Foreword: DigiTales was originally going to be taking parts of 01 and expanding on them, but then it went in a very, very different direction. And because of that, this will more a collection of stories rather than one long one.

I've rated this one M, but I think it'll be more of a T with M moments popping up from time to time.

As things are now, Takari is the only pairing I can promise. As for Taichi/Sora/Yamato, I have no idea where that'll end up since I don't have any real preference.


Seven year old Yagami Taichi let out a depressed sigh. It was a perfect day outside. No clouds, nice and windy, the perfect day to really push himself in the greatest game of all time: Soccer. Looking out the window, he could see other kids enjoying that sacred sport in the park across the street. One lousy street. That was all that was between him and that glorious pastime.

A small cough reminded him why he was forbidden from crossing said street. Or even going outside for that matter, instead having to settle for a television that couldn't even be bothered to play one lousy soccer game. He peeked over the couch and glared at the four year old warden holding him here. There she was, his little sister Hikari, with short brown hair and big brown eyes that made every adult ever gush over how "cute" she was. She was wearing a white shirt and pink dress completing her "perfect little angel" image that made their parents do whatever she wanted. In this case, she wanted Taichi to be stuck inside while their parents went out for… uh… something. What difference did it make? He was still stuck here because the little brat was pretending to be sick. Again.

"Onii-san?" her small voice piped up as she sat on the floor with a coloring book, "What color should I make the kitty?" How like her, acting as if she had no idea what she'd done to him.

"Who cares?!" he snapped, letting his frustration burst out. Hikari's popped open and she fell back slightly. She started to shake and Taichi immediately regretted his outburst as tears filled her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," her voice cracked, "I-I'll g-go where I w-won't b-b-bother you." He inwardly groaned as her trembling hands began to gather her crayons. Great. I made her cry. Again. Mom and Dad are gonna find out. Again. And I'm gonna get in trouble! Again! It was always the same! Hikari gets upset over something. His parents ask her, but instead of just telling, she puts on her good girl act and says it's nothing. That way when they do find out, he ends up the bad guy. Every. Single. Time.

He had to do something. He slid off the couch and rushed over, kneeling in front of her. "Please don't cry, I'm sorry." She looked at him, lightly sobbing. Great. Now I'm really in trouble. He had to think fast and cheer her up now! But how? He hated all those girly things she liked. Why couldn't she like the things he liked? Like soccer? Wait a minute! He had an idea. Hikari never tries anything. I'll bet if I got her playing soccer, then she'd like it! "I got a fun idea," he said, her expression immediately brightening, "I could teach you to play soccer."

"R-Really?!" She sounded so happy, much more than he expected. "B-But we can't play in the house and Mommy and Daddy said-"

"They're gonna be gone for a while," he waved her protests away, "We just have to be back before they are." He let a slight edge slip into his voice. "And we won't tell them, right?" Wide-eyed, Hikari shook her head.

"I-I won't! I promise!" He studied her very carefully. She could be lying. She started to shake. "I promise Onii-san," she squeaked, "I won't say anything to Mommy and Daddy. I promise." Well, she seemed sincere. For once.

"Okay, then. Let's go."


Taichi took a deep breath while walking Hikari along the park's fence and his trusty soccer ball in his other hand. The sun was recharging his solar batteries perfectly and the air had that fun smell cars left in it. Perfect soccer weather. Hikari seemed to be enjoying herself too, humming as she skipped along with him. He looked over at the kids playing. Call that soccer? Wait till I'm out there! Wait, there was one player who wasn't playing too badly. "Sora!" he called out. The player, Takenouchi Sora, who had short red hair and was wearing a yellow t-shirt and blue shorts came running up. She was his best friend for as long as he could remember and the number two soccer player in the world (he was number one of course).

"Taichi? Didn't think you were coming," she said, sounding surprised.

"Oh, come on," he said, stretching his arms out, "Me miss a chance to beat you again?" Sora raised an eyebrow.

"Again? You're pretty proud of that lucky shot."

"Well I'm feeling real lucky today." A small cough interrupted whatever Sora was about to say. She gave Hikari a big smile and Taichi suppressed a sigh. Best friend or not, Sora was also completely fooled his Hikari's innocent act.

"You're here too, Hika?!"

"H-Hi Sora-san," the smaller girl weakly said. Was she tired? No, probably just nervous. Not that she had any reason to be; she'd known Sora her entire life. In fact, when she was born, Sora was at the hospital with Taichi and held her right after he did. But then again, Hikari got nervous about a lot of things.

"Oh, come on, Hika," Sora pointed at him, "If he can just call me 'Sora', so can you." He gave her a mock glare.

"Hey! You sound like you like her more than me!" She looked at him with a perfectly blank expression.

"Who doesn't?" Before he could think of a comeback, he felt Hikari's arms wrap around him.

"You're my favorite, Onii-san," she said. His face started getting warm. Was she trying to embarrass him?

"Uh, o-okay, uh, Sora! Got room for another player?" Hikari suddenly let go and stepped back, disappointment flashing across her face before her smile returned. Oh, darn it! I'm supposed to be teaching her! He thought for a second. No, it'll still be a while before Mom and Dad come home. I can do both.

"And what will Hika do?" Sora asked. Aw, darn it. She always took Hikari's side. Always. It was the main cause, or rather, only cause of their fights.

"I-I'll be okay!" she answered with a cough. He scanned the playground just past the playing field. A bunch of little kids were there and he could easily keep an eye on her while playing. There were other adults too, so she'd be okay.

"You see the playground over there?" he asked. She nodded, looking disappointed again. "Stay there so I can see you. And I promise I'll teach you when the game's done." Hikari's face brightened again.

"Okay, Onii-san!"


Leaning his back against the fence, Taichi panted heavily. That was one intense game. This time he had to admit it really was a lucky shot that got past Sora like that. He was going to be tired and sore, but the good kind of tired and sore. He looked at his watch. Still a bit before his parents would be back home. The perfect crime.

He started towards the playground where Hikari was playing in the sandbox with some blonde haired boy with a green t-shirt and brown shorts. That was a weird hair color. Hikari looked up at him. She said something to the boy, probably goodbye, and started running and stumbling towards him. "Taichi!" She gave him another hug. And another cough. "Are you gonna teach me now?" Oh, darn it! That's right! He promised her, too! He checked his watch. Enough time to at least teach her something simple. I can still pull this off.

"Sure thing, but we'll start with something real simple. But it'll be important. Every player has to know this." Hikari pulled away and stood at attention. She was sweating pretty hard too. Must have been out in the sun too long.

"I-I won't l-let y-you down," she said.

"Don't worry, this'll be easy," he assured, setting the soccer ball down, "You just need to run up and kick it. Your first few kicks will be pretty bad, but you'll get the hang of it."

Unfortunately, "first few kicks" turned out to be a few more than he expected. It was almost impressive, really, Hikari's inability to run a straight line. Or rather, stumble. And her kicks were awful, just grazing the ball, barely nudging it. It wasn't even hard; all she had to do was run up to the ball and kick it. That was it. He'd learned it in no time, why couldn't she?! It couldn't be because she was a girl because Sora learned it just as fast! Maybe the older girl would have better luck teaching her, but, no, she'd had already gone back home. "Hikari!" he was finding it harder and harder to keep the irritation out of his voice as he went over to retrieve the ball, "I keep telling you! Focus on the ball! It's easy!"

Huh, no answer this time. Usually it was the coughed out apology that he was getting more than a little sick of hearing. Well, fine. Maybe if she stopped apologizing, she could start thinking about her lousy playing. He turned around and… she was lying face down on the ground! Even as his brain registered the sight, he dropped the ball and raced over to her. "Hikari!" She was fine a second ago, wasn't she?! As he knelt down and rolled her on to her back, his mind raced through the day. All the times she coughed. The stumbling. How weak she sounded when she talked to Sora. She wasn't pretending! She is sick! Guilt exploded throughout his insides while tears began rolling down his cheeks. "Hikari! I'm so sorry! Please wake up!" No answer, just a lot of heavy breathing. She was sweating pretty badly too and it looked like she was in pain. "Hikari! Hikari!" He looked up and noticed the crowd he was attracted. "Help! She's sick! Please, help!" One woman, with the blonde kid next to her, was already on her phone.


It had been a few days since Hikari was taken to the hospital. At least, Taichi thought it was a few days, it felt more like years. He laid back on the couch and tried to focus on the TV. How was his team doing again? Oh, who cares? They were running and kicking a ball for some stupid reason. A reason that nearly got his sister killed. He could still feel the slap his mother gave him and found himself thinking it wasn't hard enough. And Sora had a few things to say to him. Very loud things and he deserved it all and more. Each second slowly crawled by as he waited for his parents' return. They were able bring Hikari home today and then they were going to decide how long his grounding would last. Not that he really cared; not after the way he treated her.

All those times he upset her, made her cry, but she never blamed him. In fact, she'd try to claim it was something else, but of course, being a terrible liar, Taichi would get caught anyhow. But it wasn't like she ever meant for it, and she always apologized to him even though it was his fault. I was always so mean to her. I blamed her for all the stupid things I kept doing. She looked so happy when he used her as an excuse to play soccer. She didn't even complain when he tried to back out! She loves you so much you idiot! He recalled Sora shouting at him, her eyes filled with tears. She didn't care about soccer! She just wanted to play with you for once!

He'd made a decision. There was no way Hikari loved him now. Lying in that hospital bed, thinking of all the horrible ways he treated her, and the fact he was too much of a coward to visit her saw to that. She hated him now. She had to. But that was okay because he was going to be the greatest big brother in the world to her now, even if she never forgave him. Not like he was going to forgive himself.

"We're home!" his mother announced as the door opened. Taichi jumped off the couch and rushed over. Hikari was in their mother's arms, wrapped up in a blanket. Was she really okay? He was afraid to ask. "She's still not feeling well, so she's going right to bed." No, not yet. He had to say something. Anything.

"Hikari," he started, but he had no idea what else. "Sorry" wasn't nearly enough.

"Onii-san?" she spoke up.

"I-I'm here!" he said, bracing himself. Whatever it was she had to say, he knew he deserved it.

"I'm sorry I couldn't kick the ball right. I'll understand if you don't want to play with me anymore."


Not again! Once again, Ishida Natsuko's son, Takeru, had wandered off. Knew I should've left him at home. Ever since that unfortunate incident with that Yagami girl, Takeru insisted on coming along every time she went shopping. And then he'd wander off. What was going on with him? Maybe I should talk that girl's mother, um, Yuuko-san again. I think Takeru's acting more like her son than Yamato. Maybe she'll have some ideas on how to handle him.

"Mommy?" She almost jumped at his voice from behind. She turned around and gave him a stern look.

"Takeru! Where have…" her voice trailed off as saw the big bottle of pills he was holding. Just what was he doing with those?

"If Hika-chan gets sick again, will these help her?"


Afterword: Honestly, I first only wrote this because of the ending, but now I need Takeru and Hikari to have history together. Digital World stuff will begin on the next part.