So here we are again. If you're reading this, that must mean Die For You's ending didn't scare you off. Anyway, I'm not going to waste time. Thanks so much for liking Die For You enough to want to read its sequel :)

Kari

Two weeks.

Two weeks since the fight with Devimon.

Two weeks since we started staying with Genai.

Two weeks since I had heard TK's voice. Two weeks since I had seen those blue eyes staring back at me.

I sat beside him on the bed, running my fingers through his blonde locks. Like always, he didn't respond, but I refused to let it get to me.

Gatomon was on the floor at my feet, looking up at me. She didn't say anything, but the worried look on her face hadn't left since the fight with Devimon. When I asked her what was wrong, she always said she was just worried about TK, but I knew better. Something else was bothering her, but I couldn't make her tell me. For now, I had enough to worry about. She would tell me when she was ready.

The door opened, and I tensed. Digidestined had been in and out over the last two weeks visiting TK. Tai and Matt came every day, with Joe and Izzy surprisingly being almost as frequent. Joe, of course, was interested in helping TK from the medical perspective. Under TK's clothes, Joe had bandaged his ribs as a precaution but said that most of the damage didn't seem to involve broken bones.

Genai and Patamon came in and relief washed over me as Patamon landed on TK'S chest. Genai had been pulling Patamon aside nearly every day for long periods of time, and when they returned, neither said a word about these meetings.

"Kari, come with me, please."

I stood up and headed over to Genai. Gatomon started to follow, but Genai shook his head. "Just Kari."

He closed the door behind us, and I wrapped my arms around myself. I didn't know why I was suddenly so nervous.

"I think it's almost time."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"I think he's going to wake soon," Genai said. "And I'm not sure if you should be here when he does."

"Wait, why not?"

He sighed. "We don't know how TK will be when he wakes. I think it would be better if Patamon and I talk to him first and then if he's fine, you can come in."

"I-I wanted to be there." I didn't typically argue, but I had waited two weeks to see him wake up, never leaving his side. I deserved to see those beautiful blue eyes the moment they opened.

But, then, he was in this situation because of me.

He put his hands on my shoulders. "It's okay. You'll have your moment with him. I just need to gauge his mental state. I don't want . . . Anything to go wrong."

I nodded, but my insides felt numb. As long as TK woke up, I didn't understand what could go wrong.

The door opened, and we turned, finding Gatomon. "Sorry to interrupt, but I think he's waking up."

Genai moved past me. "Gatomon, stay with Kari. Don't let her in until I give the okay."

TK

For the first time in a while, I felt something, and that something was extreme pain.

Everything hurt, like my body had been hit by a train.

I forced my fingers to move as I tried to make a fist. Then, I forced my eyes open. The sudden light blinded me, and I squinted. I blinked several times, adjusting my eyes. Patamon materialized before me.

"TK!" he dropped onto my chest, and, ignoring the pain, I wrapped my arms around him.

"Patamon, I'm so glad you're okay!" I squeezed him as tight as I could. It took several seconds for the memories to come back, and I wasn't ever sure if I remembered everything, but I remembered Devimon. And Angemon. Kari . . .

I bolted upright. Searing pain shot through me and I winced. Someone grabbed my shoulders.

"Take it easy. You're still healing."

"Where's Kari?" I demanded. "Is she okay?"

Genai nodded. "Kari is fine. We need to talk before you see her."

"Can I see her first?"

He studied me for a moment, but it was Patamon who spoke.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

I thought back, trying to remember exactly what happened and why I was in so much pain. I remembered Kari dropping to the ground, remembered trying to talk to her, but she wouldn't listen, And then I had kissed her and she snapped out of it, That was where my memory cut off.

"I kissed Kari," I said, a slight blush creeping across my cheeks.

They exchanged looks, and I immediately knew I was missing something. "What happened to me?"

"Devimon killed you," Genai said slowly. "Kari's light brought you back to life."

I tried to sit up but instantly regretted it. "What?"

"It's never happened before," Genai said. "All I know is that you need to rest. Your body is still pretty broken."

A million questions flooded my mind, but I barely had the energy to speak as exhaustion took over my mind. I just wanted to talk to Kari.

"Please, let me see her," I said. "I don't know how much longer I'm going to be awake."

Genai nodded. "I think it's safe."

As Genai left the room, I looked down at Patamon who wouldn't look at me.

"Patamon, what's wrong?"

He closed his eyes, and I noticed the tears threatening to spill over. "I almost lost you! That's what's wrong!"

I held him as close as I could, letting him cry into my shirt as I fought back my own tears. I didn't know what to say, so we just sat there, until the door opened.

Kari

I opened the door, taking a deep breath. TK was holding Patamon, and my chest tightened. I imagined seeing TK awake so many time these last two weeks, but now that it was real, I felt shy and couldn't find words.

His beautiful blue eyes locked with mine, and he released Patamon. Peeling back the blanket, he kicked his legs over the side, wincing. He stood up and came closer, but every step he took looked like it hurt him.

"Tk, don't hurt yourself. You'll make it worse," I said, but he didn't listen.

He stopped only a few inches away and wrapped his arms around me.

I returned his embrace. His head buried in my shoulder. He was shaking.

"I thought I lost you," I said, tears running down my face.

He pulled me closer, and tears that weren't mine landed on my shoulder..

"I'm okay," he said, though maybe more to convince himself than me. "You're here."

"I'm here," I confirmed, kissing his cheek. "I'm always here."

He took a deep breath and his body shuddered.

"You need to take it easy," I said. "You're broken."

He nodded, and I helped him back to the bed. He tried to sit up but ended up laying down.

I stroked his hair and he closed his eyes.

"You should stay away from me, TK."

He opened his eyes and took my hand in his. "I won't," he said. "I love you, Kari. I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you."

My heart swelled. For so long, I waited to hear him say this, but now it was the worst thing he could've said. "You should hate me."

"I could never," he said. "Kari, what's wrong?"

He didn't know. How could he not know?

"You . . . you were dead," I said, the words barely passing my lips. "You shouldn't have come for me. Then, you wouldn't be suffering right now."

"I said I would die for you," TK said. "Have I ever lied to you?"

I shook my head and a tear rolled down my cheek. "I thought I lost you."

"But, you didn't." He managed a smile. "So, if I really died, how am I here?'

I looked away. "I don't understand it. When you were hit, I held you and everything was surrounded by light. Genai says it's from inside me, and I was able to bring you back."

He nodded. "Hey, Kari . . . can you . . . lay beside me?"

My heart hammered in my chest at his request, but I did it. Much to my surprise, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him.

He nuzzled his nose into my hair, kissing my forehead.

"I could feel you lying here with me everyday," he said. "I wanted so bad to be able to hold you like this."

My cheeks warmed. "I . . . I wished for that, too." I snuggled against him as much as I could without hurting him. "Did you hear what I said to you . . . when I was lying here?"

He nodded. "I think I heard a lot of it. Some things are a little fuzzy, but I remember all the times you said you loved me, and all the times you begged me to get up. You're the reason why I did." His eyes grew wide. "How long exactly was I out?"

"Two weeks," I said.

He shook his head. "Matt . . . Mom . . . I'm sure Matt knows the truth, but what about my mom?"

I sighed. "Matt couldn't come up with an excuse to cover you for that long. In the end, he gave her the truth with some things omitted."

He nodded. "Right."

I brushed the hair from his eyes. "You should rest."

He groaned. "I just spent the last two weeks resting."

"But the more you rest the sooner you'll recover, and the sooner you recover, the sooner we can go home and enjoy our new . . . Whatever this is."

I wanted to say relationship, but I was afraid to call it that, afraid he would deny we had one. We kissed twice, but that was when our lives were at stake. Would he still kiss me when they weren't?

As if reading my mind, he turned his head, brushing his lips against mine. It was different from our other kisses. The desperation was gone, but it was replaced with gentleness.

When he pulled back, he smiled. "I think we're in a relationship. Wouldn't you say?"

I nodded, unable to hide my own smile. "I'd love that very much."

His smile vanished and he groaned. "Great. Guess I'll be getting that lecture from Tai after all."

I giggled. "Be glad Tai likes you. If he didn't, it'd be worse."

"Speaking of brothers . . . how is mine?"

"Matt . . . he's just really worried about you. He and Tai visit you every day. Everyone has been in and out of here for the last two weeks, actually."

He nodded. "I remember . . . some parts. I always tried to stay alert when you and Patamon were talking to me or near me, but the others . . . I don't remember a whole lot."

The door opened, startling me as Genai stepped inside again. "Sorry to interrupt, but TK, you have another visitor. Can I let her in?"

TK nodded, and I forced myself to sit up as Mimi walked in.

"Oh good, you're awake! How are you doing?" she asked.

TK smiled at her, but as he spoke, he looked at me. "Pretty good, all things considered."

Mimi frowned, looking at me. "You know, Kari, he'd heal a lot faster if you would just listen to me."

Heat rose to my cheeks. TK eyed me curiously.

"I won't do it," I said, burying my face in my hands.

"Do what?" TK asked.

"I told Kari she should get a nurse costume, but she won't do it."

I snuck a glance at TK and saw his cheeks were also now a light shade of pink. Good. I wasn't alone.

"You two are so easy to embarrass," she said. "It's cute."

"We're trying to take it slow," TK said, getting over his embarrassment faster than I could. "No need to rush it."

"Right. Good luck with that," she said, her lips curved into a smirk. "We'll see how long that lasts."

I looked back to TK. I wasn't really sure if he heard her, as his eyes blinked rapidly. He was fighting sleep.

I pressed my hand to his cheek, and he tried to focus on me. "Rest, TK. It's okay to sleep. You need it."

He closed his eyes. "Just . . . don't let me sleep for another two weeks."

"I promise." I pressed my lips against his as he drifted off to sleep. Standing up, I turned back to Mimi.

"We can talk in another room," I said, leading her to the door. I was partially relieved to find my brother sitting outside the door, meaning I wouldn't have to listen to Mimi's teasing right now.

He stood up, looking to me. "How is he? Genai told me he woke up."

I nodded. "He did, but he's sleeping now." A tear rolled down my cheek, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by memories of just moments ago. "He's in a lot of pain."

Mimi put her arm around my shoulders. "He's going to be okay, Kari. The important thing is that he's alive, right?"

I nodded, fighting back the other tears that threatened to fall. His pain would only be temporary. I just had to keep telling myself that.

"Matt's in another room with Genai," Tai said. "He'll be disappointed he's asleep again."

I nodded. "If he can, he can come back later. He'll probably be in and out for a while." I turned back toward the door. "I need to go . . . be with him."

I went back inside, finding Patamon snuggled against TK's side. Walking over to Patamon, a genuine smile spread across my face as I patted his head. "He's going to be okay, Patamon."

Patamon smiled, but I could sense his worry. "I really hope so, Kari."