Broken

by BoarderKC

Matt sat up to the sounds of footsteps. He rubbed a hand through his matted blond hair and through sleep filled eyes he saw a tall, tan skinned boy walk past his bed. In confusion he looked around at the room he had slept in, but he recognized nothing. Rubbing his eyes, he wondered if he was still asleep. Opening his eyes again, he blinked out the haze and finally things began to clear. He was in America, at Gennai's request, and the boy was Aaron.

"Morning, Yamato," Aaron greeted him as he stood by his bed, dressed in boxers and a tee shirt.

Matt nodded in reply as he ran a hand over his bare chest, still not completely awake. "What time is it?" he croaked in a throaty voice. On the other side of the room Aaron was changing.

"9:30," he replied, muffled as his head disappeared into his tee shirt. Matt glanced around, his cobalt eyes in search of a clock. On one of the two desks a digital clocked held illuminated numbers that read 9:30. The tan skinned boy's head popped out of the top hole of his shirt. "Sleep well?"

Matt shrugged. "As good as can be expected." He hated how the sleep still tucked into his voice made his accent stronger and the English to roll off his tongue sloppier.

"I'm heading down to get something to eat. Breakfast isn't special here. You go down when you wake up and pretty much make something for yourself," Aaron explained as he searched the dresser by his bed. Extracting a pair of socks from its confines, he grinned and sat back on his bed. "Join us I you feel like it," he finished as he slipped his socks onto his bare feet.

"Yeah, maybe," Matt shrugged again as he collapsed back on his bed. Aaron left without another word and grumbling about the way the sunlight hit his eyes and how his bed was uncomfortable, Matt forced himself up. Stretching, he felt his back pop and he groaned. He peeked over the edge of the top bunk where TK sweated and tossed as he slept. He looked fevered and pale. "Damn," Matt shook his head. "I bet he didn't take his meds last night."

He shook his head and glanced at the other bunk where Tai still slept. The other boy was twisted up inside the sheet that had once covered him. He had been tossing and turning all night. He almost felt bad for snapping at his ex-leader last night when the darkness had taken over the room and then silence had been unbearable. But as soon as he had spoken Matt realized that noise was even more intolerable. Matt had his own demons going in his head, he didn't want to hear about Tai's.

Without wanting to bother either of the sleeping boys, he dressed in silence. He rooted through his duffle bag that lay on the floor by his bed. Aaron had suggested they unpack, but Matt didn't plan on staying long.

Creaking made him look up and see TK rising in his bed looking half awake. His blonde hair stuck in every direction and he look like he hadn't slept. "Hey," Matt greeted softly to his brother. TK nodded in return as he stretched. "Did you take your meds last night?"

A look of annoyance settled over TK's face as he rolled his eyes. "No, I forgot."

"You need to take them."

"God, you sound like dad," TK complained as he pushed away his blanket and climbed down from the top bunk. He turned on Matt with anger in his ocean blue eyes. "What does it matter if I take them or not? I'm better, right?"

"Gimme a break, TK. It's not up to you. Take the damn drugs like you were told and stay better!" Matt found himself yelling as he and TK stood inches apart. He wanted to throttle his brother.

"What's going on?" The voice startled them both and they jumped apart breathing hard. They looked up to see Tai sitting up in bed attempting to untwist himself from the sheet he was tangled in. He didn't look quite awake yet.

"None of your business," TK barked as he brushed by Matt, knocking him in the shoulder as he went by. He went to his suitcase that lay on the floor beside Matt's duffle bag.

"Aaron said we can come down and have breakfast anytime we want." Matt looked at Tai as he spoke, ignoring his brother's presences as he dressed. "Its not formal or anything. Fend for yourself sort of deal."

"Cool," Tai replied as he climbed down from his bunk.

"Well, I'm gonna go get something to eat." Stuffing his hands in his pockets he turned towards the door as Tai slipped on the ladder and tumbled to the floor. With a yelp of pain, red settled across Tai's cheeks in embarrassment. Uncharacteristically he held out his hand and helped the blushing boy to his feet who muttered a 'thank you.' "Yeah, don't worry about it." Turning back toward the door he stopped and looked back at his brother. "Take your damn medicine before you come down, alright?" With a sour look from his brother he left the room and started toward the stairs.

Across the landing another door opened and Tera existed dressed in what looked like her pajamas. "Morning," she called to him as they met at the top of the stairs. She had thrown her brown hair into a haphazard ponytail, but strands still fell around her face.

"Morning," he muttered.

"Kari and Sora are already downstairs. They went down with Taylor like twenty minutes ago."

He trailed her down the stairs, listening as she spoke in his native language. "Oh, okay." He really didn't care, but Tera didn't seem to hear the indifference in his tone. A thought struck him. "How is it you can speak Japanese? That's really random."

"I lived in Japan for a year with my dad." They reached the foot of the stairs and she led him to a swinging door that sat next to the door Matt recognized as Gennai's office. Inside was a large table, big enough to fit everyone who lived in the house. Natalie, Taylor, and Aaron sat on one side, eating bowls of cereal while Kari and Sora sat on the other side of the table, looking lost and starting at their own cereal.

"Its about time you got down here," Aaron snapped and for a second Matt thought the yelling was directed at himself. "No one can speak Japanese and they can't speak English. You should have come down earlier, Tera." Matt felt relief as he looked down at Tera who was a couple inches shorter at him.

She grinned. "Sorry. I was still in bed. Learn Japanese if your in a huge need for conversation." She turned to Sora and Kari. "Everything alright?" They both nodded silently. Tera looked over her shoulder, back at Matt. "Come on. I'll get you some breakfast."

She moved around the table, smacking Aaron playfully on the back of the head as she passed him and slipped through a second swinging door on the other side of the room. Matt found himself in a large kitchen, stainless steel everywhere looking clean and shiny. Gennai leaned on the island in the center of the room reading the paper.

"Hiding, Gennai?" Tera asked with laughter in her voice.

He rolled dark brown eyes and set down his paper. "Waiting for the coffee pot to finish thank you very much. Morning Matt."

"Whatever," Matt growled. He looked back at Tera, ignoring the older man. "Food?"

Tera grinned at his reaction to Gennai and pointed to a cabinet by the refrigerator. "We have cereal in there. There are froze waffles in the freezer. And we also have eggs and bread."

He shook his head. "Cereal is fine."

As he made his way over to the cabinet Gennai spoke again, this time in Japanese as if Matt would feel a greater need to speak to him in his native language. "Is Tai and TK up yet?"

"When I left they were getting dressed," Matt replied without turning back to the older man. He opened the cabinet to a variety of multicolored boxes. Tera reached around him and pulled one out.

"That's good. We're going to need to discuss what's happening here soon," Gennai spoke to his back.

"Yes, because we're all dying to hear what you have to say, Gennai," Matt growled sourly as he grabbed a box and turned to face the older man. Gennai didn't look scathed by his words. "Are you going to feed us something bogus old man?" Matt growled as the kitchen door swung open revealing Tai and TK. "Going to feed us some prophesy or shit about life and death? Or are we going to get some straight answers for once?"

Gennai met his eyes with a calm expression and it unnerved him. "I will tell you exactly what you need to hear and what you deserve to hear." Matt scowled at the answer, but Gennai had already turned to Tai and TK in the doorway. "Can you call Sora and Kari in her for me?" Tai nodded and called over his shoulder for the girls. "Tera, go eat breakfast and then I'll get your meds, alright?" She nodded and slipped out the swinging door to the dining room as Sora walked in with Kari behind her. When all five of them were in the kitchen watching him he spoke again. "Do you all have your Digivices?" Reaching into their pockets they each produced their small Digivices. "I'm going to take these and upload a program that will allow you to understand English as long as you carry them."

"You can do that?" Tai asked in disbelief.

"Do you remember how you were able to talk to the DigiDestined from all around the world?" The DigiDestined nodded. "You didn't think they all just spoke Japanese, did you?" No one could respond to the question. "Your Digivices did that for you. Well, I created the program for your Digivices and I'll need to reinstall it now. Until you can learn English, that is." He held out his hands and they each allowed him to take their devices. "I will get that done while you eat breakfast. Go ahead and serve yourselves and then we can get down to the business of the day." He smiled at them softly before leaving through the swinging door.

Matt glanced at Tai and TK. "There is cereal in there," he explained, gesturing to the cabinet Tera had led him to. "And then is frozen stuff in the fridge." Without another word he finished making his breakfast and joined Sora and Kari at the table. Tai and TK joined them within a few minutes and they sat in silence occupying one end of the table while the American kids stayed on the other. The Americans laugh and talked. To them this was normal. To the DigiDestined it was nerve racking and stupid.

Gennai joined them not long after and handed out their Digivices. The DigiDestined stared at the devices, but couldn't find anything different about them. "Can you understand me now?"

"Unfortunately," Matt grumbled.

"So we can-" Sora's voice came out whispery and she paused suddenly in the middle of her sentence. "We can speak English." There was amazement in her voice.

"Yes," Gennai grinned. "It's a quick fix solution. At least until you can learn the language without it. You'll also need to learn to read before school starts."

"Won't we be going back to Japan for school?" TK asked from his seat as he swirled his cereal with his spoon.

"No, you will remain here." All five of them looked ready to argue, but Gennai held up his hands to silence him. "And I will explain it all as soon as you are finished. We will meet in the living room at 10. The others will be joining us." He glanced over at the other five. "So I suggest you get dressed, Tera." She chuckled from her seat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need my coffee." With that he slipped back into the kitchen and the ten teens were left to their breakfasts.

Chiming echoed through the room and everyone jumped at the sound. Tera sprang from her chair, mumbling a 'crap' as she race from the dining room, tripping over her pajama pants as she went. Her friends laughed at her and got up, gathering their dishes. The DigiDestined followed them, dumping their bowls and silverware in the kitchen before retiring to the living room where a grandfather clock was just finishing its chiming.

Like the night before the Americans all settled onto one of the couches, with Elijah sitting in his chair at the end of it. The DigiDestined sat on the couch they had occupied the night before, Tai, Matt and Sora taking over the seats while TK and Kari settled on the floor. Gennai joined them after a few minutes.

"Where's Tera?" he asked as his warm chocolate eyes settled on the American kids.

"She's getting dressed," Elijah replied as he reached for Natalie's hand, entwining their fingers.

Thundering on the stairs just outside the room made everyone looked to the entrance as Tera came rushing in, a pair of socks clutched between her teeth as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. She grinned cheekily past the socks as Gennai shot her an amused look. "Nice of you to join us."

"Pleasure," she forced out through clenched teeth. She settled on the couch between Aaron and Taylor, just like the night before.

"Alright, let's get started," Gennai began as he clapped his hands together. "It would be best to start with introductions."

"We know who you are," Tai snapped.

Gennai rolled his eyes, "Honestly you don't know a thing. You know what I have told you and that is very little. I am a protector of the DigiDestined, who are the protectors of the Digital World. You know this, but I don't think you understand it. It is my job to ensure that you are able to called upon whenever you are needed."

"Our time is done," Tai argued. "Kari and TK may still need to be called upon, but Matt, Sora and I are finished. Davis, Cody, Yolie and Ken took over for us."

"Do you really think you can ever be done? It is your destiny. It is who you are." Gennai shook his head. "I'm sorry. It is true that you may never be called again, but it is still who you are." He sighed. "And I am getting off track." He looked over at the American kids, settling his eyes on him, but his gaze was distant. "You weren't the only children in the Digital World when you first got pulled away from your summer camp."

"What!" they cried in unison. It made the others jump.

"There were five others. Aaron, Tera, Elijah, Natalie and Taylor." He gestured to the other kids as if he were presenting them for the first time. "The American DigiDestined."

"How is that possible?" Kari asked. Her face looked confused for a second and she moved her tongue in her mouth. English felt weird on her tongue.

"The Digital World," Aaron spoke up. "is a lot like Earth. And like how Japan and America are located on opposite sides of the world, there are landmasses that are located on opposite sides of the Digital World. We were on the other side from you. We fought different battles and met different digimon."

"Fascinating," Matt snapped, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure Wheels over there had a wonderful time getting around there." Elijah glared at him. "But that doesn't explain why we are here."

"You're here because your crests won't glow," Gennai replied. "Something has happened and they won't glow. It is a problem that needs to be fixed."

"How?" TK asked.

"That depends on you. It is something that you will need to face." Beeping suddenly interrupted Gennai and he reached into his pocket, pulling out a device that looked somewhat like a d-terminal. "Damn," he whispered, reading over the small screen. He raised his eyes to the kids watching him. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go check on something." Without waiting he left the room, leaving them in silence.

Kari spoke first, breaking the uncomfortable stillness that had settled in the room. "What is the deal here?" she directed at the American kids. "Is Gennai for real?"

"Gennai just wants your crests to glow again," Aaron spoke up again. "It's the way things work."

"How do you know?" Tai asked.

"Because it worked on us," Elijah answered, leaning forward in his chair.

The Japanese kids exchanged confused glances before Tai spoke again, " What?"

"The American DigiDestined are a little different from the Japanese. We are different from you," Aaron explained. "We…uh…well, we never say a digimon like you guys did."

"Then how did you become DigiDestined? That's how we were all picked." Tai took the lead in the discussion.

However Matt was not quelled by his leaders questions. "How did you know so much about us?" His voice exuded suspicion.

"Through Gennai," Aaron replied. "The way we became DigiDestined was complicated."

"We're not even sure how it worked," Tera spoke up. Aaron glanced at her and she grinned. "What we know," she continued, "is that it really just depended on us. We all come from complicated pasts and somehow we showed characteristics that were needed for the Digital World. We got pre-made crests."

There was a look on Tera's face that made Sora furrow her brow. "It was an experiment."

The others turned to stare at her and Tera nodded. "Between you eight and us it was pretty much an experiment. We got pre-made crests and you saw a digimon."

"You couldn't get the crests to glow?" Tai asked as he leaned forward in his seat.

"No, we couldn't," Tera answered. "While we were strong in whatever symbol we were given, it wasn't enough. We didn't feel it."

"They didn't shine until we came here," Aaron spoke up after her. "That was a year or two after our adventures. We lived in the Digital World over a period of two years, but our digimon never went ultimate. That's why you had to fight four Dark Masters. Originally it was our duty to fight Seadramon while you fought Machinedramon. Puppetmon was for whoever got to him first and we were supposed to team up against Piedmon." He sighed and glanced at Tera and Taylor at his side. Tera's gaze looked far-off while her hand was wrapped around Taylor's. "There was no way we could have fought. We could never have helped you guys."

"Why didn't you just realize that you had it in yourselves?" Matt questioned, looking annoyed. "The same thing happened to me and Sora."

"Well, you had each other," Natalie's voice sounded like the answer should have been obvious. "You had each other to fall back on. We didn't. We didn't trust each other, we had no passion. We didn't care."

"And then we came back." Elijah's hand tightened on Natalie's as he answered. "Gennai let us loose to the lives we had before and well…" He glanced at Tera and she met his eyes. "Things got worse." Turning back to the Japanese kids. "We lost touch of each other and fell apart."

"What do you mean?" Tai asked.

"We got in trouble and fell into depression. We were killing ourselves. So we came here."

Footsteps echoed into the room and Gennai appeared in the doorway just as Matt felt himself lose control. "This is bullshit!" he barked. Taylor jumped at Tera's side. "I don't need some god forsaken cure."

"Come on, Matt," Tai sighed and Matt whipped his gaze toward the other boy.

"No, you come on, Tai! No one is listening to us! They expect us to save the world and bow to their whims. We didn't want to come here! No one is answering our questions! And then there is Gennai." He turned to the older man who remained in the doorway, his ocean blue eyes on fire with rage. He stood from the couch, rising to be nearly as tall as the other man, staring him directly in the eye. "The mythical being of the Digital World. Here to be our all mighty cure. You are more full of crap then anyone else." He brushed past Gennai briskly, leaving an icy silence in his wake.

Sora and Tai shared concern glances as TK watched the doorway from the floor, his eyes trailing after his brother. "Tai, go talk to him," Sora pleaded.

"I will," he nodded before looking at Gennai. "What else do we need to know?"

Gennai gaze was still calm as he entered the room. "This is a household and there are rules, just like any other household. There are rules, you will have responsibilities. You will start school in the fall. You will be expected to maintain your grades. No ditching, no fighting. Also there are a few major things you need to remember. This is your home from now on. There will be no alcohol and no drugs in this house. I have a three strike policy. Three strikes and I will find a better suited place for you."

"A better suited place?" Kari asked, brow creased.

"Depends on what kind of help you need," Gennai answered. "But more then anything you need to know that if that happens I will have to take away your Digivice and your crest. And for its own good, I will have to delete your digimon. If your crest can't glow then there is a good chance your digimon can be corrupted and for their sake I would prefer to delete them. "

"And that's it?" Tai questioned looking from Gennai to Aaron and the other four kids. "Crests glow and we go home?" Gennai nodded and Tai pushed himself off of the couch. "I'll go talk to Matt," he directed at Sora before leaving the room.

Gennai looked at the remaining DigiDestined. "Making your crests glow is not as easy as it sounds. You have to realize what made it stop glowing. The problem isn't always obvious.

TK, Kari and Sora all nodded in understanding, looking sick.

Tai jogged up the stairs and into the room that he begrudgingly would be calling his own. He slipped inside the large bedroom, breathing hard with the realization that he had no idea when he would see Japan again. Inside Tai's blonde haired second in command was storming around, gathering his sleeping clothes into his forest green duffle.

"Matt." The other boy ignored him as he zipped the bag and heft it onto his shoulder. "Matt," he tried again, keeping his voice even.

Matt moved toward the door, but Tai stuck out his arm, blocking him from leaving. "Get out of my way, Tai!" he barked.

"Matt, listening to me." Matt stopped, his teeth clenched together as he rolled his eyes, refusing to meet Tai's. "If you walk out that door you are no longer a DigiDestined. That means you are not apart of this group. You cannot fight and you don't have us to fall back on."

Matt moved his eyes back to Tai, glaring fiercely at him. "Is that your order?"

Tai felt his stomach lurch painfully. "I don't order anymore. This is Gennai's."

"Well fuck him!" Matt attempted to push past Tai's arm, but the brunette boy knocked him back.

"If you leave Gabumon will be deleted!" Matt froze and stared at him. "If you walk out Gennai will delete Gabumon because otherwise he can become corrupted. He will have no partner if you walk out." Anger flashed through Matt's eyes and unexpectedly the bag fell from his hands and he shoved Tai against the closed door. Tai grunted in pain as his head connected with the wood. "Where would you go anyway?" he forced out as Matt's hands tightened on the collar of his shirt. "Your parents sent you here! There's nothing left in Japan. Might as well stay here, with your friends."

Matt released him, turning away with reluctance in his eyes. He was seething, feeling his insides burn with anger. "You're not my friends…" Picking up his bag, he tossed it back on his bed. "But there's no where else."

A/N: As per usual make this young writer happy and please review!