A/N: The first chapter is up! This story is going to take place from the kids' and the parents' POVs. Don't worry, Daichi is going to show up soon. All the Takari haters are going to skin me alive! I know they didn't get married in the show but...sigh...I can dream, can't I? The first few chapters are my 'getting to know the characters' chapters, but don't worry, there will be lots of action later. I'll leave Davis' wife as a surprise for later on. I always liked her in the show and I thought they would make a cute couple. I'll give you a hint. She is a Digidestined. Now remember, this does NOT follow the twenty-five year later ending in the show that those fool Digimon creators came up with.(Honestly, what were they thinking?)

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. If I did, it would have ended along the lines of this story! (I forgot the disclaimer at the beginning. I always do that...I'm hopeless)

I apologize for grammar and spelling ahead of time. Other than that, enjoy!

Following The Footsteps Of Destiny

Chapter 1: A Day In The Takaishi House

Masato 'Matty' Takaishi

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

Where is my bookbag?

The young, golden-haired boy stuck his head in the closet and made a face at its contents. He was in the process of throwing coats over his shoulder to search for it when a loud voice called, "Masato Takaishi! You get in here this minute!"

Thirteen year old, handsome blond, Masato Takaishi froze and winced slightly. Uh oh. Dad must have found the garbage bags shoved between the wall and the kitchen counter.

Masato (whom friends and family called Matty in tribute to a certain blond uncle of his) carefully stepped his way over the coats and reluctantly entered the kitchen. There he found himself face to face with his father, who at the moment, was frowning at him with disapproval, his arms crossed. The last twenty-five years had been kind to the youngest member of the Ishida/Takaishi family. At thirty-seven years of age, his father, T.K. Takaishi, looked remarkably young. Many mistook him for being thirty rather than almost forty. His close cropped sunny hair was still a rainbow of golden shades and his eyes a sparkling blue. With an easy going attitude and a smile that could light up the world, it was no wonder he appeared younger than he was. The only real hint of his true age were the faint lines at the corners of both his eyes. Regrettably, he wasn't smiling now.

"Morning, Dad! What's up?" Matty asked. He put what he hoped was a cheerful smile on his face.

"Matty, did you stick the garbage bags behind the counter?" his father asked, giving him a long look. His expression made it seem as if he already knew the answer and he wasn't impressed.

So Dad had spotted them. He had been planning to take the bags out to the curb eventually, but he was kind of running late this morning. The young blond had figured he would deal with them after school, or better yet, have someone else deal with them. Unfortunately, since he had gotton up late, he had not managed to get away from the house in time.

"Um...would you believe me if I said I didn't?" Matty asked, trying to look innocent. He was sure his face appeared positively angelic. Takara was always saying he and Mickey could get away with anything once they got that look on their faces. Heavenly features she called them. Those words had made him groan more than once, but sometimes his looks paid off.

His father just stared at him. Unfortunately, this was not one of those times. So much for Takara's idea of heavenly features. They might win over some people, but not his parents. They knew him too well.

Matty felt his face heat up.

Darn.

His father always seemed to know when he was lying. It was seriously inconvenient, not only for him, but for his other siblings, as well. They hardly ever got away with anything. He had always wondered how his parents could be so in tune with their children. Most parents were clueless or pretended to be if they did not want to admit that something was wrong. With his dad, the ability to sense a troubled heart, or a lie, was astonishing. It was also seriously annoying. Then again, at times, it could also be very cool. His dad always knew when something was wrong and did everything he could to make it right. His mom was exactly the same way. Needless to say, the Takaishi children had a hard time covering it up if they did something they weren't supposed to be doing, but what the heck, he'd give it a shot.

"It was Mickey, I swear!"

His father raised an eyebrow. "Matty, I know very well it was you. Mickey did the garbage last week, without shoving it behind the counter, I might add!"

Oops. He had forgotton. So much for that. Before he could think up another lie, though, his father rolled his sky blue eyes to the ceiling and sighed loudly. "How many times do I have to tell you the space by the wall is not a garbage can. I assume you did it the last two times, as well?"

"What!"

Okay, so maybe it was me, but that doesn't mean Dad has to go an accuse me of it!

"How do you know it wasn't Mickey those times!"

"Because it always happens on your garbage weeks."

A small smile of amusement formed on his dad's lips, and Matty flinched. Busted. Just when he thought he had managed to slip out of the house twice before his parents discovered it was him. The bags had always been gone by the time he got home and it had been nice to have someone else doing the work. He should have known his parents would put two and two together. Well, it was great while it had lasted. He was just surprised they had not said something earlier. They were probably waiting to catch him in the act so they could get him into trouble later.

"Now stop blaming your brother," his father scolded. "You know very well we expect you to help out around the house a little bit and that means doing your share of the work!"

Oh no. I feel a lecture coming on.

"Alright, alright, I'll take them out."

Anything to avoid another boring reprimand.

His dad shook his head and laughed. "Honestly, Matty, I never have to hassle Mickey to do his chores. I don't know why you always makes things more difficult for yourself. We've told you many times before that we expect you and Mickey to do an equal share of work. Even Rina helps out where she can, despite being so young."

Matty sighed. His father was right, as usual.

Why do I always have to come out looking like the bad guy?

It wasn't that he didn't help out with the chores. He just got a little bit lazy once in a while.

The young blond started to yank the trash bags out of their temporary home, conceding defeat. He glanced up at his father and gave the man a sullen look. "You know, this is probably going to make me late for school."

His dad smiled at him, his blue eyes sparkling. "Then you had better hurry up, hadn't you?"

Matty dragged the bags out into the hall, muttering under his breath the whole way. This is so unfair! I don't have time to be hauling trash around! Now I'm definitely going to be late for school. Why do we have to take them out so early, anyway? The Takaishi house was on the last street of the garbage route and the trucks wouldn't be there for a few hours yet.

Out in the sunshine, it was boiling hot. By the time Matty got the bags to the curb and raced back into the house, he was sweating like crazy and the clock was ticking. "Give me the dirty work," he grumbled and stepped back into the kitchen.

His father was waiting for him by the sink. "Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He looked like he was trying not to laugh at his son's expense. Matty made a face at him, but he couldn't help smiling back.

In his opinion, he had the best father in the whole world. Always understanding and sympathetic, his dad knew how to cure everything from a skinned knee to a broken heart. Despite the parental scolding earlier, Matty knew his mom and dad loved him just as much as his other siblings, even if he did give them the most grief. One thing Matty knew for sure was that his dad would always be one of his heroes.

"You look hungry after all that exercise." Smiling, his father came forward and gently ruffled his hair. "You'd better have something to eat before you leave."

The affectionate gesture took the sting out of his earlier disiplining and cheered Matty up considerably. The young blond hopped into a seat at the table, feeling happy again, and eagerly went to work on his breakfast. He was quite content to listen to his father's suggestion this time.

"You really are hungry!"

A soft shuffling sound made Matty look up from his plate. Standing at the opposite door, looking every bit as blond and angelic as he did, was his identical twin brother, Thirteen year old Makiya Takaishi. Makiya (affectionally called Mickey) shuffled into the room rubbing sleep from his large, amber brown eyes. His tousled golden hair was sticking up in several places, and his rosy cheeks were flushed from a good night of sleep.

"What time is it?" Matty's partner in crime mumbled.

Speak of the devil, or should I say angel?

Matty laughed and smiled fondly in his twin's direction. Despite the fact that he had tried to frame Mickey only two minutes ago, Matty loved his shy, sweet brother with all his heart and soul. They were the best of friends, despite the fact that they were complete opposites. He was outspoken, yet at the same time, very laid back and mellow. He did not often stress about things unnecessarily. Mickey, on the other hand, was shy, thoughtful, and fairly quiet. He could also be very emotional when things affected him deeply. Their personalities were not the least bit alike, but they still understood one another, even if they didn't always look at things the same way.

"Hey, sleepy head! It's about time you got up. You were out like a light when I left the room." He sent his twin an affectionate look and motioned him towards the table. Usually, Mickey always woke up early and he was the one who slept in. This time Mickey was even later to get ready for school than he was. Talk about a big surprise. Mickey followed the rules like clockwork. He was practically perfect, which was why he hardly ever got into trouble.

Makiya gave him one of his trademark shy smiles and slipped into the seat across from him. "Morning, Matty," he said softly.

Mickey looked so adorable rubbing sleep from his eyes that Matty wanted to hug him. Regrettably, the table happened to be in the way of his twin, so he shoved a large piece of fruit in his mouth instead.

"Here, Mickey, you had better hurry up and finish your breakfast." Their father handed Mickey a plate and smiled warmly at him. "Otherwise you two are really going to be late."

Mickey flushed and quickly shoved his spoon in his mouth.

"Morning to you, too," Matty replied, grinning at his twin's embarrassment. Mickey tended to blush easily and get embarrassed over the littlest of things. It was just the way he was.

Wait a minute! My bag!

"Dad, I can't find my bag!" His sudden purpose for destroying the coat closet had just come back to him. It was the reason he was so late to begin with.

"On the stairs."

Matty blinked in surprise. "Oh, is that where I left it? How did you know?"

"Because I nearly tripped over it this morning."

If only I had known that earlier. I could have grabbed my backpack and gotten away from the house before dad discovered the garbage! Oh well, he would have just gotten in trouble after school instead of before.

Matty snuck a look at Mickey and rolled his eyes just as their father turned his back to them. Mickey smiled and quickly shoved a piece of toast in his mouth to keep himself from laughing out loud. The twins held a deep resemblance to both their mother and their father. Each had bright, silky, golden blond hair they had inherited from their dad, and his sparkling smile. From their mother, they had been gifted with amber brown eyes and high cheekbones. Often people would mention how much they looked like their father, or they looked like their mother. It seemed to make their parents immensly proud to hear it and Matty had no clue as to why. He guessed it was a parent thing.

At the sound of squealing, father and sons looked up. Standing at the door, holding a squirming child in her arms, was the twin's pretty, dark haired mother. Her shiny tresses still shone a rich chestnut colour, with burgundy highlights, and her eyes were a sparkling amber. She, too, looked quite young for her age, her face still unlined. Their father came forward and relieved her of the wriggling girl, with a smile, and she gave him a grateful smile in return.

"No, Mummy! I don't want to go!" Six year old Yurina Takaishi pouted, making faces. Rina was Matty's and Mickey's younger sister. Her hair was the same colour as her mother's and her eyes were the same sparkling blue as her dad's.

The twin's mother, thirty-seven year old Kari Takaishi (formerly of the Kamiya surname), turned to Matty and gave him a disapproving look. "Matty, honey, how many times do I have to tell you not to leave things on the stairs? One of these days someones going to trip and fall."

"I was coming to get it!"

How unfair is this! Why do my parents have to go and pick on me today?

"Bad Matty!" Rina giggled, hiding her face against her father's shoulder.

Matty made a face at her and slumped down in his seat, sulking. This is totally turning out to be a crummy day!

"Right," his mother said, giving him a small smile. She obviously didn't believe him.

"At least he had an excuse for you," his father grinned.

"Hey, I took the garbage out!"

His father rolled his eyes. "Eventually, after twice not doing it! I'm certainly not going to keep taking the garbage out for you!"

"Matty." His mother frowned at him. Normally she was easy going, except when it came to shared housework.

"I'm kind of running late in case you didn't notice the time!" Matty wailed. "Otherwise I would have done it, really! Besides, how come you don't make Dad do garbage?"

"Who do you think empties all the garbage cans into big plastic bags in the first place?" His father looked very amused. "Trust me, your mother makes me do all kinds of things I don't particularly want to do, but she's the boss!"

Kari laughed and kissed his cheek.

"It's still not fair!"

"Poor Matty." Mickey murmured reaching across the table and giving his hand a sympathetic pat.

"Were you late the other two times you didn't do garbage?"

When he didn't answer, his mother smiled slightly. "I thought so and no more sticking it behind the counter!"

Great, Mom knew all along it was me, too. This day just keeps getting better and better.

"Daddy," Rina whined, "I don't want to go to school!" She looked quite disgusted by the fact that she had not been included in the conversation.

"Don't you want to play with all your friends," their father asked. He kissed her cheek and set her in a seat at the table.

Rina appeared determined to be difficult today. No wonder it had taken their mom so long to get her ready. The youngest Takaishi could be quite a handful if she didn't get her own way. "No," Rina pouted. The little first grader started to play with her food. "No docter either!"

Their mother looked up at the clock and gasped. "Mickey! Matty! Hurry up! You really are going to be late if you don't get moving!"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Matty quickly shoveled down the rest of his food and ran to get his backpack.

"Pick up the mess you made with the coats while you're at it," his father called after him.

Matty groaned. Doesn't Dad overlook anything? Quickly, he shoved the coats back into the closet and raced into the kitchen. "Come on, Mickey, lets go."

"But...I barely started eating!" Mickey protested, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Their father laughed and kissed the top of Mickey's golden head. "Then maybe next time you should get up when the alarm goes off instead of sneaking in another half hour of sleep!"

"Yeah, like me!" Matty grinned.

"There's always a first time," his father joked. "Not that it put you any farther ahead. You're still going to be late too! See? It doesn't pay to skip out on garbage. You end up doing just as much work trying to hide it!"

"Dad!"

What is this? Make fun of Masato day?

His dad just laughed. "Here." He handed Mickey a piece of fruit and getting him out of his seat, he gave his son a gentle push towards the door. "You'll have to eat it on the way."

"But-"

"Come on!" Matty grabbed his brother's wrist and dragged him towards the door.

"I'll drop Rina off at school after her docter's appointment," T.K. told Kari as he attempted to clean his daughter up a bit.

"Thanks, T.K. I better get going or I'm going to be late, too." Their mother, Kari, worked at one of the local schools as a kindergarten teacher. It was the perfect job for her warm, caring personality, but truthfully, Matty was just grateful it wasn't his school otherwise she would never get off his case! She gave their father a quick kiss on the lips and started hurrying Mickey and himself towards the door. Even just that one small gesture showed how much his parents still loved eachother. It was the kind of love that would never fade no matter what fate threw their way. He knew how lucky he was to have two parents who loved him, his siblings, and each other.

"No needles!" Rina screamed at the top of her lungs.

"You need it to stay healthy. You don't want to get sick, do you?"

Rina continued to scream, ignoring her father.

"Don't forget to pick up some milk," their mother called over the noise.

"Bye, Dad!" Matty grinned. Typical day in the Takaishi house!

"Bye. Have a good day and don't get into trouble!"

Matty rolled his eyes and left their modest three bedroom house with Mickey in tow.

Their mother was right behind them calling out a goodbye to her husband and Rina. Then she turned her attention onto them. "You two be good," she said with a stern look. She got into one of the two family cars and drove off with a wave, along with several blown kisses.

The twins were left to walk to school on their own and quickly started off.