A/N: Numero four, coming right up.
Summary: (Season 1) Mistakes are dangerous things. Is it even possible to walk straight into the future, just like that? The digidestines didn't think so. Until now.
Disclaimer: Do I look like I'm rich enough to own Digimon? (eyes scruffy jeans)
Warnings: Um…dodgy, confusing plot line? Potential slash. Nothing heavy.
I'd like to think I've improved as a writer since this was written; but comments would be appreciated nonetheless.
Chapter four: Separation and developments
"Okay, I'm going to take you all in turn to your temporary homes. Tai, Kari, I would like you to go first, I need to explain a few things. The rest of you, foods in the fridge, bathrooms third door on the right in the hallway, medical cupboard is in the bathroom above the toilet. I'll be back in about half an hour. Oh, Izzy, my computer crashed, if you feel up to it, could you take a look? Oh, and don't go upstairs."
Tai and Kari said a downtrodden goodbye, before following Taichi out of the house and down the street.
Next, Sora and Mimi were taken in the car the other way from Tai and Kari. Obviously they were going much further away.
Finally, Izzy and Joe muttered a small farewell before they left too.
Matt slumped down onto the sofa, and flicked the off switch on the TV remote. The house seemed unbearably quiet. TK clambered up next to him.
"Are you okay, Matt?" he asked, uncertainly.
Matt nodded curtly.
The front door slammed, and Matt got up to meet their new temporary guardian. Taichi threw his coat over a tall hat stand, and slumped against the wall, looking as tired as Matt felt. Matt stood in the hallway, unsure of what to say or do. Finally, Taichi took a deep breath and smiled at them shakily.
"You want something to drink?" he asked. TK nodded enthusiastically, following the man into what appeared to be the kitchen. Matt followed.
While Taichi made them drinks, TK chattered on about what had been on TV. He seemed so at ease, it made Matt feel slightly queer.
Once the drinks had been made (orange juice for TK, soda for Matt, and herbal tea for Taichi) TK and Taichi talked. Or rather, TK prattled on, and Taichi listened. Matt was quite glad of this, as it gave him time to think.
The clock in the hallway chimed four thirty, and Taichi gathered up the cups and placed them in the sink, before beckoning them out into the hallway.
"Listen, there was something I didn't tell you while the others were here…I reckoned it was easier if as little as possible was known about your futures. And besides, Tai seemed freaked enough without…well, anyway. We have to go and pick up the kids from school now."
Matt froze.
Kids.
Tai's kids.
Oh, boy…
Taichi ran a nervous hand through his hair, then wrung them together in a gesture of uncertainty.
"Well, I don't feel I should leave you here in a foreign house, and they're okay children, really. The problem is, it's not just my kids…only one of them is. The other two are…well…yours, Matt."
Matt stared at him.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to." He said hurriedly.
"In fact…I think it would be better if only TK went. You and you're daughter look very alike, Matt. I don't want her to…well, she's a smart kid, and I'm afraid…yes…you don't mind, do you?" he looked earnest.
Matt nodded, feeling relieved.
Tai's kid he could manage. But his own?
"Okay then. Listen, I don't want you stuck here with nothing to do, so there's a guitar upstairs in my room, third on the right, and also a stereo and computer in the study, over there." He gestured to the door.
"Otherwise, you can just take a look around. I must ask you not to touch the papers in the study, though, and no rifling through drawers." He smiled slightly.
"I do hope…that's alright?"
Matt thought for a moment.
"Yeah, that's okay. I'll just hang around." Taichi beamed.
"Seven words! It's a new record!" TK laughed.
Matt smiled slightly. It was true that he had never been much of a talker around strangers. Although, technically, Taichi wasn't a stranger…damn this was so confusing.
"Okay then. Be careful, I'll be back in a jiffy. Come on TK, now, what music do you want to play in the car?"
Matt watched as Taichi got the car out of the small garage next to the house, a green four by four, and clambered in, making sure TK put on his seatbelt.
This had been one weird day.
TK
"Make sure you put on your seat belt." Taichi instructed TK, as TK stared around at the interior of the car. He snickered as Taichi slid a cd into the player and started up the engine.
"What?" he asked, confused, as he drove it out of the driveway.
"You sound like my Mum." TK giggled. Taichi rolled his eyes.
"Well, in some ways, I am a Mum." He muttered, and TK frowned. Before he could ask, though, Taichi switched on the cd player. Immediately, bone shaking guitar chords made the whole car vibrate, and TK smiled with delight as the smooth ride sped them past the cherry lined lane they had walked down earlier. He peered out of the window, watching as the roads slowly got busier and busier as they got further into the town.
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mindfuck America.
TK giggled, and Taichi tutted.
"Ah, here we are." Taichi said, as they came to a stop outside a small school. TK recognised it at once. It was the school he had gone to when he had been a little kid. He smiled as he remembered endless days of running out of the classroom door to see Matt waiting for him at the gate.
But that had been before their parents had split up.
His smile slipping a little, TK hopped out of the car and waited while Taichi checked it was locked, before walking alongside him as they neared the gates. Many other parents and children already littered the playground, and TK looked up to see Taichi shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun as he searched the playground for…
…whoever they were here for.
"Daddy!"
A small brown missile hurtled straight for them, and TK ducked behind Taichi as the man staggered, the missile attached to his leg. He grinned and laughed, picking the small boy up.
"Well, hello to you, too. Who da man?"
"You da man!"
"Who da mon?"
"Me da mon!"
Taichi laughed again and hugged the boy too him, placing a small kiss on his forehead. TK studied the child.
He had a mass of brown hair the same colour as Taichi's. Not only that, he also had Tai's face…almost everything was similar to his father, with a few minor changes. For one thing, his nose was slightly shorter, and his eyes were a soft light hazel hue, quite unlike the dark chocolate colours in Tai's. His skin was slightly darker too, but not by much.
This was definitely Tai's son.
Oh, boy, Matt would not be pleased…
TK was shoved aside as a second missile pushed past him, this time a red and green blur.
TK blinked.
This one had a round, friendly face, with a small nose and bright red hair, slightly too long. He was now extending his arms up to Taichi in a commanding gesture. Taichi smiled, moved his son to his hip and placed the new arrival, squealing with delight, onto his shoulders, where the small boy clutched at his head.
"Hello Uncle Tai." Said a small voice behind TK, making him jump. He turned around.
This time, a girl with short, spiky blond hair was walking serenely towards them. She had large blue eyes, and a pointed nose, and wore a long pink t-shirt which seemed to show off her skinny arms.
She looked exactly like Matt.
That was weird.
She stared at TK as she passed, then gently took Taichi's hand, smiling up at him. TK shook his head violently, his hat bouncing on his hair.
Taichi put his son down, and turned once more to TK.
"TK, this is Aino," he placed a hand on the back of mini Tai, who smiled shyly at him and thrust out a tanned hand for him to shake, seemingly nervous. TK smiled back and shook it.
"And my temporary hat,' this prompted giggles from the boy on his shoulders "is Henri." Henri waved jovially from his position high above them.
"And finally, this," Taichi brought the female Matt clone forward with a gentle tug on his hand "is Amie." Amie nodded to him, and TK noticed her hand tighten around Taichi's.
"Recruits!" Taichi barked, and all three children turned (or looked down) and saluted, grinning.
"I would like you to meet Lieutenant Takeru." TK smiled, then frowned at the title. Aino frowned, and jabbed a finger at TK.
"You look like Mattie!" he said.
"That is no way to address a superior officer, Aino."
"But Daaaaddy," Aino whined "that means he's higher than us!"
"Indeed, Private Aino." Aino giggled.
TK caught on.
"So what are you, Taichi?"
"It's General Taichi!" Henri exclaimed. TK saluted.
"Sorry, Private Henri."
"I'm a Sergeant!"
"Sorry."
"Come on, recruits, lets go. Moving out!"
"Yessir!" the three children shouted. TK followed behind, still feeling slightly put out by the sudden appearance of three digidestined clones.
As they all clambered into the car, TK taking the front, the other three in the back, TK glanced at Taichi, who smiled slightly.
"Feel ok?" he asked. TK nodded.
"I think so." He said, quietly.
"Okay then. Let's go."
A/N: Wow, I've still got load to go before I actually have to write anything! I haven't edited this story, as it's kinda a study to see how my writing has improved over three years...review and let me know what you think!