Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Ch. 1 A Certain Boy

The bell signaling the end of school rang, breaking into Kari's concentration. She looked up, startled to see how fast time had gone by. Science usually dragged on the longest out of all her classes.

"Alright, class is over!" her Science teacher shouted. "See you all on Monday."

Kari exited her classroom and looked around furtively as she walked through the gates of the school. Up in a tree was what appeared to be a white cat with big blue eyes wearing gloves.

"Gatomon, how long have you been sitting up in the tree?" Kari asked as the Digimon jumped out of the tree and onto the ground near her feet.

"Since lunch time," Gatomon grumbled as Kari picked her up and started walking home. "It's been very boring being up in that tree, even with Patamon around."

Kari gave Gatomon a strange look. "Patamon was with you?"

"Yes, but T.K came by a little before school ended and Patamon left," Gatomon explained as the Kamiya's apartment came into view.

T.K…Kari thought. His name echoed in her head, and suddenly she couldn't stop thinking about him. His face appeared in her thoughts.

"Kari? KARI!"

Kari blinked, T.K's face abruptly gone from her thoughts as she stared down at Gatomon's big blue eyes. "W-what?"

"You've been staring into space for the past five minutes, and we're at the door," Gatomon complained, pointing at the door.

"Sorry," Kari muttered, unlocking the door and shutting it behind her.

There was a note on the table from her older brother Tai. At soccer practice, might not be home till 6.

"Does that mean Agumon's here?" Kari wondered aloud, scanning the empty apartment.

"I'm here!" a voice came from the kitchen. Agumon's head appeared from the pantry, and he appeared to be eating some chocolate.

"Hey save some for me!" Gatomon called, leaping onto the floor and running into the pantry.

Kari shook her head, smiling, and walked off into her room.

A few hours later, she'd finished her homework and was staring off into space. T.K was on her mind again. I've known him since we first traveled to the Digital World with the original Digidestined four years ago, and I never felt like this, she thought.

She looked at a framed photo sitting on her desk. In it, the eight original Digidestined were smiling at the camera, with their partner Digimon next to them.

It's been so long since we've all met up together, Kari thought, reaching out and lightly touching the frame. I only see any of us when we're at school. Even then, we're all so busy.

Gatomon walked into the room. "Yolei just called. I think there's something going on in the Digital World."

Kari instantly sprang to her feet, all thoughts of T.K out of her mind. "Did she specify what's going on?"

Gatomon shook her head. "We need to get to school and activate one of the Digiports to get there."

"Right," Kari said, grabbing her Digivice and running out the door with Gatomon close behind. "Agumon, tell Tai if he comes back."

"Sure thing!" Agumon shouted back. "Good luck!"

Kari arrived at the darkened school that she'd left just hours earlier, Gatomon hard on her heels.

She dashed up into the computer lab, to see Yolei, Cody, and Davis waiting for her with their Digimon. "What's going on? Where's everyone else?"

"Ken says he's on his way, but it'll take him ten minutes to get here," Yolei explained, holding up her Digivice. "And T.K just finished his dinner so he's on his way with Patamon."

Kari's heart beat faster at the mention of T.K, and she felt that her face had gotten a little warmer. She lightly touched her fingers to her cheeks. What is wrong with me?

"Kari, why do you look so red?" Davis asked, looking hopeful. "Does this mean you've finally fallen for me?"

Gatomon flicked her tail at him, her ring glinting. "Don't hold your breath, Davis."

Now it was Davis's turn to go red, and he scowled at Gatomon. "Well, you never know!"

"Stop hitting on Kari, we've got a mission to accomplish," Yolei scolded, adjusting her eyeglasses. Poromon fluttered in the air above her shoulder.

T.K arrived, panting and out of breath. Patamon was perched on his shoulder. "Am I late?"

"Yeah, by like five minutes, TJ," Davis shot at him.

"I just arrived here two minutes ago," Kari put in, smiling at T.K.

T.K smiled back at Kari, making her heart beat faster. "Hey, Kari."

"Now we just have to wait for Ken," Yolei grumbled, putting down her grocery bags. "Better eat so you guys have the strength to fight."

DemiVeemon and Poromon quickly started pigging out on the food Yolei had brought from her parents' store. Gatomon sighed and shook her head at the two Digimon eating like pigs. "They act no better than kittens."

Patamon laughed from his perch on T.K's shoulder.

About five minutes later, Ken tore into the classroom, panting and looking like he'd run a marathon, with Minomon behind him. "Sorry I'm late," he managed to gasp out. "But does anyone know what's going on in the Digital World? Yolei's message was seriously cryptic."

Davis sighed. "Izzy messaged me. There've been more control spires popping up in the Digital World."

Ken's eyes were a storm of emotions. Although they had no doubts that he had renounced his past, they all knew that his memories of his days as the Digimon Emperor still haunted him. "Not again."

T.K. frowned. "Please don't tell me that Arukenimon suddenly came back and now she's out to get us again." Everyone pulled faces at the memory of the spider-like Digimon.

"Hopefully not, but that's all the information Izzy had to give me," Davis reported. "Are we going or what?"

Yolei held her Digivice up to the computer. "Digiport open!"

A flash of light enveloped the Digidestined and their Digimon, and they were gone.

The Digidestined and their Digimon fell out of the computer in Kari's and Tai's apartment a few hours later. "Ouch," Yolei complained, rubbing her head. "Who hit me in the head?"

"That…might've been me," Davis offered meekly, shrinking back.

"Are your goggles that fogged up?" Yolei shrieked, and chased Davis out the door with Poromon fluttering madly to catch up.

"Wait for me!" DemiVeemon shouted as he ran after the bickering duo.

T.K, Cody, and Ken bade their farewells to Kari, and they quietly snuck out of the computer lab.

Kari watched them leave, feeling a sense of loss without T.K. Oh, how could I feel this way when I don't know what he feels towards me? she silently asked herself. Maybe he sees me as a sister…

She started walking home, and let out a sigh. Gatamon looked up at her. "What's wrong?"

Kari bit her lip. "Nothing much."

They arrived back at the Kamiya apartment ten minutes later. Kari unlocked the door and gently closed it behind her.

The door opened two seconds later, and Tai walked in. "Hey, Kari."

"Hey Tai. We just got back from the Digital World," Kari informed him, sitting down in the kitchen with a sigh.

"What happened?" Tai asked as he went into his room to change out of his soccer clothes.

"More control spires are randomly popping up, and we don't know what's going on," Kari explained, leaning back in her chair.

Tai frowned as he came out of his room. "Really? Didn't you guys destroy them about a year ago?"

"Yes, but a few are popping back up. Luckily, it's not as bad as it used to be," Kari said, closing her eyes. "Wake me up when it's dinner time, will you? I'm so tired."

"Sure," Tai said, walking into the kitchen. "I'll start preparing dinner."

My first Digimon fanfic. Reviews greatly appreciated :)