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“It was amazing!” Daisuke yelled.
Takeru rolled his eyes, looking away from Daisuke and looking ahead to where they were walking.
The sun had already started to set so they had to get back to the TV before they couldn’t leave.
Takeru and Hikari have been in the Digital World over many nights before, but without any supplies Takeru was sure that the others would panic.
Though they didn’t seem to care, they were all too busy listening to Daisuke talk, or yell.
It was a funny story, of how V-mon was able to digivolve into XV-mon for the first time.
How Daisuke had tried to trick V-mon into digivolving by openly putting himself into danger.
It made sense now why they all saw Daisuke getting chased by that Tortamon.
Takeru was glad that he didn’t get caught up in all of that.
The others were adamantly listening to Daisuke’s story, but Takeru was sure that he was making it sound cooler than it actually was.
So Takeru wasn’t really listening, he was just trying to find the closest TV so they could get out of here.
Takeru did not want to spend a night in the Digital World without supplies, he did that once, never again.
“Then bam, V-mon digivolved into XV-mon and fought Tortamon, XV-mon won, of course”, Daisuke finished his story.
“It was amazing, I felt so strong, like I could beat any digimon”, V-mon added.
“Plus, they looked cool while doing it, XV-mon looks awesome”, Daisuke said with a massive grin.
Takeru looked over his shoulder, “even cooler than Angemon”, Takeru teased with a smirk.
Daisuke glared at the blonde, “yeah, and I bet XV-mon could beat Angemon in a fight”, Daisuke said proudly. “Yeah”, V-mon agreed.
Takeru looked up, “do you think so, Patamon?” Takeru asked the digimon sitting on his head.
Patamon shook their head, “no chance, I’m super strong when I digivolve, plus, I have more fighting experience”, Patamon said.
Takeru nodded along, “that you do”, Takeru said before looking back ahead.
“Hm, I wonder what Armadimon would look like when they digivolve”, Iori said.
“Yeah”, Miyako said. “What do you think you’ll look like Hawkmon?”, Miyako asked.
Hawkmon hummed, moving one of their wings to hold their chin, “I don’t know, digivolution is a mysterious thing”, Hawkmon said.
Takeru could agree with that, seeing the others digivolve for the first time was amazing.
Takeru thought it was the coolest thing in the world when he was younger.
He still might think it is.
“What about you, Hikari?” Daisuke asked, walking up to walk next to Hikari.
Hikari hummed, “do you remember when Tailmon first digivolved?” Daisuke asked. “I digivolved to Adult before I met Hikari”, Tailmon answered.
“Yeah, when I first met Tailmon they were like this, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget when Tailmon digivolved to Perfect for the first time”, Hikari said.
Hikari held her partner closer to her chest, and Takeru felt bad that Hikari was forced to remember what happened.
He was angry as well, but it seemed like someone else would reprimand Daisuke for him.
“Daisuke”, Miyako said through gritted teeth.
Daisuke looked back at her, confused before he realized what he had done. “Oh, I’m sorry Hikari”, Daisuke apologized.
Hikari shook her head, smiling over at Daisuke, “it’s fine, you were just curious”, Hikari said.
Takeru rolled his eyes again, Hikari was sometimes too kind for her own good.
“What about you, Takeru?” Daisuke asked, not taking the time to walk closer to Takeru.
Takeru looked over his shoulder, “what about me?” He asked.
“Do you remember the first time Patamon digivolved to Adult?” Daisuke asked.
Takeru froze.
He tried to remember what Hikari said, that Daisuke was just curious, he wanted to learn more about the Digital World and everything that they had gone through.
Daisuke had always been enamored with the Digital World, wanting to learn what had happened and all the cool fights Taichi had gotten into.
Daisuke’s words, not Takeru’s.
Yet, Takeru couldn’t control himself, all because of one question he was dragged back into being a child.
So small, and so scared about what was going to happen.
Seeing all the others get beat, then seeing Devimon, a digimon so strong and so massive reaching for him.
Patamon had saved him, finally digivolving like the others, but at a price.
A price that Takeru did not want to think about.
Takeru glared at Daisuke, turning his head forward and making a point to walk faster than he was before.
“Yeah, I do”, Takeru said, anger dripping from his voice.
He hoped that Daisuke would pick up on the fact that Takeru did not want to talk about this.
The others had, all of them staying silent and Takeru missing the concerned look Hikari had.
Daisuke, on the other hand, did not.
“What happened?” Daisuke asked, now walking closer to Takeru.
Takeru took a deep breath, Daisuke didn’t know, this wasn’t his fault, he shouldn’t get mad.
“I don’t want to talk about it”, Takeru said. Daisuke furrowed his brow, “why not, was it not as cool as XV-mon”, Daisuke teased, not seeing the obvious anger admitting off Takeru.
“No, it wasn’t”, Takeru said bluntly.
Daisuke seemed to finally pick up on what Takeru was feeling, but it just made Daisuke more confused and curious.
“Jeez man, don’t have to be so jealous, just thought you might want to gloat about Patamon’s amazing digivolution”, Daisuke said.
Takeru snapped, how dare Daisuke call watching your own partner die amazing.
It was not amazing.
Takeru was terrified, and sad, and angry, and he still had nightmares about what happened that day.
Takeru would never forget it, no matter how much he wanted to.
The day was burning behind Takeru’s eyes.
“It was not amazing!” Takeru yelled, anger pouring out of him as he yelled at Daisuke, a glare on his face to hopefully finally shut Daisuke up.
It was quiet.
The tension created after Takeru yelled was palpable, the silence was somehow deafening.
Takeru blinked, his eyes going wide once he realized what he had just done.
Everyone was looking at him, with either shock from the fact Takeru yelled or from concern because Takeru yelled.
Takeru doesn’t remember the last time he yelled at anyone, he doesn’t like yelling.
Takeru just turned away from Daisuke, continuing walking forward.
Everyone slowly started following him, everyone knowing that they needed to get out of here before the sun set and nobody even knowing what to say or do about what just happened.
Nobody said anything, it was quiet as they walked, and Takeru was thankful yet angry at the silence.
It left his mind the ability to wonder.
To go back to a time that Takeru didn’t want to go back to.
He didn’t want to remember what happened, yet he couldn’t get the memory out of his head.
Takeru reached up, taking Patamon off of his head and holding them close to his chest.
Patamon curled up against Takeru’s chest, their little paws gripping Takeru’s shirt as they felt Takeru’s negative feelings.
Takeru stared down at the ground, his anger disappearing and being replaced by sadness.
Takeru remembers exactly what happened all those years ago, he remembers how he feels, he remembers everything.
Seeing Angemon for the first time was amazing, that was true.
Seeing Angemon glowing so far above Takeru, their light shining down on everyone.
Takeru could feel how strong Angemon was, even though they were so far away and had yet to do anything.
Then, everything fell apart.
Angemon sacrificed themselves to save Takeru and the others, to destroy the darkness.
Takeru remembers the feeling of the tears that streamed down his face, the pain in his throat as he screamed for Angemon not to do it.
But they had too, Takeru knew that now.
They had to do whatever it took to destroy the darkness and save both words.
It was so weird to Takeru, seeing Angemon turn into a bunch of feathers and the feathers turn into an egg before his eyes.
Patamon was fine, just tried, the others told him.
Takeru believed them, what else was he supposed to do?
Plus, they had more enemies to defeat.
Takeru held his partner's egg, he never let it go, even as Patamon watched as Poyomon and slowly digivolved back to Patamon.
Takeru didn’t want to let them go, he still holds Patamon now for comfort.
Takeru reached one of his hands up to his face, wiping the tears that were slowly trying to make their way down his face.
No, there were more important things to worry about then this.
Something was still wrong, there was a reason they were able to come back to the Digital World.
Takeru could feel it, he knew something else was going to happen. There was something else out there, more darkness in the shadows.
Takeru might not know what it might be, or who, but he knew it was there.
That’s what needed focus right now, not Takeru’s feelings.
Soon, a TV appeared and they all went through it and when they spat back out Takeru immediately left.
Nobody tried to stop him.
Takeru quickly made his way home, he was hungry and he still had some school work to do.
Takeru needed something to distract himself.
“Are you okay, Takeru?” Patamon asked from Takeru’s arms.
Takeru looked down at his partner, who was looking up at Takeru with a concerned look on their face.
“Yeah, I’m fine”, Takeru lied.
Patamon squirmed out of Takeru’s arms and flew to sit on Takeru’s head. “Are you sure? You don’t seem okay?” Patamon said and Takeru sighed.
Takeru put his hands into his pockets as he walked, looking down at the sidewalk as he walked the familiar path to his apartment.
Takeru didn’t want to think about it, he just wanted to get on with this day.
Nothing could change what happened all those years ago, and Patamon was perfectly fine now.
It never happened again and would never happen again, Takeru would make sure of it.
Takeru smiled, “yeah, I’ll be fine once we get home”, Takeru said. Patamon smiled, seeming to take that answer.
Patamon moved to sit on Takeru’s shoulder, rubbing their cheek against Takeru’s cheek to try to comfort him.
Takeru reached up with his hand to pet Patamon, smiling a real smile as he nuzzled Patamon.
Yes, once Takeru would get home everything would be fine.
-------
Takeru reached down and picked up his hammer.
Takeru turned around and looked over at the building, seeing Miyako and Hikari painting another building.
Why was Takeru left to fix a building when they just painted. It was really hot here.
Takeru walked forward to climb the ladder after grabbing a few nails and putting them in his mouth so he could climb the ladder.
Takeru looked over to the side, being able to see further now that he was higher up.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Daisuke and XV-mon carrying some logs around.
Takeru frowned, suddenly the memories of what happened yesterday flashing back in his head.
Takeru shook his head, reaching to his mouth to grab a nail and starting to fix the roof of this building.
Takeru tried to focus on the pounding of the hammer against the nail, moving onto the next nail in a pattern to try to get his mind off the memories.
It didn’t work, they were playing in his head like a broken record.
Takeru sighed, putting the hammer in his pocket and moving down the ladder to get more nails.
It made Takeru think, everything was in fact not fine when he got home.
He still remembered the nightmare he had, having to relive that moment and not being able to fall asleep.
Takeru was tired, he didn’t trust himself to wield a hammer and not hurt himself but he had too.
It was their job as Chosen Children, to help both worlds anyway they can.
Takeru reached down, picking up more nails but before he could climb the ladder Hikari appeared out of nowhere.
Takeru jumped a bit when he looked back up and saw Hikari standing there.
“Warn a man before you do that, please”, Takeru said. “I’m sorry, but I want to ask you something”, Hikari said.
Takeru hummed, he wanted this to be done with so he could go back home and take a nap, though Takeru was sure that he wouldn’t be able to sleep without a nightmare.
“Why did you react like that when Daisuke asked about Patamon digivolving for the first time?” Hikari asked.
The one question that Takeru did not want to hear.
Nobody had brought it up, Daisuke didn’t ask again and they all acted like nothing happened.
But, of course Hikari was going too, of course she was concerned about Takeru, he could see it in her eyes.
Takeru tried not to get angry again, Hikari was just worried and if Takeru got mad again that would only make her more concerned.
Takeru smiled, “I was just tired”, he tried to lie.
Hikari raised her eyebrows, and Takeru knew that he had been caught but he still tried to save face.
“Really, everything's fine, I’m fine”, Takeru said. He turned away from Hikari and started to climb back up the ladder.
“You’re bad at lying, Takeru”, Hikari called out to him.
Takeru reached into his pocket and started hammering the roof again, fixing the hole that was there bit by bit.
When Takeru went back down the roof, Hikari was still there, leaning against the side of the building.
She held out a few nails to Takeru, and Takeru took them with a thank you.
“If you talk about it might help, or maybe if you just admit that you’re not fine”, Hikari said.
Takeru looked at Hikari, she had that look in her eyes, the one that told Takeru that she wasn't going to let this go.
Takeru groaned, biting the bullet so Hikari would leave him alone.
“Okay, everything's not fine but I think you knew that”, Takeru said. Hikari nodded, “wanted you to admit it”, she said.
Takeru rolled his eyes, “well I did, and I need to finish this so”, Takeru said while climbing the ladder.
Hikari sighed, “I don’t know why you’re like this, Takeru. People want to help, but you keep everything inside, it’s not healthy”, Hikari said.
Takeru froze, staring ahead of him as he heard Hikari walk back to where Miyako was yelling for her.
Takeru blinked, now the words Hikari said repeating in his head like a broken record.
Takeru didn’t want Hikari to be right, but she was, and it made Takeru angry.
So what if he kept it all inside, it was better that way.
This was his burden to carry.
It happened to him and his partner, no one else.
It was Takeru’s fault, maybe if he was stronger Angemon wouldn’t have had to sacrifice themselves.
They wouldn’t have been turned back into digiegg and everything would be fine.
If Takeru had just done something instead of standing there like a deer in headlights.
If he wasn’t a child crying off in the corner something would have changed.
Takeru knew, he knew better than anyone that crying didn’t help, it only made things worse.
You had to do things to make change, not stand around crying.
That only made things worse, only hindered things and hurt people. If you wanted change you had to do something, not nothing.
You had to get and whip the tears away, being a crybaby never helped anyone.
Takeru picked up the hammer and started hitting the boards, a scowl on his face as he hammered the board again and again.
Takeru was fine, why did he ever say different.
Everything was fine, Patamon was perfectly fine.
They were flying around as Pegasmon helping the others, doing things that helped instead of being the baby that everyone needed to care for.
Everything was fine. Fine.
Fine.
Fine!
FINE!
FINE!
“Jeez Takeru, what did the wood ever do to you?” Daisuke yelled. Takeru looked down, seeing Daisuke standing at the bottom of the ladder.
Takeru looked back at the roof, just to see that every board now had many holes in them, meaning Takeru would have to replace them.
Takeru sighed, letting the hammer he was holding fall to the ground.
He had ruined the roof he was trying to fix, he really was useless. He let his feelings get the best of him and now he had even more work to do.
“Maybe you could use a break”, Daisuke called out.
“He might be right, Takeru”, Pegasmon said.
Pegasmon flew down from above, hovering right next to Takeru from where he was standing at the top of the ladder.
Takeru nodded, saying nothing as he climbed down the ladder, picking up the hammer, handing it Daisuke, and walking away.
Pegasmon followed their partner, dedigivolving to Patamon and landing on Takeru’s head.
“Are you okay, Takeru?” Patamon asked, and suddenly Takeru hated those words.
“I’m fine, just tried from this heat”, Takeru said, whipping his forehead.
Patamon tilted their head, not believing Takeru but not knowing what to say or do about Takeru’s lie.
Takeru walked away from everyone, and nobody seemed to notice that Takeru was leaving.
He didn’t go far, just to a nearby forest to sit down in the shade.
It wasn’t until Takeru was out of the sun and no longer on his legs that he realized he was really hot and his legs hurt and his lungs burned.
Patamon flew off Takeru's head and curled up on his lap, so Takeru took the opportunity to take his hat off his head and fan himself with it.
Takeru leaned his head back, taking deep breaths to get the burning in his lungs to stop.
Takeru laid his hat on his face, covering from the small amount of light that peaked through the leaves of the trees.
Behind Takeru’s eyes, the memories flashed before Takeru.
It was perfect, everything that happened playing before Takeru’s eyes like a movie.
Yet, Takeru could feel this movie.
He could feel everything that happened, he could feel the powers of darkness that Devimon possessed.
The power he felt when Patamon digivolved to Angemon and the light beaming down on him from Angemon.
The fear in his heart when Angemon used up all of their power to destroy Devimon, the sadness that flowed through him when Angemon turned into a digiegg.
Takeru reached forward, grabbing Patamon and holding them close to his chest.
Takeru squeezed his eyes shut, trying to get the tears to stop falling from his eyes, at least his eyes were covered.
It was all his fault.
If Takeru was stronger, not a crybaby then he might have been able to do something.
Yet all he did was mess things up again and again, he did it right now.
Now Daisuke was left to clean up his mess, just like the others were left to clean up his mess all three years ago.
Takeru leaned back up, whipping his eyes and putting his hat back on his head.
Takeru put Patamon on his head and got up, no matter how much his legs protested the movement.
Takeru needed to do something, anything, he needed to help.
He wasn’t going to stand aside and do anything anymore, he was going to grow up and no longer made a cry baby.
He was going to be strong, just like the others.
Takeru wouldn’t let the darkness destroy anyone else, human or digimon. No matter how much Takeru just wanted to rest, he walked back to the others to help them.
No matter how much Takeru just wanted to cry, he was going to do something to help.
-------
“We should get going, don’t want to get trapped here”, Hikari said.
Everyone agreed, turning to follow the path that Ichijouji had just walked down.
Takeru followed, following the person in front of him as he was too busy thinking about what happened.
Aquilamon, Hawkmon had finally digivolved to Adult.
It was pretty impressive too, seeing Aquilamon destroy that Dark Tower digimon alongside Stingmon.
“Are you okay, Patamon?” Takeru asked the digimon on his head. Takeru was worried, after seeing all of digimon fall out of the sky and dedigivolve.
Not being strong enough to defeat that weird digimon.
Patamon stirred, blinking their eyes open and looking down at Takeru.
“Yeah”, Patamon yawned. “Sorry for waking you, go back to sleep”, Takeru said and Patamon nodded before falling back asleep.
Takeru frowned, looking down at the ground, watching his feet kick up dirt as he dragged them on the ground.
The fight they just had playing in Takeru’s head.
Takeru is proud of Miyako, being able to get Hawkmon to digivolve into Aquilamon and defeat that Golemon.
Takeru was thankful for Ken for coming to help them, even Takeru had to admit that if he hadn’t come that village would have been toast.
That’s the problem, they weren’t able to defeat that digimon, Takeru wasn’t able to.
Once again he just had to stand off to the side and watch as he was unable to help, watching other people more powerful than him save the day.
He couldn’t do anything to help, he could do nothing as Golemon destroyed the dam.
Takeru wasn’t strong enough to do anything, he was useless.
Just like he was before, he was just a child that could do nothing.
He just had to stand aside as the darkness destroyed everything he cared about, as the darkness took his family away from him, as they took his partner away from.
It was so annoying.
That Takeru could do nothing, that he was still the crybaby he was before.
That nothing changed, no matter how much the darkness took Takeru was still just a child.
Takeru could do nothing, he could do nothing before and nothing now.
He couldn’t save his partner and he could barely save both worlds, he was a worthless excuse for a Chosen Child.
“Are you alright, Takeru? You appear to be crying”, Iori pointed out.
Everybody froze, even Takeru.
Everyone looked back at Takeru, who was walking at the very end of the group.
It was then that Takeru realized that there were in fact tears running down his face, he hadn’t even realized.
Takeru reached up, feeling the tears making their way down Takeru’s cheek and onto the ground.
Takeru whipped his face, “I’m fine”, Takeru said.
“You’re crying”, Hikari stated.
“Yeah, you don’t cry unless you're sad, unless these are happy tears”, Mimi said.
“Don’t look like happy tears”, Miyako said.
“I wouldn’t say they were happy tears either, Takeru had a frown on his face before”, Iori added.
Suddenly, Takeru disliked Iori’s bluntness and inability to read the room.
“I’m fine”, Takeru said, lowering his arm and forcing his way through the others.
Takeru continued walking, not caring that the others were staring at him and now obviously didn’t believe that he was fine.
Takeru soon heard the others start walking behind them, confused on what to say or do just like they were before.
Takeru relished it, he didn’t want pity or comfort, he just wanted this new threat to be destroyed.
Takeru could handle this by himself, he wasn’t a baby anymore.
He wasn’t a child who cried at every misstep, he was older now, more powerful, he was going to do something.
“What’s wrong with him”, Miyako said, voice a little too loud.
“Don’t say it so loud, but I agree with you, something is wrong”, Hikari said.
“Yes, Takeru hasn’t been acting like himself for the past few days”, Iori pointed out.
“Really, did something happen?” Mimi asked. “It started a few days ago when Takeru snapped at Daisuke”, Iori explained.
“Really! I don’t think I’ve ever heard Takeru yell before, must have been weird”, Mimi said with a shocked expression.
“It was”, Hikari confirmed.
“Why did he yell, what did you do!” Mimi yelled towards Daisuke.
“Nothing!” Daisuke defended himself, “I just asked if he remembered what happened when Patamon first digivolve to Angemon”, Daisuke explained.
Mimi looked back at Daisuke, the angry expression on her face replaced by a frown, “oh, now it makes sense why he’s acting like this”, Mimi said.
Her loud and accusatory tone that she had a few seconds ago gone, now sadder and quieter.
Everyone now paying attention to Mimi, more questions than answers.
“Did something happen when Patamon digivolved for the first time, before I joined the group?” Hikari asked.
Mimi looked over at the younger girl, “smart as ever Hikari”, Mimi said, but it didn’t sound proud, still sad.
“What happened?” Miyako asked, and everyone walked closer to Mimi to hear her better.
“I remember what happened, we all were fighting a digimon that was more powerful than us”, Mimi started.
“We tried to fight but we all failed, that’s when the digimon tried to attack Takeru and Patamon being his partner stopped them”, Mimi looked down at the ground.
“Patamon digivolved for the first time, but in the end used up all of their power and died, turning into a digiegg”, Mimi finished.
Once the story was done, everything was looking at Mimi shocked, shocked that something that happened.
Everyone reached for their partner, all of them thinking what they would feel if that happened to them.
“Takeru saw his partner die before his eyes, I don’t think he ever got over it”, Mimi explained.
“It makes sense now, why he was so angry”, Iori pointed out. “Yeah, now I feel like shit”, Daisuke said. “It’s not your fault, Daisuke”, Hikari mused.
“You were just curious, but maybe you should apologize just to be safe”, Hikari added.
It was quiet after that, everyone followed Takeru as he led the way to the closest TV.
“Still, it’s confusing”, Hikari added. Everyone now looked at her, wanting an explanation.
“Why wouldn’t Takeru just tell us what happened, we’re all friends right, and friends help each other”, Hikari explained. “Yeah”, Daisuke said.
“This might be the only time I agree with Daisuke”, Miyako said.
Mimi smiled, “it’s nice seeing you all be such good friends, took us a while to get to where you all are”, Mimi said.
They all smiled at each other, but were soon broken up as they heard Takeru call them.
They all looked ahead, seeing Takeru standing next to a TV. They all went in, saying their goodbyes to Mimi as she was going back to America.
Once they were all through, Takeru turned to leave again but this time the others followed him.
“Wait up!” Daisuke yelled, running up behind Takeru and wrapped his arm around the blonde's shoulder.
Takeru furrowed his brows at Daisuke, looking around at the others as they all walked with him. “What? Is something wrong?” Takeru asked.
“You’re the thing that’s wrong”, Miyako said. “That sounded weird”, she added a few seconds later.
“Yeah, don’t phrase it like that Miyako”, Hikari pointed out. “What Miyako was trying to say is that you are not okay and we want to help”, Iori explained.
“Exactly”, Miyako said.
Takeru blinked, before rolling his eyes, “I know, I heard what Mimi said to you all”, Takeru confessed.
Everyone froze, waiting for Takeru to be mad again but that didn’t happen.
“I’m not mad”, Takeru added after a while.
“Yeah”, Patamon added from Takeru’s head, “I reminding Takeru that you all were going to learn about it eventually”, Patamon said.
Takeru sighed, “yeah, and I was probably never going to tell you all”, Takeru admitted.
“But you should have”, Hikari said.
Moving to stand next to Takeru as they all walked, “we’re your friends, we’re here to help”, Hikari said.
“Yeah, if somethings bothering you then tell us”, Miyako said. “If we are going to be a team we have to be transparent with each other”, Iori added.
Takeru looked at all of them, maybe he wasn’t so useless if they all cared about him this much.
Maybe he should have just told them, Takeru’s seen what happens when you keep things inside.
Sooner or later then will burst out and you’ll just hurt yourself or someone you didn’t mean to hurt.
“Yeah, and I’m sorry for bringing it up”, Daisuke said, removing his arm from Takeru’s shoulder to rub at the back of his neck.
Takeru shook his head, “I’m sorry for yelling at you, you didn’t know so you can’t blame yourself”, Takeru said.
Daisuke lowered his arm and smiled at Takeru and Takeru smiled back.
“Do you want to hear when Agumon digivolved for the first time?” Takeru asked and Daisuke got excited.
“Hell yeah!” He yelled and Takeru laughed a bit before telling the others about when Agumon digivolved for the first time.
It led to all of them walking around for hours as Takeru told them of what happened, the good and the bad.
It was hard, but with his friends by his side Takeru was able to tell them about their adventures.
Takeru realized that Hikari was right, talking about what happened did make him feel better.
Though Takeru shouldn't be surprised, Hikari is normally always right.
Takeru did feel a little better, everything still hurt, and Takeru was still annoyed at the powers of darkness and all they did to him.
But, everything was a little better now, the others felt bad for Takeru and reminded him of something.
He was just a child.
It wasn’t his fault for what happened, Miyako made sure that Takeru knew that.
They were all able to give their opinions, and make Takeru see things from a different light, especially Hikari.
Takeru smiled when they all went their separate ways, he would see them again soon and Takeru couldn’t wait till he could laugh and be with his friends again.
Takeru pulled Patamon into his arms as he walked home, holding his partner tight as he thought about the past.
Sure, the past was bad, but after talking about it for a bit Takeru remembered the good things. He realized that he wouldn’t change what happened for anything.
Things would still be bad for a while, but with his friends by his side, everything would be fine in the end.