Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.

--

An Unexpected Dinner

--

Taichi groaned as he sat in the sofa with his father and mother. He had nothing to do this morning, and work was later in the afternoon. He transferred himself to Tokyo's United Nations office which was far more cleaner than Kyoto's. It really was a nice building not that Kyoto's wasn't, but Tokyo's building was very big, and spacious. The people there seemed friendlier, but then again he was the one always being friendly towards others, so that didn't count. The building; however, was more or less closer to home.

His chocolate eyes took a glance at his parents who were looking at him weird. He shrugged. "I'm bored. There's nothing to do, but watch the television with an old couple."

He noticed his mother frown. He also noticed the silver and brown hair she had, she was turning old. "Taichi! You could have taken your son to school instead of having your sister do it for you!"

Taichi grumbled, "But I hate doing paper work!"

How ironic, he hated doing paper work but his job was filled with paper work. He sighed at his misery, why did he major in political science?

His mother snorted and his father, with gray and brown hair combined together, chuckled. Taichi smiled as he was back at his home. He truly missed his mothers whining about cleaning his room, his fathers playful tactics in getting his mother mad at him, and his little sister always getting herself in between the fights then trying to stop them. He missed this apartment that was filled with love, enthusiasm, and care. His other apartment was more distant and cold.

He noticed that his son was more enthusiastic than he was before. It was probably because he loved bothering his older cousin. He smiled as his son made a new friend, Koushiro's daughter, Ami. Although Ami was a little doubtful of the friendship, she was taking it pretty well. It was just three days ago since the dinner incident and then his mind wondered off to what Koushiro had told him.

"So where's your wife?"

"…She's currently not here at the moment," muttered Koushiro looking away from his good friends glance.

Taichi raised an eyebrow, sure he could be nice and let go of the topic. However; being in a bullet train for three hours in the smoking area really irritated him. So he needed answers, now.

"Oh? Where to?"

There was an awkward silence that the holder of courage didn't really like. Finally he got his response. It was a response he wasn't exactly expecting though.

"Digital World."

He looked up at the ceiling and clicked his tongue. 'Digital World huh? Why though… Actually how did she get in there in the first place.'

After Koushiro had announced where his wife was, Hikari and the kids interrupted them. Koushiro was probably about to explain, but instead he excused himself and his daughter out. It was late for Ami to stay up, and so the two redheads left. To his surprise his nephew and son had asked where the 'Digital World' was, of course his littler sister quickly changed the topic. She gave him the 'don't even think about it' look that night. So he didn't.

Although he really wanted to tell them, they deserved to know.

But the look was too scary to rebel against.

He sighed as he stood up from the sofa and walk his way to the kitchen. He'll make himself something, there was no way he was going to eat his mothers food. He loved her sure, but he hated her food. Something he wasn't up for at all.

"Taichi, if you want I can make you lemon pancakes," said her mom still sitting next to her husband watching television.

Taichi shuddered at the thought of eating sour pancakes. Just where the hell did she get these ideas?

Grandma?

"N-No mom, I can do it myself," said Taichi gritting his teeth. He hated lying to his mom that her food was the best, it was actually the worst food in Japan, but he couldn't break his mothers weak little heart could he? Talk about the holder of courage, he couldn't bring himself to say to his mom about improving her cooking.

He'll just have to live with the guilt till death. He looked at the refrigerator and took out some eggs. He was going to make himself an omelet and a big one at that. Hitting the eggs slightly and once cracked, he pour the yolk into the pan. He sighed as he felt the homey scent and feeling. He really did miss it, even when he had to go on business trips he missed his cold distant home because of his son. He smiled as the egg turned yellow, Tetsou loved omelets, maybe he would make some for him before work started. He hated the fact that his shift wasn't on weekday mornings from eight thirty to four like in Kyoto. He'll have to deal with it for now, he knew his sister would take care of his son.

Flipping the omelet, he sighed as he remembered something important.

"Gotta get those divorce papers done," he muttered silently so his parents wouldn't worry about him.

Finally, he was going to be a free man.

--

"Kick the ball Yagami!"

Hikaru panted as he raised his foot and kicked the soccer ball to his friend closest to him. His friend grinned at him as he made the pass and the game continued. Having the other side score though. Hikaru grinned as he saw two of his friend go in a playful fight on the game.

"The ball didn't go in!"

"Yes it did! I mean even Nyoshiki saw!"

Hikaru sighed, two hotheaded friends of his never seemed to stop. His eyes then glanced at two smaller kids that he recognized. One with wild brown hair and the other with short red hair. His lips frowned as his younger (and only) cousin began to talk and talk, making the little girl uncomfortable with his presence. Hikaru crossed his arms, his cousin never learned did he? He should know when people are feeling uncomfortable with him. Looking back at his friends he excused himself from the game. Of course they minded, but they knew he would be back.

Running up to his cousin he shouted his name. "Tetsou!"

The two third graders looked back at the older Yagami. He noticed the girl relaxed a bit and gave a polite smile at him. He also notice her bow, giving more politeness in her form. Tetsou of course just smiled and waved of him, a typical thing his father would have done.

"Good Afternoon Yagami-san," said Izumi Ami as she bowed to her upper class men.

Taken aback from the sudden formality, he also bowed down. "Y-Yeah, good morning…"

"Hi Hikaru!" chirped Tetsou grinning ear to ear as his hand were on the back of his neck.

Hikaru sighed and scowled at Tetsou. "What did I tell you before we got to school?"

The boy blinked his chocolate eyes and wondered. "Umm … try to keep away from Friday's special lunch?"

Hikaru totally wanted to slap his forehead, but resisted. He was talking to a third grader, he needed to have patience like his mother. Yet he felt like his mother didn't give him that sort of personality to handle younger kids. It wasn't fair. "No. I told you not to make Ami-chan feel uncomfortable and be too clingy towards her."

"But I'm not! And I don't know what being clingy is!" protested the young male child.

The little girl was about to say something but stopped as the older boy was explaining what the word had meant. Feeling like she needed to explain herself before things got misinterpreted she waited until the two cousins stopped talking. She coughed getting the attention of the two boys, she looked down her feet and blushed from the sudden attention.

"Yagami-san wasn't really bothering me, Yagami-san," muttered the little girl, confused on why they couldn't have different surnames. It would sound rude if she had said their first name in school, perhaps at their home would be okay, but school was really a different point.

The two Yagami relatives frowned and looked at each other. They really didn't like how Ami had used their surname at the same sentence, things would be too confusing. Hikaru walked in front of the girl and bent down. He gave a smile that his mother used to her kindergarten kids.

"You don't have to use our surname Ami-chan."

The girl blushed from embarrassment. "B-but then that would be very rude of me…!"

"No it's not, back in my old school kids talked like you and they also talk like me!" pointed out Tetsou to the redhead.

Hikaru rolled his eyes. "What he means is … actually I don't know what he wants to say at all, but I think it's okay if you use our first names in our situation. If you call us 'Yagami-san' then the two of us will turn around, and one will be bothered because you meant to call the other. Umm… do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

The girl nodded staring with her onyx eyes. He patted her head.

"Good, so you can call me Hikaru. And call Tetsou, Baka," said Hikaru, his thumb pointing at the wild haired boy.

"I'm not a Baka! Stop being mean Hikaru-nii!" whined Tetsou crossing his arms, fuming at the older boy who just smiled back at him.

Ami blinked. "Hikaru-nii?"

Tetsou smiled. "Yeah, short for Hikari-nii-chan!"

Hikaru looked down at the little girl who nodded at Tetsou's explanation. He didn't mind being called that, but it was still weird coming from his cousin. His brown eyes soften as he noticed the little girl look up at him. He blinked: "Yes?"

The girl immediately looked down at her black outside shoes. "Umm… I-I was wondering if it would be okay, to invite Tetsou-san's father and Hikaru-san's mother for dinner. My grandmother want's to see how Yagami-san is, coming from Kyoto."

Tetsou gave a bright smile. "I'll tell my daddy!"

Hikaru shrugged and put his hand on his pockets. "Well I don't mind, but I think you should really ask my mom personally. I can take you to her now. I think she's on break."

Ami nodded her had, feeling rather bashful from the whole situation her grandmother had put her in. She, of course, was also excited to have visitors over.

Meanwhile a not so happy Yagami sat on her desk. Looking over at her agenda later today, and noticed a blond woman with a white coat come over to her desk. The blond winked her green eyes, and sat on her desk. It was rude of her to do that, but Hikari tried her best to hold back a rude comment that might cause something distasteful.

"So nothing happened?" she questioned, giving another wink at her.

"Nothing happened at a--"

"What's going on?" asked another teacher near Hikari's desk.

"Oh, I thought Hikari-san told you about the mysterious overprotective father the other day. Okay more like two days ago or something."

"Eh? What happened?"

"Well it goes like this…"

Hikari sighed and rudely stood up, causing the two female teachers to stop their gossip. "I'm sorry. I forgot I had left something in the kindergarten room. Please excuse me."

Hikari left the teachers office and decided to go to the kindergarten room to get away from all those gossipy female teachers. Sure she was friends with some of them, but she felt that the school nurse never exactly took a like of her. She always made some random gossips that weren't true at all. It started to weird her out, and wondered what she had done wrong.

Walking and noticing three familiar figures coming towards her she stopped. Hikari blinked her eyes as her child, nephew, and Koushiro's daughter were walking up towards her. She especially raised an eyebrow at her son's presence. Didn't he tell her not to bother him at lunch? That he was a big boy now?

She smiled, she would have her sweet revenge on him later. She'll most likely just repeat to him the scenario over and over until he got tired of it.

"Ami-chan? Hikaru? Tetsou? What are you three doing here?" she asked eyes landing on the children.

"Ami wanted to tell you something aunty!"

The girl was pushed forward towards her by Tetsou. Her son had lightly slapped his cousin in the arm, a punishment for his rude behavior. The girl, unaware of her emotions, blushed.

"M-My grandmother wishes to invite Yagami-sensei and Yagami-san to dinner this afternoon…"

Hikari leaned down to face the little girl. "Sure, but you must promise me something Ami-chan."

Ami looked up to see chocolate brown eyes gleaming at her. She blinked.

"Just call me Hikari."

"Y-Yes, Hikari-san…"

Hikari sighed, so did the other two boys. The little girl was just too polite for her own good.

--

Taichi grumbled as he was at work, sitting in his office, doing something he despised and wished god wouldn't have been a cruel creature to make him do this: paper work.

God how he hated signing, and reading bunch of papers. The extra tiny text caused him to become furious because he knew - too damn well he knew - that it was at least a twenty page paper that needed to be read and signed. Who in the right mind would make a twenty page paper that contained eight to ten font text?! Not even the military could make such a report!

He was tempted, very tempted to just go to the back of the papers, and just sign it without even reading it. He wouldn't know what he signed and he wouldn't care or feel any guilt.

Taichi glared at the paper that contained small text. "I'm going to do it… I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it!!"

Screw it if he had sent food to the wrong country or insulted a great leader in middle east. He won't feel guilty now at this moment! All he wanted was to get away from all the paper work!

He flipped the papers to the back, and stared at the black line. All he needed to do was to sign his name, and go on top the next one. Slowly he brought his black pen to where the line was. His fingers were trembling, and his hand was becoming clammy.

'Is it getting hot or is just me?' he thought as the pen finally touched the white parchment.

A sudden voice stopped him. "Yagami-san?"

He stopped, and threw his pen at the right wall. "I didn't sign it okay!?"

"What? Sir someone is calling for you. I think her name was Hikari?" said the male secretary. "Something about getting home quick."

Taichi's hand reached for the office phone. "Get me on the line."

"Yes sir."

Taichi put the phone next to his ear and heard a small click. He coughed, clearing his voice. "Hey, why did you call me for?"

"Taichi! Do you know what time it is?" said his sister on the other line. She sounded mad, but why would she? He had prepared his son and nephew food, so that she wouldn't have a problem.

"Um…" chocolate brown eyes check the digital clock in his desk. "Six-thirty, why?"

"We're invited to have dinner with Koushiro-san, why aren't you here?"

"Dinner? Since when? I don't remember having been told that."

"Well apparently it's a surprise news for you still, I called you hours before and you said 'okay'. Don't you remember?"

Taichi glared at the papers in front of him. Curse these devils!

"Sorry Hikari…was kind of busy that I blocked all noise out. Listen I'll try to finish the papers and head to the Izumi's when I get out. Just tell them I'll be a few minutes late," explained Taichi rubbing his temples as he sighed. He still needed fifteen more stacks of heavy documents to sign. The stacks were thin either.

"…Fine, but you better be there. They want to see you."

"Got it. See you there."

He heard the other line go dead. He sighed, and grabbed another pen from his desk.

"Damn it you stupid papers…you're making me miss a wonderful dinner made by Koushiro's mom! I mean c'mon, first day of work and I already have to deal with you?" he glared at the stack of papers. "Damn it…"

"Sir?"

Taichi's neck hair stuck out. He had Goosebumps all over. He glanced at the male secretary who had been scaring him each time he called out for him or just appeared out of nowhere!

His lips twitched. "Y-Yes Obiban?"

The man with dark green hair stared at him with his onyx eyes. His pale figure just got lighter as he walked towards him. Taichi gulped, the man looked like he was just resurrected from the dead!

"Yes Obiban? What is it?" he asked nervous to be with his secretary.

"Your shift ended half an hour ago. I do not understand why you are still here, you can also take those papers back home to work on them," he said in a soft voice, he adjusted his glasses. "You may leave the office if you want."

Taichi mutely nodded, afraid to raise his voice at him. "Yeah. Got it. Thanks."

The secretary left.

Taichi quickly got his stuff and left the building like no tomorrow.

--

Ami sat on the chair watching the news that were on television. She was eating slices of apples and wondered why the news was so boring sometimes. She blinked as someone had switched the channel to a cartoon. Her redhead turned around to face her father, smiling down on her. Her lips formed a smile.

"Papa, I was watching."

He patted his daughter. "You can watch cartoons, you know your grandmother doesn't mind," he said as he glanced at his mother preparing the food.

"But she listens to it, like a radio," explained his daughter.

"Ami-chan…" sighed Koushiro kneeling at her level. "It's okay to be spoiled you know?"

Ami nodded. "But I don't mind watching the news. It's interesting."

He was about to reply back, but the door bell had interrupted him. He walked towards the entrance door and opened it. The Yagami's stood there, in front of his door step. He noticed two young Yagami's smiling at him, one glaring at the older brother, and the male older Yagami panting trying to catch his breath. He smiled at the family scene.

"Hello, please come in."

Tetsou entered first along with Hikaru, Hikari, and lastly Taichi. They greeted the redhead and his little daughter that was hiding behind his leg.

"Well my mother is waiting in the kitchen, why don't we go and have a seat?" suggested Koushiro.

"Man I'm hungry, can't wait for her food!" grinned Taichi following the redhead. His sister and son soon followed.

Tetsou began to chant. "Food! Food! Food! Food! Delicious Food~!"

Hikaru stood where he was and noticed a door that was open, revealing a dark room with only the computer screen on. Hikaru raised an eyebrow. He was about to step inside, just to close the door. However, he froze even when he was about to enter, a sudden chill reached to his body.

You are … alone…

'W-What?' thought Hikaru looking around the room. He noticed no one was inside, but how can it be since he heard someone?

You are angry…at your mother…

Hikaru stood quiet and frowned. He should just close the door and follow his family to wherever they went off to. His eyes then landed on the computer screen, it wasn't turned off.

You are being lied too…

He really needed to leave, the voice was scaring him and giving him the shivers.

I know … who your father is…

At this Hikaru's eyes went wide. How could a voice, that belonged to no one, knew who his father was? Hikaru decided to talk to this imaginary 'voice'.

"You're lying, you're not even real," he whispered.

They don't want you to know… because they don't want you… near him… I can take you … to him…

Hikaru stepped forward into the dark room. "Take me…to him?"

Yes…you want to…meet him don't … you? Hikaru…

The blue desktop computer screen soon turned red. Hikaru backed away a bit.

Hikaru… come to … us…

"Come to you…?"

Come…to us… we will tell you…about your … father…

The boy bit his bottom lip lightly. It was scary to listen to the voice, and his mother had told him never to talk to strangers. Did a computer screen count as a stranger?

Your mother…lies to you…Your mother lies…to you

He got closer to the computer screen, but was yanked back by two small hands. He quickly turned around and noticed a redhead girl clinging to his arm.

"A-Ami-chan…?" he said in a whisper.

"You shouldn't follow that voice…" she whispered back. "You shouldn't believe that voice…"

"…"

The two of them stayed silent for a moment until footsteps could be heard.

"Ami-chan? Hikaru?" questioned Koushiro as he turned on the lights from his room. He saw his daughter hug the older boys arm, clinging to it like no tomorrow. He then glanced at Hikaru, who just mutely stared at the little girl in wonder. Then his gaze went to the blue desktop computer. He blinked his onyxes eyes.

"What are you two doing here?"

Hikaru looked at the older man. "I…"

"I wanted to show him something that Papa showed me long ago," interrupted Ami, smiling at her father, a small twitch on her lips was left unnoticed.

"I see…well your grandmother wants you in the kitchen right now," said a cheery Koushiro, leading the kids out of his room. He turned off the lights and closed the door. He looked back at the silent kids. "Shall we?"

"Okay," said his daughter letting go of Hikaru's arm and skipping towards the kitchen.

Koushiro smiled as he saw his daughter skip happily to the kitchen, and glanced back at the young Yagami. He frowned as he saw him shake uncomfortably. He rested his hand on his shoulder, causing the boy to flinch. Koushiro also flinched back, taking his hand away from his shoulder.

"S-Sorry…I'm not used to being touched…" he muttered, leaving the older redhead alone in the hallway.

"That…doesn't sound reasonable…" Koushiro muttered darkly as he stared at his hand. Why was the boy's temperature so cold?

--

"So Koushiro, you're still working for Sora's father?" questioned Taichi as all of them were eating the delicious pasta that Koushiro's mother, Izumi Yoshie, had made. Hikari glanced over at the computer genius, she was also curious.

Koushiro nodded. "Yes actually, we're currently searching for…"

"Koushiro…" interrupted his mother, giving him a worried glance. "W-Why don't you two finish up the food before it gets cold, then you two can talk about it later…"

She motioned towards the children who were obediently eating their food, and listening to their conversations. The three other adults nodded, understanding that they should talk in privet about the matter.

"Taichi-san, what kind of place is Kyoto anyway?" asked Izumi Masami. "I've been wanting to go there, but work has overload me as you can see."

Taichi smiled at the older man. "Well it's actually quiet and relaxing. There are more temples here than in Tokyo obviously. The people there are very kind and polite. I really like it there, but I missed living here more."

"Sounds like you had a relaxing adventure," giggled Yoshie smiling at the brunette. Her eyes then landed on the woman next to him. "Hikari-san, how about you? I haven't heard from you since Miyako-san and Ken-san left."

"I'm teaching at Odaiba Elementary School right now. I'm just an ordinary school teacher, that's about it," chuckled Hikari taking a bite of her pasta.

She didn't notice the small glance that her son gave her. She also ignored her brothers rude comment about her life style being 'lazy like a cat'.

"My! You must be a good teacher then."

"Well not really…" chuckled Hikari nervously as she glanced at Ami, finishing up her dinner.

Koushiro and Taichi noticed this and shook their heads. Hikari was always selfless and would feel guilty at anytime. Even when it wasn't her fault.

Dinner was finished and the kids went to the living room, supervised by Koushiro's parents. Meanwhile Koushiro, Taichi, and Hikari were in the computer genius room. It was the same room since the Yagami siblings remembered. Taichi sat on his bed, while Koushiro opened up his old pineapple book that he had used so many times. Hikari was glancing around his shelf, trying to amuse herself from boredom.

"Here we go," muttered Koushiro as his computer started to turn on. "Let's see now…"

"Hey…what are you and Takenouchi-san trying to find?" Taichi questioned, eyeing the redhead. "It's something about the Digital World isn't it?"

"Yes as a matter of fact. We received important data from Tentomon and Gomamon last week…" said Koushiro never leaving his gaze at the computer. Taichi frowned at the comment.

"What did they find?"

"There were chosen children before we got there."

"That's obvious now isn't it?"

"Yeah, but what was strange was what Gomamon said 'We found a picture that looks exactly like Taichi, looks really old though.' So, I wanted to ask you something Taichi-san," at this point his onyx eyes met chocolate brown. "Do you have any relatives that could have been in the Digital World before you?"

Taichi glanced over at Hikari, who had her back turned around. She didn't face him or helped him out. Tachi lips turned upside down. "I don't think so, but I mean if the pictures old maybe it could have…"

"A black and white picture?"

"Hello? Earth to Koushiro, we have Digital Cameras now? I mean Hikari has one at home, if you want to see one then come to our house…"

"I know perfectly well what a Digital Camera is Taichi-san, but perhaps why you got chosen as a digidestine, this goes for Hikari-san as well, is because of this person," announced Koushiro showing his computer screen to Taichi, who just gaped at the picture in front of him.

There stood a boy, exactly like Taichi holding a small square keychain, with people surrounding him. One girl looked like Sora, but he wasn't sure, she was in a wheelchair though. Then at the bottom of the picture it read 'Taichi + Zero = 100%',it was a bit blurry but readable. He blinked at the old black and white picture.

"He has my name then?" he said raising an eyebrow.

"Looks familiar huh?" asked Koushiro, "I'm not sure though, perhaps he is your relative and something must have happened a long time ago. I'm still researching, so let's not assume that he is your relative just yet, but there is a possibility."

There was a sudden knock on the door, the adults glanced at the elderly woman smiling at them. "I was wondering if Hikari-san would like to help me with some pastries I bought for all of you."

Hikari smiled and nodded. "I'd love to help."

Hikari left the two men alone, talking among themselves. She passed the living room, where her son was watching television with Izumi Masami, Ami, and Tetsou. She then entered the kitchen with Yoshie in front of her.

Yoshie then pointed to a random cabin, "Will it be okay if you can get the pastries' inside of that cabin? I'll get the plate and fork."

Hikari opened the small cabin and took out a pink box wrapped with a pink string. She walked to the table, and set the box on the table. She sat on the chair and waited for Yoshie to come with the plate.

"Here," she set the plate down and handed her a fork. The two of them began to put some delicious pastries' on the plate with the fork, so that they wouldn't touch the bread with their hands. "It's good to see Ami-chan look up to you Hikari-san…"

Hikari glanced at the elderly woman. "What do you mean?"

Yoshie sighed. "Ami-chan is always at home with her father and me. I try to act out my best role as a female, but I would also like for her to find a role model to look at. I'm just hoping that that role model would be you, if that's alright with you Hikari-san."

"So seeing me as a female figure?"

"Yes, I know she's a good girl, but sometimes I wish…she would be more spoiled and had more character," muttered Yoshie looking at the plate of pastries. "Koushiro blames himself somehow…"

"He does? But why?" questioned Hikari, as both Yoshie and herself stood up.

"Because he was once distant towards us and he fears that Ami-chan might do the same thing as he had done in the past," she said as they walked towards the living room.

"I see…" whispered Hikari. "I'll try my best then."

Yoshie smiled at the long haired brunette. "Thank you Hikari-san…"

Hikari smiled at the older woman. "I'm sure, everything will turn out alright."

Yoshie chuckled. "I already believe in you. Thank once again."

"You're welcome, we better get these pastries to the kids, they're really looking forward to some sweets," said a cheery Hikari walking along side the older woman.

--

"And so he said…"

Hikaru heard the laughter of the adults as his uncle had already told a joke to them. He frowned as he watched the television with his cousin and Ami. The thought of hearing that suspicious voice in the room still bothered him.

What did it mean by telling him that his mother was lying to him?

What was his mother hiding from him anyway?

He bit his bottom lip in frustration. He tried to ignore it, but it was hard to do so. Just how was he going to face his mother when they get back home?

Distant?

He felt a sudden tug on his yellow shirt. His eyes looked down to the redhead little girl who looked worried.

He smiled as she smiled back at him.

He'll figure things out sooner or later.

He just needed to trust his mom.

--

Ahh; can't wait for the next chapter where Mimi comes back. (: Yeah small squeal of Digimon V-Tamer. I gotta love Taichi in that manga. Might make a Michi about it once I finish this~ Umm … this chapter feels like a filler sort of. Don't worry, the other chapters will have more action and stuff! Ahaha. Well hope you guys like this one.