#taichi yagami is a good friend

[ashxketchum]

Fairy Tail Parfum (Japanese perfume brand) announced a collab with Digimon Adventure, with the products releasing early at the Digimon 25th Anniversary Exhibition set to begin in 2 days.

Details about the products listed on the website:

Taichi Yagami: This perfume inspired by the protagonist of the work possesses fresh and invigorating fruity notes which easily bring to mind the image of an athletic, cheerful and active Taichi. The change from an aromatic fragrance to a fruity sweet fragrance gives us a sense of Taichi's bravery, and how with his positive attitude he acts as the leader for his friends.

Fragrance: Fresh Green Note. Scent image: Top notes: Pink Pepper, Bergamot, Mango, Lotus. Middle notes: Cardamom, Geranium, Soft Rush (Grass) Last notes: Amber, White Musk, Patchouli, Cedarwood.

Yamato Ishida: The uplifting fruity notes take inspiration from the cool demeanour of Yamato, who also has acts with a strong sense of responsibility, bringing forth his wild personality. The last note, which changes to a calm fragrance with a lingering fruity freshness, gives us a sense of Yamato's inner feelings, who despite of putting up the front of a lone wolf, feels strongly for people he considers friends, which makes him a suitable partner for Garurumon.

Fragrance: Fruity Floral. Scent image: Top notes: Apple, Narcissus, Lemon. Middle notes: Jasmine, Rose, Bamboo. Last notes: Amber, White Musk.

Koushiro Izumi: The fresh and invigorating fragrance brings forth the image of a curious, intelligent and practical Koushiro. The change to softer floral notes brings to mind his adeptness at solving mysteries and how reliably Koushiro uses his knowledge to stand as the chief advisor among the members of the group.

Fragrance: Floral Ambery. Scent image: Top notes: Pear, Coriander. Middle notes: Cabbage Rose, Linen, Pink Lily. Last notes: White musk, Amber, Sandalwood

Jou Kido: The natural citrus note inspires the image of Jou, who is self conscious about his role as the oldest member of the group. The fresh fragrance lasts and as it dries down the scent changes, resembling the growth of Jou through his adventures in the digital world.

Fragrance: Sheer Citrus. Scent image: Top notes: Bergamot, Neroli, Ginger. Middle notes: Ivy, Oakmoss. Last notes: Cardamom, Tea Leaves, Sandalwood.

Takeru Takaishi: At first the fresh and invigorating fragrance evokes the image of Takeru as the youngest member of the group, who through this journey embraces growing up by developing a strong will and building up a sense of self-reliance. After the fragrance settles down, it leaves a fresh and lasting scent changing into something which gives a glimpse of the strength of Takeru's character, who never gives up, no matter what the situation.

Fragrance: Fruity Floral Scent image: Top notes: Apple, Blackcurrant, Cherry Blossom, Peach. Middle notes: Peony, Freesia, Pomegranate, Ylang-Ylang. Last notes: Musk, Cedarwood.

Sora Takenouchi: The fresh and soft scent of the citrus notes is at first glance boyish, but under it's layers it is easy to visualise a gentle and mature Sora. The change in fragrance with the addition of sweetness to the floral notes brings to mind the image of Sora, who is good at paying close attention to other's feelings and acts like an elder sister to her friends.

Fragrance: Floral Fruity. Scent image: Top notes: Honeysuckle, Grapefruit, Mango. Middle notes: Jasmine, White Rose, Cabbage Rose. Last notes: Musk, Sandalwood.

Mimi Tachikawa: The strong and pleasant fruity notes bring forth the innocent side of Mimi, who expresses all her feelings be it joy, anger or sorrow with a sense of purity, but who is also kind at heart and cares deeply for her friends. The change to floral notes, which are pleasant yet strong at the core, aptly shows Mimi's kindness.

Fragrance: Floral Fruity. Scent image: Top notes: Honeysuckle, Passion Fruit. Middle notes: Wild Jasmine, Cabbage Rose. Last notes: Sandalwood, White Musk.

Hikari Yagami: Using Lemon and Lilac as it's base, the sweet and refreshing fragrance takes inspiration from the mysterious atmosphere surrounding Hikari and her kind-hearted yet fragile nature. The change from the sweet scent of fruit to a spreading fragrance represents the gentle feeling she possesses towards all Digimon and her friends.

Fragrance: Floral Musk. Scent image: Top notes: Lemon, Lilac. Middle Notes: Blossom, Green Tea, Peach, Peony. Last Notes: Cedarwood, Musk, Amber.

And now, time to choose!

[seventeenlovesthree]

Digi Dynamic Shipping Game

Send me two names among the following 12 and I’ll write a short analysis post about them:

Taichi Yagami | Yamato Ishida | Sora Takenouchi | Koushirou Izumi | Mimi Tachikawa | Jyou Kidou | Takeru Takaishi | Hikari Yagami | Daisuke Motomiya | Miyako Inoue | Iori Hida | Ken Ichijouji

Whether canon provides input on them or not.

Boy, do I love to refer back to "Butterfly" and how it basically framed Taichi as the male main character and Sora as the female main character throughout. One might argue that this is a combination that has been occurring in quite a lot of anime - particularly kids and Shounen related - back in the 90s and early 2000s, so... Asking whether or not canon provides input on them is like asking if water is wet. They've known each other since elementary school, have been in the same class ever since (and will continue to be classmates until graduation) and even attended the same football club for a while. They start the series as "almost telepathically connected" football club duo (basically a novel quote right here), adventurous and hands-on plot drivers, the courageous leader and the tomboyish but caring voice of reason right by his side. You instantly get the impression that they are familiar and close with each other and it's a theme that continues throughout the entire first season; not only because they consistently jump into action and call out, care for and protect each other, but because they, their bond, their loyalty and development are basically responsible for the fact that the kids get through everything alive in the end.

Trying to describe the extent and depth of their relationship would probably end with me writing a whole novel, so I will try to keep this brief, because... You know them. Similarly to Taito, Koumi and Takari, Taiora has been a staple in the shipping scene ever since the conception of Digimon Adventure back in 1999 - and for good reason. As mentioned, there used to be - and still is - a trope to pair up the main boy and main girl with one another and this case is no exception, considering how well they play off of each other, supporting and saving each other time and time again. Digimon Adventure is a special series though - a series whose creators intended to break through tropes and stereotypes, turning those on the head whenever possible. So while Taichi's and Sora's bond may be so significant that the idea of them ending up together seems inherently plausible - this is not how their story ends.

The tomboy, who struggles with her sense of femininity and identity, cannot deal with her best friend gifting her a hairclip - and while they seem thoroughly devoted to and on each other's minds, they develop in different directions. There is a theme of miscommunication between them as they grow older, little quarrels here and there - but at the same time, there is still an incredible sense of mutual fondness and protectiveness that, despite a growing physical distance, never completely vanishes. "If you love someone, let them go", is a quote that may come to mind when you take a look at the screenshot above and are aware of its context. Whether that kind of love was romantic or platonic at this point? We may never know.

This is the story of two close long-term friends, who were not meant to be together - wrong time, wrong place.

... Which doesn't mean that there isn't a potential "right time", right...?

Whether I think why and how they’d work.

What I mentioned above seems to be somewhat cryptic and what I'm about to outline may or may not break canon to a certain degree, but HEAR ME OUT.

While this headcanon is, for now, nothing more than a headcanon, but I am a big supporter of @dutchforstrangers' interpretation of the epilogue, leading to the idea that Yamato and Sora might not remain together/married. This post is not meant to be Sorato slander in any way and I will not go into detail here as to why I think this is a valid headcanon - just know that there are a few subtext aspects in regards to their behavioural patterns and body languages that leave room for speculation. And that's all there is to it: SPECULATION!

The point I am trying to make here is, once again, that Taichi and Sora may not have been ready to be in a relationship early in life - because they first had to come to terms with themselves, their real dreams, aspirations and needs. They had to become comfortable with themselves (particularly after the loss of their Digimon partners) to bridge the (physical and emotional) distance that had festered between them through the years. Because if you think about it, due to their underlying insecurities, they both chose the same approach in their early twenties: Isolating themselves from the rest of their friend group. And I feel like they both have to come to the conclusion first that this is a state that could never bring them long-lasting happiness. They're both social beings that shrivel when they're left alone for too long. (They may also need the encouragement of their friends - particularly Mimi, Koushirou and Hikari - to get there though.)

So it may take a while, weeks, months, maybe even years, to reconcile, step by step. Rekindling their bond, making up their minds about their true passions and career paths, rediscovering old and finding new hobbies and similarities along the way; whether it's about their shared love for their friends, football, adventurous and sporty activities, probably therapy???, whatever it may be... Until they'd reunite with their partners and, with a gleeful but weary smile on their faces, realize that they just had to grow up to this point to eventually find each other as well.

Whether I’d prefer them as platonic or romantic ship.

In case the way I've been talking about them hasn't made it obvious yet - I do love Taiora a lot. While I hadn't started actively shipping Digimon characters until I started watching Tamers, I always had an incredible soft spot for them and up to this day, Taichi and Sora are my second favourite choice for each other. You could say that, in every possible universe in which Taich doesn't end up with Koushirou, he WOULD end up with Sora if I had anything to say. It's also no secret that Taikoura is my absolute favourite OT3 and I really think they COULD work out beautifully together. In the end, both romantic and platonic Taiora is absolutely beautiful to me - especially because it brought some very special, wonderful people into my life. Long story short: As long as their closeness persists in any way, shape or form, I'll be happy.

I also still maintain that the reboot timeline could potentially go there, but I will not get my hopes up... Yet.

[hikaritakaishi]

Takari Week 2024 - Day 2: Second Year

Days: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Title: Invisible [Prologue II] (Second Year)

Characters: Hikari Yagami, Takeru Takaishi, Taichi Yagami, Yamato Ishida.

Summary: It takes time to find our place. And sometimes that place isn't a place, it's someone. And even if the castle falls, we can always put the pieces back together and build it again.

Note: A collection of stories that gives us an insight into Takeru and Hikari's relationship over the years. It was really hard to put all the prompts explicitly in the story, so I tried to metaphorize some of them, in order for them to make sense at the end.

It is composed of two prologues, one for Takeru and one for Hikari, exposing events before 1999. And a final epilogue, summarizing all the feelings exposed in the previous chapters. In the intermediate chapters, we follow all the challenges that a long-term friendship has to face when it becomes a romantic relationship, and how we form solid and permanent bonds with the ones we love the most.

・。。・゜゜・。。・

She waved goodbye to her classmates from the bottom of the street and continued alone to the cluster of buildings where her house was located. It was Friday, finally.

She felt exhausted. Not physically, but emotionally. I mean, physically too, but not as much as emotionally. Her legs felt heavy, but her heart was feeling even heavier. What a suffocating week.

Several trips to the doctor later, and successive hospitalizations over the years made that physical weakness something customary to her. Casual almost. She was breathing heavily. Each step felt like a different kind of torture. And the worst of all, no one could tell her if she is ever going to be perfectly recovered.

Would she ever be healthy?

All of that caused her an almost constant absence at school. Treatments, days she could barely get out of bed, leaving classes earlier because she felt dizzy, tired, exhausted. Was impossible for her to make real friends. She barely knew anyone in her class. It's not like they ignored her, but they simply had no time to create a bond with her. A real connection. It was not something that was allowed to her.

She had no idea what they liked to talk about. What kind of games they liked to play. She felt out of place. Constantly. Most of them had good intentions, they were good kids, and they cared about her. But time. Nothing pays for the time we spend creating something with someone. It is rarely spontaneous. 

Time was cruel. And ironic. Hikari felt that no amount of time would be enough to heal that wound.

“I am home. “

She tried to sound as normal as she could.

“How was school, dear?” Asked her mother as she saw her cross the hallway.

“Great!” She faked a weak smile. “I just have a lot of homework to do.”

“I see. You must catch up the rest of the class. “

“I am trying my best…”

She went to the bedroom she still shared with her older brother and closed the door. She placed her backpack on her desk and sighed. Another day has passed, and no progress has been made. She took three steps back and fell back onto the bed.

Would it ever get better?

・。。・゜゜・。。・

“Hikari! I have a surprise for you!”

Taichi’s voice sounded like an alarm clock to her.

She was at the dinner table finishing some schoolwork when he approached her. He came near her and stood by her side, irradiating confidence.

It was a sweet and warm Sunday morning, and she didn't expect her brother to wake up so early. He had football training on Saturday and usually rested until lunchtime on Sunday.

Today was not the case.

Taichi had woken up early and she had heard him on the phone with someone shortly after waking up. He wasn't exactly… careful with the noise he made or the tone of voice he used, so he ended up waking her up unintentionally.

“Guess who's coming to visit!”

She blinked. No idea, she thought. Taichi had so many friends that it was impossible to predict. School friends, football mates, neighbours… unlike her, he had unbelievable social skills.

“Sora?”  She finally guessed. He loved spending time with Sora, so it sounded like a plausible possibility.

“Oh, no, not Sora. Do you have a second guess?”

“Ah… not really.” She looked back at what she was previously doing.

“Yamato!”

“Oh, I see. “She said unsurprisingly.

 Yamato was a regular visit as well; he often came to play with Taichi or do some homework. Although they had some conflicts in the past, it seems that now they have learned to be best friends and support each other in every possible conceivable way.

“…and… Takeru is coming along!” 

“Really?” She got up from the chair where she was sitting. “Is he really coming?” Her eyes were like stars, bright and clear.

“Now I captured your attention!” Taichi let out a genuine laugh of delight before continuing. “They are coming after lunch. Me and Yamato have some homework to do together, and since Takeru is in Odaiba, we thought that it would be nice for you two to see each other again.”

“I don’t see him since… “

“Yes, I know. I am glad you still remember him. And I can see your enthusiasm!”

She never told anyone about it, but Taichi knew how hard it was for her, not to be able to make friends. He knew how wonderful his sister was, and he knew how cruel life had been to her. She was kind, honest, and caring, she just needed an opportunity. She just needed to be seen for who she really was.

And how could she forget about Takeru?

Everything that happened was still fresh in her memory.

The laughter, all the tears, the fear.

The way they had to act like a team to survive. The way he did not let her down and cared for her, even though he barely knew her at the time. They clicked so naturally. It had never happened to her before. Time did not mean a thing for them. 

But did he remember her, the way she remembers him?

・。。・゜゜・。。・

“So…” She said shyly “Do you want to solve a puzzle or build a castle with some blocks?” 

“Oh, I love building blocks!”

“Great, me too!”

Despite everything that happened, they were still kids. They were still nine-year-olds. Who wanted to play, to laugh together and to forget their problems that seemed bigger than them.

“So, you decided to build a castle!”

Taichi’s voice sounded loudly in the living room. He looked like he had come to get something to drink from the fridge. He was in their parent’s small home office with Yamato doing schoolwork.

“Do you want something to drink as well, or to eat? It will not take us too long to finish but you can have something now if you want.”

They shared a look.

“We can wait for you!” Takeru said.

“Yes, we can wait!” 

Taichi smiled and went inside the room again.

He felt very content. Hikari never brought a friend home to play. And he was overjoyed by that little achievement of hers. It finally seemed like she was enjoying sharing a moment with someone.

Some time had passed, and they had made a lot of progress on that castle. It was almost as tall as them.

“Oh…”

Takeru couldn't say anything more; after touching one of the blocks at the top of the castle and seeing them all fall to the ground, one by one.

He blinked nervously and looked at her in the eyes. He had screwed up, he thought.

“I… am sorry, Hikari.”

She smiled.

He couldn’t believe it, but she just smiled sincerely and started to collect the blocks again.  Wasn’t she even a little upset? After all the effort they put into building that castle.

“It’s ok.” She said after a few seconds. “The base was fragile, you see. If we want to build one that would not tremble so easily, we must focus more on the base next time!”

“Ah… sure.” He answered a little insecure. “But… It was my fault that…”

“Oh no!” She stopped him. “If anything, it was OUR fault. Because we built it together. And we can always re-build it again and again…” She continued collecting the blocks.” Until it’s perfect!”

“You are… right. We can always build it again…”

“That’s the spirit!”

Their brothers, who had heard the blocks castle falling moments before, were near the door listening to the conversation, exchanging the most genuine sights of pride.

They knew that those two kids would grow up to be wonderful adults if they maintained and cultivated that empathetic and caring attitude.

“You know what Yamato… can you please bring Takeru more often?”

“Yes… definitely I will.”

・。。・゜゜・。。・

You can also find it at: Fanfiction.net & Wattpad

[tobiasdrake]

Episode 34 - The Bonds of Fate! Tailmon / The Eighth Child Revealed

Previously on Digimon Adventure: If Vamdemon was even half as good at murdering children as he is at murdering childhoods, he would have won this thing by now.

Now we turn our attention back to the Yagami household.

After a long day of searching outward from Shibaura, Taichi returns home late. We begin the episode looking at the outside of his complex late at night, while we hear him enter the apartment.

Taichi: I'm back! Yuuko: Welcome home! You're late. (phone rings) Taichi: Ah! I'll get it!

Taichi goes straight for the phone and we come in on him, with Agumon standing there in plain sight.

Taichi: Hi, Yagami residence. Moshi moshi? ... Oh, Jou! Did you find the Eighth Child?

This feels like a fun time to talk about another cultural peculiarity of Japanese language. Moshi moshi is another one of those phrases that has a pretty fair translation but doesn't fully translate. It's typically translated as "Hello", which is a reasonable way to take it.

Moshi moshi is an informal phone greeting stemming from the verb mousu, which means to speak. Basically, it's common practice in Japan when chatting with friends over the phone to begin the conversation by going "Talk-talk!" A bit odd when you look at it too closely, but it's one of those fun linguistic things that every culture develops and then does without thinking about it, like putting the letters O and K together to signify that things are fine.

Try not to do it in a professional environment, however. It is informal speech.

Taichi, realizing how dumb his Partner is being right now, silently points at his bedroom. Agumon opens the door and goes inside without a word.

Jou: No, I had no luck at all. No one else besides us actually left Hikarigaoka! Taichi: That's impossible! There has to be one!

Right as Taichi says that, we cut to an overhead shot of the living room where we can see Hikari reading on the sofa. Y'know. A fun angle change. No particular reason for that; It's not related to anything he said just now.

Also, Meeko's there! She came home. What a good kitty.

Jou: I've called everybody in every phone book. The only phone book we haven't touched yet is yours, Taichi. Taichi: (deer in headlights) Oh, gotcha... I wonder where I put it.... Jou: It's the only lead we have left so make sure you find it! Taichi: Right, right, got it. (hangs up)

Taichi bolts into his room to redouble the search effort that got him buried in debris this morning.

In the original, the phone suddenly ringing provides Taichi with an opportunity to escape the conversation about his tardiness. In the dub, Yuuko is already letting it ring off the hook when Tai walks in the door.

(phone ringing) Tai: Hey, mom! I'm home! Yuuko: Tai, you're late! Tai: I'll get it!

Weird. Like, I know nobody answers their phones anymore but in the 90's sometimes people called you who actually had important things to say.

Tai: Hello. Kamiya Residence. Yeah, Joe! ... So did you find the Eighth DigiDestined kid yet? (Tai sends Agumon to his room) Joe: No, I didn't have any luck. There weren't any other students who moved from Highton View Terrace. Tai: But that can't be right! There must be someone else! Joe: Well, whoever it is, they weren't in my address book! Check your own book before you start yelling at me! Tai: (deer in headlights) Oh, that's right. What did I do with my book, anyway? Uh.... Joe: You still haven't found it!? Oh, great! It's only the future of the world depending on you! Tai: (annoyed) I'll find it! (hangs up)

Emphasis on "my" theirs; He actually does put a lot of emphasis on that word to set up his follow-up statement. But it's also the point of contention in this exchange.

Like. Very minor tonal thing, it's not a big deal in this exchange: As usual, Jou has more of a Senpai Voice and speaks to Taichi from a position of authority here while Joe flounders and whines. The purpose of this call is to berate Taichi for his failure to complete the assignment they were all given and emphasize the importance of doing it.

Y'know. Senpai work.

But the more glaring problem is the plot contradiction. It comes when he says, in very specific and emphasized terms, "my address book". Did the dub forget that he spent today calling everybody's address books?

That's kind of important. Because if he's only finished one book then he still has five other books he can go through before Tai's becomes the final hope we have. Tai himself said that Sora was in his class so their books are probably the same anyway. Go through Sora's book, Joe!

Taichi resumes searching his room by dumping his stuff out on the floor.

Agumon: What are you doing? Taichi: I can't find my student phone book.

Out in the living room, Hikari hears the commotion and seems entertained by it.

Hikari: (to Meeko) Onii-chan is always making a mess, huh? Meeko: (happy) Mroooowr....

Over in the dub:

Agumon: What are you doing? Tai: I'm trying to find my address book! (Out in the living room) Kari: Meeko, Tai's room is messier than your litter box. Meeko: (happy) Nyah?

I've mentioned before that Japanese is a very gender-neutral language. Something you need to understand about that is that a lot of the time when you see pronouns in a subtitle, they're made the hell up. Translators often have to make an educated guess about what pronoun to put here.

This can cause major problems with characters whose pronouns are meant to be a surprise reveal later down the line. It's easy to spend several episodes not committing to a he or a she or a they for a given character in Japanese, but harder to do that in English. In fact, often the giveaway isn't what words others use to describe them, but whether they make masculine or feminine word choices in their own language. Though even that's not guaranteed.

I've gone back and forth a lot about Digimon pronouns. Their genders are aesthetic and many don't even have that much. Official translations tend to abide by either a male default or it/its, neither of which has aged well.

The reason this is important is because the lack of a pronoun caused both the dub and sub to make an error here. Taichi is not making a mess in his room. Taichi and Hikari share a bedroom.

It's an easy to mistake to make, especially if you haven't seen the OVA. We've seen Hikari come and go from their room, particularly when she was sick back in Taichi's first return trip to Odaiba. But we haven't seen her use the bunk bed in the anime proper yet, so it's easy to overlook.

Taichi, it seems, sleeps on the bottom bunk while Hikari has the top bunk. This is a reversal of the OVA, where Taichi was up top and Hikari was on the bottom. I wonder why they switched? Maybe Hikari got older and wanted to have the big kid roost?

In any case, while Hikari's playing with Meeko, we pan over to Tailmon across the street. It seems she's acquired one of those mini telescopes that Taichi has.

Narrator: Tailmon was watching Taichi and his family from the top of the building across from them. Although she suspected that Hikari was the Eighth Child, Tailmon could not attack her.

Tailmon watches Hikari pick up and play with Meeko. The affection on display here sends her into a flashback of her aborted attempt to assassinate Hikari.

Tailmon: Why? Why couldn't I do it when I had the chance? (Tailmon looks again, seeing Meeko curled up in Hikari's lap) Tailmon: Hmph. A domestic cat? She has it so easy. She's given food and sleeps all day. Sometimes she has to give her owners some affection.

Over in the dub, Gatomon handles the narration herself.

Gatomon: If Kari really is the Eighth DigiDestined Child then I have to destroy her. But every time I see her, I get this strange sensation. I still don't understand why I wasn't able to attack her when I had the chance. (Flashback) Gatomon: What happened? I could have stopped the DigiDestined once and for all but something was pulling me away. (Gatomon looks again, seeing Meeko curled up in Kari's lap) Gatomon: Look at that little pet cat over there, she's got it so easy. She gets fed gourmet food out of the can and she gets to chase a sock all day! Talk about a purr-fect life.

Gatomon's sassy performance doesn't really suit these emotional moments but she goes hard when she gets to be snide and pissy towards Meeko.

At this point, Tailmon is so upset that she lowers the telescope and starts verbally shadowboxing the night air around her.

Tailmon: Yes, I'm being unreasonable! No one ever accepted me for who I was!

Tailmon launches into a flashback from Vamdemon's Castle.

Tailmon (V.O.): When I was in my Child form Plotmon, Vamdemon pushed me around every day. And if anything went wrong, he'd....

We see Vamdemon's Bloody Stream whipping Plotmon, torturing her. He hits her once on the top of her head, and then the second strike throws her down the stairs. When she gets back to her feet, looking up at him, he speaks.

Vamdemon: I'll make you suffer the same pain every time you look at me with those eyes. Understand?

He resumes lashing her with his Bloody Stream. Plotmon covers her face with her forelegs and closes her eyes, weathering the hits.

Tailmon (V.O.): Even when I got more skilled, he'd still beat me down every day. Just because he didn't like my eyes.

Back in the present, she pulls back one of her claw gloves to reveal a cross-shaped scar on the back of her paw.

Tailmon: Vamdemon gave me this scar. But these are just the eyes I was born with!

There is a lot going through Tailmon's mind right now. The love and affection that Hikari showers on Meeko has sent Tailmon spiraling down a trauma hole.

In the dub:

Gatomon: Nobody was nice to me like that when I was growing up. Nobody was nice, period! (flashback) Gatomon (V.O.): Back when I was Salamon, I was a slave to the evil Myotismon.

The dub cuts the footage of Vamdemon's Bloody Stream whips striking Plotmon, as well as her falling down the stairs. We go straight from Myotismon raising his arm to strike to a trembling Salamon trying to stand at the bottom of the stairs.

Myotismon: Every time you look at me with those eyes, I'll have to hurt you.

They cut shots out of the second round of torture too, but still leave enough in to maintain the impression. We see his Bloody Stream whips lashing through the air but we don't see them making contact. Then we go to a scowling, brutalized Salamon.

Gatomon (V.O.): I couldn't understand. I guess he just didn't like my eyes. (Back in the present, Gatomon pulls back her claw glove to reveal her scar) Gatomon: This is one of the scars that Myotismon gave me, just because I have these eyes. It's not my fault!

Obviously they weren't going to be able to show Dracula whipping a puppy in full graphic detail on Fox Kids. But honestly, this scene is a masterpiece of pragmatic adaptation. They preserve the tone and are able to still imply the brutal violence they had to cut out. We don't see the lashes make contact but we see the marks on Salamon's skin nonetheless.

They even keep the scar, and call it a scar. They hit every narrative and tonal beat they need to hit here. It manages to be perfect despite the extensive cuts.

A quick note on their names: Plotmon is named that because she's based on the plott hound, a breed of dog. Salamon has no meaning. Terry-Lei O'Malley, one of the people working on the dub team, named Salamon after her own pet cat before seeing the character design and finding out she's actually a dog in that form.

Tailmon continues to spiral.

Tailmon: Born... Where was I even born, anyway? What was I doing before I met Vamdemon? I can't remember. Wizarmon: Reminiscing, are we?

Wizarmon levitates down from the air, hovering over the rooftop.

Tailmon: I've told you to stop reading my mind without my permission! Wizarmon: (sincerely) I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. Tailmon: Hurry up and go find the Eighth Child, Wizarmon! Wizarmon: Ah, of course....

Wizarmon humbly returns to the sky and resumes his search for the Eighth Child.

You can feel the panic in Tailmon's voice here. She has officially moved from "monitoring Hikari in case" to "actively withholding information". She practically shrieks at Wizarmon to go the fuck away because she doesn't want him reading something that might give Hikari away.

As soon as he's gone, she goes right back to her stalking ledge. The camera slowly zooms in on her wide eyes, and we hear Meeko meowing gently in the background.

In the dub:

Gatomon: I wish I could remember where I was born. I have no idea what I did before I met Myotismon. My past is a blur. Wizardmon: (descends) Thinking about the good ol' days? Gatomon: I'm not going to tell you again, Wizardmon; Don't read my thoughts without my permission! Wizardmon: (sincerely) I'm sorry, Gatomon. Please forgive me. Gatomon: And shouldn't you be out looking for the Eighth DigiDestined human!? Wizardmon: Yes, I'll get right no it! (flies away)

Pretty much the same. The only notable difference comes after the exchange, when Gatomon returns to the ledge. Instead of Meeko, we hear Gatomon cackling triumphantly. Odd choice.

Wizarmon goes down into Odaiba, testing kids with his Cosplay Crest but predictably getting nothing for it.

Honestly, I'm pretty sure he's not even trying. He shouldn't even be in Odaiba; We're supposed to be fanning out northwest from the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Tailmon got relegated to this spot by PicoDevimon out of spite, and I think Wizarmon came here to support her.

Which is what makes it all the more surprising, flying over one of Odaiba's parks, when suddenly the fake Crest begins to react.

Wizarmon: It's glowing? Why here?

Wizarmon follows the fake Crest's shimmer to a crow's nest. Easily fending off the crow, he plunders its contents.

Wizarmon: A Digivice!?

He picks up the Digivice in his hand, but then hears a voice calling out to him from above and behind.

PicoDevimon: HEEEEY!!! WIZARMON!!! (Wizarmon tightly closes his fist around the Digivice.) PicoDevimon: (approaching) What are you doing over there? Wizarmon: (tucks the Digivice in his cloak) Uh, nothing. PicoDevimon: I don't think doing nothing would led you out here. You found something, didn't you? Wizarmon: You got me, I can't hide anything from you. PicoDevimon: What!? Wizarmon: This world is so much fun! (sheepish) I got a little drunk. HIC!

He pulls a bottle of booze from his cloak, revealing his alleged misbehavior to PicoDevimon. PicoDevimon is not impressed.

PicoDevimon: Not you too. Keep that up and you'll be end up like Pumpmon and Gotsumon. Wizarmon: Oh, please don't tell Vamdemon-sama about this. Okay?

He holds out the bottle to PicoDevimon, who grumpily takes it.

PicoDevimon: Yeah, yeah. Ugh, everyone Tailmon brought with her is useless!

PicoDevimon flies away, his suspicions pacified by Wizarmon's confession to a fake lesser offense. Once he's gone, Wizarmon turns back away from where he went and inspects the Digivice once more.

Wizarmon: I can't turn this Digivice over to Vamdemon. But if the Digivice is here, then where is the Eighth Child?

Here, we see the events of last episode put into play for the ongoing plot. Pumpmon and Gotsumon's fate is a shadow over Tailmon and Wizarmon's choices. We had a chance to see how Vamdemon reacts to treachery before moving into the part of the story where more important characters are behaving treacherously.

With villains, you always kinda know that if their minions turn on them, they won't handle it well. But there's a difference between that general vibe versus seeing, with our own eyes, that Vamdemon will ruthlessly execute them if he gets a whiff of betrayal.

By the way, Wizarmon doesn't get a rundown so we'll do it here. He's an Adult-stage Data-type Digimon from the Nightmare Soldiers lineup.

Alright, let's go see how the dub handles Wizarmon's booze.

Wizardmon: It's reacting! I wonder what's causing it? (Wizardmon follows the signal to the nest) Wizardmon: The Digivice! THUNDER BALL!!!

The attack he uses to scare off the crow, a glowing yellow orb of energy, has no name in the original. But the dub goes ahead and calls it an attack. That's fair, it's a magical projectile so it probably should be named.

(Wizardmon takes the Digivice) DemiDevimon: HEY, WIZARDMON!!! (Wizardmon tightly closes his fist around the Digivice.) DemiDevimon: (approaching) Whatcha doin' over there? Wizardmon: (tucks the Digivice in his cloak) Uh, nothing. DemiDevimon: It's hard to believe you came all the way out here to do nothing. Come on, tell me what you found! Wizardmon: Alright, but if I show you, you have to promise not to tell anyone! DemiDevimon: C'mon, show me! Wizardmon: Alright, it's a bottle of green chili sauce. It's great on tacos! (Wizardmon pulls the bottle out of his cloak) DemiDevimon: What are you doing eating on the job when there's work to be done!? You should be looking for the Eighth DigiDestined Child like the others! Wizardmon: Please don't tell Lord Myotismon! Why don't you get rid of this for me? (Wizardmon hands the bottle over to DemiDevimon) DemiDevimon: Alright. Boy, you know what I hope? I hope that the all-night drive-through is still open! Wizardmon: (turns back around and takes out the Digivice) There's no way I'm handing this over to DemiDevimon! He'll take all the credit for himself. But wait, if the Digivice is here, where is the Eighth Child hiding?

Wizardmon's out here in the woods chugging chili sauce straight from the bottle. That's a plausible explanation, to be sure.

Nah, he straight-up says that he's been putting it on food; It's just funnier to think of it that way. Though DemiDevimon apparently using drive-throughs to satisfy his own munchies raises so many hilarious logistical questions.

In the original, it's ambiguous whether he's surrendering the bottle to PicoDevimon as contraband or giving it to him as a bribe. Or both. The dub comes down on the side of bribe.

The big narrative record scratch is Wizardmon's last line. Wizarmon says he can't give the Digivice to Vamdemon, hinting at an ulterior motive lurking behind his presence among Tailmon's mercenaries. Concealing the Digivice is a purposeful, calculated betrayal.

Wizardmon doesn't want to give it to DemiDevimon because the little bugger will take all the credit, indicating that he fully intends to surrender Kari to Myotismon.

We cut back to the Yagami residence, where Taichi and Hikari eat watermelon while they watch the news.

Anchor: In conclusion, Tokyo has been flooded by eyewitness accounts of these large, strange creatures with the most recent occurrence happening in Shibuya. Further, many young women with acute anemia have been found collapsed in Shibuya's streets. Investigation is ongoing as to whether these events are related. And now weather! Taichi: (shuts off the TV) ...acute anemia?

Yeah, Taichi, that's where you have no blood. So they have to put you in the hospital and pump you full of blood.

Well, now we know why Vamdemon was in the neighborhood last episode. He went to Shibuya to check out one of the major epicenters for youth culture in Tokyo, like Pumpmon and Gotsumon. But for different reasons.

He was lurking around Shibuya getting his drink on when suddenly he caught wind of their commotion. Everything escalated from there.

In the dub:

Anchor: Both horses were reported to be in stable condition. Now back to our top story: Several more strange monsters have been sighted earlier today in and around the Tokyo area. In the same community, there have been more reports of young girls being struck down by what doctors are calling "sudden anemia". Investigators say these incidents may be related. Now on to the weather! Tai: (shuts off the TV) Sudden anemia!?

Good effort, mostly works. However, the reluctance to refer to Shibuya by name confuses matters a bit. Young girls being struck down "in the same community" could easily just mean the Tokyo area. You wouldn't know that he means Myotismon was attacking girls in Shibuya specifically from that remark.

Suddenly, the phone rings.

Taichi: I'll get it! (answers) Yamato: Taichi? Taichi: Oh, Yamato! Did you see the news? Yamato: I didn't have to; I was there in Shibuya! Taichi: Wait... That was you they were talking about!?

Taichi races into the kids' room and slams the door so he can speak openly.

Yamato: Vamdemon attacked us. He even killed his own followers. Taichi: WHY!?!? Yamato: Taichi, we can't predict what he's going to do next. We have to find the Eighth Child fast! Taichi: We have to find the Eighth Child before Vamdemon does!

Yamato barely even gives Taichi a glimpse of what he and Takeru lived through tonight and, instantly, Taichi's on the same page. What the fuck, what the fuck, we need to protect the Eighth Child.

In the dub:

Tai: I'll get it! (answers) Matt: Tai? Tai: Oh, hi, Matt! Did you just see the news? Matt: I didn't have to see it 'cause I was there! We just got back from the city. Tai: You did? So that report on television about the monsters was... (goes in the room) Matt: Right! It was Myotismon! And was he on a warpath. He even got rid of two of his flunkies! Agumon: HUH!?!? Tai: What!? Matt: Tai, we don't know how much time we've got left! I'm telling you, we've got to hurry up and find the Eighth Child! Tai: Myotismon will mangle him! I mean, if he finds him before we do!

The dialogue here is a sound adaptation. However, there are two notes that don't relate to the script.

First, Tai leaves his door wide open while he has this conversation. There's no animation for him closing his door; In the original, he runs into the room and then we cut to the interior and hear a door closing effect. Because there's no animation for it, the dub overlooks it completely. His parents are free to listen in on this.

Second, Agumon reacts to what Matt is saying on the phone to Tai. In the original, when Taichi screams "WHY!?!?" into the phone, it startles Agumon who wordlessly jumps back. In the dub, Agumon reacts before Tai does.

If you're wondering how they can time that to Taichi's lip flaps, the answer is that they don't. Agumon's "HUH!?" comes out of Tai's mouth, and then Tai's mouth is closed when he delivers his own "What!?" I think the audio recordings might have been inserted backwards by mistake.

Outside, Tailmon is still watching Hikari. Wizarmon returns to her stalking rooftop.

Tailmon: Wizarmon? What's wrong? Have you found the Eighth Child? Wizarmon: No, I haven't, but.... Tailmon: But what?

Wizarmon takes the Digivice from his cloak and shows it to Tailmon.

Tailmon: THE DIGIVICE!!! Why do you have that!? Wizarmon: I found it in a crow's nest in Ariake Forest.

Alright, Map Time. As usual, the black circle is Daiba Park, Vamdemon's ironic staging ground for infiltrating the rest of the city across the Rainbow Bridge. The blue circle is Odaiba Seaside Park, where Tailmon first met Hikari. The red circle is Ariake Tennis Park, a large forested park full of tennis courts. Hikari's Digivice was in one of those trees in the tennis park.

Tailmon: Then the Eighth Child must be near there! Wizarmon: No. The Eighth Child is.... Tailmon: The Eighth Child is...? Wizarmon: Well. Tailmon. Tailmon: What? Wizarmon: I think the Eighth Child could be deep inside your heart. Tailmon: In my heart?

This is a hard conversation for Wizarmon to have. How do you, as an outside individual, even begin to explain this?

In the dub:

Gatomon: Wizardmon, what is it now!? Go away before I use you as my scratching post! Wizardmon: Sorry to disturb you again, Gatomon, but-- Gatomon: But WHAT!??! (Wizardmon reveals the Digivice) Gatomon: The Digivice! Where'd you get it!? Wizardmon: I found it in a crow's nest in the Aracky Woods! Gatomon: Then the Eighth DigiDestined must be somewhere near there! Wizardmon: No, the Eighth Child is.... Gatomon: Tell me right now! Wizardmon: Well, you see, Gatomon.... Gatomon: What!? Wizardmon: I wonder if the location of the child isn't somewhere inside your own heart. Gatomon: (quietly) ...what are you saying?

Bless his heart, Wizardmon's actor tries to say Ariake but we all know they don't do second takes around here. The kids at home won't know it's wrong anyway.

Gatomon is more aggressive and confrontational here than Tailmon, but it works well for this interpretation of the character. I said before that her sassy performance works well when she's being wicked but less so when she's being vulnerable, and here it comes together.

The sudden fracture, the collapse of all of her smarm into the quiet, reserved last line hits like a bombshell. Great work there.

Tailmon has another flashback, farther than the last. This time to being a Baby-stage Nyaromon, alone at night somewhere in the Digimon World.

Wizarmon: Your heart is kept prisoner under tight locks. I think perhaps the key to finding the Eighth Child is hidden inside that closed-off heart of yours. Tailmon: ... Wizarmon: Are you afraid of recovering the memories of your youth? Why aren't you trying to remember? Take back the memories you've lost! Remember your past without fear! Tailmon: (snaps suddenly) YOU!!! Did Vamdemon send you here!? Wizarmon: I'm fighting on your side. Vamdemon has nothing to do with this.

Here, Wizarmon reveals his ulterior motives. As he implied earlier, he doesn't give a shit about the mission. He's trying to help Tailmon. That's the only reason he signed on. He's been a traitor since they day they came to Tokyo.

Incidentally, the place Nyaromon was stranded at is pretty clearly the vast desert from the Etemon arc.

In the dub:

Wizardmon: I believe that, long ago, you buried away an important part of yourself. And somewhere deep inside your heart lies the key to the identity of the Eighth DigiDestined Child. Try to remember. Gatomon: ... Wizardmon: What's holding you back? Could it be you're afraid of what you might find? You can get your lost memories back, Gatomon; You can remember your past without fear! End your long nightmare and try to remember! Gatomon: (snaps suddenly) Just leave me alone! Who sent you here!? Myotismon!? Wizardmon: Myotismon has nothing to do with this. I fight by your side, not his. I tell you these things now because you are my friend.

Again, this is all basically perfect. The wording is a little different but it's nearly 1:1 with the original script.

Which is, itself, a bit of a contradiction; He stated earlier that he wanted the accolades from finding Kari for Myotismon, but now he's back on-script.

Wizarmon goes into a flashback of his own, filling in the background on their relationship. We see him wandering aimlessly in Server's great desert, eventually collapsing in a city street.

Wizarmon (V.O.): Before I met you, I was always alone. I traveled by myself, unable to make friends. I was starving, tired, and lonely. When I finally collapsed, no one stopped to help me. I thought death would come too soon. But then you came.

In flashback, Tailmon gives Wizarmon a bowl of water to drink from, saving his life.

Tailmon: Hey! What's wrong? HEY!!! HANG IN THERE!!!

He passes out. But he wakes up at a small camp with Tailmon.

Tailmon: You're awake. Wizarmon: Were you the one who saved me? Tailmon: I didn't do anything so noble. I just couldn't leave you lying there. (Wizarmon uses his staff to push himself up to his feet.) Wizarmon: I'll leave now.... Tailmon: Your body won't be able to withstand it yet. Wizarmon: I appreciate your help but I have nothing to give you in return. Tailmon: I get that. You've lived alone for a long time. Wizarmon: What? Tailmon: When you live in solitude for too long, your heart turns cold. It happens to everyone; Even me.

Back in the present, Tailmon's a little confused by this anecdote.

Tailmon: I don't remember that. Wizarmon: I was about to die with a heart of stone because of my loneliness. The person who freed me from that loneliness, Tailmon, was you.

Wizarmon owes Tailmon a debt that he is here, now, actively trying to repay. A debt of friendship, of empathy, and of kindness in dire times.

In the dub:

Wizardmon (V.O.): Before I met you, I was always alone. I was constantly traveling, never stopping to make any friends. Then, one day, I fell from the sky and crashed but no one stopped to help me. I thought I was a goner until you came. Gatomon: Here. Drink this. (Gatomon gives Wizardmon a bowl of water to drink from) Wizardmon: (cough) Gatomon: Looks like he passed out. (Cut to Wizardmon waking up in Gatomon's camp) Gatomon: Ahh, you're awake. Wizardmon: Huh? Did you save me? Gatomon: I didn't do that much. I just couldn't leave you lying there. Wizardmon: Well, thanks. I guess I'll be going now. Gatomon: Don't be silly. You're not strong enough to go. Wizardmon: I know you helped me but I don't have anything for you. Gatomon: I don't want anything. You must be very lonely to say that. Wizardmon: What do you mean? Gatomon: When you've been alone for a long time, your heart becomes very hard. It happens to everyone, you know. Even me. (Back to the present.) Gatomon: I don't remember any of that. Wizardmon: Well, that's how it happened. I thought you saved me because you wanted something in return; I couldn't understand the concept of compassion because loneliness had hardened my heart. But you taught me that all creatures have good inside of them.

So, a couple things here. First, Wizardmon was in dire straits because he lost control while flying along one day and crashed. Weird change to make. Were they trying to dial back the peril? An accidental injury is a lot less severe than dying of exhaustion.

Second, tonal shift at the end there. Wizarmon's anecdote is about the bond of friendship and gratitude that Tailmon cultivated in Wizarmon's heart. It's his reason for acting now. Wizardmon's anecdote is a lesson in moral virtue; Gatomon's kind gesture restored his faith that people, as a whole, have intrinsic goodness.

Wizarmon continues.

Wizarmon: This is what I remember you telling me back then. (Back into the flashback) Tailmon: Week after week, waiting and waiting, searching and searching, but I never find her! Wizarmon: Waiting? Searching? For who? Tailmon: I don't know! I can't remember anymore! But I was waiting for someone.... (Return to present) Tailmon: Waiting? Me? Wizarmon: Yes. That is what you said. Tailmon: Who was I waiting for? Who was I searching for?

Suddenly, her train of thought is broken by a distant meowing.

Meeko: Meow.... Hikari: Meeko! Where are you trying to go?

Hikari follows Meeko out onto the Yagami balcony, picking her up.

Hikari: You can't come out this late. Stay inside.

She puts Meeko back inside and closes the door. Suddenly, the sound of an ambulance streaking past grabs her attention, and she races over to the balcony to look.

In the dub:

Wizardmon: That's when you told me your secret. (flashback) Gatomon: My whole life, I just keep waiting and searching but... I never find her. Wizardmon: Find who? Who are you waiting and searching for? Gatomon: I can't remember; It was too long ago. All I know is, I'm waiting for someone. (Return to present) Gatomon: Waiting? Me? Wizardmon: That's what you told me. Gatomon: Why can't I remember who I was waiting for? Who could it possibly be? Meeko: Nyow! Gatomon: Huh!? Kari: Meeko! (Kari picks up Meeko) Kari: Where do you think you're going? You can't come out here at this hour. Go back inside. Good kitty.

As before, the sound effects don't come through. There's no ambulance in this version, so Kari suddenly sprints over to the balcony to peek over it for no particular reason. This still works, though; She's a kid; She has energy.

When Tailmon rushes to the balcony to check on Hikari, Wizarmon follows her reaction to its natural conclusion.

Wizarmon: Let's go find out. Tailmon: WAIT!!!

Pouncing on this opportunity, Wizarmon flies straight across to the Yagami apartment.

Hikari: You're.... Wizarmon: I am Wizarmon. Hikari: (scared) You're flying!

Tailmon makes the jump, bounding over onto the Yagami balcony's railing and flipping down onto the balcony itself.

Hikari: Ah! You're the one I met this afternoon. You came back! You really are one of Koromon's friends, aren't you?

The two Digimon waste no time with idle chatter. Wizarmon hands the Eighth Digivice to Tailmon, who holds it out for Hikari.

Hikari: What is that? (reaches out) What...?

When Hikari reaches for it, the holy energy inside of it begins to shine.

Tailmon: Is this girl the Eighth Child? Wizarmon: (takes back the Digivice) Yes, she is. Tailmon: Then who is her Digimon!? Wizarmon: Think back. Who were you waiting for? Tailmon: You're right. I do remember waiting for someone....

Wizarmon, why did you take the Digivice back? That belongs to Hikari.

Whatever the case, shocking truths about Tailmon about to be dropped in 5... 4... 3....

In the dub:

Wizardmon: I think perhaps your search is finally over! Gatomon: Huh!? (Wizardmon flies over to the Kamiya balcony) Kari: (gasp) Who are you!? Wizardmon: Wizardmon. Kari: How are you able to fly like that? Wizardmon: Oh! Uh... Well, I-- (Gatomon bounds over) Kari: Oh, it's you. Hello again. You're Agumon's friend, aren't you? How come you ran away last time I saw you? (Wizardmon gives Gatomon the Digivice and they perform the test) Kari: What's that thing? (reaches out) Can I see it? (The light inside the Digivice shines) Gatomon: (gasp) Wizardmon, tell me: Is this girl the Eighth DigiDestined? Wizardmon: (takes the Digivice back) Yes! Gatomon: Well, then who is her Digimon...? Wizardmon: I think you know. You were waiting for someone. Try to remember. Gatomon: Hold on, my memory is starting to come back!

Kari gives zero fucks about anything. She is the picture of "Sure, I guess this is happening right now" throughout this entire scene.

Backstory Unlocked. Tailmon remembers the full truth of where she came from.

We find Nyaromon alone in that plateau forest on File Island.

Tailmon (V.O.): Ever since I was in my Baby form, Nyaromon, I was waiting for someone. Day after day. I waited and waited but no one ever came.

Nyaromon waits through the changing of the seasons.

Tailmon (V.O.) When I became Plotmon, I went on a journey to find her instead of passively waiting.

There's an implication here that Nyaromon was in that forest back in Episode 1 with the rest of them. Waiting for a Chosen Child who missed the boat. Eventually, she evolved and somehow made the trip to Server on the other side of the ocean. We see Plotmon in the great desert, followed by the lake where we had to get the band back together, and then finally the gnarled woods around Vamdemon's castle.

Vamdemon emerges form the woods, descending ominously towards Plotmon.

Tailmon (V.O.): But the person who found me was not who I was waiting for. It was Vamdemon. (Back to the present) Tailmon: Then the days of despair began. Before I knew it, I'd forgotten. I forgot I was waiting for someone. Searching for someone. Hikari: What are you talking about? This Eighth Chosen Child you're talking about, do you mean me?

And there we have it. The true origin of Tailmon, the Partner Digimon to Chosen Child Yagami Hikari.

The dub explains it thusly:

Gatomon (V.O.): Hold on, my memory is starting to come back. Yes, I was definitely waiting for someone. Ever since I was Nyaromon, I was so lonely. Every day, I just kept waiting and waiting. The seasons changed and the years rolled by and still I kept waiting, but no one ever came. (Salamon goes to Server Continent) Gatomon (V.O.): Then, when I became Salamon, I started searching. I went on a journey, but what I finally found was not the someone I had been waiting for! (Myotismon appears in front of Salamon) Gatomon (V.O.): Instead I found evil and darkness. Myotismon. (Back in the present) Gatomon: Then those days of torture and despair began, and I started to forget. Forget that I was waiting for someone. Searching for someone. Kari: W-What are you guys talking about? What does any of this have to do with me?

Almost did a spit take when the censors let Gatomon describe Myotismon's treatment as "torture and despair". We really are pushing the needle as far as we can get away with on this particular plot point, and I appreciate that.

Unfortunately, the balcony outside Taichi and Hikari's room is not a safe place to be holding this conversation.

While Taichi's inside going through his desk, Agumon suddenly notices something.

Agumon: Someone's outside talking to Hikari! Taichi: Huh!? What!?

In full Stranger Danger alarm, Taichi throws open the glass door and sprints out onto the balcony.

Taichi: Who's there!? (Taichi sees them) Taichi: Digimon! Hikari: Onii-chan! Taichi: What do you want with Hikari!? Wizarmon: Wait! Hear us out first! Taichi: Hikari, get away from them! They're the enemy! Hikari: You're wrong, Onii-chan! Tailmon is looking for the Eighth Child and--

"They're not the enemy; They just want to find the Eighth Child!" In a fit of dramatic irony, Hikari has no idea how little that explanation will do to de-escalate this situation. Not helping is that Yamato's call earlier has Taichi and Agumon's hackles up. Further not helping is that Taichi and Agumon aren't exactly among the kids who will think first and act later.

Everything happens in an instant. Agumon fires the shot that ends the standoff, spitting out a Baby Flame while Hikari is still in the crossfire. What the actual fuck, Agumon.

Hikari instinctively raises her arms to take the hit herself, but Tailmon acts quickly and shoves Hikari out of the way - costing her the time she needs to evade it herself.

Agumon's Baby Flame slams into Tailmon, throwing her back against the balcony wall.

Hikari: TAILMOOOOOOON!!!

In the dub:

Agumon: Someone's out there talking to Kari! Tai: Huh!? (goes outside) KARI, GET AWAY!!! Kari: What's the matter, Tai? Tai: What do you Digimon want!? Wizardmon: Wait! Listen to what I have to say. Tai: Kari! You get over here! Those two are evil Digimon! Kari: No, they're not evil. Gatomon has been searching for me! For me and the Eighth DigiDestined Child!

Kari gets further in trying to explain this than Hikari does. However, she trips over her words when she tries to convey the key issue. She is also, like Hikari, suffering from dramatic irony preventing her from realizing that her words will only make this situation worse even if she does get the idea across.

The last thing Tai/chi wants to hear right now is, "The minions of Vamdemon/Myotismon are looking for the Eighth Child and they found me!"

The dub keeps the shot of Pepper Breath connecting with Gatomon's face but cuts the shot of her slamming into the balcony wall. To replace it, they splice in a copy/paste of Tai's "Those two are evil Digimon!" outburst.

Tai: Kari, are you okay!? Kari: OH NO, GATOMON!!!

ANYWAYS LET'S GO TO COMMERCIAL

HEY KIDS DO YOU WANT TO EAT AT MCDONALDS!?!?

That's not a dub thing. They both do it. Agumon blasts Tailmon against the wall, Hikari screams at the top of her lungs, and now it's time to sell you some toys. Assholes. XD

Upon our return from commercial, Hikari runs to Tailmon.

Hikari: Tailmon! Tailmon: Hikari... I'm okay. That was nothing.

That's the resolution to the suspenseful commercial cliffhanger. XD Tailmon gets up like, "Yeah, I'm Adult-stage; kiddy pool attacks like that don't mean shit to me." Checks out.

Taichi: (stunned) Tailmon... protected Hikari.... Wizarmon: Now have you recovered all of your repressed memories? Tailmon: Yes. I was waiting for the Eighth Chosen Child. Hikari, I was waiting for you! Hikari: Waiting... for me? Tailmon: Forever and ever, I searched for you!

Tailmon gives Hikari a hug.

Tailmon: Hikari.... Hikari: Tailmon.... (Hikari looks at Taichi) Onii-chan, Tailmon is my Digimon!

At long last, Hikari and Tailmon are united.

While Tailmon shrugs the attack off because it's a baby-ass flame, Gatomon wields her pathos like a shield against it.

Kari: You alright? Gatomon: I'm fine. This is nothing compared to what I've been through.

I mean. Obviously the censors disagree. They cut both.

Tai: Did you see that!? Gatomon saved Kari! Wizardmon: Now that you remember, do you understand? Gatomon: Yes. I was waiting for the DigiDestined human I belonged with. That's you, Kari. You're the Eighth DigiDestined. Kari: You were waiting just for me? Gatomon: I've been searching forever and ever for you! (Gatomon hugs Kari) Kari: You could have just called. (Kari looks at Tai) Guess what, Tai! Gatomon's my Digimon; Now I've got one too!

Who is Tai talking to in that first line? The only person he could be addressing is Agumon. Who. Like. Gatomon saved Kari from.

There's something almost comically passive-aggressive in that. "Did you see that, Agumon? Did you see how Gatomon saved Kari from your shot? You know, when you almost shot my sister? Did you see Gatomon save her from it?"

All of this is nice but Taichi still has concerns.

Taichi: Tailmon is Hikari's Digimon!? Wizarmon: That's right. Hikari is the Eighth Chosen Child. Tailmon: And I am her Digimon. I swear to protect her. Taichi: Tailmon, even if all of this is true, who is this guy? Tailmon: Wizarmon. He's my friend. He's also the one who found the Digivice. Taichi: And I'm just supposed to believe that!? Wizarmon: I don't care if you believe it or not. I'm only here with Tailmon.

Wizarmon offers Hikari's Digivice to Taichi.

Wizarmon: Here. You should hold onto the Digivice. Agumon: Why are you giving the Digivice to Taichi? Wizarmon: If Vamdemon finds out that Hikari is the Eighth Chosen Child and Tailmon is her Digimon, both of them will be in danger. As long as it's with you, the both of them should be safe. Taichi: Okay, I'll hang onto this.

Taichi has trouble understanding this, partly due to his reluctance to let it be true that came up when he first explored this possibility. Tai goes as far as to condescend to Kari about it.

Tai: Don't be silly, Kari. That doesn't make sense! Wizardmon: It makes perfect sense, considering she's the Eighth DigiDestined. Gatomon: That's right. And I'm her Digimon. No matter what happens, I'll always protect her. Tai: Well then, why are you a part of Myotismon's army!? And just who is this guy!? Gatomon: He's called Wizardmon. He put himself in great danger to bring you this Digivice. He's my friend. Tai: But how do I know if I can trust him or not!? Wizardmon: Frankly, I don't care if you trust me or not. But I'm going to follow Gatomon as long as she needs me. Here, you take the device. (Wizardmon gives the Digivice to Tai) Agumon: Why give it to Tai? It belongs to Kari. Wizardmon: She can't be seen with it. If Myotismon finds out she's the Eighth Child and Gatomon is her Digimon, then he'll destroy Gatomon and he won't rest until he finds Kari. If you have the Digivice, then their secret will be safe. Tai: Okay, I'll take it! But you better not be double-crossing us.

Wizardmon does a pretty good job of explaining why he's giving the Digivice to Tai. I appreciate that the dub points out that it's Kari's Digivice and comes at Wizardmon's explanation from the angle of why Kari shouldn't have it, rather than why Tai should.

That was the implicit topic of discussion in the original, but here it's explicit, which I think is to the scene's benefit.

Taichi: What are you going to do? Wizarmon: Hikari needs her Crest. The real one. Taichi: Real one?

Tailmon takes off her false Crest, holding it out for Taichi to see.

Tailmon: This is a copy we used to track Hikari's Digivice. Vamdemon has Hikari's real Crest. We have to get it back. Wizarmon: The rest of you can stay here. Taichi: WAIT!!! Where is Vamdemon's base? I'll go with you! Wizarmon: No. It's too dangerous.

Honestly, I'd probably refuse his help too. This calls for subterfuge and Taichi has a poor track record with stealth missions. Bit of a Leroy Jenkins, that boy.

Then again, Tailmon and Wizarmon don't know this but Vamdemon was, like an hour ago, beaten so badly in a fight with WereGarurumon and Angemon that he was forced to flee Shibuya. Now would be a great time to posse up and go jump him in his coffin while he's trying to recuperate. Call around and get the whole team in on this.

But their decision is made. Wizarmon picks up Tailmon and the two fly into the sky, the one direction that Taichi can't follow.

Hikari: TAILMON!!! Agumon: They left. Taichi: (concerned) Will they be okay on their own?

Probably not. Injured or not, Vamdemon's still a Perfect who's been gorging on blood to enhance his power. If this goes south....

In the dub:

Tai: What's next? Wizardmon: Your sister needs her Crest. The real one. Tai: The real one? Gatomon: (showing Crest) This Crest is just a copy that was created to find the Digivice. Myotismon is the only one with access to the real Crest. We've got to get it back. Wizardmon: Leave everything to us. Tai: Wait! Where's Myotismon's hideout? We'll come with you! And we can help you! Wizardmon: No! It's too dangerous! (flies away with Gatomon) Kari: Be careful, Gatomon! Agumon: Can we trust them? Tai: We have to. We have no choice.

Well, shit. They've gone where we can't follow. If only we knew someone with a radar that can detect Digimon in Japan!

Wizarmon takes Tailmon and flies back to Daiba Park, coming in from the east.

Wizarmon: Hikari's real Crest is inside Vamdemon's secret base. He should be hiding it in his room.

I don't know why Wizarmon would draw that conclusion. My assumption would be that Vamdemon keeps the Crest on his person. That's where I'd keep it if I were him.

They descend into the park, where a lone Bakemon is standing guard.

Bakemon: Wait! Vamdemon-sama is out for dinner. No one is allowed to enter until he comes back at dawn. Wizarmon: We're here to switch shifts.

Wizarmon hurls a ball of magical light at Bakemon. It doesn't hurt Bakemon physically, but instead leaves them disoriented.

Bakemon: What... What was I doing...? Wizarmon: You were going to switch with us and go home to sleep, remember? Bakemon: Oh, right. See y-- Wizarmon: Wait! Don't forget to give us the key. Bakemon: Oh. Right. The key. (tosses them a large key) Here. Wizarmon: Thank you! Bakemon: You take care of the rest! (flies away) Wizarmon & Tailmon: Good night!

This is going well. I have a good feeling about this mission. ^_^

In the dub:

Wizardmon: Myotismon has to be keeping Kari's Crest somewhere in the hideout. I think we have to search his room. (Wizardmon and Gatomon descend into Daiba Park) Bakemon: Stop! Myotismon is feeding upon the night. He said no one may enter until he returns at dawn. Wizardmon: Aw, forget about it. As a matter of fact, Thunder Ball. (Wizardmon zaps Bakemon) Bakemon: I can't remember a thing. What were we talking about? Wizardmon: We're relieving you of guard duty. Go home and get some sleep. Bakemon: Oh, yeah. That's right. See ya-- Wizardmon: Hold it! Don't forget to leave us the key. Bakemon: Huh? Oh, the key. Here. (tosses them a large key) Wizardmon: Thank you! Bakemon: What a nice guy. (flies away) Wizardmon: Let's go!

In addition to Thunder Ball still being a named attack in the dub, the main difference here is that Wizardmon doesn't start bullshitting until after he casts his MiB Neuralyzer spell. Which makes sense. No point in bullshitting before erasing the guy's memory.

Also, both sets of Bakemon's deliveries are perfect. The performances are very different. Original Bakemon is playing him for silly wooo~ spooky ghooost while the dub is more of a Jacob Marley type raspy undead specter. But both are delivering these casual-ass workplace colleague lines in their chosen undead voice, and the juxtaposition is hilarious in both cases.

Wizarmon and Tailmon descend into Vamdemon's base. Using the key, they open the door to his room. A giant empty room with only Vamdemon's coffin inside.

Tailmon: Where's the Crest! Wizarmon, we have to hurry! Wizarmon: No need to rush. There's still some time before dawn.

Shot in the dark, maybe try the coffin. The only object in the entire room.

Tailmon and Wizarmon do precisely that, popping open Vamdemon's coffin.

Wizarmon: Could it be... in here?

Reaching under Vamdemon's pillow, Wizarmon pulls out the true Crest.

Wizarmon: Got it! Tailmon: it's the real Crest!

Mission complete! Wow, that was super easy.

In the dub:

Gatomon: Hurry up, Wizardmon. Let's find the Crest and cruise on out of here. This place gives me the creeps. Wizardmon: Relax. We've got plenty of time before the sun comes up. Myotismon won't be back for hours. (They go to the coffin) Wizardmon: Maybe he keeps it in the coffin. (They open the coffin and Wizardmon grabs the Crest) Wizardmon: Got it! Gatomon: Great! Now let's just get out of here.

In a bizarre audio choice, the dub team plays a wood smashing sound effect over Wizardmon sliding the lid off. As if they were breaking open the coffin with axes.

Suddenly, the rustling of bats can be heard entering the lair. There. Uh. There was a need to rush. That's on you, Wizarmon.

Vamdemon: What are you doing in here? (Wizarmon and Tailmon close the coffin quickly, but they're already caught) Wizarmon: Nothing! Vamdemon: Can I help you find something?

Vamdemon holds out his own Crest. Wizarmon looks down at the one he pilfered from Vamdemon's coffin, then tucks it away in his cloak.

Vamdemon: What are you planning to do after stealing the real Crest? Betrayal, is it!?

Vamdemon crushes his own false Crest to punctuate his question.

This is a confusing scene because Vamdemon says, "Can I help you find something?" and shows his Crest, but then a few seconds later he breaks the Crest he's holding. So the one he's showing is a fake, and the one Wizarmon keeps is the real one.

I guess he was showing it to indicate that he knows what they took? But the natural assumption when he delivers that line is that Wizarmon snagged another fake, and it's Vamdemon's Crest that's the real one. So this scene comes off a little janky.

That jankiness carries into the dub, which falls straight into that misunderstanding.

Wizardmon: Uh-oh. Myotismon: What are you doing in here!? Wizardmon: Nothing! Myotismon: If you're looking for something, maybe I can assist you. (holds up Crest) Wizardmon: (looks down at the Crest in his hand) Another copy.... (tucks it away) Myotismon: Do you think I'd just leave the original lying around for thieves like you!?

The jankiness in this scene snowballs into the dub, where Wizardmon and Myotismon say in no uncertain terms that the one Wizardmon snagged is fake. And then Myotismon breaks what I guess is now the real Crest? That's probably bad for us. Didn't think they were so fragile.

Quiet burglary failed so now we move to violent robbery. Wizarmon lunges at Vamdemon. Vamdemon casually sidesteps the lunge, causing Wizarmon to lay himself out on the floor. Uh. Great job, buddy. Good hustle.

Tailmon hurries to Wizarmon's side.

Tailmon: Wizarmon! Wizardmon: I'm okay...

I should hope so! He hasn't even hit you yet! Tailmon turns on Vamdemon with a defiant scowl.

Vamdemon: Those eyes. It's those eyes again. They're like a sword turned in my direction. But did you really think a small thing like you can do anything to me? Did you think I would forgive betrayal!? Wizarmon: I haven't betrayed you. I was only ever on Tailmon's side from the start! Vamdemon: So stupid.... NIGHT RAID!!!

Fun fact: While the common term for "idiot" is baka, Vamdemon is too posh for that. He favors orokamono, a more formal and professional way to call someone a dumbfuck.

The dub plays a goofy-ass cartoon whiffing sound when Wizardmon makes his lunge.

Gatomon: Wizardmon! Wizardmon: I'm alright. (Gatomon glares at Myotismon) Myotismon: Those eyes! From the first time you looked at me with those eyes, I knew you'd turn against me. And that's why I had to teach you by punishing you. I would have hurt you even more but you became a good servant, but I promise you I will not be so easy on you this time! And do you think your betrayal will go unpunished, Wizardmon? Wizardmon: How could I betray you when I was never on your side to begin with!? Myotismon: YOU LITTLE FOOL!!! (long, awkward pause) Myotismon: GRISLY WING!!!

The fact that Wizarmon doesn't have lip flaps is both a blessing and a curse. Like Tentomon, they can give him lines when he's not supposed to have them, but it also makes timing his dialogue tricky.

The scene cuts from Wizarmon delivering his defiant line to Vamdemon with his cloak closed around himself, preparing to fire his Night Raid. Wizarmon's line continues into Vamdemon's shot. Then Vamdemon slowly and quietly delivers his own line before immediately launching Night Raid.

However, not only does Wizarmon not have lip flaps but Vamdemon's covering his own lip flaps here. The dub team couldn't see who's supposed to be talking and when, so the timing gets all screwed up.

Wizardmon finishes his line before the cut, then Myotismon delivers his line as soon as we change shots. Not only that, but Myotismon is louder and faster on his delivery. However, there's still more time reserved for dialogue here. Consequently, there's three straight seconds of weird silence before Myotismon gets to his Grisly Wing.

Vamdemon's Night Raid bats seize Tailmon and Wizarmon, carrying them upwards and smashing through the soil of Daiba Park into the night beyond. They raise the two high into the air, then drop them.

Despite the fact that Wizarmon can fly, Tailmon drops deftly onto her feet from like a hundred feet up while Wizarmon crashes helplessly onto his face. I mean. He couldn't even stick the landing when it was his own jump, so I don't know what I expected.

Come on, man. You were so smooth until the fighting started, but now you're embarrassing me in front of the Dracula.

Tailmon: Hang in there, Wizarmon! Wizarmon: U-Ugh.... Vamdemon: (chuckle) What a beautiful display of friendship. Tailmon: What did you say!? Vamdemon: Since you care so much for each other, I'll let you die together.

Here we go. Tailmon and Wizarmon are about to receive the Pumpmon and Gotsumon treatment.

The dub plays a funny BONK sound effect when Wizardmon lands on his helpless face. They're trying so hard to keep things lighthearted but this arc is so fucking dire.

Gatomon: We really have to stay together! Wizardmon: Ugh.... Myotismon: Uhuhuhahaha! Those who play together, lose together! Gatomon: I'm not afraid! Myotismon: You soon will be, you pathetic little traitor!

"We have to stay together" is a mistranslation of shikkari shiro. Shikkari is an adjective which means tightly, firmly, surely, etc. The addition of shiro at the end turns it into a verb. We have to do tightness, we must do firmness.

In this context, Tailmon says shikkari shiro to Wizarmon to encourage him to shape up, to keep it together, to not fall apart under Vamdemon's assault.

The dub translates it as "We must stay together", which... doesn't really fit the context of the scene. We're under no threat of splitting up. We have not divided up to this point. I don't know why Gatomon thinks this is an important point to make.

Vamdemon's bats swoop back around for another go. Then, suddenly, Wizarmon attacks again.

Firing off his Thunder Cloud, Wizarmon blasts the bats, sending them scattering. He also cracks off a shot at a startled Vamdemon, who blocks it with his cape.

Vamdemon: What!?

It does little damage to Vamdemon and seems only to buy time. However, if you'll notice, the attack is not called Lightning Blast. It's not called Super Shocker. It's called Thunder Cloud.

Vamdemon easily fends off the bolt. But the sky above Daiba Park lights up with booming, thundering clouds, illuminated by recurring flashes of spider lightning. Clouds visible from the Yagami balcony.

Taichi: What is that!? Agumon: Tailmon and Wizarmon are fighting! Hikari: Will they be okay? (huge crackle of spider lightning) Taichi: Agumon, we're joining in. Agumon: Right! (Taichi and Agumon run for the door) Hikari: WAIT!!! I'LL COME TOO!!! Taichi: It's dangerous! You have to stay here!

Much as it sucks, Taichi's right. Vamdemon will be able to deduce what it means pretty quickly if a new kid suddenly shows up looking for Tailmon. Hikari needs to stay as far away from Daiba Park as possible.

So Taichi and Agumon leave while Hikari remains behind, peeking over the balcony as the battle rages in the distance.

The dub seems to have missed the context that Wizarmon summoned the cloud. Wizardmon's attack is called "Magical Game", which... means nothing. Why is Magical Game a bolt of lightning? Did it still summon the cloud? Why did it summon a thundercloud?

Tai: Look there! Up in the sky! Agumon: Wizardmon and Gatomon are in a fight! Kari: Oh no. I hope they're not being hurt. (huge crackle of spider lightning) Tai: WHOA!!! Let's go! Agumon: Right! (Tai and Agumon run for the door) Kari: WAIT UP!!! I WANNA GO TOO!!! Tai: I can't risk you getting hurt! Wait here!

I'm not sure how they know that a big thundercloud means that Wizardmon is fighting. Then again, I'm not sure how they know that in the original either. So points off for Magical Game failing to convey that he summoned the cloud but the rest of the scene is a straight adaptation.

Back in the fight at Daiba Park, the Thunder Cloud has fully joined the fray. It shoots a bolt of lightning down into Vamdemon. He blocks that with his cape as well. Vamdemon continues barking out abuser lines in his domineering voice.

Vamdemon: You know what happens when I get angry!

Tailmon rushes forward and lunges at him. Vamdemon puts her down with a backhand. Wizarmon steps up with another Thunder Cloud, but this time Vamdemon's ready for it. He blocks with his hands, somehow deflecting the shot back into Wizarmon and taking him out with his own lightning bolt.

(Two out of three hits Wizarmon's taken so far have been self-inflicted and the third was because he forgot he could fly. Wizarmon, I love you and you have phenomenal utility powers, but you really are useless as a fighter. It's okay. Not everyone's cut out for combat. You got the signal out to the reinforcements, and that's enough.)

Vamdemon grapples Wizarmon with Bloody Stream, dragging him across the lawn of Daiba Park.

Vamdemon: I'll finish you off first, Wizarmon! Tailmon: STOP!!! If you're going to do that, then do it to me! Vamdemon: Those eyes... They aren't just showing hostility. They shine with the light of hope. The light of faith in your dreams. Tailmon: That's right! I've held on this long because I believe in something! Vamdemon: In mutual trust? Devoted friendship? Such fleeting dreams reveal what a fool you are. There is no place for such dreams in this world! Tailmon: As long as I keep believing, my hopes and dreams live on! To make my dreams a reality, I will defeat you! Vamdemon: What.

Vamdemon is so taken aback by that statement, he drops his levitation and sets himself down on the ground.

Tailmon: If I don't defeat you, then I'll never reclaim my true self! Vamdemon: Reclaim your true self? You can't be-- (realizes) The Eighth Digimon!?

Not only is the cat out of the bag but she's telling Vamdemon the secrets he's not supposed to know. Fucking cats.

Something to note: Vamdemon's speech to Tailmon is poetic but even moreso than it appears in english. More than even Vamdemon realizes. We talked about this before: I need you to remember what the Japanese word for 'light' is. What he's actually saying.

Tailmon's eyes are not merely filled with defiance, but with hikari. They shine with hikari. She draws hope from hikari, draws faith in friendship and a better life from hikari.

This is why Vamdemon could never stand her eyes. Because when he looks in Tailmon's eyes, he sees the thing he fears most. The thing he must destroy. He sees the light. He sees Hikari.

In the dub, Myotismon starts off gloating about the storm.

Myotismon: Well, I hope you realize there's no place to hide during this lightning storm!

They cut the footage of him backhanding Tailmon. When Gatomon lunges for him, they play the footage of Vamdemon blocking the sky bolt backwards to make it look like he conjured another bolt down to deflect her.

Does. Does the dub think Vamdemon conjured the storm? I guess that's fair. He has done that before. He summoned storm clouds back in the Digimon World, and he brought a fog bank with him when he moved in to Daiba Park. Vamdemon has demonstrated the ability to manipulate the weather; It's just that this one isn't his.

But to me, who knows better, it looks like Wizardmon shot Gatomon with a bolt of friendly fire. USELESS-ASS WIZARD!!!

After Myotismon starts dragging Wizardmon with his Crimson Lightning, we get:

Myotismon: I'll do away with you first, Wizardmon! Gatomon: HEY!!! Why don't you pick on somebody 1/10th your size! Myotismon: There are those eyes again. And this time, not only are they filled with rebellion, but I can also see a glimmer of hope. The hope that one day your dreams will come true! Gatomon: That's right! I believe in my dreams and that's how I've made it this far! Myotismon: And just what have you really achieved? You believe in your worthless friends. And you believe that your dreams can come true. Dreams do not exist for the stupid! Gatomon: If you believe in yourself than dreams are real! And to make my dreams come true, I only have to do one thing: DEFEAT YOU!!! Myotismon: What!? (lands) Gatomon: My dream is for me to return to my true identity! The one I had before I met you! Myotismon: What do you mean, "true identity"!? Could it be that-- (realizes) Are you the Eighth Digimon!?

Both versions of this exchange are Bad Guy/Good Guy hopes-and-dreams Disney magic type dialogue. The dub loses something with the hikari piece lost in translation, but that was inevitable.

That said, as far as Disney Magic arguments go, there's something that's fun about Myotismon's line, "Dreams do not exist for the stupid!" That got me. XD

Realizing that Tailmon is the Eighth Digimon, Vamdemon alters course. Tailmon lunges for him, but he smacks her away once more.

Vamdemon: If that's true, then it changes everything. I'll send your beloved friend to Hell first. NIGHT RAID!!!

Vamdemon's bats pick up Wizarmon and drop him into Tokyo Bay. Forgetting he can fly again, Wizarmon flounders in the water and slowly goes under.

Wizarmon: WAAAAAAUUUUGH!!! (splash) Tailmon: WIZARMOOOOON!!! Wizarmon: TAAAAAAAAILMOOOOOON!!! (drowns) Tailmon: (distraught) ...Wizarmon....

What a bizarrely tame way to execute someone.

The dub keeps Vamdemon hitting Tailmon here. So. I don't know what was wrong with the last one.

Myotismon: This changes everything! Before I crush you, I'll give you the pleasure of watching me destroy your wizard friend first! GRISLY WING!!! (Bats pick up Wizardmon) Gatomon: HANG ON!!! (Bats drop Wizardmon in the bay) Wizardmon: WAAAAAAUUUUGH!!! Gatomon: NO, NOT THAT!!! (distraught) Oh no.... Myotismon: Uhuhuhuhahahahaha! Gatomon: T_T My friend....

Though the dub keeps the backhand, they do cut the shot of Wizarmon screaming Tailmon's name and then sinking beneath the water. So I guess that was too graphic.

I don't know why falling in the Bay is supposed to be such an effective killing method for Wizardmon, but apparently Gatomon does. She reacts like Myotismon broke out Wizardmon's established Kryptonite.

This is an odd scene no matter which language it's in. Wizarmon's rolling a lot of Nat 1's tonight. Maybe he should switch dice.

Too late for Wizarmon, a figure emerges from Vamdemon's fog bank.

Taichi: We've come to help, Tailmon! Tailmon: TAICHI!!!

Taichi hopes down from Greymon's shoulder, and Greymon goes to work. He lets off a Mega Flame at Vamdemon, who deflects it as easily as Wizarmon's lightning. The redirected fireball explodes several feet in front of Taichi, who's made the wise decision to go prone so it's harder to aim shots at him.

Vamdemon: I'm honored that you'd come to me voluntarily. BLOODY STREAM!!!

Vamdemon lashes Greymon with his Bloody Stream whips over and over.

In the dub:

Tai: We've come to help you, Gatomon! Gatomon: TAI!!! Tai: (hops down) QUICK, GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!

That extra line at the end is probably fair. Agumon/Greymon already had one friendly fire incident earlier today. He can't be counted on to pick his shots well.

Myotismon: WHEN WILL YOU DIGIDESTINED EVER LEARN!?!? CRIMSON LIGHTNING!!!

While Greymon tanks Vamdemon's whips, Taichi realizes this isn't going to work out and Super-Evolves Greymon.

Taichi: GO, METALGREYMON!!!

Now that MetalGreymon's on his same level, Vamdemon's not so confident. He evades a swipe from MetalGreymon's metal claw and slowly withdraws over the Tokyo Bay, creating distance from his foe.

With limited options, MetalGreymon fires his Giga Destroyer. Anticipating this move, Vamdemon whips the missiles out of the air. Unfortunately, that is all MetalGreymon has in the tank. The Giga Destroyer takes everything he has, and he reverts to Agumon.

Vamdemon: Did you think these childish tricks would work on me? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Taichi: He's tired from all the recent fighting!

As a reminder, Agumon had to Super-Evolve this afternoon to fight DeathMeramon. He may be strong enough now to avoid reverting to Baby afterwards but two Super-Evolutions in the span of like twelve hours is still a tall order.

In the dub:

Tai: GO GET HIM, METALGREYMON!!! (MetalGreymon tries, but Myotismon knocks his Giga Blaster out of the air) Myotismon: You impudent fool! Did you really think you could beat me with those pathetic little toys of yours!? HUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Tai: AGUMON!!!

The dub cuts out Taichi's explanation for why Agumon can't maintain his Perfect form. Dub Agumon drops out of Ultimate because evolutions are inconsistent, I guess.

Alright. This next bit is where things get a little screwy with the dub.

Taichi and Tailmon climb up the hill to Agumon.

Taichi: Hang in there, Agumon! Vamdemon: (levitates over) If a Chosen Child would come all the way out here, that can only mean that Tailmon truly is the Eighth Digimon. Tailmon: What are you talking about!? I'm not the Eighth Digimon! Vamdemon: We'll know for sure soon enough.

Vamdemon's Night Raid bats snatch up Tailmon, lifting her helplessly into the air.

Vamdemon: I will use Tailmon as bait to draw out the Eighth Child. Once I've gathered all of the children together, she'll pick out the correct one for me. Even without the Crest, I can still find the Eighth Child! Taichi: That's not fair, Vamdemon! Vamdemon: See you around.

Vamdemon turns and flies away, carrying Tailmon with him via his bats.

Taichi: WAIT!!! TAILMON!!! Tailmon: TAICHI!!! Vamdemon: Hmhmhmhm Ah Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.

Well, this went south real fast and in a hurry. Vamdemon's taken away Tailmon to places unknown, while Hikari's Crest has plunged into Tokyo Bay with Wizarmon. Plus side, Vamdemon got so excited about his new plan to find the Eighth Child that he completely forgot to murder that defenseless Chosen Child in front of him.

The final scene of the episode is Hikari looking out over the balcony, afraid for what could be happening at Daiba Park.

Hikari: Tailmon, you're coming back, right? (anguished) Come back...!

Then we cut to a zoomed out shot of Daiba Park at night.

Hikari: TAILMOOOOOOOON!!!

And we end the episode on Hikari's distraught scream.

Okay. So, the dub goes to commercial right after Agumon reverts. Then they come back to this scene, Kari on the balcony.

Kari: Oh, I wonder what's taking them so long? Come back, Gatomon. (Cut to zoomed out shot of Daiba Park) Kari: I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you. But I'm sure Tai and Agumon will take good care of you.

Then, we return to the park for the last part of the confrontation there. With Tai bringing us back into the scene with a hilarious moment of inexplicable jubilation.

Tai: (running up the hill to Agumon) Nice try, buddy!

Really knocked 'em dead out there, Agumon! Myotismon is about to kill us but here, have some orange slices.

Again, this is a translation of shikkari shiro that could work in the right circumstance but is contextually inappropriate for this particular situation.

Myotismon: If the DigiDestined are coming to defend Gatomon, then they really must think she is the Eighth Digimon! Gatomon: Hey, what they think is no business of yours! Go blow smoke somewhere else! Myotismon: You will pay for your impudence! Tai: Just what do you mean!? (Bats grab Gatomon) Myotismon: HUHUHAHAHAHA!!! I hope you like fishing, Gatomon! Because you're going to be the perfect bait to lure out the Eighth DigiDestined Child! Now I don't need the Crest to find that cowardly, puny human. Tai: That's low, Myotismon! Myotismon: I don't play fair! (flies away) Tai: STOP!!! GATOMON!!! Gatomon: TAI!!! HELP ME!!! Myotismon: Muhuhuhahahahaha! Narrator: Will Tai rescue Gatomon before Myotismon finds Kari? Tune in to the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

A quick note about Tai's "That's not fair!"

The word in question is hikyou. It means sneaky, cheating, underhanded, cruel, cowardly, etc. It can be a hard word to translate, as English doesn't really have a lot of angry insults for "The action you are taking is deceitful!"

We have plenty of words like devious, underhanded, sneaky, etc. but they don't come up in common parlance. You don't shout "That's underhanded of you!" at someone. Spoken English prefers to insult the person instead of their action. You're a cheat. A skinflint. A coward. A scumbag. A bottom-feeding scum-sucking lily-livered toad.

The subs, at least these subs, tend to go with "That's low." That's low, Vamdemon! Which, like translating Onii-chan or Onee-chan as Big Bro and Big Sis, is a fair translation but isn't how people talk in English. I've never heard anyone say "That's low," as a full sentence. I have heard "That's low even for you," but not "That's low," by itself.

I like the solution that the dub came up with here. They went with "unfair". "That's unfair!" is a thing people say. They then had Myotismon clap back at it. LOL, we're at war. Pragmatism is a virtue.

Assessment: A powerful episode from start to about three quarters of the way through, but things get weird once the fight at Daiba Park starts.

Vamdemon inexplicably tosses Wizarmon in the bay so that he's where he needs to be for the next episode, and doesn't even take his Crest back. Vamdemon kidnaps Tailmon but makes no effort to harm Taichi while he has the chance. Wizarmon himself is a cavalcade of fucking up who forgets what his own powers are.

Much of the third act feels like things are just happening because the script says we need to set up the next episode, and not because any of this makes organic sense for the characters.

For its part, the dub is fantastic. Easily one of the better episodes. There's a few missed plot points here and there but it's on-the-rails far more often than not and manages to convey most of what it needs to convey despite extensive cuts to its scenes.

Cuts that are meant primarily to disguise how much abuse Myotismon inflicts on Gatomon. Nonetheless, they still manage to get the idea of that abuse across, even if they can't use most of the footage showing it. I don't think there was a kid who watched this episode and didn't understand that Myotismon beat Gatomon into submission.

[reliablejoukido]

Digimon LOST AU Headcanons part 1/? - Early Taichi-centric stuff

There are character details I've left out regarding other people, because I tried to only focus on the situation from Taichi's POV. Also, more happens to him after this, but this would be equivalent to a first half of a first season. Some of this is subject to additions and changes in the future, based on what I come up with for other characters. Eventually I'll make a masterpost

General info at the start:

Flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo

They crash on an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific

The survivors that land on the beach are Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Koushiro, Mimi, Jou, and a dozen background characters (I haven't decided if any of the background people are relevant yet)

The tail section of the plane broke off as the plane was falling to the Island and the people on it (including Takeru and Hikari) are presumed dead

There is some sort of unknown "monster" on the Island that kills a few of the background characters

There are people already on the Island (the Others). Among them are Daisuke, Miyako, Iori, and Ken, who capture survivors from the tail section

Taichi:

Age: 26

Flight main section/beach camp

Tries to be a positive person, but is stuck with a difficult situation. Has to figure out the difference between being impulsive and being courageous. Butts heads with Yamato and Jou. Makes friends with Koushiro and Sora.

Flashback: Taichi and Hikari fly from Tokyo to Los Angeles to have surgery for Hikari’s super rare terminal cancer by a world renowned surgical oncologist (Dr. Kido Sr.). When the doctor does tests, he changes his mind and says he cannot operate because she will die. He suggests they go back to Japan to see his son, who is a prodigy and has successfully operated on this type of cancer more recently, but is currently reclusive and nobody can find him

Flashback: Hikari is too sick to take the flight home, so Taichi has to go back to Japan to find this guy’s son and beg him to do the surgery. Taichi is haunted by the fact that he has to leave her in LA. But he’s determined to find Dr. Kido Jr.

Has no idea his sister Hikari was secretly on the flight, in the tail section along with Yamato’s brother Takeru. Also little does he know that the Island has healed her (à la John Locke and Rose). He won’t discover Hikari is on the Island for a while, as she has been captured by the Others (02 kids)

Taichi tries to relate to Yamato’s obsession with finding his brother, as Taichi is a brother himself. But Yamato doesn’t let him in. At least not in the beginning

Taichi preoccupies himself with trying to get off the Island, because Hikari’s prognosis was not good. He gets frustrated when Koushiro, who is deeply entrenched in the Island’s lore, believes they should stay and study the Island. That there’s a reason they were chosen to come here.

Sora secretly does not want to be rescued either, so she sabotages Taichi’s plans to get off the Island without him knowing. Jou finds out and keeps her secret, for now

When Taichi realizes Jou is the doctor he is looking for, he becomes irrationally obsessed with getting both himself and Jou off the Island. Jou is depressed and unmotivated and tells Taichi that no, he doesn’t think he could save his sister. He’s worried he can’t save anyone. He wants to die on the Island and wishes he wasn’t a survivor. This angers Taichi.

Mimi, who gets upset and leaves the beach camp one night, has a dangerous encounter with some sort of unseen monster. She is saved by a strange glowing vision of a young woman who tells Mimi she is Hikari Yagami and that there are other plane crash survivors on the Island. Mimi tells Taichi this and he doesn’t know whether to believe her… but he wants to. Koushiro warns them that it may be a trick, that the Island is digital, somehow, and could be projecting holograms or illusions

Taichi has to make the decision to venture deeper into the Island where there are potential monsters that could kill him, just to see if his sister might be on the Island. Or to stay back and heed Koushiro’s warning/keep trying to get off the Island

Eventually Taichi decides to hike deeper into the Island. Yamato offers to go with him, thinking his brother is alive based on Mimi’s vision. Sora also goes with him, hoping to learn more about what the Island wants for her

[m1kumi0]

: INTRO POST :

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

-❄️🐀-

╰┈➤ABOUT ME :

╰┈➤Basic Info:

u can call me mio!!

pls ask 4 pronouns, i'm genderfluid.

i'm 13-15 y/o, i am a minor.

my fav colors are pink and purple!

╰┈➤Interests :

GENERAL - i'm rlly interested in utaite and vocaloid and have been 4 a few years now! u can ask me 4 utaite/cover recs and send some my way as well!!

my favorite vocal synths are IA, ONE, and sf-a2 miki! and i love cats.

SERIES/BOOKS/SHOWS - nagi no asu, NO.6, beryl and sapphire, kyo kara maoh!, i hear the sunspot, phantom tales of the night, hirano and kagiura, bokuyona

MUSIC - sntb11, seeeeecun, titana, qisano, sou, ivudot, NILFRUITS, cö shu nie, lama, supercar, kujiragi, bokuyona

╰┈➤Fav Characters/Kin List :

FAVS - shion, nezumi, tsukasa tenma, taichi sagawa, light yagami, mikako kouda, denji, kanachi renma, zoshigaya itsuki, minori hanasato, asuka

KINS - shion, kohei sugihara, emma[tpn], kaname isaki, kou[setsuna graffiti], kanachi renma

[i kin shion so bad guys like it's actually crazy]

╰┈➤DNI, etc :

basic DNI, furry haters/antis, argues over shipping, slurs [can't reclaim], ships real people, <12 y/o, >20 y/o

-🐀❄️-

╰┈➤ABOUT MY BLOG :

this is my first post but i will be using this 2 talk a lot abt my interests. i got tumblr bc of my friend but i realized that i talk A LOT. so i figured that it would be good 2 have a blog of my own!!

i'm also planning on posting my art here! idk if i'll make an entire separate blog 4 this, but it will definitely be posted.

i'm into a whole lot of things so it may be best 2 separate them through separate blogs, we'll see!

╰┈➤Tags :

anything/yapping : #mio at it again

art post : #mikumio art

...

╰┈➤OTHER SOCIALS :

- INSTAGRAM

- TIKTOK

- PINTEREST

- SPOTIFY

[redthreadoffate]

endgame

header by @/earlgreymon

for @ashxketchum!! requested some time ago and finally got to finish it (there's a part that just won't write itself!). i know you asked for takari but your takari for me, my mimato for you (even though it's a little unfair since i love mimato, too). i still do hope you like it! i had a lot of fun writing this and it kinda went on and on as i typed once the part finally wrote itself. anyways! enjoy (i hope)!!

endgame | main characters ; yamato ishida, mimi tachikawa, some taichi yagami and sora takenouchi, can't forget gabumon, palmon, agumon, and piyomon | universe ; au / can be placed anywhere after 02 | ships ; yamato x mimi, taichi x sora, takeru x hikari | genre ; fluff, humor | word count ; 2,235 |��rating ; 13+ | edited ; three times - forgive me for any mistakes

Yamato was never in the mood for flirting. He knew people fawned over him, he knew his band was worshiped by those his age, and sure, he did “have a feeling” that flirting was going to be part of his life. But he never even tried to flirt back. Well, maybe he did, but it was usually against his will.

The band was not together anymore, having to go their separate ways, but he still loved them. The flirting, however, did not stop. He knew he was a good-looking guy but now that he was living a life that did not involve anything that required him to “go out there and fly”, maybe a life without people flirting with him 24/7 would be nice.

He and Taichi were having a meal in a small diner with Gabumon and Agumon hidden beside them. The digimons were enjoying their food while their partners talked about school.

Although they took up different courses, they still had some minor classes together, which, despite Yamato not admitting it, was a relief from all the other students they swarmed with. He had made some friends, but no one at the same level he had with Taichi. Everyone came from different backgrounds, and if they were to be honest, it was a little overwhelming, especially since it was their first year in university.

“Are you going to Shinichi’s party on Friday?” Taichi asked.

“Who’s Shinichi?” Yamato questioned, not bothering to look up from his food.

“He’s in one of our minor classes,” Taichi responded, “cool guy. But this party is a little too early, don’t you think? It could be a way to make some friends, I guess. Wanna go together?”

“Can we go?” Agumon asked.

“A party’s always fun,” Gabumon said.

Taichi smiled at them and then looked at Yamato. “What do you say?”

Yamato looked over at the smiling Gabumon and Agumon and sighed. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Great!” Taichi exclaimed.

“But you’re driving,” Yamato said.

“Sora will.”

“Sora?”

“Yeah. She wants to go. But she wants to bring her car so that she can leave anytime she wants.” Taichi shrugged. “Her mom’s car. And she said walking would be a pain, Shinichi’s venue is a little far.”

“We can always ask Birdramon to fly us away,” Agumon jested.

Taichi chuckled, Gabumon laughed, and even Yamato gave a smile.

“So what time do we meet her?” Yamato asked.

“Not sure yet. But we’ll ask her, or message if we don’t see each other anytime soon.”

Yamato smirked. “Right. Anytime soon.”

When Friday arrived, Sora, Taichi, and Yamato, along with their digimon partners, were packed inside Sora’s mom’s car. It was just a four-seater after all, it would only be Mrs. Takenouchi, Sora, whenever Mr. Takenouchi would come home, and Piyomon. And of course, Piyomon rode shotgun, while the men were cramped at the back.

“I think we’re here,” Sora said, looking out the window.

“Finally,” Yamato sighed in relief.

“The place is packed and in full swing!” Taichi said.

“Let’s just find a place to park. Doesn’t look like there’s a lot of cars.”

As they drove around, Gabumon pointed at a spot and Sora immediately swirled to get to it. Both Taichi and Yamato looked at each other, surprised by the speed and sudden jerk of the ride.

They got out of the car and Taichi whispered how his soul nearly left his body after that short ride. Yamato rolled his eyes and stated that he was overreacting.

“His place isn’t that big up-close,” Taichi observed. “It’s just the garden.”

“You think there’ll be beer?” Yamato wondered.

“You three find a spot,” Sora ordered. “Somewhere we can see each other.”

“I don’t think there is a place where we can see each other,” Yamato said.

That could be true. The house was packed. So far, the three have not found anyone they knew. But they were just outside and there were not many people around, perhaps they would find more people inside.

“Think you three can go around without being seen?” Taichi asked.

“Of course!” All three digimons grinned.

The group dispersed, the digimons to the right and the Chosen Children straight ahead.

When they reached inside, they looked around for anyone familiar. After a minute of standing by the door, Sora was called by another young lady and she excused herself from the boys.

“We’ll leave at midnight on the dot,” she told them as she walked away.

“Yes, ma’am,” they both murmured.

After some time of just being together, people-watching, someone came up to them. Taichi straightened up while Yamato raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, glad you two can make it!”

“Thanks for the invite, Shinichi,” Taichi said, smiling.

“Yeah, the party’s great,” Yamato said, although he actually did not find the party that great.

“I’m glad you think so, Yamato. I really wanted your approval.” Shinichi grinned. “I heard you were pretty popular back then, I know you are right now. I wanted the approval of someone who knows how to party.”

“I don’t know how to party,” he replied. “I was in a band, but that didn’t mean we were always partying.”

“I see.” Shinichi pursed his lips. “I’m sorry for assuming. But anyway, enjoy the party.” And he waved goodbye as he disappeared into the crowd.

“I think he likes you,” Taichi joked.

Yamato sighed. “I don’t regret the band.”

“I know you don’t, we all do.” Taichi placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “But come on, enough of this. Time to have fun before the old lady tells us to go home.” He snickered.

Yamato scoffed. “I’m going to tell her you said that, I’m sure she won’t like it. At all.”

They both laughed.

The two did enjoy the party. They made new acquaintances and even stuck with a group. They invited Sora in and the three were glad they had new people by their side.

At some point, as the group was talking, Sora paused mid-sentence and everyone waited for her to continue.

“So—?”

“Mimi!”

Both Taichi and Yamato immediately looked to where Sora saw Mimi, followed by the rest of the group.

“What’s she doing here?” Sora wondered, her voice filled with worry.

“Why?” One of the members asked. “What’s wrong?”

Sora shook her head and headed straight for the young girl. Taichi and Yamato followed suit.

“Mimi,” Sora called her.

Mimi looked back and grinned. “Sora!” She stepped forward and gave her a hug, which Sora returned. When they let go, Mimi hugged both Taichi and Yamato as well. “I’m sure Palmon has found the others already.”

“Mimi,” Sora said softly. “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited,” she smiled. “They said there was going to be a party here and I thought it might be fun, you know. And Palmon’s with me.”

“Mimi,” Taichi started. “Who invited you?”

“Shinichi Ozawa did,” she replied. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“Well, no…” Sora said, tilting her head a little. “But, this is a college party. Does Shinichi know that you’re not a college student yet?”

Mimi began to think. “I went to your campus one time, and that’s when he invited me.”

“What were you doing on our campus?” Yamato asked.

“I wanted to surprise you all,” she answered, grinning at him. “But then I asked if you three were coming to the party. He said he wasn’t sure but I wanted to take my chances and surprise you here instead! Isn’t this fun?” Though she sounded unsure when she said the last part.

Yamato sighed. “I don’t think asking you to leave is an option, especially since you’ll be alone—even with Palmon.”

“So what do we do?” Taichi asked.

Sora licked her upper lip. “Babysit.”

Mimi’s eyes widened. “No!”

“Mimi, we don’t know these people. We don’t know these people. Please, stick with at least one of us. We’ll make it up to you, we promise. Just please, Mimi?” Sora pouted.

Mimi looked at all three of them but focused on Sora last. After a few seconds, Mimi sighed. “Okay. I don’t want to admit it but I am a little nervous about this.” She frowned. “Especially since I wasn’t even sure if you guys would be here.”

The three older Chosen Children sighed in relief.

Just then, the group that group the three were talking to appeared and asked what was happening.

“This is Mimi,” Sora introduced. “She’s one of our closest friends.”

“Really?” One of the guys asked. “I’ve never seen you around campus. What course are you in?”

“She’s from another university,” Yamato said quickly.

“May I visit you there?” the same guy asked, his voice a little flirty.

Yamato was suddenly feeling very protective of the younger girl. He did not like the thought of an older stranger visiting her. “Not at the moment,” he said.

“Why don’t you let her answer for herself?” the guy snapped.

Mimi smiled. “Yamato’s just always been protective of us. I don’t mind him answering for me…sometimes.” She giggled.

Yamato knew she was lying so he wondered why she was playing along.

The party was in even fuller swing about forty-five minutes later. Although the three knew Mimi was not too happy with the situation, they also saw that she was having a good time.

At the stroke of twelve, Sora ordered everyone out of the house after thanking Shinichi for the invite. As they headed for the car, the four digimons arrived by their side.

“Yamato, would you take the car and bring Mimi home?” Sora asked.

“Sure,” Yamato answered. “But what about you guys?”

Taichi intertwined his and Sora’s fingers and smiled.

“Got it.”

Mimi squealed. “You two have fun!”

“Agumon, Piyomon?” Palmon looked at them.

“We’ll protect them,” Piyomon said. “But we won’t ruin their moment.”

When everything was set, Yamato, Mimi, Gabumon, and Palmon entered the car. They were quiet for a while until Palmon asked Gabumon how Takeru and Hikari were.

“They’re still very shy,” Gabumon replied. “But that’s expected, right, Yamato?”

“Either very shy or very guarded,” he said with a laugh. “Taichi is still all over them.”

“And you’re not?” Mimi asked, smiling.

Yamato smirked. “Takeru can handle himself. Even if this is his first relationship.”

“Everyone knows Takeru and Hikari would be endgame,” Mimi said with a giggle.

“And Taichi and Sora, too,” Gabumon added.

“Yamato, didn’t Sora have a crush on you before? Mimi said that she gave you something special for Christmas one time. What happened?”

“Palmon!” Mimi chided.

Yamato sighed. “I’ve only told Taichi what happened.”

“I’m sorry,” Palmon said, bowing her head. “I was just very curious now that the topic came up.”

“I knew that Taichi had feelings for her, and I couldn’t do that to him, especially since I only ever felt feelings of friendship for Sora.”

“And Sora gradually had feelings for Taichi, too. And he didn’t even have to try too hard despite having strong feelings, correct?” Mimi grinned as Yamato nodded. “It just means they’re meant to be!”

The four talked more about their friend’s love lives. Mimi’s home was a little on the farther side so they had a lot of time to gossip.

Finally, Mimi had a mischievous look on her face. “What about you, Yamato?”

Yamato smirked. “What about you, Mimi?”

“Don’t turn this in my direction. I asked first.”

“If there’s nothing to say then it only makes sense the question goes back to you.”

“Oh please, someone like you is bound to have someone in mind.”

“There’s no one, Mimi. And again, what about you? If I remember correctly, you’ve always been a hopeless romantic.”

“I still am,” she admitted. “But my goal is different now. I want to play Cupid.”

“Don’t force it though.”

“I know the limits. Now c’mon, Yamato. Answer me.”

“There’s no one, Mimi.”

“Do I have to play Cupid?”

“If it’s with you then I don’t mind.” A smirk on his face.

“I’m serious!”

“Oh look, we’re here.”

Mimi looked up and sighed when she saw the building she lived in. “Okay, fine. But you owe me an answer, Ishida.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes, but a smirk appeared on his face. “It’s time to go, Tachikawa. It’s getting late. Too late.”

“Will you bring the car back to Sora’s?”

“Yes. And then Gabumon and I will walk home.”

Mimi smiled. “Okay. Thanks for the ride.” She turned to the back seat as Palmon went down. “Goodnight, Gabumon.”

Yamato raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll say goodnight to you if you give me an answer.”

“The gas is running,” Yamato said, looking at the meter. “Goodnight, Mimi. Goodnight, Palmon.”

“Goodnight, Yamato,” Palmon said with a wave.

Mimi chuckled. “Okay. Goodnight, Yamato. Goodnight again, Gabumon.”

“Goodnight, Mimi. Goodnight, Palmon,” Gabumon said.

Yamato looked at her and smiled. “G’night.”

Mimi smiled once again and closed the door.

Once Yamato saw that the two had gone inside the building safely, he drove away.

“Yamato,” Gabumon said.

“Yeah?”

“You were flirting with Mimi, weren’t you?”

Yamato choked. “Flirting? Me? I wouldn’t say so.”

“You were.”

“I was not.”

“You even said—.”

“Gabumon,” Yamato said in a warning tone. This only made his digimon laugh. “Gabumon!”

“You won’t admit it, but you were!”

Yamato sighed. “You’re not letting this go, are you?” Gabumon shook his head. “Just don’t mention it to anyone. And no, I was not flirting.”

[love-for-yamato-and-sora]

come from psp digimon adventure, translate by me.

This is from the psp version of Digimon adventure Aftermath, which is a plot that tv version does not have. Because my friend didn't finish the screenshot, I had to borrow the Chinese version. Everyone should understand after reading this that this part actually involves the emotional part. After playing it, many people, including Japanese fans, are asking whether this timeline means Yamato started to like Sora and began to chase Sora.

This game also has Yamato and Sora’s version of the pyramid plot, I will update it next time.

This game was also produced by Kakudousan.

Taichi Yagami : Yo, Yamato!

Yamato Ishida: Oh, Taichi…!

Taichi Yagami : You are always alone. What are you going to do today?

Yamato Ishida: Ah, a rock band from abroad came and had a live show.

Taichi Yagami : Do you want to go live?

Yamato Ishida: Ah, I have been their fan before. Also, I kind of want to start learning bass.

Taichi Yagami : Really or not? Do you want to form a band?

Yamato Ishida : No, that hasn't…

Taichi Yagami : That’s right. Someone is not good at group activities.

Yamato Ishida: Taichi…are you provoking me?

Taichi Yagami: Speaking of which, the duel between the two of us in the digital world has not yet concluded!

Yamato Ishida: In a duel, what will determine the outcome?

Taichi Yagami: Football? Cooking? Karaoke?

Yamato Ishida: There are probably others, much more important…

Taichi Yagami :?

Yamato Ishida: You haven’t realized it yet… forget it, I didn’t say anything.

Taichi Yagami : Where is a person talking to himself?

Yamato Ishida : Shut up, shut up…I'm leaving first, bye.

Taichi Yagami : Oh! You want to go live!

(Yamato runs away)

Taichi Yagami : What exactly does Yamato mean? ……totally no idea.

[dutchforstrangers]

Love in orange - Taiora double bill pt. 1

December 13th 2023.

Summary: Taichi's in Italy, all alone on his rainy birthday. But then an orange surprise brights up his day.

A/N: Welcome to part 1 of this very special Taiora double bill that is much needed to get into the world. Fully dedicated to the most dedicated person one will possibly ever meet, a forever precious soulmate, and the one and only “digital love” I have experienced and ever will experience in this life of mine. Especially for your birthday today, because even after the unpretty things that have happened between us, the thought of letting this day pass without at least gifting you something makes me too sad. Set in the “About all the times he/she kissed me” Taiora-universe (after part 7.2) that brought you to me almost two years ago. Can be read as a stand alone too ;) If you know, you know. Missing you tons. With all my heart, all the love in red. But mostly love in orange.

Taiora double bill pt. 1 | Characters: Taichi Yagami (POV) x Sora Takenouchi | Genre: Long distance surprise, romance, general, friendship | Rating: T | Wordcount: 2.520

Love in orange

Usually, Italy in October was still rather sunny and warm, but apparently the weather gods had other plans. It was a drizzling day in Rome and the sun played hide and seek behind a grey cloudy sky. Taichi had imagined his Italian birthday to be at least a bit more sunny and uplifting. And beside all of those saddening weather conditions, he felt lonely.

So he pitied himself and seated himself in front of the window, dramatically staring into the grey, depressing distance.

A sigh escaped his lips, maybe in the hopes of someone hearing him and acting on it, even though he was very much aware that he was indeed alone at his place. His roommates were out. He was miles and miles away from his family and friends in Japan. He was parted almost two full continents and an ocean from his girlfriend

He felt close to Sora by heart in a way he had never imagined he could. Long distance was something he laughed at, it would never work. But now that he was part of one, even if it was for just seven months in total, he knew it could work. Still he hated the literal distance between them, the thing depriving him from his physical love language.

Sure, they had found other ways to be ‘physical’ and he had loved every little bit of it. It was exciting plus Sora was surprisingly good at it. Her words and descriptions made him blush wildly every time and her expressive talents over the phone gave him manga-ish nosebleeds every now and then. It was hard to contain himself so he teased back and their physical relationship took a flight despite the distance. The mere thoughts of all this made him all shy again, heart throbbing in his chest and other places.

Their contact and relationship had of course been way more than just play. It was a depth he didn’t find in any other girl he was with yet. The conversations they had was a beautiful mix of small talk and heated discussions. They watched movies simultaneously while being on the phone and going over the things they enjoyed or made them cringe. Taichi adored how she could get all passionate about traditional Japanese movies and he in his turn annoyed her with his knowledge of all things weird (and musical sing-a-longs). It was a connection he would go through hell for. And right now, hell was seven months longs. Fortunately for him -and Sora- from those seven months, two months already passed.

Although they had been rather close, even closer than ever, he missed Sora even more so. He needed her to be in the same room as him so he could cuddle her warm underneath a fuzzy blanket. He wanted to drink the tea with her Koushiro recommended to them. He wanted to feel her lips on his, her soft hair gliding through his fingers, her smooth skin creating goosebumps as he nuzzled into her.

He missed her tremendously, in a way he could only miss her.

Taichi sighed the biggest sigh he could sigh while his fingers reached inside his pocket for the umpteenth time that day, fishing his phone out of it. He quickly glanced over all of his messages, between them some already received birthday wishes, in the hopes he had missed an unread one. It was painful when he found exactly none. It hurt even more when he had to scroll down passing so many messages to get to his chat with Sora.

He got straight up mad for a bit. Noticing it was already eight hours into the future in Tokyo even drove him insane, a wave of disappointment hitting him hard, and it made him awfully realize how he despised time zones.

Unfairly furious, Taichi threw the phone onto his bed in the corner of his room.

“Oh shut up, you’re just playing games with me,” Taichi said annoyed as he heard his phone buzz the moment it hit the soft sheets. He stared at it. He was disappointed, sad and felt alone. He was pathetic and had every right to be. And thus with crossed arms, like a little kid, he turned his head away from it, trying to ignore the device with all of his might.

It didn’t take long for his impatience and curiosity to take over and he basically flew across the room to get to his phone as fast as possible, hoping it would hold any sign of life from Japan. Preferably a sign from a certain redheaded girlfriend.

Hello T. Yagami! A package has been delivered. Quick! Open your door to find it and take it inside. We wish you a great day and enjoy the unboxing!

He raised an eyebrow to the message from the delivery service. He didn’t order anything, did he?

Frustrated it still wasn’t a message from Sora or anyone else, he stood up and dragged himself to the front door to pick up the package from the hallway.

Once arrived at the door, he thought he’d be excited for the present, but instead he felt depressed even more. Taichi opened the door and bent himself over the package to look at the address label. That was indeed his address in Rome, but looking closer he immediately recognized the sender’s address and his heart skipped a beat. His excitement bulldozed over him upon seeing that one name.

Takenouchi S.

The smile that emerged on his face covered the complete width of his face. No matter the cloudy and rainy sky, to Taichi, the sun finally began to shine. He excitedly lifted up the light-looking box like a little kid on his own birthday party. The heaviness however was a complete surprise and his curiosity peaked again.

He let the weight softly fall on his bed, his mind trying to think of all the possible presents inside of it.

Perhaps she designed him some traditional clothing? A collection of his favorite Japanese sweets and candies. The sneakers he had told her about over phone.

His mind wandered off to more lewd things too, grinning at the thought of something like that having to go through border security. And even though he discovered different sides to Sora, Taichi was sure she wouldn’t go that far. So he shook it off, still completely clueless of what could possibly be in the package.

The sheer curiosity that came with the simple ignorance of the whole situation was already a welcoming present to him, breaking the depressing day in ways he hadn’t thought of in advance. His hands were itching, the sparks in his eyes getting more intense.

Unable to contain his enthusiasm any longer, he started to open up the box. Still he did it with a carefulness not many people knew he had in him, in case Sora had wrapped up something very fragile. He guessed she was smart enough to not pack something like that, but he couldn’t be more sure.

He had to be careful with it in one way or another considering it was a gift from her.

Before the content revealed itself, Taichi came across one last piece of bubble wrap. It was the last thing separating him from whatever was inside. Yet he smiled just seeing the color of the bubble wrap and it was definitely a strange color at that.

The sunlight that was finally seeping through the watery windows made the orange plastic inside the paper box light up, creating shiny rays of light through his whole room. For a brief moment he looked up from his awaiting present to behold the illuminating spectacle, a sensation he had felt as well when his Crest first lit up. It warmed his heart.

Reminded by his courage, he proceeded with the unboxing.

A big smile spread across his face once more, his jaw slightly dropping as he took in the collection Sora seemed to have assembled for him. It was an overstimulation he didn’t get to experience that often. But it was wonderful all the same.

As he lifted up the bubble wrap, Taichi’s eyes were met with more orange colored things. Thing by thing he took it out of the box, observing every piece with newfound amazement, as if he had never seen these things before.

All sorts of orange colored presents passed the revue, from serious things to more unserious ones. A set of animal plushies; foxes and tigers, a clown fish, Monarch butterfly and an orange cat that reminded him of Miiko. A few packages of Kawaguchi Wakayama Orange Candy and a small tray with actual oranges. In a photo frame there was a picture of a beautiful orange sunset on a beach. He found wooden children’s toys in the shape and colors of vegetables and fruit, such as a pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato, orange bell pepper, an apricot and tangerine. Sora must have asked the help of Hikari for that, Taichi thought to himself.

He laughed when he picked up a set of incredibly small sized orange traffic cones after the folded life jacket and wiped away a single tear of a pocket photo of Agumon. The packages of cheese crackers made him feel hungry all of a sudden, as did the bag of Cheetos. Sora had of course thought about something to feed his sports-cravings too and he felt excitement when he held up an orange shirt from the Dutch National team. The basketball he found in the box as well was signed with ‘Troy Bolton’ and he remembered how he had surprised Sora with his knowledge of High School Musical.

At the bottom he found an orange notebook. The cover felt soft because of the fabric. He couldn’t help but to see the resemblance to the color of Sora’s hair and it made him remember how much he missed her.

He flipped blank page by blank page, but found dried little orange flowers and leaves in between some of the sheets. Marigolds, Autumn leaves, tiger lilies. He had learned about some flowers from Sora, so he knew.

Of course there was a gazania too and his heart instantly warmed.

It was a surprise he never expected, just like he had never expected to find this love with her. She was miles, continents and seas away from him, but she felt so incredibly close through this wonderful orange colored gesture. For eternity, Taichi would feel like the luckiest boyfriend in the whole wide world.

The loving daze he was in still made him flip page after page, even though there wasn’t any flower left. He only noticed he arrived at the last page when no page was left to flip.

Hoping to find something else, Taichi looked in the box, but sadly the thing was as empty as could be. Just a tad disappointed he shifted his gaze back to the notebook. He felt the urge to start all over again and thus he flipped back to the beginning of the notebook.

His eyes stopped on the written letters forming words and eventually sentences at the beginning of the notebook he apparently had missed at first.

Happy birthday lovely sunshine. I hope you’re having a fantastic day even though we’re so far apart. We all miss you, but I know I’m the one who misses you the most.

Forever yours. With all my heart. All the love in red.

But mostly love in orange.

Sora &lt;3

His gaze lingered a little bit longer on her name. He had to talk to her. He wanted to see her.

Without thinking for another second, he stood up and jumped towards his phone, only taking one second to find Sora’s caller-ID and hitting the videocall button.

“There’s my birthday boy,” came Sora’s excited yet calm and sensual voice. It sounded like music to his ears.

“You do know how to surprise me,” he grinned widely, holding his phone exactly so she could see all of the orange presents spread out on his sheets. She giggled. “It’s sad however that the most beautiful orange piece is still in Tokyo.”

Sora rolled her eyes, though her slight smirk revealed how the comment had actually flattered her. “You cheese,” she said. “Anyway, happy birthday! I hope you like the present.”

“Like it? Sor, I love it! It’s the most creative thing and it’s very thoughtful. I am wondering how you got some of these things. I mean, traffic cones? Genius.”

“Heh, I had some friends helping me,” Sora winked. “The life jacket is thanks to Miyako-kun who was so nice and bold enough to steal it from the cruise ship where she was celebrating her vacation.”

Taichi laughed, finding it both funny and sweet. Sora had really asked all of their friends to help her out. It only made him love her more.

The conversation went on for hours, up till the point they decided to watch a movie together since they weren’t near done talking to each other. Laughs, words and silences were shared among other things, transcending time zones in the best way possible.

“Say Taichi,” Sora started out of the blue in the middle of the movie. “What’s it with you and orange anyway?”

The left corner of his mouth curled up into a faint smile, his mind wandering off to the schoolyard back in kindergarten.

“Ah, I had a very warm first encounter with orange when I was little,” he answered, deciding that would be everything he’d tell her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I see you made a new friend,” his mother cheered after she had watched him play before they would head home. Taichi nodded, looking back at his newfound friend still playing with the ball. The scene and memory made his face and heart smile. “What’s her name?”

“I forgot to ask,” little Taichi started babbling, “but she played football with me and she was really good at it!”

“That’s great honey! I’m so happy for you.”

His mother sweetly stroke through his big brown messy hair, proud of how her son had made a new friend at his new school so quickly. Taichi looked back one more time, taking in the way she looked so he would remember her when they’d meet again tomorrow.

It wasn’t hard to forget her, or to loose sight of her in a crowd. She stood out with her shiny hair that looked like the fallen Autumn leaves he loved to play in. The leaves that would catch all the sunlight with its brightness. It made the twinkles in his eyes shine more bright as well and the warmth in his heart increase.

“Mommy?”

Yuuko looked down. “Yes dear?”

“Her hair color, what is it called?”

“I think it’s auburn,” his mother replied as she turned her head around one more time.

“Auburn?”

“Yes honey, but to simplify it, you could say it’s orange.”Orange… He loved it! He felt connected to it in a way not even an adult could describe. It felt right. So from that moment on, Yagami Taichi decided orange would be his forever favorite color.

[izzyizumi]

Digmon Adventure + 02 + tri. + Kizuna; + "Adventure:" 2020 reboot Spin-off Series vs Sonic Prime {Eps. 01~08} + (Two Personal) Favorite Characters featuring Characters: ~ KOUSHIRO[u] Izumi (+Taichi Yagami) {as Ship [by Kizuna or post-Kizuna]} vs. ~ (+Tails) "NINE" the Fox (+Sonic) {as Friendship} + (Common) Media Trope{s} / Storytelling Parallels -The Computer Genius; (+special "Interests") -The Once-Loner / (Initially) Intentionally Avoids People; (Koushiro specifically also pre-series & in Novels backstory); -(Eventual growing Interest or relevancy with) "Fashion"; -"Samefooding"; (with preferred Drinks) + on the Job (in Koushiro's case, it's the Oolong tea specifically) -Expert Hackers + (Genuinely Good/recognized) Skills; -Frustration when Inadequate (at said Interests); - Quipping back at Lead Protagonist or Team in Tense Moments {whether Sarcastically or J.P.N "Formally" Style (Koushiro)}; [and displaying 'sudden' bouts of "Forwardness" with Team] ...

-The (Canonically Appointed) Advisor-slash-Strategist (who often comes up with genuinely creative plans) {even IF they take time to Work} - (Being asked Directly) to Support the Protagonist/Friend + HESITATING due to own fear of Inadequacy (at Such) - Racing Against The Clocks / Countdowns; (after Agreeing to Help / On a personal Mission to Achieve) - "Big Damn Hero" Moments!! (+Saving the Hero{s}/Friends)

My Commentary:

"Tails" (Nine specifically also, here) is a character I've loved basically since I was old enough to pick up a Sega controller as a 3-year-old child; and Koushiro came slightly later on when I was still young but closer to / basically exactly Koushiro's J.P.N canon age as I watched.

I've always noted these similarities in their storylines & even, one could say, "personalities" ever since I kept up with Digimon Adventure's series specifically (and Koushiro's also kept evolving and growing in various ways across multiple medias, including a 2020 "reboot" spin-off series that nonetheless still uses the original "Koushiro Izumi" as a base); however, "Nine"'s story dropping today (it's 2k22?!) really feels like it's driving the point home for me when it comes to these storytelling parallels.

(Oh, and Koushiro is also canonically Adopted, yes?)

{This 'comparison's gif-set was made on a whim mainly for my Koushiro specific head-canons series; but I won't mind if cross-fan-base fans enjoy this too!} [There's a very specific "head"-canon I have in mind for both, too... you might be able to note them in the tags of this post!]

BONUS:

{When EVEN "the rival" Canonically ACKNOWLEDGES your Computer / Hacking Skills & Abilities}

gifs by @izzyizumi {DO NOT Copy} {DO NOT re-post} {DO NOT remove Caption} (Please ASK to Use)

{usage of gifs may be allowed if permission is asked / or if credit is given. However, read my about & FAQ pages first. Please do NOT use / ask if you match anything in my “Do Not Interact” sections.}

{Additional note: this post is mainly intended SPECIFIC CHARACTER SUPPORT-FOCUSED. {(Koushiro Izumi); & (Nine) Specifically / Separately} please remember + RESPECT this when interacting} {Failure to acknowledge interacting rules WILL result in a block}

[Note: Tagging/replying Positively/respectfully is OK!]

[imagines--galore]

||The Next Adventure||

Summary: When all of Taichi’s plans fail, his family comes together to help him ask his girlfriend, Hidemi, a very important question.

Pairing: Taichi Yagami x Hidemi Senshi(OC)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T. Romance. None.

A/N: This is my contribution to the prompt Adulthood and Family for Taichi Yagami Week.

"Well today was a disaster.” Hikari commented as she stood beside her brother atop the bridge that ran over the canal. A groan was her only response, and she turned to glance at her older brother who had his arms resting on the metal railing, face buried in his arms.

“Who’d have thought that they would close the beach today because of a shark sighting. Of all the random days.” Her tone was full of mirth as she tried her best to suppress her giggles at Taichi’s obvious disappointment at the occurrence.

An even louder groan sounded from the young man, as he finally lifted his head to glare at his sister. “If you’re not going to be helpful Hikari, I suggest you leave.” He sounded extremely grumpy, and judging by the frown that creased his forehead, probably annoyed as well. This time his sister did giggle. She reached out to pat him on the shoulder in a comforting manner.

“Don’t be sad, Oni-chan. I’m sure things will work out.” She did her best to sound optimistic. Taichi shook his head, his wild mane of brown hair untamed even at the age of 22. “You don’t understand Hikari! I had everything planned out perfectly. And now everything is ruined. Every plan was botched.” He looked down at the slowly drifting water of the canal.

“I wanted to surprise Hidemi so bad.” He mumbled, looking rather sad as he did. Hikari’s heart went out to him. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Glancing over his shoulder, she suddenly grinned as she caught sight of an approaching figure. “Well I suppose its a good thing I called in reinforcements.”

Her brother blinked at her.

“What?”

He barely had time to finish voicing his thoughts when Takeru ran up, out of breath and grinning ear to ear. “Its all done Hikari. My brother, Izzy and Jo are getting everything set up, and Mimi and Sora are getting Hidemi ready. They told her it was a girls night out or something.” He added, at which Taichi raised an eyebrow. He was more then aware of how much Hidemi hated getting dressed up and wearing makeup. What were they all up to?

Hikari clapped her hands in delight. “Wonderful job Takeru.” She turned her attention to her brother, giving him a once-over. Taichi glanced down at himself as well. He was dressed rather smartly for once, in black trousers, proper shoes, a tie and a button up. Of course his hair was in disarray, but he had stopped in his attempt to tame it long ago.

“Well then Oni-chan, the rest will be up to you.” She winked at him, only adding to his confusion.

“What?” He repeated.

                                           ————————–

“No! Wait! I’ve changed my mind! Maybe it really isn’t the right time!”

“Not a chance Taichi. You’re gonna do it, and you’re gonna do it today.” There was such a determined gleam in Yamato’s eyes that Taichi was afraid his best friend would actually tie him up and leave him there if he tried to walk off.

Izumi grinned. “No backing out now Taichi! I’d say good luck, but according to my statistics, you don’t need it.” Hikari, who had been assessing the surroundings gave a grin as well. She looked like she was about to say something when Jo walked up. “Mimi says they’re almost here.” He announced.

Taichi felt a feeling of nervousness settle in his stomach as he gulped. Yamato laughed as he walked past, seeing how pale he had gotten. “Just blurt it out Yagami. You’ve always been good at that.” The brown haired 22-year old aimed to punch him, but he was already walking away.

A moment later Taichi was left alone, standing in the middle of his old High School football field. It was getting dark, the sun had already started to set. Someone had turned on a few lights around the field. Probably Izumi. Hopefully it wouldn’t attract too much attention.

Suddenly he heard voices. Three to be exact. Sora, Mimi and......

Hidemi.

His throat closed up, his hands felt clammy as his eyes traveled to the source of the sound. He watched as Hidemi was all but shoved towards the football pitch before Sora and Mimi pointed towards him. Once Hidemi caught sight of him, the two girls ran off.

It took little to catch Taichi by surprise. He was, however, struck dumb at the sight of his girlfriend.

She wore a white sweater dress with long boots to match. The only thing holding the dress up were a pair of thin straps over her shoulders, leaving most of her skin bare. Her chin-length black hair was curled inward, with a white headband fixed on top of her head. Normally, Taichi wasn’t the type of guy who would really notice what his girlfriend wore. But when she went ahead and dressed like that?

Of course he was bound to notice! He was human after all.

“Taichi!” She called out, quickly making her way over to him. As she neared him he realized she was wearing lipstick. Pink lipstick.

He wandered how she would look with it smudged around her mouth.

The thought had a fierce blush rising to his cheeks as she finally reached him.

“What in the world is going on? You wouldn’t answer my calls, and then Sora and Mimi jumped me as soon as I get off work and force me into this.” She gestured to what she wore. “And then why did they force me to come here?” Her head swiveled as she looked around at the stands and even field.

Taichi had been thinking on that as well. On the way over, he had thought long and hard as to why his friends would bring him here. And then it hit him.

“Because its where we first met.”

Her grey eyes turned to look at him, wide and full of surprise.

The realization seemed to make him recover from his slightly stunned state as he began to speak.

“You were with Dorumon, trying to teach him how to play football.” A small sad smile pulled at her lips as she seemed to recall the memory of her beloved Digimon. “And he kicked the ball too hard. Knocked you on your back. You got a minor concussion because of that.” His hand lifted to press against the back of her head, as if he could sense the bump there from so long ago. Her own hand came up to cover his.

“And you rushed over to help me.” She said with a small smile pulling at her lips. “I may have been out of it but I remember you carrying me to the Nurse’s Room. Even back then you knew how to sweep a girl off her feet.” The young woman teased, prompting her boyfriend to roll his eyes at her.

“Hardly. I also remember telling your grandfather off for scolding you for getting hurt.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Well he was being a jerk.” Hidemi recalled how the old man had told her off for playing with her Digimon when she should’ve been studying. She still remembered how Taichi had stepped in and stood up for her, without even knowing her.

Her knight in shining armor.

"Though once you realized that Dorumon could evolve into Alphamon, you did become kind of a jerk as well.” She recalled, prompting Taichi to wince at the memories, and how cold he had been to her. “Yeah, not my finest hour.” He admitted.

He had only acted like he did because he was afraid she was in league with Alphamon. “But when you saved our lives I started being nice to you.” He reasoned, prompting his girlfriend to give him a playful shove. “I would hardly call that winning me over, Yagami.” She teased. The way she was smiling at him was enough to calm his nerves and had him smiling back.

There was just something about Hidemi that helped ground him. Once she became a proper part of their little group, Taichi was made aware of just how much she helped keep him level-headed during battles and outside of them as well.

Slowly, Hidemi had integrated herself into their family, their lives and his heart.

Taichi remembered how devastated he had been when he lost Agumon. Even now, remembering how his digimon had been erased from existence caused a twinge in his heart, prompting him to wrap his arms around her waist, resting their foreheads together. Though she was surprised at first, her own arms came up to rest around his chest.

“Do you remember how we got together?” He asked, feeling her nod. “It was after Agumon.” She whispered softly, not wanting to upset him by reminding him more of his lost partner. “I was in a really bad place for awhile. And I honestly didn’t think I would get out of it.” He admitted, his arms tightening around her as he continued. “But then you nearly knocked down my door, threw a slipper at my head and told me to knock it off. That this wouldn’t be what Agumon would’ve wanted for me.” She gave a small laugh at the memory. “I still stand by the fact that I was right in doing what I did.”

Taichi chuckled. “I was angry at first yeah, but you were only trying to help. And though you left, what you said did help me. It was a couple days after, when I first met up with you that I realized that I was in love with you.” Identical blushes stole across their cheeks as they both smiled at one another.

“You’ve become a huge part of my life Hidemi. Of my family.” He knew just how desperate she had been for a family, after her own had disowned her for keeping Dorumon instead of abandoning him. To have people who accepted her for she was. And he had helped her find that in their little group. They were all misfits in some form or another, and she had fit right in.

“I never really thanked you.” She said. “For welcoming me into your family. They can get rather annoying at times, but I suppose that’s what you get for hanging around a bunch of crazies your entire adult life.” He gave a small laugh at her words, prompting her to grin at the sound.

“Well what if I asked you to deal them with me for the rest of our lives?”

For a second she seemed to freeze up against him, before her head whipped back to look up at him, eyes wide and lips slightly apart.

“What?”

He was smiling at her, as he pulled his arms back from around her waist. One of his hands went for his pocket, pulling something out. And as he did, he got down on one knee.

Hidemi stopped breathing.

“Do you think you can accept me as a part of your forever family Hidemi?” He asked, using the words she had spoken to him on multiple occasions. Her forever family. Someone she would live the rest of her life with.

A small choked laugh fell from her lips as she smiled widely, her eyes brimming with tears as she shook her head. “I don’t want you to be a part of my forever family Taichi. I want you to be my forever family.” She admitted. Her words made him smile up at her even wider as he held out the now open velvet box.

Within the soft cushion nestled a pretty silver band, with three princess cut diamonds encrusted into the shiny metal.

“Should I take that as a yes then?” He asked, his tone sounding a little cocky, at which she laughed, holding out her hand as she did.

“You haven’t actually asked the question yet, Baka.” He took her hand, singling out her ring finger as he made to slide the ring on.

His gaze lifted to meet her’s as he spoke. “Will you marry me, Hidemi?” He asked, showing every ounce of love and adoration he had for the woman in front of him, even as he slid the ring home.

In response she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her lips to his. In her enthusiasm she nearly knocked the both of them back, though neither seemed to care as they shared a passionate embrace.

“That wasn’t really an answer.” He whispered against her lips, prompting her to smile into the kiss.

“Shut up, Yagami!” She responded before kissing him again.

The sound of cheering was what made them part, their eyes finding the figures of their friends screaming, shouting, hugging and laughing as they stood atop one of the stands. There was Yamato, who gave Taichi a two fingered salute, while he wrapped his arm around his own fiancé. Sora had tears streaming down her cheeks as she smiled at her two best friends. Izumi was trying to console a sobbing Jo, who was crying a literal waterfall. Hikari and Mimi were jumping up and down, hugging one another. Takeru was high-fiving Davis and Cody, while Yolei hugged Ken fiercely, with him wrapping an arm around her waist.

With Hidemi tucked in his arm next to him, and his friends cheering for the two of them, Taichi felt his heart swell with affection for all of them. His family. With whom he had shared so many pivotal moments in his life and so many adventures.

And glancing at his new fiancé, he couldn’t help but press a kiss to her forehead, eager to start a new chapter in his life with her.

Tagging - @taichiyagamiweek​

[dnofsunshine]

digimon secret santa exchange!

happy holidays and merry Christmas, @digitalworldbound i'm your secret santa for @digisecretsanta's gift exchange event! <3 i know you love 02, so i hope you enjoy 700 words of teenage takari being a chaotic duo~ (ft. older bros, yamato & taichi)

Or: Chaotic besties Hikari and Takeru have their older brothers wrapped around their fingers.

Thunk. Floosh.

Several seconds of silence ensued. Two pairs of eyes met, pooled with mirth and perhaps a little bit of regret. Takeru blew out a giggling sigh, which was a mistake on his part because it sent a puff of flour through the air.

Flour, which caked both of their faces. Because Hikari, in her attempt to measure the amount they needed for the cookie recipe she’d found online, had accidentally tipped the entire bowl, and now they were both covered in it.

And so was the kitchen counter. And the floor. 

“Oops,” Hikari whispered, although her expression threatened to break into a grin.

“Oops,” Takeru echoed with a tiny, held-back smile of his own.

“I don’t think that was supposed to happen,” Hikari said.

“...probably not.”

Hikari whisked her gaze around her kitchen, knowing that this mess was mostly her fault but finding it funnier than anything else. So when her composure broke and she finally began laughing, she couldn’t find it in herself to stop.

“You—you look ridiculous,” she gasped out as she doubled over in a fit of giggles.

“Me?” Takeru didn’t even sound offended—just equally entertained by their predicament as he, too, collapsed with laughter. “You look ridiculous! It’s in your hair!”

One of Hikari’s hands found the top of her head, making Takeru laugh harder because she’d only made it worse.

A doorknob jostled. Hikari and Takeru froze at the sound, meeting each other’s gaze again, and Hikari whispered in horror, “Uh oh.”

“We should hide.”

No sooner than Takeru suggested it did they follow through, but neither of them had time to find good hiding places—instead merely settling for ducking behind the counter—before the Yagami apartment door opened and two boys stopped in the entryway to remove their shoes.

“We’re back,” Taichi’s voice called, followed by the sound of shuffling. “There was a long l—oh. Where’d they go?”

“Gotta be here somewhere,” came Yamato’s voice. “Their shoes are still here.”

“Yeah, I see that. I have eyes.”

“Just making s—” Yamato stopped talking, and his footsteps came to a halt as well. Then, in a quieter voice: “...what the hell?”

Hikari bit her lip to keep her laughter at bay. She stayed hidden with Takeru as Taichi voiced his confusion about Yamato’s words, before probably seeing the kitchen for himself.

“Oh my god.”

Yeah. They were so screwed.

“What even happened in here?” Taichi went on. “How d—wait. Hikari, Takeru, I can see you.”

It was only when he stepped around the counter that Hikari started giggling hysterically again. She gave her brother what was supposed to be an guilty look—but, in all honesty, was more cheeky than anything—before drawing herself up to her full height.

“Hi, Nii-san,” Takeru said humbly to Yamato as he stood by Hikari’s side.

“What did you do?” Yamato asked.

“We were…” Hikari paused to scan the flour-covered kitchen with sheepish eyes. “...making cookies?”

Hook.

“Cookies,” Taichi echoed, deadpan.

“Uh huh,” Takeru said with a firm nod. “Cookies.”

Yamato gave Takeru a hopelessly fond look. “Kiddo. We told you we’d be back from the store to make dinner tonight.”

“I even recruited Yamato so Kaa-san wouldn’t kill us with her monstrous cooking,” Taichi added.

“But…” Hikari trailed off as she glanced at her best friend, who pouted. She took this as an opportunity to show off her best pout, too, aiming it at her older brother. “...we wanted something sweet.”

Line.

“Hikari. It’s like, four-thirty. We’re going to be cooking soon.”

“...and?”

Yamato and Taichi shared an exasperated look, which almost elicited another stray giggle from Hikari. Almost. She was still pouting, after all.

“Fine,” Yamato caved, surprisingly before Taichi. He sighed. “After dinner.”

Taichi’s expression turned sour. “Dude!”

“What? I can’t say ‘no’ to that face,” Yamato said and pointed at Takeru’s masterful puppy eyes.

Her brother, however, looked back at Hikari. Her pout deepened, and for a few seconds, Taichi stood strong. But only for a few seconds.

Sinker.

“Ugh, fine. Fine, we’ll make cookies after dinner,” Taichi relented with a sigh of his own. “Now help us clean up.”

Hikari’s pout disappeared in an instant, replaced by a grin.

She waited until both of their brothers’ backs were turned before she gave Takeru a victorious fistbump. 

[seventeenlovesthree]

Digi Dynamic Shipping Game

Send me two names among the following 12 and I’ll write a short analysis post about them:

Taichi Yagami | Yamato Ishida | Sora Takenouchi | Koushirou Izumi | Mimi Tachikawa | Jyou Kidou | Takeru Takaishi | Hikari Yagami | Daisuke Motomiya | Miyako Inoue | Iori Hida | Ken Ichijouji

Whether canon provides input on them or not.

As I try my best to get myself out of writing/art block, I thought about one of the many relationship analysis posts that are still at the back of my queue - and thus we may start with our genius bug boys, shall we?

As I had already outlined before, their relationship may not be the most fleshed out compared to other older/younger Chosen Children pairs - but this wonderful moment in particular is, in my opinion, still enough for us to speculate on how their bond may develop. It's Senpai!Koushirou at his very best, taking the still very distraught Ken under his wing, reassuring and comforting him in his own ways - because these two have way more in common than just being smart boys with bug Digimon partners.

While their set-ups are being focused on in very different ways, their arcs are both defined by trying to be more casual, natural with the people close to them due to identity-and-family-related trauma. While Koushirou buried himself in his laptop and knowledge gathering to avoid thinking about himself and his potential whereabouts for being adopted, struggling with social interactions, Ken was dragged into the world of the dark ocean after the death of his brother, getting corrupted in the process and committing horrifying actions, thus feeling unworthy of being redeemed and befriended for a long, long time. One might argue that, if it wasn't for two certain goggle boys reaching their hands out to them, they may have never found the courage to become confident in their abilities, using their intellect for the good and the sake of their friends and families, letting their natural kindness shine through eventually...

And in the same vein, I feel like Koushirou, by the time of 02, had to become the person he is there first to be able to reach out to Ken himself, so Ken could move on to reach out to the others as well. Even if he may not have been consciously aware of it, he (besides Yamato, Takeru and Hikari) was probably among the people who could relate to Ken the most - and thus, treated him with kindness.

Unfortunately, we never really see them interact directly after that again, even though Koushirou did try his best to integrate Ken into the team despite everything he had done. So long story short - we at least know there is a peaceful, trusting and kind foundation between them.

Whether I think why and how they’d work.

In case you haven't noticed how I talked about them above, I would absolutely love for these two to be closer with each other. My assumption is that the creators of Digimon tried to avoid putting them together too blatantly, because they may be way too powerful in figuring out everything on their own. I also don't believe that there would be any kind of competitive spirit between these two - in fact, Ken has quite the tendency to play himself down and canonically confirms that "if Koushirou-san can't figure this out, how are we supposed to?", implying that he is also still looking up greatly to his senpai. I think they could be quite knowledge bombs due to their natural curiosity in different fields, with Koushirou being more accustomed to the technical and theoretical side of things, whereas Ken may have more knowledge outside of that. They're both the voices of reasons in their respective groups - and may also need a little time-out every now and then to settle down, enjoy some quiet time by themselves (and with each other) after being exposed to the shenanigans their friends come up with.

This may be more of a dub-only thing, but - I could actually imagine them having fun at quiz nights and despite being the smartest people in the room, would always be the least competitive about it (especially when Miyako and Daisuke are with them), because they could just talk about their gathered findings for hours without end. Nobody else could follow their train of thought at this point, but that's okay, because they just enjoy theorizing together.

Whether I’d prefer them as platonic or romantic ship.

Overall, I think they would work better on a platonic basis, mainly because they're both people who need other people with outgoing energy levels as complementary forces to pull them out of their shells as romantic partners. But again, I believe they could be amazing friends to each other, a safe haven so to speak.

[froggie-bolt]

Just a Digimon Adventure 2020 Post about The TaiShiro Moments

(Sub)

I love how Taichi and Koushiro are both shown to think highly of the other. Taichi even brags about how smart koushiro is sometimes, its so wholesome.

Everytime the group gets separated, the first person Taichi tries to call is almost always Koushiro.

and in the first episode Koushiro meets up with the rest of the group in the digital world, Taichi's face immediately lights up.

Like if anything happens ever, Koushiro usually addresses Taichi right away. Between Him and Tentomon, both are the ones checking in on Koushiro and making sure he's doing okay.

Specific moments from episode 36:

"but there's only 20 minutes left"

"that's more than enough"

"we won't know unless we try right?" Taichi believing in his ability.

"but--"

"there's no time left, lets go"

"alright, I'll support you!"

Then

"Let's go, koushiro!"

"R-Right!"

Then

Koushiro, you have to do this!"

"me!? No way! I can support you, but I can't--"

"koushiro"

"I leave it to you."

"Taichi-san..."

"I'm counting on you."

*kou hesitates*

"Right!"

"Go, Kosuhiro!"

AND THEN KOUSHIRO THINKING ABOUT HOW HE HAS ATLURKABUTERIMON, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY THINKS BACK TO WHAT TAICHI SAID TO HIM IN EPISODE 3 BEFORE THINKING OF EVERYONE ELSE TOO-

It was also just great to see Koushiro feeling good about his own ability- especially with this music at the end, damn.

episode 43 was funny.

They call eachother like, every episode to see how it's going.

Episode 59

So when they get that trial wrong, Taichi is taken, and [digimon] says he's gonna undergo surgery to become a digimon.

Taichi just smiles and says "Nah don't worry about me guys, I leave the rest to you Koushiro."

Then Koushiro blames himself for whats gonna happen to taichi.

And whiole all this is going on, we know taichi is worried about how the other is handling it right now, since he's under a lot of stress.

Bro koushiro looked so sad.

and then tentomon always believes in koushiro, always. which is exactly what he needs

EDIT

SO THE ENGLISH DUB JUST CAME OUT A FEW DAYS AGO AND IVE WATCHED (at least the episode with TaiShiro moments) SOME OF IT AND I HAVE MORE THINGS TO SAY

So let’s start from the top once again

(Dub)

Episode 1’s script for the most part is unchanged :)

However, there is the changes to the names.

While in the original Tai was just ‘Tai’, this time his full name is Taichi, and Tai is just a nickname. His last name though has still been changed to Kamiya instead of Yagami.

Koushiro actually does keep his Japanese name in the English dub! But this time ‘Izzy’ is also just a nickname. Of course, he retains his last name ‘Izumi’ like he did in the original English dub.

ANYWAY ANYWAY

one of my favourite bits from episode 1, is when Koushiro is showing Taichi his timeline, and Taichi goes something like:

(I actually posted the clip here)

“Well..I’m really bad at that stuff. You’re awesome, Koushiro!”

And Kou seems surprised and caught off guard by the complement, before quickly turning his attention back to his tablet in embarrassment and saying:

“Y-You can just call me Izzy—!”

And we know later in the dub, that Koushiro prefers being alone, which also suggests he doesn’t have many friends, or doesn’t go out of his way to make any. He doesn’t really like being around people. So we can guess that before Taichi, the only people that call him Izzy are his parents.

So Koushiro giving Taichi express permission to call him Izzy, especially for Koushiro, is something special and significant, even if Taichi doesn’t know this.

I will absolutely be adding onto this in the future

[sloanerisette]

The Adventure of the Newly Appointed Attorney - A Great Ace Attorney Digimon AU

Summary: Jou Kido is just a simple medical student when his life is thrown for a loop after being accused of murder of one of his professors. Even worse than that, what was meant to be time abroad to learn alongside the closest person to him in the world leads to the untimely death of Taichi Yagami, and Jou has to deal with the fallout of that happening. 

A Great Ace Attorney 1 AU featuring spoilers up to Episode 2.

I'm back on my bullshit with another Digimon AU because one day I had a shower thought of the trio of Ryuunosuke, Kazuma, and Susato but as Jou, Taichi, and Mimi. I just wanted to make a little something for the first bit of the game so I could write some good angst (and hint at a ship for Jou that wasn't Jyoumi lmao), as well as see how I could recontextualize the game a bit with the characters and situations being changed up a bit. So uh, I hope you enjoy! I got stuck on this a fair bit, especially at the end, so I hope y'all like it!

You can also find it on AO3 here!

---

Oh, how was this happening? How could this possibly be happening? He just wanted to say hello to one of his professors, and now he was in Japan’s Supreme Court.

Accused of murder.

Of said professor.

Jou paced around the defendant’s antechamber anxiously, head in his hands, and mumbling under his breath.

Now he was going to get arrested. He was going to be put away for life and he’d never be able to finish school. And what would his family think? What would—

“You know, if you keep doing this, they might charge you for wearing out the rug.”

Jou blinked and craned his neck around before his sight finally focused on another professor of his: Doctor Keisuke Tachikawa. He exhaled and walked over to him, bowing his head.

“Professor Tachikawa! What’re you doing here?” he asked, then blinked, “Err… not that it’s not good to see you, of course…”

The professor had a wide smile on his face and let out a hearty chuckle as he adjusted his spectacles.

“I know it’s easier said than done for you, but try to calm down a bit, if possible.”

“Right, right,” Jou mumbled to himself.

“Professor Wilson is an old friend of mine, and, well… given the grave matter of this case, I thought it would be prudent that I be here.”

Jou swallowed hard. Right. An English national killed at a Japanese university where he had been staying while he taught.

“There’s also a word of advice I have for you,” Tachikawa said, slowly stepping over to Jou. He looked at the young man, who was nearly at eye level with him, and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Wh-what is it?” Jou asked slowly.

“You know your attorney is going to be Yagami, yes?”

How could Jou forget? When his best friend had found out about the legal trouble he had fallen into, he wasted no time in offering his services to defend him.

“Yes, sir,” Jou answered.

“And you understand that soon he’ll be departing on that trip abroad to study law in England, yes?”

“Of course. It’s going to be one of the biggest opportunities for Japan,” Jou said.

“Well, what you need to know is that, due to the… precarious nature of situation,” Professor Tachikawa punctuated his words with a pause as he took off his glasses and took a moment to clean them, then put them back on, “If Yagami is unable to prove your innocence, then the trip will be called off.”

Jou’s eyes went wide and the air was pushed from his lungs.

“What? No— wait— why— why would he agree to that!?”

“Probably because he sees your innocence and believes he can prove it.”

Jou’s shoulders slumped, “But if he can’t…” he trailed off weakly.

“Yes, he won’t be able to go.”

Jou’s mind went blank as everything went still. He didn’t know what to think. How could Taichi risk the biggest possible opportunity just like that?

“…I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t tell me. If he did I would’ve never agreed to this,” Jou grumbled.

“That’s probably exactly why. From what I’ve heard from both of you, you two are incredibly close. And knowing Yagami, I doubted he wanted you to worry over him like that.”

It made sense. It was perfectly Taichi— to make sure Jou didn’t worry too much, to show that he could handle everything just fine. And Taichi could handle everything just fine. His reputation in their university’s law program was legendary, and everyone’s aspirations for him were as big as his own.

The way Professor Tachikawa’s gaze seemed to bore into Jou left him nervous. He stepped closer and set a firm hand on his shoulder.

“When you’re in the courtroom, at the start of the proceedings the judge will ask a specific question to the defense. You need to answer it before Yagami does. You must. Do you understand?”

Jou’s chest went tight, and he nodded slowly, “Of course. Yes. Anything I can do to help make sure Taichi can go study in England!”

Professor Tachikawa smiled and folded his hands behind his back.

“Very good. You’re a good, upstanding young man, Kido. I’ve no doubt you didn’t do it… so now it just needs to be made clear to the court.”

“Trust me, Professor, there won’t even be a need for a recess in this case,” a confident voice spoke up. Jou looked to see that Taichi was approaching them with a wide grin on his face. He stopped in front of them and placed his hands on his hips.

“I’ll prove your innocence in no time, Jou,” Taichi said. Jou’s eyes started to well up with tears, and he quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

“Thank you for believing in me, Taichi,” Jou breathed out, and Taichi barked out a laugh.

“What kind of partner could I call myself if I didn’t believe in you? Believe me, I’d do anything for you.”

Jou looked out of the corner of his eye to see Professor Tachikawa give him a knowing look and nod.

“…It just means a lot that you believe in me.”

“Well that’ll never be in question,” Taichi told him seriously. He gripped Jou’s hand to shake and then pulled him into a hug.

“And then you and me will be tearing up Her Majesty’s capital in no time, right?” he whispered, and though Jou couldn’t see the wicked grin on his face, he just knew it was there.

“I-I still don’t know about that, Taichi…”

“Well, I still have a few more days to convince you,” he said before he released his friend. Jou rubbed his arm to help soothe the sudden shooting pain brought on by Taichi’s tight grip.

“Good luck with that, we still have to make sure I’m innocent.”

“Defendant, court is about to be in session. Enter the courtroom at once,” the bailiff’s voice boomed. Jou nearly jumped in place. Professor Tachikawa looked at them both.

“Good luck, Kido, and to you, too, Yagami.”

“Thank you sir,” Jou said with a deep bow.

“I won’t need luck,” Taichi said with a thumbs up. “Let’s get going. After all, you don’t want to be declared guilty for showing up late,” he laughed. At that, Jou’s eyes went wide and he sped into the courtroom ahead of his best friend, Professor Tachikawa’s words still ringing in his ears.

If he was found guilty… then Taichi’s chances of ever being able to learn about English law would go up in smoke in an instant. He couldn’t allow that.

The second he stepped foot inside the courtroom, he could feel all eyes on him. There were many, many men in military uniforms who were glaring daggers at him, and both the judge and prosecutor were focused solely on him. Jou adjusted his glasses as he walked as fast as he could over to the defendant’s bench without breaking into an outright run.

“It looks like they all want to eat me alive…” Jou thought, already feeling beads of sweat begin to form at the crown of his head.

“Try and look as cool, calm, and confident as you can, Jou. They will eat you alive if they smell blood in the water,” Taichi mumbled to him. Jou’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“How did you…”

“Know what you were thinking? It’s written all over your face,” Taichi smiled as they walked behind the bench. He clapped Jou on the shoulder, “You’ll be fine, trust me.”

The judge banged his gavel, causing all attention to turn his way. Jou squeaked out a sound of surprise, then turned a deep, deep shade of red out of embarrassment.

“The court will now hear the trial of Jou Kido,” the judge boomed out.

“The prosecution is ready, Your Excellency,” the middle-aged, balding prosecutor said.

“As is the defense,” Taichi said confidently. He placed one hand on his hip while the other rested on his katana.

This was… this was all too startlingly real. He was really in Japan’s highest court. On trial. For murder. Even with Taichi standing there next to him, he could still hear his heart pounding in his ears.

“Now, before we begin, there is one point of order I want to confirm: yesterday evening, the defense made a request for a last minute change of advocate,” the judge said.

“I made the request myself, yes,” Taichi nodded.

“Normally, the procedure is for the defendant’s advocacy to be decided two days prior to trial. Given the circumstances behind this trial, however, I must ask for a final confirmation: who is the advocate for the defendant in this trial?”

That was it. That was the question he needed to answer before Taichi could. It was the only way his trip to England could be guaranteed.

Jou’s arm shot up in the air in an instant.

“I am!” he shouted. The judge blinked, and then his jaw dropped in shock.

“What?”

“What’re you doing, Jou!?” Taichi hissed.

“Professor Tachikawa told me that if I’m found guilty, you won’t be able to study abroad,” Jou whispered. Taichi grit his teeth.

“I can’t believe he did that… and I can’t believe you listened to him!” Taichi shot back.

Jou’s expression fell, “Taichi, you’re my best friend, but if by chance I am found guilty, it means everything you’ve been working towards is dashed in an instant.”

“It’s why I didn’t want you to find out,” Taichi sighed. He folded his arms and shook his head.

“Then you understand where I’m coming from, too,” Jou said. Taichi nodded.

“I do.”

“Then you know that I have to do this for you no matter what. I’m sorry,” Jou said as he pushed his glasses up.

Taichi stood there, silently stewing as he stared down his best friend, looking in his eyes.

Yet Jou didn’t back down, and that caused Taichi’s lips to turn upwards a touch into a smirk.

“I can’t say I’m exactly happy about the way Professor Tachikawa told you about this, or about how you’re choosing to defend yourself over letting me handle it, but… I’ll be here to help you,” Taichi told him.

He clapped Jou on the back, and the young man fell forward, his glasses nearly slipping off his face. Jou yelped and managed to catch his glasses in time. Both the judge and the prosecutor gave him pointed glances, and Jou immediately straightened up.

“Like I said,” Jou started once he recovered, adjusting his glasses slightly, “It isn’t about not trusting or believing in you. This is just so you will be able to go and achieve your dreams in Britain no matter what.”

Plus it was his professor who was killed. A part of him wanted to try and figure out what truly happened for that just as much as for his own sake.

“So, you’ll be defending yourself then?” the judge asked. Jou nodded.

“Yes, your Excellency.”

“Well, maybe I won’t be your attorney, but I can serve as your judicial assistant,” Taichi told him.

…That was a big relief, though. Maybe he’d have some sort of chance at not being immediately declared guilty. Even just as a judicial assistant, Jou was relieved (and incredibly lucky) to have Taichi’s assistance.

“As you are aware, you are in the Supreme Court of Judicature of Japan. I hold everyone in this courtroom to the highest standards of conduct. Everyone. Do I make myself clear, Defendant Kido?”

“Yes, your Excellency,” Jou nodded again. Taichi leaned in close to whisper.

“Try to calm down a little, you’re sweating,” he said, at which Jou’s eyes went wide and he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “You’ll be fine. You just need to believe in yourself more.”

“Just believe in myself, more,” Jou thought as he swallowed hard, “Easier said than done, Taichi… We aren’t all you, after all…”

Not everyone could be as brave as Taichi Yagami. Frankly, Jou didn’t think anyone could be on the man’s level.

But now, it was time for him to save himself and secure Taichi’s future.

***

Somehow, he had done it. He had managed to point out the true killer of Professor Wilson with the help of Taichi’s keen eye and his own medical knowledge, and was able to secure his innocence.

But to think a classmate of his had killed their professor… and with poison, no less. It was chilling— no, terrifying— to think about, which was why that night he had done his best not to think about it. At all.

A knock on the door helped Jou distract himself from the way his thoughts were getting increasingly closer to thinking about the young British woman and the way she had coldly and callously poisoned their professor without an ounce of regret, and he smiled when he opened the door and saw who it was.

“Taichi, what’re you doing here? It’s late,” Jou said.

“You didn’t think you were going to call it a day without a celebration, did you?” Taichi asked with a wicked grin before he forced himself into Jou’s room, revealing a small bottle of sake and some glasses that he brought along with him.

“I hope you didn’t put yourself out getting that…” Jou mumbled, but Taichi shook his head.

“You worry too much, Jou. You really don’t want a drink after a long day having people assume you were a murderer?” he asked. Jou blanched.

“With how much my stomach is roiling? Not particularly…” he grumbled. However, Taichi wasn’t deterred, and started to pour for them both.

“Come on, you deserve it. You defended yourself in Japan’s Supreme Court! Not many get to say that.”

Taichi held up a glass to Jou, who fixed it with a withering gaze, before he eventually sighed and took it.

“Fine, but neither of us are getting drunk,” he said, then took a sip. “Feel free to sit wherever you want,” Jou said as he settled onto a nearby chair. Taichi pulled a chair from Jou’s desk and brought it over before he plopped himself down.

The look in his eyes… Jou already knew what he was going to say.

“No,” Jou said as soon as Taichi opened his mouth.

“I didn’t even say anything yet!” Taichi shot back.

“You were going to bring up me joining you on your study trip abroad, weren’t you?” Jou asked. There was no guilty look on his best friend’s face, but instead a wide, satisfied grin.

“Of course I was,” he said, “Think about it! You and me tearing up London town! It’ll be great!” Tai said before he took a long drink.

“It’s almost like he was the one on trial when he drinks like that…” Jou thought before he took another sip.

“I’ll be a stowaway!” Jou hissed, “Imagine how much trouble we’ll get in when I’m discovered! How much trouble you’ll be in!”

“But just think about the adventure of it!” Taichi said, quite literally waving off the medical student’s concerns.

“An adventure that includes nearly two months at sea during which I could easily be discovered?” Jou asked. Taichi leaned forward and quirked a brow.

“Weren’t you the one talking about how much he wanted to learn about English medicine?” Taichi asked smoothly. Jou flushed slightly as he glanced to the side. He gently scratched his cheek.

“Ah, well…”

“Imagine the difference we could make here! We go to England, learn about English law and English medicine, and then we can come back home to put everything we’ve learned to use!”

Jou had to admit, it was incredibly tempting. They weren’t even doing autopsies here.

But there was something holding him back. His usual nature, if he had to guess: incredibly hesitant to go outside of his comfort zone, and even more hesitant to step outside of what his family had planned for him. They expected him to graduate university and subsequently start working at his father’s office, with no chance to forge his own path ahead.

Jou drummed his fingers on the table, his leg bouncing nervously.

“I just… I don’t know, Taichi…” he sighed. Taichi frowned and gently placed a hand on Jou’s shoulder.

“Whatever you choose, I’ll support you. I mean, admittedly… I want you to go with me for some selfish reasons, but I think we could do a lot of good together once the trip is done,” he said, his lips slowly turning upwards into a smile.

“There’s a few more days until I leave, so… just think about it, ok?”

Jou stared down at his sake as he listened to his friend, then finished the rest and let the cup hit the table with a clang. He looked up at his friend, unable to help but smile, too. Taichi’s support had always meant the world, and… damnit if he wasn’t a good speaker. It wasn’t surprising just why he was chosen for this study trip given the skills he showed despite being so young.

“I’ll honestly, genuinely consider it, I promise,” Jou said. Tai’s smile broke into a grin.

“That’s all I’m asking for,” he said before he finished his own drink. His eyes moved towards the bottle, “So, round two?”

Jou removed his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and sighed.

“No, Taichi, I am not letting you convince me to have a second round this time. And you don’t need one given the fact that you have class tomorrow!” Jou chided. He put his glasses on to see his friend’s teasing smile.

“Worth a try, right?” he laughed. Jou shook his head, but couldn’t contain the mirth he was feeling.

“Yeah, worth a try,” he chuckled, before his expression turned somber.

“…If I decide not to go, I hope you know I’ll miss you,” Jou said quietly.

“I’ll miss you, too. But don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of stories to tell each other once I’m back,” Tai assured him, before he started to snicker, “Even if mine will be more exciting.”

Jou smiled and laughed, “I can’t wait to hear all about them.”

***

Even if they had solved the mystery of Taichi’s untimely death, Jou couldn’t help but still feel… hollow.

They, of course, being himself, Mimi Tachikawa, the young woman who was to accompany Taichi on this trip as his judicial assistant, and a famous British detective who had been the one to ultimately confirm that it was all just an accident and a misunderstanding.

A young Russian ballerina had been terrified Taichi would reveal to the captain that she was smuggled onto the ship and would lead to her being sent back to her home country. She hadn’t meant to kill him, but it still hurt.

Maybe it hurt more knowing it was just an accident.

Although it was declared that both he and Mimi would have to go back to Japan once the ship reached port in Hong Kong, due to the study trip no longer having a lawyer present, the famous British detective (who Mimi-san seemed to know about? Apparently she read some stories of his in a British magazine?) that helped make sure Jou escaped being convicted for Taichi’s death had given the suggestion that led him to where he was now.

“If the study trip calls for one lawyer and one judicial assistant, and you already have one judicial assistant, then all you need is one lawyer, correct?”

He was going to be the lawyer. The Japanese inspector who had come along on the trip to see Taichi and Mimi safely to England had, with a resigned sigh, told them that he would send a telegram to the Department of Justice about the situation, and now he had his goal: gain enough knowledge to be a lawyer in just over a month. It was the only way to keep Taichi’s dream going.

He had no idea how it would possibly work out, but it was the least Jou could do for his best friend.

It was late into the evening, and Jou and Mimi were sitting at the small table in Taichi’s room, which Jou was now taking proper residence in. There were multiple books laid out across the table, and Jou was furiously taking notes by candlelight. Jou thought that after all of this time he might finally be all cried out, but that didn’t stop the occasional tear from leaking out or the need to sniffle from arising. He was incredibly determined to be able to serve as the lawyer on this study trip abroad to carry on Taichi’s legacy, and that meant he couldn’t take a break. Even though Mimi had insisted that he get some sleep sooner than later, Jou had just about begged her for an extra hour to work.

His mind was a mess, and staying up studying wasn’t helping him one bit, but the tea Professor Tachikawa’s daughter had made— as well as her assistance in going over the material— had done a lot to help keep him going.

Studying was something he was all too used to, but studying law was a different beast entirely. He was completely out of his element, and though he had a lucky break in Japan’s Supreme Court, he wasn’t a lawyer, not anywhere close. But he had to try.

He was good at putting his head down to study and work, and he needed all the time he could muster until they reached England’s foggy shores.

The young man flipped through a page of one of the books Mimi brought out for studying, and wiped away a light sheen of sweat that started to form at his forehead.

“Kido-san, I know you want to keep working, but you’ll lose more chances to learn if you’re in need of bed rest from falling ill due to exhaustion…” she pleaded quietly. Jou finished scribbling out another few lines of notes before he looked up at her, blinking a few times as he took a moment to adjust to a view that wasn’t books and parchment.

Like him, Mimi seemed all cried out. Her eyes were still red and puffy, and she gripped a handkerchief tight in her hand. As much as he didn’t want to stop due to the risk of not having a chance to fully absorb everything he had looked at tonight, she was right. If he got sick and couldn’t so much as look at a book, there would be no doubt he’d have to go back home…

Jou closed his eyes and nodded, then set his quill down and pushed the book forward.

“You’re right. My apologies, Mimi-san, I just… I can’t let Taichi down,” he sighed, eyes looking down at his notes— which had become increasingly messier during the hours he spent writing.

“I understand,” she nodded curtly, her voice quiet, “This… still isn’t easy to accept.”

Jou wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to truly accept that the person closest to him was gone forever…

“Mimi-san, how did you and Taichi come to know each other? I-I understand if it’s too painful to talk about right now, but I can’t help but be a bit curious.”

Mimi’s eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the question, then her shoulders slumped.

“He’s my adoptive brother.”

During the time he had come to know Taichi, and how they became best friends at university, he learned about the unfortunate passing of his parents, but he certainly never knew this…

“O-oh,” he choked out weakly.

“His father and mine were close friends, and were off in England on a study trip shortly after I was born. However, he passed away there, and not long after… Taichi’s mother passed away, too.”

Jou’s throat felt tight, and the tears started to well up in his eyes again.

“My father took him and his younger sister in, feeling it was the least he could do to honor his parents. Although him and I weren’t that young, we still grew up together, and when he decided to pursue law like his father, I wanted to do all I could to help him,” she explained.

Through Jou’s blurry vision, he could see that Mimi was on the verge of breaking down again, too.

He felt his heart break again, not just from the loss of his best friend, but from Mimi losing her brother, too. And Taichi’s younger sister, who had to say goodbye as he left for a foreign land, only to never return and greet her again. Taichi had been through so much and wanted to do what he could to learn about law like his father, had so many big things he wished to accomplish over in England, but now…

The image of Taichi’s limp body flashed through his mind, and he clenched his eyes shut, unable to hold back from sobbing again. He quickly pulled his glasses off and buried his face in his sleeve to try and hide it, however fruitless it was. Over the noise of his own crying he could barely hear Mimi’s own sobbing.

For a while, the only noise that filled the room was the two of them crying.

When they finally managed to gather themselves, Jou slowly closed the book, his hand resting on the cover. This was Taichi’s book. Taichi’s book that was, at least for now, his.

Mimi gathered her things and walked to the door, and even Jou was able to tell that her steps were tired and heavy.

“I’m sorry. I-I was just curious. I didn’t realize just how painful that was for you to talk about,” Jou said as he stood up. He offered her a deep bow at the waist. Despite how sad she was, Mimi shook her head and managed to keep up a smile.

“Please don’t worry, Kido-san. Thinking about Taichi-sama just reminded me how seriously we have to take the rest of this trip,” she said. There was a hint of fight in her voice, and she curled up her hands into fists, her handkerchief crumpled inside with bits of cloth poking out from between her fingers. Somehow Mimi-san’s determination managed to be the slightest bit contagious.

“You’re right. Whatever Taichi wanted to accomplish in England is our responsibility now. And I promise, for his sake, we will see it through.”

“We will,” she added, “And we will begin by studying bright and early tomorrow! So make sure you get your sleep, Kido-san.”

“Good night, Mimi-san,” Jou said, watching as the young woman wordlessly left the room. Jou closed the door and fell back against it, feeling all of the adrenaline from the day’s events finally drain away. He looked at the bed, unable to help but feel relieved at the mere thought of sleep.

But then his eyes glanced towards the small pile of books and his notes. More than that, his eyes focused on Taichi’s sheathed katana, which leaned against the wall.

Jou bit his lip, then quickly strode towards the table and just about collapsed into his chair. He gathered his papers and hunched over his work once again.

Mimi-san was right, there was the risk of him working himself to exhaustion, but there was too much at stake here.

Taichi was determined to take what he learned in England to change how law was practiced in Japan, and even if Jou had been training to be a doctor, he was more than ready to shake that all up for his best friend.

Until he set foot back in Japan, however long that may be, he was going to do his best to be a lawyer his best friend would be proud of. As well as that, he would be the friend that would accomplish whatever goals and dreams that Taichi wanted to come true out there.

Taichi was the most important person in his life, without a doubt. He was his best friend— he was his—

Jou’s grip loosened and the quill fell from his fingers as his eyes started to flutter closed. His head slowly rocked back and forth.

“Need to… need to…” he muttered sleepily, before he fell forward, his cheek smudging his most recent notes about Japanese court procedure.

After being up since the early hours of the morning, dead set on discovering the truth of what happened while he slept, sleep finally claimed him once again.

Now, it was just a matter of continuing on in the morning to make sure Taichi’s hopes and dreams come true.

[bokura-no-digital-world]

Ken Week 2023 - Day 1: Kindness/Grief/Selfishness

Days: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Title: Kindness (and the lack of it) Pairing: Ken/Hikari Characters: Ken Ichijouji, Wormmon and Hikari Yagami Summary: Ken's relation with his crest, for better and worse.

Cross-posted on AO3 and FFN

Ken looked at the drawing of his crest in his hands. Kindness. It had been a few months since he had to use it to save the Digital World and a couple more since Daisuke and the others defeated the Digimon Kaiser, but he still couldn’t understand why he was given that crest. After all suffering and pain he had made a lot of Digimon and his now fellow Chosen Children go through, he didn’t think he was worthy of such a virtue. “Ken, what are you thinking about?” Wormmon lifted his head beside his partner and looked into his eyes. “That’s a beautiful drawing. Did you draw it yourself?” “No.” He replied quietly without taking his eyes from it. “Hikari did.” There was a palpable pause, during which Ken bit his lower lip and contemplated to speak out what was on his mind with his partner. “She’s good at it, isn’t she?” “Yes, she’s very talented. Wormmon?” “What is it, Ken?” “If I ask you something, will you promise to be honest with me?” “Of course. I thought you weren’t going to ask.” “Wait, you knew I was going to ask you something?” Ken looked at him surprised. “Absolutely. I know you better than you think.” The boy couldn’t help but smile and felt like a lot of weight was taken away from his shoulders. When he thought about it, it didn’t seem so surprising that Wormmon knew it beforehand. It’s a known fact humans and Digimon partners had a strong bond. “What were you going to ask me?” “Do you think I deserve the crest of kindness?” “Definitely. There isn’t anyone else worth of it than you. It’s perfect for you.” “I’m not sure about it.” He shut his eyes hard and winced at the mere thought of hurting other Digimon in the past. “I captured Taichi’s Agumon and turned him evil. I made him fight his friends. I’m not worthy this crest.” “Yes, you are.” Wormmon climbed on his body and stared into his eyes with determination. “They have forgiven you and you made peace with your past a few months ago. You’ve moved on and is trying to be a better person and to make up for what you did.” “That’s true, but it isn’t easy to forget sometimes. It’s hard to look at them knowing it’s all my fault. I don’t deserve their sympathy.” “They all know by now there was someone else behind the Digimon Kaiser. Everything changed and I’m sure it’s just a matter of time until they trust you.” “I hope so.” “I have absolutely no doubt you will all be friends within time, and it’s going to be sooner than you think.” “I wish I could be as optimistic as you are.” “You will get there, I’m sure. But Ken… I never doubted you, not even for a second. I’ve always known this lovingly and sweet boy was hiding somewhere all along and now he’s finally here.” “Wormmon.” Ken couldn’t help but smile kindly and felt his shoulders relax. “I love you, Ken. I know you feel like some things were your fault, but they really weren’t. And if you need someone to hold your hand and help you go through it, I’ll be right here to go through it with you. I didn’t let go back then and I’m not doing it now.” “Wormmon.” “You deserve to be happy. No one should be punished for something they had no idea they were doing for the rest of their lives. They deserve the chance to move on and learn from them, if they truly regret it.” “You’re right.” “So if you need to, you should make peace with your past one more time. Maybe it’ll make you feel better about it.” “I guess so.” He shrugged, unsure. “Why don’t you get some rest? It’s late.” “I’ll try.” Ken turned on his side and stared at the window across his room. “Good night, Wormmon.” “Good night.”

****

“Ken?” Wormmon walked out his bedroom and joined his partner in the balcony. “What are you doing here? It’s too cold.” “Is it? I haven’t realized it.” “Here.” He climbed over the boy and put a warm blanket over his shoulders. “It’s not the ideal, but it should keep you warm a little.” “Thanks, Wormmon.” Ken smiled gently at his Digimon and fixed the blanket over him. “So what are you doing out here?” “I was just thinking about the kids with the seeds. I feel like I have to do something. I can’t help but feel responsible for their situation.” “But it’s not your fault, Ken. They are being used by Oikawa just like you were.” “Another reason why I have to protect them no matter what. Who knows what can happen to do if he gets what he wants?” “We’re not gonna let that happen, I promise. And I’m sure neither will the rest of the Chosen Children. We’re gonna find a way to turn things around.” “I know, but…” Ken stopped talking and looked over his shoulder when something inside his room started making noise. He realized right away his phone was ringing and buzzing over his desk. He quickly grabbed it and sat on his bed. “Hello?” “Hi, Ken.” “Hikari, is everything alright?” “Yes, everything’s fine. I just wanted to check on you. I’ve seen how much you were affect about the children.” “We all did, to be honest.” “That’s true, but you were more than us. Hold on a second.” Hikari did something on her phone. “I think it worked.” “It did.” Takeru’s voice echoed in his bedroom. “Hello, Ken.” “Hi.” “Takeru and I were talking and we’re worried about the kids, so we decided to go talk to Noriko’s parents tomorrow. Maybe it will help.” “That’s right. And we wanted to know if you’d like to come along.” “You want to talk to her parents?” “At this point we need to try everything we can.” Hikari spoke. “I’d rather try and fail than not trying at all and seeing Oikawa and his troupe get away with it without consequences.” “If you don’t want to, it’s fine too.” “Exactly. We understand it’s a tough subject for you.” “No, no. I do.” Ken said firmly. “What time are you planning on going?” “At 9 a.m. It’s not that early, but it’s not late either.” “Great. Count me in.” “Cool.” “Eh.. Ken?” Hikari said unsure and bit her lower lip. “Yeah?” “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I mean, you can count on us if you need. You know that, right?” Takeru couldn’t help but smile. “It’s her way of saying she’s worried about you.” “Thank you. I appreciate it.” “So I’ll see you tomorrow?” “Absolutely. I’ll see you both tomorrow.” “Alright. Have a good night.” “Good night.”

****

Ken was making his way out of college that Friday. He was supposed to meet Hikari, so they could go Christmas shopping together. He was waiting for her when he spotted a woman seemingly being harassed by a few boys men in the sidewalk. “Hey!” He said firmly and loudly when he approached them. “Leave her alone.” “Mind your own business, old man.” “What did you call me?” He grabbed the man’s collar and forced him to look at him. “Chill out, man. We weren’t doing anything bad.” “Do you even hear yourself right now?” He ground his teeth and hissed. “You all were harassing this woman.” “Ken?” Hikari’s voice echoed in his ears and he loosened the man’s collar a little, but still held it. “What’s going on?” “Hikari, it’s not…” “Were you fighting these guys?” “No, no.” He stood up and fixed his black shirt. “I was just warning them. Shall we go?” “Sure.” Hikari pressed her lips together, clearly not believing a word he had said.

Hikari was quiet the whole way to the mall, but Ken knew quite well she was still thinking about what she had witnessed fifteen minutes ago. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. No, actually, I do. Those boys were harassing that woman and I couldn’t stand still and ignore it.” “I get it, but did you have to beat them?” “I didn’t beat them.” “You were going to, had I not arrived at that moment.” “I’m sorry. I lost my mind, it won’t happen again. I promise.” He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it lightly. “Okay, I believe you.” She smiled kindly at him. “Good, because I don’t like fighting with you.” “I don’t like it either.” They didn’t realize they were staring at each other until the driver behind them honked and Ken turned his attention to the traffic ahead. Hikari couldn’t stop laughing at what had just happened, and it didn’t take him to long to join her.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Hikari asked when they walked into the mall together. “I know you don’t like Christmas shopping that much.” “I like Christmas shopping, I just don’t like spending hours and hours choosing what to buy.” “Well, today is your lucky day then. Your girlfriend doesn’t like it either.” “That should make things easier then.” Ken placed a hand on her hip and touched her right cheek with the other one. “Once we’re done choosing each other’s presents, how about we go to the movies or something?” “That sounds perfect to me.” She looked up at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I have a condition though.” “What condition?” “We’re gonna buy hamburgers, fries and milk-shake from a fast food store?” “You want me to ditch my diet?” “We can go jogging a little more over the week to make up for it. Besides, we barely eat junk food.” “You have a good point. Alright, let’s do it.” “Great.” Hikari stood on her toes and kissed him briefly. “We can meet in front of the fountain in about an hour and a half?” “That sounds good to me. Try not to miss me that much.” “I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try.” She smiled.

****

Ken started going through some stores, looking for the perfect Christmas presents for Hikari. They haven’t set a price limit, but he decided to spend about 2500 yen on them. He thought it should be enough to buy two or three presents. So first he stopped by at a stationery store and bought her a very beautiful agenda he’s seen. She’d been getting a new one each year since she started college, so she wouldn’t forget her exam dates or assignments dates. He counted the change and had more than enough to buy her two more presents.

Next, he went to a clothing store to see if he could find something Hikari’d like. She loved wearing winter hats during the season and had quite a collection of them, but he still thought another one would be nice. He found a lilac one that would match her pink coat perfectly. He still had quite some money, so then he went to a bookstore and bought two books she’d be eager to read, but haven’t yet.

****

After buying everything he wanted to, he headed to the fountain to wait for her. There was a coffee shop near where he was and the smell of hot black coffee filled his nostrils. It didn’t take long for Hikari to arrive with a couple of bags too, as well as a bag from a fast food and two cups of milk-shake. Ken stood up the moment he saw her. “You bought it already?” “Yeah, I passed by one and thought ‘why not?’ Thank you.” She added when he grabbed the cups of milk-shake from her hands. “I hope I got the one you wanted, by the way.” “You did.” He took a sip of his vanilla and strawberry drink. “I think we should take these bags to our car, so we don’t have to carry them around.” “Oh.” Hikari looked at her hands, feeling a little stupid for not thinking of it beforehand. “I should’ve really waited to buy food. Now they’ll freeze when we go outside.” “Don’t worry.” Ken grabbed the bags she was holding and then handed her his milk-shake. “I’ll take them to the car. I’ll be right back.” “But…” “It’s much warmer here. I don’t want you to risk getting sick.” “Okay, I’ll be here.”

****

Hikari was spreading her Christmas’ presents under Ken’s tree when he walked in. She stood up the following second and smiled widely at him, holding a large package wrapped in a Holiday themed red paper. “Can we exchange gifts now? I’m really curious to know what you think of what I got you.” “How much was it?” “What?” She blinked a few times, taken completely by surprised. “Does it matter?” “I just wanted to know if it didn’t cost more than we established when we went shopping for them.” “We didn’t establish how much we were going to spend on them. Why are you worked up with them, by the way?” “It’s just money that could be well spent.” “It was well spent though. It was spent on you. Also, what’s going on with you? You were never this greed before.” “I’m sorry, I’m just thinking ahead.” “Ken,” She put the package away and grabbed his hands softly. “I completely get it and agree with you, but it’s Christmas. It’s okay to spend a little more on yourself or on people you love. Of course you’ll have to be reasonable and not spend all your money, but it’s okay to let loose.” “You’re right, you’re right. I feel stupid now.” “Don’t feel. We’re all learning here.” She grabbed the present and handed to him. “Come on, open it. I think you will like it.” “Okay.” Ken grabbed it and sat down next to the Christmas tree. He noticed she had done the same through the corner of his eyes. He tore the paper off and came across a full set of working out related stuff. “Wow, there are a lot of things to do exercise with here.” “I know, I thought I’d put them all together in just one package. I thought they’d come in handy because you love jogging in the morning and in the ending of the afternoon too. Now you can have a suit just for that.” “I don’t know what to say.” He put his hoodie over his thighs and looked at her, before leaning over and kissing her briefly. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Hikari smiled and gave him the next gift. “No, it’s your turn now.” He took it away and placed one of the presents he had bought in her hands. “Alright.” She looked down and ran her hands through it. “I don’t even need to open this to know it’s a new agenda.” “Sweetie, if you keep guessing it right before you open your gift will take away all the fun of it.” “I’m sorry.” She laughed while she leaned over towards the second gift she got him. “I promise I’ll guess it wrong next time.” “That’s much better.” He smiled and proceeded on opening his second Christmas present.