Just so anyone doesn't get mad and sue me, here's the disclaimer. I do not own Digimon, in any way, since Digimon belongs to Toei and Bandai and some other folks, but I could own it maybe if I bought shares in those companies... Then technically I would own a small piece of Digimon and... Oh, never mind. :P
This fic contains Takari, Mimato, Taiora, and Kenyako so if you don't like it, don't read it!
Italics: Thinking
: Talking
Ch. 2
Kari! We've got to go in 5 minutes! Tai yelled from the hallway.
I know, Tai! I'm going! Kari replied, her mouth filled with toothpaste. She spat into the sink and quickly rinsed her mouth out with water. Kari tossed her toothbrush into the holder and raced into her room. She grabbed her sunglasses, put them on top of her head, then tightened her bandanna.
Let's go Kari! Tai yelled.
I know! Kari felt something in her pocket and pulled it out. The letter. I forgot about it. She unfolded it and read the small neat text. With each line, her mouth opened wider, and her eyes filled with tears. When she read the final sentence, and then the signature, she closed her eyes and screamed, long, and loud. She stuffed the letter in her pocket, grabbed her bag and ran.
Tai tried to stop her at the door.
Don't touch me Tai! Kari pushed him away, and kept running. She ran blindly, every few blocks she turned onto a different street. Finally, scared and exhausted, she found herself at the soda counter in the Inoue connivence store.
And then, she put her head down on the counter and cried. Kari cried about missing Gatomon, about Wizardmon, about anything that had upset her in her lifetime, But most of all, she cried about the letter.
A machine turned on, and Kari raised her head just enough to see Mrs. Inoue make a strawberry milkshake and set it in front of her.
What's troubling you Kari? Mrs. Inoue asked.
Everything. But especially this, Kari gestured at the letter sitting crumpled on the counter.
Why don't you read it to me Kari? Maybe it will make you feel better, Mrs. Inoue smiled.
Even though she doubted the strategy would work, Kari took the crumpled paper and smoothed it out.
Dear Kari, she read, I've known you for a long time, and we've been friends since we were 8 years old. That's 6 years! And ever since you were transported to the Dark Ocean, and before that too, I've cared about you a lot. Lately though, I've found our relationship has lost it's magic for me. I'm really sorry Kari, but i can't juggle two girlfriends, so I have to end this relationship. I guess this is good-bye. I'll love you forever, Kari. T.K.
Kari crumpled the note up again, and tossed it back on the counter. She turned to Mrs. Inoue, who was just shaking her head.
I though he loved me! But I was wrong... Kari cried quietly into a napkin, her thin shoulders shaking.
It's okay Kari, get it all out, Mrs. Inoue rubbed Kari's back. Slowly her sobs ceased, and she lowered the napkin.
Can i have another straw, please? Kari asked.
Of course, Mrs. Inoue looked puzzled, but she handed Kari one from the dispenser. Kari put it in her drink facing away from her.
This straw is for T.K. No matter what you did to me, I always loved you, but I don't know if you can win back my trust this time. How could you? And with that statement, Kari drank the milkshake, at the counter in the Inoue convenience store, after having her heart broken by one of the people she trusted the most in the entire world. Her tears were mostly gone, but she still shed a drop or two.
Ch.3
Meanwhile, Yolei Inoue was in history class, being bored out of her mind. Looking at the empty seat across the aisle, she sighed and reached for her D-terminal.
Has anyone seen Kari?' she typed, I'm worried about her. Yolei.' She hit send and turned her attention back to her teacher.
Ken Ichijouji was in math when his D-terminal beeped. He quickly reached into his bag and silenced it. When his teacher wasn't looking, he took it out and read the message. He hit reply and typed:
Remind me to turn the volume down on my D-terminal. She wasn't in gym, so I don't know. Kari doesn't cut classes, so I'm not sure what happened. Maybe she's sick.' Ken pressed send and put his head down on the desk.
Cody Hida sighed with exasperation. He was in the middle of a science test, and his D-terminal had just gone off for the third time! Cody pressed reply and typed in capital letters:
HONESTLY! I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A TEST! THIS IS THE THIRD TIME YOU'VE INTERRUPTED ME!!! I DON'T KNOW WHERE KARI IS, SO LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!' Practically growling, Cody hit send and tossed his D-terminal back into his desk.
T.K. Takaishi had a spare period, so he was in the gathering area of Odiaba Jr. High when his D-terminal beeped. He read the message and simply typed:
I don't know.' He tapped send, a knot of regret forming in the pit of his stomach. Maybe the snapshot of Mari Usagi in his wallet wasn't as radiantly beautiful as he though it was. Come on T.K., you don't regret your decision do you? I... don't... know...
While T.K. was worrying in the gathering area, Davis Motimiya was in the boys locker room after gym class. When his D-terminal went off, he raced over to his locker, and read the message on the screen of the handheld computer.
What? She's not here?!' Davis typed, I don't have a class with her until this afternoon! Why don't you people tell me these things!' He pressed send, and put his shirt on.
Yolei flicked though the replies to her message as she packed up. When she reached Cody's, her eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hair. We're all a little irritable during tests, but still... Spazzy...
Ch.4
When Kari was finished her milkshake, Mrs. Inoue asked, Are you going to go to school this afternoon Kari? She cleaned the counter top and put Kari's glass in the sink.
I'm feeling a bit better, so probably... Kari stared off into space, I hope Gatomon comes back soon. I'm worried, because of what happened to her the last time she was all alone.
I think I know how you feel Kari. Yolei told me how much she misses Hawkmon. She's really sad, Mrs. Inoue smiled at Kari's tear-stained face. Kari's eyes lit up for a second, but the spark quickly disappeared.
I'm sure she'll be back today, Kari. Don't worry, Mrs. Inoue looked at the analog clock on the wall.
Kari, it's 11:30. You should probably go, Mrs. Inoue said. Kari nodded, then looked at herself in the reflective counter. She made a face at the image staring back at her.
Sensing what Kari was thinking, Mrs. Inoue said, There's a washroom in the back if you want to use it.
Relieved she didn't have to ask, Kari whispered Thank you so much, and hurried into the small room. A couple minutes later, her face shiny with moisture, Kari walked back to the counter. She put on her sunglasses to hide her red eyes, and fished in her backpack for money.
When she offered it to Mrs. Inoue, the kind woman shook her head, and said, This was my treat. You deserved it. No matter how hard Kari tried to protest, Mrs. Inoue just shook her head.
Kari, I did this because I care about you, so don't worry about it. Now shoo! Surprised, Kari waved good-bye and walked out onto the street. The Tokyo sun was high in the sky, glinting off the apartment buildings.
Kari hitched her backpack up on her shoulders, and pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose. As she neared the large cement building that was her school, she wondered how Mrs. Inoue had convinced her to return.
Kari closed her hand on the metal bar of the school gate. She lean her head against the cool stone pillar and closed her eyes. Some how this simple position made her feel so much better. Tai. What should I do? As she asked this, she could see Tai's image in her mind's eye, and she knew what to do. Kari opened her eyes and walked into the courtyard just as the bell rang signaling beginning of lunch.
Ch.5
Walking to her first class of the afternoon, with her friends chatting around her, Kari felt more content than she had all day. So content in fact, that she began to disappear. She could feel water lapping at her feet, and she could hear waves crashing in the distance.
Someone grabbed her shoulder and Kari came back into focus. Looking into the alarmed face of Yolei, Kari's feeling replaced the numbness that had crept inside her.
You were disappearing Kari, like static on a TV! Are you okay? Yolei asked, concern etched on her dramatic features. Kari nodded, but a small sob escaped her.
Are you sure?
Kari shook herself, Yeah, I think so. Yolei knew something was wrong, but she didn't ask, so the atmosphere of the small group was more subdued as they continued down the hallway.
Hey guys, I'll see you later, kay? Kari said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. She waved good-bye and entered the band room.
As soon as Kari had closed the door, Davis skidded to a halt in front of her. She sighed with exasperation, but did not turn away. A some what unwise choice on her part...
Hey Kari! How's it going? Where were ya this morning? T.K. wasn't looking so good, did you two have a fight?! Davis meant this as a joke, but suddenly it wasn't so funny.
A hot rush of anger surged through Kari's slight frame, How dare you! she shrieked and drew her hand back. Without hesitating at all, she brought it down hard on Davis' left cheek with a resounding smack'. With tears in her eyes, Kari ran out of the room, leaving Davis standing alone, his hand on his cheek.
What did I say?
As Davis was standing there, T.K. walked in, lugging his trombone beside him.
Hey Davis, why the long face? He stood his trombone case on its end beside him.
Kari slapped me , Davis said, his voice conveying his confusion. Before T.K. could ask why, Davis continued, Because I asked where she was this morning, and whether you two had a fight. At Davis's last comment T.K.'s hands clenched into fists.
Don't say things like that to Kari! T.K. growled, surprisingly passionately for someone who had just dumped the person he was defending. He pulled his arm back and slammed his fist in Davis's other cheek.
I'm going to the washroom, he said sullenly, and stalked out of the room, leaving Davis standing alone again.
Davis's brown eyes were filled with hurt, and he just stood there.
Once again the band room's door creaked open, but this time Yolei walked in.
Sorry Kari, I just had to show Rina where the art roo- she stopped short, Where is Kari? Yolei spotted Davis and walked over to him, her oboe case bumping against her bare knees.
How's it going Davis? she saw him cringe as she spoke, Davis, what's wrong?
Oh, nothing, Davis smiled innocently and walked over to his snare drum.
Yolei shook her head. Davis isn't usually that secretive. Or complex. She took out her music folder, dumped her courier bad in the corner, and walked over to her spot, sandwiched between the flutes and clarinets. Weird...
Ch. 6
Even though it was so light, the weight of Kari's flute case made her arm ache. She slowed her pace and took a deep breath. She was walking down the same hallway, like she had a year ago...
Devoid of kids, the hallway was silent. Absolutely silent. Bit it wasn't a hallway anymore. Sand, waves, water lapping at her ankles, and the lighthouse, shining dark light.
Home at last, our queen? Scubamon, just like before.
Please, I'm not ready to go! Yet... Gatomon! Yolei! Taichi! Kari's plaintive cries for help brought her back to the real world.
Her math teacher, Mr. Tokumitsu stuck his head through the crack in the sliding door. Are you okay? Should I get someone to take you to the nurse's office?
N-no, sir. I'm fine, Kari smiled weakly, Thank you for asking, sir. She bowed her head in respect.
Well, if you're sure, all right... Mr. Tokumitsu looked once more at Kari's trembling frame, and went back into his classroom.
You are okay Kari, she thought to herself, You are going to be fine. But deep down inside, she wasn't so sure.
Ch.7
Digi-port open! Kari yelled, pointing her pink digivice at the gate. She felt the familiar rush as she was shrunk and flew into the digi world.
Ch.8
I wonder what what happen to Kari, Ken-kun, Yolei said around her oboe reed.
I don't know Miya... I saw her at lunch, but that was from across the hall. She didn't look so good, sitting by her locker with her knees folded up and her head on her arms, Ken looked up at Yolei.
Yolei began, but Ken cut her off. As if he had read her mind, Ken said, I was going to go over and talk to her, but the bell rang and I had to run to my locker to grab my clarinet. Didn't you walk to band with her, Miya?
Ya, I did, and she got all staticky and started to disappear. It was like a year ago. Gatomon ran into the computer lab and said Kari's disappeared! T.K. got all panicked and said that he let her down. Davis wanted to go to the digi world, but T.K. said she wasn't there. It was strange, I had never seen T.K. so scared, Yolei shook her head.
That doesn't explain where Kari went though... Ken remarked. Just then, their band teacher, Ms. Kiuchi tapped her stand and the class began.
Ch. 9
Gatomon! I missed you so much! Kari hugged Gatomon tightly to her chest.
I missed you too, Gatomon kissed Kari on the nose. Finally letting Gatomon go, Kari leaned back against a tree. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, warming Kari's bare shoulders.
It feels wonderful to be back in the digi world, and these clothes seem so comfortable, she smoothed out her pink and white shirt.
I was so lonely without you, and the others miss their digimon too. Where's Pa- Kari stopped short, she finished quickly.
To tell the truth, I don't know, Gatomon said, I could take you to Patamon though.
Kari said sharply, I don't want to see anyone who has anything to do with T.K.!
Why not? Gatomon was confused, I thought you liked T.K.
I thought I liked him too, Kari admitted coldly.
What happened?
Kari burst into tears and told Gatomon everything, from the night before, to the letter, to slapping Davis. I thought he loved me. I don't know what happened. Who took T.K. away from me?
Well, who ever it was, I like them as much as I like Myotismon! Gatomon said, trying to cheer Kari up.
Oh, Gatomon, Kari's gloved hand touched the purple tufts on Gatomon's ears, You couldn't hate anyone that much... Miserably, Kari put her head on her arms.
Drip, drip. Where am I? No, not the dark ocean! I don't want to go! Please I just got gatomon back! Silence. Help me!
The forest was dark, and filled with red eyes and dark shapes. Gatomon? Anybody? In the distance Kari could hear the waves crashing. I don't want to stay here! Help me! Yolei! Tai! Gatomon! I'm so scared...
Kari! What happened?
The digimon... They're trying to take me away, to be their queen. I'm not going to be able to resist them much longer. Whenever I dream, they try and contact me. I can't tell Tai, he'll think I'm crazy! And T.K... Oh, Gatomon, I'm so scared... Kari rubbed her arms. They were covered in goosebumbs.
Let's go back to the real world, Kari. We can talk at your house. The digital world is too dangerous for you right now, Gatomon looked into Kari's frightened eyes.
Kari stood up, stretching her long legs and smoothing her yellow shorts, Let's go. And together, for the first time in so long, digi-destined and digimon walked through the forest, bathed in the warmth of the sun.
