Welcome back for another chapter of Digimon Aftermath! Please review and favorite :D It means a bunch to me!
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon...but I do own A Digimon...well..not really...I just call my Chihuahua, Vinnymon xD
Takato was breathing heavily. His light brown, almost crimson colored eyes, were shut tightly as tears streamed down his fair cheeks. He was on his hands and knees, his hands balled into tight fists. He could feel himself lightly plop to a grassy ground, but he didn't move.
'Don't come back here.'
'Mommy! NO!'
Max blew him a kiss, giving him a forced smirk to reassure him. The smirk reminded him of his Uncle Tai.
"Takato!" Emiko's voice rang as she regained herself and ran over to the brunette boy. They hadn't seen each other since being separated.
But, Takato did not respond, nor did he move. He almost looked like he was frozen in place, except for his tears that fell to the green grass.
"Takato, I'm so glad...you're...ok." Emiko's voice faded, loosing spunk as she drew closer to the boy. She frowned, worry filling her dark blue eyes.
Emiko bent down on one knee in front of him, then slowly placed her hands on his shoulder. She let out an inaudible gasp as she felt his body trembling wildly. She was surprised it couldn't be seen. She frowned once again, but she told herself she wouldn't cry.
"Takato, we're back home." She said it to him gently, although not knowing why he was so upset, she figured he was taking loosing his partner very difficult.
"WE REALLY ARE BACK! Oh my god, thank goodness!" Kimi could be heard cheering in the background. It was clear, the Ishida girl did not enjoy her time in the Digital World, well, perhaps just the part of meeting Ryo.
Speaking of which, the older brunette boy softly chuckled at the excited redhead, rubbing the back of his neck. It was sore, mainly from earlier, trying to restrain the once fiery girl. Although a smile on his face, especially when he received an unexpected hug from the girl, who basically jumped in his arms, his blue eyes held a sadness. He had been in the Digital World longer than the other children knew about, and being apart from Cyberdramon was a new feeling. A feeling of emptiness.
Emiko hesitantly touched Takato's hair with her fingertips, making the boy finally open his eyes and look up at her. She drew her hand back and gave him a gentle smile. However, it wasn't Emiko's loving touch that had brought him back to reality.
"Do you hear that?" His voice sounded a bit raspy as if he had been yelling for sometime before hand. Emiko looked at him confused.
"Hear what..?" She tilted her head in question.
"Crying." Takato said, as he swiftly jumped up to his feet and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"I don't-hey!" Emiko said standing up, but Takato took off running to his left.
"Holy crap, where is Raiden?!" Emiko looked over at Kimi and Ryo, upon hearing the redheaded girl's shrill voice, then looked in the direction Takato had run off.
'He can hear him...when we can't.' Emiko realized.
Takato slowed to a walk as he found his little cousin sitting with his back against a tree trunk. He had his knees pulled up against his chest, his arms wrapped around his legs tightly. His shaggy blonde hair had grown a bit since in the Digital World, so now it fell in his face as he leaned forward. Partially covering his bright blue eyes. Takato noticed Raiden's right hand was bright red, and possibly swollen since it looked puffy.
Raiden noticed Takato's green and white trainers through his tears and hair. He knew those shoes anywhere, since he had on a matching pair. He looked up, his hair falling out of his face, and sniffled. Takato couldn't help but frown at seeing his little cousin this way.
Raiden took in a deep shaking breath before stammering, "I-I-I tried to-to bring him..bu-but it shocked me and I...I lost him! He-he-he fell so far.." He started to cry again, quite hard.
But his older cousin picked him up in his arms and held him close. Raiden wrapped his arms around Takato's neck, and the older boy placed an arm under Raiden's bottom and his other hand on his back. He rubbed his back soothingly as the boy cried in his chest, carrying him back to the others.
"Oh, thank God!" Kimi said relieved when Takato appeared with Raiden. She ran over to the boys and embraced them both in a hug. Takato was completely startled by the action, and he lightly blushed. Raiden's crying died down and he just sniffled, using Takato's hoodie as his tissue. He smiled from the warmth of both his cousins.
"Well, you're just full of love today, aren't ya, firecracker?" Ryo teased Kimi's unusual behavior, noticing Takato's nervous face.
The comment made Kimi let go to the boys and give Ryo an evil look, but a playful smirk. "What, are you jealous, dragon boy?"
Ryo grinned at the interesting nickname, then placed his hand over his heart. "Oh, yes! You're killing me over here." He said jokingly. Ryo was one who never got jealous, but that didn't speak for the red faced Emiko. She felt the tang of jealously in her gut, but looked away playing with her hair.
Takato then seemed to perk up. His eyes danced around and Ryo noticed. "What's up, rīdā?"
"People are coming." Takato answered flatly, but almost smirked at Ryo's choice nickname for him.
"Who?" Emiko asked, looking at Takato for an answer, but it was not he who gave her it.
"Dad!?" Kimi sounded excited, shocked and sad all at once.
The tall blonde rock star smirked at his daughter, his hands leaving his pockets as she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He gave her a squeeze as he embraced her.
"Oh my God, dad! I never thought I was going to see you again! I missed you so much!" The redhead finally let down her walls, she started to cry on his chest happily. Matt held her close and rubbed her back, smiling before giving her a kiss on her head.
"I missed you too, Kimi. But you're back now." Matt's gentle voice helped relax his emotional eldest daughter.
"Raiden!" Kari cheered happily, T.K. by her side, both smiling contently. Kari couldn't help but adore the picture of Takato holding Raiden.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Raiden shouted with a grin, letting out once last sniffle.
Takato finally managed to smile as he approached his Aunt and Uncle, handing over their youngest child. Kari took him, almost hungrily, then spun him around in a hug. Raiden giggled, hugging his mother. T.K. chuckled, giving his son a kiss on the head. Takato watched the sight with some envy.
"Takato?" The brunette looked behind his Uncle T.K. to see his father, Izzy, approaching, of course, holding an open laptop in his hands. Izzy smiled and seemed to sigh in relief. He closed his laptop then softly placed it on the grass. Takato watched him, a slight glare on his face, his body starting to tremble again. Izzy noticed and frowned slightly. "You're mother didn't come back, did she?"
Then...
Takato lost it.
He ran up to his father and almost knocked him over. He hugged him tightly, his body shaking as he started to cry. Izzy wrapped his arms around his only son, placing one hand on his upper back and his other hand on the back of his head. Izzy inhaled and exhaled deeply once, as if he was trying to relax his own nerves, before closing his eyes and putting his face down in Takato's hair.
"I love you, son." Izzy mumbled softly in Takato's hair.
This just made Takato cry more.
"Oh, Kimi. We were so worried about you." Sora joined her husband and daughter with a smile.
Kimi let go of her father to look at her mother. She smiled at her and nodded. "I was alright. I was in good hands." Kimi then glanced over at the watching Ryo, and smirked. Ryo smirked back and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly when both of her parents looked over at him. Emiko giggled at the sight.
"No she wasn't. She was a big brat." Raiden whispered to his mother and father, making Kari cover her mouth as she giggled and T.K. smirked, ruffling his son's hair. His smirk then faded as he noticed Raiden's right hand. He took it in his hands gently.
"Hey, what happened bub?" T.K. asked Raiden, Kari looking concerned at now noticing the injury.
"Hey, big guy." Takato heard a familiar voice from behind him through his sobbing. He sniffled then looked back to see his favorite Uncle. Uncle Tai.
Tai was giving him a warming smile, and his brown eyes offered calmness and safety. But, it didn't matter how much he loved his Uncle Tai right then, he was the last person he wanted to see. Because through him he could see his mother. They were identical twins, it was hard not to see one through the other. Takato didn't mean to look at Tai the way he did, but it happened. Tai was taken a bit back, taking a few steps back, with a confused look on his face. He then looked at Izzy.
"Hey Izzy, so where's Max? I'd like to talk with her."
Izzy looked over at Tai and chewed on his bottom lip, thinking of how to answer without angering the older brother-in-law. Tai raised an eyebrow.
"She's not coming back!" Tai, and everyone for that matter, jumped at Takato's suddenly loud shout. "She traded herself for me, and now she's never coming back!" Takato's voice was filled with anger and sadness.
Emiko and Raiden frowned, while Kimi and Ryo looked a tad confused. All the adults looking as equally confused or worried. Tai's face twisted from shocked to outraged.
"WHAT?!" He yelled, taking a step towards Izzy. Takato instantly stopped crying and looked at his Uncle Tai, surprised. Izzy moved Takato to his side, then faced Tai.
"Now Tai, calm down. Let me explain." Izzy said calmly, but it did no good to the over protective twin.
"Izzy, where is Max?! Where is my sister?!" Tai got into Izzy's face, who took a gulp. Takato himself was even frightened by his Uncle now. He had never seen him act this way.
"Izzy." Tai growled through gritted teeth. His brown eyes were wild and intense.
"She's still in the Digital World. She told me this-"
Tai took a hold of Izzy's jacket, lifting the shorter boy up a bit, so he was standing on his toes. "Bring me to her. NOW."
Izzy's face went from frightened to despair. He replied somberly. "I...I can't."
So the kids got reunited with their parents, but poor Raiden got hurt trying to bring Dorimon with him. Kimi seems oddly out of character, but Ryo isn't seeming to mind. But Takato is seeming to have a very bad time with departing with his mother, and it looks like his Uncle Tai is right there with him. It seem though, Izzy had a clue she might not return, but do you think it was right of him to keep it from Tai? Or the others? Speaking of Takato's mother, what do you think Dagomon is doing with Max? Boy, I hope she's doing okay! You'll have to come back to find out in another chapter of,
Digimon: Digital Aftermath!
P.S. Remember to review :) And Rīdā is Japanese for Leader!
