TK
When I got home, I expected to be alone for a while, but I was surprised to find Mom, sitting on the couch looking as if she was waiting for me.
"TK, honey, how was school?"
As I closed the door, Patamon flew out of my bag, landing beside me.
"It was fine," I answered. "It was . . . Nice to be back."
Standing up, she walked toward me, placing her hands on my shoulders. "That's good. Now, tell me what's really going on."
Taking a step back, I swallowed my fear. "What do you mean?"
She sighed. "You haven't seemed like yourself since you came back. And, I know Kari stayed here last night. I heard you two arguing this morning. You're both good kids. I know you wouldn't be sneaking her over here unless it was something bad."
I looked to Patamon, trying to figure out which direction I should go. I could've told her everything was okay, and I could've told her that Kari was only sleeping over because I couldn't stand being away from her. But, she wouldn't have believed that, and while I was good for omitting parts of the truth, I really didn't want to have to lie.
Sighing, I met her worried gaze. "Something else did happen. I was dead. Kari brought me back. Now I'm bound to the one who killed me and to the one who brought me back. They can get inside my head and tell me to do things, and I have no choice but to do them. Kari uses her bond to protect me, and I especially need her at night because that's when everything is worse."
My hands clenched as I fought back tears. Talking about this with someone other than Kari only made me feel worthless. Kari had to use her bond to protect me. I wasn't even strong enough to protect my own mind. What good was I really to anyone when I couldn't even do that?
Mom touched my cheek. "What does that mean? Is it permanent?"
"Kari is trying to figure out how to break it. I don't know if she can, though."
"Well, if you kill . . . Whoever else it is you're bound to, wouldn't it go away?"
"That's not so easy," Patamon said. "I sent him somewhere we can't access."
Mom dropped her hands, taking my bandaged hand in hers. "This . . . Did he tell you to do that?"
Looking away, I nodded. "I don't have any choice in the matter. He tells me to do something, I do it. I can fight it, but ultimately I end up doing it. I don't really even fight Kari anymore when she tells me to do something because I know it's pointless."
"She's not taking advantage, is she?"
I shook my head. "No, it's not like that. She uses the bond for things I would've done anyway. Like giving her a kiss. And, she can stop his control by telling me to stop when I'm doing . . . Something I don't want to do. That's why I need to be with her so much."
She folded her arms, concern evident in her expression. Making her worry more was what I tried to avoid in the first place. "Please tell me you have it somewhat under control."
"It is," I answered. "It's not all the time, at least."
"Good," she said, then looked to Patamon. "And I know you're helping him as well."
Patamon nodded. "Right."
She looked to me again. "Well, you can tell Kari she doesn't need to sneak in and out anymore. Do her parents know?"
"Tai does. This really isn't something I want a bunch of people to know about. I hope it goes away soon."
"I hope so, too." She sighed.
I rested my hand on her shoulder, forcing a little smile. "I have faith that Kari can do something to destroy the bonds. Don't worry."
"Yes, she does seem to really love you."
A small blush crept across my cheeks. "And I really love her." Regaining my composure, I said, "I need to go work on school work. I have a lot of catching up to do."
Once I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. And, at least Kari could come over freely and not sneak around. Too bad the same didn't go for me at her house, but I was glad her parents didn't know. I wasn't sure they would be quite so understanding of why I needed to share a bed with their innocent daughter.
Kari
After dinner, I took off to my room. Now that we were back in the full swing of school, I wanted to make sure all my homework was done before TK came over.
There was a knock on the door soon after I sat down at my desk. "Come in," I said.
The door opened, and Tai stepped inside, closing the door behind him."Hey, so I was just checking if TK was coming here tonight."
"That's the plan."
I thought he would leave, but a moment later, he was sitting on my bed. "Any progress in breaking the bonds?"
I shook my head, looking down. "I think . . . We have a problem. Yolei and I figured out why the bonds are even. It's because he loves me as much as he hates him, and until he loves me more, we're going to have equal control."
"Or loves you less," he said.
I crossed my arms. "I don't understand. I keep trying to tip the scale in my favor, but nothing is working. How am I supposed to make him love me more?"
"Really, I don't know how he could love you more," he said. "I don't know if anyone has ever loved someone else more than he loves you."
I sighed. "I. . . Wonder if . . . Maybe we should . . . Take things further. But, he doesn't want to, and I'm not ready, either. But, if it would help our bond, I would."
I expected him to either get protective or flustered, but he remained neutral. "If you're doing it just because of the bonds, you're doing it for the wrong reasons and it could backfire."
"I guess so," I agreed. "But, I still don't know how to make him love me more than he hates him."
"It'll come," he said. "It might just take more time."
"But, we don't have time," I said. "It's like he's waiting for the best opportunity to strike. I don't want TK to be on edge all the time."
"I don't know, then, Kari," he said. "You'll figure it out, though."
Standing up, he walked over to me and gave me a hug, which I returned.
"Thanks, Tai," I murmured as he let go.
"Anytime," he said.
After he left the room, I looked to Gatomon. "Do you have any suggestions?"
She shook her head. "I doubt you'd like my suggestion."
"What?"
"Catnip. Doesn't it make all pets love their owners more?"
I groaned. "He is not my pet."
"Right. Because all human boys do as their girlfriends ask without question."
"Okay, I'm not asking you for help on this anymore."
I was on my own on this one it seemed. I just hoped I could think of something before it was too late.
/
After my parents went to bed, I stood outside the apartment waiting for TK. When I saw him, I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. His hands found my hips as he pulled me in for a kiss.
"Did everything go okay?" I asked.
"Well, Mom knows now," he said. "But, she's okay with what we're doing."
"That's good," I said, leading him inside. Once we were in my room, I sat down on my bed. "Tonight, I'll behave," I said. "But, if you don't want to behave . . ."
Sitting beside me, he pulled me against him, pressing his lips to mine. My hands wandered along his chest and stomach, and I had the urge to not be so innocent after all.
My hands crept up his shirt, pushing it up with them. Much to my surprise, he pulled it off the rest of the way and threw it on the floor. My face warmed at the sight of him. It wasn't the first time I had seen him like this, but it was the first time I could allow myself to do something with him.
"I like it better when we misbehave," he said, his own hands creeping up my pajama shirt. Unlike me, though, he only rested his hands on my stomach.
"I've been thinking," I started. "What if I can break his bond but not mine? Would that be okay?"
Pulling his hands away, he looked down. "It . . . Would be. Anything is better than being bound to him." He smiled, but it seemed forced. "Being bound to you isn't too bad."
"Once his bond is broken, I won't use mine," I said. "I want our relationship to be normal."
"Except for one thing," he said. "Can you still keep the nightmares away?"
I nodded. "Of course. As long as you want me to."
"At least I could dream of you every night."
TK pulled back the blankets and laid down, and I quickly followed suit. I was a bit surprised he was going to sleep without his shirt, and when he pulled me against him, I relished in the warmth of his skin. He gave me a light kiss, followed by our usual "I love you"s, and then I snuggled my head into his chest.
"Dream about our future, " I said. "Dream about life after the bonds."
We didn't say anything else. Though, it didn't take me long to fall asleep, given I never fell back asleep after the incident from last night. I was anxious for morning, excited to hear about his dream. I just hoped it was a good one.
/
I woke to the feeling of someone touching me. I smiled sleepily as the hand brushed my hip. "Mmm TK."
I opened my eyes as his hand touched my leg. Something felt off, and when I turned my head, I knew.
Blue eyes weren't looking back at me. They were black.
I jerked away. "TK, wake up!"
He pulled me back down to him, crashing his lips against mine. I struggled to get away, but he was too strong.
His lips prevented me from speaking or yelling, and I figured that was the intention. His hands were on my waist, and he pushed my shirt up, but I fought to keep him from removing it further.
"Boom bubble!" a blast of air hit TK from behind and he turned to his partner with an icy glare. Like last time, he didn't say anything. His hands remained where they were.
"TK, stop," I said. "I'm not ready for this. You're not, either. Please, wake up."
He showed no sign that he had heard me, and he moved his lips down to my neck. The same lips that made me breathless when he did this now terrified me. This wasn't his fault, but I couldn't remind my brain enough that this wasn't TK. Still, why wasn't the bond working? I wasn't fully awake yet, but I thought I was using it properly.
"TK, if you can hear me, please stop," I begged as his strength started winning over mine and my my shirt was nearly off.
Patamon kept trying, but his attempts no longer even got his attention. Tears ran down my cheeks, not because of what was happening to me, but because of what was happening to TK. If Devimon won, TK would never be able to forgive himself.
"Lightning paw!"
I hadn't even noticed that Gatomon had woke up until she hit the side of TK's head. He reeled back, giving me a chance to break his hold a little bit and pull my shirt down.
"Get off of her!" she yelled.
A low growl came from TK's mouth but he said nothing. His hands gripped my pants this time, and I knew what would come next if someone didn't do something.
His lips met mine again, but before anyone could react, the door opened and the light came on.
"TK, what the hell?" Tai was across the room before I could blink. He grabbed TK, pulling him off me. Before I could stop him, Tai punched him in the face.
"Get out of here!"
"Tai, it's not his fault!" I grabbed my brother's shaking fist. "Leave him alone. It wasn't him."
I forced myself to look at TK. His head was buried in his knees.
I released Tai's hand and sat beside TK. I touched his back, and he stiffened.
"No." He moaned. "No. No. No."
My other arm wrapped around him, and I rested my head against his shoulder. "TK, it's going to be okay. Nothing happened."
Tai snorted and I sent him a quick glare.
He opened his eyes but wouldn't look at me. "I know what happened, Kari. I was there."
"You were just kissing me," I said. "Nothing happened."
He glared at me, but I could tell his anger wasn't directed at me. "I tried to rape you! I'm not dumb, Kari. Admit it."
My voice caught in my throat.
Tai rested his hand on TK's shoulder. "TK, I think you should go home. You probably shouldn't sleep here anymore."
I held TK tighter. "Tai, it's not his fault!"
TK shook his head. "He's right. I'm going home now. We won't . . . Do this anymore."
"No, don't leave like this," I said. "Please, stay. Just talk to me."
TK fought out of my grasp, but I refused to let him go.
"Kari, I need to go," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Tai had to pry me off of TK. I watched him leave, a sick feeling creeping up in my stomach. Picking up his shirt, he put it back on.
As he reached the bedroom door, I had to stop him. "TK, I love you."
He stopped walking for a moment, but for the first time, he didn't return it. Fear surged within me as he closed the door behind him.
"Why did you do that, Tai?" My fists shook. "I was handling it fine!"
"It didn't look like it," he replied. "When I heard you yelling and Patamon and Gatomon trying to get him off you, I acted."
He put his arm around me as Gatomon jumped onto the bed beside me. "Kari, it's going to be okay."
I shook my head. "Gatomon, follow TK home. Make sure he's okay and help Patamon calm him down."
"But, if I'm with him, who's going to take care of you?"
"I have her," Tai said.
As Tai pulled me against him, the rest of my anger toward him melted away. If I couldn't be in TK's arms, his were second best. Gatomon and Patamon would watch over TK the rest of the night, but I couldn't keep from worrying about him. He wouldn't say he loved me, and I couldn't get the bond to work. What was happening to us?
Poor takari. What have I done to them this time?
Thanks for reading!
