Post by Talmon on Dec 24, 2011 14:37:45 GMT -5
Big chunky christmas fic, enjoy 
Tai charged down the stairs as if he was still ten years old, thoroughly awaking the rest of the house. He and the other digidestined had rented a house together and now it was Christmas. Snow was falling outside and the walls of the house were freezing so Tai brushed his hand across the thermostat and turned it up to max. He jumped up and down in his striped white and pale blue pyjamas excitedly “Come on” he called up. Matt peered down the end of the stairs in his red jogging bottoms and bare chest and sighed
“Tai it’s seven in the morning” he moaned.
“So, it’s Christmas!” Tai replied cheerfully.
Sure enough Tai’s joy spread and eventually they all came down. Matt had pulled on a black dressing gown, T.K shivered in his green boxers while Kari held onto his arm in her cream nightgown. Mimi was wearing spectacular designer pyjamas in her favourite colour – pink – and Sora was wearing a yellow dressing gown around her plain white bra and panties. Izzy had brought down his laptop and was showing them all the latest data on Santa’s travels on some website called Borad tracks Santa. “Put Borad away, here come scrooge” Tai joked as Joe stormed to the top of the stairs in brown jogging bottoms and a black shirt with a picture of the hulk on.
“I’m not scrooge, I’m just exhausted!” Joe protested “Can’t we go back to bed and do this later, we are adults now?” Joe begged
“Nope, come on, you are up now” Tai insisted. Joe sighed and walked down the stairs with heavy stamps before finally stopping at the bottom and closing Izzy’s laptop and knocking some mistletoe from the roof.
“I have to be up for some serious revision tomorrow” Joe moaned angrily as the computer’s beeping died and so did Izzy’s smile.
Tai bounced up and down as he looked at the living room doors “Can we go in, please?” he chirped.
“Yeah, come on then” Kari spoke like she remembered her mum speaking to her and Tai when they were kids on Christmas – with utter exhaustion and a lack of enthusiasm. Kari led T.K in while snuggling into his bare chest. Matt wrapped his arm around Sora but she brushed it off and grabbed the first cup of insta-coffee from their coffee machine. Izzy tried to reopen his laptop but a glance from Joe stopped him and Mimi brought up the end of the group as they walked into the small but lavishly decorated living room.
It had three expensive designer sofas – one either side of the TV and one facing it – a large Persian rug in the middle which was also Mimi’s and a large mirror on the back wall. The fireplace was to the right of the TV – which was in the centre of the room – and was unlit. Tai threw a log on and a match and then they looked at the fir tree in the top right corner of the room. Presents were underneath the tree from the digidestined to each other but the biggest shock came when they saw what was sat next to the tree. It was a gigantic box with a large label on. “Who went over the budget?” Sora asked, tiredly. They all turned to Mimi but she shook her head
“It wasn’t me” she stated “Joe?”
“Nope, I’m trying to keep above all my loans” Joe protested “Izzy, your computer business is doing well?” Joe asked.
“I think we’ve established this wasn’t from one of us so someone go read the label and be done with it” Izzy moaned. Sora passed him the mug so he took a hearty sip and passed back the empty cup.
“Thanks” Sora seethed. Izzy ignored her while she walked back over to the coffee machine.
“Tai go check” Sora shouted over.
“I don’t want to”
“I thought you loved Christmas” Matt teased
“T.K’ll do it” Kari volunteered her hubby with gusto
“No I won’t” T.K protested, shivering still.
“If no one has checked when I’m done here I will hit someone with the mug” Sora shouted over. Mimi looked to Matt worriedly
“Fine, I’ll do it” Matt announced.
“Statistically blonde people have the best chance when opening presents because-” Izzy began to ramble
“Shut up” Joe stated flatly.
Matt walked over to the lavishly wrapped red present and picked up the big white label. “It just says: To the digidestined, enjoy!” Matt told them with lacklustre.
“So we are no closer to the identity then” Izzy announced
“Yeah, I guess so Izzy” Mimi sighed. Joe groaned and walked over to the sofa on the left of the TV and sat down.
“Wanna get this over and done with?” he moaned.
“Yeah, present time!” Tai chirped.
They gathered up all the presents and placed them on the rug in the middle of the sofas and then sat down, waiting for Joe’s approval. Next to Joe was Izzy then Mimi; on the opposite sofa was Sora on the left, then Tai then Matt and finally it was Kari and T.K on their own on the other sofa. “So who’s first?” Sora asked as she finished her fourth cup of coffee and set it down on the coffee table which had been conveniently moved next to her to allow the presents to sit in the middle.
“Joe, you go first” Mimi insisted, prodding him with her finger. He sighed and moved over to the pile of presents and began to search. He gathered up the seven presents that were his and opened the first; from T.K.
“It’s a stethoscope, thanks T.K” Joe said, slightly enthusiastically. T.K smiled absent-mindedly. He opened the next; from Mimi. “It’s... a... hat?” Joe muttered slowly as he withdrew the black Santa hat which had the words ‘Bah Humbug!’ stitched on.
“Put it on” the gang cheered. Joe sighed and put the hat on
“Thanks Mimi” he muttered. Mimi grinned and they all started to laugh as the hat lit up and began to play festive music. Joe opened the rest of his presents without incident. Sora had given him a book on surgery; Tai had given him a box of chocolates; Matt had given him his old guitar pick; Izzy gave him an instructional CD on stitches and Kari had given him a smiley face badge which also lit up.
Joe sat back down and moved his presents away from the remaining ones. “Thanks guys” he announced with a smile. Tai was practically bouncing up and down with excitement
“Who’s next?” he asked with a grin
“We’ll go in counter-clockwise order so Izzy is next” Joe told the group. Izzy nodded and reluctantly left his laptop behind as Mimi hit him playfully and then glared at him.
He opened each present slowly, so slowly that most of the group was nearing sleep by the time he opened his first gift which was from Joe. “It’s a new computer mouse!” he told the group suddenly, waking them all up. “Thanks Joe!” he chirped.
“neughh, youeer welcome” Joe moaned as he was awoke from his slumber by a gentle nudge from Mimi. Izzy opened the next few from Tai, Matt, T.K and Kari without any trouble. Tai had gotten him a coupon for a free ice cream and some cinema tickets, Matt had gave him concert tickets and a coupon for a free pizza which caused anger between the two hot heads while T.K and Kari had bought him a new computer monitor together.
He slowly opened Sora’s present and grinned as he saw it.
“She got me a mug with a picture of tentomon on!” Izzy announced, showing the gang.
“Hey, why don’t you drink some coffee, it might speed you up a little” Sora commented snidely but Izzy did just that, slowly, to annoy her more. He finally walked back over and sipped the coffee before opening Mimi’s gift. He withdrew the item of clothing slowly and saw that there was a picture on the front. It was Izzy’s favourite picture: One where Mimi had kissed him on the cheek.
“Thanks Mimi” Izzy muttered, embarrassed.
“No, thank you. Izzy I want to know, will you go out with me?” Mimi asked with a grin. Izzy was taken aback at first but the nudge from Kari got him moving again.
“Say yes, buddy” Tai cheered.
“Go on, Izzy” Matt grinned
“Ye- Yeah...!” Izzy shouted. Mimi grinned and ran over to kiss him on the lips but the groans from the gang as it got more passionate ended the romantic moment swiftly. Izzy dragged his presents away and grinned at Mimi. “Your turn” he told her with a smile.
Mimi opened all her presents which were various clothes she had helped the gang pick out for herself, then Kari and T.K had opened theirs together which varied from a waffle iron for Kari to a signed basketball for T.K. Kari and T.K smiled as they each grabbed their last presents, T.K was from Tai and Kari’s was from Matt. The sibling and friend rivalry was rife with boredom for everyone else. “Izzy, do another cuppa?” Sora asked as she started to fall to sleep. “Oh and grab some paracetemol” Sora added with a smile.
“Some what?” Izzy asked as he turned on the coffee maker
“Painkillers” Sora explained as she rubbed her head
“You’re hitting it pretty hard, Sora” Mimi commented, bemused
“Matt’s after party was painful is all” Sora replied as she accepted the cup of coffee and pills off Izzy. He sat back down and chuckled.
“For your liver, you mean?” he laughed. Sora grimaced.
The gang laughed a little but Sora couldn’t remember a thing “What do you mean?” she asked.
“You hit the booze pretty hard when you hit on Matt’s drummer and he turned you down” Tai explained.
“Once you got started so did your dancing” T.K continued as he pulled the ribbon off his present.
“Oh God” Sora moaned as she popped the two pills into her mouth and swilled them down with a mouthful of coffee. “Then what?” she asked, rubbing her head.
“You, erm...” Kari paused.
“You got off with me” Joe explained, embarrassed. Sora’s eyes became wide and she fell back into the chair.
“I must’ve been bombed...” she muttered
“You passed out while dancing on a table and shouting ‘I ate your duck and it liked it’ and weed yourself towards the end so we went home at that point” Tai explained, slowly.
Sora moaned in pain and Kari opened her present. “Thanks Matt” she muttered, regretfully as she withdrew a pregnancy test and a packet of condoms.
“Don’t mention it” he chirped. T.K sighed and slowly opened his present from Tai. It was some tickets to an all ladies ‘action’ night. Tai winked mischievously.
“I’m with Kari...” T.K muttered slowly.
“Read the note” Tai ribbed with a grin. T.K read the note aloud slowly.
“Dear T.K, don’t touch my sister. Ever again. Love Tai” he muttered. He gulped as he looked up and Tai was grimacing angrily.
“Understand?” he asked T.K
“Yeah...” T.K muttered slowly
“Shut up Tai” Sora groaned, hitting him in the face with a pillow.
“Want me to talk louder!?” he shouted in her ear. Sora immediately moaned in pain and then leapt on top of him and began to pummel him with her fists. He tickled her furiously and eventually put her onto the ground. Sora looked at him and smiled.
“I might just have hope for you yet” she whispered with a grin. Tai climbed off her and the two sat down as T.K and Kari moved back to their sofa and cuddled up. Next it was Matt.
Matt reached over to the remaining presents and grabbed his from Tai first. He was highly apprehensive and held it at arm’s length while opening it. Inside was a simple wooden box with a brass hinge on the top for the lid. “Hey Matt” Tai called. Matt spun with the present, bringing it close to his face.
“What?” Matt asked.
“Bang” Tai stated simply as he hit a button on a remote on the lid burst open and hit Matt in the chin. His head flew back but as he leaned forward to shout a boxing glove on a spring burst out and knocked him back again.
“Fair game...” Matt muttered, angrily. He put the present to one side and closed it. He opened the rest and thanked everyone. Sora had given him her bra and panties which had been scrawled on in pen ‘To Marttttc’ Matt chuckled but Sora became further embarrassed as she remembered her drunken wrapping of his present. T.K had given him a photo of their family in a nice frame; Kari had given him a box of sweets; Mimi had provided a box of band t-shirts to sell to his fans; Izzy had given him the finished version of Matt’s band’s album early and Joe had given him a change your life book. “You hinting at something Joe?” Matt asked
“No...” Joe replied deviously.
Tai quickly moved down from the sofa and grabbed Matt’s present. He withdrew a knife and stabbed it once before opening it. Matt looked hurt when Tai unwrapped an expensive teddy bear from Harrods. It was a dinosaur, orange in colour, just like Agumon. Tai pulled the hole in the bear closed, and then gently sat the bear in his seat while he unwrapped the other presents. “Thanks... Sora...” he muttered as he withdrew a pack of condoms with a blue post-it on top which had a winking face on.
“Sorry, I guess I have feeling for you...” Sora muttered meekly as Tai opened the next present.
“Thanks! Wait, Izzy!? You gave me something cool!” Tai exclaimed. He flashed the two tickets to Dubai with a bungee jumping course and a paragliding week.
“I don’t know why you are so shocked” Izzy chuckled. Tai unwrapped Mimi’s present it was an expensive shirt. He thanked her with a simple smile... it was pink...
“Next its T.K’s present” Tai muttered slowly as he unwrapped the small square present that sat in front of him with a ribbon on. Inside were two Polaroid’s of T.K and Kari kissing. Tai held back his rage and looked at T.K who had a smug look “Thanks, T.K” he muttered.
“Its okay big brother” he chuckled.
“Now for my little sister’s present” Tai chirped as he slowly unravelled the present from Kari. It was the whistle that they had used all that time ago with the original Agumon. Tai held it dear and ran over to Kari. She hugged him tiredly and smiled
“I knew you’d remember” she muttered “It was the event that brought us all together” she explained. They all reminisced fondly while Tai thanked Joe for the hair gel.
“I’m just saying you look like you’ve had your finger in an electric socket...” Joe muttered.
“Well maybe I should go do that then” Tai joked
“I wouldn’t advise it...” Joe retorted.
Sora butted in by quickly unwrapping Joe’s present to her. It was a hat, like the one she had worn in the digital world. “Remember when we were in the digital world and you saved us with your drumming?” he asked with a grin
“It was your leadership” she laughed as she remembered the memory. Tai sat back down and put the teddy onto his lap to appease Matt. She opened T.K and Kari’s joint present to her, it was: a huge drinking glass with a bottle of wine inside. They all laughed at Sora’s expense but she simply put it to one side and continued.
She opened Matt’s and smiled as she saw what it was. “Thanks for the phone number but I no longer want it” she joked as she took the sticky note off the Polaroid of her on the floor. “Thanks” she grumbled, putting it next to the drinking glass. She withdrew Izzy’s present and saw that it just looked like a blank CD then she read the words on it “Sora’s wild night” she muttered. “Thanks Izzy” she grimaced. She grabbed a day old orange sat on the coffee table and threw it at him. Izzy groaned as it left a mark. She slowly opened Mimi’s present as she expected clothes but she was pleasantly surprised to see a bath set from Mimi. “Thanks Meems” Sora muttered, thankful the torture was over then she remembered she still had Tai’s present. She turned to face him and saw him grinning as she slowly unwrapped the rectangular gift. “Let me guess a picture of me pole dancing on a penguin? Or is it me naked on the table singing hit me baby one more time? What about me-” she stopped as she finished taking off the wrapping paper and smiled softly. “Thank you Tai” she said sincerely. Tai smiled.
“What is it?” Joe asked, suspiciously.
“He developed the photo we took in the digital world, of all of us. It’s just-” she paused and placed her hand over her mouth and began sobbing.
The guys all sat back while Kari and Mimi ran over and hugged her. “I miss Biyomon” Sora sobbed.
“I know, I know” Mimi muttered “I miss Palmon too but we have to move on” Mimi explained but a cough interrupted her train of though.
“Tai, that was rude!” Kari exclaimed.
“It wasn’t me, it sounded like it came from behind me” Tai protested. Kari looked behind him
“It’s just the big present behind you... unless...” Kari paused and got to her feet. She slowly walked over to the present and pulled the big bow that held the box together, slowly undoing it.
“Kari! Don’t do it! It might be gnomes! Evil Christmas gnomes! Damn what are they called? Elves, evil vampire elves!” T.K exclaimed, terrified.
“T.K?”
“Yeah?”
“Stop watching Twilight” Kari groaned as she pulled the ribbon undone. T.K blushed as he hid the DVD he had picked for them to watch on Christmas: Breaking Dawn.
Suddenly out came eight small packages. “Mimi you need to stop trying to change people’s fashion sense” one of them grumbled. Mimi ran over and tore of the green wrapping paper and hugged the small plant like digimon underneath.
“I love you Palmon! I’ve missed you so much!” Mimi exclaimed with a grin. The other digidestined charged over to open their respective packages while Mimi stared at her friend.
“You saved the digital world and we’ll never forget you” Palmon promised.
“Don’t talk like that, we are back together now!” Mimi insisted as she squeezed Palmon
“Mimi, I’m not an eggplant, I’m a cactus remember? Stop squishing me” Palmon groaned.
“Matt!” Gabumon cheered as he hugged his friend. Matt chuckled and hugged his friend back
“I’ve missed ya buddy” Matt cheered as he and his friend exchanged their secret handshake. “Thank you so much for coming back, everything you told me to do has helped me. I’m in a successful band now!” Matt spoke rushed and with a big grin while Gabumon stayed intently silent and listened closely to his friend.
“Sora!”
“Biyomon!”
“I thought I’d never be so happy to see you without that silly hat! Your hair looks beautiful!” Biyomon chided with a grin.
“Just wait until you see last night’s hair then!” Sora laughed as she embraced her friend in a tight and meaningful hug. “Promise me you’ll stay this time, I love Mimi a lot but I need you to be here and keep me on the right path!” Sora shouted at Biyomon. Biyomon became deadly silent and hugged her friend back
“I love you too Sora” she muttered.
Tai ran over with the orange dinosaur teddy in his hand and withdrew Agumon. “It was stuffy in there!” Agumon moaned
“I’ve missed ya bud” Tai laughed, hugging his friend
“You’re replacing me with that fake?” Agumon asked pointing at the bear
“Of course not” Tai protested, he moved to throw the bear and then set it down. Agumon grabbed the bear and threw it away
“Silly Tai, your throwing has gotten worse” Agumon giggled
“Agumon! That bear is expensive!” Matt shouted over. Agumon blushed but Tai just laughed
“Don’t ever change” he told his friend.
“Okay!” Agumon shouted, running towards his friend with his arms stretched out, he tripped on some wrapping paper and flew down headfirst, knocking Tai onto his back. “Sorry” Agumon giggled.
“It’s fine” Tai moaned in pain.
Joe walked over and frowned as Gomamon burst from his wrapping “Hey Joe!” he chirped
“I’m just wondering about the practicalities of this and why you are here. It seems impossible” Joe began to speak to himself so Gomamon laughed
“Shut up Joe!” he laughed, jumping onto Joe he knocked him over and licked his face before hugging him
“That’s unhygienic” Joe protested
“You’re lucky I’m your friend...” Gomamon muttered as he hugged him.
Tentomon flew over to Izzy as Izzy tried to use the confusion to check his laptop. “Izzy!” he shouted, interrupting him. Izzy spun around slowly
“Tentomon... what a pleasant surprise” he muttered through gritted teeth.
“Come on Izzy, let’s turn on some Christmas music and dance” Tentomon laughed.
“It’s too early” Izzy moaned. Tentomon flew over and hugged Izzy in the face
“Shhh you, you are too big for your little boots. So when is your ‘growth spurt’” Tentomon teased. Izzy laughed and hugged his friend back.
T.K and Patamon immediately hugged and then began to play fight “Come and get me!” Patamon shouted, hiding behind the sofa. T.K leapt over the sofa but Patamon simply flew up so that T.K smacked his face off the edge of the sofa. “I’ve missed you buddy” Patamon laughed as he jumped on top of his friend and bounced up and down.
“I’ve missed ya too” T.K laughed as he hugged his friend.
Finally Kari walked over to Gatomon and smiled. “So you’re back then?” she asked with a smile
“Yeah, I am” Gatomon said, slowly. “Sorry that we had to leave you guys, it was necessary” Gatomon explained.
“Well I’m just glad your back” Kari chided before hugging her friend tightly.
“That’s just it, Kari, I have something to tell you” Gatomon muttered.
“What?” Kari asked slowly.
“We aren’t going to be here forever. We are leaving after today but none of the other digimon wanted to say” Gatomon explained
“Really?” Kari asked in disbelief
“Yeah” Gatomon stated. The two looked at each other for a while before either moved.
“Let’s enjoy the time we have together then” Kari whispered as she hugged her friend.
The whole gang spent the day fighting, laughing and having fun but when it came to five minutes to midnight Tai had collapsed in exhaustion. “I think it’s time for us all to go to bed” Matt announced, slightly slurred as he put down his can of lager. T.K nodded and he and Matt started to traverse the stairs with Tai. Mimi didn’t wait long before she claimed her beauty sleep was calling and Sora had made sure that she helped drunken Mimi climb the stairs after swearing that she wouldn’t touch alcohol herself.
“Just us three then...” Kari muttered.
“Yeah, well, I’m going upstairs, sleeping is important for a daily routine” Joe announced.
“Shut up” Kari laughed. She looked at Izzy as Joe left and smiled “Goodnight Izzy” she said, leaving the room. Izzy nodded and followed her quickly.
As they were climbing the stairs Kari paused “I left my camera, I’ll go get it, you go” Kari insisted as she looked at the clock. It was one minute to twelve. Izzy nodded and walked upstairs leaving just Kari to speak to their digimon companions.
She walked into the room and smiled at them all. “We’ll miss you all, you know that, right?” Kari told them as she knelt down in front of Patamon and rubbed his head.
“We know” he chirped.
“Make sure Mimi behaves” Palmon chuckled quietly.
“Kari...” Agumon muttered sadly. He ran over to hug her but he tripped over Patamon’s ears and the two simply moaned on the floor.
“I’ll miss you too” Kari laughed, rubbing Agumon’s cheek.
“Try to make sure Izzy doesn’t lose you guys” Tentomon begged with a grin
“Joe too” Gomamon insisted “He’s like a fish out of water and I can talk” Gomamon prepared to use his attack: Marching fishing but Biyomon stopped him quickly.
“Keep an eye on Sora, I worry about her” Biyomon grimaced as she held Gomamon still.
“Make sure Matt stays level headed” Gabumon breathed as he hugged Kari goodbye.
“I’ll try” Kari laughed.
“Just me then...” Gatomon muttered as she looked at her partner
“Yeah, just you” Kari whispered back.
“And us” Agumon interrupted but Patamon covered Agumon’s mouth with his ear swiftly.
“I’m going to miss you Gatomon” Kari whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek
“We’re still there, watching over you. I’m sure we’ll find a way back one day. I promise I won’t lose you Kari. I know how upset you got last time” Gatomon swore solemnly.
“Gatomon...” Kari whispered as her data shuddered.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine” Gatomon promised.
“Hey it’s boxing day” Agumon chirped
“Really, well then happy boxing day! Lightning punch” Gatomon shouted, hitting Agumon’s data. He fizzed and began to fade.
A light filled the room and all of the digimon began to shudder into data form. Biyomon vanished first followed closely by Gomamon. “Please find a way, you have to come back again” Kari begged as Tentomon and Gabumon faded away.
“Kari...” Gatomon replied slowly as Patamon faded. “Just remember what a bunch of wonderful presents we were from Gennai, just do that...” Gatomon insisted as Palmon faded.
“I will. This was the best present ever” Kari promised as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“I’ll miss you Kari. You’re brilliant” Agumon chirped as he turned to data.
“It’s my turn; they all gave me as much time as they could. Goodbye Kari, I’ll find a way back. I promise.” Gatomon whispered as she faded slowly, first her tail. She hugged Kari but as the data touched her Gatomon went straight through. “Goodbye Kari” Gatomon whispered as she faded entirely. The light that had filled the room faded and Kari was left crying in the darkness
“Goodbye Gatomon” she sobbed silently.
“What’s wrong Kari?” T.K asked as he walked into the room
“I’m just sad that she’s gone” Kari whispered
“Who’s gone, everyone’s in bed?” T.K replied as he knelt down next to her
“Santa Claus, who else could it be?” Kari replied, quickly
“Santa’s a dude” T.K told her, hugging her and wiping her tears away
“You’re so misogynistic! Santa could be a woman, a happy, powerful successful woman!” Kari protested. She got to her feet and stormed out. T.K sighed
“You still believe in Santa?” he asked
“You believe vampires are real and if he wasn’t real then how do you explain the wonderful event of our digimon, idiot.” Kari retorted.
“I’m going to bed” T.K moaned as he walked upstairs.
“Merry Christmas...” Kari whispered as she looked at the space they had said goodbye one last time.
Tai charged down the stairs as if he was still ten years old, thoroughly awaking the rest of the house. He and the other digidestined had rented a house together and now it was Christmas. Snow was falling outside and the walls of the house were freezing so Tai brushed his hand across the thermostat and turned it up to max. He jumped up and down in his striped white and pale blue pyjamas excitedly “Come on” he called up. Matt peered down the end of the stairs in his red jogging bottoms and bare chest and sighed
“Tai it’s seven in the morning” he moaned.
“So, it’s Christmas!” Tai replied cheerfully.
Sure enough Tai’s joy spread and eventually they all came down. Matt had pulled on a black dressing gown, T.K shivered in his green boxers while Kari held onto his arm in her cream nightgown. Mimi was wearing spectacular designer pyjamas in her favourite colour – pink – and Sora was wearing a yellow dressing gown around her plain white bra and panties. Izzy had brought down his laptop and was showing them all the latest data on Santa’s travels on some website called Borad tracks Santa. “Put Borad away, here come scrooge” Tai joked as Joe stormed to the top of the stairs in brown jogging bottoms and a black shirt with a picture of the hulk on.
“I’m not scrooge, I’m just exhausted!” Joe protested “Can’t we go back to bed and do this later, we are adults now?” Joe begged
“Nope, come on, you are up now” Tai insisted. Joe sighed and walked down the stairs with heavy stamps before finally stopping at the bottom and closing Izzy’s laptop and knocking some mistletoe from the roof.
“I have to be up for some serious revision tomorrow” Joe moaned angrily as the computer’s beeping died and so did Izzy’s smile.
Tai bounced up and down as he looked at the living room doors “Can we go in, please?” he chirped.
“Yeah, come on then” Kari spoke like she remembered her mum speaking to her and Tai when they were kids on Christmas – with utter exhaustion and a lack of enthusiasm. Kari led T.K in while snuggling into his bare chest. Matt wrapped his arm around Sora but she brushed it off and grabbed the first cup of insta-coffee from their coffee machine. Izzy tried to reopen his laptop but a glance from Joe stopped him and Mimi brought up the end of the group as they walked into the small but lavishly decorated living room.
It had three expensive designer sofas – one either side of the TV and one facing it – a large Persian rug in the middle which was also Mimi’s and a large mirror on the back wall. The fireplace was to the right of the TV – which was in the centre of the room – and was unlit. Tai threw a log on and a match and then they looked at the fir tree in the top right corner of the room. Presents were underneath the tree from the digidestined to each other but the biggest shock came when they saw what was sat next to the tree. It was a gigantic box with a large label on. “Who went over the budget?” Sora asked, tiredly. They all turned to Mimi but she shook her head
“It wasn’t me” she stated “Joe?”
“Nope, I’m trying to keep above all my loans” Joe protested “Izzy, your computer business is doing well?” Joe asked.
“I think we’ve established this wasn’t from one of us so someone go read the label and be done with it” Izzy moaned. Sora passed him the mug so he took a hearty sip and passed back the empty cup.
“Thanks” Sora seethed. Izzy ignored her while she walked back over to the coffee machine.
“Tai go check” Sora shouted over.
“I don’t want to”
“I thought you loved Christmas” Matt teased
“T.K’ll do it” Kari volunteered her hubby with gusto
“No I won’t” T.K protested, shivering still.
“If no one has checked when I’m done here I will hit someone with the mug” Sora shouted over. Mimi looked to Matt worriedly
“Fine, I’ll do it” Matt announced.
“Statistically blonde people have the best chance when opening presents because-” Izzy began to ramble
“Shut up” Joe stated flatly.
Matt walked over to the lavishly wrapped red present and picked up the big white label. “It just says: To the digidestined, enjoy!” Matt told them with lacklustre.
“So we are no closer to the identity then” Izzy announced
“Yeah, I guess so Izzy” Mimi sighed. Joe groaned and walked over to the sofa on the left of the TV and sat down.
“Wanna get this over and done with?” he moaned.
“Yeah, present time!” Tai chirped.
They gathered up all the presents and placed them on the rug in the middle of the sofas and then sat down, waiting for Joe’s approval. Next to Joe was Izzy then Mimi; on the opposite sofa was Sora on the left, then Tai then Matt and finally it was Kari and T.K on their own on the other sofa. “So who’s first?” Sora asked as she finished her fourth cup of coffee and set it down on the coffee table which had been conveniently moved next to her to allow the presents to sit in the middle.
“Joe, you go first” Mimi insisted, prodding him with her finger. He sighed and moved over to the pile of presents and began to search. He gathered up the seven presents that were his and opened the first; from T.K.
“It’s a stethoscope, thanks T.K” Joe said, slightly enthusiastically. T.K smiled absent-mindedly. He opened the next; from Mimi. “It’s... a... hat?” Joe muttered slowly as he withdrew the black Santa hat which had the words ‘Bah Humbug!’ stitched on.
“Put it on” the gang cheered. Joe sighed and put the hat on
“Thanks Mimi” he muttered. Mimi grinned and they all started to laugh as the hat lit up and began to play festive music. Joe opened the rest of his presents without incident. Sora had given him a book on surgery; Tai had given him a box of chocolates; Matt had given him his old guitar pick; Izzy gave him an instructional CD on stitches and Kari had given him a smiley face badge which also lit up.
Joe sat back down and moved his presents away from the remaining ones. “Thanks guys” he announced with a smile. Tai was practically bouncing up and down with excitement
“Who’s next?” he asked with a grin
“We’ll go in counter-clockwise order so Izzy is next” Joe told the group. Izzy nodded and reluctantly left his laptop behind as Mimi hit him playfully and then glared at him.
He opened each present slowly, so slowly that most of the group was nearing sleep by the time he opened his first gift which was from Joe. “It’s a new computer mouse!” he told the group suddenly, waking them all up. “Thanks Joe!” he chirped.
“neughh, youeer welcome” Joe moaned as he was awoke from his slumber by a gentle nudge from Mimi. Izzy opened the next few from Tai, Matt, T.K and Kari without any trouble. Tai had gotten him a coupon for a free ice cream and some cinema tickets, Matt had gave him concert tickets and a coupon for a free pizza which caused anger between the two hot heads while T.K and Kari had bought him a new computer monitor together.
He slowly opened Sora’s present and grinned as he saw it.
“She got me a mug with a picture of tentomon on!” Izzy announced, showing the gang.
“Hey, why don’t you drink some coffee, it might speed you up a little” Sora commented snidely but Izzy did just that, slowly, to annoy her more. He finally walked back over and sipped the coffee before opening Mimi’s gift. He withdrew the item of clothing slowly and saw that there was a picture on the front. It was Izzy’s favourite picture: One where Mimi had kissed him on the cheek.
“Thanks Mimi” Izzy muttered, embarrassed.
“No, thank you. Izzy I want to know, will you go out with me?” Mimi asked with a grin. Izzy was taken aback at first but the nudge from Kari got him moving again.
“Say yes, buddy” Tai cheered.
“Go on, Izzy” Matt grinned
“Ye- Yeah...!” Izzy shouted. Mimi grinned and ran over to kiss him on the lips but the groans from the gang as it got more passionate ended the romantic moment swiftly. Izzy dragged his presents away and grinned at Mimi. “Your turn” he told her with a smile.
Mimi opened all her presents which were various clothes she had helped the gang pick out for herself, then Kari and T.K had opened theirs together which varied from a waffle iron for Kari to a signed basketball for T.K. Kari and T.K smiled as they each grabbed their last presents, T.K was from Tai and Kari’s was from Matt. The sibling and friend rivalry was rife with boredom for everyone else. “Izzy, do another cuppa?” Sora asked as she started to fall to sleep. “Oh and grab some paracetemol” Sora added with a smile.
“Some what?” Izzy asked as he turned on the coffee maker
“Painkillers” Sora explained as she rubbed her head
“You’re hitting it pretty hard, Sora” Mimi commented, bemused
“Matt’s after party was painful is all” Sora replied as she accepted the cup of coffee and pills off Izzy. He sat back down and chuckled.
“For your liver, you mean?” he laughed. Sora grimaced.
The gang laughed a little but Sora couldn’t remember a thing “What do you mean?” she asked.
“You hit the booze pretty hard when you hit on Matt’s drummer and he turned you down” Tai explained.
“Once you got started so did your dancing” T.K continued as he pulled the ribbon off his present.
“Oh God” Sora moaned as she popped the two pills into her mouth and swilled them down with a mouthful of coffee. “Then what?” she asked, rubbing her head.
“You, erm...” Kari paused.
“You got off with me” Joe explained, embarrassed. Sora’s eyes became wide and she fell back into the chair.
“I must’ve been bombed...” she muttered
“You passed out while dancing on a table and shouting ‘I ate your duck and it liked it’ and weed yourself towards the end so we went home at that point” Tai explained, slowly.
Sora moaned in pain and Kari opened her present. “Thanks Matt” she muttered, regretfully as she withdrew a pregnancy test and a packet of condoms.
“Don’t mention it” he chirped. T.K sighed and slowly opened his present from Tai. It was some tickets to an all ladies ‘action’ night. Tai winked mischievously.
“I’m with Kari...” T.K muttered slowly.
“Read the note” Tai ribbed with a grin. T.K read the note aloud slowly.
“Dear T.K, don’t touch my sister. Ever again. Love Tai” he muttered. He gulped as he looked up and Tai was grimacing angrily.
“Understand?” he asked T.K
“Yeah...” T.K muttered slowly
“Shut up Tai” Sora groaned, hitting him in the face with a pillow.
“Want me to talk louder!?” he shouted in her ear. Sora immediately moaned in pain and then leapt on top of him and began to pummel him with her fists. He tickled her furiously and eventually put her onto the ground. Sora looked at him and smiled.
“I might just have hope for you yet” she whispered with a grin. Tai climbed off her and the two sat down as T.K and Kari moved back to their sofa and cuddled up. Next it was Matt.
Matt reached over to the remaining presents and grabbed his from Tai first. He was highly apprehensive and held it at arm’s length while opening it. Inside was a simple wooden box with a brass hinge on the top for the lid. “Hey Matt” Tai called. Matt spun with the present, bringing it close to his face.
“What?” Matt asked.
“Bang” Tai stated simply as he hit a button on a remote on the lid burst open and hit Matt in the chin. His head flew back but as he leaned forward to shout a boxing glove on a spring burst out and knocked him back again.
“Fair game...” Matt muttered, angrily. He put the present to one side and closed it. He opened the rest and thanked everyone. Sora had given him her bra and panties which had been scrawled on in pen ‘To Marttttc’ Matt chuckled but Sora became further embarrassed as she remembered her drunken wrapping of his present. T.K had given him a photo of their family in a nice frame; Kari had given him a box of sweets; Mimi had provided a box of band t-shirts to sell to his fans; Izzy had given him the finished version of Matt’s band’s album early and Joe had given him a change your life book. “You hinting at something Joe?” Matt asked
“No...” Joe replied deviously.
Tai quickly moved down from the sofa and grabbed Matt’s present. He withdrew a knife and stabbed it once before opening it. Matt looked hurt when Tai unwrapped an expensive teddy bear from Harrods. It was a dinosaur, orange in colour, just like Agumon. Tai pulled the hole in the bear closed, and then gently sat the bear in his seat while he unwrapped the other presents. “Thanks... Sora...” he muttered as he withdrew a pack of condoms with a blue post-it on top which had a winking face on.
“Sorry, I guess I have feeling for you...” Sora muttered meekly as Tai opened the next present.
“Thanks! Wait, Izzy!? You gave me something cool!” Tai exclaimed. He flashed the two tickets to Dubai with a bungee jumping course and a paragliding week.
“I don’t know why you are so shocked” Izzy chuckled. Tai unwrapped Mimi’s present it was an expensive shirt. He thanked her with a simple smile... it was pink...
“Next its T.K’s present” Tai muttered slowly as he unwrapped the small square present that sat in front of him with a ribbon on. Inside were two Polaroid’s of T.K and Kari kissing. Tai held back his rage and looked at T.K who had a smug look “Thanks, T.K” he muttered.
“Its okay big brother” he chuckled.
“Now for my little sister’s present” Tai chirped as he slowly unravelled the present from Kari. It was the whistle that they had used all that time ago with the original Agumon. Tai held it dear and ran over to Kari. She hugged him tiredly and smiled
“I knew you’d remember” she muttered “It was the event that brought us all together” she explained. They all reminisced fondly while Tai thanked Joe for the hair gel.
“I’m just saying you look like you’ve had your finger in an electric socket...” Joe muttered.
“Well maybe I should go do that then” Tai joked
“I wouldn’t advise it...” Joe retorted.
Sora butted in by quickly unwrapping Joe’s present to her. It was a hat, like the one she had worn in the digital world. “Remember when we were in the digital world and you saved us with your drumming?” he asked with a grin
“It was your leadership” she laughed as she remembered the memory. Tai sat back down and put the teddy onto his lap to appease Matt. She opened T.K and Kari’s joint present to her, it was: a huge drinking glass with a bottle of wine inside. They all laughed at Sora’s expense but she simply put it to one side and continued.
She opened Matt’s and smiled as she saw what it was. “Thanks for the phone number but I no longer want it” she joked as she took the sticky note off the Polaroid of her on the floor. “Thanks” she grumbled, putting it next to the drinking glass. She withdrew Izzy’s present and saw that it just looked like a blank CD then she read the words on it “Sora’s wild night” she muttered. “Thanks Izzy” she grimaced. She grabbed a day old orange sat on the coffee table and threw it at him. Izzy groaned as it left a mark. She slowly opened Mimi’s present as she expected clothes but she was pleasantly surprised to see a bath set from Mimi. “Thanks Meems” Sora muttered, thankful the torture was over then she remembered she still had Tai’s present. She turned to face him and saw him grinning as she slowly unwrapped the rectangular gift. “Let me guess a picture of me pole dancing on a penguin? Or is it me naked on the table singing hit me baby one more time? What about me-” she stopped as she finished taking off the wrapping paper and smiled softly. “Thank you Tai” she said sincerely. Tai smiled.
“What is it?” Joe asked, suspiciously.
“He developed the photo we took in the digital world, of all of us. It’s just-” she paused and placed her hand over her mouth and began sobbing.
The guys all sat back while Kari and Mimi ran over and hugged her. “I miss Biyomon” Sora sobbed.
“I know, I know” Mimi muttered “I miss Palmon too but we have to move on” Mimi explained but a cough interrupted her train of though.
“Tai, that was rude!” Kari exclaimed.
“It wasn’t me, it sounded like it came from behind me” Tai protested. Kari looked behind him
“It’s just the big present behind you... unless...” Kari paused and got to her feet. She slowly walked over to the present and pulled the big bow that held the box together, slowly undoing it.
“Kari! Don’t do it! It might be gnomes! Evil Christmas gnomes! Damn what are they called? Elves, evil vampire elves!” T.K exclaimed, terrified.
“T.K?”
“Yeah?”
“Stop watching Twilight” Kari groaned as she pulled the ribbon undone. T.K blushed as he hid the DVD he had picked for them to watch on Christmas: Breaking Dawn.
Suddenly out came eight small packages. “Mimi you need to stop trying to change people’s fashion sense” one of them grumbled. Mimi ran over and tore of the green wrapping paper and hugged the small plant like digimon underneath.
“I love you Palmon! I’ve missed you so much!” Mimi exclaimed with a grin. The other digidestined charged over to open their respective packages while Mimi stared at her friend.
“You saved the digital world and we’ll never forget you” Palmon promised.
“Don’t talk like that, we are back together now!” Mimi insisted as she squeezed Palmon
“Mimi, I’m not an eggplant, I’m a cactus remember? Stop squishing me” Palmon groaned.
“Matt!” Gabumon cheered as he hugged his friend. Matt chuckled and hugged his friend back
“I’ve missed ya buddy” Matt cheered as he and his friend exchanged their secret handshake. “Thank you so much for coming back, everything you told me to do has helped me. I’m in a successful band now!” Matt spoke rushed and with a big grin while Gabumon stayed intently silent and listened closely to his friend.
“Sora!”
“Biyomon!”
“I thought I’d never be so happy to see you without that silly hat! Your hair looks beautiful!” Biyomon chided with a grin.
“Just wait until you see last night’s hair then!” Sora laughed as she embraced her friend in a tight and meaningful hug. “Promise me you’ll stay this time, I love Mimi a lot but I need you to be here and keep me on the right path!” Sora shouted at Biyomon. Biyomon became deadly silent and hugged her friend back
“I love you too Sora” she muttered.
Tai ran over with the orange dinosaur teddy in his hand and withdrew Agumon. “It was stuffy in there!” Agumon moaned
“I’ve missed ya bud” Tai laughed, hugging his friend
“You’re replacing me with that fake?” Agumon asked pointing at the bear
“Of course not” Tai protested, he moved to throw the bear and then set it down. Agumon grabbed the bear and threw it away
“Silly Tai, your throwing has gotten worse” Agumon giggled
“Agumon! That bear is expensive!” Matt shouted over. Agumon blushed but Tai just laughed
“Don’t ever change” he told his friend.
“Okay!” Agumon shouted, running towards his friend with his arms stretched out, he tripped on some wrapping paper and flew down headfirst, knocking Tai onto his back. “Sorry” Agumon giggled.
“It’s fine” Tai moaned in pain.
Joe walked over and frowned as Gomamon burst from his wrapping “Hey Joe!” he chirped
“I’m just wondering about the practicalities of this and why you are here. It seems impossible” Joe began to speak to himself so Gomamon laughed
“Shut up Joe!” he laughed, jumping onto Joe he knocked him over and licked his face before hugging him
“That’s unhygienic” Joe protested
“You’re lucky I’m your friend...” Gomamon muttered as he hugged him.
Tentomon flew over to Izzy as Izzy tried to use the confusion to check his laptop. “Izzy!” he shouted, interrupting him. Izzy spun around slowly
“Tentomon... what a pleasant surprise” he muttered through gritted teeth.
“Come on Izzy, let’s turn on some Christmas music and dance” Tentomon laughed.
“It’s too early” Izzy moaned. Tentomon flew over and hugged Izzy in the face
“Shhh you, you are too big for your little boots. So when is your ‘growth spurt’” Tentomon teased. Izzy laughed and hugged his friend back.
T.K and Patamon immediately hugged and then began to play fight “Come and get me!” Patamon shouted, hiding behind the sofa. T.K leapt over the sofa but Patamon simply flew up so that T.K smacked his face off the edge of the sofa. “I’ve missed you buddy” Patamon laughed as he jumped on top of his friend and bounced up and down.
“I’ve missed ya too” T.K laughed as he hugged his friend.
Finally Kari walked over to Gatomon and smiled. “So you’re back then?” she asked with a smile
“Yeah, I am” Gatomon said, slowly. “Sorry that we had to leave you guys, it was necessary” Gatomon explained.
“Well I’m just glad your back” Kari chided before hugging her friend tightly.
“That’s just it, Kari, I have something to tell you” Gatomon muttered.
“What?” Kari asked slowly.
“We aren’t going to be here forever. We are leaving after today but none of the other digimon wanted to say” Gatomon explained
“Really?” Kari asked in disbelief
“Yeah” Gatomon stated. The two looked at each other for a while before either moved.
“Let’s enjoy the time we have together then” Kari whispered as she hugged her friend.
The whole gang spent the day fighting, laughing and having fun but when it came to five minutes to midnight Tai had collapsed in exhaustion. “I think it’s time for us all to go to bed” Matt announced, slightly slurred as he put down his can of lager. T.K nodded and he and Matt started to traverse the stairs with Tai. Mimi didn’t wait long before she claimed her beauty sleep was calling and Sora had made sure that she helped drunken Mimi climb the stairs after swearing that she wouldn’t touch alcohol herself.
“Just us three then...” Kari muttered.
“Yeah, well, I’m going upstairs, sleeping is important for a daily routine” Joe announced.
“Shut up” Kari laughed. She looked at Izzy as Joe left and smiled “Goodnight Izzy” she said, leaving the room. Izzy nodded and followed her quickly.
As they were climbing the stairs Kari paused “I left my camera, I’ll go get it, you go” Kari insisted as she looked at the clock. It was one minute to twelve. Izzy nodded and walked upstairs leaving just Kari to speak to their digimon companions.
She walked into the room and smiled at them all. “We’ll miss you all, you know that, right?” Kari told them as she knelt down in front of Patamon and rubbed his head.
“We know” he chirped.
“Make sure Mimi behaves” Palmon chuckled quietly.
“Kari...” Agumon muttered sadly. He ran over to hug her but he tripped over Patamon’s ears and the two simply moaned on the floor.
“I’ll miss you too” Kari laughed, rubbing Agumon’s cheek.
“Try to make sure Izzy doesn’t lose you guys” Tentomon begged with a grin
“Joe too” Gomamon insisted “He’s like a fish out of water and I can talk” Gomamon prepared to use his attack: Marching fishing but Biyomon stopped him quickly.
“Keep an eye on Sora, I worry about her” Biyomon grimaced as she held Gomamon still.
“Make sure Matt stays level headed” Gabumon breathed as he hugged Kari goodbye.
“I’ll try” Kari laughed.
“Just me then...” Gatomon muttered as she looked at her partner
“Yeah, just you” Kari whispered back.
“And us” Agumon interrupted but Patamon covered Agumon’s mouth with his ear swiftly.
“I’m going to miss you Gatomon” Kari whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek
“We’re still there, watching over you. I’m sure we’ll find a way back one day. I promise I won’t lose you Kari. I know how upset you got last time” Gatomon swore solemnly.
“Gatomon...” Kari whispered as her data shuddered.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine” Gatomon promised.
“Hey it’s boxing day” Agumon chirped
“Really, well then happy boxing day! Lightning punch” Gatomon shouted, hitting Agumon’s data. He fizzed and began to fade.
A light filled the room and all of the digimon began to shudder into data form. Biyomon vanished first followed closely by Gomamon. “Please find a way, you have to come back again” Kari begged as Tentomon and Gabumon faded away.
“Kari...” Gatomon replied slowly as Patamon faded. “Just remember what a bunch of wonderful presents we were from Gennai, just do that...” Gatomon insisted as Palmon faded.
“I will. This was the best present ever” Kari promised as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“I’ll miss you Kari. You’re brilliant” Agumon chirped as he turned to data.
“It’s my turn; they all gave me as much time as they could. Goodbye Kari, I’ll find a way back. I promise.” Gatomon whispered as she faded slowly, first her tail. She hugged Kari but as the data touched her Gatomon went straight through. “Goodbye Kari” Gatomon whispered as she faded entirely. The light that had filled the room faded and Kari was left crying in the darkness
“Goodbye Gatomon” she sobbed silently.
“What’s wrong Kari?” T.K asked as he walked into the room
“I’m just sad that she’s gone” Kari whispered
“Who’s gone, everyone’s in bed?” T.K replied as he knelt down next to her
“Santa Claus, who else could it be?” Kari replied, quickly
“Santa’s a dude” T.K told her, hugging her and wiping her tears away
“You’re so misogynistic! Santa could be a woman, a happy, powerful successful woman!” Kari protested. She got to her feet and stormed out. T.K sighed
“You still believe in Santa?” he asked
“You believe vampires are real and if he wasn’t real then how do you explain the wonderful event of our digimon, idiot.” Kari retorted.
“I’m going to bed” T.K moaned as he walked upstairs.
“Merry Christmas...” Kari whispered as she looked at the space they had said goodbye one last time.