DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon or any of its characters. I just like to torture them. Please don't sue.
A/N: I know, this chapter is super-long, but it's the last one. After this, there's just a short epilogue. And then it's all over! WAAH!
Replaced this chapter--there are no changes except that I learned Yolei's borther's name. Mantarou. Other than that, it is exactly the same.
Cody was the first one up, but he was reluctant to get anyone else up. T.K. he might not have minded, but it was those couples that bothered him. Kari was on top--yes, on top--of Davis, his arms around her waist, her head on his chest. Yolei was snuggled against Ken's side, her head on his shoulder.
Cody was surprised that it didn't anger him. He wasn't sure if he was happy to see his best friend happy, or if he was truly ready to accept Ken as a DigiDestined, but he looked at them and almost felt a sense of calm wash over him. Ken was already very protective of her. That made Cody glad; Yolei needed a guy who was that way, but also was not paranoid if she simply conversed with another male--another male such as himself.
He wondered what would await them when they got home. He was sure that his grandfather had gone on to join his father. He had told himself that many times over the years, so it was not a new thought. But now he might be finding out for sure, maybe before the sun set that very evening.
T.K. stirred across the fire from him. "Anyone else up?"
"Just me," Cody offered. "Even Upamon is still asleep."
"No surprise there, Cody. He's always asleep."
Cody smiled, just a little. It wasn't that T.K. wasn't funny, but just then, he didn't feel much like laughing. He was too worried over what had happened at home.
Eventually the others all got up, and the digimon found a sufficient fruit supply for the group's breakfast.
"Now, which way?" Yolei asked Davis.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure," Davis tried. "Maybe in the forest? We're right on the edge of it, and there's nothing in the other direction but that empty field. So if we go the other way, into the forest, we might find something."
Ken nodded. "That makes a little sense, after all, if there was a TV in the field, we could probably see it from here, but with all the trees here, a TV could easily be hidden."
"Then let's go," T.K. said. "No point in standing around here."
So the group started walking.
"This feels like the old days, huh, T.K.?" Kari asked.
"Yeah, sure does. Wandering aimlessly through the DigiWorld until we meander across a worthy cause, fighting, walking again...*those* were the days."
Kari giggled. "It sure wasn't like that the second time. We never had to go far to find a fight--assuming we didn't fall into one directly--oh, sorry, Ken. I didn't mean to--"
"I know. It's all right."
Yolei took his hand.
Davis tried not to be too protective of Kari in her new state. He'd never had a pregnant wife before, but he knew better than to irritate her. ~No point in *triggering* a mood swing. When do those start up, anyway? And she said her clothes aren't fitting like they used to. I can't tell. Should I tell her? Would she be happy that she's still thin, or upset that she's not showing? Will she start having really weird cravings? Mom said once that when she was pregnant with *me*, she craved pickle-and-peanut butter sandwiches. Is Kari going to be the same way? What if something happens? What if she craves something we can't get in the DigiWorld? Would it...mess up the baby? I mean, what's going to happen?~
"Davis, what's wrong?" a voice came from atop Davis's head.
~Busted.~ "Nothing, Veemon." Okay, so technically, it was *Demi*Veemon, but who actually said that whole name every time?
"Fibber."
"Am not."
"Am too!" DemiVeemon chirped. "So, tell me. Tellmetellmetellmetellmetellme!"
Davis sighed. "It's nothing."
"You never worry about 'nothing'. Tell me or I'll tell Kari you won't tell me."
Rats. He had discovered a new trick in the past few weeks, one that always worked on Davis.
"Okay, I'll tell you--*if* you promise *not* to tell Kari."
"Okay! I promise!" DemiVeemon held up one paw like a Boy Scout.
"Well, see, I'm worried *about* Kari. You do understand how the whole pregnancy thing works, right?"
"Yeah. It's like there's a DigiEgg in her stomach, and it grows and grows for a long time, and then it hatches inside her and the baby comes out."
Davis snickered. "Something like that. Close enough. Who explained this to you?"
"I asked Gatomon last night."
"Riiiiight." Somehow Davis suspected Gatomon knew better than that, but had dumbed it down so DemiVee could follow along. "Anyway, did she tell you that when women are pregnant, it makes them get upset easily? And they get kind of grouchy, and they eat things they don't even like and stuff like that?"
"No...do they?"
Davis sighed. Sometimes his digimon was even more thickheaded than he was. "Yes. They do. And I'm worried about Kari. What if she wants something--weird--to eat and she can't get it? Will it...you know...mess up the baby? You know, stuff like that."
DemiVeemon was about to say something comforting when Cody yelled, "Hey! Guys! To the right! TV!"
The way it sounded--like Cody was a desperate couch potato--was very different from what was actually implied. An actual cheer went around the group.
"Home we go!" Davis cried.
"Hey, wait a minute," Yolei said. "What time is it?"
Ken checked his watch. "Five," he said. "Why?"
"Okay. I just wanted to be sure school was over. Can you imagine what would happen if we showed up in the computer lab in the middle of the day?"
The group laughed.
Davis walked up to the TV and held out his digivice, and was about to say those wonderful words, but he stopped short. "Ken, you do the honors. You were responsible for keeping us here, it's only right that you be the one responsible for taking us back."
Ken hesitated, but everyone else agreed with Davis and said so.
Yolei squeezed his hand. "The sooner you do it, the sooner we all get to be home."
That did it. He held out his digivice and yelled, "DigiPort Open!"
Like no time had passed, the DigiPort did indeed open, and the now *six* DigiDestined, followed by their digimon, flew through and back into the real world.
Even the pile-up in the computer lab was just like old times.
Well, almost.
This was the first time Davis quickly untangled himself and asked Kari if the baby was all right.
"I guess now we call your parents, Yolei," Cody said.
She looked up. She had been looking forward to this for a long time, but now that it was here, she had so many doubts.
"I guess we use the pay phone in the hall?" Kari suggested.
"That works," T.K. said.
The six walked out into the hallway, and Ken stood next to Yolei as she reached for the phone. She paused. She picked up the receiver and put it to her ear. She stuck out a hand to start dialing.
And then started crying.
"What is it?" Ken asked, concerned.
"This is going to sound stupid...but...I can't remember the number." She hung up the phone in irritation. Ken reassuringly placed a hand on her shoulder, and she began flipping through the phone book.
"Here it is. Inoue. And at my old address!"
Everyone sighed a breath of relief.
Ken dialed the number for Yolei.
"It's ringing," Yolei confided. "Hello? Is this the Inoue residence?"
The voice she heard was so welcome, so musical falling on her ears. "Yes, it is. Who is this calling, please?"
"Mom? Mom! Mom, it's me, Miyako! Yolei! Mom! Mom! Hello?"
A gasp. No doubt a hand flying up to the heart. "Yolei?"
"Oh, good, you're still there."
"Yolei?"
"Yes, it's really me! Mom!"
"Are you all right? Where are you? Where have you been? Did you and the others go together? Where?"
"I'm so glad to be back! Yes--yes--the others are with me."
"The police suspected as much--"
"I see. Yes! Yes, we've all been together...if you'll get the place ready for company, we'll all come."
T.K. tugged on her sleeve. "We'll all fit in my dad's van. I'll call him. We're all calling home anyway. I'll have him drive us."
Yolei nodded and relayed the information to her mother. "We'll all be there in an hour or so--be ready for a lot of people."
"You're coming home?"
"Yeah, me, the others, our Digimon, and everyone's families." Yolei did some quick calculating. "Counting the digimon, it'll be...twenty-five, I think."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, there's another guy besides the ones you're thinking of. Will it be too much trouble?"
"No, no, anything, just hurry here!"
"I swear, in one hour. I can't wait. And call Mimoe, and Chizuru, and yeah, call Mantarou, too."
"I will, I will, but, Yolei! I can't believe you're back! It's really you!"
"Yeah, it is. I can't believe I'm home, either. Okay, Mom, really, everyone else needs to call home and have them go to our house. I will be there! I swear! Yes, it really is me! We'll all see you there! Bye, Mom!" Yolei hung up and sighed. She threw her arms around Ken's neck. "They're all alive! Oh, Kami, I'm so happy!"
T.K. got the phone next, since he was arranging their ride. He decided to try to call Matt first. He searched through the phone book and found only one Ishida Yamato. His dad's number was there, too, but his brother was first on his mind. He quickly dialed the number.
"Moshi, moshi, Ishida desu. Talk to me." Good old Matt. Time hadn't changed much about him, either.
"Matt."
T.K. heard Matt audibly gasp. There was a pause. "Ta...Takeru...?"
"Matt! Hey, the group just got back from a lovely little jaunt into the DigiWorld. How long did you convince Dad to stay out on that camping trip before calling the police?"
"Kami, it really *is* you! T.K.! Where the *hell* have you all been? Are you *all* there? Are you all right? What the hell happened?"
"Hey, slow down the Q and A session. We're all here. And the newest DigiDestined, Ken Ichijouji. Hey, we really *did* stay in the Digital World until we defeated him. Nevermind the fact that we were prisoners of war until yesterday--"
"Are you referring to the Kaiser?"
"Yeah. He has his wife, Yolei, with him, too."
There was a pause, and then, "T.K.--we can talk later. In person. Where are you?"
"You're right. Call Dad, break the news to him, and have him bring the van out to the school. Yolei's mom is having everyone--all the kids, all the parents--over. We'll talk about *everything*. After you call Dad, call Mom and have her meet us there. And you come, too."
"T.K.--sure. Anything. It's been so long. I've missed ya, little bro. Hey, see you there!"
"Yeah, Matt. I can't wait to see you, either. We're all as curious about what's happened to you as you are about us. Hurry! Call Dad. And break it to Mom gently."
"Oh, no, she's convinced that you're not dead. She thinks you were all kidnapped or something. But it'll be a shock that you showed back up."
"Yeah. Bye!"
"Bye!"
Cody got the phone next. He remembered his phone number, but he looked it up in the phone book to be sure that his family still lived where they used to. They did.
He dialed the number slowly, deliberately.
"Moshi, moshi, Hida desu, Mrs. Hida speaking."
"Good!--you might want to sit down."
"What? Who is this?"
"Mom--it's Cody." He heard her sit down. "Mom--I know I've been gone a long time. I tried to contact you, but nothing ever went through. I am so, so sorry. But, Mom, I'm going to be at the Inoue's apartment in about an hour. Go there, I will see you as soon as possible. Mom? Mom, don't cry."
"Is this some kind of cruel joke?"
"Mom--Mom." Cody scrambled. What was there that only his mom knew? "Mom, remember that the night before Dad died, I had that terrible nightmare about Dad and everything?"
"Iori! Son! You're alive! And--you're coming to the Inoue's?"
"Me and all the others and their families. Go. I'll be there. I swear. I want to see you again."
"How can I know you'll be there? What if this is the last time that I--"
"No, Mom, I'm back. I'm staying. I'll never leave like that again. I never meant to. We'll explain everything there. Now, hurry. Go. Yolei called Mrs. Inoue, so she'll be happy to talk with you until we all get there. I will see you as soon as possible."
"All right, Cody."
"Wait--one more thing--how--how is--Grandfather?"
Mrs. Hida laughed. "Same as ever. Still teaches kendo, still misses you. We'll both be there."
Cody started to cry. "Kami, I was so worried that he'd--" He swallowed. "I'll see you there. Tell him I'm sorry, too. I love you both. I'll see you there."
"I'll be counting the minutes, son."
Davis then had his turn. His parents had moved, but they were still in the same town. The number was different, but he dialed quickly and stood while it rang.
"Moshi, moshi, Motomiya desu. Jun speaking."
"Jun? Man, what are you doing still living at home?"
"I don't! I'm visiting! Who the hell is this, anyway? Jerk!"
"Ah, my sister. Always willing to hear the other side out before starting an attack. You don't even recognize your own brother's voice?"
There was a pause. "Is it really you? Really?"
"Yeah."
"If you're really Daisuke--"
"It's Davis!"
"If you're really Daisuke, you'll know what I always called you when Mom and Dad weren't there to get me in trouble."
Davis sighed. She *would* make him repeat it in front of his friends. "You called me Goggle-brain."
"KAMI! HE'S BACK FROM THE DEAD! MOM! DAD! GET IN HERE! IT'S DAISUKE!"
Davis sighed. Would his sister never learn?
His mother's voice came on the line. "Davis? Daisuke, hon? Is it really you?"
"Ask Jun. I just proved it to her. Mom, take Dad, and Jun, I guess, and go to Yolei's place. Me and the rest of the kids are coming there. I'll explain *everything*."
He heard his mom ask Jun if it was really him, and when Jun answered in the affirmative, his mom came back to the phone. "We'll be there, Daisuke. We'll leave right now. We all miss you. We want to see you so bad!"
"Oh, and, uh, Mom...I'll be bringing my wife."
He heard someone gasp, and the phone drop. Then Jun was back on the line. "What did you say to Mom to make her faint like that? Dad almost didn't catch her!"
"Just that I was bringing my wife."
"Oh, Kami, Daisuke, you're kidding--"
"No. I'm not. She's right here if you want to talk to her."
Her tone told him she didn't believe him. "No, no, we'll see for ourselves. Where are we supposed to meet you?"
"Yolei's place."
"Okay. We'll leave as soon as we wake up Mom."
"I'll see you all there." Davis hung up before anything else could be said. He wasn't surprised that his family hadn't been more eager over the phone. They all preferred to show their affection in person. And, true enough, his and Jun's idea of showing their affection towards one another was arguing.
Kari was on the phone next. She looked up her brother's phone number same as T.K. had.
A woman's voice answered. "Moshi, moshi, Kamiya desu."
Kari almost dropped the phone. She shouldn't have been surprised, though. "Sora?"
It sounded like Sora herself almost dropped the phone. "Kari?"
"Sora!--I found Tai's number in the phone book--your name isn't with it--but--wow! I always knew you two--"
"This is Kari, right? Where are you?"
"It's me, all right! Listen, Sora, get Tai--wherever he is--and get over to Yolei's place. All of us are back. Me, Davis, T.K., Cody, Yolei, and Ken. We're all going to Yolei's. We'll all explain. Have Tai call our parents, too. Have everyone come. Hey, as a matter of fact, call up the old group. Joe, Izzy, and Mimi don't know yet, either. Call them. Oh, wait, Mimi's in America, so she can't make it, but call everyone else and have them come, okay?"
"Actually, Mimi's back in Tokyo. She'll come. But, that's Tai, your parents, Mimi, Joe, and Izzy, right? At Yolei's place ASAP? And Ken's on our side?"
"Yes, that's right. The part about Ken, too. We'll explain there, okay? A lot has changed for all of us."
"Apparently! I'll get Tai. And everyone else. I'll see you there."
"Okay, Sora, bye!"
Kari hung up. "My brother married Sora! Yes! Way to go, Tai!"
"Tai and Sora?" T.K. asked. "Not that big a surprise, but--wow."
Davis nodded. "Tai married? Whoa..."
Kari slipped her arms around Davis's waist from behind. "Not any more amazing than *you* being married."
Davis seemed to be thinking. "Hey, this means me and Tai are related! I never thought of that before."
Kari sighed, but kissed his cheek anyway.
Ken finally had his turn. He dialed his old number. He knew his parents would never have moved. The old apartment held too many memories of Sam--and, he realized now, probably of himself.
"Moshi, moshi, Ichijouji desu."
Ken felt himself crack at the voice. His mother had finally decided to go on with her life. There was no sad undertone. He drew in a deep breath. "Uh--Mama?"
"Who is this?"
"...Mama...it's me--I'm back. Mama--it's Ken."
"...Ken...? You're back? Where are you? I have to see you! Ken! My baby boy! Ken!"
"Mama, please, don't get hysterical. I'm all right. I promise I'll never run away like that again. Mama. Listen."
"What is it, Ken? I can't believe it's you! Ken!"
"Mama. A lot of my friends and I are gathering to explain where we've been and be reunited with our families. I want you and Papa to come." He told her Yolei's address.
"Of course, Ken. Anything to see our little boy again! Ken!"
"Oh, and Mama. One more thing. I'm not so little anymore. I'm twenty-one, remember? And--well, Mama, there's no easy way to say this, but...I just got married. My wife, Yolei, will be with me."
"Ken! Oh, we have to meet her. I'll call your father right away and we'll be there as soon as possible! Oh, Ken, I'm so glad you're safe!"
"I'll see you soon, Mama."
"All right! I have to call your father. I'll be there, Ken. See you there!"
"Bye-bye, Mama." Ken hung up.
T.K. looked around. "Okay, now that we've all gone through what could be the most traumatic experience of our lives..."
He got a laugh out of Davis and Yolei.
"I think our ride's here," Kari said. She was standing next to the glassed wall that surrounded the door to outside. "Isn't that your dad's van, T.K.?"
T.K. ran over next to her. "It is! I'd recognize that P.O.S. anywhere!" He broke for the door. "Dad! Dad! It's me, T.K.! Dad! Dad!"
Mr. Ishida had already climbed out of the van and was racing for his son.
"Takeru!"
"Dad! Dad!"
The two met in the middle of the parking lot in an unrestrained embrace.
"Dad, it's so great to see you! You haven't changed a bit!"
"I wish I could say the same of you!" Mr. Ishida held his son out at arm's length. "You've grown a foot, literally! And--and--it's good to have you back, son."
"I missed you, Dad. But, really, we need to get to Yolei's place. Come on. We're going to explain everything to everyone. The sooner we get there, the sooner everyone else will appreciate it."
"Right. Everyone in the van--let me see if I remember everyone's names." Mr. Ishida called each name as the climbed into the back seats with their Digimon--of course, T.K. was up front, next to him. "Um, Kari, Davis, Cody, Yolei, and--and? There were only five of you--hey, you're that kid who ran away. The genius--Ichijouji, isn't it? You were on TV for a long time after you disappeared."
Ken nodded. "Yes, sir. That's me. But that was a long time ago, and I've changed."
Mr. Ishida nodded. "I wouldn't want to talk about it either. Get in and we'll go."
Ken nodded again, and ducked, climbing into the van.
On the way to Yolei's house, most of the conversation was between T.K. and his dad.
"I'm guessing this disappearance had something to do with these Digimon."
Patamon, settled atop T.K.'s head, stood up a little. "It wasn't *our* fault!"
"No, no, I'm not saying that, but, you've been in that Digital World, haven't you?"
T.K. nodded. "Yeah. We were...prisoners."
"But you're all right, son?"
"Yeah, Dad. We weren't treated badly. In fact, besides the confinement to our assigned space, we lived pretty much like we did at home."
Mr. Ishida nodded. "So, who kept you prisoner?"
Yolei blushed. T.K. was about to answer, but Ken stopped him. "It was me, sir. But, I've changed, and asked their forgiveness. They've all forgiven me and allowed me to join their ranks. I only hope that you and the rest of their families can be equally understanding."
Mr. Ishida nodded. "I see." He pondered. "Ken, is it?"
Ken nodded.
"Well, Ken, if you had killed my son, I couldn't do this, but since he's forgiven you and trusts you now, I can forgive you."
The thought of killing T.K.--or any of the group--repulsed Ken. ~How could I have ever been such a monster? I *know* Arukenimon must have been telling the truth about controlling me. I would never have done half the things I did of my own accord!~ He bowed his head. "Thank you, sir."
All was quiet at the corner where Yolei's family lived.
"They're all inside," Cody said. "Look at all the cars. They *must* be here."
Everyone agreed.
"Dad, go ahead. Let them know we're here. Prepare them a little. We'll give you a five-minute head-start."
"Right," Mr. Ishida said, and headed for the stairs.
It was Joe who happened to be closest to the door when Mr. Ishida rang the bell. He answered and let him in.
Those who recognized Mr. Ishida all looked to him to hear his verdict.
He held up his hands for quiet. "I know you're all wondering if the calls you've received were really from your children, your siblings, your friends. You've debated that it sounded so much like them, and who would set up such an elaborate scheme just to disappoint you? Who else could know what they told you? What other explanation is there? And I also know you've all been waiting for me, because I'm supposed to be bringing them. I am pleased to report that I *have* seen them, they *are* here, waiting to come up and be reunited with all of you, exchange details about our lives. I have brought them back, I have talked with my son, there's no doubt in my mind. This is no hoax--they're really here!"
The reaction was wondrous. Everyone was shocked, pleased, excited, wondering what changes had taken place, scared of finding out, a whole jumble of emotions.
"But--" Mr. Ishida held up his hands for silence again. "Wait. One more thing. Where are the Ichijoujis?"
A short, dark-haired man stood up, and an even shorter, plump woman with short, curly brown hair stood up. "That's us," the man said.
Mr. Ishida nodded. "Your son is with them. Now, I haven't heard the whole story, but from what I gather, your son is the one responsible for all the rest of them being missing all this time. Now, everyone, they've all forgiven him, and he's on their side now. He's joined their team. He's very sorry for all the pain he's caused, and all he wants now is your forgiveness. He and all the others claim he's changed. I believe them, and I've forgiven him. I think that all of you should give him the same chance."
Murmurs went around the group. Mrs. Ichijouji was crying into her husband's shoulder--whether they were joyful tears of having her son back, or distraught tears over Mr. Ishida's little speech was unclear.
Mr. Ishida went to the door. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, our families." He opened the door and the six filed in. T.K., Cody, Davis, Kari, Yolei, and Ken, each holding their digimon.
Pandemonium.
Everyone clamored to be the first to greet them. Everyone had someone they particularly missed. Matt and Ms. Takaishi were all over T.K., Cody ran to his mother and grandfather, Davis's parents and Jun were all near him, Jun giving him a noogie, and he tried to introduce them to Kari in the confusion. It was hard, though, because Kari had Tai and her parents, too. Finally the Kamiyas and Motomiyas realized they were family, and were all clapping each other on the backs, exchanging congratulations, the like. The two moms started crying, and cried even harder when Kari revealed that she was carrying Davis's child. Yolei had three siblings and her parents to contend with, and poor Ken was practically smothered by his mom, his dad standing nearby, trying to get her to back off so he could see his son. After they finally got Mrs. Ichijouji settled down a bit, Ken explained that Yolei was his wife now, and another round of two families realizing they were related came around. Mrs. Ichijouji smothered Yolei this time. "You married my baby! You're such a precious girl!"
The Digimon talked among themselves, but decided it wouldn't be worth the trouble to try and chat with the humans. Humans could better explain things to those of their own kind.
Sora, Izzy, Joe, and Mimi waited it out, and after the initial shock had settled, and everyone had taken seats with a plate of refreshments brought up from the store, conversation began. The story was told of how the kids had found out at the beginning of the school year that they were DigiDestined, and about Ken (controlled by Arukenimon) being the Kaiser, everything. Of course the parents of the second generation of DigiDestined wanted to know more, and the first generation told their story, too.
Then came the part that the six younger DigiDestined found most interesting. They got to find out what everyone had done in their absence. The "loss" of the six had inflicted its share of pain, but things had had to go on without them.
Tai, now twenty-four, had gone through college. He had continued to be his school's star soccer player, and decided to go pro. He and his team were among the soccer champions of the world. He and Sora, also twenty-four, had married during their college years, and she traveled with him wherever his job took him. When she was in Tokyo she helped out around Mrs. Takenouchi's flower shop. And, also, a Kamiya junior was on the way--Sora was five months pregnant.
Joe, going on twenty-six, had become a doctor just like he'd always wanted--a obstetrician/pediatrician at the local hospital, working with his young patients from birth to three. Mimi had become a fashion designer. She'd gone from working under others to owning the hottest boutique in Tokyo--no, in all of Japan. Their lives seemed to clash, but they didn't think so. They'd dated through Joe's last two years in med school and married just after his graduation.
Also, Joe's brother Jim had gone on to do what he wanted. He was now a director of fantasy films, making a name among the great filmmakers--Spielburg, Kurosawa, Kido. He'd married the actress who played the heroine of his first box-office hit.
Jun, at twenty-three, was still in college. She'd taken a year off before going out to college and now was in her last year. She was majoring in business management. She had a steady boyfriend and things were getting serious, but as yet she was not engaged.
Matt was making a name for himself, having released four platinum albums in the same number of years. At twenty-five, he still didn't have any steady romantic attachments. He'd come close a few times, but things had always broken off. He said he wanted to be sure that she was in it for love, not money or fame.
Yolei's siblings had all done pretty well for themselves. Mantarou--twenty-six--was a television talk show host. Mimoe--twenty-four--had left college to marry one of her fellow students, and was now a happily-married mother of three. Chizuru--twenty-three--was a stockbroker with a trusted firm.
And, last but not least, Izzy. Even though he was only twenty-three, he was the president and C.E.O. of Izumi Computers, the world's largest computer company, with the world's fastest Internet access and best service and most economic computers and their laptops went the longest on one battery and--well, they'd pretty much killed Windows and kicked Bill Gates' butt.
But, now, there was still one big question left.
Now that everyone was home, what was going to happen to them?
Where would they go?
That night, T.K. stayed with Matt, and Cody went home with his family. The two married couples posed a challenge; the problem of whose parents to stay with. Davis and Kari stopped any possible arguments before they got started by staying with Tai and Sora, but Ken and Yolei were still up a creek until their parents graciously offered to pay for a hotel room. They'd gotten it across that although they were married, they still had yet to spend a night alone together. Yet another reason for want of minimal parental interference.
It was late when the party disbanded, around midnight everyone went their own ways.
Of course, the parents were reluctant to let go, but things had to be the way they had to be. It became understood that the next day everyone would try and figure out what to do with their lives now that they had them back again.
T.K. flopped onto the couch at Matt's place. There was a sheet and a blanket and pillow at his disposal, but he didn't want to arrange them just yet. Patamon was sleeping soundly atop the pile.
"All that money, and you still live in an apartment? With no guest room at that?"
Matt grinned. "There's a guest room, it just hasn't ever been used. Geez, I never even furnished it. You'll be more comfortable on the couch than the floor, I'm sure. You haven't changed any. All that time imprisoned and you still like to *complain*. Hey, at least this place is clean."
"Thanks to which one of your girlfriends?"
Matt closed his eyes and mockingly pressed two fingers to his forehead in thought. "Uh, that would be the fat forty-something chick who wears false teeth and gets paid about a hundred dollars a day to clean it."
T.K. laughed. It was a very comforting thing to know that time apart did not make them any less of brothers. He could rib Matt as much as he always had with no fear of stepping on his toes. Matt remembered all their old inside jokes. Matt could still ruffle his hair and it still felt good, in its old irritating sort of way.
Of course, now that they were alone, Matt made T.K. listen to all his albums, starting with the newest and working their way back. T.K. enjoyed it; he would have liked the music even without the prejudice of knowing--being related to--the artist. Hell, the artist was his brother, the one who knew him best; the one he would always be close with, the one he would always trust.
The last song on the oldest album was the last song they listened to, and the one that affected T.K. the most. It was entitled simply "Ototochan". It was, of course, about him. It was a sad, mournful ballad about what it had been like for Matt to lose his only little brother. It hinted that there was a chance the loss was not permanent, but that Matt had accepted it as such.
T.K. cried.
It was, of course, exactly what had run through his own head many times about being separated from Matt all that time.
When he finally regained his composure, he asked Matt, "Why did you assume the worst?"
"It's my nature, Teek."
"Don't call me Teek."
"Whatever. But, seriously, there were a few times when we were both in the DigiWorld that I--well, never mind. But I figured that if I had my hopes up too high, I might get disappointed, but if I didn't, it would just make the joy of getting you back all the more amazing."
"And?"
"And I was right, as usual."
T.K. flung a pillow at him.
Cody walked around his old room. His mother had left it just they way he had. Of course that wasn't a problem, he always had been very neat and so it wasn't like there was dirty laundry or dishes on the floor. And, of course, she'd kept it clean. Dusted and vacuumed and such.
So for Cody, it was almost like stepping through a time warp. The picture of his father was still on the nightstand, the poster from the martial arts exhibition his grandfather had taken him to still over the bed. Same pale butter-colored walls, same faded beige carpet--even though the rest of the apartment had been redone.
He went to the closet. Even his clothes were still in the same order--of course, none of them would fit anymore.
Even Upamon sat in the same spot on his desk.
Cody smiled. Upamon was tired, and was falling asleep on the desk. He picked him up and put him on the bed.
"Thanks, Cody," the small digimon whispered sleepily before drifting back into oblivion.
Mrs. Hida walked into the room. "Your grandpa ran off to the 24-hour department store to get you something you could sleep in. Tomorrow we go shopping."
Cody shook his head. "Mom, no, you don't have to get me stuff--"
"Nonsense. It's been six years since I've had a son to spoil, and I have a lot of time to make up for."
Cody smiled. It went against his nature to talk back, anyway. "Well, if you insist."
"I do. Now, we'll be leaving in early in the morning, so as soon as your grandfather gets back, I want you to get some sleep."
"All right, Mom." Cody went over and hugged his mother tightly. "I missed you."
"Not as much as I missed you," she whispered.
Kari cuddled up to Davis. The guest room in her brother's house that they were staying in was spacious and comfortable. Sora was a wonderful hostess, and Tai had said he would take care of the two of them until Davis could.
But those was the least of her concerns.
"Davis, are you really happy about the baby?"
He kissed her forehead and shifted so that she was laying on top of him. "Yes. Yes, I am."
She let out a breath somewhere between a moan and a sigh. "I mean, really? You don't think it's too soon or anything like that, do you?"
"Kari, really. What will it take to make you understand? I love you. I love this child. We weren't planning it, but it's definitely a pleasant surprise."
"I was kind of afraid to tell you--"
"Kari, you should never be afraid to tell me anything. I'm your husband. I love you. And you've trusted me with so much, you ought to trust me with everything."
"You're right." Kari sighed. "Forgive me?"
He kissed her in answer.
Yolei sat on the edge of the bed as before, waiting for Ken to get out of the shower. She'd already taken her own. True, they could have gone together, but Yolei kind of had her heart set on that huge honeymoon-suite bed for the first time. There was always the next morning.
Finally, he emerged from the bathroom. She wasn't surprised to see Ken and not the Kaiser this time, but she couldn't help but feel a little shiver down her spine anyway. He was shirtless this time.
She smiled. "It's about time. I, uh--locked the door, and put up the 'Do Not Disturb' door-card thingy."
He laughed. "Then there's nothing stopping us, right?"
"At last."
He came and sat in front of her as before. He took hold of her shoulders, and they kissed.
This kiss was unlike any they'd shared before. More passionate.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he had his around her waist. He pushed her back, and they inched towards the center of the bed.
He slid her glasses off and laid them carefully on the nightstand. The motion, his fingers so near her face, made her shiver.
He stretched himself out on top of her. She could feel every inch of him touching some part of her. It was scary and exciting and arousing all at once.
His fingers were light and gentle, as if he was afraid of breaking her. He kissed the top of her head, but she raised her face and moved his so that their lips were so close they couldn't help but kiss.
"It's for real this time, do what you want," she whispered huskily. "Go on already!"
Finally he felt comfortable--or desperate--enough to go for it. Sighs and moans came out at every turn, on into the night...
The next morning brought a harsh reality to all the DigiDestined.
The only way they could survive would be to go out as if they had never been imprisoned--at this point, even Ken considered himself a victim to lost years--and get jobs, or something, and act as if nothing had ever happened.
Of course, they could discuss it with their families. That was a given. But now they had to go from a teenager's comprehension of the world to an adult's practically overnight.
But, things would work out. They would survive easily enough. Secretly saving the world on more than one occasion generally gave you the will to go on despite your circumstances.
Yolei blinked again as Ken repeated his story.
"Listen. Izzy offered me a job with his company. He says as a sign-on bonus he'll pay the first month's rent and furnish an apartment for us--and he said it wasn't going to be cheap stuff, either. He wants it all to be nice."
"But--but--but is it what you want to do?"
"I always figured I'd work with computers or be an engineer or something anyway. I think I'll like working with Izzy."
"Well, if it's what you want, Ken, I'm all for it..."
He kissed her. "I'll call Izzy and tell him tomorrow."
Matt looked over at his brother. "Hey, T.K.?"
"Yeah?"
"How would you like to stay here?"
T.K. frowned. "I thought I was going to, until I got my first paycheck--"
"I hate to tell you this, but you're not going to be able to get a *decent* apartment on the salary you're getting as a *salesclerk*."
T.K. frowned. His brother was probably right. "But, Matt, I don't want to be a burden--"
"It's not like you're laying around all day, bro, demanding for me to pay your way through life. *That* would bug me. Tell you what. I'll fire the cleaning lady, you assume her duties, you keep a job, and we'll call it even."
T.K. thought about it for a minute. "I can't cook."
"The cleaning lady doesn't cook anyway. You think I'm going to hire a cook when I can cook so well myself?"
T.K. shook his head. "That ego never quits, does it? But you know, it sounds like a good idea. I'm staying."
Kari sat bare-bellied, looking at the ultrasound screen. The thing that the woman moved over her belly tickled a little through the clear gel. Davis stood by her shoulder, anxiously. Joe was watching, too. He was going to be her regular obstetrician, and wanted to see her first ultrasound. After the baby was born, he'd be its pediatrician, too.
The woman glanced at the screen. "There it is, you two. That's your baby." She pointed to a form on the screen. "Look. There's its face."
Davis's jaw dropped. "That's..."
Kari smiled. "Wow..."
Joe clapped him on the back. "Congratulations. It's official."
"Thanks...wow..."
There were still worries in Kari's mind, but she knew things would be okay. She and Davis were staying with Tai and Sora until Davis could get a job to take care of the both of them. Tai was protective of his little sister, and she knew that if anything happened, he'd be sure that she had the best of care.
Davis kissed her cheek. "This is so wonderful," he whispered.
"Yeah...it is..."
Several weeks passed.
Cody flipped through the mail.
There was an official-looking letter for him.
"Dear Mr. Hida, we are pleased to inform you that your high grades and passing of our test has gotten you accepted into..."
He dropped the letter. "Mom! Mom! Grandfather!"
Both the elder Mr. Hida and Mrs. Hida rushed into the room.
"Cody, whatever is the matter, son? What's the problem?"
"Mom! Guess what! I filled out an application, and I just got a letter back! I just got accepted into a law school here in Tokyo!"
Mr. Hida was flabbergasted, and Mrs. Hida could do nothing but hug Cody. "That's wonderful, son! Your father would be so proud of you! When do you start?"
"This fall..."
"Oh my, we have so much to do! We better get started!"
A/N: Well, now you know what everyone's plans are. Come back for the epilogue and see how everything turned out...and review this, please. It's your next-to-last chance.
A/N: I know, this chapter is super-long, but it's the last one. After this, there's just a short epilogue. And then it's all over! WAAH!
Replaced this chapter--there are no changes except that I learned Yolei's borther's name. Mantarou. Other than that, it is exactly the same.
Cody was the first one up, but he was reluctant to get anyone else up. T.K. he might not have minded, but it was those couples that bothered him. Kari was on top--yes, on top--of Davis, his arms around her waist, her head on his chest. Yolei was snuggled against Ken's side, her head on his shoulder.
Cody was surprised that it didn't anger him. He wasn't sure if he was happy to see his best friend happy, or if he was truly ready to accept Ken as a DigiDestined, but he looked at them and almost felt a sense of calm wash over him. Ken was already very protective of her. That made Cody glad; Yolei needed a guy who was that way, but also was not paranoid if she simply conversed with another male--another male such as himself.
He wondered what would await them when they got home. He was sure that his grandfather had gone on to join his father. He had told himself that many times over the years, so it was not a new thought. But now he might be finding out for sure, maybe before the sun set that very evening.
T.K. stirred across the fire from him. "Anyone else up?"
"Just me," Cody offered. "Even Upamon is still asleep."
"No surprise there, Cody. He's always asleep."
Cody smiled, just a little. It wasn't that T.K. wasn't funny, but just then, he didn't feel much like laughing. He was too worried over what had happened at home.
Eventually the others all got up, and the digimon found a sufficient fruit supply for the group's breakfast.
"Now, which way?" Yolei asked Davis.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure," Davis tried. "Maybe in the forest? We're right on the edge of it, and there's nothing in the other direction but that empty field. So if we go the other way, into the forest, we might find something."
Ken nodded. "That makes a little sense, after all, if there was a TV in the field, we could probably see it from here, but with all the trees here, a TV could easily be hidden."
"Then let's go," T.K. said. "No point in standing around here."
So the group started walking.
"This feels like the old days, huh, T.K.?" Kari asked.
"Yeah, sure does. Wandering aimlessly through the DigiWorld until we meander across a worthy cause, fighting, walking again...*those* were the days."
Kari giggled. "It sure wasn't like that the second time. We never had to go far to find a fight--assuming we didn't fall into one directly--oh, sorry, Ken. I didn't mean to--"
"I know. It's all right."
Yolei took his hand.
Davis tried not to be too protective of Kari in her new state. He'd never had a pregnant wife before, but he knew better than to irritate her. ~No point in *triggering* a mood swing. When do those start up, anyway? And she said her clothes aren't fitting like they used to. I can't tell. Should I tell her? Would she be happy that she's still thin, or upset that she's not showing? Will she start having really weird cravings? Mom said once that when she was pregnant with *me*, she craved pickle-and-peanut butter sandwiches. Is Kari going to be the same way? What if something happens? What if she craves something we can't get in the DigiWorld? Would it...mess up the baby? I mean, what's going to happen?~
"Davis, what's wrong?" a voice came from atop Davis's head.
~Busted.~ "Nothing, Veemon." Okay, so technically, it was *Demi*Veemon, but who actually said that whole name every time?
"Fibber."
"Am not."
"Am too!" DemiVeemon chirped. "So, tell me. Tellmetellmetellmetellmetellme!"
Davis sighed. "It's nothing."
"You never worry about 'nothing'. Tell me or I'll tell Kari you won't tell me."
Rats. He had discovered a new trick in the past few weeks, one that always worked on Davis.
"Okay, I'll tell you--*if* you promise *not* to tell Kari."
"Okay! I promise!" DemiVeemon held up one paw like a Boy Scout.
"Well, see, I'm worried *about* Kari. You do understand how the whole pregnancy thing works, right?"
"Yeah. It's like there's a DigiEgg in her stomach, and it grows and grows for a long time, and then it hatches inside her and the baby comes out."
Davis snickered. "Something like that. Close enough. Who explained this to you?"
"I asked Gatomon last night."
"Riiiiight." Somehow Davis suspected Gatomon knew better than that, but had dumbed it down so DemiVee could follow along. "Anyway, did she tell you that when women are pregnant, it makes them get upset easily? And they get kind of grouchy, and they eat things they don't even like and stuff like that?"
"No...do they?"
Davis sighed. Sometimes his digimon was even more thickheaded than he was. "Yes. They do. And I'm worried about Kari. What if she wants something--weird--to eat and she can't get it? Will it...you know...mess up the baby? You know, stuff like that."
DemiVeemon was about to say something comforting when Cody yelled, "Hey! Guys! To the right! TV!"
The way it sounded--like Cody was a desperate couch potato--was very different from what was actually implied. An actual cheer went around the group.
"Home we go!" Davis cried.
"Hey, wait a minute," Yolei said. "What time is it?"
Ken checked his watch. "Five," he said. "Why?"
"Okay. I just wanted to be sure school was over. Can you imagine what would happen if we showed up in the computer lab in the middle of the day?"
The group laughed.
Davis walked up to the TV and held out his digivice, and was about to say those wonderful words, but he stopped short. "Ken, you do the honors. You were responsible for keeping us here, it's only right that you be the one responsible for taking us back."
Ken hesitated, but everyone else agreed with Davis and said so.
Yolei squeezed his hand. "The sooner you do it, the sooner we all get to be home."
That did it. He held out his digivice and yelled, "DigiPort Open!"
Like no time had passed, the DigiPort did indeed open, and the now *six* DigiDestined, followed by their digimon, flew through and back into the real world.
Even the pile-up in the computer lab was just like old times.
Well, almost.
This was the first time Davis quickly untangled himself and asked Kari if the baby was all right.
"I guess now we call your parents, Yolei," Cody said.
She looked up. She had been looking forward to this for a long time, but now that it was here, she had so many doubts.
"I guess we use the pay phone in the hall?" Kari suggested.
"That works," T.K. said.
The six walked out into the hallway, and Ken stood next to Yolei as she reached for the phone. She paused. She picked up the receiver and put it to her ear. She stuck out a hand to start dialing.
And then started crying.
"What is it?" Ken asked, concerned.
"This is going to sound stupid...but...I can't remember the number." She hung up the phone in irritation. Ken reassuringly placed a hand on her shoulder, and she began flipping through the phone book.
"Here it is. Inoue. And at my old address!"
Everyone sighed a breath of relief.
Ken dialed the number for Yolei.
"It's ringing," Yolei confided. "Hello? Is this the Inoue residence?"
The voice she heard was so welcome, so musical falling on her ears. "Yes, it is. Who is this calling, please?"
"Mom? Mom! Mom, it's me, Miyako! Yolei! Mom! Mom! Hello?"
A gasp. No doubt a hand flying up to the heart. "Yolei?"
"Oh, good, you're still there."
"Yolei?"
"Yes, it's really me! Mom!"
"Are you all right? Where are you? Where have you been? Did you and the others go together? Where?"
"I'm so glad to be back! Yes--yes--the others are with me."
"The police suspected as much--"
"I see. Yes! Yes, we've all been together...if you'll get the place ready for company, we'll all come."
T.K. tugged on her sleeve. "We'll all fit in my dad's van. I'll call him. We're all calling home anyway. I'll have him drive us."
Yolei nodded and relayed the information to her mother. "We'll all be there in an hour or so--be ready for a lot of people."
"You're coming home?"
"Yeah, me, the others, our Digimon, and everyone's families." Yolei did some quick calculating. "Counting the digimon, it'll be...twenty-five, I think."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, there's another guy besides the ones you're thinking of. Will it be too much trouble?"
"No, no, anything, just hurry here!"
"I swear, in one hour. I can't wait. And call Mimoe, and Chizuru, and yeah, call Mantarou, too."
"I will, I will, but, Yolei! I can't believe you're back! It's really you!"
"Yeah, it is. I can't believe I'm home, either. Okay, Mom, really, everyone else needs to call home and have them go to our house. I will be there! I swear! Yes, it really is me! We'll all see you there! Bye, Mom!" Yolei hung up and sighed. She threw her arms around Ken's neck. "They're all alive! Oh, Kami, I'm so happy!"
T.K. got the phone next, since he was arranging their ride. He decided to try to call Matt first. He searched through the phone book and found only one Ishida Yamato. His dad's number was there, too, but his brother was first on his mind. He quickly dialed the number.
"Moshi, moshi, Ishida desu. Talk to me." Good old Matt. Time hadn't changed much about him, either.
"Matt."
T.K. heard Matt audibly gasp. There was a pause. "Ta...Takeru...?"
"Matt! Hey, the group just got back from a lovely little jaunt into the DigiWorld. How long did you convince Dad to stay out on that camping trip before calling the police?"
"Kami, it really *is* you! T.K.! Where the *hell* have you all been? Are you *all* there? Are you all right? What the hell happened?"
"Hey, slow down the Q and A session. We're all here. And the newest DigiDestined, Ken Ichijouji. Hey, we really *did* stay in the Digital World until we defeated him. Nevermind the fact that we were prisoners of war until yesterday--"
"Are you referring to the Kaiser?"
"Yeah. He has his wife, Yolei, with him, too."
There was a pause, and then, "T.K.--we can talk later. In person. Where are you?"
"You're right. Call Dad, break the news to him, and have him bring the van out to the school. Yolei's mom is having everyone--all the kids, all the parents--over. We'll talk about *everything*. After you call Dad, call Mom and have her meet us there. And you come, too."
"T.K.--sure. Anything. It's been so long. I've missed ya, little bro. Hey, see you there!"
"Yeah, Matt. I can't wait to see you, either. We're all as curious about what's happened to you as you are about us. Hurry! Call Dad. And break it to Mom gently."
"Oh, no, she's convinced that you're not dead. She thinks you were all kidnapped or something. But it'll be a shock that you showed back up."
"Yeah. Bye!"
"Bye!"
Cody got the phone next. He remembered his phone number, but he looked it up in the phone book to be sure that his family still lived where they used to. They did.
He dialed the number slowly, deliberately.
"Moshi, moshi, Hida desu, Mrs. Hida speaking."
"Good!--you might want to sit down."
"What? Who is this?"
"Mom--it's Cody." He heard her sit down. "Mom--I know I've been gone a long time. I tried to contact you, but nothing ever went through. I am so, so sorry. But, Mom, I'm going to be at the Inoue's apartment in about an hour. Go there, I will see you as soon as possible. Mom? Mom, don't cry."
"Is this some kind of cruel joke?"
"Mom--Mom." Cody scrambled. What was there that only his mom knew? "Mom, remember that the night before Dad died, I had that terrible nightmare about Dad and everything?"
"Iori! Son! You're alive! And--you're coming to the Inoue's?"
"Me and all the others and their families. Go. I'll be there. I swear. I want to see you again."
"How can I know you'll be there? What if this is the last time that I--"
"No, Mom, I'm back. I'm staying. I'll never leave like that again. I never meant to. We'll explain everything there. Now, hurry. Go. Yolei called Mrs. Inoue, so she'll be happy to talk with you until we all get there. I will see you as soon as possible."
"All right, Cody."
"Wait--one more thing--how--how is--Grandfather?"
Mrs. Hida laughed. "Same as ever. Still teaches kendo, still misses you. We'll both be there."
Cody started to cry. "Kami, I was so worried that he'd--" He swallowed. "I'll see you there. Tell him I'm sorry, too. I love you both. I'll see you there."
"I'll be counting the minutes, son."
Davis then had his turn. His parents had moved, but they were still in the same town. The number was different, but he dialed quickly and stood while it rang.
"Moshi, moshi, Motomiya desu. Jun speaking."
"Jun? Man, what are you doing still living at home?"
"I don't! I'm visiting! Who the hell is this, anyway? Jerk!"
"Ah, my sister. Always willing to hear the other side out before starting an attack. You don't even recognize your own brother's voice?"
There was a pause. "Is it really you? Really?"
"Yeah."
"If you're really Daisuke--"
"It's Davis!"
"If you're really Daisuke, you'll know what I always called you when Mom and Dad weren't there to get me in trouble."
Davis sighed. She *would* make him repeat it in front of his friends. "You called me Goggle-brain."
"KAMI! HE'S BACK FROM THE DEAD! MOM! DAD! GET IN HERE! IT'S DAISUKE!"
Davis sighed. Would his sister never learn?
His mother's voice came on the line. "Davis? Daisuke, hon? Is it really you?"
"Ask Jun. I just proved it to her. Mom, take Dad, and Jun, I guess, and go to Yolei's place. Me and the rest of the kids are coming there. I'll explain *everything*."
He heard his mom ask Jun if it was really him, and when Jun answered in the affirmative, his mom came back to the phone. "We'll be there, Daisuke. We'll leave right now. We all miss you. We want to see you so bad!"
"Oh, and, uh, Mom...I'll be bringing my wife."
He heard someone gasp, and the phone drop. Then Jun was back on the line. "What did you say to Mom to make her faint like that? Dad almost didn't catch her!"
"Just that I was bringing my wife."
"Oh, Kami, Daisuke, you're kidding--"
"No. I'm not. She's right here if you want to talk to her."
Her tone told him she didn't believe him. "No, no, we'll see for ourselves. Where are we supposed to meet you?"
"Yolei's place."
"Okay. We'll leave as soon as we wake up Mom."
"I'll see you all there." Davis hung up before anything else could be said. He wasn't surprised that his family hadn't been more eager over the phone. They all preferred to show their affection in person. And, true enough, his and Jun's idea of showing their affection towards one another was arguing.
Kari was on the phone next. She looked up her brother's phone number same as T.K. had.
A woman's voice answered. "Moshi, moshi, Kamiya desu."
Kari almost dropped the phone. She shouldn't have been surprised, though. "Sora?"
It sounded like Sora herself almost dropped the phone. "Kari?"
"Sora!--I found Tai's number in the phone book--your name isn't with it--but--wow! I always knew you two--"
"This is Kari, right? Where are you?"
"It's me, all right! Listen, Sora, get Tai--wherever he is--and get over to Yolei's place. All of us are back. Me, Davis, T.K., Cody, Yolei, and Ken. We're all going to Yolei's. We'll all explain. Have Tai call our parents, too. Have everyone come. Hey, as a matter of fact, call up the old group. Joe, Izzy, and Mimi don't know yet, either. Call them. Oh, wait, Mimi's in America, so she can't make it, but call everyone else and have them come, okay?"
"Actually, Mimi's back in Tokyo. She'll come. But, that's Tai, your parents, Mimi, Joe, and Izzy, right? At Yolei's place ASAP? And Ken's on our side?"
"Yes, that's right. The part about Ken, too. We'll explain there, okay? A lot has changed for all of us."
"Apparently! I'll get Tai. And everyone else. I'll see you there."
"Okay, Sora, bye!"
Kari hung up. "My brother married Sora! Yes! Way to go, Tai!"
"Tai and Sora?" T.K. asked. "Not that big a surprise, but--wow."
Davis nodded. "Tai married? Whoa..."
Kari slipped her arms around Davis's waist from behind. "Not any more amazing than *you* being married."
Davis seemed to be thinking. "Hey, this means me and Tai are related! I never thought of that before."
Kari sighed, but kissed his cheek anyway.
Ken finally had his turn. He dialed his old number. He knew his parents would never have moved. The old apartment held too many memories of Sam--and, he realized now, probably of himself.
"Moshi, moshi, Ichijouji desu."
Ken felt himself crack at the voice. His mother had finally decided to go on with her life. There was no sad undertone. He drew in a deep breath. "Uh--Mama?"
"Who is this?"
"...Mama...it's me--I'm back. Mama--it's Ken."
"...Ken...? You're back? Where are you? I have to see you! Ken! My baby boy! Ken!"
"Mama, please, don't get hysterical. I'm all right. I promise I'll never run away like that again. Mama. Listen."
"What is it, Ken? I can't believe it's you! Ken!"
"Mama. A lot of my friends and I are gathering to explain where we've been and be reunited with our families. I want you and Papa to come." He told her Yolei's address.
"Of course, Ken. Anything to see our little boy again! Ken!"
"Oh, and Mama. One more thing. I'm not so little anymore. I'm twenty-one, remember? And--well, Mama, there's no easy way to say this, but...I just got married. My wife, Yolei, will be with me."
"Ken! Oh, we have to meet her. I'll call your father right away and we'll be there as soon as possible! Oh, Ken, I'm so glad you're safe!"
"I'll see you soon, Mama."
"All right! I have to call your father. I'll be there, Ken. See you there!"
"Bye-bye, Mama." Ken hung up.
T.K. looked around. "Okay, now that we've all gone through what could be the most traumatic experience of our lives..."
He got a laugh out of Davis and Yolei.
"I think our ride's here," Kari said. She was standing next to the glassed wall that surrounded the door to outside. "Isn't that your dad's van, T.K.?"
T.K. ran over next to her. "It is! I'd recognize that P.O.S. anywhere!" He broke for the door. "Dad! Dad! It's me, T.K.! Dad! Dad!"
Mr. Ishida had already climbed out of the van and was racing for his son.
"Takeru!"
"Dad! Dad!"
The two met in the middle of the parking lot in an unrestrained embrace.
"Dad, it's so great to see you! You haven't changed a bit!"
"I wish I could say the same of you!" Mr. Ishida held his son out at arm's length. "You've grown a foot, literally! And--and--it's good to have you back, son."
"I missed you, Dad. But, really, we need to get to Yolei's place. Come on. We're going to explain everything to everyone. The sooner we get there, the sooner everyone else will appreciate it."
"Right. Everyone in the van--let me see if I remember everyone's names." Mr. Ishida called each name as the climbed into the back seats with their Digimon--of course, T.K. was up front, next to him. "Um, Kari, Davis, Cody, Yolei, and--and? There were only five of you--hey, you're that kid who ran away. The genius--Ichijouji, isn't it? You were on TV for a long time after you disappeared."
Ken nodded. "Yes, sir. That's me. But that was a long time ago, and I've changed."
Mr. Ishida nodded. "I wouldn't want to talk about it either. Get in and we'll go."
Ken nodded again, and ducked, climbing into the van.
On the way to Yolei's house, most of the conversation was between T.K. and his dad.
"I'm guessing this disappearance had something to do with these Digimon."
Patamon, settled atop T.K.'s head, stood up a little. "It wasn't *our* fault!"
"No, no, I'm not saying that, but, you've been in that Digital World, haven't you?"
T.K. nodded. "Yeah. We were...prisoners."
"But you're all right, son?"
"Yeah, Dad. We weren't treated badly. In fact, besides the confinement to our assigned space, we lived pretty much like we did at home."
Mr. Ishida nodded. "So, who kept you prisoner?"
Yolei blushed. T.K. was about to answer, but Ken stopped him. "It was me, sir. But, I've changed, and asked their forgiveness. They've all forgiven me and allowed me to join their ranks. I only hope that you and the rest of their families can be equally understanding."
Mr. Ishida nodded. "I see." He pondered. "Ken, is it?"
Ken nodded.
"Well, Ken, if you had killed my son, I couldn't do this, but since he's forgiven you and trusts you now, I can forgive you."
The thought of killing T.K.--or any of the group--repulsed Ken. ~How could I have ever been such a monster? I *know* Arukenimon must have been telling the truth about controlling me. I would never have done half the things I did of my own accord!~ He bowed his head. "Thank you, sir."
All was quiet at the corner where Yolei's family lived.
"They're all inside," Cody said. "Look at all the cars. They *must* be here."
Everyone agreed.
"Dad, go ahead. Let them know we're here. Prepare them a little. We'll give you a five-minute head-start."
"Right," Mr. Ishida said, and headed for the stairs.
It was Joe who happened to be closest to the door when Mr. Ishida rang the bell. He answered and let him in.
Those who recognized Mr. Ishida all looked to him to hear his verdict.
He held up his hands for quiet. "I know you're all wondering if the calls you've received were really from your children, your siblings, your friends. You've debated that it sounded so much like them, and who would set up such an elaborate scheme just to disappoint you? Who else could know what they told you? What other explanation is there? And I also know you've all been waiting for me, because I'm supposed to be bringing them. I am pleased to report that I *have* seen them, they *are* here, waiting to come up and be reunited with all of you, exchange details about our lives. I have brought them back, I have talked with my son, there's no doubt in my mind. This is no hoax--they're really here!"
The reaction was wondrous. Everyone was shocked, pleased, excited, wondering what changes had taken place, scared of finding out, a whole jumble of emotions.
"But--" Mr. Ishida held up his hands for silence again. "Wait. One more thing. Where are the Ichijoujis?"
A short, dark-haired man stood up, and an even shorter, plump woman with short, curly brown hair stood up. "That's us," the man said.
Mr. Ishida nodded. "Your son is with them. Now, I haven't heard the whole story, but from what I gather, your son is the one responsible for all the rest of them being missing all this time. Now, everyone, they've all forgiven him, and he's on their side now. He's joined their team. He's very sorry for all the pain he's caused, and all he wants now is your forgiveness. He and all the others claim he's changed. I believe them, and I've forgiven him. I think that all of you should give him the same chance."
Murmurs went around the group. Mrs. Ichijouji was crying into her husband's shoulder--whether they were joyful tears of having her son back, or distraught tears over Mr. Ishida's little speech was unclear.
Mr. Ishida went to the door. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, our families." He opened the door and the six filed in. T.K., Cody, Davis, Kari, Yolei, and Ken, each holding their digimon.
Pandemonium.
Everyone clamored to be the first to greet them. Everyone had someone they particularly missed. Matt and Ms. Takaishi were all over T.K., Cody ran to his mother and grandfather, Davis's parents and Jun were all near him, Jun giving him a noogie, and he tried to introduce them to Kari in the confusion. It was hard, though, because Kari had Tai and her parents, too. Finally the Kamiyas and Motomiyas realized they were family, and were all clapping each other on the backs, exchanging congratulations, the like. The two moms started crying, and cried even harder when Kari revealed that she was carrying Davis's child. Yolei had three siblings and her parents to contend with, and poor Ken was practically smothered by his mom, his dad standing nearby, trying to get her to back off so he could see his son. After they finally got Mrs. Ichijouji settled down a bit, Ken explained that Yolei was his wife now, and another round of two families realizing they were related came around. Mrs. Ichijouji smothered Yolei this time. "You married my baby! You're such a precious girl!"
The Digimon talked among themselves, but decided it wouldn't be worth the trouble to try and chat with the humans. Humans could better explain things to those of their own kind.
Sora, Izzy, Joe, and Mimi waited it out, and after the initial shock had settled, and everyone had taken seats with a plate of refreshments brought up from the store, conversation began. The story was told of how the kids had found out at the beginning of the school year that they were DigiDestined, and about Ken (controlled by Arukenimon) being the Kaiser, everything. Of course the parents of the second generation of DigiDestined wanted to know more, and the first generation told their story, too.
Then came the part that the six younger DigiDestined found most interesting. They got to find out what everyone had done in their absence. The "loss" of the six had inflicted its share of pain, but things had had to go on without them.
Tai, now twenty-four, had gone through college. He had continued to be his school's star soccer player, and decided to go pro. He and his team were among the soccer champions of the world. He and Sora, also twenty-four, had married during their college years, and she traveled with him wherever his job took him. When she was in Tokyo she helped out around Mrs. Takenouchi's flower shop. And, also, a Kamiya junior was on the way--Sora was five months pregnant.
Joe, going on twenty-six, had become a doctor just like he'd always wanted--a obstetrician/pediatrician at the local hospital, working with his young patients from birth to three. Mimi had become a fashion designer. She'd gone from working under others to owning the hottest boutique in Tokyo--no, in all of Japan. Their lives seemed to clash, but they didn't think so. They'd dated through Joe's last two years in med school and married just after his graduation.
Also, Joe's brother Jim had gone on to do what he wanted. He was now a director of fantasy films, making a name among the great filmmakers--Spielburg, Kurosawa, Kido. He'd married the actress who played the heroine of his first box-office hit.
Jun, at twenty-three, was still in college. She'd taken a year off before going out to college and now was in her last year. She was majoring in business management. She had a steady boyfriend and things were getting serious, but as yet she was not engaged.
Matt was making a name for himself, having released four platinum albums in the same number of years. At twenty-five, he still didn't have any steady romantic attachments. He'd come close a few times, but things had always broken off. He said he wanted to be sure that she was in it for love, not money or fame.
Yolei's siblings had all done pretty well for themselves. Mantarou--twenty-six--was a television talk show host. Mimoe--twenty-four--had left college to marry one of her fellow students, and was now a happily-married mother of three. Chizuru--twenty-three--was a stockbroker with a trusted firm.
And, last but not least, Izzy. Even though he was only twenty-three, he was the president and C.E.O. of Izumi Computers, the world's largest computer company, with the world's fastest Internet access and best service and most economic computers and their laptops went the longest on one battery and--well, they'd pretty much killed Windows and kicked Bill Gates' butt.
But, now, there was still one big question left.
Now that everyone was home, what was going to happen to them?
Where would they go?
That night, T.K. stayed with Matt, and Cody went home with his family. The two married couples posed a challenge; the problem of whose parents to stay with. Davis and Kari stopped any possible arguments before they got started by staying with Tai and Sora, but Ken and Yolei were still up a creek until their parents graciously offered to pay for a hotel room. They'd gotten it across that although they were married, they still had yet to spend a night alone together. Yet another reason for want of minimal parental interference.
It was late when the party disbanded, around midnight everyone went their own ways.
Of course, the parents were reluctant to let go, but things had to be the way they had to be. It became understood that the next day everyone would try and figure out what to do with their lives now that they had them back again.
T.K. flopped onto the couch at Matt's place. There was a sheet and a blanket and pillow at his disposal, but he didn't want to arrange them just yet. Patamon was sleeping soundly atop the pile.
"All that money, and you still live in an apartment? With no guest room at that?"
Matt grinned. "There's a guest room, it just hasn't ever been used. Geez, I never even furnished it. You'll be more comfortable on the couch than the floor, I'm sure. You haven't changed any. All that time imprisoned and you still like to *complain*. Hey, at least this place is clean."
"Thanks to which one of your girlfriends?"
Matt closed his eyes and mockingly pressed two fingers to his forehead in thought. "Uh, that would be the fat forty-something chick who wears false teeth and gets paid about a hundred dollars a day to clean it."
T.K. laughed. It was a very comforting thing to know that time apart did not make them any less of brothers. He could rib Matt as much as he always had with no fear of stepping on his toes. Matt remembered all their old inside jokes. Matt could still ruffle his hair and it still felt good, in its old irritating sort of way.
Of course, now that they were alone, Matt made T.K. listen to all his albums, starting with the newest and working their way back. T.K. enjoyed it; he would have liked the music even without the prejudice of knowing--being related to--the artist. Hell, the artist was his brother, the one who knew him best; the one he would always be close with, the one he would always trust.
The last song on the oldest album was the last song they listened to, and the one that affected T.K. the most. It was entitled simply "Ototochan". It was, of course, about him. It was a sad, mournful ballad about what it had been like for Matt to lose his only little brother. It hinted that there was a chance the loss was not permanent, but that Matt had accepted it as such.
T.K. cried.
It was, of course, exactly what had run through his own head many times about being separated from Matt all that time.
When he finally regained his composure, he asked Matt, "Why did you assume the worst?"
"It's my nature, Teek."
"Don't call me Teek."
"Whatever. But, seriously, there were a few times when we were both in the DigiWorld that I--well, never mind. But I figured that if I had my hopes up too high, I might get disappointed, but if I didn't, it would just make the joy of getting you back all the more amazing."
"And?"
"And I was right, as usual."
T.K. flung a pillow at him.
Cody walked around his old room. His mother had left it just they way he had. Of course that wasn't a problem, he always had been very neat and so it wasn't like there was dirty laundry or dishes on the floor. And, of course, she'd kept it clean. Dusted and vacuumed and such.
So for Cody, it was almost like stepping through a time warp. The picture of his father was still on the nightstand, the poster from the martial arts exhibition his grandfather had taken him to still over the bed. Same pale butter-colored walls, same faded beige carpet--even though the rest of the apartment had been redone.
He went to the closet. Even his clothes were still in the same order--of course, none of them would fit anymore.
Even Upamon sat in the same spot on his desk.
Cody smiled. Upamon was tired, and was falling asleep on the desk. He picked him up and put him on the bed.
"Thanks, Cody," the small digimon whispered sleepily before drifting back into oblivion.
Mrs. Hida walked into the room. "Your grandpa ran off to the 24-hour department store to get you something you could sleep in. Tomorrow we go shopping."
Cody shook his head. "Mom, no, you don't have to get me stuff--"
"Nonsense. It's been six years since I've had a son to spoil, and I have a lot of time to make up for."
Cody smiled. It went against his nature to talk back, anyway. "Well, if you insist."
"I do. Now, we'll be leaving in early in the morning, so as soon as your grandfather gets back, I want you to get some sleep."
"All right, Mom." Cody went over and hugged his mother tightly. "I missed you."
"Not as much as I missed you," she whispered.
Kari cuddled up to Davis. The guest room in her brother's house that they were staying in was spacious and comfortable. Sora was a wonderful hostess, and Tai had said he would take care of the two of them until Davis could.
But those was the least of her concerns.
"Davis, are you really happy about the baby?"
He kissed her forehead and shifted so that she was laying on top of him. "Yes. Yes, I am."
She let out a breath somewhere between a moan and a sigh. "I mean, really? You don't think it's too soon or anything like that, do you?"
"Kari, really. What will it take to make you understand? I love you. I love this child. We weren't planning it, but it's definitely a pleasant surprise."
"I was kind of afraid to tell you--"
"Kari, you should never be afraid to tell me anything. I'm your husband. I love you. And you've trusted me with so much, you ought to trust me with everything."
"You're right." Kari sighed. "Forgive me?"
He kissed her in answer.
Yolei sat on the edge of the bed as before, waiting for Ken to get out of the shower. She'd already taken her own. True, they could have gone together, but Yolei kind of had her heart set on that huge honeymoon-suite bed for the first time. There was always the next morning.
Finally, he emerged from the bathroom. She wasn't surprised to see Ken and not the Kaiser this time, but she couldn't help but feel a little shiver down her spine anyway. He was shirtless this time.
She smiled. "It's about time. I, uh--locked the door, and put up the 'Do Not Disturb' door-card thingy."
He laughed. "Then there's nothing stopping us, right?"
"At last."
He came and sat in front of her as before. He took hold of her shoulders, and they kissed.
This kiss was unlike any they'd shared before. More passionate.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he had his around her waist. He pushed her back, and they inched towards the center of the bed.
He slid her glasses off and laid them carefully on the nightstand. The motion, his fingers so near her face, made her shiver.
He stretched himself out on top of her. She could feel every inch of him touching some part of her. It was scary and exciting and arousing all at once.
His fingers were light and gentle, as if he was afraid of breaking her. He kissed the top of her head, but she raised her face and moved his so that their lips were so close they couldn't help but kiss.
"It's for real this time, do what you want," she whispered huskily. "Go on already!"
Finally he felt comfortable--or desperate--enough to go for it. Sighs and moans came out at every turn, on into the night...
The next morning brought a harsh reality to all the DigiDestined.
The only way they could survive would be to go out as if they had never been imprisoned--at this point, even Ken considered himself a victim to lost years--and get jobs, or something, and act as if nothing had ever happened.
Of course, they could discuss it with their families. That was a given. But now they had to go from a teenager's comprehension of the world to an adult's practically overnight.
But, things would work out. They would survive easily enough. Secretly saving the world on more than one occasion generally gave you the will to go on despite your circumstances.
Yolei blinked again as Ken repeated his story.
"Listen. Izzy offered me a job with his company. He says as a sign-on bonus he'll pay the first month's rent and furnish an apartment for us--and he said it wasn't going to be cheap stuff, either. He wants it all to be nice."
"But--but--but is it what you want to do?"
"I always figured I'd work with computers or be an engineer or something anyway. I think I'll like working with Izzy."
"Well, if it's what you want, Ken, I'm all for it..."
He kissed her. "I'll call Izzy and tell him tomorrow."
Matt looked over at his brother. "Hey, T.K.?"
"Yeah?"
"How would you like to stay here?"
T.K. frowned. "I thought I was going to, until I got my first paycheck--"
"I hate to tell you this, but you're not going to be able to get a *decent* apartment on the salary you're getting as a *salesclerk*."
T.K. frowned. His brother was probably right. "But, Matt, I don't want to be a burden--"
"It's not like you're laying around all day, bro, demanding for me to pay your way through life. *That* would bug me. Tell you what. I'll fire the cleaning lady, you assume her duties, you keep a job, and we'll call it even."
T.K. thought about it for a minute. "I can't cook."
"The cleaning lady doesn't cook anyway. You think I'm going to hire a cook when I can cook so well myself?"
T.K. shook his head. "That ego never quits, does it? But you know, it sounds like a good idea. I'm staying."
Kari sat bare-bellied, looking at the ultrasound screen. The thing that the woman moved over her belly tickled a little through the clear gel. Davis stood by her shoulder, anxiously. Joe was watching, too. He was going to be her regular obstetrician, and wanted to see her first ultrasound. After the baby was born, he'd be its pediatrician, too.
The woman glanced at the screen. "There it is, you two. That's your baby." She pointed to a form on the screen. "Look. There's its face."
Davis's jaw dropped. "That's..."
Kari smiled. "Wow..."
Joe clapped him on the back. "Congratulations. It's official."
"Thanks...wow..."
There were still worries in Kari's mind, but she knew things would be okay. She and Davis were staying with Tai and Sora until Davis could get a job to take care of the both of them. Tai was protective of his little sister, and she knew that if anything happened, he'd be sure that she had the best of care.
Davis kissed her cheek. "This is so wonderful," he whispered.
"Yeah...it is..."
Several weeks passed.
Cody flipped through the mail.
There was an official-looking letter for him.
"Dear Mr. Hida, we are pleased to inform you that your high grades and passing of our test has gotten you accepted into..."
He dropped the letter. "Mom! Mom! Grandfather!"
Both the elder Mr. Hida and Mrs. Hida rushed into the room.
"Cody, whatever is the matter, son? What's the problem?"
"Mom! Guess what! I filled out an application, and I just got a letter back! I just got accepted into a law school here in Tokyo!"
Mr. Hida was flabbergasted, and Mrs. Hida could do nothing but hug Cody. "That's wonderful, son! Your father would be so proud of you! When do you start?"
"This fall..."
"Oh my, we have so much to do! We better get started!"
A/N: Well, now you know what everyone's plans are. Come back for the epilogue and see how everything turned out...and review this, please. It's your next-to-last chance.