A/N (feel free to skip): For some unknown reason I suddenly found myself rewatching Digimon Kizuna (the english dub unfortunately, because I can't find a proper version of the original with english subs - anyone who knows where to find it?) and I started wondering: what would Taichi and Yamato have done directly after losing Agumon and Gabumon? What would they say to each other? And how did they find out about Sora, who went through the same happenings on her own, before the boys, probably without letting anyone know...
Well, here is my take on that.
Important: I ship Taiora. Very hard. I can't help myself. And even though I understand Sorato (because, yes, I really do. And I can explain how and why I do, but still go for Taiora), I can't stand them together. So I will forever break them up in my writings... However, this isn't a Taiora either! Also, Yamato isn't among my fave characters and therefor I'm struggling writing his POV. But I tried, please bare with me.
Happy readings!
A cool breeze. Quiet after the storm. And the stabbing feeling of a loss.
He tried to fight his tears, burying his true feelings. In his one hand was the Digivice, petrified. He looked down on it, trembling, realizing what just had happened. With his other hand he brushed over the Digivice, then held his other hand preventing it from trembling too much. He needed to be strong. For himself, for the others. For Gabumon.
Gabumon.
Where would he be now, Yamato wondered. That thought freed the flow of tears he was failing to hide behind his lids. He wanted to scream. Shout. But what was the use? It wouldn't bring his partner back. So he just stood there. Crying.
Mourning.
The thoughts kept trying to fill the pit he felt in his stomach. As the crying died down because of those deep thoughts, he simply stared, following the flickering lights with his eyes. It being the only movement in front of him.
Movement. Life.
What was life? He knew for example life was not limited to earth only. There was a whole digital realm existing in between this world where he came from and the network where Gabumon had his roots. Was there even more? How far could he go? Space? Maybe space was where he should aim for. As far away as possible from here, from where he stood now. From the spot where his partner vanished.
"Yamato."
He stood straight at attention upon hearing his name. It sounded vague and far away, though he knew it was close by. He turned around, letting his blue eyes meeting the brown ones now in front of him. He watched his companion scan the surroundings. His friend looked sad to him.
"No Gabumon?"
Yamato swallowed and shook his head, biting his lip to once again fight his feelings. The trembling made his Digivice almost fall out of his hand. He squeezed it tight and with that holding onto everything he knew. Not ready to fully let go yet.
Usually Yamato was the one far more calm and collected. Though this time, for once, it seemed like the guy who tracked him down was better at keeping his cool.
Taichi.
It was just Taichi, no yellow dinosaur following him. Yamato figured out Taichi must've gone through the same faith as him. Yamato wanted to be there for him, but he felt his feet stuck in his place. His legs were heavy, as was his heart. Any movement, except from trembling, seemed impossible. So he stood there, questionably looking for answers which he knew his friend had neither.
Yamato.
He just stood there, looking at him as if he had all the answers he wanted to hear. But he had to disappoint. He had one answer: both Agumon and Gabumon had vanished. With that their Digivices had turn into cold stone. Taichi figured out Yamato already knew that.
It had been one hour since it happened and he had been mourning since. But what Taichi knew too was that moping around wasn't going to make things better. Besides, it wasn't what Agumon would have wanted him to do, moping around.
Agumon.
Instead he had taken out his phone, the ring of light on the back vanished just like Agumon had. He was glad to see the phone still worked, though it looked like it was a little faded. Maybe he was seeing things. He had quickly updated the others in their group chat by sending them a picture of his petrified Digivice, then closed the chat. He did not want pity from his friends, from his sister, from the others. They did not understand.
In all probability, there was one other person who would come close to understand him. So Taichi tracked Yamato down through his GPS. As he found out his whereabouts, he silenced his phone and made his way to him. Without haste, because he knew Yamato wasn't going far. Or fast for that matter. After all, he was mourning too. Just like Taichi.
His feelings had been right as there was no sign of Gabumon. The only visible sign was the stone in Yamato's hand. The same stone Taichi was carrying with him, in both his pocket and heart. Yamato looked completely lost in his feelings, emptiness overwhelming him.
Yamato turned his back again to him. Taichi felt his hands ball into fists, at once feeling the urge to fight him just like the old days. Breathing in deep, that feelings quickly faded, replacing it with a sudden feeling of concern. He glanced to the blonde, slowly walking towards him.
"I know how you feel," Taichi said now standing beside Yamato, staring into the same direction. "It'll be fine. I promise."
A careful smile appeared on Yamato's face, making Taichi smile a little as well. It was a careful smile, but it was genuine, the feeling of concern grew bigger. Taichi placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder closest to him before gently pulling Yamato to him.
An embrace.
Back in the days the physical contact between the two of them were mostly fights with fists. But right now, Taichi knew it wasn't the kind of touch he needed. What they both needed. Comfort, Yamato needed his friend. A shoulder to lean on.
"I know," Yamato mumbled as he untangled himself out of Tachi's grip after a little while. "It still stings though."
Taichi nodded, completely understanding him, all the while grabbing the phone out of his pocket and switching it on to check the messages out of habit. He quickly scrolled through the messages in the group chat, but decided not to answer and leave them be for now.
A private message from his worrying mother. A missed call from a bragging classmate. Another message from…
Taichi gasped. After a brief moment he placed his hand back on Yamato's shoulder, making him turn to face Taichi. He held the screen to Yamato.
"We need to go. There's someone who needs us."
She had been standing near the window for what felt like days, the rain falling for hours and hours. And hours more. The tears on her face joined the crying sky, but there were no tears left. She sighed, swallowing the lump in her throat.
She turned around, briefly looking at her desk filled with both clothing and flower designs. It was drenched with what she loved, but it was empty to her all the same. Then her eyes trailed further down the room to an empty pillow. It belonged to someone very dear to her, to someone who sadly wasn't here anymore.
Piyomon.
The name lingered in her thoughts, making Sora want to cry, but nothing came. She felt empty, like the pillow. Lonely and hollow. At the same time she was thankful. Thankful for the time she could have spent with her partner.
Would she still be here if Sora had chosen to keep fighting? Would it have made a difference? Sora wondered, feeling a sting in her heart. It had to happen eventually, why not now? Because she did knew she had to grow up. Especially after that message they received from Koushiro about the glowing ring, counting down the time of her partnership. Little did she know that Taichi went through the same thing at the same time.
Somehow it was hard to imagine him growing up. Into a man. To her, he had always been her childhood friend, the one making her feel strong, young and aware. She remembered the echoing sound of the whistle earlier today, immediately connecting the sound to Taichi. By then she knew, he was arriving at the same place where she already was at that time. Partner-less.
"Honey, there's someone for you." Sora heard her mother from the other side of the bedroom door, snapping her out of her thoughts. She walked towards the door, sliding it open and stepping into the hallway. Her head turned 90 degrees and her eyes grew wider.
Taichi.
Leaning against the frame of the door with his back she found her brown haired friend. His arms crossed, his head diagonally directed to the ground. Further outside she saw the silhouette of a certain blonde boy she knew all too well.
Yamato.
After Taichi had sent a picture of his petrified Digivice in their group chat, she had sent him a reply through a private message. For Sora it was important that he knew and felt he wasn't alone. But seeing Yamato standing there, leaning against the rail of the gallery, his blue eyes ice cold, she knew that Taichi already knew he wasn't the only one.
As wasn't she.
A view steps. Taichi looked up as Sora walked past him. Without looking she brushed over his arm and hand for reassurance, but her focus was on Yamato. It had been a while since she saw him last. They had kept a steady friendship after their breakup a view months ago, but with their busy lives, it was hard to keep track of everyone all the time. Especially after she had decided for herself she wasn't going to fight anymore.
And even though they weren't boy- and girlfriend anymore, she still did care for him. A lot. And he needed her, she felt. She knew. Standing fully in front of him, she placed her hand on one of his shoulders, finally making him look her straight in the eyes. She smiled her most genuine but soft smile, then carefully hugged him around the shoulders. She felt his heartbeat slightly increase and she held on to him until his heart calmed down.
As she let go and stepped back, Yamato flashed her a painful smile. Sora had to swallow, shifting her gaze to the ground. The touch of a hand on her shoulder brought her attention back up. She had thought she had no tears left, but that one touch did the trick.
Sora swiftly turned around, throwing her arms around the neck of the owner of the hand on her shoulder. She felt Taichi pulling her even closer as she heavily cried, wetting his shirt. But she knew he didn't care, because in that moment all he cared for was her. And Yamato.
Stupid.
They just stood there, the two of them. Suddenly she felt a warmth behind her, another body becoming part of their embrace. And she knew that whenever she was sad or lonely or in need of a hug, they were there within a heartbeat.
"I need you," she mumbled into Taichi's shirt.
"Both."