I hope you all enjoyed the previous chapter and I also hope it explained a few things. The main thing I am curious about, is whether or not I made the stuff dealing with Koushirou in regards to his divorce too detailed or too unrealistic. I can honestly say that I have no experience with those who divorced for any reason outside of abuse.

Now, for this chapter, you all find out what happens after Mimi drags Chris off, which isn't too much. It does involve a flashback, as the title indicates.

Now, as always, I do not own anything dealing with the Digimon series or franchise. Bandai and Toei have that honor.

Chapter 04: Chris' Flashback...

"Stupid old city," a young boy muttered while pounding his fist into his baseball glove. "Not fair..."

"Chris, you really shouldn't have made Ms. Tachikawa mad."

"It's not my fault, Tanemon! She just couldn't take a joke! I wasn't serious. I always crack jokes like that sometimes."

"Well, it was rude," a voice interrupted irritably.

"M-mom!" The boy put his baseball glove down.

"Yeah, 'mom'. I sometimes think you forget that."

"No I don't."

"Are you sure? The way you acted in front of my friend and his daughter was terrible!"

"I didn't mean to!"

"Stop with all the shouting! I know you don't want to stay here, but you're going to. If I could, I'd send you back home with your father since that's what you want so badly, but I would go crazy if I did that. I'd be worried about you the entire time."

"I'm a big kid now," he deepened his voice, "I can take care of myself."

"To me, a 10 year old is still a child no matter how much he tries to lower his voice," Mimi lightly laughed. "Please try to behave yourself from now on."

He nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good, now I have a couple of calls to make. Tomorrow, since you didn't want to today, we're going to shop for some clothes and a new backpack for you."

"Aww mom, do I have to?"

"Yes you do!" She pulled out her mobile phone. "You can't go to school wearing a bunch of play clothes. It's terrible that the airport still hasn't recovered the suitcase that was lost that had all of your school clothes in it."

"Y-yeah..."

"You could use some new shoes too. You're going to need some sneakers or some other kind of shoes for school too. You really do ware out shoes a lot."

With that, Mimi left Chris in his room, wondering why his mother had acted so nicely to him. He was expecting her to really argue with him, since his father wasn't there to. Tanemon assumed that the reason "Ms. Tachikawa" was being so lenient was due to the fact that Chris still had to get used to his new surroundings, especially since any other time, Chris would've definitely received some kind of a punishment at his father's insistence, which Mimi had grown used of doing over the years.

Chris decided to stop trying to figure out his mother, and went back to taking his frustration out on nearby objects. "Stupid place," he muttered again while punching the pillow on his bed.

"Are you okay, Chris?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He punched the pillow harder while thinking back to when his parents told him about their moving...

Chris had just returned home from his school's playground. He had been playing baseball with the other children of his school's team. When he entered the Johnson home, he noticed that both his mother and father were home, sitting in the living room.

"Hey guys," he called to them.

He rushed up to his room and put his gear up, like taking off the blades he used to get home from the city bus he'd taken. Mimi was about to scold him for coming into the house wearing his skates on her nice, clean, wood floor, but her husband shook his head. "Wait. What we have to say is more important than getting on his case for rollerblading in the house, which I know you hate."

When Chris returned from his room, he had Tanemon sitting atop his head, and made his way to the kitchen to get a soda. He would've taken Tanemon along with him, but the small leafy Digimon was asleep and Chris didn't want to wake him. After he got his drink, he headed to the living room, and slumped down into the big, soft easy chair.

"You guys missed a great game! No one was able to strike me out! I was the best player on the entire team and I managed to hit four home runs when it was my turn to bat! I bet that next spring I'll be captain of our school's team for sure! Everyone else thinks so too since I don't have a problem playing pretty much any position, except for pitcher. I could use some more practice with my pitching."

"That's great son," his father smiled weakly. "All that practice paid off."

"Yeah, that's wonderful," Mimi commented uneasily.

"I bet you'll win every game you play next spring with you on the team!"

"I'm sure we will win, Tanemon!" He took notice of his parents when something hit him. "Wait, why are you two home? You're normally never around this early."

"B-because we have some news for you," Mimi told him halfheartedly.

"What kind of news? Does it involve me getting a new bike?" he asked slyly.

His father shook his head. "No, it doesn't."

"We're going on a little trip."

"Cool, where are we going?"

"My homeland."

"Japan?"

"Yeah, Japan."

"Awesome! I've only been there once, and I don't remember much about it. I think I liked it."

"Well, we were only there for a short while for my cousin's big graduation ceremony that I promised years ago to attend. You had to have been about two or three at the time. I couldn't even visit my friends because of the lack of time."

"When are we leaving and when are we getting back?" The two gave one another a look and frowned. Chris looked from one to the other. "What's wrong?"

"Remember a while ago how I mentioned that I might have to stay in Japan for a good long while?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"W-well, it's been finalized. I just got the word today that I am going to have to head over there. We'll be leaving in about a month."

"Nothing wrong with that I guess."

"You don't understand," his father chimed in while running a hand through his short, light hair. "You will not be coming back here for a while."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you and your mother are going to be living in Odaiba, Japan for a while."

"What! ? You mean we're moving away from here! ?" They both nodded. The boy jumped up from his seat. "No way! I'm not going anyplace! What about my friends? ! What about our baseball team? ! What about my kickball team and everything else I enjoy playing or am a part of! ? I can't go to Japan where all they do is eat rice and sushi and wear those housecoats all day long!"

Mimi stood, her hands on her hips. "Christopher Keisuke Johnson Jr.! How dare you! Japan isn't like that at all! How dare you go by a bunch of stereotypes!"

"You apologize to your mother right now!" his father ordered sternly.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his head hanging low. "I didn't know. That's all they show on TV and in the movies."

"I guess it's an honest mistake," his father muttered, "but that's still no reason to believe everything you see on television or in the movies and just assume that's the way things are. There is more to Japan than just eating rice and wearing kimonos, like you just said. What you are seeing is how badly stereotyped other cultures are. I was sure we taught you better than that."

"Let's not worry too much about that now. It's partially my fault for rarely ever visiting. With my parents still living and here in the US because of papa's job, I didn't have much of a reason to go back as far as family was concerned. We really haven't exposed him to Japan much outside of the writing and the language. He doesn't know what the country is really like and what to believe and what not to believe."

"Either way," he gave Chris a look, "you will be going to Japan."

"Your father's right. You and I will be going to Japan. It's been already set up, thanks to Michael and everything has been faxed over and being processed and we're lucky that we're able to get this done so fast due to Michael having so many connections. You will be going to school over there too. You'll be transferring in, but your class hasn't been determined yet. You'll have to take a test that transfer students are usually given. I know this is very short notice, but I'm sure you'll do fine. You've been taught Japanese since practically birth, and I've been teaching you the writing system since you were about two. You should know enough to pass the test, especially if we do some extra studying on things like Japanese history. You'll have to take it as soon as we head over."

"School too? ! Ugh..." the boy groaned. The last thing he wanted to do during the remainder of his summer vacation was to study for a test. "Wait, you keep talking about how you and I are going to Japan. Are you telling me that dad isn't coming with us?" Both nodded. "What! Why? !"

"Because of my job. I work in the ER and am always on call. I do promise to visit you and Mimi every chance that I get, so don't you think that you're not going to see me and we can always talk online."

"But why do we have to go?"

"Because of my work. We're filming there for this season."

"Why do I have to go just because you're going? Why can't I stay here with dad?"

"I sometimes wonder if you're listening. You have to go with your mother because of my job. I can't keep an eye on you and watch you at the same time. My hours are always changing and is crazy enough as it is. I couldn't give you my full attention, which wouldn't be fair to either you or your mother because she'd just worry the entire time, and I don't want her to worry over you."

"But what about grandma and grandpa? Why can't I stay with them?"

"My parents aren't capable of watching any children. You should know that. They are both elderly now and need care themselves. They've done their share of child rearing and raising. We wouldn't, and shouldn't, impose on them."

"What about Grandfather Keisuke and Grandmother Satoe? They're in good shape and are healthy and party more than you two do!"

"And my parents are also in Florida still living like newlyweds. I'm sorry that all of this was so sudden, but I can't help that."

"I refuse to go! Why do I have to suffer and leave my friends behind just because you have that job? !"

"Do you think I want to take you away from here? I know what it's like to move to a new country. I moved here when I was a child."

"I'm not going!" he said again stubbornly, not even considering what his mother was saying.

"You don't have a choice. You have to go with your mother."

"I'll hitchhike to Florida and find Grandfather Keisuke and Grandmother Satoe and I'll take Tanemon with me!"

"Stop talking nonsense. For the last time, you're going with your mother."

"I don't want to leave home. I'll miss all of my friends!"

"We promise that you'll make some new friends. I have some lifelong friends in Odaiba and they all have children close to your age."

Chris crossed his arms. "I bet they're all boring."

"Chris, just give Odaiba a chance before you hate it. It's a nice place and there's lots to do there. I don't ask for much, you know that. At least give this trip a chance. You may just learn something useful."

"Yeah, like how to bow, eat sushi, and how to Judo chop robbers," he grumbled sarcastically.

"Just from those remarks, you really ought to go. I don't want my son thinking that way of his mother's heritage."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

"I know it's still early, but you should probably go ahead and sort out what you want to bring along and then we can go over the material that'll probably be on the transfer test."

"Yes ma'am," the boy gave in, realizing that there was absolutely nothing he could do to change their minds. He grabbed Tanemon and headed back up the stairs to his room.

"That didn't go as well as I'd hoped," Mimi noted.

"No, it didn't. He acted like a little smart ass."

"Just let it go," Mimi sighed. "Given the circumstances, we shouldn't get on his case for the way he was behaving just now. He's just acting rebellious. It's perfectly normal for him to act this way. I think I acted the same way when my parents told me that we were moving here."

"Not you," her husband smirked. "I know you didn't act as bad as Chris."

"It wouldn't surprise me if I were worse," she laughed while hugging her husband of 12 years.

"I never would have believed it."

"Oh, you better believe it," she said while giving him a kiss.

"You'd have to convince me of that."

"Maybe I will," she got from out of his arms, "but I have to give Michael a call."

He laughed. "You sure know how to ruin the moment."

"Later," she winked while dialing Michael's number on her mobile.

x x x x

"Stupid job," Chris muttered while tossing his toys aside.

"Hey, watch it!" Tanemon shouted, hopping out of the way of the toys that were flying in his direction.

"Oh, sorry Tanemon. I'm just trying to figure out what to carry along with me."

"Me, of course."

"Of course, pal. I wouldn't leave you behind."

"That's good," Tanemon smiled, which faded as he saw the look Chris had on his face. "You really don't want to go, do you?"

"No, I don't! I don't want to leave all my friends behind. I don't want dad to have to stay here by himself and I bet those Japanese kids are all boring!"

"I wonder if they have Digimon partners..."

"What did you say?"

"Huh?"

"Repeat what you just said."

"I said I wonder if they have Digimon partners."

"Digimon!" Chris exclaimed while snapping his fingers. "How could I forget that! Odaiba is the home of my favorite author, Takeru Takaishi! He wrote the Digimon Adventure stories and just recently came out with the book Diablomon Strikes Back! He also wrote this bonus story based on the Golden Digimental! He had Angemon and Angewomon evolve to mega-leveled Digimon called Seraphimon and Magnamon, but I found out that for the original Japanese version of his book, MagnaDramon was called HolyDramon."

"If you go to Japan, you'll finally be able to meet him."

"That's right!" Chris went through his trunk, taking out every single book he had that was written by Takeru. "I'm going to make sure he autographs all of them! I hope I have enough room in my suitcase.

"If I actually get to meet Mr. Takaishi, I can get spoilers on his upcoming books. I heard that he was planning on writing one based on Demon and his breaking away from the Dark Ocean where he was sent. Oh, and I also heard that he's writing a story based on Ken Ichijouji and Ryou Akiyama's characters and their adventures in the Digital World! It's supposed to take place before Ken became the Digimon Emperor, which I found out for the original version of his book, was the Digimon Kaiser. My mother told me that. I can't wait to get it and it'd be so cool if I got a copy before any of my friends do! I'll also be able to get information on any other bonus stories he may come up with. I heard that after he writes everything that he wants for Digimon Adventure, that he's planning on working on something called Digimon Tamers! I can't wait to tell everyone that I'm going to get to meet Takeru Takaishi! I bet they're all going to be so jealous of me!" After he stuffed the last of his books into a bag, he smiled. "I guess this trip isn't going to be all that bad if Takeru Takaishi is involved."

"Yeah, especially if you actually get to meet him. Didn't you say that your mother knows him?"

"Yep, she sure does! They're childhood friends. Well, that's the last of my Digimon Adventure collection. I guess I'll go back downstairs and tell mom and dad that I'll go after all."

"You were going to go anyway," Tanemon reminded him.

"Oh yeah," he muttered, "I'm being forced to."

He grabbed Tanemon and set him on the top of his head. That was Tanemon's favorite resting place. He then headed down the stairs, seeing his mother and father sitting on the couch engrossed in what seemed to be a very serious discussion.

"Mom, dad," he called to them.

They looked towards him. "What is it?" both asked.

"I just wanted to make a deal with you two."

"A deal?" asked his father.

"Yeah, a deal. I have a small list of demands in return for my cooperation."

"Mimi, I think we're raising a lawyer," the man laughed loudly. "So, what are your 'demands'?"

Surprised that neither got on him for literally making an order, he continued. "Well, I just want to be able to have a little fun while I'm there. I want to see everything and everyone. If you do this, I'll cooperate with no problems at all." He didn't want to let on that the real reason he was willing to cooperate was because of his wanting to meet Takeru.

Mimi rose from her spot and gave the boy a big hug. "It's a deal! Whatever you want to do while in Tokyo, just ask and I'll try my best to get it for you. I wouldn't take you to a new place and not show you around."

"Aww mom, quit huggin' me," the boy complained. "I'm too big to be getting hugs from my mother!"

"Oh no you're not!" Mimi laughed playfully and hugged him tighter. "You don't know how happy you've made me going along with this change, Chris."

"I would say something, but I can't breathe," he choked out.

She let go. "I'm sorry, but it's true. You don't know how happy I am that you're finally okay with this."

"S-so am I," he lied. "So, when are we leaving again?"

"According to Michael, he has a morning flight booked for August 16. We'll get to Japan the following afternoon. You have a good couple of weeks before we have to leave. It's July 27 now."

"I guess you can spend the rest of your time letting your friends know what's going on and telling them goodbye."

"Yeah, I guess I could..."

He left the room, and headed back to his room, still trying to mentally prepare himself to leave for the country across the sea...

"Chris! Chris!"

"Oh, sorry, Tanemon. I was just thinking about when mom and dad told me I was coming here a month ago and then their reminding me about two weeks ago."

"I'm sure everything will work out fine when school starts. You passed that test without any problems and will be in fourth grade."

"Ugh, don't remind me! I'm supposed to be in fifth grade, not fourth!"

"But didn't your mother say that that's normal for here?"

"Yeah, but still weird to be doing fourth grade over. Maybe school won't be that bad. What kind of sports do Japanese kids play besides tennis and soccer anyway?"

"I don't know."

"Yeah, guess you wouldn't. I guess I'll find out in about another week," he grumbled. "I'll see what kind of sports the school has. I hope the school has football! I was going to join the football team this year anyway back home."

"But I thought Ms. Tachikawa didn't want you to."

"Yeah, neither one of them wanted me to. They were saying that I'm in too many sports and club activities and how it might affect my school work, but what they don't know wouldn't have hurt them."

"You probably would have gotten in trouble and don't you need permission for that type of thing?"

"You sure like to ruin my fun sometimes," Chris laughed.

"Chris, I'm hungry."

"Yeah, me too. Let's go get ourselves something to eat, like that chocolate cake I saw of Michael's in the fridge!"

"Yeah! I like chocolate cake, but wouldn't he miss it?"

"Who cares. He should be here instead of doing whatever it is he does all day."

"If you say so."

With that, the two joined Mimi in the kitchen, who prepared the three of them a late lunch...