I’m so sorry for not updating in such a long time! I’ve just started COLLEGE now, so getting past senior year, applications, graduation, and then my last summer as a kid with my friends – it was all just too much and I couldn’t write. It’s taken me so long I’ve sort of lost where I was going with this fic so I apologize if it’s crap.

I’ll get on with it, though.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Digimon.

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“C’mon, Shinya. Why won’t you tell me what you wanted to ask Izumi?” Takuya turned his head around to face the boys in the back. They were too engrossed in Tommy’s DS to pay attention, though.

When no answer came, Takuya turned back to his driving. He hated driving and he hated long drives even more, the snowy mountain was far away, too. It gave him too much time to think and he hated that.

Izumi was all he ever thought about now. The way her hair smelled, the soft touch of her hand on his, the sound of her voice screaming at him. He chuckled to himself as he rounded the corner to the snowy hill.

“We’re here,” he announced. Right away the two boys snapped to attention, forgetting about the DS and clambered out of the monstrous car.

Ever since Shinya and Takuya were little boys they had loved the snow. The nearest place that had it was far from South Bay City, half way between their new home and their old home. As much as Takuya loved the beach and all the wonders of summer, there was just something about winter that he loved just as much.

Shinya and Tommy quickly grabbed their snowboards and went off to slide down the slight slope of the hill. It wasn’t the best place for snowboarding, but Takuya and Shinya always had fun.

Takuya brushed a hand through his thick, brown hair and looked up at the grey sky. It was so cold. But it was calming here. As much as he didn’t want to think, the drive had prepared him. As he sat by his car, watching Shinya and Tommy board down, he took out a new set of shells and string and set about making a new choker.

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“What do you mean we’re moving?” Izumi stared at her parents, gripping the edges of the kitchen table. “You mean, like, downtown or something, right? To a bigger place?”

“No. We’re moving to Seoul, Korea. Your father’s business is expanding there. I know it’ll be hard for you, but since you’ll be going off to college soon you’ll be able to come back in a few years to stay with your friends,” her mother explained, gently stroking Izumi’s hair.

“I’m sorry we have to move in the middle of your school year, but I’m afraid it just can’t be helped, sweetie,” her father apologized.

“No… Don’t be sorry, Daddy,” Izumi said, staring at the white of the kitchen table. She’d forgotten how clean her mother kept it. “It’ll just be for a little while and then I can come back to South Bay City for college. Besides, it’s great that you’re finally getting a promotion.”

“I’m glad you understand,” her father sighed.

“I’m going to go see the snow with June and Kouji, I’ll be back for dinner,” she said, her voice was so soft they almost couldn’t hear her.

Izumi rushed out the door, grabbing her warmest coat and wrapping it tightly around her.

“Hey,” Kouji said, with a smile on his face. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they walked into Kouichi’s car. “I’m so ready to see the snow. Aren’t you?”

“Huh?” Izumi blinked at him and then smiled. “Yeah.” She wasn’t going to tell anyone, she decided just then. Her parents had informed her that this would be their last Christmas in South Bay City. And before the New Year, they would be in Seoul.

“You okay, Izu?” June turned around to face her friend. “I thought you’d be more excited to go see the snow.”

“I’m a little tired,” Izumi said, sheepishly. “Hey, Kouji.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s build a snowman!”

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When Shinya and Tommy were finally tired, they sat with Takuya in the car. They had turned the heater all the way up and were huddled under blankets that Takuya had brought from their house.

“Days like this,” Shinya said, through chattering teeth. “I really miss Mom.”

Takuya ruffled his little brother’s hair. “She used to make us hot chocolate and she’d wraps us up in those stuffy jackets,” Takuya said, reminiscing. “I miss her, too.”

Shinya turned to Tommy but he had fallen asleep. The long ride and all of the exertion of the snowboarding had tired him out, apparently.

“Hey, Takuya…”

“Hm?”

“What I wanted to ask Izumi…” Shinya blushed. “I wanted to ask her about how to ask this girl out.”

Takuya grinned. “That’s my little brother! So, who is she?”

“She’s in my band class,” Shinya said. “She plays trumpet, too.”

“That’s precious, lil bro. Really,” Takuya laughed.

“Shut up!” Shinya’s face was even redder. “Well, I wanted to ask Izumi… I mean, I don’t know anything… And it wasn’t like I could ask you.” Takuya stopped laughing. “So, what happened with you guys?”

“She broke up with me,” Takuya said, staring out the window. “She has this ridiculous notion that I like some other girl, so she told me I should go out with her instead. Now she’s going out with Kouji.”

“That’s not weird?”

“It’s a little weird,” Takuya shrugged. “But Kouji’s a good guy, I guess. I know Izumi doesn’t like him, though, as a boyfriend, I mean.”

“Isn’t that Kouichi’s car?” Shinya asked, peering out the window.

Takuya watched as the familiar blue RAV4 pulled up to the side of his beat up van. He ducked his head and forced Shinya to do the same. They watched as one by one, Kouichi, Kouji, June, and Izumi piled out of the car. Takuya leaned his head against the door and sighed.

“Should we go?” Shinya asked, looking at his brother, concerned.

“Yeah.”

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“Brrr! It’s so cold!” June groaned, clinging to Kouichi for warmth.

“It’s nice to see the snow and then go back to South Bay, huh?” Kouji said, with a smile.

“Yeah. I guess it’s nice to see the snow and all but the ocean is still my favorite,” Izumi agreed.

“Let’s get started on that snowman, then.”

Kouichi and June started rolling up the body while Izumi and Kouji set to work on gathering the twigs for it’s arms and getting out the hat and scarves from the car. Izumi wanted to take a picture of it so she could keep it forever.

“Oh no!” June shouted.

“What?”

“My camera’s out of batteries…”

Izumi looked around. They were surrounded by wilderness, they’d have to go all the way back down the hill for batteries.

“There’s a van right there, maybe someone’s in it,” Kouichi said.

“I’ll go ask them,” Izumi volunteered. Kouji grabbed her arm.

“I think it’s better if Kouichi or I go, that van looks a little suspicious.”

“It looks familiar, actually,” Izumi said. “I think they live across the street. It’s fine.”

Izumi walked over to the van while Kouichi and the others set back to their work. Kouji was still a little wary of that beat up old van, though.

Izumi couldn’t see anyone in the car, but she saw a young boy in the back asleep. She knocked on the window. “Hello? Hello? Do you guys have any batteries we might be able to use?”

The door opened, to Izumi’s surprise. “Hey...”

“Takuya!”

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I’m really sorry this was so short, but I just wanted to show you that I’m still here and I’m still writing and I plan to finish this fic, soon.

So, I apologize again for taking so long. Hope you’ll still R&R!