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It was a week off from everything. No study, no job, no internships, no assignments and no crises both personal and professional to worry about. A week of doing nothing except enjoy the carefree time however one pleased. And what better way for the twelve Digidestined to spend than on an all-expenses paid trip to the Digital World, see the old sites, visit some Digimon friends and maybe fight some bad ones every so often.
Not that they hoped for the latter to happen, even if they encounter Kuwagamon or Parrotmon again.
And best and most importantly of all, they wouldn’t be alone.
“I owe a debt that can never be repaid,” Homeostasis relayed through Kari to the other eleven. “And with the Digivices gone and only your bonds you have made keeping them alive in your hearts, it is only right that I restore what was lost,” it seemed to pause to look on Tai and Matt in particular. “And find a way to make them part of your lives fully.”
Whether or not the pair expected this or not made little difference. Nor did Sora who had missed Biyomon so badly that she had nearly internalised everything from the others until Izzy, Mimi and Joe, the least likely to come to her aid, forced her to prepare for her Digimon partner’s return and to enhance the love within. All that mattered was seeing Agumon, Gabumon and Biyomon again and that this time, they were going to make sure they weren’t going to leave them.
Gennai himself had seemed quite pleased with this outcome as well. “You may no longer be children in body and mind,” he said as the six older Digidestined reunited with tears and sorrows. “But in your heart, you will always be them.”
Agumon and Gabumon surprisingly adapted well to being part of Tai and Matt’s schooling life with few hiccups. Their presence in classes was initially met with surprise but somehow their time in the aether had made both surprising expects in the fields their human partners had gone into and even the teachers were impressed. The disruptions were only if Agumon got hungry or Gabumon began to comfort Matt just a little more than normal, indicating that perhaps the lectures should finish up quicker, or a break was necessary for all students.
So the break wasn’t just for the human partners, but the Digimon as well.
“I have a list of what everyone needs to bring with them if we expect to stay for a week,” Joe said in the group call set up by Yolei for the twelve of them, a short break from his duties at the hospital. “I don’t want all of us flat-footed but prepared as well.”
“Good old, reliable Joe,” Davis replied, inspecting the list texted to him, though was saddened he couldn’t take all his equipment with them to cook his growing repertoire of Ramen recipes. “Never without a back-up plan.”
Izzy was giving off a rare smile even as Tentomon fluttered in the background. “Well we cannot expect not to be surprised by some Digimon less happy by our presence,” he said, the genius of the group recalling how often they had to run in a hurry previously. “And they may take advantage of us when sleeping.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Matt said as he, Sora, Gabumon and Biyomon shared the screen. They were just outside the former’s university dorm in the park nearby, likely getting ready to go out on a date. Sora seemed more upbeat than usual, probably helped by her decision to go to fashion school after her folio had accidentally been spotted by a teacher visiting her mother at her ikemoto studio and was quite taken by them. “I don’t fancy being caught flat-footed and sleep deprived on this vacation.”
T.K. and Kari, also sharing a screen outside the school the latter was volunteering at, were grinning equally. “I have a feeling we’ll be fine,” the former said, his face with the usual grin. “I’m sure it will be Gennai taking care of the arrangements.”
Mimi gave a small laugh. “Oh, Princess Mimi will be making a visit then,” she swooned. “Right, Palmon?” she asked her partner.
“Only if they are happy to meet Princess Palmon as well,” the plant-like Digimon replied, also give a swooning action.
Cody gave a small smile before his face became placid for a moment. “Seems a shame we can’t invite Lui or Meiko with us,” he noted. “They deserve this chance to join us more.”
“I agree with Cody,” Ken said, sharing the screen with Yolei and their respective Digimon. “It would be good for Lui to get to know us more and Meiko has always been open to join us…” he paused before gaze moved in direction of someone on the screen. “…at least if Tai asked.”
The leader of the older six Digidestined’s face said nothing, leaving to a small grin on everyone else’s faces. “She’s a bit busy at the moment with Meicoomon,” he replied after a short period of quiet, though his face gave something away that perhaps there was more to it than met the eye.
Regardless, the others smiled knowingly before they began to sign off, Joe and Gomamon being first as they returned to shift and to see how Lui was doing with his Digimon partner under their care. Eventually it was just Tai, Matt and Sora as well as their partners.
“Remember your harmonica, Matt,” Tai noted to his blond friend. “I could enjoy a tune or two.”
The future astronaut gave a smile, leading Sora to giggle in response. “Don’t worry, Tai,” he said. “I’ve been practicing a few old tunes here and there.”
Tai grinned. “Looking forward,” the brunet replied. “See you soon.”
*
A few days later at the start of the week, nine of them gathered at Izzy’s office, ready to travel. They carried light, not even camping gear since they knew that the Digital World rarely allowed such an action to go unnoticed. But with sufficient food and entertainment – and a change of clothing or two between them – they got ready to depart.
Though Joe, Cody, Gomamon and Armadillomon were running late for some reason.
Tai and Agumon as well.
Matt and Sora were messaging their leader but he told them he wasn’t all that far away but it needed to go on ahead of him and his partner. It wasn’t like the port gate wouldn’t accept any of them without Izzy’s presence after all.
“Should we wait a little longer?” T.K. asked. “It’s not like we’re in a total hurry to get to the Digital World.”
Kari shook her head. “He told me he might be late but not to delay,” she replied, surprisingly unconcerned by the ongoing absence of her older brother. “And no,” the young woman noted to her closest friend beside her as well as Patamon and Gatomon. “He didn’t tell me why.”
Matt nodded. “Whatever Tai is doing, I’m sure it isn’t something too crazy,” he noted.
“That just leaves Joe and Cody,” Sora said, looking at Mimi and Izzy. “Any idea why they aren’t here.”
Mimi looked to her phone. “Joe mentioned he had to pass by the hospital for an emergency but didn’t elaborate,” she replied. “As to Cody…” she paused to look at Izzy.
“He didn’t say why he and Armadillomon would be late either,” the shorter redhead replied. “They aren’t picking up my calls.”
“We can’t wait too much longer,” Davis said as he and Veemon seemed eager to go. As were Yolei and Hawkmon. Both looked none the wiser to why three members were running late.
So when the door opened and the six missing comrades came in, they were soon followed by four more of them.
“Meiko!” Mimi cried as she and Palmon came up to her and Meicoomon, offering a hug to both the usually shy bespectacled woman and her feline-like Digimon. “I thought that the both of you couldn’t make it!”
“We almost didn’t,” the other replied with a smile. “But Tai was able to persuade my parents that Mei-mei and I could do with a break.”
Eyes turned to Tai, who whistled nonchalantly. This led to small waffle of laughter passing both the humans and the Digimon present. Matt himself turned to Joe and Cody’s arrivals in the forms of Lui and Ukkomon.
The younger of the pair simply smiled. “We figured it was a chance for both of them to bond a little more and learn from seeing all of us here,” he then paused. “And others.”
“Others?” Agumon asked, feeling just as surprised as the rest of them.
Joe gave a rare chuckle. “Let’s just say our calendars weren’t the only ones to line up,” he said as he adjusted his glasses then his pack, which included a sleeping bag. “And Yolei knows people.”
Yolei didn’t even hide the smile on her face while Izzy wasn’t at all surprised by this.
Lui and Ukkomon bowed as one towards the other Digidestined. “Thank you for allowing me to come to see the Digital World with you,” the human said politely while his partner stayed silent. “I’ve heard a lot about it and some part of me has always wanted to visit one day.”
Davis and Veemon came up to both and smiled. “You’re one of us, Lui,” he grinned. “Well at least in a way that now extends to all of us,” his hand extended to take in all of them. “And gave a chance to bring some of our partners back.”
“So then,” Tai said, stepping forward to get the group away. “Let’s get to it. A week of vacation is on us and I want to enjoy it,” he turned to Izzy. “Ready?”
The redhead nodded. “Ready,” he said. “Just stand a little closer to the center of the room and breathe.”
The humans and Digimon present all obeyed and in a beam of light were transported from the real world to the Digital World, away from the chaos of their lives and studies. Ready to renew bonds and enjoy the time so rarely spent together.
Joined by dozens of other humans and Digimon from around Earth, from old friends to new ones, turning a small time between a small group of Digidestined into the largest gathering ever seen for a long time. And all thanks to a little planning, and a little scheming from certain members, and calendars aligning all too well.
Somewhere in the middle of the little musical jamberry led by Matt on his harmonica and several musical Digimon, Tai was almost sure that Homeostasis was doing more than owe them for all the good they have done for many years. Bringing happiness to those who had suffered the most.
The Digivices may have gone but that didn’t mean that the humans and the Digimon lacked their means to continue their duties to both worlds, led by a courageous man and others with a mission in mind to unite them in peace and tranquillity.