially was more bothered by the news than she probably should've been.

She couldn't lie to herself and had always wondered what life would've been like if Tai had never disappeared - would his family have ever split up the way they did? Would the two of them still be good friends? Could any of their adventures in the Digital World have happened without him getting pulled there? Would it have been exactly the same with all his talk about destiny, or would it have been different? Would she have been the one he asked out to do something outside school? That question made her more flustered than it should have and she shook her head, "So you're just hanging out?"

Sora felt a weight in her heart when she asked and it hit her hard as Jun answered, "I guess if you want to look at it like that. Just a guy…and a girl…doing something by themselves…"

Jun became more even more red and had to turn her face once again to hide it. Taichi grunted disbelievingly, "You guys are getting really bad at butting into other people's business and being nosy. It's kinda rude, y'know?"

"Sorry," Izzy offered a half hearted apology. Davis stared at his sister in a stunned stupor, then at Taichi in near disbelief. The older digidestined could only shake their heads woefully as Davis stammered, "You...asked my sister...during lunch."

"Yep," Taichi nodded, watching as Davis scratched his head and tried to process this. He asked more slowly, "You want to spend time with her?"

"We were making plans for Sunday," Taichi added with a confident smile, to Davis's annoyance. Davis sighed, "I still don't...understand."

"Davis, we're going on a date," Taichi stated flatly to a confused Davis. The older digidestined exchanged surprised looks at the blatant response. Now it was confirmed in Davis' mind that Taichi had actually asked Jun Motomiya on a date. Sora didn't say anything but some part of her felt hurt by that - as if everything that'd happened to their group meant nothing as Tamer continued to live this normal life as if nothing was wrong. Davis gasped, "Who would date my sister?"

He was slapped across the back of the head by Jun and by Taichi at the same time, "Ow! It was a serious question!"

He was slapped again with more enthusiasm by both Jun and Taichi.

Author's Notes: What will happen with these shocking developments? Who visited Ken? What will happen now? Find out all this and more in three weeks on November 3rd 8 PM CST. I apologize for taking another break folks but I'm feeling something akin to burnout while maintaining this constant update schedule and I think I need to take some time to recharge my batteries and…not do anything for a while. Also, we're moving the update time to make it a little more convenient for me to do. I'll still be around to read your thoughts and comments on the story which I do love to hear in the reviews section. I'll try to reply as soon as I can, depending on when I'm able to. And don't forget to follow/favorite the story to stay to know when the updates are coming out. I don't have much else to add beyond this point…um, so how about that new Digimon movie, eh? Alright, let's go hop into previews for the next chapter.

"It's more like he plays his own style," TK thought aloud, thinking back on the songs he knew the band would play.

"Internal family whatsh-itsh?" Veemon repeated.

Davis hopped out of bed with so much speed that DemiVeemon found himself bouncing off the bed, "AH! EARTHQUAKE! WHAT'S HAPPENING!"

"Kari wants to meet up with me!" Davis said excitedly.

"It's about time," Gatomon whispered quietly, "Any longer and we would've just left without you."