Notes: This is the first Digimon story (or any story, really) that is not intended to have any sort of romantic undertones. I'm trying to highlight relationships of a familial nature, by taking a few liberties with the characters from Season 1 and Season 2 Digimon Adventure. In this story, Yagami Susumu died several years ago of cancer, and Yagami Yuuko (Tai & Kari's mom) marries Ishida Hiroaki (Yamato's dad).

In this story, Taichi is 11 years old, Yamato is 10, and both Hikari and Takeru are 8.

Thank you, Just a Reader, for pointing out the mistake in Sora's last name.

Digimon Reboot

Family Divided, Family Reunited

Yagami Taichi sighed as his mother fussed yet again with his step-brother's jacket, her brown eyes trying to convey an emotion that seemed to be completely lost on Yamato: concern. It had been four days since his mom, Yagami Yuuko, had married Yamato's dad, Ishida Hiroaki, and as far as Tai was concerned, they were the four worst days from hell.

The wedding had been a disaster - Yamato had practically locked himself in the bathroom for three hours. Tai had had to threaten to break down the door before the petulant blond had come out, glaring and looking as though he'd barely run a comb through his unusually lank hair. Only an additional threat of setting the entire soccer team on the brat had convinced Yamato to smile for the wedding photos, and when their parents had set off for the new apartment for their brief honeymoon, Tai, Kari and their new step-brother had gone to spend three days with his mom's parents.

Yamato had pitched a fit when he'd been told that he'd have to share a bunk bed with Tai. Even after they'd gone to bed, Tai had listened for hours as the blond cried stifled sobs long into the night. The next day, his step-brother had refused to come out of the room until long after noon, and barely said a word to anyone. He'd looked like someone who'd been crying, not that anyone had been brave enough to call him on it. Tai had gone to bed early that night, but he was forced awake when he heard the sound of Yamato's sobs coming from the bunk above him. By the third day, Taichi accused the blond of keeping him awake at night with all of his crying. It hadn't gone over well with the apparently sensitive ten-year-old, who had proceeded to leave his step-grandparents apartment in a fit of anger. When Yamato had returned, he looked like he'd spent the five hours he'd been gone sitting in the rain.

Tai hadn't been surprised when, after spending their first night at their parents' new apartment, Yamato had woken up with a nasty cold. He'd even gone so far to grumpily say so at the breakfast table as his mom made them a very inedible breakfast. His mother had scolded him for being mean to his new step-brother, and Kari had kicked his shin under the table, but Yamato had insisted he'd be fine going to summer camp like originally planned.

"I packed you a sweater in case you get cold," Yuuko said sweetly to the stubborn blond. "Don't feel like you can't come home if you're not feeling well, okay?"

Yamato nodded mechanically, but even Tai could tell he wasn't listening to a word his step-mom was saying. Jerk.

As if she could read his mind, his mother turned her attention to him, almost glaring with her ferocious, over-protective streak. "As for you, Taichi, I expect you to be nice to your step-brother. Take good care of him and your sister, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." Taichi groaned.

"Good!" His mother smiled, then hugged him tightly. She then whispered, "There's some cold medicine in Yamato's bag, too. Make sure he takes it regularly. Hiroaki says he can be stubborn."

/I could've told you that, mom,/ Tai thought darkly, but nodded anyway.

The brunette woman turned her eyes to the eight-year-old girl standing on the otherside of Yamato.

"My little Kari-chan," she said, stooping down so that she was eye-to-eye with her daughter. "You'll make sure Taichi isn't too mean to Yama-chan, right?"

"Yes!" Kari giggled, hugging their mom. "I'll miss you, mama!"

"I'll miss you too! The apartment is going to be so quiet without you for two weeks!"

Tai watched his mother hesitate after letting go of his sister. After about a half-a-second of warring with herself, she pulled Yamato into a tight hug - a move that surprised the blond. "I'm gonna be mad at you if you don't take care of yourself, Yama-chan."

"Yeah, whatever." the blond replied, peeling his step-mom off of him and heading towards the bus.

Suppressing a growl of frustration, Tai shook his head and grabbed both his and Kari's bags. He said 'bye' to his mom once more and climbed the bus steps.

The seat across from the one Yamato had taken was empty, so Tai tossed the bags into it and slid in before glaring at Yamato from over top of Kari's head. The blond was listening to his walkman now, his eyes closed, head resting against the cold window pane. Occassionally, Tai could see the blond's shoulders shake as a cough wracked his frame.

The bus had already begun to move when Kari struck up a conversation to Takenouchi Sora, one of the few girls who Taichi played soccer with.

"So your mom got married again?" the strawberry blond girl asked.

"Huh?" he asked, turning his gaze from his step-brother, who had apparently fallen asleep, to his friend. "Oh. Yeah. To Ishida's dad."

"Ishida?" Sora repeated, looking thoughtful. "You don't mean..."

Tai pointed to Yamato, and watched as Sora's eyes widened. "Really? Wow. What's that like?"

In the two years that Yamato had attended their school, he had made himself something like a pariah to the students. Everyone knew who he was, even if they didn't know his name. It was hard not to notice him, what with his unusual blond hair and bright blue eyes, and his tendency to shove himself in the middle of other people's fights. The kid didn't even bother trying to get along with any of his classmates - in fact, he seemed to be content to be everyone's enemy.

"A pain." Tai replied honestly. "He's not so thrilled with our parents getting married, I guess."

"Oniichan!" Kari scolded.

"It's the truth!" he replied.

"What's his deal, anyway?" Tachikawa Mimi asked innocently, exchanging one of those oh-my-God-he's-so-cute looks with Sora that made Tai's skin crawl.

"I dunno." he shrugged. "His parents got divorced like three years ago. I guess he lived with his dad, but his little brother lives with his mom."

"That's so sad!" Sora exclaimed.

"Yeah, I guess so."

In all honesty, he wondered if his little brother wasn't the source of most of Yamato's attitude problems. The blond kept everyone at an arm's length, like he was afraid to get too attached.

As the bus came to a halt, Tai slung his and Kari's bags over his shoulder. After the bus was almost empty, he reached across the aisle to where Yamato was asleep and shook his step-brother's shoulder. "Hey, Ishida!" he hissed. When the blond didn't stir, he shouted his mom's favorite pet-name for the boy, "Yama-chan!"

With an angry growl, the blond snapped awake, blue eyes looking about wildly. "Wha - huh?" Upon spotting Taichi's smugly grinning face, the blond scowled. "Don't call me that!"

"Wake up, Princess, we're here." Tai replied, walking off the bus.

Once outside, he could see students milling about, waiting for their cabin assignments. Kari had found the second grade leader, Mikimoto-sensei, and was talking to a girl with coke-bottle glasses and long, purple-colored hair, while a small blond boy dressed in green was being chased by a small brunette boy with spiky hair.

When Yamato stood beside him, Tai watched the little blond boy's eyes light up.

"Oniichan!" the kid shouted, running straight for a very surprised-looking Yamato.

"T-takeru!"

"Isn't this great, oniichan? I missed you tons!" the little boy announced, hugging his brother's legs.

"I missed you too, kiddo."

Deciding to play oldest big-brother, Taichi slung his arm around Yamato's shoulders, knowing it would probably irritate him. Served him right for keeping Tai awake most of the night.

"So, Yama-chan, is this my youngest brother?"

He should have expected the elbow to the gut, but somehow, he hadn't. The look of surprise on Takeru's face was almost worth it though.

"Oniichan!" the youngest blond chastized. "I'm gonna tell mom you were fighting!"

Yamato's lips pursed into a thin line. "Shut up, Yagami! We aren't your brothers!"

"Huh?"

By now, Kari had wandered over to where they stood, worry clear on her face. "Oniichan, you're not supposed to be mean to Yamato-san!"

"He's the one who elbowed me!" Tai retorted. "Besides, isn't it kind of cruel to say we're not your siblings, now that your dad is married to our mom?"

Takeru's blue eyes widened. "Wha...? Oniichan, is it true?"

With a 'hmph' of disdain, Yamato crossed his arms over his chest and turned his back to the oldest of the Yagami children. "Yeah. For now."

Stalking off towards the fifth-grade leader, Fujiama-sensei, Yamato ignored Takeru's concerned expression.

"Anou..." the little boy said, turning his blue eyed gaze on the Yagami children. "I'm Takaishi Takeru, but everyone calls me TK. Glad to meet you!"

"I'm Taichi, but you can call me Tai. And this is my sister Kari." Tai returned with a smile.

"Cool! So now I've got two brothers and a sister!" TK's grin was as bright as the sun shining down on them. "This is so neat! Wanna play together, Kari?"

"Sure!"

The two eight-year-olds ran off down the hill, laughing together, as Taichi reluctantly headed towards Fujiama-sensei.

"No way!" he heard Yamato exclaim. "I'm not sharing a room with that moron!"

"No switching, Ishida-kun." Fujiama warned. "I've already spoken to your father, and I've been told to make certain that you and Yagami-kun work out your differences."

"This sucks!"

"Ishida-kun." Fujiama's vocie had a steel backbone that threatened detention and hours of suffering. Even Yamato seemed put-off by it.

"Hai, sensei." he growled.

When the blond turned around to face Taichi, he glared and wordlessly stalked down hill towards the cabins. Fujiama cast an apologetic smile at Tai, who shrugged and wordlessly chased after his step-brother.

"Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?" he asked after five minutes of silence. "You'd waste a lot less energy if you were a little nicer to people you know."

"Shut up." Yamato retorted, coughing slightly.

"I mean, you could be enjoying a little time spent with TK. He seems like a sweet enough kid, but you've got to go and ruin it with your attitude problem. I just don't get it."

"I said, 'Shut up.'"

"I mean, it's not like you're gonna get to see him much after we leave here, so if I were you, I'd be spending every chance I got with him. Not that you will, because you're not happy unless everyone else is as miserable as you are."

"I SAID -" Yamato had turned around suddenly, eyes wide with rage. He had started to shout at Tai when his face suddenly paled. A hand shot up to his mouth, and before Tai knew exactly what was happening, the blond had raced towards the side of the trail to vomit in the bushes.

As queasy as his own stomach was becoming, listening to Ishida wretch up a breakfast he hadn't eaten, Tai couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He walked over to where the boy was kneeling on the ground and rubbed his back in big, slow circles.

"Geez, you really are sick." he murmured. "You must really hate my mom if you chose to go to camp like this."

Ishida groaned in response, weakly coughing as his stomach settled. His arms were shaking so bad that Tai was pretty sure he was probably going to fall over in a few minutes, but slowly, the boy stood. "Didn't feel this bad before."

"Maybe you should go home." Tai suggested. "I mean, I know you don't want to spend time with my mom, and God knows her cooking will probably make you sicker, but it's got to be better than suffering two weeks like this."

For a moment, it looked like the blond was going to agree. Then the sky opened up, and snow began to fall at an unnatural rate.

"What the hell?" Tai pondered, holding out a gloved hand and watching as the snow accumulated on it. "It's the middle of summer. It shouldn't be snowing."

"Everyone, find shelter and wait out the snow!" Fujiama-sensei could be heard shouting.

"I guess we'd better find somewhere to wait." Tai grabbed Yamato's wrist and pulling him rather reluctantly along. "Come on."

To be continued...

Post-script notes: There's a reason that TK hadn't met Taichi and Kari yet. There's a little bit of a back story here that will be explained as the chapters go on. Sorry for confusing people a bit!