Hello everyone! It's been quite a while for this one! I think this is one of the best chapters I've written and I finally felt like everything felt right again. That's why I decided to re-write this story! I was giving Sorato way too much focus and this was supposed to be about the 8 Destined. So, I'll be making some changes on the previous chapters and follow some of the 02 events when they actually happened in the anime. You might see some things in this chapter that doesn't make sense for now, but they will when I work on the story again. I will say it in the beginning of a chapter when I changed it. I hope you like this one! Please review!
Chapter 18: The Old Friend
Takeru and I were heading to the school's kitchen as it was our time to cook for the students.
"Things have been quiet in the Digital World, so have you." The blonde spoke.
"What?!" I shook my head.
"What's up with you lately? Your mind seems to be somewhere else."
"I'm sorry. I just have a bad feeling over something."
"A bad feeling over what?"
"I don't know..." I replied. "But I think the time to end this is coming."
"You mean in the Digital World?"
"Yes. The Kaiser has already done too much damage to innocent Digimon. We need to stop him for good as soon as we can."
"Let's talk to Koushiro later. He can come up with a plan." He looked at me. "But this isn't the only thing that's been bothering you."
"No." I said and looked back at him. "I think someone's calling me."
"Who?"
"I don't know yet, but I feel it's gonna reveal soon and I'm scared."
"Don't worry. I'm here to protect you and won't let anything happen."
I smiled weakly after feeling his hand on my shoulder. "Thank you."
*****
Later that day, we went to talk to Koushiro.
"Takeru, Hikari! It's so nice to see you!"
"It's nice seeing you too!"
"What brings you two here at this time?"
"Well, we know the Kaiser is still doing awful things in the Digital World and we think it's time for it to end."
"I agree with you, and I've been thinking of a plan."
"I told you." Takeru said to me with a smile.
I was about to ask what the plan was when a very familiar voice echoed in the computer room.
"Tailmon!" I sat down right away in front of the screen. "How have you been?"
"Good, and you? I miss you so much!"
"I miss you too! And I'm good."
"I've been hearing a voice lately."
"A voice? I have been hearing one too, but I don't know who it belongs to."
"I do. It's his, Hikari."
"His? I don't..." My eyes widened and I pushed the chair away with my body. "Tailmon, are you sure?"
"I would never forget his voice."
"Who is it?" Takeru asked.
"Wizardmon" It was Koushiro who answered him.
"WHAT?!"
"He's trying to communicate with us, maybe."
"Koushiro." I turned around to face him. "Do you think it's possible to..."
"Look!" Takeru yelled and pointed his finger to the screen.
I barely had time to process what just happened. The next thing I knew was having her on my arms.
"What just happened here?"
"I don't know"
Koushiro had his index finger under his chin, thinking of something. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's putting everything together.
*****
A few weeks went by and Tailmon got to spend them all with me. Patamon was also able to come, but the others couldn't for some reason we still don't know. Wizardmon didn't try to reach us again, and I started believing it was just something on my mind. Tailmon, on the other hand, still held on tight on anything that could make her connect with her best friend once again.
"Are you excited to spend this day with the others?" Tailmon asked me as I tied the pink handkerchief around my neck.
"Yes, I am. A lot has happened in the past few months, so it's good to gather everyone together and just spend some time with each other and celebrate the date. Our third anniversary after meeting you guys."
"Do you regret not going to summer camp that year?"
"What kind of question is this?" I said with a smile. "Yes and no. No because I was sick and would only be a burden and yes because I didn't meet you as a baby and the history would be different."
"But everything worked out in the end. We found each other and I wouldn't change a thing." She jumped on my lap and hugged me.
"Me neither." I caressed her head. "We should go. Taichi is terrible with timing. I have to keep rushing him."
"Let's go."
*****
Mimi had come from the US and asked for Sora to wait for her so they could go together and catch up.
"So things have calmed down in the Digital World, huh?"
"It seems so." Sora replied as she fixed some rebel hair on top of her head and made a face when she saw they wouldn't stay still. "But we never know what will happen."
"True, but it looks like new enemies have appeared." The newly brunette finished putting on some lipstick. "It just sucks that our digivices won't open the gate."
"I know. But that would mean new fights and adventures and you weren't exactly the first one to jump into a fight."
"True. Fighting was the last thing I wanted back then. It still is, but I'm older now and I understand things better."
Sora smiled. "It's amazing to see you growing up and evolving as a person. I feel so proud."
Mimi smiled and let out a soft scream before hugging her best friend. "I'm so happy to hear that!"
*****
The 6 of us were sitting on the benches in one of the Odaiba squares waiting for the girls.
"Geez, they are taking so long."
"Relax, brother. They haven't seen each other for a couple of months. It's normal to take a little longer. Besides, you are often late."
The other boys started laughing out loud.
"You're always exposing me."
"In Hikari's defense, that's not an exposition." Yamato said. "It's a fact and we all know that already."
Taichi pouted. "For your information, my hair isn't helping when it happens."
"That's not it!" I cut him out. "You're whether playing videogames or sleeping. Don't take this on your hair."
"Hikari!"
"Younger siblings. I know what it's like."
"Hey!"
"I'm sorry, Takeru. But it's true."
"Hi!" Mimi spoke and we all looked at her. "Sorry for taking so long."
"Finally!"
"Wow, you look stunning!" Yamato said and then blushed. "You two, I mean."
And indeed they did. Sora was wearing pink t-shirt and skirt and she looked great. I don't think I've ever seen her wearing one before. Mimi was wearing a light pink cowboyish dress and pink hat and boots.
"Thank you." Mimi said and grabbed Sora's hand and spun her around. "Doesn't she look beautiful?"
"Mimi, stop it." Sora said with a red face. "I'm feeling embarrassed."
"Don't be silly! You're beautiful and deserve to be seen as such. Doesn't she look pretty?"
"Yes!" All of the boys except Yamato replied.
"I didn't hear you answering, Yamato." A flash appeared in my brother's eyes and disappeared right away.
The look on his face said that he was hinting at something inappropriate at the time and making Yamato uncomfortable.
"Yes, she does." He finally replied, looking at his right and avoiding eye contact with us.
But we all knew he was really embarrassed by that situation. We were lucky they didn't fight.
"Taichi!" I called him out. "You should know these so-called jokes are really awful."
"I was teasing him!"
"You're embarrassing him! Embarrassing them, actually."
"I'm sorry, Yamato. Sora. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"It's okay, Taichi."
"Let's just get going." The blonde started walking away and we followed him.
*****
On the way, we stopped at a flower shop because Taichi wanted to buy some flowers. Which was weird because Taichi hardly ever buys gifts to people, especially flowers.
"These are for you." He said as he approached me.
"What? For me?"
"Yeah, for your 3rd anniversary as a Destiny Child."
"Oh my God!" I took the flowers and looked at him, completely speechless. "Are you feeling okay? Did you hit your head or something?"
"No, everything's fine." He said with a smile. "I just wanted to give something to you to celebrate this day."
"Thank you!" I smiled and hugged him tight with my free hand. "I loved them! They're so beautiful!"
"No need to thank me. I'm just glad you got to join us."
"Me too." I embraced him again.
*****
A few weird events suddenly happened when we were near the TV Fuji building. The sky was completely covered by heavy clouds and a lightning hit the ball on the top of the building, scaring all of us.
"What happened here?"
"I don't know, the weather changed out of nowhere!"
"Tailmon!" I yelled and ran after her as she rushed into the building.
All the noise of feet stepping and heavy breathing decreased behind me when we reached the last floor of the building. So many things happened here three years ago. The first time I fought with my brother and my friends against Myotismon.
*****
A strong wind came from nowhere and some papers on the desk started flying around the room. We all covered our heads and bent down to protect ourselves. I still could see Tailmon running to the center of the room.
"It's him!"
"What?!" I asked when I finally could uncover my face and just in time to see a familiar shadow flying in the room.
"Who?" Takeru asked me as he stood near me.
It took him only an exchanged glance between us for him to understand. I smiled, thinking we can read each other just by the look of our eyes. He was still surprised though.
"Hadn't it stopped?"
"For a couple of weeks, yeah. I thought it was nothing."
"Hikari, what's happening?"
"You didn't tell him?!"
"No, he stopped trying." I looked my brother. "A few weeks ago I heard this voice for a couple of days. Tailmon heard it too and said it was Wizardmon. I thought it was nothing because it didn't happen again... until now."
And just after that, the shadow reached the floor, stopped right in front of Tailmon and stood up. Shock was written in all of our faces. It was like he was actually there, except we couldn't touch him.
"Wizardmon!"
"Tailmon!"
"I can't believe you're here!"
"I missed you!"
"I missed you too!" She reached out to touch him, but her arm went through him. She then looked at, hopeful.
"He's just a spirit. You can't touch him." I looked down to avoid any eye contact with her because I felt tears in my eyes.
Taichi came to me and put his left hand on my shoulder. It was what I needed to get myself together. I straightened up and looked at them again.
"This isn't over yet. Stronger enemies are coming and you all need to be ready for it."
"Stronger enemies?"
"How can we help if our digivices can't open the gate?" Koushiro asked. "We can't always wait for Takeru, Hikari or the others to open it for us."
"And we have our own things to do too. We can't be available all the time." Sora added, looking at the older Destined.
"Either way, our hands are tied."
"We can't do much."
"Why weren't you reborn like the other Digimon?"
"I don't know. I guess it's because I died here."
"So Digimon who died here can't be restored and turned into a digitama?"
Takeru and Yamato exchanged looks and the older brother knew exactly what he was thinking.
"We probably won't see them again either."
"Takeru." Patamon said as he looked at his partner.
"It's okay." He hugged him tight.
"You…" Yamato said. "We need to be ready. We can't do much, but we'll be here whenever you need help, right guys?"
"Yes!" The other five replied together.
"I kind of miss being on an adventure."
"Me too, Sora."
"We are counting on you, Takeru and Hikari. I have to go now."
"No!" Tailmon yelled. "Please stay."
"I can't." He started floating away.
"Wizardmon." She tried to hug him again, forgetting she couldn't.
We all stood still with sad faces as the Digimon vanished. Then I walk to my partner standing by the window and knelt down, hugging her.
"Tailmon."
"Will we ever see him again?" Sora asked.
"Of course we will." Yamato replied.
*****
We all were walking home later that day. We tried to enjoy our anniversary, but seeing Wizardmon affected all of us. Mimi and Jyou's houses are in a different part of the city, and the offered to take Takeru home since it was on their way. Sora and Koushiro live in the same building, not too far from here. Yamato moved to our building last year. He and his father live in the 6th floor.
"Today was quite an adventure, wasn't it?"
"Tell me about it. I still haven't absorbed everything."
"We should be prepared for what's coming."
"It sucks we won't be able to help that much." Taichi complained. "I'm so ready to fight."
"Until we destroy all the black towers and defeat the Kaiser for good, there's nothing we can do."
"Damn it."
""But there's something I've been thinking of and I guess I can already share it with you."
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you about it tomorrow, okay? Maybe we can meet at someone's house."
"Our house is available if you need it."
"Okay, we'll meet here tomorrow at 2pm?"
"Deal."
"I have to go now."
"Wait for me!" Sora ran after Koushiro. "Good night, you all."