“Here Takeru. Take this,” the leader of the Digidestined, Yagami Taichi said as he placed two objects into the young boy’s palm.

Patamon gasped as Takeru stared wide-eyed at the items.

It was the Crest of Friendship and a harmonica. No, not a harmonica, his brother’s harmonica.

He little blond haired boy turned to look at Taichi, but the leader was now facing the Digidestined.

“I am sorry to say that…,” Taichi hesitated, biting his lip as if to hold back tears. “…our great friend, Yamato has lost his life during a noble battle in the cave.”

Horrified gasps and heartbreaking sobs escaped from the group. Takeru felt as though his heart was ripped out.

“Oniican!” screamed Takeru as he instinctively tried to run into the cave where he last saw his brother disappear into.

“Takeru!” cried Patamon as the flying digimon tried to hold him back by tugging his sleeve. The digimon’s attempt would have been futile if it wasn’t for Agumon’s help of holding Takeru back.

The little boy sunk to his knees, sobbing. He felt he had lost whatever energy that he had in his tiny body. Memories of his elder brother was so few, it seemed. He could not remember much of the time before their parents divorced.

He and Yamato only saw each other during school holidays. The Summer Camp that had them all plunged into the Digital World showed much of his brother’s protective side. So protective in fact it came to a point when he needed a looser leash.

When Takeru proved his gained independence, the elder blonde immediately left, returned to group later with menacing intentions. It hurt Takeru so much that his kind and caring brother could suddenly turn into a cold-hearted person.

After a little talk from an incomplete data digimon that used Yagami Hikari’s body as a medium, Yamato realized his evil and left again.

Later Yamato returned just in time to defeat Piedmon. During the battle, all hope seemed lost when Takeru was one of the last to remain free from Piedmon’s curse. The thought of his brother encouraging him held Takeru’s faith strong within himself, and it was the forte of Piedmon’s downfall.

Tears trickled down Takeru’s cheeks as he let out a loud wail. He cried his heart out as the elder Digidestineds led him away, not wanting him to set eyes on the remains of the battle in the cave.

Memories began to flood Takeru again, as his surroundings seem to blur. He could not concentrate on eating, he could not hear what his digimon or anyone else was saying. He did not watch the time and soon night descended and it was time for slumber. He, however, continued to mourn.

The Digidestined and the digimon tried to coax him to sleep but he wouldn’t listen. Taichi, exasperated, even tried to play Yamato’s harmonica to put his best friend’s little brother to sleep, but it simply worsened Takeru’s wails. The playing was awful anyway.

“Leave him,” Izumi Kouchiro sighed. “Sooner or later he’ll have to sleep.”

The rest reluctantly agreed. Exhausted and grave, they tucked themselves to bed despite Takeru’s occasional bawls and mostly sobs. Patamon was grieved by Takeru’s sorrow, and used up his last inch of energy by staying by his partner’s side and offering words of consolation.

Sleep did eventually take Takeru as such a young boy needs the rest for his growing body. The sleep however refreshed the memories that none of the Digidestined want to recall.

The event in the dream took place after Piedmon’s defeat. They would have taken a break after the battle but for some reason, Hikari wandered off. (Later she claimed she heard a cry for help which no one else could hear). The leader and her brother, Taichi set out to look for her but right in front of the Digidestined’s eyes, a smoky creature materialized and snatched Taichi away.

They never felt so terrified before. With Kouchiro’s suggestion, they sought Gennai’s help and the reply was to simply forget about it. Angered, Yamato took over the leader’s position and went forth to search for Taichi.

With a combination mostly of Kouchiro and Jou’s knowledge, they found the entrance to a half-completed data castle that Takeru managed to glimpse from afar. His brave brother entered and brought back Taichi who looked bruised and beaten. The details were not shared.

When Taichi resumed his leading role, he slacked off for awhile, apathy to his duties. Yamato was furious and started yelling that his sacrifice was not appreciated at all. That statement snapped Taichi back to reality and he tried to pursue what the “sacrifice” was, but Yamato regretted even having to blurt that out.

Their next meeting with Gennai was not a pleasant one. He claimed that his has happened to some of the former Digidestineds. The ones captures generally turned out fine when they were rescued. It was the brave rescuers that suffered – all of them went mad.

Takeru was frightened, but his big brother merely shrugged it off. However, Patamon began to note Takeru about Yamato’s odd behavior. He threw stones at nothing and at times avoided looking at certain spaces. In addition, he avoided Takeru.

Then it happened. They were all collecting food when Yamato just dropped his load and rushed into a cave. Gabumon announced that no one was to follow and he ran in. After a few moments’ wait, Taichi said the same thing and dashed in with Agumon. He soon appeared again with the news… the news of his brother’s death.

Takeru eyes flew open, the dream left him as quickly as the fleeting of the wind. Even though in reality the event in the dream most likely cost months, images and memories were sporadic and lasted seconds, but he understood the story.

The prickling of tears again at the side of his eyes, he wondered if he’ll ever stop crying. Then he decided he really didn’t care. He took out the Crest of Friendship from his pocket. More tears.

Feeling someone’s gaze on him, he turned around and was surprised to find Tachikawa Mimi casting a disapproving look at… the crest? Realizing that Takeru saw her, she apologized and closed her eyes, hoping to return to sleep.

Takeru was intrigued. What was it that beckoned her to find disapproval with the crest? Maybe she didn’t like people crying so much, but that reason sounded ironic to the young blonde as Mimi herself was an emotional person.

“Mimi-sempai?” Takeru called softly. Patamon beside him stirred at the sound and opened his eyes groggily. No answer from the elder Digidestined. Takeru called again, slightly louder this time.

“Shh… Takeru, please go back to sleep,” Mimi pleaded in a whisper. She was fond of the younger child, perhaps more of an equal friendly footing than the rest of the Digidestined. Her naivety could be considered in par with Takeru, although Mimi possessed charm and sensitivity that differs her and the younger boy.

“Doishte? Mimi-sempai, what’s wrong with remembering about my oniican?” Takeru asked, refusing to obey. He normally was an obedient child, but since his elder brother passed away, his mind was more on the brother than being a good little boy.

Mimi sighed. “Nothing wrong with memories, Takeru. Why did you ask? Just sleep, don’t worry too much.”

Takeru blinked in surprise and looked down at the blue crest. “Demo… Mimi-sempai didn’t look happy when Mimi-sempai saw me holding oniican’s crest.”

Mimi sat up, which disturbed her plant digimon, Palmon’s sleep.

“Nani Mimi-chan?” Palmon asked, half-moaning as she got to her feet. Mimi apologized and turned back to Takeru.

“You know that this is your brother’s crest,” Mimi stated. Takeru nodded slowly, unsure of what was on her mind.

“What do you think we remember Yamato-kun as?” she asked.

“A friend?” replied the younger child with a tone of worry in his voice.

Mimi gave a small smile. “Hai. Don’t worry, we all like your brother even though he may be aggressive at times.”

Then she sighed again. “Demo… what do you think other people would remember him as? Think what the future Digidestined would think of him as?”

“A Digidestined?”

“The Child of Friendship!” Mimi cried, a bit louder than intentional, which earned a “shh!” from both Palmon and Patamon. Taichi mumbled in his slumber something to do with “sleep”.

Mimi giggled, amused at Taichi. Then looking more seriously at Takeru, she explained. “What I really mean is that this crest is his identity. Others will know him by the crest when….” She cut off that sentence and instead said, “I don’t know why Taichi gives it to you, but I feel it should stay with Yamato.”

Suddenly Takeru felt more conscious of his brother’s possessions. After all, it did belong to his brother, and Taichi should not be taking items from him just because he is dead. It seemed even weirder to think that Yamato would cry out “give my harmonica and crest to Takeru” while in the middle of a fierce battle.

Takery thought to that extent. He rejected the idea of his brother informing Taichi about what possessions he wished to be given away. To him, Taichi had given him the items for consolation. That made sense.

“Let’s go Patamon,” said Takeru as he stood up. Patamon, Mimi and Palmon were surprised.

“Where are you going?” Patamon inquired, dreading the answer as he followed Takeru who was walking away.

“Takeru!” Mimi cried, but immediately quieted. She did want the Crest of Friendship returned to the owner, and if she wakes up everyone else, they might not understand.

After all, the person who understood symbolism like her and was ready to defend has deceased. She decided that she would at least assure Takeru’s safety. They’ll just bury the Crest of Friendship on Yamato’s grave and return to the Digidestined group.

“Come Palmon,” whispered Mimi as she and Palmon ran after the two figures in the night.