Remember
Chapter Four: Blacklists, Babies & Bobbleheads
The sun was starting to set.
It made the building blocks and huts of Primary Village look grim. With their babyish designs cast in shadow, the colors went mute, like the version that had come back to life through Mimi's memory. Sometimes Davis wondered if that lifeless world of memories still existed on some other plane, and if the copies of their teenage bodies were still there, just bones rotting in the earth.
Grimacing, he lied back and rested his head on Veemon's stomach and tried not to disturb the pile of punimon who'd fallen asleep in his lap. He would've whined about the time (they'd literally been there all day) but he was too busy giving Ken the silent treatment.
It was totally not his style to stay quiet and he knew it was getting Ken all riled up even though he pretended it wasn't.
"If we follow that schedule, we should be able to vaccinate the entire village in about three days," said Izzy. "Once the immune response kicks in, it should be safe to let the affected babies out of quarantine. Then we can conduct some more conclusive studies to determine why the virus carried over."
"So you want to start next week?" asked Ken.
Davis saw him looking at him out of the corner of his eye so he covered his face with a dozing punimon. It let out a content snore.
Izzy must have nodded, because he said, "I should be able to work out any kinks by then. Animamon doesn't think he'll have any problem administering the vaccine as long as the patients are willing."
Davis let out a loud grumble, disturbing the punimon on his face.
"Are you still not speaking words?" asked Ken.
"Not to you."
"We're all ears if you have something to say," said Izzy.
There was another round of inaudible grumbling which they both ended up ignoring. The punimon stretched and bounced off Davis's face and onto his chest, jolting its siblings awake.
"No jumping," Davis grunted.
They nearly cried when Ken called him over to leave.
The walk back to the portal was long, filled only with the sounds of their footsteps in the foliage and Veemon's whistling.
"Was it that bad?" Ken asked finally.
Davis gave another dumb grunt.
"I really thought it would help," Ken said. "I know things weren't always easy between you two, but..." he trailed off uneasily.
Davis thought back to the memory Animamon uncovered and what had followed.
It had felt weirdly normal to wake up that morning with lilac hair sticking in a clump under his cheek. He had spent the brief time before Yolei woke watching her back rise and fall beneath his sheets and thinking of the panic that had brought her to his window.
Without even lifting her face from the pillow, she had reached up and batted his cheek.
"Stop staring, you creep," she muttered.
He smiled. "Just admirin your drool stain."
Her face finally surfaced when the pillow smacked his nose.
His mom deemed them the most unstealthy teenagers the moment they peeked out his bedroom door. Once she was assured Yolei's parents weren't worried (Chizuru said they were already at the store and hadn't noticed she was missing, to which Yolei grumbled, "When do they ever?") his mom gave them a nice scolding and breakfast. Somewhere between the tea and eggs, she served them a box of condoms. Yolei had to snort back laughter when Davis nearly choked on his bagel.
Remembering made his heart hurt.
He shot Ken a grimace when he meant to glare. "We're not talking about this anymore."
"Davis."
"I know you want to help, but I'm done. That asshole getting into my head… it's too personal. No one needs to know that stuff, okay? And all it does is make me feel like shit. I'm over it."
"You can't just give up."
"Over it, Ken."
A long dark silence hung between them.
"At least come back and help us with the vaccines. The punimon like you."
"I'll think about it."
"I think if you just got to know this Animamon—"
"Okay, that's it!" Davis whipped on him, but Ken stood firm. "I am sick and tired of your weird fixation on the asshole that tried to kill us all."
"He's not the same."
He threw a palm in front of Ken's face. "You are officially blacklisted."
"Don't be a child."
"Blacklist, Ken!"
"We can talk about it later, when you're rational again."
"Veemon, did you hear something?"
"Um...yes?"
"Very mature."
"There it was again. It sounded like an annoying voice."
"Come on, Davis."
"Like a wishful whisper in the wind."
"You're being—"
"If only I knew what it meant."
"Would you—"
"But alas I am but a child, too stupid to understand."
"Davis!"
This time it wasn't Ken shouting his name. The four of them turned to find Hawkmon fluttering down from a tree branch to join them.
Davis did a sort of defensive karate stance, ready to take whatever garbage he had to dish out.
Hawkmon squinted one eye, which was the closest he could come to raising a brow. The feather in the middle of his head gave an irritated twitch.
"Would you please tell me what has become of Yolei?"
When Davis lowered his hands, looking shocked, Hawkmon explained.
"It's been more than two weeks since I've heard from her. She won't answer my messages. I've had to leave my post and you know how tiresome those pagumon can be when they're left to their own devices. Gabumon mentioned that she had been ill and when Veemon said you were sad I began to fear the worst."
Davis turned to his partner who gave a shrug and then back to Hawkmon, whose feathers had fluffed in anticipation. "Hold on. You said weeks?"
"Please don't hold me in suspense," Hawkmon said. "As her husband I'm sure you know—"
Davis flipped on Ken. "She didn't tell Hawkmon." He let out a sharp laugh and ran his hands through his hair. "You're lecturin the wrong half of this ex-whole."
"I'm not sure I'm following," said Hawkmon.
Anger burned up Davis's throat from the pit of his stomach. He glared at Ken even though it wasn't his fault.
"Tell her to talk to her damn partner," he snapped. "She can't just leave him too."
He stormed off, too mad to let himself feel the guilt of letting Hawkmon's questions go unanswered.
Veemon apologized on his behalf and jogged to catch up.
Ken didn't say anything.
...
...
"And you know what sucks the most?"
Matt frowned. "What?"
"Ken won't talk to me. I'm getting all of this second-hand. Third-hand. Davis is telling Ken who's telling Kari who's telling me."
"Who's telling me for some reason."
"If you had to pick one of us to be your friend, who would it be?" Yolei was looking at him seriously, like she expected a real answer.
Matt just stared at her.
The foliage of Digiworld seemed to thicken at that moment. They had come as close as a digiport would lead them to the area that Gabumon and Hawkmon protected and a thick forest lied between them and the plains of the Pagumon Village. Jungle-like fauna expanded by their feet and Yolei felt like it was creeping in, ready to suffocate them. Or something was lurking beneath the foliage, waiting to attack. She ripped her gaze from Matt and stared at the leaves.
"You're going to scare him off," said Gatomon, who was walking by their feet. "And then Kari will have to leave, so please stop."
"No one is picking sides," said Kari.
Yolei clicked her tongue. "Ken did."
"They're partners, Yolei. Like we are." Kari's hand was extra warm when it grasped her fingers and then she seemed to pause for a minute, trying to catch her breath.
"You okay?" asked Matt, raising a brow. "If you start having contractions in Digiworld right now, TK's going to freak."
Kari waved him off, grimacing. "No, just got a knee in the rib." She shoved on her bulging stomach and turned back to Yolei. "Like you and Hawkmon."
"That would have had more impact three sentences ago," said Yolei. She gave Kari's hand a squeeze before letting go to shove a hanging palm leaf from their path. A low sigh came up from her chest. "He's really mad, isn't he?"
"He had to hear it from Ken instead of either of you," said Matt.
"He's mad," said Gatomon.
Yolei chewed her lip. "I'm a terrible partner." Tears welled in her eyes. "For everyone."
"Yolei…"
"No, don't be sweet. It's true. I just, I know Hawkmon means well but he... I wasn't ready to hear him tell me how wrong I am." Yolei reached under her glasses to wipe sweat from her nose and keep the tears at bay. "He and Veemon are always trying to fix us. He's going to think they failed."
"I think Hawkmon is smarter than that," said Matt.
He wasn't making eye contact, but his face was still stern. Yolei was rarely subjected to an Ishida lecture, but before it even began, she immediately knew how he managed to rile people up. He didn't take your bullshit.
"It's your relationship," he said. "No matter how close anyone is to it, the only one who can fix it is you."
Yolei felt very small when she caught sight of cold blue shifting her direction. "I thought it took two," she muttered.
"I learned a long time ago you can only control yourself," said Matt. "You're not wrong. Sometimes the other person won't try no matter what you do. But if you both wait for the other to change, you're not going to get anywhere. Someone has to take the first step."
"What if it's too late?"
"I think that's up to you."
"Do you really think I haven't tried?"
Matt stopped walking when Yolei did and Kari and Gatomon exchanged glances, looking unsure if they should intervene.
"I just think"—she paused, swallowing back tears—"I think he'd be happier with someone else."
"What is that saying you humans like to use?"
Tears emerged the moment she heard Hawkmon's voice. He fluttered in front of her feet from a tree branch, Gabumon following on the ground behind him.
"Ah, yes, I remember now. The grass is always greener or something of that nature," he continued. "I think you would both find problems wherever you go, my dear."
"Hawkmon." Yolei's lip quivered and she collapsed on her knees in the foliage, squeezing him tight.
"Oh dear," he choked. "I've missed you, but not this."
She didn't let go. "I'm so sorry I'm so stupid."
His feathers ruffled under her arms. "No one in their right mind would call you stupid, Yolei. Fierce, on the other hand." She could feel him swallow.
"Sorry." She let him go and ran her hands under her glasses. "I know you're disappointed in me."
"I'm disappointed," said Hawkmon. "But not in you. I'm with you no matter what may come. However, I am disappointed that you don't trust me."
"I trust you," she sniffled.
"I was worried you were ill or injured or worse. I know how flustered Davis can get about serious matters and I don't imagine he'd remember to tell me if something went wrong. At least not right away."
"I—"
"And all Gabumon knew was that Matt said you were unwell when he last saw you."
Yolei stood up, glaring at Matt through her tears. "I was fine."
He shrugged. "You were drunk. If I had known he was reporting to Hawkmon I would've elaborated."
Gabumon rubbed the back of his neck, showing off his yellow belly. "I'm still not sure I understand the difference."
"There's not much of one," said Gatomon.
"So, how are the pagumon fairing?" asked Kari, looking ready to change the subject. "Any more digivolutions?"
"Just the one," said Hawkmon, smoothing his feathers. "And the other pagumon have not taken kindly to it."
"Jealous," explained Gabumon.
"Ugh, they are the worst."
"Gatomon," scolded Kari. "You think every baby is the worst."
"What are you going to do when you've got to share Kari with a human one?" Gabumon asked.
Gatomon seemed to bristle at the suggestion. "Give it to Patamon."
"We all know the moment the baby is born you're not going to let it out of your sight," Hawkmon said.
Kari smiled fondly at him and Yolei tried not to feel jealous. Of the affection she showd toward Hawmon, of the baby, her marriage.
"Where is TK anyway?" asked Gabumon.
"He's got a big deadline at the paper tomorrow," said Kari. "He wasn't all that happy we were coming without him."
"She couldn't go unless Matt went with us," Yolei said.
"Like I'm chopped liver," grumbled Gatomon.
"You both know Matt was the one who insisted on coming," said Kari, giving him a sideways smile.
Matt blushed. "Digiworld isn't a walk in the park."
"You'd think it was his kid," Gatomon snorted.
"Matt is going to be the worst kind of dad," said Yolei, still wiping tears. "His kids are all going to be walking around wrapped in bubble tape so they don't scrape their knees. Is that why you and Sora aren't married yet?"
He didn't answer, but Yolei swore she could see the dark aura ooze out of him, casting a shadow over the bright foliage.
"Ah, look who can dish it out but can't take it?"
"Yolei," both Kari and Hawkmon scolded.
"It's fine," said Matt. "She's free to think what she wants."
"You're probably better off," Yolei said then. "Marriage is the worst."
"I believe you're overgeneralizing again," said Hawkmon.
"Fine, my marriage was the worst."
"Once again," Hawkmon started, but Yolei shook her head, silencing him.
"You don't have to do that," she said. "It's okay."
"Do what?"
"Try to save us."
"I think you're looking at this all the wrong way, Yolei." Hawkmon grabbed her hand between his wings and his big blue eyes were kind, even though she knew he was still upset with her.
"I've only been there to root you on," he said. "You have always saved each other."
...
...
"Why isn't Aunt Yolei babysitting us?"
"Am I seriously not good enough for you?"
"I like Auntie better."
"But I have DemiVeemon."
Davis held his partner out like an offering and his niece immediately took the digimon by the armpits and stuffed him down her shirt.
"Davis!" DemiVeemon cried, but she had already taken off with him, giggling maniacally.
She ducked behind the coffee table to hide, not accounting for her wild mane of hair which made her look like the equivalent of a bush growing behind a twig.
The twins were like a creepy mix of their parents, all hair and energy.
Davis collapsed on the floor beside the couch with a loud groan, too worn out to chase her.
"I like you both."
He turned sideways and smiled when his nephew sat on the floor beside him. "That's cause you're nice like your dad." He ruffled the mop on his head.
"Mom's nice."
Davis burst into laughter. "Did I tell you about the time she gave me a swirly in front of my entire class?"
"What's a swirly?"
"When someone dunks your head in a toilet."
"EW!" his niece cried from under the table. "Uncle Davis is a potty head!"
"This is supposed to be a story about why your mother is a terrible human being."
"If I recall," a sweet voice called from the foyer, "that was in retaliation for the time you stuffed her diary pages in Matt's locker."
"Aunt Kari!"
Davis shot up to find Kari being impaled by the twins before she could even get the door closed behind her. Gatomon was hanging in her arms like an undignified housecat.
"Did I leave that unlocked?" he asked.
Kari wiggled a key from her hand. "Tai gave me a pair."
"Wait, how come I'm the one stuck babysitting the kids, but I don't even have keys to their apartment?"
Kari shrugged and adjusted her swollen stomach, making her sundress flow by her knees. The twins let go and she had to squat awkwardly to let Gatomon down. "Are you really telling them horror stories about Jun?"
"True stories. And the diary thing was well-deserved. Plus, she kept whining about how Matt just didn't know how she felt about him, like that was the only reason he was dating Sora." Davis cackled. "Oh boy, did he know then."
"That was terrible."
How was it that Kari could still make him feel ashamed of himself, even after all these years?
Davis frowned. "She broke my Sonic game in half just 'cause I wouldn't let her have the TV."
Kari smiled that sweet smile at him. The one that meant she didn't approve, but loved him anyway. A long time ago, it was the one he went crazy over.
Today he wanted to chuck a pillow at it. So he did. She caught it and looked at him wide-eyed.
"I will scratch you," warned Gatomon.
"As long as it's deep," Davis groaned, swiping a finger across his neck.
"Gatomon, can you go help out DemiVeemon?" Kari asked.
"She's too good to you." Giving Davis the stink eye, Gatomon sauntered away. "Ayame, give me the little twerp now."
"NO!" the little girl cackled, running back to her terrible hiding spot.
"I'll help," her brother said. "Don't be such a brat, Ayame."
"Hikaru's the good one," Davis said, watching the little boy go. "No wonder they named him after you."
Kari looked down at him. "Are you okay?"
Davis sort of pouted and rolled onto his side and away from her. The last thing he needed now was a lecture from Kari of all people. She was probably the only person who could make him feel like complete garbage while still being a total sweetheart.
He could feel her approach and then, with a low awkward grunt, she was on the ground beside him. Her legs stretched out into a V as she rested her back against the couch. It took her a good few minutes to get comfortable.
"I hope you're happy," she said. "I'm never getting up again."
"You shouldn't have gotten down."
"I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine."
"You just asked Gatomon to slit your throat."
"That is—" Davis flipped over to face her. She had that look, the soft one that saw right through you. "I'm just joking, jeez."
"Joe said you were depressed."
"Joe's not—"
"You tried to impale yourself on a rock?"
"I'm not suicidal, Kari."
"Then don't joke about it."
He threw his arm over his eyes, not wanting to look at her anymore. "Why are you here?"
"I thought you could use some help," she said. "Those two really need a tag team."
"God, I'm so glad we didn't end up together."
When Kari stayed silent, Davis almost didn't dare to look at her from under his arm, and when he finally peeked, she made a show of rolling her eyes.
"I'm serious," he said, tossing his hand at the twins, who were knocking over chairs in a battle for the digimon. "Look at those genetics. Kamiyas and Motomiyas should not mix."
A pillow slammed him in the face so hard his nose hurt. "Shit, Kari!"
"Language!"
"Shit!" Ayame chirped from under the table. Her mouth was stretched into a devious grin.
"Davis!" scolded Kari.
"Oh please, have you met their mother?" Davis asked, rubbing his nose. "Or their grandpa? Where do you think I got it from?"
"Don't say things like that," Kari hissed. "They'll get a complex."
Snorting, he started, "They already—"
"No." She tugged the pillow from his hands and batted him with it again. "You keep your comments to yourself. They're perfect."
"You know what's perfect?" Davis grinned up at her. "That Takaimiya spawn that's about to bust outta you."
"Why does it sound like you're referencing Alien?"
"That's basically how it was with the twins."
"It was a C-section, not a massacre."
"I wish we'd had kids."
Kari looked at Davis with such a strange expression that he quickly corrected himself.
"I mean me and Yolei. I've already established Kamotomiya kids are a no go."
And then Kari looked so sad that he sat up. "Hey, I'm just joking. The twins are great. Our kids woulda been great probably. Why do you look like you're gonna cry?"
His hand went to her shoulder at the same time the door swung open. They both turned to see TK standing in the foyer.
Davis yanked his hand back.
"Please don't tell me this is a high school repeat," said TK.
"Uh…"
Kari pouted. "TK. Don't make him nervous."
TK smiled and, when he took off his fedora (what was he trying to look like? Some 1920s detective? what a dweeb), he had to brush a stray lock of blonde out of his face. It had gotten long enough to tuck behind his ears and look super stupid on him.
"I'm kidding. Relax, Davis." He grinned when Davis frowned at him. "Matt dropped Kari off. We wanted to save him some driving time and this is about halfway."
"Kari got sad cause I said our kids woulda looked weird."
"That's not why, you said," Kari stuttered, "I didn't."
Davis collapsed back onto the floor and threw his hand back just as the table banged upward. "Exhibit A."
"The twins?" TK asked.
Gatomon hissed loudly and ran until she was behind his leg. "Tell me you brought Patamon."
"He went back to Digiworld with Upamon," said TK.
She groaned. "Your child better not be like this."
"Gatomon!" Kari scolded.
TK grinned and made his way around the couch to take a seat on it. He kissed the top of Kari's head and nudged Davis with his foot.
"Why are you on the floor?"
"I was trying to seduce your wife and spawn by telling them how awful our hypothetical children would be," said Davis, glaring a little. "Stop pretending to be jealous. Kari and I are related now. Don't be gross."
"You and Tai being brothers-in-law does not make you related to Kari."
"Yes it does. Hell, practically all of us are related. We're at each other's Christmases. Like one big dysfunctional family."
The door opened again, drawing everyone's attention to it.
Jun was wearing a knee length cocktail dress and had managed to get her crazy hair into a big poofy braid. Pieces were already popping out around her face, riled up from no one wants to know what.
"I didn't know it took three adults to watch two five-year-olds," she said. "Makes you wonder how we manage." She leaned forward, kicking off her heels and Tai popped over her shoulder, his tie loose around an unbuttoned collar.
"Aw man, this looks way more fun than dinner," he said.
"Daddy!" cried Ayame, running toward Tai and impaling his legs so he buckled back. He picked her up and then reached down to hoist the only slightly less energetic Hikaru on his other hip. They both reached for Jun, chanting, "Mom, mom mom!"
"Get ready, Jun," said Tai. "I'm not going easy on you this time."
"Bring it," she said, squatting like a catcher.
"Ugh, how did she turn you into such a dork?" Davis asked while DemiVeemon collapsed onto him, finally free.
Jun shot him a glare before turning back to Tai. With a heave of his hip, Ayame went flying into her arms. "Okay, I've got the heavy one. Toss the pipsqueak."
"Hey!" Hikaru yelled indignantly.
"Nah, I think I'll keep him," Tai said, throwing his son over his shoulder. "Bed time!"
"Why does the fun always stop when you come home?" moaned Ayame.
"Because we're your parents," said Tai. He leaned over the couch, dangling Hikaru upside down. "Why does it look like you killed your uncle?"
"Which one?"
"The one on the floor."
Davis looked up, tossing the throw pillow so it bounced lightly off Hikaru's head. "I was hoping if I played dead they wouldn't eat me."
"We're not bears!" Ayame said.
"I don't think that's true anyway," said TK.
"Ugh, don't fact check a five year old, dude. You'll get into a battle you can't win, trust me."
"I know all the animal facts," said Hikaru proudly.
"Say goodnight to the aunt and uncles," Jun said. "They look like they need to drama."
After a bit of fussing, the Kamiyas managed to corral their children into their bedroom.
"This house is never quiet, is it?" TK asked.
"Just wait," said Davis. "This is your future."
"I thought you said the Takai…"
"Takaimiya."
"That our baby was going to be"—Kari paused and grunted mid-stand when TK helped her off the floor— "perfect."
"I was just being dramatic. You're never sleeping again."
Kari gave a long yawn.
"Won't be much different than now then," said TK. "She's up all the time."
"Leg cramps," she moaned, reaching down to rub one while TK supported her arm.
Davis watched the two of them and felt jealous for reasons that he never would have imagined years ago.
"Why are you bringing bobbleheads to Animamon?" he asked.
TK's head whipped up.
"There's gotta be a couple dozen of those things in that weird little hut," Davis said, rubbing DemiVeemon's ear in an attempt to look nonchalant. "You guys are really that cool, huh?"
"Davis…"
"I'm starting to hate my name." He looked up to see Kari and TK looking at each other and back at him.
"Ken brought me," he explained. "He's been really weird about wanting me to get to know the guy. What's up with that?"
He didn't mention the memories, not about to open that can of worms.
"I spent a lot of time with him when he was Ruachmon," TK said, sitting back down on the couch. "Ken and I both, actually."
"When did Izzy get on board?" Davis asked.
"Not long after, but they've always been strictly professional."
Davis snorted. "Professional."
"I know it seems strange, but he's been an incredible resource for the school," said TK. "Kari hasn't been back since he's digivolved."
"I'm not comfortable with it either, Davis," she said. "He… it brings back too many memories."
Another loud snort escaped Davis's nose, rumbling into laughter.
"Stop sounding like you're having fun out there!" Jun shouted from the bedroom.
"Oh, we're having loads!" Davis shouted back.
"I'll take care of it," said Tai and he soon emerged from the hall, looking concerned. "I know that laugh." He turned to Kari. "Is he having a breakdown again?"
Davis let go of DemiVeemon to hide his face with his arms. "Oh jeez."
"I know this whole thing with Yolei's gotta be rough."
"Did you know Animamon's got a collection of bobbleheads?" asked Davis, eyes still covered. He could hear Tai's footsteps approach and the sound of the couch indenting as he sat down.
"I heard something like that," he said.
Through the small crack under his arm, Davis saw the way his right hand flexed, like he was making sure it was still there.
"You know what's even weirder than that?" he asked and when no one took a guess, he gave a loud snort. "That you married into my weirdo family, to my weirdo sister and had your weirdo kids."
"What can I say? You were right," Tai said, sounding much too fond for being insulted. "She devoured my guts."
Light laughter broke out under Davis's arm. "I can't believe you're still married and I'm not."
"You're still married," said Kari. "You've only been separated for a couple weeks."
Davis shook his head and his arm slid downward so he could rub his palms over his face. "I'm the worst. I made her leave me."
"I don't think you can make Yolei do anything," said TK.
Davis uncovered his face to glare at him even though he was right. "Fine, I made her want to leave. Is that better grammar for you?"
TK just smiled at him. "Are you going to try to get her back?"
"Why? So she can yell at me some more and we can make each other miserable?"
"I don't know, you seemed slightly less miserable before."
"Great. So my life choices are miserable or slightly less miserable. Perfect." He rolled onto his stomach, making DemiVeemon hop off and watch him with teary eyes while he buried his face in the rug. "Wake me up when I'm dead."
"Stop being so morbid," said Kari, putting her arms out for DemiVeemon to hop in. "You're making DemiVeemon sad."
"And you look pathetic," chimed in Gatomon, who earned a flick in the ear from her partner.
At that moment, a door down the hall opened with a not so quiet threat to the children to stay in bed. The floorboards squeaked and then Davis heard his sister's very distinctive annoyed sigh.
"Why don't you go mope at Ken's?"
Davis flipped back around to stare her down. "Things Jun will never say: 'Thank you, Davis, for keeping my kids alive while I went out and did gross things with your beloved mentor. Here, why don't you put your feet up? Have a beer. Stay as long as you like, you deserve it.'"
Jun gave a classic eye roll. "Please, you love watching the monsters."
"Ugh." Davis rubbed his eyes with his palms. "You're right. I wanted kids so bad. Guess it's better we didn't have any. We woulda ended up like the Takaishidas."
"Watch it," said TK.
"Please get off the floor."
"Anyway, I'm not talking to Ken." Davis glared at the ceiling. "He's blacklisted right now."
"He's worried about you too," said Kari.
"I really wish everyone would stop talking about me."
"It's because we care."
"Then go harass Yolei. She's the one who threw a ring at me."
Everyone got awkwardly silent for a minute. Long enough that Davis started to go a bit pink.
"Matt just gave her a lecture," Kari said softly.
Davis did a quick sit up. "Wait, what, when?"
"We went to see Hawkmon today," she continued and then stopped and grimaced, shoving the side of her stomach.
"You okay, Kari?" asked Tai.
"This little girl likes to shove her butt in my ribs," she sighed and immediately got back on track, looking Davis right in the eye. "We all just want to see you work this out. You've been through so much together."
He wrung his fingers, letting them bounce over his knees. DemiVeemon immediately hopped off Kari's lap and nuzzled his knuckles. He unwound them to stroke his ears.
"Sometimes I think that's the problem," he muttered. Swallowing back the lump in his throat, he tried not to look at the two couples on the couch, at their perfect marriages with their perfect kids/almost kid.
"If that bastard hadn't taken us, I don't think we'd be together at all."
No one really had much to say about that.
After Kari and TK had said their goodbyes, Davis grabbed DemiVeemon and stuffed a leftover slice of pizza in each of their mouths. Tai caught him at the door while he was still chewing.
"Ken took you to see Animamon?"
Davis gave a nod and wiped his mouth with his arm. "Did you know there's a virus going around in Primary Village?"
"Izzy mentioned it," Tai said, brows creased so tense that the light scarring on his jaw wrinkled.
"It's creepy." Davis ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to clear off the tomato sauce. "And so is that guy. Do you think we can trust him?"
"I think it's easier for some of us than others," said Tai. He ran a hand through his hair, which was about half the size it used to be, but still just as wild. "I don't know. I trust Ken and TK. And if Izzy can move past it…"
"If Yolei knew all this, she'd lose her shit," Davis said. "I don't like holding grudges, but my whole life got screwed up because of that guy."
Tai seemed to soften then and his hand fell on his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. Davis suddenly felt young, like he was a kid again, looking up to his hero. He couldn't help but notice the way Tai flexed his fingers, like he still remembered what it was like to have them missing.
"I think you're forgetting the good parts," he said softly. "I can't say that I understand how you feel. You and Yolei went through the worst of it. If I could change one thing about the past, it would be saving you."
Davis felt a sting rise behind his eyelids and he shook his head, but Tai kept speaking.
"I also know that we wouldn't be where we are today if Animamon didn't do what he did. I don't know if you know this, but you were the catalyst that brought us all back together. It wasn't worth it. But it was still good." Tai took a deep breath. "I don't know how to explain that without sounding like a complete dick."
Davis laughed a little and wiped the tears emerging from his eyes. "Yeah, you do sound like a dick."
Tai smiled and it was too reminiscent of Ken's, the kind that was still sad. "I trust you, Davis. Whatever happens, I know you're going to do the right thing."
"You talking about Animamon or Yolei?"
"Both."
...
…
She watched him decay.
She couldn't even remember what she shouted as he stood there, bruises blooming, bone splintering through his skin. And whatever he said was lost through the blood gurgling through his mouth.
All his teeth were painted red.
He didn't speak anymore, just laid on that forest floor while she and Ken wept over his lifeless eyes.
His chest went rigid beneath her hands and hers burst open, all the rot and death pouring out with him.
Yolei shot up, gasping, frightening Poromon from his spot on her chest when she grasped it in panic.
"Yolei!" he squeaked. "Are you alright?"
Her head shook over and over until she could finally nod instead.
"A nightmare?"
"Memory," she said, wiping tears from her face. "I just...let me just check, okay?"
Momoe's comfy couch sprung up beneath her as she reached for the purse on the coffee table. She dumped its contents until her D-terminal came loose.
She typed the same message she had a thousand times before and hoped for an answer.
"It's the middle of the night," Poromon complained. "He's probably asleep."
But a green light blinked almost immediately, indicating his reply. Yolei had to put on her glasses to make sure she had read it clearly.
FROM: Davis Motomiya
TO: Yolei Inoue-Motomiya
DATE: Today, 3:24 AM
SUBJECT: RE: pulse check?
How long are we gonna do this?
Her heart slowed from panic, but a new ache came, wringing into her chest. For what felt like an eternity, she just stared at his words, guilt roiling, and didn't know what to write back.
"He hates me," she whispered.
"You know that's not true."
She typed anyway.
Yolei: I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't bother you anymore.
Davis: It's just weird to keep talking to you in the middle of the night without really talking to you.
She stared for awhile at that.
And then she kept typing and backspacing a reply for so long that he sent another one before she was finished.
Davis: Were you here a few days ago?
Yolei: I came to get a couple things.
Davis: You could have called.
When she read that, she swore she could hear him snapping, that tight tweak in his throat that started whenever she had pushed the wrong button. She immediately went on defense.
Yolei: Where were you anyway?
Davis: I dunno. Work?
Yolei: At 11PM?
Davis: Ken's? Why were you coming to get your stuff that late?
Yolei: Why does it matter?
She waited for a response for a long time, fingers tapping impatiently over the keys.
With every minute that passed, she felt a weird combination of fury and dread building inside her, the two mashing until they spread like heat in her chest.
Like an infection moving through her bloodstream until she couldn't breathe.
He never wrote back.