The Afterword
So, that's my story. It was long, hard and very confusing, but I got through it. And life is so much better for it.
"Were gonna be late!" Tai yelled through the bathroom door.
"Okay! I'm done!" Kari answered, swinging open the door and following Tai as he walked towards the front door.
"You kids be safe," Mrs. Kamiya called after them.
"We will!"
Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya waved good bye, arms around each other, Miko sitting at their feet.
My mom still can't cook, and my dad still can't give good advice. But they are happy, and have been really supportive of me during my first year in college. They tell everyone they meet how proud they are of me. It makes me proud too.
Miko purrs and rubs against my legs when I come home. I feed her special food and make a point to make sure I don't accidentally look at her while she is cleaning herself. As far as I know, she doesn't accuse me of that anymore.
"Do you have the food?" Kari asked, hopping in the car.
"Yep, it's in the backseat already," Tai answered. He glanced at Kari, who was wearing a pink tank top, her old camera hanging around her neck. "You look nice in pink."
"Thanks!" Kari said, smiling. "It wasn't planned. You know, had to wear crest colors today."
"Yeah. Why did I get stuck with orange?"
"Hey, yeah! Talking about colors, wear is your orange?"
Tai pointed to his feet where there were neon orange socks. Kari tried to smother a giggle, unsuccessfully.
"It looks like you stepped in a pumpkin!"
"Oh, thanks for the kind words," Tai said sarcastically.
"No problem."
Both of them laughed as Tai pulled out into the street.
Kari hasn't tried casting any curses since that day. I made sure to hide the book from her, just in case. Her and TK are still dating. I'll be forced to hurt him if he ever hurts Kari, friend or not. He sends her flowers for no reason, supports her in all of her adventures and dedicates every point he scores in basketball to her. Which is a lot. I don't think I have to worry about them for now.
Kari is still in high school, but she visits me up at Kyoto University on the weekends sometimes. She sleeps with that paper with the M.A.S.H. game on it under her pillow. I still think she is the greatest sister out there.
They parked in a lot next to a huge park. Kari grabbed the food and quickly ran over to where Yolie and Cody were organizing the other dishes. TK was explaining something to Joe, who was looking over Davis, who for some reason had a bloody nose. Yolie didn't look happy.
Izzy, who was busily typing on his computer, looked up and waved to Tai, then resumed his work. Ken, who was next to him, waved too.
Joe is doing great at college. I call him up when I need someone to help me study or when I need some solid advice. Or when I'm sick, like that time I had that horrible flu. Joe made me agree after that to go see a different doctor in the future. He doesn't mean it…I think.
Cody just started high school, and is the best person on the Kendo team. Kari tells me that there is a shy girl who always watches him practice, from a distance. I feel like I might have to play matchmaker again soon.
Izzy is going to the best computer and technical school in the country this fall. They were begging him to come. We're all proud of him, but no one more than his girlfriend, Emily Daisy. They've been dating for half a year, and neither has been happier. We still tease Izzy about his computer.
Yolie and Ken have been dating for a few months, which surprised most of us. They seem inseparable. My coach at Kyoto keeps watching Ken play soccer. I have a feeling he'll be joining me there soon. Yolie still gets along horribly with Davis. Obviously.
Davis is still dating Violet, a year and eight months. He doesn't annoy anyone anymore, except Yolie. He keeps insisting that he wants to open a noodle shop. We keep being skeptical. I think, somehow though, that he's gonna do it, and do it well. Just intuition. I'm pretty sure he is going to marry Violet. Anyone who could stay with him during and after the hippie phase is a keeper.
Another car pulled up next to him, and Sora and Matt stepped out. Sora smiled brightly at Tai.
"I brought lots of food. I miss cooking at school, so when ever I get home, I just can't stop!" she explained as she showed him her big container. She looked at him closely. "Where is your orange?"
Tai grudgingly stuck out one foot. Matt came over next to Sora and laughed loudly.
"You look like you stepped in a pumpkin!" he teased.
"Oh, that is SO original…" Tai said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
Matt grinned and took the container from Sora, walking to the table and putting it down for her.
Sora smiled after him, and she and Tai walked towards the rest of the group.
Sora and Matt got back together. They eat strawberry cheesecake every month on the anniversary of the day I reunited them. Sora is still my soccer confidant, pouring over the stats from my games with me afterwards, giving me pointers. She's like a second sister, in some ways.
Matt is my roommate at Kyoto. He still has his band on the side, but he's here studying science and astronomy. I've only gotten into 3 fist fights with him our first year together. We consider it a good sign.
Matt told me he plans on proposing to Sora soon. I told him I would help him set up the perfect way to do it. I have no regrets about them being together.
"Okay, guys. Grab the food and your digivices, we're all set to go," Izzy explained, setting down his computer.
The group gathered together and traveled to the digital world. They were instantly greeted by their partners, who had a clearing set up for their picnic. Tai looked up from hugging Agumon to see a particular flower digimon looking anxious.
"She's not here yet, then?" Tai asked Palmon.
"No. She'll be here, won't she?" Palmon asked worriedly.
"Being in America never stopped her from coming before, stop worrying," Matt scolded from a blanket he had laid out.
"Yeah, I can't believe you are doubting me!" a voice called out from behind them.
Tai turned and watched Palmon run to the arms of her partner. Mimi hugged her, grinning up at Tai from under a pink cowboy hat.
"You can't just give that up, can you?" Tai asked.
"It's tradition. I'll be wearing it twenty years from now."
"Sure," Tai said, rolling his eyes.
She stood up and walked over to him, and he noticed she was wearing a light green tee shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. She stopped and looked at his socks.
"And my hat is bad?"
Tai rolled his eyes and pulled her in for a kiss. Tai jerked when he felt something hit his head. He looked at what hit him, and saw a big dinner roll laying on the ground.
"Get a room!" everyone yelled playfully.
Tai scoffed. "You all have girlfriends and boyfriends too, and we don't complain!"
"Cody and Joe don't," Sora pointed out.
"Don't drag me into this!" Joe exclaimed. "Davis was the one who threw the roll."
"I have the perfect girl for you Joe!" Yolie exclaimed.
"Yeah, I think Jun is free," Davis said scratching his chin.
Arguing and laughter erupted as the digidestined started eating.
Mimi graduated from high school this spring. She is starting at a culinary institute in California this month. I am disappointed she isn't closer, but at least she isn't in New York. She promises that her visits will be long and frequent.
Her mom still adores me, her dad still hates me, and Mimi still occasionally hits me with her purse.
Last year she came to everyone of my games with Sora, and still doesn't understand soccer. She doesn't wear the bunny hoodie anymore, but it's in her closet still. I secretly see her look at it sometimes, touching it with a tender smile on her face. She is still honest to a fault, and complains just to annoy me sometimes.
On the first day of spring last year, a few days after our 3 month anniversary, I told Mimi I loved her, and truly meant it. She returned it full heartedly. I've never been happier in my entire life. Ever.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Mimi exclaimed pulling something from her bag.
Tai looked up as Mimi placed a pair of goggles on his head.
"I saw them and thought of you," She explained.
Tai smiled at her, squeezing her hand. Tai looked over at all his friends, laughing and enjoying lunch. He realized that his vision of the future was here, and it was real. He put his arm around Mimi, kissing her on the forehead, and enjoyed the rest of the day with his closest friends.
So, all in all, the curse really was a blessing. I realize now that it isn't what women want, it's what everyone wants, really. To feel and look good, help others, have a good future and people to love you. I am blessed to have them all.
Still, I worry about things, give bad advice sometimes and get bad grades from now to then. I'm not sure what the future has in store for Mimi and me, and I have no idea how the rest of my life is going to play out. But after the curse, I have a feeling everything is going to be great.
Some of you will think that this never happened, that I made up a 'curse' to explain why I matured so suddenly. Maybe you are right, and it never happened. Maybe it did. I guess it doesn't matter either way, does it?
Well, being as this is the end of the story, I guess I should leave you with a moral, right?
Live your life, and live it well.
That's what all women, and men, want.
AN- El Fin. In case you were wondering, Tai put his story that he wrote for English in the book as the afterword, and this was the end of his paper. The day was supposed to be their annual celebration of their time in the digital world. Don't know why their digimon weren't with them during the course of the story. Just go with the flow people. Still, I thought this chapter was cute, ne?
I would now like to thoroughly like to thank EVERYONE who has-read/review/loved/hated/pressured me to keep writing-this story. I treasure everyone one of the reviews I got and all of the funny and serious ways you guys encouraged me. Thank you so much!
I might post another chapter to answer any questions anyone has about the last two chapters, or just to respond to your reviews one last time. Just know that it isn't a 'real' chapter.
Thanks again!
