Taichi ducked on instinct as the Dark Tyrannomon swung his tail through the air like a whip. Taichi's partner, however, wasn't as agile and took the full force of the attack. Greymon grunted and then exhaled a blast of flame into the enemy dinosaur.

"You okay?" Taichi shouted.

Greymon snorted out a puff of smoke. "Yeah, just got sloppy there."

Taichi flinched as a small explosion blasted behind him. He spun and watched the firefighters trying to tame the raging flames that enveloped the building. Police officers were keeping the spectators back but not far enough.

He turned back to his partner. "Get him away from here."

"I'm trying!" Greymon snarled as he rammed the Dark Tyrannomon in the gut. Taichi could see him grunt as he tried to push the viral digimon back. The dark dinosaur remained in place as he pushed back against the assault. He growled but almost in a laugh.

Greymon snickered and shifted his head so that Dark Tyrannomon's body was now wedged between Greymon's three horns. The orange dinosaur screamed as he hoisted up Dark Tyrannomon before throwing him into the ground. He then filled his lungs and exhaled a wave of flames that ripped across the Dark Tyrannomon. It gave a final shriek before vanishing in a burst of data.

Shouts of joy exploded behind him. Taichi turned to see the spectators clapping and cheering. He and Agumon shared a look before turning back. Taichi smiled and waved slightly. The crowd hollered for joy.

One of the police officers started towards them. "You need to answer some questions-"

He was cut off as the firefighters started screaming for everyone to get back. A loud groan came from the flame-enveloped building before it fell in on itself. A cloud of smoke and ash erupted into the sky. Taichi hoisted Agumon into his arms and ran into the night.

Child of Courage

Chapter I

Three months later

Taichi woke with the sound of the alarm echoing through his head. He slammed his hand down on the alarm clock on the nightstand and then pushed himself so he was sitting on the edge of his bed. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. He stared at the current date before getting to his feet and stumbling into the hall.

Agumon was on the couch. "Hey, did you see this?"

Taichi poured coffee from the maker into a mug and joined his partner in the living room area. The t.v. displayed scenes of the news report from three months ago. "Turn it up."

Agumon pressed the button on the remote. The footage cut back to the news desk and the news anchor continued talking. "The orphanage fire was reportedly caused by a phenomenon called a 'digimon,' but, despite widespread reports, these creatures have never been verified."

Agumon grumbled slightly. "Yeah, but we keep saving the world."

"Shh!" Taichi commanded.

The anchor continued. "All but seven children were saved. They, along with the orphanage's director, disappeared during the fire. Neither they, nor their remains, were ever discovered, but the government has officially called off the search. They are presumed dead."

Taichi sipped his coffee but felt his stomach turn slightly. "You okay?" Agumon asked.

The thoughts tumbling in his mind brought him back to when he was seventeen and Ordinemon almost destroyed the world. They couldn't save Daigo, or Maki or Meicoomon. All he was able to get out was, "We tried." Seven children and their-

He gasped. "Eight."

"What?" Agumon asked.

"There were eight people missing."

The small dinosaur stared. "Are you trying to say there's a connection between the missing kids and the Chosen?"

"Why would a Dark Tyrannomon attack the place?"

"Oh, I don't know, because he was out of his mind?" Agumon snapped, "He was raving about some kind of purification or whatever. I think he was just crazy. He wanted to cause trouble and he just happened to pop out of the gate right there."

Taichi tried to think of an argument but his mind was blank. He sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right." He glanced at the clock. "I gotta eat and then head out."

"Yeah, good luck. Make sure you get this job. You've gotta keep me feed."

Taichi finished his coffee and then grabbed a package of instant miso soup from the refrigerator. "Yeah, and I'm going broke doing it."

Agumon shrugged. "I'd help out but they don't hire digimon."

Taichi was tempted to throw the package at him but he was too hungry.

Taichi was panting by the time he met Koshiro in front of the office building. His friend checked his digital watch. "I know, I know," Taichi huffed, "But I'm here, right?"

"Just in time," Koshiro frowned. He studied Taichi and nodded. "But at least you cleaned yourself up."

Taichi frowned. He adjusted his tie and straightened his suit jacket. "You make it sound like I'm a bum or something."

Koshiro only smirked. "Now remember, you'll be meeting with Mr. Yamauchi and Mr. Kaneda. Kaneda is the CEO and Yamauchi is the COO. That means-"

"I know what it means," Taichi snapped, "I studied business, remember?"

"Yeah, well, I know all about your studying habits." His phone blasted a chirp Taichi'd hadn't heard on any cell phone before. Koshiro checked the device before throwing it back into his pocket.

"What's up?" Taichi asked.

"Nothing. Just an alarm about a digital gate opening, but it's gone already. Probably just a fluke or something. Don't get distracted. You're lucky I could even get you in for an interview. They had over a hundred applications for the position."

He nodded. "All right, good luck."

Taichi thanked him and headed into the building.

The police officer waved to the mother and child before he continued down the sidewalk. He heard what sounded like thunder from behind him. He turned but only saw a preteen girl with messy dark hair running down the sidewalk while carrying a large stuffed toy. He darted to the alley but there was nothing strange inside. He looked back to the girl but she was already a spot in the distance.

Taichi slammed the door to his apartment and tossed his bag onto the back of the chair. Agumon poked his head over the top of the couch. "Didn't go well?"

Taichi grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and snorted. "That's being generous." He dropped onto the couch. "These two guys look like they should have retired ten-twenty years ago. I tried to explain some ideas I have for marketing but they were so fixed on newspapers and fliers it's just...ahh!" He shouted in frustration and then slouched back against the cushion. "It's starting to feel like this is never gonna happen for me."

"Of course it will," Agumon said, "You're Taichi, you can do anything."

Taichi smiled slightly and rubbed the top of his partner's head. "Yeah, I just wish that was true."

Agumon smiled. "But, we're heading out to Yamato and Sora's party, right?"

He winced slightly. Koshiro would be there. "Um, I'm not really…"

He saw the defeated expression on his partner's face. Taichi left the apartment at least once a day. Agumon got out only once a week, if that.

Taichi rubbed his head again. "Yeah, sure."

The cashier handed the woman the two donuts in waxed paper. "Here you are."

The woman handed one cone to the little boy at her side. They thanked him and walked down the sidewalk. He grabbed two more donuts from a box behind the counter and placed them on the plastic display stand on the counter.

He glanced at the girl. She'd been standing there for over an hour, staring at the shelves of confectioner's treats behind the glass. Her eyes were shining and he could almost see her mouth watering. "Can I help you with something?"

She gasped and squeezed that stuffed animal she was holding tighter. Weirdest doll he'd ever seen; it looked like a ball with rabbit ears. She shook her head quickly.

He raised his eyebrow slightly when he heard the phone ring. He lifted it off the wall. "Shubiashi Bakery…yes…" He turned to study the four paper bags on the metal table behind him. "Yes, your order is complete…yes, we will see you then."

He hung up and turned back around. The girl was gone and so were the six donuts on display. He ran around the corner and darted through the door. He spotted the girl running down the sidewalk. She was shoving a donut into her mouth. He was about to run after her but froze when he noticed her shoving another donut into her stuffed animal. He blinked a few times, certain he was seeing things, but by then she had disappeared into the crowd.

AAAAAAAAA

Mimi paused to sip her drink before continuing, "But, things are really starting to take off. I mean, my cookbook's already sold a million copies and I might even be getting my own cooking show! Isn't that great?"

Taichi forced himself to smile. "Yeah, great."

"Oh, so how are you?"

"Um, good," he said, sipping his drink, "I'm, um, studying politics in university."

"Really?" she asked. She studied him and then nodded. "Yeah, I guess I can see that." She looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Sora!"

Taichi grumbled to himself slightly. She could see that? He watched her join Sora as the redhead emerged from her bedroom. Taichi grabbed a slice of pizza from the refreshment table and sat in one of the recliners in the living room next to Hikari, Takeru and their partners.

"How did the interview go?" his sister asked.

He cleared his throat and then munched on his pizza slice. He turned to Agumon, who looked up at him, despite the dislocation in his jaw from the amount of food in his mouth, and shook his head slightly. Taichi then looked over to where Koshiro was chatting to Jyou at the far end of the room.

Hikari's face fell. "Oh, that bad, huh?"

Taichi dropped his shoulders. "I tried."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Things take time, right?"

He snorted. "Didn't take so long for you two."

Takeru and Hikari regarded each other. They were both twenty-two and already had their careers in order. Hikari was student teaching while Takeru had already sold his first novel and was in demand for a second.

"Well, we just got lucky," Takeru said with a smile.

Taichi grunted and took in his friends as they mingled in the living room. Mimi was a celebrity chef, Sora was selling fashion designs to models, Jyou was already a hospital intern, Yamato was in the air defense force, some secret project regarding missiles, Koshiro was selling programs he developed. Everyone had their lives together. All except for him.

Sora started tapping her spoon against her wine glass. "Thank you all for coming." She smiled at Yamato. "Well, the reason we all asked you here tonight is…" She broke out into a grin, "We're engaged."

The other Chosen ran to embrace and congratulate the new couple. Taichi hung in the back, finished his can of beer, and then motioned to Agumon. They slipped out the door in silence.

"Why'd we have to leave?" Agumon asked.

Taichi opened and closed his mouth a few times. He tried to gather his thoughts and feelings into something he could explain. "I...it just… Yamato and Sora have been together for so long but…" He rubbed his eyes. "I guess I'm just a little jealous. Not of Yamato." That ship had long since sailed. "But they've got such a great future together and...well, let's face it. I don't really have a reason to get up in the morning."

"Taichi!" Agumon gasped. "Of course you do, breakfast."

Taichi started laughing. "Tell you what," his partner continued, "Why don't we stop by the liquor store? Let's have a party all to ourselves."

Taichi nodded. "Sure. That sounds great."

It was close to nine when Hikari, Takeru and their partners reached her apartment building. "Are you planning on moving out soon?"

She blinked. "What? Oh, um, I don't know. Maybe in a year or two. Mom and Dad have been taking a lot of trips lately, so me and Tailmon have the place to ourselves a lot."

Takeru nodded slowly. "You're thinking about Taichi, aren't you?"

Tailmon lifted her nose as she trotted alongside them. "Quite rude of him and Agumon to just walk out like that."

"Were they not feeling good?" asked Patamon from atop Takeru's head.

"He hasn't been himself lately," Hikari frowned, "I think he's feeling depressed because he's still trying to find out what he wants to do for a career. And I guess he's also depressed because he's still single."

"Yeah," Tailmon said, "He and Meiko broke up almost as soon as they got together."

"He needs to find some meaning in his life or something," Hikari added.

They approached Hikari's apartment building when Tailmon hissed. "Trouble."

A preteen girl was leaning back against the side of the building, holding her head in her hands. "Her?" Hikari asked.

Takeru grabbed her arm. "Look at her feet!"

A pink ball with rabbit ears was staring up at her. A Koromon! A Chosen? Hikari trotted across the side street. "Hi. Are you okay?"

The girl looked up at her and Hikari felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. She had dark hair spilling over her shoulders and her bangs hung down in a messy style, but her big brown eyes were so familiar. The girl's face broke into a smile. "Oh, I'm so glad I found you!" Then her eyelids drooped and she fell forward.

"Kimiko!" the Koromon gasped.

The girl fell into Hikari's arms and muttered. "Aunt Hikari."

"Taichi! Wake up!"

He opened his eyes and saw Agumon staring down at him. He pushed himself up and sat on the edge of his futon. "All right, all right! I'm awake."

"Your phone keeps going off." Agumon handed him the device. "It's Hikari."

Five voice mails and fifty text messages. The earliest was from ten last night. He dialed her number. "Hikari! What's going on? Are you okay?"

Her voice was level but he could hear it quaver. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Mom and Dad?" Their parents were in Hawaii or the Bahamas or some island somewhere.

"I haven't heard from them, so I guess they're okay." She breathed in. "You'd, um, you need to come over here."

"Why?"

"Last night we, um, ran into this little girl, well, not that little, but not a teenager either. I'd say she's probably ten years old, at least, but-"

Taichi felt his heart start to race. Hikari never rambled. "Sis?"

"Right, sorry." She took another breath, "This kid, well, she says she's your daughter."

To be continued...