Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ War Diaries: Adventures Zero-Three ❯ Celebration ( Chapter 12 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Lord Archive 
The wedding of Takeru and Hikari along with Patamon and Tailmon.
Anime/Manga: Digimon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 12.20.2001 | Updated On: 11.03.2006 | Pages: 10 | Words: 9.8K | Visits: 1.1K | Status: Completed
The wedding of Takeru and Hikari along with Patamon and Tailmon.
Anime/Manga: Digimon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 12.20.2001 | Updated On: 11.03.2006 | Pages: 10 | Words: 9.8K | Visits: 1.1K | Status: Completed
War Diaries
Entry 12 - Celebration
By Lord Archive
Digimon and most characters in this series belong to Toei Animation Inc. and Akiyoshi Hongo. They are used without consent.
This is the edited PG-13 version of the Diaries Wedding Entry.
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Takeru turned over in his bed and snorted in slight disgust at Patamon snoring away seemingly without care. It was four in the morning, and in ten hours was their double wedding. Though Takeru doubted Patamon quite understood what it meant to be married. Tailmon was already his mate and the only change was where she would be keeping her 'nest.' His digimon partner didn't seem to realize that, after today, Tailmon would be with him for the rest of their lives.
Takeru estimated he had gotten an hour of sleep so far tonight. He wanted desperately to get some sleep so he wouldn't be dragging himself through the day. Hikari would kill him if he fell asleep at the altar. Normally that would be a rather unlikely possibility, but with his pregnant soon-to-be wife, the right mood swing is all it would take.
Twelve, married, and going to be a father. What had he been thinking? When this started Takeru was pretty sure he wasn't thinking at all. From what he knew, that was actually pretty normal for a guy-- not thinking with his brain when it came to sex. He had wanted Hikari and she certainly hadn't said no.
When Hikari told him that she was pregnant, she was afraid that he would leave her or that he would be ruining his life by staying with her. He would never do the former, but was afraid of the latter. His life could very well end up a string of meaningless low-paying jobs trying to make ends meet while supporting a family. College at this point looked hopeless.
Takeru chuckled at that thought. Hopeless. He was the Chosen Child of Hope, supposedly one of the strongest of all Chosen. Right now he couldn't feel the energy that gave him his powers, the hope for the future. He was too afraid to think about what was in store for him.
Takeru sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He had to think hopeful thoughts.
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Tailmon's ears perked as she looked around the darken room. She hadn't heard anything, but she couldn't help but feel paranoid. That was actually normal for a digimon expecting an egg to hatch. She wondered how much longer she would be worried by basically nothing. If this had been a normal digitama, she would be raising her baby about now. However, it would be six months before she would see her baby, and the thought unnerved her.
Tailmon couldn't let go of her apprehension. During the day, when everyone was awake, she could trust the others to warn her of danger, to make sure the apartment was secure. However, when she was home alone or at night, some primal part of her had to make sure nothing was out to get her or her baby.
With a sigh, Tailmon leapt from the bed. She stretched her tired muscles before wandering about the apartment, checking the locks on the windows and doors for the third time that night. She didn't bother checking on the room of Hikari's parents. Despite that Mr. Yagami was in drunken slumber now, and Mrs. Yagami was sleeping to the tune of 'Prince Valium,' their presence alone in the room allowed her to override her primal fears and declare that room safe from danger.
Tailmon didn't begrudged Mrs. Yagami's use of sleeping pills to get eight hours of sleep in. The digimon couldn't remember the last time she slept four hours straight, let alone eight. However, she guessed that had more to do with being an expectant mother than actual fear and worries.
Of course, Tailmon had plenty of worries to keep her up. After all, it's not common for a digimon to be a parent. That sort of thing became rare long before she had been born. Maybe it had something to do with the first five or maybe it was natural evolution, but digimon don't often breed anymore. New baby digimon were born when a dead digimon was reconfigured at the Village of Beggings.
Tailmon wondered if she was to be the first mother of a new breed of digimon, ones that were parentally born. Digimon who might never spend even a single second in the Village of Beginnings until the moment they die and are reconfigured. Tailmon knew that wasn't unheard of already though, since she was one of the odd ones to have never set foot in the village as a baby or even as a child, but only as an adult.
The Digital World certainly was changing. There was a time when humans never appeared or were even heard of in her home dimension. The closest idea of humans ever being in the Digital World was the legend of five Chosen Children who saved their world. Then there was seven who had appeared, and then Hikari as the eighth, then came Ryo and Ken, and after them hundreds of Chosen or Digi-Destined appeared-- the title depending on where they were from. Now there would be at least a dozen or so children in the Digital World at any point in time.
And soon there would be adults as well, if Jyou, Taichi, Sora and the other older Chosen didn't already count as being adults. The Digital World showed no sign that it would reject them, and Tailmon doubted it ever would. The way into the Digital World was to have a child's innocence, and many of the Chosen have long since lost their innocence and yet still crossed over dimensions regularly. An age requirement didn't seem plausible, since what counted as being an adult? Being twenty like in Japan or eighteen in the United States? It certainly wasn't being a virgin.
Why was she even thinking about the Digital World? It's not like she spent a lot of time there anymore.
Tailmon looked out the window, while absentmindedly pawing the lock making sure it was sealed tight. "Should I even consider the Digital World my home anymore?" she asked herself. Of any digimon in this world, she had spent the most time on Earth, Patamon being a close second. It had been almost two years ago since she came to live with Hikari on a permanent basis, and suspected that would never change. She conceived a child on Earth, she laid it on Earth, and had only spent a minimal amount of time in the Digital World before learning she was going to be a mother.
Tailmon shook her head. "This world is my home now," she whispered. There was no point in denying that. She only visited the Digital World, rarely even spending the night there. This is where she would live the majority of her life. She would be starting her family on this world. If she died of old age, it'll be on Earth with Hikari.
Tailmon thought it odd to think about what world was her home on the eve of her moving out of this apartment. Tomorrow she would be moving in with her mate, Patamon, as Hikari will be married to Takeru through ceremony. Her partner was already legally married, but the ceremony was more for the family and friends.
Tailmon felt like she had been hit by the semi-truck of life and was caught in its wheels. Everything was changing on her and she wanted a moment to figure out if she liked it or not, but she knew very well that neither world would be stopping for her to catch her breath.
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"Whoa! Where's the sun?" asked a blond haired boy of fourteen as he walked out of the airplane.
A relatively well built fifteen-year-old with dark brown hair followed him. "Bobby, there's a sixteen hour difference from home. It's five a.m. TUESDAY here."
Bobby whirled around. "Tuesday?" He glanced at his watch. "Hank, it's supposed to be Monday and one in the afternoon."
"We're in a different part of the world and we crossed the International Date Line to get here. Didn't you pay attention in class?" Hank admonished.
"Will you guys hurry up?" snarled a girl with light brown hair. "You're holding up the line."
"Oops. Sorry, Jessica." Bobby went to turn around but lost his footing. He tumbled down the gangplank stairs. A sickening crack echoed as he hit the tarmac.
The stewardess next to them looked about ready to freak at the sight of the young boy laying motionless on the ground with his head turned unnaturally.
A fourteen-year-old boy with black hair peered over Jessica's shoulder. He shook his head and called out, "Yo! Bobby, get up! You're scaring people again."
Bobby slowly sat up and seemed to pop his head back in place. "Wild trip. Wanna go next, Rick?"
"Fat chance," Rick snorted. He grabbed a twelve-year-old girl's hand who also had black hair. "Come on, sis."
"I can walk down the stairs myself. I'm not a klutz like Bobby," the girl said bitterly.
"Lisa, you wound me." Bobby acted like he got shot by an arrow.
"Too bad it's not fatal," Lisa chirped.
"Enough of your fighting. We've got to get to the hotel and rest up so jet lag won't affect us at the reception," Hank ordered.
"Whatever." Jessica trudged past him.
"Why is it okay for you to fight with Jessica and I can't with Bobby?" Lisa asked.
"It's a different kind of fighting," Hank replied.
"It had better be a different kind of fighting!" Rick almost yelled at his little sister.
Lisa rolled her eyes and ignored her brother. "At least I'll get to see Alraumon soon," she said wistfully.
One of the ground crew walked up to Bobby and asked in broken English, "You okay? How you fake sound of neck break?"
"Yeah, um, I'm fine." Bobby laughed nervously. "I, ah, used the chicken bones from the in-flight fish dinner." He grinned lamely.
The crewmen blinked a couple times as if trying to understand what Bobby had said. "Ah, okay," the man said and turned around.
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"What's wrong?" Sora asked between bites of breakfast.
"What do you mean?" Taichi returned.
Sora studied him. "You're still upset about Hikari marrying Takeru?"
Taichi looked away. "Why do you say that?"
"You're picking at your food." Sora pointed with her chop sticks. "I thought you'd be over this by now."
"What do you want me to say? 'Hey, it's great that my little sister is getting married at thirteen!'" Taichi remarked sarcastically.
"No. I just thought you'd have accepted it already," Sora replied.
"I accepted it. I just don't like thinking about it," Taichi retorted.
"There's a difference?" Sora questioned. "I don't want you making some kind of mistake today. Hikari would never forgive you if you ruin it, and quite frankly, neither would I."
Taichi slouched. "I know. I won't do anythin' stupid."
Sora rolled her eyes. "Taichi, today is a celebration of Takeru and Hikari's love. You WILL ruin it if you go moping around over them getting married since that would make Hikari upset."
"You're asking me to be HAPPY about this?" Taichi asked in disbelief.
"Well, think of it this way: act how you'd want others to act if we had been forced to get married when we were thirteen because of an accident," Sora pointed out.
"I remember the nightmare I had during your first pregnancy scare." Taichi shuddered. "Happy was not something I'd call it. Disowningly pissed off was more like it."
"Well, that didn't happen, did it? Your parents not only accept us, but Hikari and Takeru as well," Sora assured him.
Taichi nodded.
Sora played with Taichi's hair. "Now if you're really good today and can at least fake being happy, then I'll give you a weekend you'll never forget."
"What? Tickets to the National Soccer Finals?" Taichi questioned hopefully.
Sora would've done something about the remark if he hadn't started laughing indicating he had been kidding. "You shouldn't joke like that."
Taichi smirked. "But you're so much fun to tease."
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Hikari yawned and lazily sat up in her bed. She frowned at the clock. It was almost time for school to start, but she wouldn't be going to school. It would be a year before she'd be allowed to return, if she went back at all.
Hikari sighed. She was thirteen years old, pregnant, and legally married. All that was left for her was for the wedding ceremony and moving into Takeru's apartment.
Hikari forced herself to look over her room. This would be the last day that it was _her_ room. If she slept here again, it would be because she was a visitor. She could no longer call this her home.
The room looked so vacant. Despite her brother's stuff strewn about, it had an empty feeling to it. Her poster on the wall had been taken down. The pictures she had taken and displayed on the dresser were packed away.
About the only thing Hikari could claim as belonging to her that she wasn't taking with her was the computer that both her and her brother owned. Between the two computers at Takeru's apartment, she wouldn't be needing the computer as much as her brother. When he came 'home' for a visit, of course.
Oh, God, she missed her brother. Sure, he was only going to be a short walk or a phone call away, but she had shared a bedroom with him for most of her life. That kind of familiarity was hard to forget. She had known him better than she knew herself, but now she didn't know him nearly that well. If anyone could claim to know Taichi that well now, it was Sora.
Hikari lethargically climbed down from the top bunk. She smiled at her digimon partner, who was still wrapped around the egg. She knew Tailmon didn't get much sleep last night and wasn't going to wake her until it was almost time to leave to go to the Church. However, there was a lot she had to do before then and she had to get ready.
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The last day.
This would be the last day her little girl would wake up in this apartment, the last day she would cook breakfast for her daughter, the last day that Hikari could still be called Yagami.
Mrs. Yagami tried to keep herself from crying. After all she had been the one to make her daughter get married. It was the right and responsible thing to do. Hikari was pregnant and needed to marry the father. At least Takeru was a good boy, would do anything to protect Hikari, and was perfectly willing to take responsibility for his actions.
Mrs. Yagami was thankful that she would be turning forty in two months, well before the baby's due date. She would still be an early grandmother, but not before her forties. Too bad Ms. Takaishi had her children young. The poor woman was going to be a grandparent before thirty-five. Well, young being eighteen years old when she had Yamato.
Mrs. Yagami frowned as her husband joined their daughter for breakfast at the table. Taichi should be here for one last family meal, but he was at his fiancee's home. True, he would have left to help set up the floral arrangements for the wedding already, but it would've been nice to have him here.
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Catherine sighed as she traveled across Tokyo in a taxi. She brushed her golden locks out of her ear.
"What is troubling you, mademoiselle?" Takeru's grandfather, Mr. Takaishi, questioned in French.
"I wish my friends could've come as well," Catherine replied wistfully.
"A couple of them do plan on attending the reception, right?" Mr. Takaishi noted.
Catherine nodded. "Yes, but that's all they'll be here for. They won't get to truly see this marvelous city."
"With that mockery of the Eiffel Tower?" Mr. Takaishi scuffed pointing at Tokyo Tower. Then he started laughing at some private joke. "This is a wondrous place with lots of things to see that seem completely alien to a French lady like you. Of course, you may find Japanese boys as interesting as I had found Japanese girls."
Catherine smirked slightly. "I hope you take no offense that Takeru and Taichi left me with a sour view of Japanese boys."
Mr. Takaishi chuckled. "Oh, I'd say Takeru was following his French heritage when he kissed you." He then leaned closer to her. "You do have to admit they were cute."
Catherine folded her arms. "Casanovas are always cute or handsome, otherwise they wouldn't get the girls to be a Casanova in the first place."
The pair looked at each other for a moment before breaking down into a fit of laughter.
Mr. Takaishi regained control of himself and rubbed his blond beard. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to fluster my grandson."
"I don't know if I will play that joke on him." Catherine looked back out the window. "It's hard to believe you'll be a great-grandfather soon," she commented. "You only look old enough to be Takeru's father."
"Actually Ishida isn't that much younger than me. My daughter likes her men to be older." Mr. Takaishi shrugged. "And I prefer my women to be young, especially when I was a younger man."
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Mrs. Minami stood at the front gate of her school as she looked over the collection of students that were all leaving at lunch to go to the Takashi wedding. At least she hoped they were all going there. If she hadn't had so many duties as the principal, she would've gone with them.
Mrs. Minami sighed. At least Takeru wasn't making her feel as old as some of the kids in front of her. They seemed to get younger and younger as each year ticked away for her. She already had gray hairs at forty, but she jokingly blamed the children for that. Now approaching fifty, she looked ready to be a grandmother, though her own son had yet to find a girl.
Mrs. Minami got a copy of the guest list from Koushiro and called off the names of her students that were on it. As each name was called they were allowed to pass her and leave the school grounds, but had to remain at the gate until they were dismissed. When Mrs. Minami finished calling off the names, there was still one person remaining waiting to be called. "What's your name?" Mrs. Minami asked.
"Togashi Kensuke," the boy with dark brown hair and average appearance replied. "I'm Yukimi's date and the older brother of one the other guests."
"He can come," Koushiro assured the principal.
Mrs. Minami nodded. "You can go too. Just remember everyone, I want a five page report about the wedding by Friday."
As expected the students groaned at the added homework.
Ayashi raised her hand. "What about Koushiro and me? We're going to be setting up the reception and can't make the wedding."
"You'll have to write a report on what goes on during the reception then," Mrs. Minami replied. She wished she didn't even have to send out these assignments, but it was her duty to make sure that the students took this as a learning experience. She smiled at them. "Have fun and be sure to get home early enough. Only Takaishi is excused from class tomorrow."
The students went their separate ways to first go home and prepare for the wedding. Most of them wondering what sick and twisted pleasure their principal took in ruining their fun.
Mrs. Minami waved. She loved helping the children prepare for the future. Her reward wasn't measured in her pay check, that was for sure, but in the achievements and smiles of her students.
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Sora looked on with concern. "Are you okay?"
"No." Mimi turned to Hikari. "How could you find the worst possible pink dress for us to wear. I love pink, but this is awful." Tachikawa pulled at her skirt.
Hikari shrugged weakly. "Sorry. I let Mom pick them out."
Tailmon chuckled. "They certainly are a little girlish."
"A little?! I feel like a ten year old buriko star in this get up. I mean how many frills can there be in a dress?" Mimi whined.
Sora let up a short laugh. "Oh, I remember you having a few outfits like these when you lived in Odaiba."
"Yeah, but then I was a fairy princess, not an experienced fighter," Mimi explained half-jokingly.
Sora nodded. "And how are you feeling, considering that last battle?"
"I'm fine now. Jyou helped a lot, and running a marathon 'Magic Knights 2' helped me cope a little as well," Mimi answered.
Hikari blinked. "How could watching anime help you? I can't watch it without sympathizing too much with it."
Mimi shrugged. "That's exactly why I watch it. By watching Hikaru come to terms with having killed someone, it helped me deal with the same issue."
Hikari turned back to the mirror. "I guess. Too bad there isn't an anime to help me with this."
"I'm sure there is. I can ask Steve if he knows of one," Mimi said helpfully.
"Ask an American about the local cartoons? What is he, an otaku?" Sora questioned.
"Yes." Mimi nodded. "He just loves it when I point out translation errors to him."
"That's just too weird," Sora commented. "How often do you watch anime with him anyway?"
"About once every other week if we aren't needed in the Digital World," Mimi answered. "I'd rather watch anime than play one of Steve's games and end up killed in some gruesome trap again. Problem is, we take turns deciding what to do on Friday nights, and Steve and Sam like role-playing. They won't let me suggest Truth or Dare anymore, though."
"Gee, I wonder why," Tailmon said dryly.
Mimi glanced over. "Tailmon, where's your egg?"
"With Piyomon and a few of your friends acting as guards," Tailmon answered.
"The New York group is here?" Mimi asked.
Tailmon nodded.
Mrs. Yagami poked her head into the room. "Sora, Mimi, can I see you two for a moment?"
"Sure," Mimi replied.
Sora nodded and noticed Hikari looking sadly in the mirror. She needed someone to help cheer her up, and Taichi needed help to come to terms with this as well. "We'll be back soon," Takenouchi said before leaving with Mimi and Mrs. Yagami.
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"Why are you so nervous?" Sayuri asked.
Iori glanced around as he waved at the digimon to quickly enter the Church. He then looked over at Wataru and answered her question, "There's a good chance some reporters will be trying to sneak into the wedding. After all, the groom is the little brother of a rock star."
"So?" Sayuri questioned. "It's not like he's very popular."
Yume stared in shock. "Where have YOU been? Yamato is VERY popular."
Iori looked away. "While Yamato isn't quite national yet, he has a large following in Tokyo and the local tabloids are already a problem for him. If any of them discover that digimon are here as well, then we're all in for some trouble."
Sayuri nodded as if she agreed to what he said.
Iori walked into the Church. "I'll see you girls later."
"Where are you going?" Sayuri asked.
Iori smiled sheepishly. "I'm Takeru's best man."
"Oh," Sayuri replied.
Iori walked toward the groom's waiting room, only to stop as he noticed Daisuke talking to Ken.
"...was in the Digital World," Ken was apparently answering a question. "It was the only way I could avoid your sister."
"If you had followed my advice when this started, you wouldn't have had to run away from her," Daisuke pointed out.
"Maybe, but I doubt it considering how persistent she was. She showed up at my apartment wearing lace underwear and V-mon's trench coat," Ken replied.
"She what?" V-mon looked sick. "Great, now I have to burn my coat."
"Jun's not that bad." Ken scowled at the digimon.
"She's not?" V-mon blinked. "Then why did you run from her?"
"Because I didn't want a relationship that would last only a week. I want something to last the rest of my life. Jun couldn't offer that because of college," Ken explained.
Daisuke looked at Ken like he grew an extra head. "You ditched my sister not because she wanted to have sex with you, but because she wasn't going to be around for very long. What's with you? If a girl wants you, you do her."
Ken glared. "That's hardly a good way to look at relationships."
"I agree," Iori said, finally letting them know of his presence.
"Well, it works for me," Daisuke replied defensively.
"Ken, why didn't you leave us some means of contacting you?" Iori asked. "We could've really used you in the last battle."
"I forgot my D-Terminal in my room, and was afraid to go back and get it in case Jun was there." Ken then blinked. "Last battle?"
Iori nodded. "A rift from Dagomon's Ocean opened and a horde of digimon came through it. Since none of us could open the portal to send them back, we had to kill all of them."
Ken looked at the younger Chosen with concern. "I'm sorry.... I didn't know that would happen. I...."
Daisuke clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. What's done is done, and nothing is going to change it now. Just remember to keep your D-Terminal with you if you ever decide to disappear again."
Ken nodded.
"I'd suggest staying away from Jyou and Mimi in case they're still upset," Iori advised. "Lillymon was forced to kill in that battle." Hida walked away.
Ken swallowed. While he suspected Mimi might still be upset because of her reluctance to kill, he knew the true person he had to appease was Iori. The boy took responsibility seriously, and having made a mistake of that magnitude would cause Hida to judge him harshly until he had made up for it somehow.
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Taichi walked into the room. He gawked at Hikari as she stood at the mirror staring at her dress. It took him a moment to say anything. "You look beautiful."
Tailmon looked over, but said nothing.
Hikari turned around and faced her big brother, tears in her eyes. "Oh, Taichi, I never imagined that I'd be doing this at thirteen." She fell into his arms crying. "I wish, I wish..." she sobbed harder, drenching his coat with her tears.
Taichi held her and asked, "But you love Takeru, right?" He felt her nod. "Then why are you upset?"
Hikari leaned back and looked up to him. "I don't know." She hugged him and cried some more, Taichi moved back to a chair and held her in his arms, he rocked her slowly.
They stayed like that for five minutes, when Hikari finally spoke. "You will still love me?"
"Always and forever," Taichi replied. "You're my sister, nothing will change that."
Hikari kissed his cheek and asked quietly, "So, you don't mind being 'Uncle Taichi?'"
Taichi smirked. "I do, but there is nothing that I can do about it now. I would rather you be 'Aunt Hikari,' before I would have to be called 'Uncle Anything.' But... if you need me, I will be there for you."
Hikari smiled. "I love you, Taichi"
"I love you, too." Taichi resisted the temptation to mess up her hair. If he did that, Hikari and his mother would kill him.
Hikari pulled away and walked back to the mirror, wiping her eyes. Taichi just stood there knowing that after today she wouldn't just be his little sister, but a wife as well.
"I'm going to have a talk with Takeru, but I'll be waiting for you to walk down the aisle," Taichi said simply.
Hikari nodded, trying to correct her appearance after crying so much.
Taichi noticed Tailmon mouth, 'Thank you.' He smiled at the digimon before turning and walking out the door. He found Sora waiting for him outside.
"Is she okay?" Sora asked with concern.
"Yeah, she's fine." Taichi tried not to laugh at the pink bride's maid dress his fiancee was wearing. It looked all right, but was more like something one would wear to some European party. Sora certainly wouldn't be able to wear it very often and looked too girlish for Yagami's taste.
Sora smiled. "Good. I'll just make sure she's all set."
"Yeah, I gotta go have a little talk with someone." Taichi walked down the hall to the Groom's waiting room. He swung open the door to see Yamato, Iori and Takeru waiting in their suits.
"Hi," Takeru greeted with a nervous edge.
Taichi appraised the young boy. "You look ready."
Takeru pulled at his collar. "Funny, I don't feel ready."
"You should've been once you started sleeping with her," Taichi growled slightly.
Yamato laughed. "And have you ever been ready to marry Sora?"
Taichi glared at Yamato, and then looked over at Takeru and advised, "Just remember why you started sleeping with her."
Takeru nodded.
Taichi grabbed his soon-to-be brother-in-law forcibly by the collar and whispered harshly, "And if you ever hurt her, I'll leave your dead body somewhere in the Digital World where no one would find it."
Takeru froze in shock.
Taichi straightened Takeru's collar and gave the boy a hug. "Now you better make my sister the happiest girl in the world. It's the least she deserves."
Takeru stood there pale and unsure what to make of what Taichi said.
"Now all we have to do is wait for the ceremony to start," Taichi commented.
Iori glanced worriedly at Takeru while answering, "It shouldn't be much longer."
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"Nervous?" Gabumon asked.
Patamon shook his head. "No. Why should I be?"
Wormmon blinked. "Because you're getting married today."
Patamon shrugged. "I don't really see what's the point. Tailmon is already my mate and the mother of my child."
"Well, yes." Wormmon nodded. "However, mates don't always stay together, but today you'll be promising to stay with her for the rest of your life."
"I am?" Patamon questioned.
"Of course. That's what a wedding is about. Even I know that," Gabumon answered, a bit proudly.
Patamon backed away slightly.
"Actually, a wedding is more about love and promising that you'll love her until the day you die," Agumon said almost sagely. "Even if you outlive her."
"There's that and, of course, part of the promise is also about only being Tailmon's mate," Wormmon added.
"That's what I'm doing today?" Patamon blinked. "Promising that I'll ALWAYS love Tailmon and that I won't ever mate with ANY other digimon."
"Yep." Agumon scowled as he tried to finish tying a bow-tie. "Can someone help me with this?"
"Sure! Let me," Gabumon replied and walked over.
Agumon glanced over as Gabumon tried to fix the bow-tie, and called out, "Wormmon, stop him!"
Wormmon noticed Patamon edging towards the door and then bolted out of the room. The larva digimon scowled. "Sticky Net!"
Patamon struggled as he was being dragged back into the room.
Agumon shook his head. "Patamon, where do you think you were going?"
"The Digital World?" Patamon squeaked.
Agumon frowned. "You were going to leave Tailmon at the altar? Hate to see what she would do to you once she had found you."
Gabumon grimaced. "It wouldn't be pretty."
"But... but I...." Patamon squeaked.
"You love her, don't you?" Gabumon asked.
"Well... yeah... but I don't know if I'll love her for the rest of my life," Patamon defended weakly.
"I don't know if I'll be able to love Piyomon for the rest of my life either, but I'm willing to give it a try," Agumon returned. "While I haven't gone through a wedding, I have promised her that."
"You've already mated with Tailmon and conceived an egg with her, the wedding at this point should really only be a formality," Wormmon pointed out.
Patamon sighed and looked down. "There's no way I can get out of this, is there?"
"You shouldn't want to get out of this," Wormmon countered.
Agumon nodded. "Yeah, and I don't see you remaining single and alive at this point."
"Now, let's get you cleaned up and fix your bow-tie again so you can get married," Gabumon said as he walked over and pulled off some of the silken net covering Patamon.
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"How can you agree to do this ceremony?" demanded a young man in his twenties dressed as a Catholic priest.
A balding elderly man, also dressed as a priest, replied, "Because I've spoken with the couples and know where their hearts are. Besides, they're already legally married."
"That's besides the point. Two of them are junior high school students and the other two aren't even human!" the young priest cried out.
"So? What does age or form have to do with love?" the elderly priest returned.
"Well, it does matter when the digimon certainly don't believe in God, and Hikari stated to us she's not sure if she believes anymore either," the young priest said.
"The digimon are from another world. One where god-like beings exist, and one in particular helped create that world. None of that means that our God doesn't exist for them as well, as He may be above the Qinglongmon entity Hikari told us about when her family first approached us to conduct the ceremony. We can bring a whole new faith to a new world with possibly billions of converts," the elderly priest explained.
The young priest paused. "I... hadn't thought about that."
"Now why don't you go meditate on this while I prepare for the mass," the elderly priest suggested.
The young priest nodded and walked away.
The elderly priest shook his head. The boy may be faithful, but he was still fresh out of the seminary. He still followed strictly by what he had been taught and hadn't quite learned about what it truly meant to be a priest. Part of the reason for accepting to do the ceremony had more to do with trying to bring Hikari and Takeru back into the Church, as both had been baptized. However, he would've done this for no other reason than for the love he saw in the eyes of those couples.
The elderly priest's attention shifted as he heard a knock at the entrance to the ante chamber. "Yes?" he called out.
"Excuse me, sir," Iori said politely. "There's someone here who wants to know if you need any help with the ceremony."
The elderly priest shrugged. "Send him in."
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"Well, well, well.... What do we have here?" called out a middle-aged French-men with blond hair, mustache, and beard, speaking in perfect Japanese.
"Grandpa, hi," Takeru greeted cheerfully.
"Hi, grandpa," Yamato added with less emotion.
"Yo," Taichi waved.
"So, you're making me a great-grandfather." Mr. Takaishi messed up Takeru's hair.
"Yeah, sorry," Takeru replied sadly.
"What's there to be sorry about? I certainly wasn't sorry when I knocked up your grandmother at fourteen. Pissed off my parents, but I only cared for my love." Mr. Takaishi sighed fondly.
Yamato raised an eyebrow. "You're not even fifty yet?"
Mr. Takaishi shrugged. "Nope. Got a little ways to go before that." He then smirked. "Now when are you going to make me a great-grandfather?"
Yamato clucked. "Um, well, you see... I, ah, never met the right person."
"Oh, really?" Mr. Takaishi replied disbelievingly. "A handsome guy like you has got to have girls falling over you."
"Like you wouldn't believe," Yamato nervously joked.
"Actually, his problem is that the one he's in love with is engaged," Takeru said, hoping to help his brother. He couldn't help but look at Taichi when he said it.
Mr. Takaishi saw where Takeru was looking. "Ah, I see. Tough break, my boy. You should get over her quickly and pick some nice wild girl to rock your socks off. That'll get your head straight."
"I'll think about it," Yamato said, hoping to appease his grandfather.
Taichi grabbed Mr. Takaishi by the arm. "You'd better go find a seat now, sir. I'm sure most of them have filled up. The wedding will start soon."
Mr. Takaishi nodded. "Don't mess up, Takeru. There's no worse crime than making a girl cry."
----------------------
Being a tabloid reporter had a lot of good and bad points. For one, you have to develop a hard skin so the various insults flung at you don't hurt. It had gotten to the point for Genki that being called a 'slimy, rat-ass jerk' was a complement.
When Genki heard that teen pop-star idol, Ishida Yamato, was going to attend his LITTLE brother's wedding, he knew he had to see this for himself. With his black hair slicked back and shinning with the amount of grease in it and wearing a suit he first wore when he graduated high school several years ago, the reporter was 'ready' to crash the wedding.
However, Genki didn't quite make it to the Church where the wedding was supposed to take place. At a field across from the Church was a bizarre sight. A giant, woolly walrus-like creature seemed to be playing with a moving and talking plant and a collection of flying gears.
Revealing that Yamato's little brother was getting married, which may or may not be true, or getting an interview with real digimon. Well, if the digimon ran away, he could go back to the Church.
Genki approached the trio of digimon carefully. "Hi, can I talk to you?"
Ikkakumon glanced over. "About what?"
"Well, I was wondering how you got here?" Genki asked.
"A friend of mind opened a portal so that my family could visit your world," Ikkakumon replied.
"Daddy, look at me!" Solarmon used his gear body to run along the fence at an amazing speed.
Genki raised an eyebrow. "He's your son?"
"Adopted son," Ikkakumon explained. "I haven't fathered a child yet."
"Though that may change in the future," Palmon chirped.
"And she is?" Genki asked.
"The apple in my eye, and the thorn in my side," Ikkakumon quipped. "Though she's usually a bit bigger."
Palmon smacked him lightly with her vine fingers. "That's not nice to say."
Ikkakumon lowered his head. "Sorry, dear."
Jyou let off a short chuckle at the scene as he sat on a public bench on the side of the field. He would've preferred to have attended the wedding, but they needed something to distract uninvited guests. He knew from Yamato who Genki was, one of the dirtier tabloid reporters in Tokyo. Hikari and Takeru needed some privacy, and Genki would not only announce their wedding but reveal who the Odaiba Chosen were if he had made it inside the Church.
----------------------
Mr. Yagami looked down at his daughter, his little girl. Soon she wouldn't be his little girl, would she? She was going to be a Takaishi and dead to her birth clan as far as family records go.
It hadn't hit until now just what was going on. His daughter was leaving him to start her own family. He shouldn't have to do this until she was at least eighteen, but here they were after she barely turned thirteen getting married. Today her home would be on the other side of Odaiba, and not the other side of the apartment. Today he would be saying good-bye to her.
Hikari looked up at him with concern in her eyes. "Daddy, don't cry."
"I'm not crying," Mr. Yagami said defensively, despite that his hand almost involuntarily checking to see if he was and coming up wet.
Hikari smiled slightly. "You just have something in your eyes," she said as an excuse, knowing it to be false.
"Okay, so maybe I am crying. It's my right as a father losing his daughter," Mr. Yagami retorted.
"You're not losing me. I'll always be your daughter, nothing will change that," Hikari assured him.
Mr. Yagami gave a short laugh. "Guess I should look at this as gaining a son and a grandchild, right?"
Hikari nodded. "That's how I'm looking at it, that I'm not losing you, but increasing the size of my family."
Mr. Yagami held his daughter's cheek and stared into her eyes. For perhaps the first time, he wondered where the innocence that once sparkled in her eyes had gone. What had become of her childhood? He knew she had gone through a lot, but the fathomless eyes peering at him had no right to be on a thirteen year old. They had no right to be on anyone, as they shown of depth of knowledge no one should ever know and yet his daughter did know. He tried to fight a new wave of tears as he told her, "You're wise beyond your years."
Hikari closed her eyes. "That's more of a curse than most people would believe."
Mr. Yagami nodded. "It certainly is."
An old man with very little of his gray hair remaining on his head approached them wearing the robes of a Catholic priest. "Are you ready?"
Mr. Yagami glanced at his daughter and then wiped away a few of his tears. "Yeah, we're ready."
The priest turned and asked again, "Are you ready?"
Tailmon's twitched nervously. "As ready as I can be."
The priest nodded and went to the doors and waved a hand to signal the Church's band to begin playing.
----------------------
Takeru glanced over those assembled at the Church for his wedding. There were a lot of people he didn't really know. Many of them he could only identify because of the digimon with them, such as Mina with Candmon. He vaguely recognized most of the New York group at the back of the Church with their digimon. Behind them in a glass room, where parents can take a new born infant to Church and not disturb the mass if the baby started crying, was Piyomon with Tailmon's egg. From where he stood he could see the egg and knew that Tailmon would be able to as well.
Takeru wondered how his father had been allowed to use one of the television station's news camera to record the wedding, or use the main studio to hold the reception for that matter.
Takaishi swallowed hard as the bridal procession music began.
Michael of the New York Chosen, wearing the pure white robes of a Catholic acolyte, entered first carrying a large book with golden trim. Following him was the old priest who had agreed to do the ceremony.
Then came Sora and Taichi, and then Mimi and Yamato. Tachikawa certainly looked a little upset. Whether it was because she had to walk next to his brother or because the brides maid dress looked awful on her despite being pink, Takeru couldn't tell.
Then came his best man, Iori, and Hikari's maid of honor, Miyako. The reason why they chose those two for the roles was to appease anyone who might feel hurt by not being asked. With the mutual decision to use their Jogress partners, Hikari wouldn't have to choose between Sora and Mimi while he wouldn't have to be forced to decide between Yamato and Iori.
Takeru smirked when he heard Patamon shift uncomfortably next to him.
Tailmon held a small bouquet as she was being guided down the isle by Agumon. While it had been talked about to at least get the cat digimon a veil to wear, Tailmon opted to not wear any bridal garb. That had made Agumon wearing a bow-tie seemed to be even stranger looking on the dinosaur digimon.
Not that the bow-tie on Patamon was any better, considering he didn't even have a neck.
What came next caused Takeru to break out in a cold sweat, Mr. Yagami was leading Hikari down the isle.
Takeru couldn't remember when Hikari looked so radiant. Despite the off-white color of the wedding dress, she looked like she was glowing with white light. The lace trim did a wondrous job of accentuating certain features like her breasts and gave no indications that she was pregnant. She looked very much like a goddess even though he knew she was afraid that she might end up becoming one.
Before Takeru knew it, Hikari was next to him and the mass had begun.
----------------------
Sayuri had been surprised when she wasn't just invited to the reception, but the wedding itself. If they were going through a Shinto ceremony, then it would've been for family only. However, Catholic weddings were obviously different.
In a Shinto marriage, the couple pledges their love and duty to each other and to their families. While the priest talked about love and duty, it had to do more with their God than for the couples or the couple's family.
Then there's the standing, sitting, kneeling, and standing again. Couldn't they just make up their minds and stick with one thing? It certainly felt more like an exercise than a profession of faith.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Sayuri mumbled under her breath, wondering when they were going to actually get to the point of Hikari and Takeru exchanging wedding vows.
The foreign Chosen next to her glanced over with a peculiar look and answered, "At least another half-hour."
Sayuri stared at him.
Yume smacked Sayuri's knee and scolded with a whisper, "Be quiet. We don't want to ruin this. Besides, look how beautiful the ceremony is."
Sayuri noticed that Yume wasn't even paying attention to the priest but was alternating looking from Hikari and Takeru to Iori. She didn't have to guess what the wheelchair bound girl was thinking, or more to the point-- day dreaming, and didn't like it one bit.
----------------------
The elderly priest smiled. "Now for the reason we are all here, to join this man and this woman, as well as this digimon with another digimon in holy matrimony in the eyes of God, family, friends and the community.
"Who gives away these brides?"
"I give my daughter," Mr. Yagami answered.
"I give away Tailmon," Agumon added.
The priest nodded. "Let no man, woman, or digimon put asunder the bounds that tie these couples together.
"Do you, Yagami Hikari, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?"
Hikari nodded shallowly, and squeaked, "I do."
The priest turned. "Do you, Tailmon, take this digimon to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?"
Tailmon shifted uneasily. "I do."
"Do you, Takaishi Takeru, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?" the priest asked.
Takeru's parched throat demanded water as he vainly tried to swallow again. His voice cracked as he answered, "I do."
"Do you, Patamon, take this digimon to be your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?" the priest asked yet again.
Patamon nodded several times. "Yeah, I do."
"May I have the symbols of love?" the priest questioned.
Iori produced a ring and a small bracelet and gave the ring to Takeru and the bracelet to Patamon. Miyako did the same for Hikari and Tailmon.
The priest held out his hands. "May the good Lord bless these symbols of love and forever show the bounds they share.
"Gentlemen, please repeat after me. With this symbol, I thee wed."
"With this symbol, I thee wed," Takeru and Patamon chorused.
The priest continued, "To love, honor, and cherish above all others."
"To love, honor, and cherish above all others," the boys finished, sliding their respective tokens of love onto their brides.
"Now ladies, repeat after me. With this symbol, I thee wed," the priest told them.
"With this symbol, I thee wed," Hikari and Tailmon said together.
"To love, honor, and cherish above all others," the priest repeated.
"To love, honor, and cherish above all others," the girls stated, as they to placed their bands of matrimony onto their grooms.
The priest addressed the mass, "Is there anyone here who feels these couples should not get married? Speak now or forever hold your peace."
The priest waited for a moment and the grinned happily. "I now declare you man and wife, and digimon and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Takeru lifted the veil on his wife's face and gave her a short kiss filled with emotion to seal the promises made.
Patamon leaned over and kissed his mate as he was directed to do. It was more of a nervous peck on the lips than anything else. Tailmon scowled slightly, grabbed her husband and gave him a fiery kiss the likes of which he hadn't felt in months.
A cheer echoed through the Church, though some of those attending seemed upset at them being so loud.
Hikari was rather surprised to see that Daisuke was one of the loudest ones cheering for them.
"Ah, the sounds of joy," the old priest commented fondly. "It is my pleasure to present Mr. and Mrs. Takaishi, as well as Mr. Patamon and Mrs. Tailmon."
Sayuri fought against groaning audible when the Catholic mass continued for another five minutes before finally ending.
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Author's Notes:
Give praise to the all mighty insomnia for getting this written. I certainly didn't expect to be done with it this soon. And I can't blame caffeine on this since I haven't had any.
Buriko:
Translating this would be difficult as it's part of Japanese culture. Girls try to attract a guys attention by being cute. Buriko is the term used for someone who takes being cute to the extremes. Think Zero-One Mimi wearing frilly dresses and talking like a four year old, but have her age be thirteen years or older.
For those who don't know what an acolyte is:
An acolyte, or more commonly known as altar boy, is someone who aids the priest during mass but is not a trained member of the clergy.
Why did I make Michael an altar boy? Considering his father is a movie star, and a wealthy one at that, Michael is likely going to a private school which are predominately run by Roman Catholics. Being in a Catholic school, going to mass is require, and student volunteers are used to be the alter boys. Seeing Michael had such a 'Dudley Du Right' appearance in the Fox dub, and that his father might very well be based off Brandon Fraiser-- I'm playing on the idea of him as being 'Dudley Jr.' and made him one of those volunteers.
Coming up next:
The Reception
A couple hundred Chosen, Digi-destined and digimon all in one room. More scenes with the Oklahoma and New York groups, and introducing the London group. Plus, Akiyama Ryo brings along the lost Tamer and his digimon.
Entry 12 - Celebration
By Lord Archive
Digimon and most characters in this series belong to Toei Animation Inc. and Akiyoshi Hongo. They are used without consent.
This is the edited PG-13 version of the Diaries Wedding Entry.
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Takeru turned over in his bed and snorted in slight disgust at Patamon snoring away seemingly without care. It was four in the morning, and in ten hours was their double wedding. Though Takeru doubted Patamon quite understood what it meant to be married. Tailmon was already his mate and the only change was where she would be keeping her 'nest.' His digimon partner didn't seem to realize that, after today, Tailmon would be with him for the rest of their lives.
Takeru estimated he had gotten an hour of sleep so far tonight. He wanted desperately to get some sleep so he wouldn't be dragging himself through the day. Hikari would kill him if he fell asleep at the altar. Normally that would be a rather unlikely possibility, but with his pregnant soon-to-be wife, the right mood swing is all it would take.
Twelve, married, and going to be a father. What had he been thinking? When this started Takeru was pretty sure he wasn't thinking at all. From what he knew, that was actually pretty normal for a guy-- not thinking with his brain when it came to sex. He had wanted Hikari and she certainly hadn't said no.
When Hikari told him that she was pregnant, she was afraid that he would leave her or that he would be ruining his life by staying with her. He would never do the former, but was afraid of the latter. His life could very well end up a string of meaningless low-paying jobs trying to make ends meet while supporting a family. College at this point looked hopeless.
Takeru chuckled at that thought. Hopeless. He was the Chosen Child of Hope, supposedly one of the strongest of all Chosen. Right now he couldn't feel the energy that gave him his powers, the hope for the future. He was too afraid to think about what was in store for him.
Takeru sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He had to think hopeful thoughts.
----------------------
Tailmon's ears perked as she looked around the darken room. She hadn't heard anything, but she couldn't help but feel paranoid. That was actually normal for a digimon expecting an egg to hatch. She wondered how much longer she would be worried by basically nothing. If this had been a normal digitama, she would be raising her baby about now. However, it would be six months before she would see her baby, and the thought unnerved her.
Tailmon couldn't let go of her apprehension. During the day, when everyone was awake, she could trust the others to warn her of danger, to make sure the apartment was secure. However, when she was home alone or at night, some primal part of her had to make sure nothing was out to get her or her baby.
With a sigh, Tailmon leapt from the bed. She stretched her tired muscles before wandering about the apartment, checking the locks on the windows and doors for the third time that night. She didn't bother checking on the room of Hikari's parents. Despite that Mr. Yagami was in drunken slumber now, and Mrs. Yagami was sleeping to the tune of 'Prince Valium,' their presence alone in the room allowed her to override her primal fears and declare that room safe from danger.
Tailmon didn't begrudged Mrs. Yagami's use of sleeping pills to get eight hours of sleep in. The digimon couldn't remember the last time she slept four hours straight, let alone eight. However, she guessed that had more to do with being an expectant mother than actual fear and worries.
Of course, Tailmon had plenty of worries to keep her up. After all, it's not common for a digimon to be a parent. That sort of thing became rare long before she had been born. Maybe it had something to do with the first five or maybe it was natural evolution, but digimon don't often breed anymore. New baby digimon were born when a dead digimon was reconfigured at the Village of Beggings.
Tailmon wondered if she was to be the first mother of a new breed of digimon, ones that were parentally born. Digimon who might never spend even a single second in the Village of Beginnings until the moment they die and are reconfigured. Tailmon knew that wasn't unheard of already though, since she was one of the odd ones to have never set foot in the village as a baby or even as a child, but only as an adult.
The Digital World certainly was changing. There was a time when humans never appeared or were even heard of in her home dimension. The closest idea of humans ever being in the Digital World was the legend of five Chosen Children who saved their world. Then there was seven who had appeared, and then Hikari as the eighth, then came Ryo and Ken, and after them hundreds of Chosen or Digi-Destined appeared-- the title depending on where they were from. Now there would be at least a dozen or so children in the Digital World at any point in time.
And soon there would be adults as well, if Jyou, Taichi, Sora and the other older Chosen didn't already count as being adults. The Digital World showed no sign that it would reject them, and Tailmon doubted it ever would. The way into the Digital World was to have a child's innocence, and many of the Chosen have long since lost their innocence and yet still crossed over dimensions regularly. An age requirement didn't seem plausible, since what counted as being an adult? Being twenty like in Japan or eighteen in the United States? It certainly wasn't being a virgin.
Why was she even thinking about the Digital World? It's not like she spent a lot of time there anymore.
Tailmon looked out the window, while absentmindedly pawing the lock making sure it was sealed tight. "Should I even consider the Digital World my home anymore?" she asked herself. Of any digimon in this world, she had spent the most time on Earth, Patamon being a close second. It had been almost two years ago since she came to live with Hikari on a permanent basis, and suspected that would never change. She conceived a child on Earth, she laid it on Earth, and had only spent a minimal amount of time in the Digital World before learning she was going to be a mother.
Tailmon shook her head. "This world is my home now," she whispered. There was no point in denying that. She only visited the Digital World, rarely even spending the night there. This is where she would live the majority of her life. She would be starting her family on this world. If she died of old age, it'll be on Earth with Hikari.
Tailmon thought it odd to think about what world was her home on the eve of her moving out of this apartment. Tomorrow she would be moving in with her mate, Patamon, as Hikari will be married to Takeru through ceremony. Her partner was already legally married, but the ceremony was more for the family and friends.
Tailmon felt like she had been hit by the semi-truck of life and was caught in its wheels. Everything was changing on her and she wanted a moment to figure out if she liked it or not, but she knew very well that neither world would be stopping for her to catch her breath.
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"Whoa! Where's the sun?" asked a blond haired boy of fourteen as he walked out of the airplane.
A relatively well built fifteen-year-old with dark brown hair followed him. "Bobby, there's a sixteen hour difference from home. It's five a.m. TUESDAY here."
Bobby whirled around. "Tuesday?" He glanced at his watch. "Hank, it's supposed to be Monday and one in the afternoon."
"We're in a different part of the world and we crossed the International Date Line to get here. Didn't you pay attention in class?" Hank admonished.
"Will you guys hurry up?" snarled a girl with light brown hair. "You're holding up the line."
"Oops. Sorry, Jessica." Bobby went to turn around but lost his footing. He tumbled down the gangplank stairs. A sickening crack echoed as he hit the tarmac.
The stewardess next to them looked about ready to freak at the sight of the young boy laying motionless on the ground with his head turned unnaturally.
A fourteen-year-old boy with black hair peered over Jessica's shoulder. He shook his head and called out, "Yo! Bobby, get up! You're scaring people again."
Bobby slowly sat up and seemed to pop his head back in place. "Wild trip. Wanna go next, Rick?"
"Fat chance," Rick snorted. He grabbed a twelve-year-old girl's hand who also had black hair. "Come on, sis."
"I can walk down the stairs myself. I'm not a klutz like Bobby," the girl said bitterly.
"Lisa, you wound me." Bobby acted like he got shot by an arrow.
"Too bad it's not fatal," Lisa chirped.
"Enough of your fighting. We've got to get to the hotel and rest up so jet lag won't affect us at the reception," Hank ordered.
"Whatever." Jessica trudged past him.
"Why is it okay for you to fight with Jessica and I can't with Bobby?" Lisa asked.
"It's a different kind of fighting," Hank replied.
"It had better be a different kind of fighting!" Rick almost yelled at his little sister.
Lisa rolled her eyes and ignored her brother. "At least I'll get to see Alraumon soon," she said wistfully.
One of the ground crew walked up to Bobby and asked in broken English, "You okay? How you fake sound of neck break?"
"Yeah, um, I'm fine." Bobby laughed nervously. "I, ah, used the chicken bones from the in-flight fish dinner." He grinned lamely.
The crewmen blinked a couple times as if trying to understand what Bobby had said. "Ah, okay," the man said and turned around.
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"What's wrong?" Sora asked between bites of breakfast.
"What do you mean?" Taichi returned.
Sora studied him. "You're still upset about Hikari marrying Takeru?"
Taichi looked away. "Why do you say that?"
"You're picking at your food." Sora pointed with her chop sticks. "I thought you'd be over this by now."
"What do you want me to say? 'Hey, it's great that my little sister is getting married at thirteen!'" Taichi remarked sarcastically.
"No. I just thought you'd have accepted it already," Sora replied.
"I accepted it. I just don't like thinking about it," Taichi retorted.
"There's a difference?" Sora questioned. "I don't want you making some kind of mistake today. Hikari would never forgive you if you ruin it, and quite frankly, neither would I."
Taichi slouched. "I know. I won't do anythin' stupid."
Sora rolled her eyes. "Taichi, today is a celebration of Takeru and Hikari's love. You WILL ruin it if you go moping around over them getting married since that would make Hikari upset."
"You're asking me to be HAPPY about this?" Taichi asked in disbelief.
"Well, think of it this way: act how you'd want others to act if we had been forced to get married when we were thirteen because of an accident," Sora pointed out.
"I remember the nightmare I had during your first pregnancy scare." Taichi shuddered. "Happy was not something I'd call it. Disowningly pissed off was more like it."
"Well, that didn't happen, did it? Your parents not only accept us, but Hikari and Takeru as well," Sora assured him.
Taichi nodded.
Sora played with Taichi's hair. "Now if you're really good today and can at least fake being happy, then I'll give you a weekend you'll never forget."
"What? Tickets to the National Soccer Finals?" Taichi questioned hopefully.
Sora would've done something about the remark if he hadn't started laughing indicating he had been kidding. "You shouldn't joke like that."
Taichi smirked. "But you're so much fun to tease."
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Hikari yawned and lazily sat up in her bed. She frowned at the clock. It was almost time for school to start, but she wouldn't be going to school. It would be a year before she'd be allowed to return, if she went back at all.
Hikari sighed. She was thirteen years old, pregnant, and legally married. All that was left for her was for the wedding ceremony and moving into Takeru's apartment.
Hikari forced herself to look over her room. This would be the last day that it was _her_ room. If she slept here again, it would be because she was a visitor. She could no longer call this her home.
The room looked so vacant. Despite her brother's stuff strewn about, it had an empty feeling to it. Her poster on the wall had been taken down. The pictures she had taken and displayed on the dresser were packed away.
About the only thing Hikari could claim as belonging to her that she wasn't taking with her was the computer that both her and her brother owned. Between the two computers at Takeru's apartment, she wouldn't be needing the computer as much as her brother. When he came 'home' for a visit, of course.
Oh, God, she missed her brother. Sure, he was only going to be a short walk or a phone call away, but she had shared a bedroom with him for most of her life. That kind of familiarity was hard to forget. She had known him better than she knew herself, but now she didn't know him nearly that well. If anyone could claim to know Taichi that well now, it was Sora.
Hikari lethargically climbed down from the top bunk. She smiled at her digimon partner, who was still wrapped around the egg. She knew Tailmon didn't get much sleep last night and wasn't going to wake her until it was almost time to leave to go to the Church. However, there was a lot she had to do before then and she had to get ready.
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The last day.
This would be the last day her little girl would wake up in this apartment, the last day she would cook breakfast for her daughter, the last day that Hikari could still be called Yagami.
Mrs. Yagami tried to keep herself from crying. After all she had been the one to make her daughter get married. It was the right and responsible thing to do. Hikari was pregnant and needed to marry the father. At least Takeru was a good boy, would do anything to protect Hikari, and was perfectly willing to take responsibility for his actions.
Mrs. Yagami was thankful that she would be turning forty in two months, well before the baby's due date. She would still be an early grandmother, but not before her forties. Too bad Ms. Takaishi had her children young. The poor woman was going to be a grandparent before thirty-five. Well, young being eighteen years old when she had Yamato.
Mrs. Yagami frowned as her husband joined their daughter for breakfast at the table. Taichi should be here for one last family meal, but he was at his fiancee's home. True, he would have left to help set up the floral arrangements for the wedding already, but it would've been nice to have him here.
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Catherine sighed as she traveled across Tokyo in a taxi. She brushed her golden locks out of her ear.
"What is troubling you, mademoiselle?" Takeru's grandfather, Mr. Takaishi, questioned in French.
"I wish my friends could've come as well," Catherine replied wistfully.
"A couple of them do plan on attending the reception, right?" Mr. Takaishi noted.
Catherine nodded. "Yes, but that's all they'll be here for. They won't get to truly see this marvelous city."
"With that mockery of the Eiffel Tower?" Mr. Takaishi scuffed pointing at Tokyo Tower. Then he started laughing at some private joke. "This is a wondrous place with lots of things to see that seem completely alien to a French lady like you. Of course, you may find Japanese boys as interesting as I had found Japanese girls."
Catherine smirked slightly. "I hope you take no offense that Takeru and Taichi left me with a sour view of Japanese boys."
Mr. Takaishi chuckled. "Oh, I'd say Takeru was following his French heritage when he kissed you." He then leaned closer to her. "You do have to admit they were cute."
Catherine folded her arms. "Casanovas are always cute or handsome, otherwise they wouldn't get the girls to be a Casanova in the first place."
The pair looked at each other for a moment before breaking down into a fit of laughter.
Mr. Takaishi regained control of himself and rubbed his blond beard. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to fluster my grandson."
"I don't know if I will play that joke on him." Catherine looked back out the window. "It's hard to believe you'll be a great-grandfather soon," she commented. "You only look old enough to be Takeru's father."
"Actually Ishida isn't that much younger than me. My daughter likes her men to be older." Mr. Takaishi shrugged. "And I prefer my women to be young, especially when I was a younger man."
----------------------
Mrs. Minami stood at the front gate of her school as she looked over the collection of students that were all leaving at lunch to go to the Takashi wedding. At least she hoped they were all going there. If she hadn't had so many duties as the principal, she would've gone with them.
Mrs. Minami sighed. At least Takeru wasn't making her feel as old as some of the kids in front of her. They seemed to get younger and younger as each year ticked away for her. She already had gray hairs at forty, but she jokingly blamed the children for that. Now approaching fifty, she looked ready to be a grandmother, though her own son had yet to find a girl.
Mrs. Minami got a copy of the guest list from Koushiro and called off the names of her students that were on it. As each name was called they were allowed to pass her and leave the school grounds, but had to remain at the gate until they were dismissed. When Mrs. Minami finished calling off the names, there was still one person remaining waiting to be called. "What's your name?" Mrs. Minami asked.
"Togashi Kensuke," the boy with dark brown hair and average appearance replied. "I'm Yukimi's date and the older brother of one the other guests."
"He can come," Koushiro assured the principal.
Mrs. Minami nodded. "You can go too. Just remember everyone, I want a five page report about the wedding by Friday."
As expected the students groaned at the added homework.
Ayashi raised her hand. "What about Koushiro and me? We're going to be setting up the reception and can't make the wedding."
"You'll have to write a report on what goes on during the reception then," Mrs. Minami replied. She wished she didn't even have to send out these assignments, but it was her duty to make sure that the students took this as a learning experience. She smiled at them. "Have fun and be sure to get home early enough. Only Takaishi is excused from class tomorrow."
The students went their separate ways to first go home and prepare for the wedding. Most of them wondering what sick and twisted pleasure their principal took in ruining their fun.
Mrs. Minami waved. She loved helping the children prepare for the future. Her reward wasn't measured in her pay check, that was for sure, but in the achievements and smiles of her students.
----------------------
Sora looked on with concern. "Are you okay?"
"No." Mimi turned to Hikari. "How could you find the worst possible pink dress for us to wear. I love pink, but this is awful." Tachikawa pulled at her skirt.
Hikari shrugged weakly. "Sorry. I let Mom pick them out."
Tailmon chuckled. "They certainly are a little girlish."
"A little?! I feel like a ten year old buriko star in this get up. I mean how many frills can there be in a dress?" Mimi whined.
Sora let up a short laugh. "Oh, I remember you having a few outfits like these when you lived in Odaiba."
"Yeah, but then I was a fairy princess, not an experienced fighter," Mimi explained half-jokingly.
Sora nodded. "And how are you feeling, considering that last battle?"
"I'm fine now. Jyou helped a lot, and running a marathon 'Magic Knights 2' helped me cope a little as well," Mimi answered.
Hikari blinked. "How could watching anime help you? I can't watch it without sympathizing too much with it."
Mimi shrugged. "That's exactly why I watch it. By watching Hikaru come to terms with having killed someone, it helped me deal with the same issue."
Hikari turned back to the mirror. "I guess. Too bad there isn't an anime to help me with this."
"I'm sure there is. I can ask Steve if he knows of one," Mimi said helpfully.
"Ask an American about the local cartoons? What is he, an otaku?" Sora questioned.
"Yes." Mimi nodded. "He just loves it when I point out translation errors to him."
"That's just too weird," Sora commented. "How often do you watch anime with him anyway?"
"About once every other week if we aren't needed in the Digital World," Mimi answered. "I'd rather watch anime than play one of Steve's games and end up killed in some gruesome trap again. Problem is, we take turns deciding what to do on Friday nights, and Steve and Sam like role-playing. They won't let me suggest Truth or Dare anymore, though."
"Gee, I wonder why," Tailmon said dryly.
Mimi glanced over. "Tailmon, where's your egg?"
"With Piyomon and a few of your friends acting as guards," Tailmon answered.
"The New York group is here?" Mimi asked.
Tailmon nodded.
Mrs. Yagami poked her head into the room. "Sora, Mimi, can I see you two for a moment?"
"Sure," Mimi replied.
Sora nodded and noticed Hikari looking sadly in the mirror. She needed someone to help cheer her up, and Taichi needed help to come to terms with this as well. "We'll be back soon," Takenouchi said before leaving with Mimi and Mrs. Yagami.
----------------------
"Why are you so nervous?" Sayuri asked.
Iori glanced around as he waved at the digimon to quickly enter the Church. He then looked over at Wataru and answered her question, "There's a good chance some reporters will be trying to sneak into the wedding. After all, the groom is the little brother of a rock star."
"So?" Sayuri questioned. "It's not like he's very popular."
Yume stared in shock. "Where have YOU been? Yamato is VERY popular."
Iori looked away. "While Yamato isn't quite national yet, he has a large following in Tokyo and the local tabloids are already a problem for him. If any of them discover that digimon are here as well, then we're all in for some trouble."
Sayuri nodded as if she agreed to what he said.
Iori walked into the Church. "I'll see you girls later."
"Where are you going?" Sayuri asked.
Iori smiled sheepishly. "I'm Takeru's best man."
"Oh," Sayuri replied.
Iori walked toward the groom's waiting room, only to stop as he noticed Daisuke talking to Ken.
"...was in the Digital World," Ken was apparently answering a question. "It was the only way I could avoid your sister."
"If you had followed my advice when this started, you wouldn't have had to run away from her," Daisuke pointed out.
"Maybe, but I doubt it considering how persistent she was. She showed up at my apartment wearing lace underwear and V-mon's trench coat," Ken replied.
"She what?" V-mon looked sick. "Great, now I have to burn my coat."
"Jun's not that bad." Ken scowled at the digimon.
"She's not?" V-mon blinked. "Then why did you run from her?"
"Because I didn't want a relationship that would last only a week. I want something to last the rest of my life. Jun couldn't offer that because of college," Ken explained.
Daisuke looked at Ken like he grew an extra head. "You ditched my sister not because she wanted to have sex with you, but because she wasn't going to be around for very long. What's with you? If a girl wants you, you do her."
Ken glared. "That's hardly a good way to look at relationships."
"I agree," Iori said, finally letting them know of his presence.
"Well, it works for me," Daisuke replied defensively.
"Ken, why didn't you leave us some means of contacting you?" Iori asked. "We could've really used you in the last battle."
"I forgot my D-Terminal in my room, and was afraid to go back and get it in case Jun was there." Ken then blinked. "Last battle?"
Iori nodded. "A rift from Dagomon's Ocean opened and a horde of digimon came through it. Since none of us could open the portal to send them back, we had to kill all of them."
Ken looked at the younger Chosen with concern. "I'm sorry.... I didn't know that would happen. I...."
Daisuke clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. What's done is done, and nothing is going to change it now. Just remember to keep your D-Terminal with you if you ever decide to disappear again."
Ken nodded.
"I'd suggest staying away from Jyou and Mimi in case they're still upset," Iori advised. "Lillymon was forced to kill in that battle." Hida walked away.
Ken swallowed. While he suspected Mimi might still be upset because of her reluctance to kill, he knew the true person he had to appease was Iori. The boy took responsibility seriously, and having made a mistake of that magnitude would cause Hida to judge him harshly until he had made up for it somehow.
----------------------
Taichi walked into the room. He gawked at Hikari as she stood at the mirror staring at her dress. It took him a moment to say anything. "You look beautiful."
Tailmon looked over, but said nothing.
Hikari turned around and faced her big brother, tears in her eyes. "Oh, Taichi, I never imagined that I'd be doing this at thirteen." She fell into his arms crying. "I wish, I wish..." she sobbed harder, drenching his coat with her tears.
Taichi held her and asked, "But you love Takeru, right?" He felt her nod. "Then why are you upset?"
Hikari leaned back and looked up to him. "I don't know." She hugged him and cried some more, Taichi moved back to a chair and held her in his arms, he rocked her slowly.
They stayed like that for five minutes, when Hikari finally spoke. "You will still love me?"
"Always and forever," Taichi replied. "You're my sister, nothing will change that."
Hikari kissed his cheek and asked quietly, "So, you don't mind being 'Uncle Taichi?'"
Taichi smirked. "I do, but there is nothing that I can do about it now. I would rather you be 'Aunt Hikari,' before I would have to be called 'Uncle Anything.' But... if you need me, I will be there for you."
Hikari smiled. "I love you, Taichi"
"I love you, too." Taichi resisted the temptation to mess up her hair. If he did that, Hikari and his mother would kill him.
Hikari pulled away and walked back to the mirror, wiping her eyes. Taichi just stood there knowing that after today she wouldn't just be his little sister, but a wife as well.
"I'm going to have a talk with Takeru, but I'll be waiting for you to walk down the aisle," Taichi said simply.
Hikari nodded, trying to correct her appearance after crying so much.
Taichi noticed Tailmon mouth, 'Thank you.' He smiled at the digimon before turning and walking out the door. He found Sora waiting for him outside.
"Is she okay?" Sora asked with concern.
"Yeah, she's fine." Taichi tried not to laugh at the pink bride's maid dress his fiancee was wearing. It looked all right, but was more like something one would wear to some European party. Sora certainly wouldn't be able to wear it very often and looked too girlish for Yagami's taste.
Sora smiled. "Good. I'll just make sure she's all set."
"Yeah, I gotta go have a little talk with someone." Taichi walked down the hall to the Groom's waiting room. He swung open the door to see Yamato, Iori and Takeru waiting in their suits.
"Hi," Takeru greeted with a nervous edge.
Taichi appraised the young boy. "You look ready."
Takeru pulled at his collar. "Funny, I don't feel ready."
"You should've been once you started sleeping with her," Taichi growled slightly.
Yamato laughed. "And have you ever been ready to marry Sora?"
Taichi glared at Yamato, and then looked over at Takeru and advised, "Just remember why you started sleeping with her."
Takeru nodded.
Taichi grabbed his soon-to-be brother-in-law forcibly by the collar and whispered harshly, "And if you ever hurt her, I'll leave your dead body somewhere in the Digital World where no one would find it."
Takeru froze in shock.
Taichi straightened Takeru's collar and gave the boy a hug. "Now you better make my sister the happiest girl in the world. It's the least she deserves."
Takeru stood there pale and unsure what to make of what Taichi said.
"Now all we have to do is wait for the ceremony to start," Taichi commented.
Iori glanced worriedly at Takeru while answering, "It shouldn't be much longer."
----------------------
"Nervous?" Gabumon asked.
Patamon shook his head. "No. Why should I be?"
Wormmon blinked. "Because you're getting married today."
Patamon shrugged. "I don't really see what's the point. Tailmon is already my mate and the mother of my child."
"Well, yes." Wormmon nodded. "However, mates don't always stay together, but today you'll be promising to stay with her for the rest of your life."
"I am?" Patamon questioned.
"Of course. That's what a wedding is about. Even I know that," Gabumon answered, a bit proudly.
Patamon backed away slightly.
"Actually, a wedding is more about love and promising that you'll love her until the day you die," Agumon said almost sagely. "Even if you outlive her."
"There's that and, of course, part of the promise is also about only being Tailmon's mate," Wormmon added.
"That's what I'm doing today?" Patamon blinked. "Promising that I'll ALWAYS love Tailmon and that I won't ever mate with ANY other digimon."
"Yep." Agumon scowled as he tried to finish tying a bow-tie. "Can someone help me with this?"
"Sure! Let me," Gabumon replied and walked over.
Agumon glanced over as Gabumon tried to fix the bow-tie, and called out, "Wormmon, stop him!"
Wormmon noticed Patamon edging towards the door and then bolted out of the room. The larva digimon scowled. "Sticky Net!"
Patamon struggled as he was being dragged back into the room.
Agumon shook his head. "Patamon, where do you think you were going?"
"The Digital World?" Patamon squeaked.
Agumon frowned. "You were going to leave Tailmon at the altar? Hate to see what she would do to you once she had found you."
Gabumon grimaced. "It wouldn't be pretty."
"But... but I...." Patamon squeaked.
"You love her, don't you?" Gabumon asked.
"Well... yeah... but I don't know if I'll love her for the rest of my life," Patamon defended weakly.
"I don't know if I'll be able to love Piyomon for the rest of my life either, but I'm willing to give it a try," Agumon returned. "While I haven't gone through a wedding, I have promised her that."
"You've already mated with Tailmon and conceived an egg with her, the wedding at this point should really only be a formality," Wormmon pointed out.
Patamon sighed and looked down. "There's no way I can get out of this, is there?"
"You shouldn't want to get out of this," Wormmon countered.
Agumon nodded. "Yeah, and I don't see you remaining single and alive at this point."
"Now, let's get you cleaned up and fix your bow-tie again so you can get married," Gabumon said as he walked over and pulled off some of the silken net covering Patamon.
----------------------
"How can you agree to do this ceremony?" demanded a young man in his twenties dressed as a Catholic priest.
A balding elderly man, also dressed as a priest, replied, "Because I've spoken with the couples and know where their hearts are. Besides, they're already legally married."
"That's besides the point. Two of them are junior high school students and the other two aren't even human!" the young priest cried out.
"So? What does age or form have to do with love?" the elderly priest returned.
"Well, it does matter when the digimon certainly don't believe in God, and Hikari stated to us she's not sure if she believes anymore either," the young priest said.
"The digimon are from another world. One where god-like beings exist, and one in particular helped create that world. None of that means that our God doesn't exist for them as well, as He may be above the Qinglongmon entity Hikari told us about when her family first approached us to conduct the ceremony. We can bring a whole new faith to a new world with possibly billions of converts," the elderly priest explained.
The young priest paused. "I... hadn't thought about that."
"Now why don't you go meditate on this while I prepare for the mass," the elderly priest suggested.
The young priest nodded and walked away.
The elderly priest shook his head. The boy may be faithful, but he was still fresh out of the seminary. He still followed strictly by what he had been taught and hadn't quite learned about what it truly meant to be a priest. Part of the reason for accepting to do the ceremony had more to do with trying to bring Hikari and Takeru back into the Church, as both had been baptized. However, he would've done this for no other reason than for the love he saw in the eyes of those couples.
The elderly priest's attention shifted as he heard a knock at the entrance to the ante chamber. "Yes?" he called out.
"Excuse me, sir," Iori said politely. "There's someone here who wants to know if you need any help with the ceremony."
The elderly priest shrugged. "Send him in."
----------------------
"Well, well, well.... What do we have here?" called out a middle-aged French-men with blond hair, mustache, and beard, speaking in perfect Japanese.
"Grandpa, hi," Takeru greeted cheerfully.
"Hi, grandpa," Yamato added with less emotion.
"Yo," Taichi waved.
"So, you're making me a great-grandfather." Mr. Takaishi messed up Takeru's hair.
"Yeah, sorry," Takeru replied sadly.
"What's there to be sorry about? I certainly wasn't sorry when I knocked up your grandmother at fourteen. Pissed off my parents, but I only cared for my love." Mr. Takaishi sighed fondly.
Yamato raised an eyebrow. "You're not even fifty yet?"
Mr. Takaishi shrugged. "Nope. Got a little ways to go before that." He then smirked. "Now when are you going to make me a great-grandfather?"
Yamato clucked. "Um, well, you see... I, ah, never met the right person."
"Oh, really?" Mr. Takaishi replied disbelievingly. "A handsome guy like you has got to have girls falling over you."
"Like you wouldn't believe," Yamato nervously joked.
"Actually, his problem is that the one he's in love with is engaged," Takeru said, hoping to help his brother. He couldn't help but look at Taichi when he said it.
Mr. Takaishi saw where Takeru was looking. "Ah, I see. Tough break, my boy. You should get over her quickly and pick some nice wild girl to rock your socks off. That'll get your head straight."
"I'll think about it," Yamato said, hoping to appease his grandfather.
Taichi grabbed Mr. Takaishi by the arm. "You'd better go find a seat now, sir. I'm sure most of them have filled up. The wedding will start soon."
Mr. Takaishi nodded. "Don't mess up, Takeru. There's no worse crime than making a girl cry."
----------------------
Being a tabloid reporter had a lot of good and bad points. For one, you have to develop a hard skin so the various insults flung at you don't hurt. It had gotten to the point for Genki that being called a 'slimy, rat-ass jerk' was a complement.
When Genki heard that teen pop-star idol, Ishida Yamato, was going to attend his LITTLE brother's wedding, he knew he had to see this for himself. With his black hair slicked back and shinning with the amount of grease in it and wearing a suit he first wore when he graduated high school several years ago, the reporter was 'ready' to crash the wedding.
However, Genki didn't quite make it to the Church where the wedding was supposed to take place. At a field across from the Church was a bizarre sight. A giant, woolly walrus-like creature seemed to be playing with a moving and talking plant and a collection of flying gears.
Revealing that Yamato's little brother was getting married, which may or may not be true, or getting an interview with real digimon. Well, if the digimon ran away, he could go back to the Church.
Genki approached the trio of digimon carefully. "Hi, can I talk to you?"
Ikkakumon glanced over. "About what?"
"Well, I was wondering how you got here?" Genki asked.
"A friend of mind opened a portal so that my family could visit your world," Ikkakumon replied.
"Daddy, look at me!" Solarmon used his gear body to run along the fence at an amazing speed.
Genki raised an eyebrow. "He's your son?"
"Adopted son," Ikkakumon explained. "I haven't fathered a child yet."
"Though that may change in the future," Palmon chirped.
"And she is?" Genki asked.
"The apple in my eye, and the thorn in my side," Ikkakumon quipped. "Though she's usually a bit bigger."
Palmon smacked him lightly with her vine fingers. "That's not nice to say."
Ikkakumon lowered his head. "Sorry, dear."
Jyou let off a short chuckle at the scene as he sat on a public bench on the side of the field. He would've preferred to have attended the wedding, but they needed something to distract uninvited guests. He knew from Yamato who Genki was, one of the dirtier tabloid reporters in Tokyo. Hikari and Takeru needed some privacy, and Genki would not only announce their wedding but reveal who the Odaiba Chosen were if he had made it inside the Church.
----------------------
Mr. Yagami looked down at his daughter, his little girl. Soon she wouldn't be his little girl, would she? She was going to be a Takaishi and dead to her birth clan as far as family records go.
It hadn't hit until now just what was going on. His daughter was leaving him to start her own family. He shouldn't have to do this until she was at least eighteen, but here they were after she barely turned thirteen getting married. Today her home would be on the other side of Odaiba, and not the other side of the apartment. Today he would be saying good-bye to her.
Hikari looked up at him with concern in her eyes. "Daddy, don't cry."
"I'm not crying," Mr. Yagami said defensively, despite that his hand almost involuntarily checking to see if he was and coming up wet.
Hikari smiled slightly. "You just have something in your eyes," she said as an excuse, knowing it to be false.
"Okay, so maybe I am crying. It's my right as a father losing his daughter," Mr. Yagami retorted.
"You're not losing me. I'll always be your daughter, nothing will change that," Hikari assured him.
Mr. Yagami gave a short laugh. "Guess I should look at this as gaining a son and a grandchild, right?"
Hikari nodded. "That's how I'm looking at it, that I'm not losing you, but increasing the size of my family."
Mr. Yagami held his daughter's cheek and stared into her eyes. For perhaps the first time, he wondered where the innocence that once sparkled in her eyes had gone. What had become of her childhood? He knew she had gone through a lot, but the fathomless eyes peering at him had no right to be on a thirteen year old. They had no right to be on anyone, as they shown of depth of knowledge no one should ever know and yet his daughter did know. He tried to fight a new wave of tears as he told her, "You're wise beyond your years."
Hikari closed her eyes. "That's more of a curse than most people would believe."
Mr. Yagami nodded. "It certainly is."
An old man with very little of his gray hair remaining on his head approached them wearing the robes of a Catholic priest. "Are you ready?"
Mr. Yagami glanced at his daughter and then wiped away a few of his tears. "Yeah, we're ready."
The priest turned and asked again, "Are you ready?"
Tailmon's twitched nervously. "As ready as I can be."
The priest nodded and went to the doors and waved a hand to signal the Church's band to begin playing.
----------------------
Takeru glanced over those assembled at the Church for his wedding. There were a lot of people he didn't really know. Many of them he could only identify because of the digimon with them, such as Mina with Candmon. He vaguely recognized most of the New York group at the back of the Church with their digimon. Behind them in a glass room, where parents can take a new born infant to Church and not disturb the mass if the baby started crying, was Piyomon with Tailmon's egg. From where he stood he could see the egg and knew that Tailmon would be able to as well.
Takeru wondered how his father had been allowed to use one of the television station's news camera to record the wedding, or use the main studio to hold the reception for that matter.
Takaishi swallowed hard as the bridal procession music began.
Michael of the New York Chosen, wearing the pure white robes of a Catholic acolyte, entered first carrying a large book with golden trim. Following him was the old priest who had agreed to do the ceremony.
Then came Sora and Taichi, and then Mimi and Yamato. Tachikawa certainly looked a little upset. Whether it was because she had to walk next to his brother or because the brides maid dress looked awful on her despite being pink, Takeru couldn't tell.
Then came his best man, Iori, and Hikari's maid of honor, Miyako. The reason why they chose those two for the roles was to appease anyone who might feel hurt by not being asked. With the mutual decision to use their Jogress partners, Hikari wouldn't have to choose between Sora and Mimi while he wouldn't have to be forced to decide between Yamato and Iori.
Takeru smirked when he heard Patamon shift uncomfortably next to him.
Tailmon held a small bouquet as she was being guided down the isle by Agumon. While it had been talked about to at least get the cat digimon a veil to wear, Tailmon opted to not wear any bridal garb. That had made Agumon wearing a bow-tie seemed to be even stranger looking on the dinosaur digimon.
Not that the bow-tie on Patamon was any better, considering he didn't even have a neck.
What came next caused Takeru to break out in a cold sweat, Mr. Yagami was leading Hikari down the isle.
Takeru couldn't remember when Hikari looked so radiant. Despite the off-white color of the wedding dress, she looked like she was glowing with white light. The lace trim did a wondrous job of accentuating certain features like her breasts and gave no indications that she was pregnant. She looked very much like a goddess even though he knew she was afraid that she might end up becoming one.
Before Takeru knew it, Hikari was next to him and the mass had begun.
----------------------
Sayuri had been surprised when she wasn't just invited to the reception, but the wedding itself. If they were going through a Shinto ceremony, then it would've been for family only. However, Catholic weddings were obviously different.
In a Shinto marriage, the couple pledges their love and duty to each other and to their families. While the priest talked about love and duty, it had to do more with their God than for the couples or the couple's family.
Then there's the standing, sitting, kneeling, and standing again. Couldn't they just make up their minds and stick with one thing? It certainly felt more like an exercise than a profession of faith.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Sayuri mumbled under her breath, wondering when they were going to actually get to the point of Hikari and Takeru exchanging wedding vows.
The foreign Chosen next to her glanced over with a peculiar look and answered, "At least another half-hour."
Sayuri stared at him.
Yume smacked Sayuri's knee and scolded with a whisper, "Be quiet. We don't want to ruin this. Besides, look how beautiful the ceremony is."
Sayuri noticed that Yume wasn't even paying attention to the priest but was alternating looking from Hikari and Takeru to Iori. She didn't have to guess what the wheelchair bound girl was thinking, or more to the point-- day dreaming, and didn't like it one bit.
----------------------
The elderly priest smiled. "Now for the reason we are all here, to join this man and this woman, as well as this digimon with another digimon in holy matrimony in the eyes of God, family, friends and the community.
"Who gives away these brides?"
"I give my daughter," Mr. Yagami answered.
"I give away Tailmon," Agumon added.
The priest nodded. "Let no man, woman, or digimon put asunder the bounds that tie these couples together.
"Do you, Yagami Hikari, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?"
Hikari nodded shallowly, and squeaked, "I do."
The priest turned. "Do you, Tailmon, take this digimon to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?"
Tailmon shifted uneasily. "I do."
"Do you, Takaishi Takeru, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?" the priest asked.
Takeru's parched throat demanded water as he vainly tried to swallow again. His voice cracked as he answered, "I do."
"Do you, Patamon, take this digimon to be your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for the rest of your lives?" the priest asked yet again.
Patamon nodded several times. "Yeah, I do."
"May I have the symbols of love?" the priest questioned.
Iori produced a ring and a small bracelet and gave the ring to Takeru and the bracelet to Patamon. Miyako did the same for Hikari and Tailmon.
The priest held out his hands. "May the good Lord bless these symbols of love and forever show the bounds they share.
"Gentlemen, please repeat after me. With this symbol, I thee wed."
"With this symbol, I thee wed," Takeru and Patamon chorused.
The priest continued, "To love, honor, and cherish above all others."
"To love, honor, and cherish above all others," the boys finished, sliding their respective tokens of love onto their brides.
"Now ladies, repeat after me. With this symbol, I thee wed," the priest told them.
"With this symbol, I thee wed," Hikari and Tailmon said together.
"To love, honor, and cherish above all others," the priest repeated.
"To love, honor, and cherish above all others," the girls stated, as they to placed their bands of matrimony onto their grooms.
The priest addressed the mass, "Is there anyone here who feels these couples should not get married? Speak now or forever hold your peace."
The priest waited for a moment and the grinned happily. "I now declare you man and wife, and digimon and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Takeru lifted the veil on his wife's face and gave her a short kiss filled with emotion to seal the promises made.
Patamon leaned over and kissed his mate as he was directed to do. It was more of a nervous peck on the lips than anything else. Tailmon scowled slightly, grabbed her husband and gave him a fiery kiss the likes of which he hadn't felt in months.
A cheer echoed through the Church, though some of those attending seemed upset at them being so loud.
Hikari was rather surprised to see that Daisuke was one of the loudest ones cheering for them.
"Ah, the sounds of joy," the old priest commented fondly. "It is my pleasure to present Mr. and Mrs. Takaishi, as well as Mr. Patamon and Mrs. Tailmon."
Sayuri fought against groaning audible when the Catholic mass continued for another five minutes before finally ending.
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Author's Notes:
Give praise to the all mighty insomnia for getting this written. I certainly didn't expect to be done with it this soon. And I can't blame caffeine on this since I haven't had any.
Buriko:
Translating this would be difficult as it's part of Japanese culture. Girls try to attract a guys attention by being cute. Buriko is the term used for someone who takes being cute to the extremes. Think Zero-One Mimi wearing frilly dresses and talking like a four year old, but have her age be thirteen years or older.
For those who don't know what an acolyte is:
An acolyte, or more commonly known as altar boy, is someone who aids the priest during mass but is not a trained member of the clergy.
Why did I make Michael an altar boy? Considering his father is a movie star, and a wealthy one at that, Michael is likely going to a private school which are predominately run by Roman Catholics. Being in a Catholic school, going to mass is require, and student volunteers are used to be the alter boys. Seeing Michael had such a 'Dudley Du Right' appearance in the Fox dub, and that his father might very well be based off Brandon Fraiser-- I'm playing on the idea of him as being 'Dudley Jr.' and made him one of those volunteers.
Coming up next:
The Reception
A couple hundred Chosen, Digi-destined and digimon all in one room. More scenes with the Oklahoma and New York groups, and introducing the London group. Plus, Akiyama Ryo brings along the lost Tamer and his digimon.