Hey guys! So just a few days later and an update, pretty exciting huh? Well first of all I'd like to thank my reviewers… who are exceptionally important because there weren't many cough cough hint hint. So in this chapter there is quite a bit of Takari and a slight bit of Taiora so I hope you enjoy it. If you didn't get the hints… REVIEW! There, that's pretty clear…

Disclaimer… I don't own Digimon… if I did, it would end very, very differently.

Chapter 2: Packing

The bell rang and TK quickly gathered his things into his backpack and hauled it over his shoulder. This week had passed by so slowly. Summer had begun to creep through the school grounds and with it came unbearable heat, tiredness, and altogether boredom. TK's only regret was that he wouldn't spend the weekend with his best friend, Kari.

She was leaving for a photography camp tomorrow and wouldn't be back until next weekend. A whole week without Kari… what am I going to do with myself? He thought to himself as he left the classroom. The comment was mostly an exaggeration, although he did spend a lot of time with Kari, it didn't mean he would be bored out of his mind. She loved photography, it's not like I'm going to be way sad just 'cause she's not here. Still, he reasoned with himself, I'm going to miss that girl, even if it is only a week.

"TK! TK, over here!" a voice yelled from across the hallway. TK turned around to see Kari walking towards him, arms full with various textbooks tumbling out of her hands.

"Here let me take some of those..." TK said as he took all of the books in her hands into his arms. She flashed him her trademark innocent smile, a smile that made TK's heart melt.

"Thanks TK, you're the best," she said, still smiling.

"Yeah, sure, no problem."

"But anyways, can you come over tonight?" she asked as the pair continued walking through the hall and out the front doors. "I wanna pack for camp tomorrow and I'm gonna need some help," she said with a small pleading tone in her voice.

"Oh yeah, I'd love to help," TK said with a smile. "Ooh wait- I have basketball practice tonight…" he trailed off frowning. Kari mimicked his frown.

"Well what time is it?" she asked.

"Uh, it starts at 6 and it could go anywhere from and hour and a half to three," TK said, wincing after he said the three hours part. Kari put on a puppy dog face. Boy is she cute when she does that…

"Can you come after?" she pleaded. "Please!" How could I say no to that? TK asked himself and smiled.

"Ok, ok, I'll drop by after practice, it's not like I have plans tomorrow anyways," TK said. "Ooh!" she squealed and hugged him, causing him to drop her books.

"Hehe, whoops," she said, embarrassed, scratching the back of her head. TK just laughed and picked them back up. "Thanks," she said sheepishly.

"Ha ha, don't worry about it," he replied. "Want me to walk you home?" he asked as he extended his arm slightly so he wouldn't drop the books. She smiled and hooked her arm through his.

"I would love it."

Practice ended at eight that night. TK drudged out of the gym, drenched in sweat. The coach hadn't been in a particularly good mood tonight, a fact that was made apparent by the frequent yells of "Takeru Takaishi, if you don't run faster, I will kick your sorry ass all the way to France and back!" TK would have laughed at the sight of their middle-aged, balding, and rather heavy-set coach chasing a tall, muscular high school kid with a janitor's broom had he not been the one being chased.

Looking at his watch and realizing the time, TK ran home to get dressed and showered before going over to Kari's house. Slipping a red polo shirt over his head, TK studied himself in his mirror. His reflection stared back with a blank face. He ruffled his blonde hair and grabbed his hat, setting it on his head. There we go Takaishi, lookin' good. From the depths of his mind, another voice emerged. It's not like you're going on a date, it's just your friend asking for help. TK shook his head, quieting the argument he was about to have with himself.

Ten minutes later, TK arrived at the Kamiya residence. A few moments after ringing the doorbell, Kari's brother Tai answered. "Hey Teeks!" he greeted, breaking into his trademark grin. His brother Matt had called him by that nickname once and Tai decided that's what he'd call TK for the rest of his life. But, Tai was practically his brother anyways as Matt and Tai had been friends ever since TK could remember so he let it pass.

"Hey, what's going on Tai?" TK said as Tai held the door open. TK walked through and saw Sora sitting on the couch. Sora had always been like a big sister to TK, kindly giving him advice about girls and life in general, although TK hadn't told anyone about his crush on Kari. "Hey Sora," TK said as she got up and walked towards him.

"Hey TK!" she said, embracing him in a hug. "It's been a while since we've talked." TK nodded as he stepped away from their embrace and smiled. It was true, Sora, Matt, Tai, and Mimi were all seniors (Mimi had transferred back for her senior year) and very busy. Even though TK went to the same school, they had completely different classes and even different lunches.

"Yeah, we gotta get everyone together to catch up," TK said. "But anyways, where's Kari? I promised to help her pack for tomorrow."

"She's in her room, Teeks. She's been waiting for your arrival for hours…" Tai joked, trailing off. TK gave Tai a playful punch.

"Probably wondering if you killed me," TK retorted smiling. "Bad things happen to guys that visit Kari," TK said offhandedly. Tai raised his eyebrow. "Or so I've heard," TK added hastily. Sora laughed and Tai grinned.

"Luckily you're not an idiot that's trying to go out with Kari,' Tai said either darkly or jokingly, TK couldn't really tell which. He gave out a weak chuckle and scratched the back of his head, not really sure how to respond. Sora giggled and gave Tai a little slap on his shoulder.

"Aw, TK and Kari would make a great couple, everyone thinks that they are one anyway," Sora commented. TK blushed and murmured, "I don't like her like that…" Tai shook his head impatiently.

"Oh whatever, she's in her room and we've wasted enough of your time anyways," Tai said, abruptly ending the conversation. He just wants alone time with Sora, TK smiled inwardly to himself. Tai and I are in the same boat really. We both like our best friends but don't want people to know.

"Ok, well see you two later," TK said, giving a little wave then walking down the hallway to Kari's room. Just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard Kari's voice on the other side.

"Well if I'm lucky Yolie, maybe I can find a guy at photography camp that I like, I mean everyone's always saying that guys up there are so sensitive and stuff." Kari said, apparently to the phone. TK sighed quietly. I'm sensitive, right? "One at home? Nah, not like that anyways, I'm kinda confused about that," Kari said. What's at home? Not like what? Confused? "Well I bet you there's a guy up there that's sensitive and cute, who knows, I could come back with a boyfriend." Yeah… other guys, blah blah. TK raised his fist and knocked on the door. "Hey, Yolie, TK's here, I gotta go, see ya later."

TK heard a beep-Kari must have been hanging up the phone-and then the doorknob twisted and Kari opened the door. "Hey, glad you made it!" she said, hugging him. He returned the hug. "Yeah, yeah, so how can I help?" TK asked, peering into her room.

"Oh I dunno, I just wanted company. I mean, it's my last night in town for a week, I wanted to see my best friend," she explained. "Seriously, it's not like I'm going to need help putting a shirt in a bag, but you can tell me what you like, what you don't, ya know, the works."

"Oh, ok, sounds good," TK replied. A night alone with you, that does sound good, TK said, smiling.

"Oh, and if you're really lucky, you can even carry my bag out to the car!" she exclaimed in a tone one might use for talking to a baby, sweetness dripping from her voice. TK laughed and through a pillow from her bed at her, it hit her squarely in the face. "Why Takeru Takaishi, when I get my hands on you…"

The two spent the next fifteen minutes in a pillow fight ending only when Tai yelled from the living room, "Kari, if you two are making a mess, I will kill you! While mom is gone I'm responsible for everything young lady and she'll be royally pissed if you and Teeks break a window or your bed or whatever you guys are breaking!"

TK and Kari were thrown into giggle fits mostly at Tai's sudden burst of responsibility but a little just because of how hyper they'd become. "The-the hypocrite," Kari gasped in between giggles. "His hair is messier than my room." After another fifteen minutes of giggling, the two teens finally began what TK came here to do: pack.

"Ok, so I'm gonna be there for a week, seven days, that means… fourteen shirts, seven pairs of pants, and seven pairs of shoes," Kari calculated. TK's jaw dropped. "Fourteen shirts!?" TK yelled. Kari simply rolled her eyes at TK. "Boys…" she said under her breath in mock exasperation. TK chuckled.

The next hour and a half consisted of Kari putting various outfits together and asking for TK's approval. To be honest, if it were any other person, TK would have been in hell, but since it was Kari, it wasn't. Quite the opposite in fact, TK was having the time of his life, joking, laughing, and talking to his best friend in the world.

Finally, after two hours, Kari had all of her clothes and photography equipment packed for camp. The two were lying on Kari's bed, just looking up at the ceiling, exhausted from a night of fun. They lay there for several moments, just thinking to themselves.

"So," TK began. Kari turned her head to face him. "Are you gonna miss me?' TK asked, turning his head to look into her eyes. She smiled with that beautiful smile that TK loved. At that moment, TK wanted nothing more than to kiss her.

"Of course I will, you're my best friend ever." Kari replied. TK tilted his head a little to touch her forehead with his. An outsider might have thought the two a close couple, but the two friends had been friends so long these gestures were comfortable to practice as friends. Or at least for one of us, TK thought, if only I could show her she means so much to me, that I like her as more than a friend. Just kiss her! Another voice said softly into his head. Everything you want her to know can be summed up in one kiss… no… I can't…

"Thanks, that means a lot to me, it really does," TK said softly, gazing into her eyes. She closed them for a moment, then, as she opened them, they were watery.

She gave a weak chuckle. "I miss you already." And with that, the two friends drifted into sleep.

"Well thanks Tai, I had fun tonight," Sora said as she got up from the couch. Tai yawned and dragged himself up behind her.

"Nah, thank you, we had a great time just the two of us, huh?" Tai replied, stifling a yawn. Sora had no plans so Tai had invited her over just so they could spend some time together. Tai and Sora had been best friends since they met at the park fifteen years ago, but hadn't had any time just to hang in a long while with busy schedules and finals coming up in a few weeks so both were grateful just to relax and spend some time together.

Sora flashed Tai a smile. "But I better get going, it's pretty late." Tai nodded, beginning to yawn again until it was interrupted by a grin slowly stretching across his face. "Uh, Tai? Did you have a few too many Sour Patch Kids?"

"Oh no, I just remembered that TK hasn't left yet," Tai said mischievously. Sora raised an eyebrow. "So?" "So? Have you heard anything from Kari's room in the last hour?" Sora shook her head then smiled slowly.

"Oh Tai, let's not ruin whatever's happening in there, they're probably asleep," Sora said. Tai rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, but TK is not spending the night here, we have to wake them up anyways," Tai said. "Come on, let's go," Tai urged a little grumpily.

"Fine, fine."

"Women…" Tai said under his breath as they walked down the hall.

"What was that?" Sora asked with a false sweetness in her voice. Tai's eyes widened.

"Uh nothing, here we are, Kari's room, let's not keep the audience waiting!" Tai whispered hastily. Sora rolled her eyes and pushed open the door. Tai grinned. "Oh this is too good, too good!" he whispered. Sora shushed him.

"Look at how cute that is!" Sora whispered, pointing to the bed. Kari and TK were asleep with both their foreheads pressed together, their lips barely an inch apart, their hands interlocked in between them. "Oh I hate to ruin this…"

"Oi! Lovebirds! Wake up!" Tai yelled in his unsubtle fashion. Sora punched him on the shoulder, giving him a cross look. Kari and TK blinked, trying to get a grip on their surroundings.

'Wha? Where am I?" TK asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes with one hand. He looked from Tai to Sora to what was keeping his other hand occupied… His eyes widened and Tai gave a short laugh. Kari gave a loud yawn.

"What? What'd I miss?" she asked groggily. Sora smiled.

"Here TK, it's late, I'll give you a ride home." Sora ushered him out of the apartment and into her sedan after goodbyes with Tai and a barely conscience Kari.

"Ok, that looked pretty bad, but trust me-"TK began.

"Don't worry about it, I won't tell anyone," Sora assured him as she plopped down in the driver's seat. TK chuckled as Sora started the car and pulled out of the lot.

"That must have looked really bad, I mean someone could get the complete wrong idea-"

Sora cut TK off again, "Or it could give someone the complete right idea."

"What do you mean?"

"C'mon, you're my lil' bro, just admit it, you like Kari as more than a friend."

"Ah…" TK was dumbstruck. He couldn't think of something to say, maybe because he was tired, maybe because someone had finally confronted him on his relationship with Kari in a serious way. "Um…"

"That says it all TK, that says it all."

So I hope you liked it! It was quite a bit longer than the last chapter and it left some things to talk about in future chapters. In the next chapter: Photography Camp! What will happen? Stay tuned… and review… maybe get some friends, family, have a party to R&R!