Clarity: Pt 4- Broken Clarity
By ArchangelUK

I do not own Digimon, however I do own a increasingly large number of complaints that I don't write the next parts quickly enough and people are threatening to do terrible things to me with inanimate objects...

Oooh Er missus....

The sword sliced through the tough fibers like a knife through hot butter, she screamed, the blade had missed her hand by a couple of inches.
"You've reached the end of your rope! Aha ha!" Piedmon laughed at the two young children as they dangled precariously from the rope which floated upright in the air.

Below them a bruised and battered Angemon lifed his head from the ground weakly, turning it towards his two friends he watched them holding the top of the rope as the manic clown leered at them. He could only murmur the boy's name and watch as Piedmon grabbed TK's leg.

"Let go of him!" Little Kari yelled, reaching down and grabbing TK's hand with her own, the eight year old looked up at her with barely concealed terror but somehow managed to plead to her.

"Let go Kari, or he'll get you too!"

"No, I won't let you go, TK!" Kari said shaking her head, persparation glistening with the exersion she was going through, when suddenly TK wrenched his hand out of Kari's grasp and he fell backwards into Piedmon who lost his own grip on the rope before they both plummetted downwards the ground rushed up to meet them and -

Wait this isn't right...


Kari sat bolt upright in bed covered in a fine film of sweat, the third nightmare in five days. She hadn't been bothered by 'the voice' in a while but she wondered if the two events were connected. Kari had used this time to think about what was going on, specifically with TK; God I miss him, she thought, but why didn't she cry when she thought of him stuck in the Digital World? She'd cried for days after he left yet within a matter of weeks she had got back on with her life as though TK had never existed. Was she really that fickle as to just forget him?

"No, I didn't forget - I just...replaced."

It suddenly dawned on Kari just how quickly she had accepted Teeko's offer of an evening out. That's not like her, where was the level-headed Kari, the one she knew? Was she really that desperate for companionship that she wanted to be with Teeko? Was this genuine affection or was it that she really wanted to be with TK?

"Stupid voice." She muttered, everything had been fine until it had started to speak in her mind, maybe it was trying to confuse her...well if it was then it was succeeding. Kari got up and padded into the kitchen with her nightgown and slippers on, the slippers making a 'slurp' noise when she stepped on something spilt early and not cleaned up which had now become sticky. She opened the fridge illuminating the room and took out a carton of milk with which she filled a large glass. When Kari turned around again her brother was standing sillouetted in the doorway.

"Morning Kari." Tai said yawning,

"Morning Tai." Kari yawned back, walking over to the table and sitting down with her ice-cold glass of milk.

"Kari, it's 4:00 AM." Tai groaned pointing towards the digital clock on the wall, whose actual ligts emitted the time 3:56 but Kari couldn't be bothered to point this out.

"I know, bad dream."

"Uh-huh," Tai said sitting himself down in the chair opposite her frowning intently, something not lost on Kari.

"Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to enjoy this conversation."

"Kari, me and the others we're worried about this Teeko guy."

"You worry about every boy I hang out with." dismissed Kari, sipping her milk trying to avoid eye contact with her brother.

"No, not all of them..." Tai began, "Kari I don't think he's all what he seems, I've got a bad feeling about this guy."

"Bad feeling? Oh, did Davis set you up for this?"

"No he didn't, but I've seen the bruises on his hand and you don't get those from doors."

"Oh I am not hearing this(!)"

"Yes you are, he's trouble Kari, you can do a lot better."

Kari slammed the glass down and marched towards the kitchen door

"I know you miss TK Kari."

"Of course I miss him." She snapped, spinning around to face her brother.

"No Kari, I mean MISS him."

"I don't know where your going with this Tai but I'm tired." She went back to the table and downed the glass of milk in one. "Now I've drunk my milk I'm going back to bed and I will TRY and get some sleep. In the morning Tai, I am going to school with Teeko who is my friend and Tai; Who I choose to be my friends and how close I am to them is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

Kari stormed into her bedroom slamming the door, this was followed almost instantaneously by another door opening.

"Tai honey it's 4:00 AM." Mrs Kamiya moaned, her husband (Tai's father) agreed sleepily.

"Yeah son, can you keep the noise down a bit people are trying to sleep."

Tai nodded sadly and went back to his own room, "I don't know." He sighed, "Maybe we were wrong about this."


Gennai grimaced, this was not going to plan, more specifically a random element had occured. Teeko was not in the plan, who he was Gennai was still trying to figure out he didn't appear to have any records except for the school ones he had gained access to. Even they led to dead ends, it was like the boy never existed... Gennai had never liked electronics, the actual making of something with circuits and wires which was why the TOUCAN looked so awful. The power-outs were deliberate of course, all designed so TK could truly realise the extent of his feelings for Kari. Except of couse TK already knew how he felt, and he knew the warp was safe..although there was doubt within the two digimon. Gennai settled back into a relaxed position, he would need to be relaxed as it may be sometime before he was fully back in the DigiWorld.

Teeko. He was a thorn in Gennai's side, every sob he had heard of TK's stuck in him like a knife, every ounce of pain and suffering the boy felt Gennai felt with him. Guilty. That was how Gennai felt right now, the human boy Teeko must be stopped before he really did upset the balance. If Kari was TK's hope, then TK was losing the very thing that made him who he is, in essence TK was bleeding to death.

What is life without the heart? It isn't life at all.

He issued a silent prayer to Azulongmon for guidence, then closed his eyes and concentrated and the room around him disappeared into nothingness and then so did Gennai.


Waiting.

That was all TK seemed to be doing the last few weeks, waiting. Waiting to see what Kari was up to today, to see if he would be treated to her laugh, her smile, or tortured by them directed towards Teeko. This Teeko character he had learned had more or less filled the hole he had left when he agreed to remain in the Digital World. Basketball - Teeko was the new captain and star player, in class Teeko was mobbed by the girls who used to mob him...although Teeko was more than welcome to them. He was treated with respect by his entire group and TK had found often turned to when people were in trouble and then there was Kari.

Kari had latched onto this new guy and he in turn had latched onto her, he wasn't exactly complaining about it either. Davis had found this out when Teeko had not long ago physically threatened the keeper of courage and friendship to stay away. Teeko had set out his claim on Kari and everyone, save her it seemed, knew about it. It was this dangerous streak that made TK pace up and down every day, every cell in TK's body was screaming that Kari was in trouble. Not now maybe, but very soon; Combine this then with TK's own feelings towards her and, well, Takeru Takashi was the epitemy of anxiety.

It had taken three whole days for TK to speak again after that first glimpse of the two of them at the basketball game. To find out that Teeko liked Kari and was openly pursuing her and that Kari was interested in Teeko. She hadn't said it yet of course, but TK knew his friend far too well and from the look in her eyes TK could tell, the mear thought of it hurt.

The only comfort TK could take was the fact that he knew his digidestined friends didn't trust Teeko either. Tai had already lambasted his sister about the boy on several occaions, even mild mannered Sora when introduced to him couldn't help but show disdain, giving Teeko a frosty glance and curt reply. TK laid down in the bed and exhaled before settling down and closing his eyes, sleep hadn't been a priority for the best part of 72 hours but now it was.


The evening breeze rustled the leaves high above them, it had been a wonderful day begun with a trip to the beach and ended with a film, there was some food somewhere in between too. Stomachs full and smiles beaming the two wandered through the park back in the direction of Kari's apartment. Kari looked over at Teeko, only to find him looking at her, she turned away blushing slightly and made their way to the bridge that crossed the small river.

They paused to admire the water that flowed underneath them, small splashes highlighted by the moon where the water struck unseen rocks as it flowed passed them.

"It's a lovely night." Teeko said, at a loss for anything else to say.

"Yes. Yes it is." There was a strong tension in the air, a sense something important was about to happen though Kari had no idea from where this feeling had come from. Maybe it was that voice though...

It isn't me.

"I don't believe you."

"Kari." The boy's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Yes Teeko."

"I'm your friend right?"

"Yes...Teeko, of course you are."

"Well, I was wondering."

Here it comes.

"Here what comes? Oh you don't think surely...?"

"I've been feeling a bit more than friendship for you recently..."

"Oh."

Oh? Oh???? The voice said amazed.

"I couldn't think of anything else to say."

Oh come on(!)

"Well, I've been considering my relationship with you too."

"Really?"

"Yes."

They paused for a minute before Teeko took Kari's hands in his own, the fingers interlacing with hers. Slowly, ever so slowly but none the less surely they moved their heads together, their lips five inches away from each other.

Well, The voice sighed, Here goes, just remember you gave up your true love and broke his heart.

"He doesn't love me, he never said so." Kari thought angrily,

Didn't he?


Kari sat on the bench, her head in her hands three boys ran past with a soccer ball one of them saying something about the swimming pool but she barely registered this. Above her an exhausted youth in a green and yellow top wiped his brow with his sleeve before finally seeing his friend. He gasped releived and pounded down the steps to the ground floor, racing down two at a time.

"Boy, do I have a headache." Kari groaned as the boy exited out onto the pavement, TK Takashi quickly found where she was sitting.

"Kari!" He called out, she looked around at him as he made his way next to her. "I've been looking all over for you! Are you okay?"

Kari was most definately not okay, she explained about the beach, the water the creatures she saw, that one of them appeared in the corridor. TK looked confused, he went to say something but closed his mouth again almost immediately, he eventually said,

"What do you mean, 'one of them'?"

"Digimon." Kari said closing her eyes tightly, "They keep trying to take me to their world. And I don't know if I can resist anymore."

"You've got to!" TK cried almost wailing, "Where are they, Kari? We'll fight them!"

"I can't, TK. I'm not strong like my brother, Tai."

"You're going to quit?" TK gagged at the suggestion, his face became a mass of anger and determination. "Give up? Just like that? Look Kari, I care too much about you to let anyone take you without a fight!"

The mask of anger disappeared to be replaced by a new look altogether, like a rabbit caught in the headlights, eyes wide.

"Huh?" Kari said, not quite sure what TK had just said exactly. TK wasn't quite sure what he had just said either but it wasn't good, still wide eyed he backed away slightly and tried to get out of the situation he'd put himself in.

"Uh...sorry. I better go now. I'll talk to you later?"

"Oh..." Was all Kari could say as TK sprinted off away from her.


"Do you mean that... I mean, what he said." Kari managed, still mazed by the falshback she'd just witnessed

You knew all along, but never really took in what he said, it's true meaning. Why did you think he suddenly went all quiet? He realised he'd almost told you how he felt, he'd come so close to blowing it for himself.

"Blowing it?"

He didn't want to risk the friendship, he wasn't sure, at least not yet. You told him though that you cared for him.

"I did didn't I."

Teeko and Kari were now four inches away...


The scubamon had been defeated, they shrunk back into the water and the triumphant team of Angewoman, Pegususmon, TK and Kari took off up towards the portal that had opened up to allow TK and the two digimon into the dark ocean. In Angewomon's arms Kari turned towards TK,

"Thanks for coming after me, TK. I really appreciate it."

"It's okay, Kari. I know you'd do the same for me."

"Hey TK, remember this morning when you said you really cared for me? What did you mean by that?"

TK looked for a fraction of a second like he was in the headlights again. "Huh? Well, you know...it was just...stuff."
Kari paused for a second, looking down at the beach below them as it receded and was replaced by the sky of Earth. The portal closed beneath them and they started to decend, without lookin up Kari said,

"Oh." Before quickly adding, "Well, you know what? I care for you, too." She looked up to see TK looking at her, he had that infection grin of his on and she was soon smiling between the giggles as TK laughed lightly too.

Don't you remember how he got there as well?

"I called to him, and...and he heard me."

The evil dragon digimon fired at the huddled mass of scubamon and Kari, she fell to her knees, eyes closed almost crying.
"I feel so helpless...my brother Tai would know what to do! I need you Tai! Gatomon! Takeru!"

"Huh?" TK, his voice sore from calling her name looks up into the sky to see an image of Kari holding out her arms, Gatomon and Patamon follow his gaze, but all they see is a pinkish light.

"TK!"

"It's her!" TK cried, he hurled himself up and off the beachside walkway in the light's direction, the fifteen foot drop the ground seemingly forgotten.

"TK, wait!" Patamon flew after his partner.

"Ah, what the heck, I got nine lives," against her better judgement Gatomon leapt too.


But that was all just a friendship thing though.

"Yes....wasn't it?"

You see, even you don't know.

Three inches away now...

He's going to say it in a minute, you'll have to answer him then.

"I care about Teeko though."

Why?

"He's kind, caring, he's been there for me when I've needed him."

WHAT? HE WAS THERE FOR YOU? God Kari, how selfish are you? He was conveniant as he looks like, acts like and treats you like TK. He's a copy though, don't you see - he can never be TK. He doesn't have the bond you posess, the shared experience, he doesn't have the heart. He's a pretender to the Takashi throne! Don't you remember what he has done for you? Not the just the Dark Ocean, the rest as well.

A rush of memories....the Dark Ocean, the countless times on their adventures of him protecting her, a push out the way here, a step infront there. The time with Piedmon when they were alone and seemingly defenceless against the insane clown, the time with her fever in Machinedramon's city - the image of the tears rolling down young TK's face and waking her. Other times too outside the Digital World, a shoulder to cry on, reliable to a fault, how many times had TK put her feelings before his own? Just to round things off Kari was treated to the time they last saw each other, TK's final words to her before she had to leave.


"I won't leave you." Kari said looking into those bright blue yes of his. TK took his finger and tapped it twice to the side of his head, then three times to his heart. He cupped her chin in his hand, then whispered softly.

"You never will..."


2 inches now...

"I love you Kari." Teeko said closing his eyes,

Well he said it. The voice said almost matter-of-factly, So Kari, what are you going to say?

"I'm going to say 'I love you Teeko'."

Are you?

"Yes."

Are you sure?

"YES." Kari's mind screamed, the voice receeded slightly and waited a couple more milliseconds before finally replying. This was it, the last roll of the dice...

Okay. The voice said, But do this one thing for me and I promise I'll never bother you again.

"If it'll get whatever you are to leave me alone I'll do anything."

Listen to your heart when you reply, that's all, and then you'll know your answer.

"I will."

"I love you..." Kari replied,

1 inch away, eyes closed - and that was when TK, Patamon and Gatomon watched no more.


The power finally gave out in the TOUCAN and the image flickered and died, Patamon just sat shaking his head completely in shock. Gatomon couldn't believe that Kari could do that, the guy was too...well...too something. She'd always believed that TK and Kari would get together in the end, poor TK to actually see that transpire in front of his eyes, what must he be thinking?

"No...no...Kari!"

Gatomon looked back to see TK run towards the TOUCAN rip the D3 out of it's mooring and launch himself towards the television.

"Digiport op- oof!" TK was cut off as Patamon, who much to Gatomon's surprise had acted much faster than his feline friend, flew full pelt into TK's stomach knocking him to the ground and the D3 out of his hand. TK was wide eyed as he pounced on the digivice a fraction of a second behind Gatomon and the two struggled to get it for themselves.

"Kari, I must speak to her! I must tell her, maybe there is still a chance."

"You can't TK. The gate, it's too unstable you'll be killed going through!" Gatomon cried trying to reason with the agitated boy, he pushed Gatomon away and finally grabbed hold of his D3 again.

"KARI!"

"Patamon digivolve to...Angemon!"

"TK....you can't go!"

"KARI!"

Even the mighty Angemon with some help from Gatomon was having great difficulty in holding TK down, the adrenaline levels were making it so that amazingly TK was still inching towards the TV.

"TK stop, you'll hurt yourself." pleaded the angel, shifting his grip so he could successfully pin TK onto the floor and remove the digivice from his hand. He tossed it to Gatomon and she quickly hid it before rejoining an emotionally exhausted TK and a pretty tired Patamon.

"Please TK, it's no use you getting yourself killed, you know you'd never survive the transfer. Think!"

"I never got a chance to tell her how I felt...no, I had plenty of chances and now she's going to be with someone else."

"She'll come round."

"But what if she doesn't?"

"She will TK, you'll see." Gatomon put a paw on TK's hand and Patamon flew over with a drink.

"Here you go TK, drink this it might make you feel better."

"I doubt all the hot chocolate in the world would make me feel better Patamon."

"Well, it might help your stomach."

"It's not just that though, I mean if it was Davis I might be able to stand it." Patamon looked at TK dubiously, "Well, okay actually I wouldn't be able to - but this guy has completely taken over my life! He's the captain of the basketball team, he's got Kari wrapped around his finger, she's in trouble and doesn't know and there is nothing I can do about it." TK sobbed and the tears began again.

TBC...


What in the blue hell? Poor TK! Will things work out okay? What will happen next? Who IS Teeko anyway??? You'll have to wait until next time, keep checking my section on me and Digicowboy's website, I'm putting up a section on Clarity soon, I'll also post any updates or estimated times for the next part. Any questions e-mail me. No more updates bar one till the new year now I'm afraid! Oh and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

I must go now as Wolfie, Digicowboy, Together_Again and DarkLight02 are sharpening up nasty looking inanimate objects! HELP!

AAUK 0:-)

PS: A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night...!