Clarity: Pt 9 - Pure Clarity
By ArchangelUK

Bah, who said the stress of doing this fic is getting to me? Anyway, I do not own Digimon but my sock puppet here does, say hello Mr Wiggles! HELLO BOYS AND GIRLS! *Laughs manically as he is led away in a straight jacket by Wolfie.*

Where am I? TK could hear his thoughts; he couldn't speak though for some reason. Wherever he was he couldn't see much either, just a bank of white fog that shielded his vision from anything two centimetres in front of his nose.

You are at the place where all life begins and ends Keeper of Hope. A second voice announced. TK spun around trying to deduce where it was coming from.

I'm dead?

Think of it as Limbo. The voice was female and familiar, TK tried to think where he had heard it before. Allow me to introduce myself. The voice announced, and then out of the whiteness came a large bird, its body mainly bright red but with its wings and tail looking like flames. Seven balls of red energy encircled its neck - digicores.

I am Ebonwumon, one of the four guardian Digimon and protector of the spheres of Courage and Friendship. We must talk.


Yolei shivered so Ken put his arm around her; this place was cold with evil and darkness. Kari stood agitatedly on the side of the beach nearest where TK and Teeko had fallen in - it had been 12 minutes. Angemon poked his head out of the water again; spluttering grabbed a lungful of air and dived back under. Ikkakoumon, Submarimon and the mighty angel were all searching for TK underwater, no one had the heart to tell TK's partner that he wasn't much use under the sea.

Hope was fading fast, in more ways than one.

Joe to his credit had been preparing every single piece of medical equipment he had with him... that wasn't much. He had already confiscated several jumpers (including Yolei's) to act as blankets for TK when - as Joe insisted - he was found. The water was unnaturally cold, and so there was a good chance TK could be revived if found soon.

Ken and Yolei glanced towards Kari; there had been a reason they had divulged very little about the Dark Ocean to the others. Yolei had learned more from a reluctant Kari about it since the time they stumbled into the phase dimension. More for Yolei's own protection should it happen again but Ken and TK also had shared their knowledge to an extent about their experiences there. Ken had needed someone to talk to about those times; someone with more patience than Yolei, more understanding than Davis and more... well more mature than Cody... and Davis. TK had fitted the bill. Ken remembered the conversation they had had when he asked him why the two had mentioned so little to anyone else.

"You have to go there to believe it and when you go there you'll never forget it."

"That's true." Ken nodded, sipping the warm drink TK's mother had prepared for him.

"The Dark Ocean does something to you, with you it altered your digivice and began to send you down the path towards becoming the Digimon Emperor." The dark haired boy frowned deeply at this.

"I still don't get what you're saying."

"The Dark World corrupts those who aren't strong enough and tries to destroy those who are."

"That why Daemon wanted me to go with him to the Digital World?"

"Yes. You had not been strong enough to resist the urge after your brother died but now you are one of the strongest of us here. You're the only one of us who actually has a crest anymore."

"Are you saying the others aren't strong enough?" The behatted youth sighed,

"The others, even Tai, Davis and my brother would - me and Kari are confident - succumb to the ocean if it ever came for them in a concerted effort. The reason it doesn't is because it wants the strongest, and the strongest is Kari. For she alone is the vessel of all the light and therefore the most powerful opponent to darkness."

"But Yolei?"

"Yolei is far too stubborn for the powers of Darkness to deal with, they'd much rather we'd have to cope with her." TK said with a wry smile, Ken chuckled.

"What about you?"

"It... It has tried."

"What?" Ken practically leapt out of seat, TK's eyes narrowed and he looked up to the ceiling his voice became very quiet.

"Not even Kari knows about this." Ken understood the look TK gave him, an unspoken order that what he was about to tell him went no further than this room. "After she was taken and the Digimon and myself got her back I started to get dreams about the ocean. Warning me they would be back and there would come a time when I would be the target."

"And?"

"And I told them that if they wanted me so much they would have to come and get me because then I'd know Kari would be safe from their clutches." TK took a sip of his drink, "That I would do anything in my power to stop them whoever they went after."

"I bet they didn't like that."

"No. They said they would break me and take Kari from me... from us. Then I did something, though I'm not sure how and I locked the dreams out. I don't think Kari's had another one since."

"Have you?" Ken asked leaning forward, TK finished his drink and stood up.

"One."

TK never said what that dream was about, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Ken had asked Patamon about it afterwards and it was apparently the first the little Digimon had heard of it. Patamon was very worried by it, but remembered a night not long ago at the time when TK had some kind of nightmare he couldn't wake up from. Luckily he was at his Dad's and Matt managed to snap him out of it, whatever it was. Ken now suspected that it was a final warning/vision from Dragomon himself, maybe an all out offensive to get TK to submit.

Thankfully it had failed, and then Ken's D-Terminal began to beep...


Talk? About what?

You. Ebonwumon set down in front of TK, the bird pointing a wing at him.

Me?

Yes. You have two paths ahead of you, two choices, life or death.

Then I choose life!

Alas it is not that simple young one, it's my decision, and you must convince me it is worth you living.

Convince you? TK gawped, his eyes going wide.

The powers of Hope and Light are strong, Kari Kamiya has always been aware of her gifts yet you have chosen to keep yours dormant. It was your subconscious that reached across the divides between three worlds and used those powers to transport you and the other DigiDestined to the Dark World.


Angemon's lungs were burning, and he headed to the surface immerging in a splash of water. He took two breaths and dived under again, kicking with all his might to propel himself back to his prior position. The highly salty ocean water hurt his eyes, but he kept them open in the hope he could spot his partner. Two lights in the distance signalled the approach of Submarimon with Cody, so he turned left examining a bank of rock that had caught his eye. On closer inspection it was covered in seaweed, after a minute of reconnaissance he made for the surface again.

It was then as he was almost to the surface that something else caught his attention. A shoe just sticking out of the side of the crop of seaweed, Angemon's eyes widened. He reached the surface gasping and spluttering as he tried to call for help, Ikkakumon surfaced alongside him.

"Angemon what is it?"

"TK... I think I.." Angemon coughed up some more water, "Saw him."

"What? Where?"

"Down there!" Angemon clung onto Ikkakumon as he dived under, being dragged along by his fellow champion Digimon. The angel pointing towards the bank indicating where Ikkakumon should go, the shaggy walrus might be able to talk underwater but he couldn't. Ikkakumon powered there as fast as he could, with Submarimon now in hot pursuit also, As soon as they caught sight of it they knew they had found him. TK was caught up in the undersea plants, all three Digimon fought to remove the tendrils that had snaked around his limbs whilst Cody encouraged them on and sent word to Joe via Ken.


Even now, your friends have found your body and are about to start attempts to revive you. The guardian continued.

I didn't know.

You didn't know consciously, you do now. There is a danger that your new knowledge of your powers could result in the destruction of the Digital World.

What? But I thought the whole idea behind Gennai's charade was that the Digital World would not return to normal unless me and Kari... TK blushed a bit despite himself, Ebonwumon finished his sentence.

...Admitted your feelings to each other, yes I know. That is how we discovered the problem, it is because of your strong emotions that you were able to reach your abilities. Should something ever happen to the bearer of light your nature would, whether your conscious mind believes this or not, call upon your gift to exact a terrible vengeance. The result would be the destruction of the Digital World we the guardians cannot allow that to happen, you must swear to give up your love to Kari Kamiya or else you must perish now less you take everyone and everything with you.


"TK! Oh god oh god oh god oh god...." Yolei was holding Kari back away from TK's body while Joe worked frantically to bring him back to life. Joe was already breathing into TK's mouth then doing compressions in the hope of getting his heart and lungs going again.

"Kari! Kari!" Joe was yelling over his shoulder, "I need you to go and find a portal out of here, we need to get TK to a hospital and I mean NOW."

"I..."

"We can't locate one on our digivices, you are the only one who might stand a chance." Davis said calmly, looking into her eyes. As he hoped his words managed to stop her hysterics enough for the message to get through, she and Yolei tore off down the beach to find the said portal.


What gives you the right to decide my fate?

What give you the right to decide the fate of Kari Kamiya?

Where's Azulongmon? Does he know about all this?

Of course, he will abide by my decision.

I don't believe this! If I want to live give up Kari....


"Where is it!?" Kari screamed at the sky, waving her arms in the hope of coming into contact with it.

"Kari, calm down!"

"Here, it should be here! This is where I landed the first time, the first time, it should be here!"

"KARI!" Yolei slapped Kari hard, harder than she had the last time they had been in the Dark Ocean. "STOP IT!" She roared, "You need to stay calm and concentrate okay?" Kari nodded trembling, a large red mark spreading over her cheek. She closed her eyes and raised her arm, pointing her right palm outwards. She took a deep breath and started to slowly turn in a circle, her brow became wet with perspiration as she concentrated on finding the portal. Kari was about three quarters of the way around when she suddenly stopped turning clockwise and went back the other way, she did another quick correction and suddenly smiled. A bolt of pink light erupted from her palm and struck something that was seemingly invisible, Yolei looked on amazed as an image of Odaiba beach appeared.

"I found it..."

"IZZY! We've got the portal!"


You can't ask me to just give her up.

I believe I just did. Give up the Bearer of Light and live or do not and die.

I do not wish to cause the digital world harm, but I cannot deny what I know in my heart to be true Ebonwumon. And that is that I love Kari with heart mind body and soul and there is not a thing I would or wish to do about it. I cannot deny my love for her, for to do so... it would be to deny me. For she is my life, I would die for her and if that is what shall be than that is what shall be.


"One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand..." Joe kept the breathing and compressions up as Matt and Tai carried TK as fast as they dared, he had warned them that TK had probably with stained severe whiplash injuries from hitting the water from that height. Izzy had already gone through the portal with Davis to get an ambulance, by the time they got there it would have arrived. Joe was the one in control of this situation, he had told Izzy exactly what to say to the emergency services switchboard, which would mean that some specialised equipment would also be present within the ambulance.

As long as they kept TK as still as possible, and Joe kept some oxygen in his body there was still a chance.


Brave words Takeru Takashi, bearer of the crest of Hope. Is that your final decision?

If the fact I love her is a crime then I am most assuredly guilty.

You are willing to die for the Bearer of Light?

I believe I just did, it's only the efforts of my friends that are keeping me alive at this moment in time. This is 'Limbo' as you said after all.


"Okay, okay let's get him in the ambulance." The two paramedics helped TK's stretcher onto the vehicle, Joe still doing compressions. "You? Are you a doctor?"

"I'm a medical student." Joe said between breaths.

"You've done well, he's got a faint pulse and a damn good chance if we can get him to the hospital quick enough. Get in the front, I'll need you to prep some adrenal fluids for him."

"On it." Joe switched with the paramedic, Matt climbed in the back.

"Family only." The medic didn't look up, the other one stood by the door ready to close it.

"I'm his brother."

"Okay." Kari stood by Sora who held her trembling form against her, not sure what else to do. Suddenly Matt came back up to the door and held out a hand to Kari who looked at him quizzically.

"Come on."

"But I..."

"You ARE family Kari." She gave a small smile and accepted his hand, Matt pulled her up into the ambulance and the door was closed behind her. It drove off sirens blazing as the remanence of the DigiDestined and all the Digimon watched from the golden sand.

"Sora?" Tai walked over to his girlfriend, "I need you to call Nancy Takashi and tell her what's going on. I'll call Mr Ishida, Izzy can you get on the phone to my parents and as for the rest of you guys you'd better tell all your parents what's up too. We'll need some transportation."

"On it. Biyomon digivolve too... Birdramon!"

"Hawkmon digivolve to... Aquilamon"

"Veemon armour digivolve to... Raidramon!"

"Wormmon digivolve to... Stingmon!"

"Agumon digivolve to Greymon... digivolve to MetalGreymon!"

"Tentomon digivolve to Kabuterimon.... digivolve to MegaKabuterimon!"

"Let's go!" Davis pulled out his cell phone and leapt on Raidramon with Gomamon.

"Wait a minute! Where's Patamon?" Cody said, looking around.

"They won't let Digimon in the ambulance." Gatomon said from beside Armadillomon, "They won't let us inside the hospital either, but Patamon's following already."

"Right. Well let's get going."


Very well, if you so wish. Takeru Takashi - I hereby judge you...


The respirator went up and down, Matt was sitting next to the bed, which TK lay in with all sorts of tubes connected to him. TK had suffered as Joe had predicted severe whiplash, bruised neck, and somehow managed to twist his ankle although that could have been done trying to disentangle him from the seaweed and hypothermia. TK's heart was beating but the presence of the respirator gave away the fact he still couldn't breath on his own, they also had been using a dialysis machine to warm TK's blood. It wasn't the nicest thing to watch with the blood going from TK to the machine to TK again. Although thankfully the doctors had disconnected him from it now. Kari was slumped against him, still crying into his shoulder, Matt didn't know what else to do except hold her and whisper the occasional word of reassurance. It had been five hours, the traffic had been jammed solid on the way there not surprisingly their families hadn't arrived yet naturally the ambulance had been given an escort through the road chaos. Matt had been informed that Patamon had arrived not long after them, the same with the DigiDestined who waited outside in the corridor. The Digimon had been 'asked' to remain on the helipad on top of the hospital where the majority had landed. The security people were somewhat overwhelmed when a highly emotional flying orange pig threatened to do terrible things to them unless he was allowed in. Alas that is where Patamon was forced to remain, Gatomon having to comfort him.

Suddenly the door burst open to reveal Nancy Takashi and Malcolm Ishida, Matt got up and hugged his parents his mother holding her other son tightly to her. The exchange only served to upset Kari more.

"I'm so sorry..." She sobbed.

"What? Why?"

"This is all my fault, he saved me."

"Oh Kari." TK's mother held the trembling girl and tried to comfort her, "Shh shh don't cry, this wasn't your fault."

A light knock on the door signalled the entry of Joe and a doctor, their long time friend explained what was going on with TK. It was then that the equipment began to beep.


Ebonwumon faded away from view as did the white mist, TK began to feel dizzy as the white faded to grey, which faded to black.

I love you Kari...


"What's that?" Matt asked alarmed, several doctors entered rapidly and began to work on TK.

"Joe?" Kari asked quietly, "Joe?"

"It's the respirator." Joe stated, helping the other doctors. Kari and Nancy clung onto each other harder, Matt felt numb, and Mr Ishida was terrified. After a very long time of silence, Joe turned around and saw their looks of terror. "What is it?"

"Is he?"

"What? No! You've been watching to many medical shows, that was a good beep." He grinned, "TK's breathing for himself!"

"WHAT?"

"He's gaining consciousness! Amazing!" The doctor said scratching his head, before being barged rather unceremoniously out of the way by the other children who Joe had called in. Slowly TK's eyes opened, straining rather against the light, after about a minute of blinking he managed to make out the faces of his friends and family.

"Hi guys, missed me?"

"TK!" Kari flung her arms around him, and gently held him. "You're alive!"

"I am?"

"Yes son, thank God." His dad patted him on the head, while his mother gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"I can't be... I didn't give Kari up."

"Didn't give the what up?" Davis stammered, "What are you talking about?"

"Ebonwumon?" TK whispered, and before anyone could say anything the room dissolve into light, a cascade of images seemed to form themselves into what looked like the interior of a temple. The light receded but seemed to concentrate around TK's bed before revealing the keeper of Hope standing up devoid of any wounds or pain. A flash saw the Digimon appear, Patamon shooting into TK's arms, a second saw the other parents of the DigiDestined appear.

"What the?" Mr Motomiya asked amazed, "Davis?"

"Dad!"

"Where are we Sora? I was I my car and then the next thing I know I'm here."

"Mum? I think we're...well..."

"You are in the Digital World." A deep booming voice announced, gaining everyone's attention. Four archways appeared and out of it came four large Digimon - Ebonwumon, Azulongmon, Baihumon and Zhuqiaomon. It was Azulongmon who spoke, "Welcome. Kindred of the DigiDestined, welcome to the Digital World."

"You healed me?" TK asked as Kari attached herself to him tightly, Patamon taking up his customary place on TK's hat.

"Yes." Baihumon answered, the blue and white tiger smiled as he said it.

"Okay what's going on?" Nancy Takashi asked exasperated.

"You must forgive me for being late." Gennai materialised, "But perhaps I should explain. The reason why TK was separated from Kari was not because of the fact they were together but rather the fact that they were so stubborn. Both of them were doing harm to the Digital World by denying their feelings towards each other, the only way to fully heal the digital world was to stop the strain between Hope and Light. Thus we came up with the plan to get them together by separating them, if you see what I mean, their separation would result in them realising their feelings."

"You mean you put us all through that hell so that TK and Kari would admit their feelings to each other," Mr Ishida and several of the other parents looked as though they wanted to rip Gennai limb from limb. Tai and Matt held them back, but Gennai's worry grew when they announced they had 'first dibs' on the man.

"Not just that." Azulongmon corrected, "Kari had to realise she loved TK. She knew in her heart but would not admit it to herself. TK knew he loved Kari, he was also aware that there was no problem/danger involved with the warp."

"YES!" Izzy cried, "I knew I was right!"

"The powers of darkness found out about our plan however," Zhuqiaomon spoke, "They believed that with TK gone they could finally take Kari, so they sent a Scubamon changed into a human to 'persuade' her - you knew him as Teeko."

"I knew that boy was trouble." Mrs Takashi growled at her ex-husband who nodded in understanding.

"Dragomon betrayed him too, not that this matters but when TK found out about Kari being taken to the Dark Ocean he used the latent powers he possesses and managed to transport all of you to the Dark World."

"Whoa." Kari smiled up at TK, who grinned back. Patamon noticed Gatomon sitting down by their feet so jumped off to land beside her.

"There's one thing I don't understand." TK turned to the guardians.

"Just one?" Baihumon chuckled, but TK did not laugh.

"When I was in that coma Ebonwumon told me I had two choices to live and give Kari up, or love her and die."

"Yes." The bird smiled, "It was a final test, we didn't know your powers were so strong and that you could use them it was as much a surprise to us as it was to you. We needed to know that your bond with her was as strong as it would have been without those powers, you chose rather to die than to live a lie denying what lay in your heart. There is no stronger bond."

"So you let me live."

"Yes."

"Then why didn't Azulongmon come in my vision?" TK turned to the dragon, "He after all is the guardian of Hope and Light."

"What? That blabbermouth?" Zhuqiaomon laughed, "He would have given the game away."

"Hey!" Azulongmon growled, "Who are you calling a blabbermouth?"

"Enough!" Baihumon growled, "Everything now will be as it was, Hope and Light are together as are Courage and Love (thank goodness) you can all go home. TK is healed, the gates will remain open you can return to the Digital World at any time."

"Not so fast." Azulongmon interrupted, "Hope and Light are not fully together." There were collective gasps from everyone as they looked at Kari and TK who looked around in puzzlement.

"We love each other." Kari stated, "We've already kissed and admitted that to each other."

"The bearers of Hope and Light have, but their Digimon have not." Multiple sets of eyes trained on the embarrassed pair of Patamon and Gatomon. Gatomon suddenly found the temple floor most interesting.

"Ummmm." She muttered.

"Looks like we're going to have to separate them." Baihumon whispered to Zhuqiaomon loudly, the two looked up angrily.

"What? NO!" Patamon growled and then came to a decision, he grabbed Gatomon dipped her and kissed her with everything he had. The guardians laughed, Gennai, Kari and TK smiled, the other DigiDestined and Digimon cheered, Veemon fainted and had to be caught by Agumon and Wormmon. Gatomon was returned to her vertical position - eventually - by a red faced Patamon, but the cat's eyes were glazed over.

"Looks like with got another set of lovebirds on our hands." Tentomon buzzed happily as everything started to disappear again. The Digimon and parents disappearing to be replaced by the interior of the hospital room, TK was sitting up on the bed completely healed. The doctor looked like he was about to need an ambulance of his own.

"He... was... with the... and the..." The doctor grabbed a nearby glass of water and splashed it on his face. "I'm sorry everyone, I think all these long nights are getting to me." He made a lame excuse and rapidly exited the room to the collective laughter of the DigiDestined.

It was six hours later when TK and Kari emerged together from the hospital's main doors, hand in hand following a final check over of the boy by the bemused doctors. Their parents and friends had already left, TK looked down at Kari and kissed her, she sighed and held onto him a bit tighter, Pegasusmon and Nefertimon were waiting to take them home. Everything was right.

They didn't say anything to each other; then again they didn't need to. All Kari knew was TK was hers and she was TK's and nothing would ever change that. They were both at peace and finally TK's eyes had returned to the way she knew them - a clear blue, not clouded by anger, covered by pain, masked by vengeance or shrouded by misery. His clarity had returned, and with it so had hers as the two Digimon took off to take them home they all knew one thing above all others.

It was pure...
It was true...
And it was forever...


Here endeth the story for Kari and TK, and indeed Sora and Tai as well as Patamon and Gatomon - hey you didn't think I'd leave them out did you? There will be an epilogue, after all you want to know what happened to Teeko do you not? But for Hope and Light and this little saga of them getting together this is the end, all I shall say is that it was pure, it certainly was true and to the best of my knowledge they lived happilly ever after.

ArchangelUK 0:-)
Kari's Angels - http://www.geocities.com/happy_hylian