This idea (most of it, anyway) has been floating around in my brain since season 2 first aired, and with Digimon Tri, I figured now would be as good a time as ever to get this story out of my head. I did some research on the Japanese school system and tried to get it right to the best of my ability, but if something is off, feel free to let me know. I also decided to set this roughly a year after Tri, because of not knowing what was going to go down in the rest of it, so TK and Kari are in their last year of junior high (15 years old).

Summary: TK and Kari were bound together, at least that's what TK thought. After spending a summer apart, Kari is anxious to see TK again, but TK was distancing himself further away from her as he tries to sift through his own feelings. When pushing her away, however, he pushes her right into the arms of the new student, Malik. Kari soon begins to change, and not for the better. When she disappears, TK, with Patamon and Gatomon by his side, goes on a mission to find her, but finding Kari leads them right to the source of TK's childhood nightmares.

Disclaimer: Malik is mine. That's pretty much it.

Kari

Darkness surrounded me.

I knew this place. It has been a while since it last invaded my dreams. Unlike my past dreams about the dark ocean, I wasn't alone. A shadow came closer, out of the mist. I wasn't afraid. In fact, it was comforting. TK's image popped into my head, followed by Yolei's. It had to be - -

He appeared before me. His dark hair was slick back with too much hair gel, and his lean figure was relaxed, making me relax. He held out his hands, his green eyes encouraging me. I touched his hands, and warmth swept through my body. He leaned in closer to me, and his lips found mine.

Something shook me, making the images fade little by little until I opened my eyes, finding myself at home, in my bed.

Gatomon perched near my head, the obvious source of the shaking.

"I take it you had a nice dream," she commented. "You had a goofy look on your face and now you're blushing. Was a certain someone there?"

My blush deepened. "I don't even know who it was."

I pulled the green uniform from my closet, attempting to brush off the dream. But, I knew from past experiences that not all my dreams were just dreams, especially ones regarding the dark ocean. But, who was that guy?

As I slipped on my shirt, I checked my phone. Nothing. I sighed.

"Just give him heck when you see him today," Gatomon said as if reading my mind.

I nodded, but we both knew I never would.

This summer, TK and Matt went to Paris to visit their grandparents. TK and I talked every day during the first two weeks, sending each other several messages a day and two phone calls a week, but after two weeks, two turned into one, and several messages a day turned into a few messages per week, and for the last week, I hadn't heard anything at all. I hoped he was okay, but he wasn't okay was the only explanation I could understand.

I supposed it didn't matter anymore. He was supposed to get home two days ago, and today he would have to see me in school. Things would just go back to normal, as if he never left. At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

When I was finished getting ready, I headed out of the room, leaving the door open for Gatomon to follow me. She didn't, but judging from the smell in the kitchen, I didn't have a chance to really think about it.

I had to admit, Mom was a decent cook . . . as long as she didn't try anything unusual. Typical food that could be made in a microwave or toaster was her specialty.

"Good morning, Kari. I hope you're hungry."

I smiled at Mom as I took a seat next to Tai who was chowing down to a plate of eggs and waffles. He was in the final stretch of his senior year, and while some of our friends were cracking under that pressure (or as Joe had the year before), it didn't seem to faze Tai much.

When Tai was finished, I hadn't even started. He grabbed his bag (and his lunch, for once) and headed for the door. I didn't have to leave for another hour, at least.

"Tai, have you heard from Matt recently?"

He looked at me as if he just noticed I was there. "Yesterday. Why?"

"Is everything okay? Did they make it home safely?"

He nodded. "Yeah, as far as I know. Haven't you talked to TK?"

I shook my head, refusing to elaborate. I forced a smile. "He's probably jet-lagged. I'll see him today."

I forced myself to eat what was in front of me, but when Mom asked if I wanted seconds, I politely declined and went back to my room. Gatomon was gone, and the window was hanging open. My heart sunk. What was she doing?

Gatomon

Kari and I both knew she wasn't cut out for this. Confrontations weren't her thing, so it was a good thing she had me.

I spotted TK walking to school. I followed them from a close distance until Patamon poked his head out of TK's bag. He flew over to me, seemingly going undetected by TK.

"Hey, Gatomon, what's going on?"

I led him down an alley before responding, "Kari's worried because TK hasn't spoken to her since he came home, and he's been distant with her for half the summer. Can you tell me what's going on?"

Patamon averted his gaze. "Something happened, and he just hasn't been feeling right ever since."

"What does that have to do with him not talking to Kari?"

"I shouldn't say."

I groaned. "Patamon, this is serious."

He looked me in the eyes. "I'm sure he'll tell her sooner or later, but everything will be okay. Trust me."

I sighed. "I wish I could, but it's upsetting Kari, no matter how hard she tries to hide it."

Patamon frowned. "He didn't mean to, or at least I don't think he did. Once they see each other again, everything will probably work itself out."

For Kari's sake, I hoped he was right.

Kari

I walked to school alone. It was okay, though. I didn't feel much like talking to anyone, anyway.

My concern turned to Gatomon. Where had she run off to? And, more importantly, why didn't she tell me?

When I got there, I scanned my surroundings looking for familiar faces, but mostly on the lookout for TK. I spotted him talking to a group of guys near the front doors. It had been six weeks since I had seen him, and seeing him now made me take a step back.

I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't want an audience.

"Kari!" I turned my head, finding Gatomon poking her head out of a tree. I walked over to her.

"Talk to him," she said.

I shook my head. "He's busy."

She groaned. "Just do it or I will, and I don't think you want that."

I bit my lip. No, I definitely didn't want that.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to him and the other guys. The other guys looked at me. The one closest to TK smirked and poked his shoulder. "Looks like your girlfriend missed you."

TK glanced at me, then turned back to them. I noticed a hint of annoyance when he spoke, "Really? Another semester of this, guys?"

Last semester, these comments made me laugh. Now, not so much.

Another one of them spoke up. "You know, you're right. She's too good to be your girlfriend, Takaishi."

Now a smile crept across my face.

TK groaned. "Whatever. I'm done with you." He turned to me, and he gave me a little smile, though it seemed forced. "Hey, Kari, what's up?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wanted to say something, but all I managed was, "I missed you."

No confrontation. No questions. Nothing. If Gatomon were listening, she probably would've just smacked herself in the head.

He stepped back, looking at the ground. No 'I missed you, too'. Nothing. I crossed my arms over my chest, as if I could keep my heart from breaking.

"It feels like I was gone longer than six weeks," he said, finally breaking the silence.

I nodded. "How was it? You must've been busy."

He studied me for a moment, seeming a little surprised by my statement. He had to have known why I said that.

"Oh, you know, sight-seeing, all that fun stuff."

He was definitely hiding something, but I couldn't tell what. I would just have to keep pressing.

"What about you? What did you get into?"

I shrugged. "Nothing much. Lots of sleep-overs with Yolei, but nothing exciting."

Right now, I wished Yolei was still in the same school as us, but she was now in her first year of high school. Between her and Gatomon, they would've gotten answers for me.

He seemed to be having problems meeting my gaze, for he kept looking anywhere but at me. He shifted his weight. "We should probably get to class."

I swallowed my nerves. "We have the same first class, remember? Besides, we have ten minutes left."

"Um about that . . . I had my schedule changed."

He what?

"Matt convinced me to take a class with one of his former teachers, and the only way I could was to replace my first period."

I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.

"We still have last period together," TK said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You should be relieved to get a break from me." He gave a light laugh that was too forced to be sincere.

He went inside without me. I stayed behind, and when he was inside, I headed toward Gatomon's tree. This time, Patamon also poked his head out beside her.

"What's going on?" I asked them, hoping one of them would know. Judging by the guilty look on Patamon's face, I knew he knew. Part of me wanted to question him, but another part of me, a stronger part, knew that would be wrong. I wouldn't like it if TK went to Gatomon asking questions about things I was trying to keep a secret, and I needed to give TK that same respect.

I looked instead at Gatomon, who seemed deep in thought. "Just go to class, Kari. It'll come out when it's supposed to."

I took a seat in first period, and Davis slid into the seat next to me. "Wow, I beat him here! It's destiny, Kari."

I couldn't help but laugh at his pathetic attempt at flirting. "He's no longer taking this class, silly. Try again in last period."

"Davis, could you come to the front, please?" Our teacher called for him. Davis shot me a confused look as he made his way to the front. Meanwhile, a boy with slicked-back dark hair came toward me.

My heart rate sped up as he took Davis' seat. He smiled. "Name's Malik. I'm new, and you seem harmless. Mind if I sit here?"

I nodded, unable to tear away from his gaze.

"Hey, buddy, that seat's taken!" Davis broke my concentration, and I felt my face warming up.

"Davis, it's okay. Let him sit here," I said.

"But the only open seat is in the back."

"Then you'll be less likely to get caught sleeping."

His eyes lit up. "Right . . . See you later, Kari and new guy."

I shook my head as he walked away.

"Can't say I blame the poor guy for wanting to sit next to you."

I looked at Malik. "He's just a friend of mine. He might seem obnoxious at first, but he's nice once you get to know him."

"So basically, you just get used to him?"

I giggled. "Yeah, pretty much."

I looked at Malik in full, and suddenly, I was back in my dream. The dark hair, the steady gaze .. . He looked just like the mystery guy. If I touched his hands, would I feel the same heat I did in my dream? Could it really be him?

Thanks for reading! This story is entirely written so the next chapter will be up soon.