Litanya: I think that I forgot to mention this in the first couple of chapters, but the digital world didn't happen in this fic, so it is an AU. I was debating for the first couple of chapters whether to include it or not, but I just don't think it'll fit in. I'm really not good at writing the Digimon- whenever I watched the show I admittedly concentrated on the characters of the kids and although I love Agumon and Gomamon and Gabumon, I don't really feel confident writing their characters. Anyway I am sorry for the late update.

This chapter is dedicated to Steph again, as well as everyone who has reviewed. I appreciate you all for your support =).

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Chapter 3

Koushiro Izumi had always been a genius. He took pride in his abilities to figure out the most difficult problems, problems that only the most intelligent of people could solve. He could solve Math problems that spanned ten pages in less than half an hour. He had proven to be one of the best in his field of computer science by inventing faster and smaller computers, as well as inventing new software that stopped viruses completely. His company ran smoothly and was quickly spreading around the world. He had certificates and trophies proclaiming his genius in many areas, and yet he had never felt as stupid as he felt now.

He knew he was a genius- but that genius stopped when it came to human relations. He wasn't the best at friendships. When he had first befriended Mimi and Jyou, the two people he considered as his best friends, he had acted awkward and shy around them for the first few months he had known them. Even after those months he had forgotten to call them in the school holidays, the thought of keeping in communication with his friends with any method other than e-mail or instant messaging just never occurred to him. His whole life was his laptop and textbooks- he just didn't know how to deal with humans.

But Jyou and Mimi hadn't given up. They made sure to call him or visit him every day and they always made sure to keep him in the loop. Being as naive about relationships as he was though, he thought that Mimi and Jyou were just abnormal. He had never had friends who had gone out of their way to include him before, so he wasn't really expecting the same thing to happen with anyone else. He was happy enough with his two best friends including him, so he reasoned that it wouldn't matter if no one else tried to befriend him.

That was when he met Taichi. Whilst Mimi had been in one of his classes and had befriended him that way, Taichi was in the year above and so they had shared no classes. He had been sitting with Mimi and Jyou during lunch when Taichi had suddenly appeared. He had introduced himself with a big grin before asking if he could sit with them. Koushiro remembered staring at this strange boy who looked like he had nothing in common with the three of them in shock. Taichi hadn't known who they were, and yet he was talking to them as though they were great friends. At the end of the lunch period he had waved at them, promising to sit with them again, before rushing off to class.

He had sat with them again as well, although it only occurred sporadically for the first few weeks. Koushiro found himself enjoying his company, and he tried really hard to be a good friend. But he really didn't understand how to be a good friend- that is the reason he lost touch with Taichi. He had known that something was seriously wrong with his friend, but he had no idea how to go about solving it. He had treated it as though he would treat a difficult Math problem, but nothing added up. By the time he tried to talk to Taichi, it was too late.

"It's time for your daily morning meeting," he was embarrassed to admit that he actually jumped when his receptionist spoke. He was about to reply when a thought occurred to him. If Taichi was indeed injured- or even if he wasn't- Koushiro's friends would need him to be reliable, to be there if they needed to talk. If he was working, then he was always too busy to listen.

"I'm really sorry to do this to you, but I need to take the next week or so off, starting right now," his secretary stared at him as though he had grown another head.

"You-you want to... to take time off?" she stumbled through the question as though the whole idea of him taking time off was an oxymoron. He frowned at himself as he realised that he didn't even know the poor girl's name, just that she had been fantastic at her job since he had hired her.

"Yes. One of my oldest friends has been in an accident and I've been way too busy to fit him into my schedule before. I intend to remedy that. I do not want him to believe that he cannot trust me anymore. I will do whatever it takes to earn his trust back. In the meantime, please look after the company. I know that you are more than capable of helping out, despite the fact that you have no qualifications yet. I'll double your pay for at least the time that I am away. If there are any major problems, let me know," the poor girl was staring at him like he had just revealed the true meaning of life.

"T-Thank you Mr. Izumi... I... I will do my best to look after everything for you," he smiled at her and quickly packed up his laptop. He really did need to learn her name, "And my name is Hitomi." His smile grew wider. He knew that she would do just fine. He wouldn't have to worry.

"And my name is Koushiro. Thank you for agreeing. I really am sorry for dumping this on you all at once, but I've been neglecting people in my life that I really shouldn't, due to work. I promise to be back as soon as I can, but in the mean time I know you'll do a great job," Hitomi smiled a little nervously, her cheeks turning beet red.

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity," he grabbed his laptop and headed for the door. He was no good at relationships, but he was willing to try anything to keep his friends.

***********

Takeru was exhausted. It wasn't so much a physical exhaustion, but more of the mental kind. After leaving the hospital they had gone back to the apartment he and Hikari shared. It had taken fifteen minutes to convince Tamika to get into their car before they had managed to leave the hospital, so by the time they managed to get home, they were all quiet. Hikari had gone straight to the kitchen to make them dinner, as the three of them hadn't eaten for hours. Tami had barely said a word, going from being friendly and energetic to looking tired and withdrawn. She had barely eaten anything when they had placed food before her, instead preferring to push it around her plate.

Hikari hadn't been much better. During the ride home she had withdrawn almost completely into herself. Takeru knew that the events of the afternoon were catching up with her and that she probably just needed time, but he hated seeing her like this. He hoped that when they went to see Taichi they would get some good news so she could stop worrying so much and open up a little.

Takeru had tried to keep up a conversation with the two of them, but he hadn't been very successful. He had finally given up, his own worry for Taichi and the whole situation plaguing his mind. He had done the dishes quickly whilst Hikari helped Tami get ready to sleep- the police had managed to salvage some of Tami and Taichi's belongings and had sent them to the hospital- and then they had all gone to sleep, with Tami in between Takeru and Hikari.

To say that they had all had a good night's sleep would be a severe understatement. Takeru had been unable to sleep for a while, worrying about what was going on, and then when he had finally managed to drift off to sleep, Tami had woken him. The poor girl had had several nightmares during the night, and every time she woke she would wake both Hikari and Takeru. She would bury her face into one of their shoulders and burst into tears, calling out for her dad. Hikari held the girl quietly, kissing her hair and muttering the occasional comment into her ear. Takeru hated to see the girl crying, so he would hold her and try to cheer her up with stories. Neither method worked all that well.

Takeru was pulled out of his musings by a knock on the door. Hikari was making sure that Tami had everything she needed to get changed and get ready for the day, so Takeru knew that he would have to deal with whoever was at the door.

"Hi Takeru," Yamato greeted his younger brother with a nod. Takeru sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He had expected this, but had hoped that it wouldn't happen. As much as he loved his brother, he was just too tired to deal with him.

"Yama... Look I'm really sorry but this is a really-"

"Uncle 'Keru Aunty 'Kari just said that we can go see Daddy today. Is that true?" the little girl who had been cried and been withdrawn for most of the night now looked as though she had slept for a week. She bounded through the living room to where he stood at the front door and started tugging on his arm, vying for his attention.

Yamato stared at the young girl for a few moments, his eyes wide. He recovered from his shock slowly and Takeru knew that his brother was trying to work everything out. Takeru sighed and picked Tami up before gesturing for his brother to follow them into the living room. Tami hadn't noticed Yamato before, and she peered at him curiously over Takeru's shoulder.

"Are you Uncle Yama? Coz you look a lot like Uncle 'Keru and Daddy told me that Uncle Yama looked like Uncle 'Keru coz they were brothers and you look like Uncle 'Keru and like the photos Daddy showed me so I think that you must be Uncle Yama," Takeru was amazed that the girl hadn't needed to stop to take a breath somewhere. She was definitely in a livelier mood now that she had been told they were going to visit her father.

"Uh... yes I guess I am. And who would you be?" Yamato looked as though he had seen a ghost. His eyes were wide and his normally pale skin seemed to have gotten a little paler since he had first seen the little girl. Although his voice didn't show it, Takeru was sure that his brother had been shocked to the core to see Tami.

"My name is Tamika Kamiya," the girl said simply, as though she didn't understand that he didn't already know it, "Now are we going to go see Daddy?" She squirmed a little impatiently in Takeru's grip and he gently put her back down. Hikari came into the room, carrying Tami's small backpack.

"Oh... I'm sorry Yama. I didn't realise you were here," she apologised. She raised her eyebrows at Takeru and he quickly shrugged and gestured to Tami. Hikari sighed and placed the backpack on the floor next to the couch.

"I probably should have called before I came, but I had a feeling that you wouldn't talk to me if I did. What's going on? Is Taichi okay?" Hikari rubbed her forehead absently and nodded. Tami moved from in front of Takeru to go over and wrap her arms around her aunt's legs.

"He'll eventually be completely fine unless there are complications... or at least that is what the doctors said anyway. It's likely that he has sustained brain damage, but they are confident that it is something he will be able to completely recover from with time," Hikari sounded tireder than Takeru felt and he wished that he could do something to make everything better. Tami seemed to tighten her grip on Hikari's legs.

Yamato looked a little awkward standing in the middle of the living room. He put his hands into his pockets, not wanting his brother to see how much the news had hurt him. When he had seen the little girl he had hoped that Taichi had been at the apartment too. He really hoped that Taichi would recover quickly. He looked at Takeru, Tami and Hikari again and realised that he was in the way. He couldn't do anything for them at that moment, but he wanted them to know that he would do everything he could to help.

"I know that you are busy now, but if you need help with anything, just let me know," he turned to leave, understanding that this was what the family needed for now. He stopped as Takeru's hand landed on his shoulder.

"Thank you," the younger brother whispered, his eyes shining with the emotions he had been trying to hold back all night, "We'll let you know if anything changes." Yamato nodded before letting himself out. He felt useless, but he knew that he was doing all he could for now. Now he just had to wait for them to call and pray that Taichi made it through whatever had happened...

To be continued...

Litanya: Hey, sorry for the shortness and lateness of this chapter but it's been really hot over here and that makes it hard to concentrate. I was going to add a little more to this chapter before I put it up, but it's set to be over 40 degrees Celsius down here in Melbourne for at least the next three or four days so I probably won't be able to concentrate then either. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this really short chapter and I'll try to update as soon as it cools down a little (I have no air conditioning or fans or anything in my house... so it might be a while...).