**NOTE: Sorry if it seems like this chapter moves a bit slowly. Most of my pieces do so to get details and back stories out of the way. It's also very short as far as normal chapter length for me. Oh, and I would appreciate it if you would leave a review after reading this. It's the only way I can gauge what works and what doesn't. Thank you and I hope you enjoy.
CHAPTER I. Charm City
T.K stood on the back porch of a house overlooking the entire city of Baltimore, his arms wrapped around Kari, as they watched the sun rise over Charm City. They were visiting some mutual friends whom they had met years ago when they were last in the United States. Tai and Sora had accompanied them. They were looking forward to the next couple of weeks.
Kari shivered, still getting used to the cool summer mornings of America, even here in the summer.
"You okay, baby?" T.K asked.
"I'm fine," she replied, her breath sweet and minty, "just a little chilly."
"Here," he said, taking off his white zip-up hoodie and putting it around her shoulders.
"You're so sweet, T.K," she added, gently but tenderly kissing him on the cheek, "I'm so lucky to have you."
"I'm so lucky to have you, girl," he told her, tightening his grip around her waist slightly.
In contrast to the hectic nature of the city, the area where T.K and Kari were staying was quiet and serene. As the sun came up, piercing the blackness and reclaiming the sky from night, a Wood Thrush sang out a beautiful melody which bubbled on the calm morning air.
"Morning, guys," Tai said, quietly closing the door behind him and stepping onto the porch.
"Morning," T.K replied cheerfully, "you sleep okay?"
"Yeah," Tai answered, still a bit groggy, "how's your back, Kari?"
Even after all of these years, he was still quite protective of his little sister. It wasn't that long ago that he would have had a problem with T.K having his arms wrapped around her like he did. But he fully trusted T.K and knew that Kari adored him.
"It's better," she answered, gently adjusting T.K's hands on her waist, "wait, how'd you find out about that? I don't think I ever told you."
"Sis, it's pretty easy to tell when your back is acting up," he said, leaning up against the side of the house, "I mean, you get kind of...uh--"
He tried to search for the perfect word.
"--pissy," T.K finished his sentence. Kari glared at him.
"I do not," she protested, pushing his arms off of her.
"Relax, Kari," he assured her, "I think it's pretty cute."
He laughed.
She rolled her eyes.
Tai walked back inside, presumably to try and slip in another hour of sleep. Before he left, however, he reminded the two that the group would be setting off for New York City later that day. They had other friends that they would be staying with for a while.
But with that, silence returned to the still morning air. For the time being, it was just T.K and Kari standing on the porch.
"Aw, come on girl," T.K said to her, putting his arms around her playfully, "don't be mad. I just think you're adorable."
She couldn't help but smile. She loved it when T.K said things like that. She closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the birds and Charm City in the distance.