-10-

There were a couple of weeks of trying to find clues about Gennai in the digital world, trying to find Ken's digivice, trying to locate Himekawa, trying to win over Daisuke and his team again, trying to avoid going home to stay, trying to stay as close to Yamato as he could.

Key word there, trying.

Taichi felt every day like everyone was pulling him in different directions and sometimes he didn't know which direction to go or who to please. It was only at the quiet moments at Yamato's apartment that he felt truly at peace. He kept going home on Tuesday and Friday to have dinner with his family – sometimes with Yamato and sometimes by himself.

He was trying to fix his soccer practice's clothes in Yamato's bathroom right now. He was going to go to the park to play with Agumon – Daisuke and Ken usually accompanied him to practice, but with Ken out of commission still and Daisuke still angry – his digimon was going to be the one to practice with him. Hopefully he wouldn't eat the ball.

Yamato's apartment door opened and Taichi stuck his head out to see if it was Takeru coming to the apartment. But it was Yamato's dad with his suitcase returning home. His best friend's dad had been mostly away since they went to the digital world to try to fix the reboot. According to Yamato and Takeru he had been in Kyoto trying to film everything that happened there with the digimon. That made his stay with Yamato even easier.

Hiroaki didn't even see him or the digimon on the couch. He went straight to the table and sat down. Yamato came from the kitchen and stared at his father with an eyebrow raised and cleared his throat. At that moment the older man looked at his son.

"Oh. Hi there, Yamato"

"Otōsan… you're back"

"Yeah… I just came back from Kyoto. Didn't even want to go to the station. I wanted to come here and see that you were okay" he looked at Yamato and then at the digimon on the couch "Hi there, Gabumon. Agumon"

"Hello, Yamato's dad!" both of the digimon cheered from the couch and Hiroaki smiled before doing a double take on both of them.

"Agumon?"

Taichi knew that was the moment he had to make himself known to his best friend's father "Hi, Ishida-san!"

"Taichi-kun. Hi"

"Taichi has been staying here most nights, Otōsan. He and Agumon had been great company"

"Does Susumu…"

"Otōsan knows. Okasan too. I just… didn't want to leave Yamato alone. And it was the best solution we could find. I hope it's not an inconvenience…" Taichi said hoping the man wouldn't say he had to return home immediately because he actually wanted to keep staying with Yamato, and if he had to return home, he was going to drag the blonde to his place to stay there.

"Well… If Susumu knows… I'm glad Yamato and Gabumon had you two here to keep them company." Hiroaki sighed and put his head on the table "I'm so tired"

"How was your trip to Kyoto, Otōsan?"

"More of the same. I had to track the sightings of the digimon there and try to make people understand that everything would get back to normal soon. Everyone was so scared when that thing appeared at the lake" he scrubbed his face and turned to look first at Taichi and then at Yamato "You guys took care of that, right?" they both nodded "Good. I'm glad that's solved and you're all okay… because you're all okay, right? I didn't lie to Susumu about you two…"

"We're okay. The younger kids are a bit bumped up but they'll be okay soon" Taichi interrupted before he could say something to trig Yamato's anxiety again. "Uh, I'm heading out to the park. I need to practice some before school starts again. I'm the captain after all. It was good to see you, Ishida-san" he said grabbing his bag and putting on his shoes on the entry "Let's go, Agumon"

"Take care, Taichi-kun"

He nodded and looked at Yamato with a smile. The blonde smiled as well and nodded to let him know it was okay to leave. Agumon's claws making a big stomping sound while he chased Taichi.

Taichi had been trying to practice with Agumon for a couple of hours now and the last 5 minutes were spent trying to stop Agumon from pinching the ball with his claws or eat it like an onigiri. He was tired but it was a good kind of tired. He was lying on the grass just watching the clouds while Agumon chased butterflies around. He was contemplating calling Yamato to invite him for coffee at their coffee shop but wasn't sure if his friend had finished his conversation with his father. He knew Yamato sometimes spent a lot of time just trying to reconnect with Hiroaki after the latter was away for days. It was a weird relationship but one that worked for both of them. Even if Takeru was around, they would discuss things over coffee or dinner.

Taichi sighed. He didn't want to feel like he was clinging to Yamato but, every time they were away from each other he got some anxiety and wanted to return to the blonde's side. It was a blessing that they were getting acclimated with the jogress bond now because when that happened, he always reached inside to feel Yamato and that calmed him. Just like it was happening now. He could feel calm inside of him and a sort of giddy feeling that was weird, especially for Yamato.

Just when he was reaching for his phone to text his best friend and ask him what had him so happy, a familiar melody reached his ears. A harmonica was being played somewhere closed to him. Memories of the digital world, of sleepless nights watching out for monsters by a fire, moments spent on their houses with their siblings just laughing, of Agumon and Gabumon playing and hugging while laughing…

It was a sound that came with so many amazing memories for Taichi. He sat up and looked around. He found Yamato sitting under a cherry tree, a couple of meters away from him. He grinned at that. Yamato looked like a rock star. He always did, but while playing the harmonica he always visualized him like the little kid who was always scowling and pulling away from everyone. Gabumon was always by his side, just like now. The blue-stripped digimon had his eyes closed and a smile on his face. Gabumon always enjoyed and encouraged Yamato to play the harmonica even when he was in the band and playing his bass.

Taichi approached his friend, grinning "Is that the only song you know on that thing?"

Yamato didn't answer him, just arched an eyebrow and started playing one of the songs from his band on it. It was pitch perfect, as always and Taichi had to laugh. He always enjoyed pushing Yamato's buttons to annoy him. Without missing a beat he changed the tune to a popular TV show Agumon and Gabumon enjoyed watching every afternoon, making the two digimon clap and start singing along to the song. Taichi was still laughing when he took a seat next to Yamato and put his head on the blonde's shoulder.

"How was your talk with your dad?"

Yamato finished the song and put the harmonica away in his pocket "Normal. He was upset about everything that happened while he was away and that he couldn't help more. I told him he was very helpful with your family, at least." He sighed before continuing "He's still upset about what happened with the younger kids and wanted to know if he could help with anything"

"Your dad has always helped us. He's the one we always turn to when we need some advice or help"

"I told him that but he's still upset" Yamato brushed his hair to the side and turned halfway to meet Taichi's eyes without making the brunette raise his head from his shoulder "It's a deeper thing than just what happened now, I told him that too. He'll be okay"

Taichi understood what Yamato meant by 'deeper thing'. Takeru and Yamato always had that feeling that their parents wanted to make it up to them with different stuff now because of what happened when they were kids.

"Hiroaki will be okay… and I'm starving. Do you want to go for coffee?" Taichi wanted to change the subject to stop the sadness he could feel from his friend.

And it worked in some sense because Yamato laughed "When you say coffee…"

"I mean coffee and food, of course. Come on, Yamato, you know me!" Taichi spread his arms wide and grinned at the blonde who laughed until he was laying on the ground "So, what do you say?"

"Same as always?" Yamato opened one eye and looked at Taichi with a smile. The brunette nodded "Lead the way, then. Oh courageous leader!" Taichi blew a raspberry at him "Oi, Gabumon. Let's go!"

Gabumon trotted to his partner's side and Agumon came behind him, carrying the soccer ball "Are we eating now, Taichi?"

"We sure are, buddy!"

"Good! I was trying to eat this but it doesn't taste very good" the orange dinosaur said while giving his partner the ball.

Yamato laughed again and shook his head while they started the way to the coffee shop they always went to with Daisuke and Ken to their little meetings. He felt a pang of sadness because he hadn't seen Daisuke in a while and they had all agreed that they wouldn't overwhelm them by calling and contacting them all the time. They needed time to think and time to process everything that happened to them. He also knew that Ken and Yamato had been communicating; he saw Yamato leaving the apartment or going to the balcony to talk on the phone because he didn't want to upset Taichi or wanted to respect Ken's privacy. He was used to that when they talked. Yamato always gave the younger kid his privacy by talking to him in private or not saying anything they talked on the phone to anyone, not even Takeru.

They reached the coffee shop and went inside. Taichi breathed the scent of coffee and pastries that was so familiar to him. Yamato touched his shoulder to call his attention. "What do you want to order?"

"The usual" Taichi always got a huge vase of cappuccino with caramel sauce and whipped cream. Yamato thought it was too much sugar for him "And something to eat…"

"Sushi?" Taichi nodded and Agumon cheered his agreement.

They all waited while they gave them back their order and once they had their food and drinks, they all moved to get a table. Taichi stopped when he reached the booth they usually used when the four of them were there and saw that it was occupied. He didn't want to see who was there; he just went to move to a different booth when Yamato's voice surprised him.

"Well, hello there. I didn't think I would see you guys here today…" Taichi raised his head and saw Ken smiling at Yamato, Leafmon by his side smiling. Daisuke was on Ken's other side with Chicomon on the table sampling the sweets that were there. "Hello, Ken-kun. Daisuke-kun"

"Hi, Yamato-sempai" Ken answered with a small bow "Taichi-sempai"

"Hi" was the only thing that passed his mouth. He was excited to see them, with their digimon none less, but he didn't want to be a burden on their day "I'm gonna get us a booth" he said to Yamato.

"Why don't you join us? There's space here…" Ken suggested and Daisuke was staring at the table without saying anything.

Yamato looked at Taichi and waited to see what he wanted to do. He so wanted to spend the day with his friends but he wasn't sure he was welcomed by Daisuke. "Uh, maybe some other time. I don't want to intrude… thanks for the suggestion, though" he answered and went to move to the booth on the other side of the hallway.

He heard a grumble and then "You're not intruding. Just sit!" and turned around. Daisuke was looking at him now with a frown but it was him who talked, there was no doubt about that.

"Are you sure?"

"Just sit before I change my mind!"

Taichi went to the opposite side of his friends with Yamato by his side. Agumon and Gabumon just went to the next booth and turned around, hanging from the back of the seat looking at the four kids there with a smile.

It was Gabumon who spoke next. "Hi, Leafmon. Hi, Chicomon!"

"Hello, 'bumon!" Chicomon said in between bites of sweets.

"Hello, Gabumon. Hello, Agumon! Taichi-kun! Yamato-kun!" Leafmon was always as polite as his human partner. He even did the little bow with his body like Ken always did when he greeted someone.

"It's so good to see you guys again!" Taichi said sincerely, he was glad to see them even if they were still in baby form "You guys are keeping an eye on this two?"

"Yup, Daisuke is being a grumpy-pants all the time now." Chicomon said around the chocolate in his mouth and Daisuke gave him a noogie "Oi!"

"Shut up, you! I won't give you more chocolate!" Daisuke threatened and Chicomon returned to his sweets. "He's just…"

"We get it" Yamato interrupted and smiled at the younger goggle-head. "Believe me, we get it" and then turned the conversation to the other digimon "We don't have to ask Leafmon if he's taking care of Ken, do we?"

"I always take care of my Ken-chan!" Leafmon said with a little jump making Ken laugh softly.

Ken looked at Taichi then "What were you guys up to?"

"Oh, I was practicing in the park. Soccer. Trying is more like it, because I only had Agumon as my partner for it. School is starting soon and I have to try for the team again"

"I don't get it. You're captain. You don't need to participate in try-outs" Daisuke grumbled and Taichi smiled

"I don't want to be on the team if there's someone better than me that deserve it more. That's the way it should be everywhere. If I deserve it, I'll be on the team" Taichi announced proudly while he chewed on his sushi.

Yamato and Ken both made a face watching him chew his food "That would be a really touching sentence if you didn't make us see your chewed food while talking" said the blonde, turning away.

Taichi swallowed and replied "Whatever, you know it's awesome anyway…" he then turned to look at the younger two again "Will you two be ready for tryouts?"

Ken smiled sadly "Daisuke will probably be ready, I'm not sure I'll be. The doctor said I still have to take it easy for a few more weeks and soccer is a contact sport in his eyes"

"And I don't want to be on the team without Ken" Daisuke said, leaning toward his friend "I told him that if he couldn't make the tryouts I wouldn't either"

"Even if I told him that's stupid and he should still do it" Ken added and Daisuke shrugged "But he's a knucklehead with that"

"Always will be!"

Taichi realized that Daisuke was still the same Daisuke when he was interacting with Ken. He was still joking and playing around with him. It was with the rest of the older chosen and Takeru and Hikari that he was a different Daisuke. And in a way he could understand it.

"I'll talk with the coach" Taichi said without taking his eyes from his food. He felt Yamato's hand on his leg and he smiled

"You don't need to do that" Daisuke said and Taichi looked at him in the eyes "It's not necessary"

"Let's face it. You two help a lot with the team. Without you, there's basically no team. I don't want that. Even if I'm not the captain anymore, you won't lose your place on the team. And when the doctor gives you the okay, I will help you get in shape for football season, okay?"

Ken smiled and Daisuke looked at him like old times, like Taichi was still his mentor and did everything perfect. "Thanks, Taichi-sem… Taichi-san" it was a step in the right direction with Daisuke at least.

"We should get home soon. Mama will call the Motomiyas in a little while to see if we are actually behaving" Ken said shaking his head and Daisuke laughed, putting his arm around the other boy's shoulders

"Like I would let you get hurt again, Ken-chan. Let's make sure Mama Ichijouji knows her baby is safe"

"I'm not a baby" Ken replied blushing

"Tell that to your mother" Daisuke kept laughing.

Ken blushed even more and looked at the older two "Impossible. It was nice to talk to you two, sempai."

"Wait… what do you say to a sleepover at my place?" Yamato asked and the other three looked at him "Like old times. Just video-games and fun times before school starts again and we don't have time to even breathe"

"I'm not sure Mama will let me"

"Let me solve that. I'll talk to your parents too, Daisuke, if you want of course"

The younger two looked at each other for a couple of minutes before shrugging "That would be nice. Just let us know when…" Ken answered for both of them "We'll see each other in a couple of days, most likely. Koushirou-san is making progress with the new project. Miyako-san and I have been helping as much as we can"

"I'm sure it will be amazing" Taichi said with a smile and Ken smiled back "I'll be waiting for that"

"Bye…" they both said, taking their digimon with them. Chicomon on Daisuke's head and Leafmon on Ken's arms.

Taichi felt right for the first time in so many days. Yamato was by his side. Agumon and Gabumon were talking happily next to them. He made progress with Daisuke and Ken… he felt happy. He was making progress and he liked it.

"Told you he would come around…" Yamato said from behind his coffee and Taichi grinned.

He was sure his cheeks would hurt later from grinning so much "You did. And you were right. I'm so happy you were right"

"They just need time. But they'll come around and, hopefully, we'll return to that normal we are used to soon. Or at least as close as we can"

"I was just so scared that nothing would ever be the same with them. But Daisuke almost called me sempai again. Your heard it, right?"

"I did. He's your protégée after all. He idolizes you. He won't stay away for long"

They were finishing their food when they saw wind howling down the street outside the café. The same street Daisuke and Ken had to take to get to the Motomiya's apartment. Taichi saw from the window a figure appear on the sky. A huge green insect was following the wind and Taichi stood up so abruptly that everything on the table fell.

"Taichi!" Agumon's voice made him turn and rush outside.

"Taichi, wait!" Yamato was running behind him but Taichi was already reaching for his digivice. "Is that a Snimon?"

"Yamato, we need to make sure they're okay" Taichi could only think about making sure his friends were okay.

He was running towards the street he knew they always took and following Snimon from a couple of meters away. He knew Daisuke had his digivice but Ken didn't and their digimon had hatched not too long ago.

Just when he was about to scream at Agumon to digivolve, he saw a blue light and Garurumon was at their side, Yamato on top "Come on!"

He grabbed his best friend's hand and lifted Agumon too. Garurumon started running immediately and they reached Snimon just as a blue dragon smashed the insect against a tree. XVeemon was fighting already, Daisuke's screams encouraging his partner echoed around while the rest of the bystanders were just trying to find some shelter from the fight. Taichi and Yamato saw Ken huddling behind a bench with Leafmon on his arms and they jumped to shield him.

Taichi immediately screamed for Agumon and reached for his digivice and Greymon joined the other two to defend the city against Snimon. Taichi and Yamato ran to Ken's side.

"Ken, are you okay?" the kid nodded and Taichi looked around, seeing Daisuke close to the fight "What the hell is he doing?"

"Go get him!" Yamato shouted and Taichi sprinted to the younger's side quickly, avoiding the debris falling from around them.

"Daisuke come back!"

"We need to end this so Ken and Leafmon are safe, Taichi-san!"

"You don't need to be so close to the fight" he grabbed Daisuke's arm and pulled him back "Come on"

They ran and the fight ended quickly since it was three against one. Still, neither Greymon, Garurumon nor XVeemon returned to their child forms when the Snimon was defeated. They just looked around like there was something else waiting there. The four of them were behind the bench now and Daisuke hugged his best friend, squeezing Leafmon in between them.

"Are you okay, Ken-chan?" Ken just nodded and Daisuke didn't let go of the other boy.

Suddenly a laugh made them all look around and a figure was on top of the building behind them. A figure they all knew so well.

"So, you're all awake and ready to play again, huh? I'm pretty sure we made a mistake by putting you in those pods in the first time. We should have just ended all of you. Less chosen children to be annoyed at"

He was dressed with the same purple and grey clothes as his younger counterpart always did, with a purple cloak behind him. His laughter made Daisuke growl, Taichi and Yamato just stared and it was Ken who said…

"Digimon Kaiser?"

"No, it's Gennai, remember?" Daisuke growled and looked at Gennai "You better leave now"

"Oh… you look so cute when you try to protect the Kaiser. Because you know he is still the Kaiser, right?" he laughed manically again before adding "It's so cute how you all keep trying to protect your loved ones and you keep failing. And you will again. Be sure of that… after all, Millenniummon needs his toys soon"

And with that he disappeared… Ken was looking at the spot where he was with his eyes opened in shock. He was also shaking. Daisuke was trying to calm him but he was still shaking with anger and wasn't much help. Veemon was trying to comfort them.

Gabumon and Agumon returned to their side and Yamato grabbed his hand. Taichi wanted to scream, because his happiness was ruined now and a question was going around in his mind…

'Who's Millenniummon?'