Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon
"Ouch! What was that for?" Tai cried, as his girl friend smacked him across the head for the 5th time that evening. The evening breeze gently soothed his pain.
Sora smiled at her best friend fondly and shook her head. She crossed her legs on the carpet, and said "that's for being such a hard ass to Kari."
"You're the best Sora" Kari said as she leaned away from leaning on TK's shoulders and high fived her brother's girlfriend.
Kari, TK, Sora, Tai, Hotaru and Matt were at the kamiya's living room enjoying some time off together. Tai had spent majority of the evening bombarding TK and Kari with all sorts of embarrassing questions. Mostly because he felt it was his brotherly duty to do so , especially since he would be going off to College to the fallowing year. Feeling extremely sorry for the two younger teens, Sora decided to put an end to it.
"I'm just saying, I never see Kari alone anymore. You're always with TK." Tai said, leaning away from Sora so she couldn't hit him anymore.
"That's because we have the same friends, and the same classes, Tai." Kari said rolling her eyes. Matt quietly put his arms around Hotaru and pulled her closer, causing Hotaru to blush deep red. " Plus Tai," Kari continued " you see Sora all the time as well."
"That's because Sora has been my best friend since kindergarten." Tai laughed, kissing his best friend on the forehead.
"Well it's kind of the same for us, Tai." TK said amused. Tai sure could be thick headed at times." Kari has been my best friend in our adventure in the digital world."
"I guess." Tai said, unable to argue with TK's point. "You know the only people in our group that hasn't known each other for a long time is Matt and Hotaru. I'd be a little concern if I were you." TK said looking at his older brother and his girlfriend. Matt shot TK a look that said when you get home, you're dead.
"Yeah that's right!" Tai said, as he turned to face his sister, and his other best friend. "You already have my sister head over heels for you. What is with you Ishita men, and my sisters?" Tai said frowning.
"OWE" Tai cried again, looking at his attacker.
"that's for being insensitive" Sora said shaking her head. Tai made a puppy face at Sora and rubbed the back of his head, whishing she wasn't that strong.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Matt said, as he played with Hotaru's hair. He loved how Hotaru blushed every time he touched her. "I've liked this pretty lady since the moment I seen her 4 years ago."
"Hey guys!" cried a lavender haired girl as she entered the apartment. A dark haired guy fallowed quietly behind caring shopping bags.
" Hi Yolie, Hi ken!" greeted the group.
"Cool this is like a quadruple date!" exclaimed TK as Ken sat down next to him.
"Actually Teeks, make that triple, because Hotaru and I got to get going." Matt said, as he and Hotaru got up.
"Where you going?" Tai asked suspiciously. He was her older brother after all, and it was his duty to make sure he knew what his sister was doing.
"I'm going over to Damien's house to work on our Biology project." Hotaru said, amused at how fast Tai could forget things. She just told him her plans few hours earlier.
"I'm going to drop her off then I have to do some school work and research." Matt explained.
" What for?" Tai asked alarmed. He and Matt had all but one of the same classes, and Tai thought he had finished all his homework.
"It's just for college applications" Matt replied. Tai relaxed.
Matt dropped Hotaru off at the apartment complex that Damien's family was renting. It was a very new and modern building. Damien's apartment was decorated the same way. It was adorned with contemporized pieces of art, and very chic furniture. Damien and Hotaru finished their project rather quickly due to the fact that they had started working on it a long time ago, and because it was on genetic, a topic Hotaru was excellent in.
"Any luck on finding you're biological parents?" Hotaru asked as they were putting the finishing touches on the project.
Damien shook his head. "I've been coming to dead ends everywhere I look. It's like they don't want to be found. I've pretty much given up. "
Hotaru's heart went out for Damien. "It must've been hard for your parents to tell you about being adopted. " Hotaru said.
Damien smiled, remembering the day they told him. "I was about 12." Damien told Hotaru, " It was about a few weeks after my birthday and my parents sat me down and said they wanted to talk to me. I seriously thought they were going to tell me they were getting a divorce. I've heard them fighting constantly for a weeks before that. I was actually glad they told me I was adopted and it wasn't that they were getting a divorce. I knew something was wrong, because usually my dad does all the talking, but that day he was silent. Then my mom tells me the truth, and right after she tells me, my dad stands up and goes, Son, I don't care about anything. As far as I'm concern, you're my son, and I'm your father. And then he left for work. I've never loved my dad more than I did at that moment. My dad never talked about me being adopted after that. Everything I know about my biological parents, I got from my mom. And finally last year, I gathered the courage to tell them that I wanted to search for my biological parents. " Damien finished.
Hotaru opened her mouth to say something when the apartment doors open.
"Damien?" Called his dad.
Damien's parents had come home from grocery shopping, and insisted that Hotaru stay for lunch. Hesitantly, Hotaru called home, and asked if she could. Yuuko gladly said yes.
" We've had countless meals at your father's house Hotaru." Said Emiko, as she put some pasta on Hotaru's plate. " your grandmother is the best cook I know."
"That's how you and dad met, right? " Damien asked as he served himself
"That's right. "Emiko said. "Hotaru's parents had just started dating. Susumu would always bring your dad for the holidays, and your mom who lived in the same village would always bring me." Emiko said smiling at her husband. Akihiro was too busy enjoying the moment to notice. "I loved it there. " Emiko continued. "My parents were always busy with business, and were never really home. Your mother's home became my second home. And well your father was pretty much a part of your dad's family ,Hotaru. He was like an older brother to your dad."
"I thought you were in my dad's class?" Hotaru asked Akihiro. Akihiro looked up startled as Hotaru spoke to him. "Yes, but I was 2 years older than your dad. My parents died when I was a child, and so it was difficult for me to continue school when I was younger. It took me some time to get back on track."
"Do you remember my aunt?" Hotaru asked curiously.
" Well, yes. She was there when I visited your grandmother. But she wasn't too close to me." Susumu answered awkwardly.
"Don't be silly honey." Emiko said to her husband. "Your aunt Hitomi was especially close to your father and Aki. Those three used to be inseparatable. Have you heard anything from her?" She asked Hotaru.
Hotaru shook her head. Dinner was very pleasant. Damien's parents embarrassed him by telling Hotaru stories from his childhood, and Akihiro inquired about Hotaru's undecided plans for university. Once dinner was finished, they dropped Hotaru off at home.
One week had passed by since that day. Hotaru sat on her bed doing the days home work. Tai and Kari had gone out for the evening, and her father was working late, but all three were due back home any moment. The rain made a gentle tap – tap sound as it hit the window. Her mother was in the kitchen trying out a new recipe she had found on the internet. "Hotaru, it's for you." Her mother called. Hotaru got off her bed, wondering who it could be at the door. Matt was hosting band practice at his house. As Hotaru walked to the living room, she was greeted by soaked Damien.
" Hotaru, I need to talk to you." Damien said in a voice that frightened both Hotaru and Yuuko.
this chapter was the hardest to write. Serious writers block. I promise the next chapter will be the best. Please R & R