Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Sorry this chapter took me so long. It's gonna be a busy two months for me until Christmas, but I'll do my best to keep the chapters coming. Now, I didn't want to cram everything into this chapter, so some of your questions (some of which I can already guess at this point) will be answered in the next chapter and in the chapters to come. Look forward to more!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 249: Where It All Began

Ryoko Ishida

Hikarigaoka, Japan, Earth

Ryoko Ishida was not normally the type to feel nervous in the presence of other human beings, but when those people were Kenji and Mai Iwamoto all of a sudden it was a whole different story. Ever since he had heard about the very first team of Digidestined, he'd been fascinated by the mystery of their story and curious about what kind of people they were. They hardly seemed real to him, and though he had dreamed about having a chance to meet them, he had not really expected that it would ever happen. But now all of a sudden these elusive first Digidestined were becoming more than just a mythical tale or the stuff of legends for their successors to pass down from generation to generation. They were no longer just a piece of history, a fragment of the past that was keeping the story of the Digital World and its human protectors alive. They were real people, who had experience with the Powers of Darkness and the evil trying to corrupt the Digital World first hand, and that made him nervous.

What will Tal and his team think of their successors? Will we be able to carry out their legacy in a way that is beneficial to the Digital World? Have their sacrifices been in vain or have their efforts thus far paved the way for a brighter future and a better tomorrow? Have we given it our best effort or is there more that we can do? Have we failed them, or are we following the right path out of the darkness and into the light?

Ryoko had no answers for the many doubts lurking inside his own heart, and it was a result of his own uncertainties that he felt so anxious about meeting his predecessors. They were doing all they could to save the Digital World, but was it enough? Were they truly giving it their all, or was there more that they could do? He did not want Tal and the others to view him as a failure, nor did he want his friends to suffer the same fate.

The uncertainty of how Tal and the others would perceive him and his friends was enough to make even the most bravest of souls feel anxious, and as he had proved in the past his wasn't always that strong when it came to matters of the heart. Tal and his team of Digidestined were essentially strangers to him, and they were a lot more experienced with the Digital World than he was. That thought weighed heavily on his mind, but even so he held his head high and kept his gaze steady as he made his way towards the elevator that would take him to the fourth floor of Building Two at the Highton View Terrace complex. Thankfully he wasn't alone, and knowing that Dai and the others would be there with him for the initial confrontation eased his fears somewhat.

Everybody had wanted to come, so they had loaded themselves up with food for their potluck coverup dinner and crammed themselves into the least amount of cars as possible that it would take to get them all to Highton View Terrace. Their large group had taken up a number of spaces in the visitors parking lot, but thankfully the place didn't seem overly crowded that evening. Izzy had decided that Dai and his team would head up to Kenji's apartment to meet with him while the rest of their group waited down below in the parking lot, since it would look too suspicious to have that many unfamiliar faces walking around the building. Everybody had agreed it was a good plan, and before he knew it Ryoko had found himself wandering the ground floor of Building Two in search of an elevator with his five friends and their digimon partners. At the moment they had their digimon tucked away in their backpacks, so as not to draw attention to themselves, but Ryoko could feel Iramon shifting restlessly in his bag. Not that he could blame the little guy. He too was feeling a tad restless, and the unusually quiet atmosphere of the building wasn't helping in the slightest.

"Well, here we are," Dai said, gesturing towards the elevators as he consulted the slip of paper in his hand. "Kenji's apartment is number sixty-five. Once we're on the fourth floor it should be on the left."

"We hope," Matty grumbled as he shuffled his way into the elevator. "This place is huge. How are all of these people able to remember where they live?"

"Not everyone gets confused as easily as you do, Matty," Sam teased, stepping in after the younger twin. "It can't be that bad if even Dai can figure out where we're supposed to go!"

"Hey!"

Ryoko let out a soft snort at Sam's joke, and crowding his way into the elevator after Mickey, he waited patiently as Takara reached around him to push the button for the fourth floor. They rode in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts, ad when the elevator dinged to announce their intended destination it startled him so badly he jumped and almost fell over Mickey's foot.

"Everybody ready?" Mickey asked, his voice quiet as he studied each of their faces for any sign of discomfort.

"Ready as we'll ever be," Matty grumbled, making a face.

Dai was the first one brave enough to step out of the elevator, and following behind him Ryoko kept a careful eye on the numbers that were displayed on each of the apartment doors. As Dai had mentioned earlier, number sixty-five was on the left, and stopping just in front of the door they paused to make sure the hall was still empty before speaking.

"Who wants to do the honours?" Sam asked, nodding his head at the door.

Dai was the only one who seemed willing to volunteer, but before he could open his mouth Takara stepped up to the door and rapped smartly on its smooth, wooden surface.

There was a moment of silence and then the door opened, revealing a beautiful teenage girl with long black hair and vivid blue eyes.

"Hello there," the girl said softly, the corners of her mouth turning up in a small smile. "You must be the new Digidestined."

For a moment nobody said anything, and then gathering his wits about him Dai managed to stammer, "Y-your parents told you about the Digital World?"

The girl tilted her head to the side, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder, and watching Dai closely, she said, "I don't think they would have if I hadn't stumbled across their Digivices when I was very young. After that, they had no choice but to tell me. And it was only fair that my siblings knew the truth as well. Back then I used to think it was just a story, and even as I got older I had a hard time believing it was all real. But now...seeing you here like this, there is no doubt more room for doubt. They told me you were coming here today. Your presence here tonight has convinced me. I look forward to seeing these digimon friends of yours and those of my parents."

"May we ask you your name?" Takara said politely, giving the girl a friendly smile. "You appear to be a bit older than us."

"I'm seventeen," the girl replied, returning Kara's smile. "My name is Riya. Riya Iwamoto. Please, do come in."

Riya looked very classy in her black riding boots, gray tights, and a long-sleeved sapphire top, and motioning for them to follow her she led the group through the foyer towards the living room, which was decorated in soft browns and golds. Just as they were about to enter a young man came hurrying out of the kitchen. He crashed into Riya, nearly knocking her over, and catching her arm he murmured a quick apology before slipping past her to head down the hall. He came to an abrupt stop, though, when he realized Sam was standing in his way, and turning to observe them his deep green eyes narrowed in scrutiny.

"Hey there," Dai said cheerfully, giving the young man a cheerful wave.

Ryoko assumed the man was Riya's brother, though he looked older than she did.

"So, you have come," the young man said quietly, his gaze settling on Dai's goggles.

"This is my older brother, Shinji Iwamoto. We call him Shin. He's nineteen and a bit of a pain."

Shin gave his sister a look, though he did not bother to respond. The young man had tousled blond hair, and there was a light splattering of freckles on his nose. Like his sister, his skin was pale, but unlike Riya's friendly blue gaze, his deep green eyes were guarded. Though at first sight he seemed a bit unfriendly, Ryoko could tell there was a sense of something deeper underneath.

He's testing us and weighing the value of our commitment to our mission.

"Are you going to join us?" Riya asked, raising her dark eyebrows.

Shin was wearing faded blue jeans, and a long-sleeved v-neck top that showed off his nice build. It was striped in shades of forest green, brown, and white, and he was wearing a white crewneck shirt underneath. He was lean and of average height, and he was eye-catching enough to capture the attention of the girls, but Ryoko barely noticed any of that. What he noticed was the look in Shin's eyes that reflected his own. Watchful, observant, and unwilling to trust anyone until they had proven their worth.

Like his father, I suspect.

"I suppose I'll join you," Shin replied, turning suddenly to enter the living room instead. "This way."

Ryoko followed after the older boy, and coming into the living room he stopped short when he spotted two people sitting on the floor playing video games and sharing a bowl of popcorn. One was a young woman in skinny blue jeans and a teal hoodie, and the other was a boy wearing bright yellow socks, jean shorts, a yellow t-shirt, navy blue hoodie, and a black baseball cap perched backwards on his head. The boy was the younger of the two, and his hair was black like Riya's. The girl had medium length blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, and her eyes were the same shade of green as Shin's eyes. Both the boy and the girl were shoving popcorn into their mouths with enthusiasm, and they seemed to be having some sort of competition.

"Having fun?" Riya laughed, seating herself on the couch.

"Nobu sucks at video games," the girl joked, elbowing her brother in the ribs. "I always win."

"Only because you like to cheat!" the boy shot back, sticking out his tongue.

The girl was about to respond when she noticed the group of strangers standing in the doorway, and perking up, she said, "Oh! Shin, did you make some new friends?"

"Hardly," the blond man snorted, moving away from them to sit next to Riya. "They're Seta's pupils from the school in Odaiba."

"The new Digidestined!" the boy, Nobu, spoke up, dropping the controller in his hand and turning to gaze at them with wide eyes.

"In case you haven't already guessed, this is my younger brother, Nobuo Iwamoto. He's fifteen. And that's my sister, Kae Iwamoto. She's eighteen."

"Hey there!" Kae said, giving them a cheerful smile and a hearty wave. "Nice to meet you all!"

"You too!" Takara replied, beaming at the other girl.

"I'll go get Mom and Dad," Nobu said, leaping to his feet and preparing to race out of the room.

"No need. I'm right here, Nobu."

Ryoko jumped at the sound of a new voice, and glancing around the living room he spotted a door on the left at the other end from where he stood. It appeared to lead to a dining room, and from what he could tell the dining room then led into the kitchen. The kitchen also led into the foyer, which in turn led back into the living room. As a result he came to the conclusion that the rooms were set up in a large circle, which made it easy to navigate from one to the next. At the door leading into the dining room he spotted a man standing in the dim light. Though he was much older than the young boy he had seen on Gennai's monitor in the Digital World, Ryoko instantly recognized the face.

There was no question about it. The man could only be the mysterious and temperamental Kenji Iwamoto.

Izzy had also done his research on Kenji just before they left for Highton View Terrace, and the results had been somewhat surprising. Before marrying Mai Nakaniwa, Kenji had gotten himself a degree in psychology. He worked as a psychologist out of a local building in town that he shared with three other certified psychologists, and he had written a book and several essays on his field of expertise. At forty-six years of age, he had lived at the Highton View Terrace complex with his wife and four children for many years, and he was well-respected in the medical field for his work, especially when it came to his work with young children and teenagers. It was surprising considering the way Kenji had behaved on that old video Gennai had shown them, but at the same time it wasn't. Ryoko could see the man wanting to help others who had suffered like him. Ryoko did not know his full story, but he could tell Kenji had suffered as a child, and now he was giving back to others who were going through similar experiences.

"There you are, Dad. Our new friends are here," Riya said, smiling at her father and waving him over.

Kenji's black hair was graying at the temples, and the lines around his eyes gave him a very distinguished look. His handsome face was stern, and it made him seem a little intimidating at first sight, but on closer inspection Ryoko could sense a deep kindness and understanding behind his searching gaze. His dark green eyes mirrored those of his son Shin and his daughter Kae, and there was a sense of calmness about him that Ryoko found intriguing. He sensed, as before, that the man had suffered many hardships, and yet here he was, whole and at peace with himself. It was certainly a sight to behold.

Will I ever be like that?

Kenji was dressed in a dark gray suit and dark green shirt that matched his eyes. His tie was also a matching shade and pattern of green, gray, and black, and his gaze was silent and watchful.

He took a seat on the couch between Riya and Shin, and folding his arms together he studied them closely and said, "The Digital World chooses its protectors well, I see. In that nothing has changed in the many years that we have all risked our lives to keep the forces of darkness at bay."

Ryoko felt Kenji's green gaze settle on him, and he a blush began to spread across his face. It was as if Kenji had read the entire story etched onto his soul, revealing every fear and uncertainty that he had been trying so hard to hide.

I have a feeling we're a lot alike. Maybe he can sense that.

His thoughts were confirmed when Kenji's eyes settled on Daichi, and the man's green gaze seemed to light from within with interest. Leaning forward on the couch he trained his eyes on the goggle-headed leader, waiting for him to speak.

"The Digital World often knows us better than we know ourselves," Daichi replied, holding his head high. "I take it you got Mr. Sugiyama's message then?"

Kenji nodded slowly, a ghost of a smile slipping across his stern features. "I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when he spoke to me."

"Yet you're still willing to help us, despite knowing what you're getting yourself into," Mickey spoke up, glancing shyly at the raven-haired Digidestined.

Kenji's gaze fell on the older twin, and studying Mickey closely, he said quietly, "Was there ever any doubt?"

Mickey didn't seem to know what to say to that, and blushing he stepped behind Matty to hide his embarrassment.

Before anyone else could respond a blond woman entered the room from the foyer, and coming to a stop her face split into a welcoming smile. "So you're all here. I nearly fell out of my seat when Seta told us the news. I hope my children have been pleasant in welcoming you all to our home."

"Mother, please," Shin replied, rolling his eyes.

"I'm always up for new friends," Nobu grinned, giving his mother a thumbs up.

At forty-three years of age, Mai Iwamoto was still every bit as bright and energetic as she had appeared on Gennai's monitor. Her blue eyes sparkled with a sense of youth, and her long blond hair was pulled back into a haphazard ponytail that hung down her back. She was lean and fit, and she seemed to bounce with energy even when standing still. According to Izzy, Mai was a yoga instructor, and she also taught aerobics classes. At the moment she was wearing gray yoga pants, a sky blue t-shirt, yellow hoodie, and blue and white running shoes. She must have just finished her classes for the day, just as Kenji must have finished his sessions with his patients earlier. Both hadn't bothered to change clothes, and they both seemed willing to talk.

It's just as Kenji said. How could we ever doubt?

From his perspective Kae and Nobu seemed to take after their mother, while Shin and Riya were more like their father. All four seemed like good people, and Ryoko couldn't help liking all of them.

They have great parents to learn from, just like I do.

"You must be Mai. It's a pleasure to meet you," Sam said pleasantly, smiling at the golden-haired female.

"You as well," Mai replied, grinning at Sam and clapping her hands together. "I suppose we should get going. Tal and the others will be waiting for us, and I can't wait to see Velinemon again! Riya, would you mind getting the food?"

"Sure, I can do that."

Riya quickly headed for the kitchen, and folding his arms across his chest, Shin said firmly, "We're coming too. We want to hear this story."

"You're more than welcome to join us, if you'd like," Kenji told his son, getting to his feet.

Kae let out a loud cheer, and hugging her father from behind, she said, "Let's get going then!"

"Wait for me!" Nobu cried, scrambling to turn off the video game system.

"I would suggest keeping your digimon out of sight until we meet up with the others," Kenji warned, reaching behind him to give Kae's ponytail a gentle tug. "Best not to attract too much attention."

"You knew they were in our bags?" Takara asked, blinking in surprise.

"We used that trick a few times ourselves, back in the day," Kenji said dryly, earning himself a few chuckles.

"And besides, your bag was moving," Mai laughed, winking at Kara.

Riya came back into the room with a platter in her hands, and together the group made their way back down to the first floor.

Kenji led them out to the visitor's parking lot, where the others were milling around the vehicles and waiting for their arrival. Tai spotted them first, and coming over, he said, "Are we ready to go?"

"Follow me," Kenji said quietly, his green gaze traveling over Tai's face before he turned on his heels and headed towards the back of the buildings.

"We'll wait to make our introductions once we've joined Tal and the others," Mai said cheerfully, following after her husband.

There was a sense of excitement buzzing in the air, and following after Kenji's children Ryoko couldn't help himself from getting caught up in the atmosphere. All of the digimon were hidden in bags or dressed in disguise, and they were laden with food. Luckily it wasn't that far to walk, and reaching the courtyard where the playground was they quickly dumped their food on the picnic tables and dropped their bags, earning a few protests from the digimon hiding within.

An old bench stood nearby beneath a group of large trees, and wandering over to it, Ryoko immediately spotted something engraved into the side of the bench. It was faded, but he could still make out Kenji's first name etched into the wood.

"It was a different apartment on a different floor, but yes I used to live here as a child many years ago," a voice said quietly behind him.

Ryoko turned to find Kenji watching him, and returning the man's gaze, he said, "With your mother, stepfather, and stepbrother?"

Kenji nodded, and moving to stand next to him, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "My brother Kensuke lives here in town as well. My two nephews are close to Shin."

"Your brother?" Ryoko asked, raising his eyebrows. The lack of the word 'step' before 'brother' was not lost on him, and gazing calmly at him, Kenji said, "Brother, yes. A mother, a brother, and two fathers. One who teaches his grandchildren the beauty of life, and another who continues to watch over his grandchildren from the next life. I have been very blessed in my life, as have you I believe."

And it was then that Ryoko understood. Life goes on, and all was forgiven. Somehow Kenji Iwamoto had found a way to make peace with himself, and the strength of his resolve had paved the way for a better future. And Ryoko knew it was all thanks to the Digital World and the friends Kenji had made as a result of his travels, both human and digimon alike.

Will I ever be able to find my way too?

"It will come," Kenji said quietly, reaching out to place a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Give it time."

Ryoko wanted to respond, but he couldn't seem to find the words. Luckily he didn't have to. A call from Seta interrupted him, and turning he spotted the principal and Gessmon waving them over. A woman stood next to him that he assumed was his wife, and there were two girls with him as well that Ryoko assumed were the man's daughters. Next to them stood anther couple with two children, a boy and a girl, and both the dark-haired woman and the blond man were smiling. From their appearances they could only be Tal and Inca Kuroki.

"Come," Kenji said softly. "The others will want to start."

Ryoko quickly followed the raven-haired man over to where the rest of the crowd were making themselves comfortable on either the picnic tables, benches, or the grass, and sitting on the ground next to Dai he could feel his father watching him. He returned the former musician's gaze with a reassuring smile before tuning his attention back to the conversation at hand, but despite his smile he could sense that his father was still concerned. He knew his father had seen him with Kenji, but for now it would have to wait.

Inca Kuroki was a beautiful woman with long dark hair and dark eyes. Even at forty-six years of age she seemed young and full of life. Her face was kind, and the lines around the corners of her eyes gave her a mature look. Like Kenji her hair was beginning to show some gray, but it did not take away from her stunning appearance. She was wearing a black skirt with a maroon coloured top, and she wore knee-length boots with heels to match her outfit. Her long hair was done up in pins at the back of her head, and she radiated an air of quiet confidence. Her husband stood next to her, and his gray eyes were sparkling like silver in the sunshine. His blond hair looked like spun gold, and glancing at Kenji, he said in a teasing voice, "I hope you're not scaring off our new team members."

Kenji let out a soft snort, and stepping up beside the golden-haired Digidestined, he said, "You're never going to let me forget the day we first received our Digivices, are you."

"Never," Tal replied, winking at the raven-haired Digidestined.

Takahiro Kuroki was a charming man with a friendly face and a warm smile. Like his wife and Kenji he was forty-six years old, but you wouldn't know it to look at him. Though his face was beginning to show signs of age like his wife, his hair had not yet begun to loose its colour, and his smile made him appear younger than he was. He was dressed casually in blue jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt, and his expression suggested that he didn't have a care in the world.

Like Seta, Tal loved to teach. He was a physical education teacher at one of the local high schools, and he also coached the school soccer team. Unlike Kenji, he had changed into more comfortable clothing for their meeting, and he looked quiet comfortable in his own skin. His wife Inca was a nurse at the local hospitable, and she too had changed out of her scrubs for their meeting. Both looked ready to talk, and Ryoko once again felt guilty for having doubted them.

I wonder what new surprises are waiting for us in their story...

"It's wonderful to meet you all," Inca said softly, beaming at them. "Before we make introductions, though, we'd like to welcome Daichi and his friends to this place."

"This place?" Matty asked, looking confused.

Takahiro Kuroki smiled at the younger twin, and gesturing at the courtyard, he said, "Welcome to Highton View Terrace. The place where it all began..."