This is something I knocked together in about three hours. As I live in England and don't have cable we only got the first episode of zero two today, (7th May). I felt that Tai's views on what happened were largely ignored and so I decided to correct this. This is my first attempt at getting seriously inside Tai's head and I would greatly appreciate any feedback on it. I may write one for each of the replaced 01 Digidestined if I get enough good responses on this.
This story takes place after the events of Enter Flamedramon. Tai is lying in bed that night as the events of the day replay in his head, but his thoughts keep going back to one person………
Passing On the Torch
Davis………huh.
Well he's not who I would've chosen certainly.
Or would I?
Did I ever pay attention to him other than when he played soccer? Or was annoying Kari?
Sometimes I think she leads him on.
But still……..He's Davis.
Why him? Was there some mistake? Digiworld in trouble? No problem, get Tai Kamiya. What, you don't know who he is? Eleven-year-old kid, wears goggles, plays soccer, has the crest of Courage. Can't miss him.
But they did.
Or maybe they didn't. Maybe Davis is supposed to replace me. After all he did get a digivice. And that blue lizard digimon, Veemon, or Vimon or something. And he could pick up that egg.
Maybe I'm just being bitter. I, the great Taichi Kamiya am not being summoned to help my friends, instead some clone of myself and my kid sister are.
Oh. God.
Davis is going to look after Kari 'cause I can't. I can't imagine anything worse. He'll forget her, or lead her into danger or…
Deal with it Kamiya. You're not going this time. It's their turn. You already accepted it when you handed over your goggles to him.
Why the hell did I do that anyway? I've had those goggles ever since I can remember. They're as dear to me as that laptop is to Izzy so why did I just give them up like they meant nothing?
Maybe some small part of me recognised that Davis was my replacement. Some part of my mind that's battling against the rest.
But still……. He's Davis. Nice but dim Davis.
Last hope for the Digital World?
They're so going to want a refund.
But when it came to the crunch he did come through for us against Monochromon. For Kari. Huh. Maybe Nice but Dim Davis will find that part of himself that will let him win through.
Maybe he'll wind up as a greasy stain on the floor.
Heh. Davis plus Numemon equals Davis-shaped blur. That's what Kari said almost happened.
But maybe T.K. and Kari are too complacent. Maybe they've forgotten what it was like for us when the seven of us first arrived with Kwagamon breathing down our necks.
I can just see it. Oooooo look at the pretty little evil digimon T.K. Then WHAM no more Kari.
Nah, she's not that stupid. Neither's T.K. But Davis……
Okay maybe I am jealous. That year was the best year of my life. Those ties between us can never be broken, no matter what the world throws at us. So is it that I want to relive my glory days? I'd like to think it wasn't that but I'd only be lying to myself. Seeing Agumon again after three years brought it all back. Those long night watches, the terror, the friendships.
But my time is over and no matter what I want to happen I've become obsolete. I cannot function in today's market forces. Huh, maybe I do understand economics more that I thought.
But still…….
Why Davis? What does he have?
Well, lets take a leaf out of Izzy's book and make a list. He has-
One, the digiegg of Courage. Okay so maybe that's a not so small point that I can ignore. After all I had the crest of Courage.
Two, that Veemon-Vimon digimon. He's a lizard, just like Agumon.
Three, goggles. My goggles.
Humm……. The more I think about it, the more he's like me. That's just scary.
So my mind says that I should just give him my blessing and move on with my life. Forget my days in the Digiworld, just like the adults forgot.
But the part of me that's still that eleven-year-old kid refuses. I'M the one who should be out there, fighting alongside my sister and our friends.
But I can't.
So that's it. I can't, Davis can. Doesn't matter what I think, I'm being replaced and there's nothing I can do about it. Roll over and accept that you're yesterday's news Kamiya.
No I won't.
I may not be able to go with them to work as a Digidestined, but I'll be damned if I'm just going to give up. I have fought long and hard and just because I'm not required doesn't mean I can't help. I'm not going to let Kari face this without my help.
Davis…you may try to replace me but I'll always be there. I'll fight with you, alongside you, behind you…. whatever it takes to make a difference. You can't replace me because I refuse to be replaced. I lead. I will not follow you, Kari, or T.K.
I am Taichi Kamiya.
The leader.
…
No, that's not right. I'm not the leader anymore. That's Davis too.
Damn he really has taken over hasn't he?
So what am I? Who am I? What part of my identity remains?
None at all. I am become like Davis's shadow. The first model. The test run. Huh. I can't even help in the Digiworld anymore.
I can hear god laughing. It's not a pleasant sound. The galaxy has played a cosmic joke on me. One that leaves me with nothing but my name as an identity.
So who am I? Tai? Davis? 24601? Real or illusion?
God, it must be late when philosophy starts to creep into my thoughts.
I wish them well. I wish them all well, even Davis.
But I still would rather be there, on the front line, fighting to protect my family and friends.
I guess I was right before. No matter what Davis does, one fact will remain as long as the Digiworld does.
I am Taichi Kamiya. The leader.