"Home Away From Home"
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As the two friends walked along, Tai couldn't help but become lost in his thoughts due to the information that he had just learned only minutes ago.
He couldn't help but to be in awe of the fact that the stranger he had become friends with was really someone he had known for a few years now and was amazed by how much the girl had changed over time and what the future held for them.
"I need a new name." Daisuke spoke up suddenly.
Startled from his thoughts, Tai turned to look at the girl with a confused look on his face.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
"Kari is pretty smart and...insightful for a kid her age. If we tell her that my name is Daisuke, she'll start asking a bunch of questions and might even find out who I am." She explained.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right." Tai sighed in agreement.
It was strange, but there were many moments in his life when he felt like Kari was older than she really was.
Looking into her eyes, he could see how wise she was under her innocent and sweet charm and it made the older brother feel worried over it.
"So, what kind of name were you thinking of?" Koromon asked the girl.
She hummed in thought as she cupped her chin, her mind racing as different names popped up in her head.
"I'm not sure." She frowned as she tried to pick out the names in her mind that she liked the best.
"We'll figure it out later. Come on, I wanna hurry and get home. I've really missed my family. I wonder what Mom's gonna say when she sees us." Tai smiled.
"Heck if I know, Tai. You never told me and the other kids that you got sucked back home after fighting Etemon. Actually, you never even told us about Etemon." Daisuke said.
"I didn't? Why not? I mean, if there was a new group of Digidestineds, then why didn't us older kids tell you all about our adventures to prepare you?" Tai asked.
"Well, you did tell some things, but you chose the ones that you thought were more important for us to know about." Demiveemon informed.
There were a lot of things that the original eight Digidestineds had forgotten to inform the five new kids of and it was starting to get on Daisuke's nerves.
The group carried on walking and passed by a shop that had fruit carts set up outside.
Demiveemon and Koromon stared longingly at the large, plump apples as they felt their mouths water.
Noticing this, Daisuke shook her head in amusement before she then nudged Tai's side making him look over at the girl curiously.
"What?" He asked.
Watching the girl as she glanced down at the digimon and then jerked her head over at the fruit carts, Tai nodded in understanding as he handed Koromon over to Daisuke to hold.
Digging into his pocket, Tai pulled out his wallet and searched through it for some money before he then walked over to the vendor.
Perchasing four fat red apples, the boy then walked back over to his friends.
"Those look really good!" Koromon smiled as he jumped into Tai's arms.
The boy fumbled with the apples and Daisuke managed to grab them before they hit the ground as Demiveemon jumped onto her shoulder.
"Whoa, take it easy, Koromon!" Tai laughed.
"Here." Daisuke smiled as she handed one of the apples over to Koromon who used his ears to hold it in front of his mouth as he began eating it.
She handed another apple over to Tai so that he could eat it before she then handed one to Demiveemon who took it happily.
Smile on her face, Daisuke bit into the red skin of the fruit and enjoyed the sweet juice of the apple as she began to eat.
The two pre-teens started walking again, Daisuke hummed in thought as she took a bite out of her apple when she then started staring at the fruit with a contemplative expression.
"Ringo!" She suddenly exclaimed making Tai jump.
"What?" He yelped.
"Ringo! That's the name I'll go by. My name will be Ringo." Daisuke stated proudly.
Blinking at that, Tai then turned his brown eyes onto the apples that they were eating before looking back at the smiling girl.
"So, your new name will be Apple?" He questioned.
"Yep!" She chirped.
Looking at Daisuke curiously, Tai couldn't help but smile since the way she had chosen her alias would be similar to the way her younger self would have chosen it.
If they were eating strawberries she probably would have chosen the name Ichigo and if they were eating plums or peaches, then she would have named herself Ume or Momo.
"I think Ringo is a great name for you. Why didn't your parents ever think of that?" Tai teased as he flicked her hair off her shoulder.
"Not a clue." Daisuke shrugged.
Soon enough, the group arrived at the apartment building and Tai stared up at it feeling nostalgic for finally being home.
Koromon was in awe at the sight of the large building.
Daisuke and Demiveemon just smiled at the sight since they were happy to see something so familiar.
"Wow, everything looks exactly the way it was when I left for camp. That's where I live, Korormon. Pretty neat, don't cha think?" Tai asked.
"All those rooms? Your family's big." Koromon commented.
"Those rooms aren't all for Tai's family. There are hundreds of other families who live in there." Demiveemon explained.
"Yeah, exactly." Tai nodded.
"Come on, let's go inside already." Daisuke told them.
Walking inside the apartment building, the two humans made their way over to the elevator and Koromon was glancing around in awe at the sight while Demiveemon was simply smiling.
Soon enough, the group were standing in front of the door to the Kamiya family's home and Daisuke looked at the familiar name plate she had seen a dozen times when she came over to visit.
"I don't know what to expect. Everything's been so weird. Being in Digi-World I lost track of time. I wonder if they're even going to recognize me." Tai smiled.
"We won't know unless we go in." Koromon said.
"Right, well, here goes." Tai said as he reached out.
Gripping the handle, Tai turned it and the door opened with ease which made his eyes grow wide in surprise.
"It's unlocked." He stated.
"Does that mean your folks are home?" Daisuke asked.
"Must be." Tai answered.
Eyes glancing over the wall on the side of the door, Tai smiled as he began to remember things from his past.
"I remember when my mom plnated those flowers. I remember buzzing my friends up on that intercom to come over and play video games and watch TV. Oh, and the time when my dad put our family name plate on this door. But those memories won't mean a thing, guys. If we came out of that dimension rift at the wrong time, what if I no longer exist?" Tai asked.
"Tai, you just saw me and Jun in the park. You're over thinking things. Which is really not like you." Daisuke joked.
"I know, but this is all really weird. I just can't believe I'm really home. What if things aren't the same as they usually are?" The brunette asked.
"Tai, can I make a little suggestion? Open the door." Koromon told him.
"Here we go." The child of Courage sighed.
Pulling the door open, Tai stepped inside to glance around at the apartment and he smiled at the sight as he took in the sight of the two white couches in the living room, the black TV near the window, the three bedroom doors, the door that led to his father's study, the bathroom and the kitchen where his mother usually spent her time cooking up some strange new meal.
"Hello? Look, their shoes are here. Mom? Dad?" Tai called as he let Daisuke walk into the room before he closed the door behind them.
"No one's answering. Maybe they're out." Koromon suggested.
"Maybe they're gone." Tai said.
"Maybe they went to Digi-World." Koromon said.
"Maybe not, dummy!" Tai snapped at him.
Demiveemon giggled as he jumped out of Daisuke's arms and ran over to the living room, glancing around the area and also made sure to keep his eye out for the family cat Miko.
He did not want to be chased around by the feline like last time.
Taking their shoes off, Tai and Daisuke walked further into the apartment as the brunette made his way over to the fridge to get a drink and the redhead stood in front of the window.
Tai pulled a soda out of the fridge while Daisuke shrugged her vest off and pulled her hair out of the ponytail she had it in, sighing in relief as she ran her fingers through the long thick tresses.
"Hey, Tai, over here. I'm thirsty." Koromon said as he watched Tai gulp down the soda.
"Sorry, it's the last one." He said.
"What?!" Koromon asked as his ears stood up.
"You should have asked for some before I finished drinking it." Tai joked as he stared down intot he can.
"I can't beleive you'd be so stingy!" Koromon yelled.
This made Demiveemon giggle as he ran over to the couch where Daisuke was lying and jumped up onto her stomach.
Tilting her head down to look at him, Daisuke smiled at the adorable dragon as she reached a hand up to pet him.
"I was just joking, cry baby." Tai informed.
"Really?" Koromon asked hopefully.
"I left you half of it." Tai said as he handed the can over to Koromon.
The In-Training then began gulping down the sweet drink as Tai glanced over to where the duo of Miracles were located as they rested on the couch, enjoying the familiar feeling of being in the apartment.
They would have rather been at their own home, but knew they couldn't go since young Jun and Daisuke were at home now and would freak out at the sight of them.
"I sure wish I knew where my family was and how long I've been gone." Tai said as he closed the fridge.
'I don't know about your family, but I can answer that last part." Daisuke said.
The girl stood up with Demiveemon curled up in her arms as she walked over to Tai who stared at her.
"How long have we been gone?" He asked her.
"We haven't been gone. Time moves faster in the Digi-World than it does in the Human World. We all feel like we've been gone for months, but no time has gone by here at all." Daisuke explained.
"Seriously? I don't believe it. This is so weird." Tai commented.
"Welcome to the life of being a Digidestined." Daisuke gave an amused smirk.
Humming at that, Tai then looked at the fridge door as he took in what the girl said when his eyes landed on something.
"A-ha!" He exlciamed.
Koromon spat out the can in surprise while Demiveemon jolted awake.
"What? What is it?" The dragon asked.
"Don't scare me like that!" The long earred digimon said.
"That's right! It's August 1st! The day the digivices landed in camp. Which reminds me, it's also the day my parents were planning to visit my grandmother who lives just outside of the city. See? My mom marked the date on this calendar so she wouldn't forget. They must have taken my little sister Kari with them. That's why nobody's home now." Tai explained.
Looking over at the calendar to see the date, Daisuke then narrowed her eyes at a certain date as she remembered something else that was going to happen this month.
Not only was her birthday coming up, but the day Myotismon attacks the city would soon be arriving.
If there was one digimon she truely hated, it had to be the Dracula Wannabe.
"Cool! Then let's just kick back and wait for them to come home!" Tai smiled.
"Speaking of time, it's time to eat." Koromon said.
"Hold your digi-horses! I just learned I'm re-living a day I already lived. And also that time travel is real and that a bunch of other amazing things are going to happen in the furture! It's a lot to take in." Tai exlciamed.
"Sorry, Tai." Koromon apologized.
"No, I'm sorry, Koromon. I didn't mean to yell, but... This same hour and minute and second have already occured. Except I'm home this time." Tai said.
"Cool it, Tai! It's not that much of a big deal." Daisuke rolled her eyes.
Just then, someone gave a yawn which made the two digimon perk up their ears at the sound.
"What was that?" Koromon asked.
A tired voice sounded once again as a door opened.
"Hear that?" Koromon asked as he turned.
"I guess someone's home after all." Demiveemon said.
"Hi, Tai." A familiar voice greeted.
Tai, Daisuke and Demiveemon's eyes all grew wide as they whipped around to see a small girl with short brown hair and reddish brown eyes dressed in pink pajamas was leaning against her bedroom door.
The girl looked a bit pale while her cheeks were slightly flushed and her hair was messy from just walking up, but the duo of Miracles knew that this was indeed the future child of Light.
"Kari? You're here? Mom and Dad left you home all alone?" Tai asked her in surprise.
"I'm a big girl. Hi, Koromon." Kari Kamiya greeted the digimon which surprised everyone.
"Kari, how did you know his name?" Tai asked.
"Maybe she knows my name because your sister's a lot smarter than you." Koromon suggested.
"Can't argue with that." Daisuke muttered since she knew it was true.
Demiveemon snickered at that while an annoyed Tai slapped his hands around Koromon's mouth to keep him quiet and the digimons truggled to get free as he whined.
"Cut it out, Koromon! I'm serious! Now, how did you know his name was Koromon?" Tai asked his sister.
"I don't know. I just knew it." Kari answered.
"How did she just know?" Demiveemon asked.
"I don't know." Daisuke said as she stared at the girl who was meeting her eyes with a curious gaze.
"I don't get it." Tai said.
"It's like I've met him before. That's why I'm not afraid." Kari explained.
"But that's impossible! This is the first time he's ever been out of Digi-World." Tai told her.
Glancing between the two siblings, Daisuke and Demiveemon remained quiet as they watched them shoot questions and answers at each other.
It was almost like a verbal tennis match.
"Well, maybe that's where we met." Kari responded.
"But you've never been to Digi-World. Have you?" Tai asked her curiously.
"I don't know. I think so. It's near your camp." Kari said.
The whistle around her neck jostled as the girl leaned a bit more against the door.
The sight of the whistle made Daisuke stare as she remembered that Kari had it ever since she was a baby.
She had gotten it when she was going through a time where she refused to talk much and would simply blow her whistle to get attention or to answer questions.
It would drive her brother crazy while their parents found it to be cute.
"Tai, who're your new friends?" Kari asked as she stared at Daisuke and Demiveemon.
Tensing up at this, Tai turned his attention over at the girl standing beside him.
"Who? Um, them?" He stumbled over his words.
"I'm Ringo! Tai and I met at camp." Daisuke smiled.
"And I'm Demiveemon!" The dragon chirped as he waved his paw at the girl.
Kari continued to stare at the duo with those insightful eyes of hers and it made them feel a bit nervous.
Did Kari always give off such a mysterious and haunting air to her?
She was really beginning to frighten them with her sudden knowledge and the blank faced stare she was giving them.
Pushing herself off the door, Kari walked over to the duo and it made Tai watch in worry when he noticed that she seemed to be having a bit trouble with walking.
Watching the way she was moving and behaving, Tai knew for a fact that his sister was sick once again.
He wondered if she would ever get over her illness and was tempted to ask Daisuke about it.
When she was finally standing in front of the duo of Miracles, Kari stared up at them and looked straight into the dark brown eyes of Daisuke and noted the crimson flecks in them.
There was something about this girl that seemed familiar to Kari and a small smile then curled her lips as she held up her hand towards her.
"Will you play with me, Ringo?" She asked her.
Blinking in surprise at that, Daisuke gave a sigh as she allowed the tension she had felt earlier melt away and smiled down at Kari as she reached a hand out to grip the small and paler one in a gentle hold.
"Of course I will!" She answered.
Smiling up at the older girl, Kari then led her over to the couch where they could sit down while Tai watched them walk away from him.
The sight of Kari dragging Daisuke off to go play with her seemed very familiar to him and he couldn't help but stare as he became lost in his thoughts.
If Kari knew who Koromon was and about the Digital World, then did she somehow know who Daisuke was too?
To be continued...