Chapter 9: Sugar and Spice

Wow, its been, awhile…Two months, but I think well…This chapter is pretty impressive…Very impressive. I have finally outdone myself…my first 10k chapter…. That's right 10 THOUSAND words… I have finally matched and I would like to say that I have surpassed him. That is still up for debate, but I really love this chapter. I want to say its my best, it is certainly up there I will leave that up for debate.

I should have things more on track from now on… I needed a little break. I did not know how big I wanted this baby to be…It just got huge!

I feel bad, but I think this more than makes up for it…Its about the size of two big chapters so think of it like a double post! Hell this thing is 16 full pages long!

I may not deserve a review, but I hope you guys give me one anyway… My apologies…

Though Enjoy

Sora

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Retelling Greymon's death was more emotionally difficult for her than she thought it would be. Tears began to creep onto her face past the stone face she had on display, giving away what she was really feeling. Whether it was her personal feelings for Greymon, he was Tai's digimon and she cared about him a lot, or rather the fact that she kept repeating the scene in her head only with Birdramon the one being destroyed into a million pieces. Most likely it was a combination of both and together they were making her head spin as sadness consumed her. Though she knew she had to be tough for Tai's sake, he needed her to be the sane one now, or at least act like the sane one. For once he was not ashamed to wear his emotions on his sleeves. Only one other time had she seen Tai openly cry, and that was when Kari was sick in the digital world. That time that Machinedramon was hell-bent on killing them in the city. Seeing Tai cry meant things could not get any worse, it meant that so emotionally traumatic had fallen upon him that he would actually look bad if he did not cry. Just seeing tears slide down her boyfriends face brought her heart to her throat. She had trouble breathing the aching sadness just squeezing the life out of her.

The rest of the team had joined them all in the hospital room just seconds after she finished recapping. They wore the same solemn faces like everybody else did, it was like they all went to a costume party and all took the same mask. It shouldn't be allowed for a room to have this much sadness in it. Cliché as it was you could cut the emotion with a knife and catch the tears that fell from the incision.

They stood there in awkward, agonizing silence. Some like Tai chose to wear their emotions on their sleeves, Kari in particular was looking pretty bad. Other just wore that stony frown combating the pain inside their head. Nobody dared to say anything afraid to ruin the moment, afraid to say something wrong. Time ticked by second after second, minute after minute and nobody did anything. Finally she decided to speak up.

"Tai why don't you come with me tonight?" she said slowly walking the two steps that separated her and Tai, connecting their arms and interlocking their fingers. He did not respond, but she knew by not saying no he was really saying sure. Though there was only one problem, Kari. Tai would not leave her without a shoulder to cry on. The prime choice was of course her boyfriend, but that decision was up to her. Unfortunately she was slowly losing her safety nets, slowly losing people to comfort her it seemed. Davis was the first to go, and the two of them had never become as openly as close as they actually were. Kari like her drew from his strength, she drew from the fiery determination that he displayed. When Davis was around she never shed a tear unless he told her to. Tai would be emotionally incapacitated by this for a little while, to sad to help Kari. Not to say that he would not try, but the pain he was in would only hurt her. Now TK seemed like the last line of defense before a complete mental breakdown.

"Kari are you ok for awhile?" she asked softly to the crying girl. It took a few seconds for her to become physically able to talk, the water on her face and the air that refused to go in her lungs.

"Yes you two should go, I think I am going to stay here tonight with Yolie…" she whispered, her voice cracking twice during that brief sentence. Yolie spun around in surprise. She seemed taken aback not expecting Kari's choice. She was not the only one as Sora caught a glimpse of TK's eyes widening in shock, even Tai briefly released the grip on her hand in surprise.

"Can we go Tai? Kari will be fine here for the night, and I'll call your Mom when we get home. Biyomon do you want to come?" she asked flipping her head toward her digimon.

"I think us digimon are going to pay our respects together on our own tonight." And that they did out the door to Ken's room and in single file made their way out of the hospital. What they were going to do was beyond her, but there still were many things about the digimon she did know. Though she simply nodded and followed behind them, dragging Tai along as they maneuvered down the hospital. Down the elevator she did her best to put a wall between her and her depressing thoughts. Smiling at the casual jazz music that emanated from the speakers cleverly hidden behind the buttons. Dropping down six floors silently praying that the elevator would not take a stop, because of the digimon encompassed her and Tai. The last thing she wanted was the unwelcome stares that were accompanied with being surrounded by digimon. Luck was with her as they swiftly walked over to the exit. She held her head up high and made her way out the circular spinning door. Out on to the sidewalk her hand fitting perfectly with in Tai's.

The horizon was hidden behind the fog and it was impossible to see more than a few miles ahead of you. Pathetic Fallacy she smiled to herself, something she had learned in English class a few days ago. It was when weather matched her mood. Right now the only thing more miserable than the sky was the team. Both her and Tai were the worst by far, Greymon was Tai's digimon, and Agumon was one of her greatest friends. He and Biyomon were inseparable, not in a romantic sense, but as close friends. They fit like puzzle pieces, it could not be a more perfect connection. That was lost now, one without the other, another casualty of this endless war.

Her eyes fixed on the sky, for a second she forgot where she was, who she was with, what she was doing. The sky was just so beautiful even in its darkened form…Clouds being pulled across like a cotton blanket on a bed. It was easy to get lost in the haze of the day.

Walking was pleasant though they talked very little. She tried to strike up a conversation, but after about ten minutes Tai had said a total of three words, none of them were coherent. It did not bother her to much, getting Tai to say something was a sign of progress.

The city was not to bad off here, the damage was minimal if any. Though she could see just a few blocks down the park where days ago they had first clashed with Kimeramon. People seemed to understand that this was a bit bigger than the last couple of times they had encountered Digimon. Every time they had laid waste to the city it had gotten significantly bigger and more destructive. It had nearly been four years to the day that Myotismon had attacked the city rampaging and knocking down buildings and such. A very nasty time for everyone involved. Four years before that they had their first encounter with Digimon when Greymon, or a Greymon, had come to the real world. As one reporter cleverly joked;"For god sakes they come every four years! What is this some sort of Olympic games or something? Hey guys I am so excited for Monster Olympics 2012, WHEN WE FINALLY BLOW THOSE FUCKING HUMANS OFF THE EARTH!!!" Of course the term "fucking" was censored, but that was beside the point. People had mostly began to take off one way or another after the first week, history had repeated itself and they had learned many times not to interfere.

Only then did she notice that they had arrived at her place. Opening the unlocked door she made her way into the entrance way. Only then did she let go of Tai's hand, finally breaking the bond. The second his hand left hers she could feel the strength seep out of her, it was like trying to live with out the other half of her. Impossible to stay to long without the half of her that gave strength.

Kicking off her shoes she made her way to the kitchen and put some hot water on the stove.

"Would you like hot chocolate or coffee?" she called through the kitchen, though she already knew the answer. Hot Chocolate was sort of an inside joke between the two of them. Not so much a joke, but a way of living in their relationship. The day after Matt broke up with her she was heartbroken. One of the worst days of her life by far. Yet Tai came over, a dozen tulips from her mother's store and box of chocolates. She could not have been more touched, Tai really was not one to be overly nice about this sort of thing. Back then both boys had a crush on her and she was forced to make a choice. She had already had a round of dating with Tai and even though he was great and all, they were just too much like children with each other. Even after the first bout with Daiaboromon She broke up with him and choose his best friend a week later. Not the biggest thing for Tai's pride and he had moped around the house for a long time. Her and Matt had a lovely month together, and even though she loved it, Matt supposedly got bored. He broke up with her and she was pretty torn up. (and still today gave him shit for what he did to her) After two hours of crying the doorbell rang and their stood Tai. She could not have been more touched, the fact that Tai had put his feelings aside for her was beyond sweet. They went up to the attic and with coco in their hands. The two had stayed up all night in her attic with their cups of coco just talking about everything having to do with life. Well she supposedly fell asleep around four in the morning according to Tai, but that mattered little. They were meant for each other it seemed, and that night seemed to prove it.

"I'll take a hot chocolate…" responded Tai his voice hinting the emotion he felt. She simply smiled and began mixing coco into cups. The powder was so much better in water, but Tai was a purist and refused to have hot coco in water. Milk was the only way to have hot chocolate supposedly and she was not in the biggest argumentative mood. Obviously Tai was not in the mood for making petty squabbles over milk. He deserved milk in his coco after today. Heating up the milk she took a giant yawn and stretched, cracking the knuckles in her fingers and her toes. She just could not stop smiling, the expression on her face completely contradictory to the thoughts she felt in her heart. Or was she misinterpreting what she actually felt? Was she sad that Greymon was gone? Sad could not begin to describe the loss she felt for the little orange dinosaur. Though she was with Tai, at peace, with him for the first time in a month all alone. That made her happy even though they were only together over death. A small flash of light and a puff of steam let her know that the milk was heated. Taking the steaming cups she made her way out of the kitchen. Tai was completely sprawled out across the couch, almost like he was trying to make sure every part of his body touched the soft cushion. It was a funny scene and she just kept smiling, even Tai was unable to suppress a grin.

She laid the cups down on the glass table, the handles just in reach if they reached out. She made her way onto the couch, trying to put her hands and feet in places that he was not. Eventually she gave up and just curled up on his chest. It was so comforting here, Tai's body normally hard, muscular and bony felt as soft as any cushion. She intertwined their feet, and draped her arm over him. Her head found a crook in his shoulder and their faces touched ever so softly as she made sure her hair was not in his face.

His breathing was all that she could hear, hard and rigid at first, but it seemed to get softer and softer as time went on. Gradually her body moved less and less as his breathing became shallower still. Her own breathing matched his and slowly she began to drift, sleep like a drug taking hold of her system. She tried to fight it, but conceded that she was going to need all the sleep she could get. Her eyes closed and she drifted off into wonderland.

Though wonderland really was not that wonderful, her dreams consumed with fear, loss and terror. At first she walked for forever and a half until she finally came to a city, her city, this city. It was almost unrecognizable, many of the buildings lost. Tai's spiky hair and goggles the only thing recognizable in the distance. She kept walking towards him, needing his strength his comfort to deal with her sorrow. Though he seemed to get farther away with every step she took. Everything moved around them, but the distance between them seemed to stay the same. Nothing happened for what seemed like an eternity and then a sound shattered through the silence. Only then did she realize the silence that had surrounded her. The noise almost welcome breaking invisible chains the oppressing silence. A shadow through the sky, or rather a flash of light in the darkness she could not be sure of which. She only saw the thing fly towards the spiky hair a flash of light and then…nothing. She screamed, but sound did not escape her lips. Nothing, nothing at all…

She awoke, to scared to get up with a start, but she felt Tai's beating heart against her chest and knew everything was going to be ok. It was a shock for a second, her fears had momentarily been vanquished it seemed, then the dream. Even in his presence she had fell into the fear, that incredibly deep sensation of overwhelming loneliness. Though here he was, within her grasp and she still worried that she was going to lose him forever. Maybe she did not miss Greymon that much, maybe she just worried that Tai was next. Either way the emotional shock brought tears to her eyes, emotions she did not know exist now overwhelmed her. Sleeping should have helped though it had only made it significantly worse. Her hear embedded somewhere in her throat she looked up at Tai, blinking tears out of her eyes she forced a smile.

Kissing his cheek she sat up stretching her arms and legs and purposely did not expose her face to the boy she loved. Once again she needed to be strong, she needed to be his crutch and breaking down now would probably make him worse off than Kari. She tried to talk with her heart in her throat, but failed miserably.

"Looks like we will be drinking our hot chocolate cold…" she said attempting to hide her feelings behind false humor. Though her voice was layered with emotion, deep enough so Tai would surely know how she felt. She had never tried so hard to hide how she felt, she often wore her emotions on her face. Come on she was a girl, that was what they always did in the stereotypical society. Yet now she tried to become a gargoyle just like every boy she knew. It was impossible; she could not comprehend how they could act so…so normal when the world was being torn apart around them. It was a talent that men seemed to be born with. It obviously had its advantages, yet it was not something that she wanted.

"I can go make some more…" he whispered shifting underneath her in an attempt to get up. Though that's not what she wanted, she did not want him to leave her side. Her hand moved to his thigh firmly putting pressure making it impossible for him to stand. He seemed slightly taken aback, but it was quickly put away. It mattered little to him, and she was obviously doing a terrible gargoyle impression so he stayed down.

"No its fine, don't get up" she said, brushing back tears. She was horribly afraid, but not just for Tai, now for the team, for Biyomon, for the people she loved, for the whole city. It was a fear that overwhelmed her because she realized how impossible it was to protect everyone. In all reality somebody was going to die. Her dream had just reminded her how useless she actually was, there was no way she could help everyone, no way she could save the world from obvious destruction. She was one girl too scared to do anything except sit here on her boyfriends lap and softly cry.

"Sora I understand, you miss him too…" she nodded at him and her face became buried in his chest. The essence of that weak girl, to scared, to weak to do anything except cry in your boyfriends shoulder. It angered her and the tears came out harder as she realized how insignificant she was.

"He is your digimon, you should be crying, not me…" she sobbed. Though it was more than that, it was the fact that she was the one supposed to be comforting Tai, yet now he was comforting her. She was supposed to return the favor he had paid her all those years ago. Yet now she was the one once again crying in his shoulder. The more she cried the more she recognized that she needed to grow up, and do what was best for the team. It was an epiphany of sorts, the team could not use her like this. They were united together and those bonds were weak enough. Tai was not the only one who needed her, others did as well. She had failed Tai, she would not fail them.

"I have already shed my tears, I miss him so much its beyond crying for me, it's just an overwhelming ache, without you it probably would have torn me to shreds. For you it was the straw that broke the camel's back of the emotional roller coaster that has been the last couple of weeks. So cry, all you need to do is cry." And cry she did, not even bothering to do anything but let it pour down her face. She needed to get rid of it all now, all this agony need to be expelled from her before it could do anything else. Her pain was for her and her alone. There were people who were going to die if she did not shape up. They could very well be her friends or family, either way they would not die with her like this, it simply was not fair to anybody.

After a few minutes she stopped and stood back up taking the remote in her hands.

"I'll get you one of my dad's shirts" she half laughed half sobbed, and she made her way to her parents bed room only pausing for a second to turn on the CD player with the remote control in her left hand.

"I love you" Tai whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.

"And I you" she responded just as softly. And then he laid back down on the couch ignoring the puddle of tears on his shirt and fading away to the soft voice coming from the CD player across the room.

So we're alone again

I wish it were over

We seem to never end

Only get closer to the point where I can take no more

The clouds in your eyes

Down your face they pour

Won't you be the new one

Burn to shine

I take the blue ones every time

Walk me down your broken line

All you have to do is cry

Yes

All you have to do is cry

Hush my baby now

You're talking is just noise

And won't lay me down amongst your toys

In a room where I can take no more

The clouds in your eyes

Down your face they pour

Won't you be the new one

Burn to shine

I take the blue ones every time

Walk me down your broken line

All you have to do is cry

Yes

All you have to do is cry

Photographs and brightly colored paper

Are your mask you wear in this caper that is our life

We walk right into the strife and a tear from your eye brings me home

Won't you be the new one

Burn to shine

I take the blue ones every time

Walk me down your broken line

All you have to do is cry

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Mimi

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Her head was filled with so many conflicting emotions it was hard to put heads or tails on anything. Only recently had she been allowed to help the team out in Japan and they really needed her pep. They were so depressed with everything, granted she had merely experienced only a couple of days of this, but she could not imagine why everyone was so sullen. Their friendships were constantly at risk and they were always at each other's throats. She felt like reinforcements in some respect, not just for the actual battle part, but for the team's mental state. So much counted on the team being just that, a team. Without those bonds of friendship they were nothing! How could they take on anybody when they were busy taking on each other? It was silly really for them to be so preoccupied with this mess that they could not have a little fun. Heck her and Izzy had been planning this date for an eternity and it was going to happen.

He was adorable as ever though, scared, constantly blushing whenever they made contact. He was redder than Tentamon always was whenever they talked. It was so cute on him, almost like he was wearing blush. His spiky hair, his constant stuttering, it was nice to know that she had control. She really liked Izzy, he was so different from every guy she had dated in America. All of them wanted to know what she would do for them. Izzy wanted to know what he could do for her, he actually cared about her. That's what made him special to her, the fact that he actually showed compassion. It had gotten to the point where she was thinking about actually giving up on boys! Well no that was a lie, but she was certainly going to take a break for like a week or two. Good thing Izzy came out of the blue otherwise she'd be stuck.

Finally she got fed up moping in the hell hole that was now Ken's temporary home. The last thing she needed was to get some medical whatzit on her new dress. It was much too depressing to be in there anyway, who had time to be depressed when you had life to live? The others would mope for her anyways, Tai had enough people feeling sorry for him. It wasn't that she did not care, but there comes a point where sitting down and feeling like crap does nothing for the cause. So taking Izzy by the hand she yanked him out of the room. Only stopping so Izzy and Matt could share a man moment and made their way out the door.

He had the funniest expression on his face, a mixture of total fear and a large ear to ear grin that made him look like a guy that was about to kill somebody. Though she knew he was just happy to be with her, this was a first for the little tike. A date with a pretty girl was always scary for guys even if they did not want to show it. It was her job to make him feel normal as possible, not that she would.

"You're so cute when you're scared out of your mind" she laughed and scratched the peach fuzz that had appeared under his chin. She was going to be on her best behavior, but that did not mean she could have a little fun with the guy. It was nice to be smarter than Mr. Know-It-All for a change. For once he was not the one brimming with intelligent, rather hiding in a hole cause he could not make heads or tails of anything.

"Scared out of my mind of what?" he asked trying to hide it. Once again she could see the fear in his eyes, but now she began to feel a little pity. He was really scared shitless, and the fact that she was nagging him about it was not doing anything for his self esteem. They pulled up to the restaurant linked at the arm. She was ecstatic about eating here, it had been way to long. It was always one of her favorite places the only problem was everybody else liked it as much as she did. It was fancy Italian in away. Pizza, pasta, salad, breadsticks, all that good stuff and the atmosphere was hip to go with the delicious food. Though now it was empty, only one other couple sat across the way, a man and a woman in their forties. She scooted across the red cushion in the booth and Izzy did the same on the other side.

She took the menu from the waiter, the only one that seemed to be present in the restaurant. It was an eerie feeling being one of the only people here. It was so often filled to the brim, people lining the entrance waiting for a meal. Now she counted of four other people in the relatively large room. It usually sat around two hundred it now sat four. Twenty or more waiters lined the building flying from table to table. She counted a single man with his black hair slicked into a mullet and a woman behind the bar.

She looked at the menu casually aware of Izzy's gaze on her. He was staring at something and she couldn't tell whether to be creeped out or to be pleased. Though she took it all in stride, confirming what she wanted to eat. The pizza here was to die for, she loved it like nothing else when it came to food. Normally she wasn't that much of a food girl, but she was convinced they put some form of addictive narcotic to keep her coming back. The only problem was she could not finish the whole thing, and she hated cold pizza so it always went to waste. Though Izzy was paying so she could care less at the moment. She put the waiter to signal to the waiter that she was done, Izzy had yet to pick up his menu and she knew he would be caught staring at her. Though she wanted to know what he was looking at, his expression would give that away.

"Ready to order?" said the man, his sleek black hair shining like plastic from the light above. It looked like he had his own helmet. It was not ugly, it suited him quite well actually it was just different and briefly caught her gaze. Izzy ,though was too fixed on her to notice him, just as she predicted he was caught off guard.

"I'm sorry what?" he asked and she could not help but silently giggle. Yet he did not seem embarrassed at all by it. No fire truck red on his cheeks, what was going on?

"I simply asked if you were ready to order." Said the man pointing to the open menu before him. His voice was amusing, quite deep, huskier than most. It seemed unbecoming of the short and skinny little Italian man. The accent was gorgeous, just very full, filling the room with its presence. Its own essence in the room. Compared to her timid boyfriend it seemed so much more becoming of what a voice was supposed to be like. Whatever Izzy's hair was just too cute to ignore. Compared to helmet head it was just epitome of adorable.

"Sure, I'll take the, hmm… I don't know how about the pizza" Perfect she thought. Now I don't have to worry about wasting food, he will finish anything I don't eat.

"I'll share that with him" said Mimi quickly. The waiter simply nodded taking the menu and walked away.

"You're doing fine, stop going crazy otherwise you are going to screw up!" she laughed at him. She gave him her biggest most affectionate smile that she could muster. He cared so much about this date. Well that was not totally true, he hated the date, he cared about her, and that meant a lot to her.

"That is easy for you to say…" he groaned. He rubbed his eyes and then his temples in the universal expression for, oh my god I am going to die of embarrassment in a second.

"I would not say it if I did not mean it" she pouted. They waited then, she did not want to say anything to ruin the mood and Izzy was still scared about saying something. So she sat there waiting for her food. At first she was annoyed, her slight ADHD setting in as she got very restless. She looked outside though and saw the grey sky in the distance. It was peaceful in away, with her boyfriend in this ghost of a city. Yet as they fought a war, one of their greatest friends now in a million pieces she was content. Not happy, far from it, but she refused to show that. It was just the setting, as Izzy would say, pathetic fallacy, the mood matched the weather. Yet it was more than that, deeper than that, it was a deeper wave of sadness. Only now did she really feel it, she now saw why the team was where it was. She could not explain what came over her, like someone had lifted the blanket over her eyes all the sudden as she looked off into the distance. Izzy seemed to recognize something was amuck, yet still he said nothing.

Then she smelt the food off in the distance and her brief bout with grief ended as the combined scent of cheese, chicken and tomato sauce transfixed her senses. There had to be some form of heroin in that pizza, just had to be it could not smell that good! Almost as if she had willed it into existence the pizza appeared out of the back room on the single outstretched hand of the man she had silently dubbed forever as helmet head. He walked forward and set it in front of them cutting the thing of beauty in half.

"I want food before I die" Mimi laughed and vigorously got to work. Taking the knife she deftly cut up her half into four slices and proceeded to eat like a wild bear. Ok now she was sure there was at least heroin in the pizza, probably some other things as well. Each bite of cheesy goodness brought her deeper and deeper into happiness.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are?" he said softly gently stroking her hand with his own. Izzy's romantic gesture brought her back to reality. She was embarrassed all the sudden to be acting like a guy when she was such a girl. She blamed the people who put crack in the food, but that was besides the point. Back to being a girly girl.

"No…though I wish you would…" she said even softer her cheeks becoming a flushed pink. Was he finally coming out of his shell? It seemed so, and she hoped desperately that he was. The sky almost seemed to agree with her, as the sun softly made its way through the fog.

"They are the most perfect shade of brown I have ever seen…ever" she smiled her blush becoming even deeper. This was to good to be true, he was finally being confident. She seemed so out of place now, not ready for him to grow up. She had expected two or three dates until he had told her how beautiful he thought she was.

"You're obviously getting better at this" she met his smile with one of her own almost choking on her pizza in surprise. For a moment the two of them seemed to be in a trance a moment of pure perfection. It was just incredible, the pizza's scent in the air as she looked across into Izzy's eyes, she could not have asked for a more perfect moment. Then to add to the beauty music finally came to her ears. It had been there before, but as always in a restaurant you just tune it out. Though she recognized it, the guitar riff.

"I love this song" said Mimi her hands going her cheeks with pleasure. He seemed excited too, very pleased that he was not the only one that liked it.

"So do I" he grinned taking her hands in his, the two of them following the song word by word, line by line. Both grinning like idiots, both completely enjoying themselves for the first time in a very long time.

Shoelaces untied
You can dry your eyes
Perfect shadows alive
Behind us
This is the day I make you mine

The way your hair lies
sometimes unrecognized
All the way from these today
on a train
Nothing to say if there is still time

But you are the one
I've been waiting for today
And here comes the sun
That's been baiting on today

Lately i've lost my tongue
Today you found the sun
I know not long has grown
Well i thank god u came along

But you are the one
I've been waiting for today
And here comes the sun
That's been baiting on today

You looked right through me
When there was no one else
I am Side beside you and became myself
Today... today

You are the one
I've been waiting for today
And here comes the sun
Thats been baiting on today

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Kari

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It wasn't that she did not want Tk there, it was just that she wanted to spend some time with Yolie. Girl talk was girl talk and certainly guys were not supposed to be there. It was really sweet for him to go out of his way to look out for her. Though she was not in to much of a cry into her boyfriends shoulder kind of mood. Right now she needed to discuss her feelings with someone, normally it would be Tai.

He was the best in her mind, he never thought any less of her no matter what she admitted to him. It's one of the reasons she relied on him so heavily, he never made her feel like the bad guy. Even if it was totally her fault and they both knew it, he still found that tiny bit of good inside her. Though he was obviously out of action and probably in the best place in the world he could possibly be. Sora would take good care of him. Kari of course would be there for him in time, but right now was not a; tell me what you're feeling kind of mood. Right now the best thing for her knight in shining armor was to lay back on Sora's couch with a cup of coco and just to cry. No doubt that is what he was doing right now.

TK would be the next best for her, but things had gotten a little awkward between them now. Now that they had bridged this gap from best friend to boy friend it had gotten harder and harder to communicate. Often he was always there to talk to when Tai was sick of her insanity, but that had been about other things, such as Davis or the digital world in general. Though now most of her emotions and feelings that needed to express were about TK and she could not explain those to him at the moment. That was obviously a bit off.

Davis most likely would not be an option anyway, she would never stoop so low as to make him suffer through her emotions about TK. Though obviously being M.I.A. made that bleak option impossible.

The only thing left would be to use Yolie as her outlet. Something she had tried before with disastrous consequences. Yolie was not exactly the fairest girl she knew, often being very judgmental when it came to Kari's emotions. Though she needed an outlet, these past few weeks were becoming too much to handle and the last thing she wanted to do was to explode somewhere on somebody. Hopefully Yolie would understand, she was a great friend, but not the kind she wanted in this situation. She would come down harsh, probably too harsh for Kari to handle.

It was sort of awkward leaving TK alone with Ken at first, you really weren't supposed to leave your boyfriend like that. TK and Ken were friends, though she could feel a slight tension as she and Yolie left the room. They walked softly down the hall for it seemed to be endless, they took a couple of turns past different wings. Kari really did not know how to start, it was just so confusing so many conflicting emotions. Though Yolie seemed to understand.

"The only reason you would come to me to talk about your feelings is because Tai, TK, and Davis are all out of commission. Granted I am assuming you want to vent out on me, I am not totally sure. Though Tai and Davis are both out of commission, yet TK is still waiting for you. Obviously very worried otherwise he would have gone home tonight. So my natural assumption is that you want to talk about TK because you can't talk about TK to TK." Kari could not help but to grin. Ken's natural ability to perceive everything seemed to be rubbing off on her. That could be a bit annoying if she got any better at it. Ken may have recognized what was happening, but he had the decency to keep his mouth shut. Yolie was the gossip queen, and if she got Ken's wisdom it would be bad for everybody.

"Well your right obviously, I just don't know where to start, I just…" she paused and flashed back. She remembered Yolie spending every waking second with Ken. Worrying over him like a mother did over her sick baby. She cared so much about him, their love was so secure and she just did not get why that was not like her and TK. "I look at you and Ken, and I see love, I see adoration. The way he gravitates around you, the way you hang on his every word. The way you would do anything for him, the way he would do anything for you. I care about TK so much, I just don't care about him like that it seems." The silence was dreadful and she could already feel Yolie's anger boiling up inside of her. She started to talk a couple of times. Though she stopped sighing in mid sentence and scratching her head.

"I'm sorry just thinking, it does not come as natural for me as probably Tai or TK. I don't know how to explain it, Ken and mine relationship is really different than yours and TK's. They really should not be compared, or at least in my mind. Your relationship transformed from the two of you being close friends. It finally evolved into more than that when you felt like you were old enough to handle something long term. That is so different from what we have, ours is new, exciting you know? We learn more and more about each other every day. You and TK are like war veterans, you know each other like you know yourself."

It was an interesting thought, her and TK were, and could never be romantically involved because they were already too close. She did know TK as well as she knew herself, they had been through so much. To much it seemed according to Yolie's theory. Were they doomed to be just friends because they knew each other like brother and sister? She had expected to be in a relationship with TK, ever since she knew what a relationship was. She had expected to be with him forever, her soul mate had already been found. They had just been waiting to be old enough to tie the knot. No girl had ever made an approach on him for they knew he was hers. No girl dare challenged her for him, it was supposedly an unwritten rule. Not if Kari and TK would tie the knot, but when. The only guy to ever make a move on her was Davis.

"The problem is your so used to that friend stage you don't how it transfers into the L word. You think you love him, but that is because everyone else has told you that you love him you know. It's just been that way forever and now that your finally here you don't know what to." Yolie said following it with a big sigh, flipping her hair back and swiftly putting it into a pony tail.

"So are you saying that were doomed? That because we are friends and have been for so long that it is impossible to be boyfriend and girlfriend?" said Kari panic beginning to set on her face. Were they really done for as a couple because their friendship was so strong. She had so many times friendship turn into love, why was it so impossible for her and TK?

"Impossible?!? No far from it, you two would be a great couple, really. Heck what am I saying you two are a great couple. Girl you just have to be willing to make it work because right now you are scared. You can't be, you have to let your emotions dictate how you feel. If you love him, love him, don't hold it back."

Kari dipped her head and sighed, Yolie had not actually asked her a question, but she certainly wanted to know the answer. Truthfully she did not know this feeling, this L word as Yolie so firmly called it. She knew what she felt for TK, but was not sure it compared to this undying passion Yolie and Ken had. Was she jealous? Yes. Even a little ashamed that the depth of her feelings were not even on the same zip code as hers.

"I don't know, like I care about him so much and…" though Yolie seemed to know what to say before she even said it.

"That is the problem right there, you said care. You care for him, you don't love him." She said vigorously pointing her finger at Kari.

"The two words are interchangeable Yolie, it makes no difference!" she said putting her hands outwards in the "I did not do anything wrong!" expression. Yolie was accusing her for seemingly no reason.

"Kari that's crap and we both know it. You care for your brother, you care for your family, you care for your best friend. YOU DON'T CARE FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND!" she said much louder than necessary. They had made their way into the waiting room now Kari noticed and people's heads turned in their direction after Yolie's outburst. "We both know you're supposed to love your boyfriend not care for him. You know that otherwise you would have said the L word just as I did!"

Kari was pissed now, this had gone too far, who died and made her queen of love. Just because she found the perfect guy did not mean she could be such a jerk on this topic. It had gone much too far and Kari was seriously thinking about slapping her in the face.

"Who died and made you queen of this crap?" she said her tone not reflecting how angry she actually was. Yolie said nothing, just smiled and reached into her pocket and pulled out her D-3. A few strokes on the keyboard later and there stood the Digi-Egg of Love spinning in circles. Every time the crest shown through in pink Kari sunk down into her hole a little more.

"The people who gave me this crest obviously think I am not an idiot when it comes to the subject. Crap or not Kari it is important, we both know that. Don't be upset it's a frustrating subject I understand that. I am here to help separate what you feel for you. I am more than happy to help it's the least I can do for a friend." She gestured to an empty bench, one that was away from the chaos of the waiting room. Kari sat down and rubbed her head, trying to force out all of the insanity.

"Crap." It was all she could say, all that she could even think. Her brain felt like it was on overdrive trying to process everything she was thinking. It was nigh impossible and giving her bigger headache.

"Now I need you to be one hundred percent honest with me. I need you to be otherwise I cannot help you. I may ask a question that you don't want to admit or confess to. Though you need to be truthful to me and truthful to yourself otherwise we will go nowhere. Can you do that for me?"

"I will try." She said not sure whether to laugh or to be serious.

"First question. Are you and TK closer or father apart now that you are in a relationship?" Yolie then went on to make a big show of handing the "microphone" in her hands and putting it up to Kari's face. It was funny, but it wasn't the time so Kari just did an extra large eye roll and proceeded to answer.

"Truthfully…truthfully we have grown farther apart. I mean, I have always contributed it to this war that we are in. It was hard to be a couple when we were fighting for our lives every day. Then Angewoman died and I could not focus on him at all with the depression. I mean he was a great friend throughout, but not really a boyfriend. Though now this, I can't help but to think…"

"No that was not the question, you're going too far, take it back a notch girl! Ok next question, fill the blank. I BLANK TK."

"Your killing me… I guess… I guess I don't love him. Though I can't define love, Is love what you and Ken do every day. The way you gravitate around him like he completes you? Because if that's love I cannot compare with that. I care about him so much, he is one of the most important people. Yet I guess comparing it to you and Ken no I don't."

"Don't compare, if you love him you would know. You would not be questioning it you would know just deep down in your heart that he was the one you cared about more than anyone else on earth. It's not something that would require this much thought. You just love him or you don't there is nothing more to say about it." Kari just nodded, it made sense, even in Yolie's twisted logic. She could not argue with the sense that it made. "Well ok next question."

"Well if you don't love TK it has to be somebody else Kari! Personally I only have one guess to who it could be." She had the most ridiculous grin on her face. It was no secret that she thought more highly of this one person she had in mind than TK. Of course it could be no other, the boy currently who was most likely dead. Davis…

"Seriously Yolie?!? Now you bring this up! Like I am still trying to get over him just leaving us. I can't think of him without losing all of the breath in my body. I think about Davis and I get ice cold. I don't suddenly get the tingly warmth you're supposed to get when you're in love." Yolie had made her choice awhile ago about who Kari should "choose". Every girl on the team had chosen TK over Davis as the better guy, except for Yolie of course. What she saw in him could not be understood by anyone. She really liked the guy, but it could not be love. Could it?

"It's perfect, you can not be in a true relationship because you miss you know who! That's what has been eating at you more than anything else! Girl you dig him don't deny it!"

"Yolie I really like the kid, he cares about me a lot…" Yolie once again cut her off.

"Kari he doesn't care about you, TK cares about you. Davis full blown loves you girl and it would be good of you to understand that."

"I…I don't know. Like I miss him, I just don't know." Could Davis be the one, It seemed so impossible so distant. She had been on this path before and was really getting sick of it. She had chosen TK, it was over in her mind. Davis had gone off because he could not handle that at the time.

"You know honestly Kari, the way he looks at you, he would do anything for you. You know that, you abuse that!" she was angry and she had a right to be, but it wasn't fair, Davis was a sore subject.

"Yolie not now!" yet her brain flashed back to that fateful day with the whip. The day that Davis proved that he really would do anything for her.

Flashback

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"You, get up shirt off NOW!" he spat. Mummymon came through the door, whip in hand.

"What do you think I have been trying to do for the last 10 minutes trying to get up guess what it doesn't work I got this strange thing around me that prevents me from doing that!" Davis laughed. He was so brave, so cocky so strong.

SMACK.

The whip flew in from nowhere and struck him solidly in the face, it was horrifying as a line of blood appeared on his face. It looked terribly painful, yet he barely flinched, pain that would probably drive her unconscious he acted like did not even happen.

"I recommend that you be quiet. I have only two requests tell me where the last destiny stone is. Also tell me what you were talking to Black WarGreymon for. The faster you do this the less you suffer." Mummymon barked.

Davis ropes were cut and he was lead over to the chains hanging from the ceiling.

"SHIRT OFF"

Davis's glare was met by a another whip lash to the face. He collapsed in pain now a line of blood on both cheeks. Hatred seemed to seep out of him, she could feel his hatred like a drug. It was intoxicating as it combined with her fear.

"OFF!"

Davis obliged and was quickly attached to the chains before he could react.

"Davis…." She whimpered, there was nothing to say, just to say she was with him. All of the way, he was doing this for her.

"I'll be fine he won't win." He smiled his lopsided grin and gave her the V for victory. Still the same cocky kid that would do anything for her. Here in the face of torture he still thought he would win.

"I almost decided to break the girl, but since you are the LEADER I thought it should be your honor".

"How sweet of you did you get me a muffin basket as well?"

SMACK

The whip went deep into his chest as Kari screamed.

"DAVIS!!" It was horrifying what he was doing. They would both refuse to give in, both would never give up and that would mean Davis would not be standing up to much longer.

"Shhh kari… Its my battle let him try…" he panted with pain "I'll take that as your going to give me them later I'm sorry I ruined the surprise"

SMACK

The blow was to the same place as before as Mummymon attempted to cause the most amount of pain as he did the least amount of damage.

"I recommend you shut up Davis I am not a pain giver, but the more you piss me off the more pain I will have to cause"

"You cause pain?" Davis pouted as he spoke "And I thought you were a sweetheart I guess I was wrong."

SMACK

"DAVIS STOP IT!!" Kari burst in tears. This was going to far, he would die!

"TELL ME WHERE THE STONE IS!"

"Have you looked inside your head? I swear to god that thing is empty enough to fit it."

SMACK SMACK SMACK

"Why are you punishing me it was an honest question?"

SMACK

Blood was pouring down Davis frame soaking his jeans dripping onto the floor just as quickly as Kari's tears which now flowed freely as she sobbed.

"stop it STOP IT!" he was insane, his pride ruled him to much. He took everything as a personal insult and would never ever give up. Why would he not just stop this. So what if he gave up the location of the stones. The team would understand if he was tortured.

"I can keep this up all day Davis eventually you will lose all your blood"

"Then I die, but you don't want that cause I am the only one who knows what else do you think Black WarGreymon wanted?"

Kari looked up at his bluff. Davis winked at her unknown to Mummymon. They all knew the last stones location of course, but Davis was using Black WarGreymon and his talk with him, as bait.

"Then I guess you won't care if I kill her." He chuckled.

"Not me so much. Though I have a feeling that if you do, the rest of my team will show NO mercy you will be hunted day and night for what you did."

Mummymon rolled his eyes. Taking the gun up he fired it straight at her. Everything faded to black as she went back to reality realizing how much he meant to her.

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Now she seemed to see something, how could she ignore the kid who would do anything for her. It was cruel of her, just plain not caring. Her sentiment seemed to change, Davis did not look like this annoying little kid anymore. She really missed him, his stalker like personality did not seem so desperate anymore. He cared about her and he was willing to put his emotions aside to make sure she was ok. No he loved her, Yolie was right, she needed to recognize that. She wasn't sure if she loved him back yet, but it was a possibility. There was a chance she could love Davis, but she knew she would never love TK like that. So it was time to shift directions, time to give the kid what he always wanted. A chance. "You win." She laughed, it was an incredible sensation to finally be free of this oppression of emotion. She knew what she wanted, she knew how she would get it."Finally realize what your missing? Good I don't think I have ever been prouder to be your friend Kari, this is a big step. Too bad he is still M.I.A. otherwise he would be very happy." She laughed. "Wow he is going to be very happy when he gets back. All this waiting he has done and he goes away for a few weeks and all the sudden I am willing to give him a chance.""What are you going to do with TK?" she laughed getting up from her bench seat. She followed her motion and sat up as well. It was a good question, how would she do this, what would the fallout be. The team would be shocked that Davis had finally won and was not even there to accept his reward. It was funny, very funny actually. It was so weird being free she did not know how to act or react."I think you won't be surprised when I say that I have no idea. I should talk to Tai about how to properly how to break up with a guy.""Poor guy, his digimon dies now you put him through that?" Kari just rolled her eyes. "I have a feeling that Sora is taking good care of him." If not Tai then Sora would be more than happy to tell her how to properly break up with TK. Though they made their way down the hall, past the waiting room. Her mind was buzzing, but it was in a good way, she was happy for the first time in a long time. Not that she would mostly be breaking TK's heart, she cared about him, but she knew their friendship would survive that. It would only be a hiccup in the long run. It was better for her, and it was better for him too. They finally made their way to the room and there sat Ken and TK acting quiet all the sudden. It seemed that her an Yolie were not the only one gossiping.

"How have you two been?" asked Kari.

"Fine." the two of them said in perfect unison. TK looked at Ken and Ken looked back both wearing very long grins.

"Hey Ken you mind if I turn on the radio, my favorite song should be on by now." Asked Yolie giving her boyfriend puppy dog eyes.

"You know that song makes me depressed!" he laughed, but to answer the question he reached over and turned it on.

"I love you" said Yolie.

"And I you" Ken replied.

Though as Kari finally seemed to understand, she could not say the same for TK. Little did she know that TK was thinking the same thing next to her.

I should know who I am by now

I walk

The record stands somehow

Thinking of winter

Your name is the splinter inside me while I wait

And I remember the sound of your November downtown

And I remember the truth

A warm December with you but I don't have to make this mistake

And I don't have to stay this way

If only I would wake

The walk has all been cleared by now

Your voice is all I hear somehow

Calling out winter

Your voice is the splinter inside me while I wait

And I remember the sound of your November downtown

And I remember the truth

A warm December with you but I don't have to make this mistake

And I don't have to stay this way

If only I would wake

I could've lost myself in rough blue waters in your eyes

And I miss you still

And I remember the sound of your November downtown

And I remember the truth

A warm December with you but I don't have to make this mistake

And I don't have to stay this way

If only I would wake

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Ok just a small bit of plot/ character things…. Before I get the mass of emails about Davis and Ex-Veemon. Davis will NOT appear in the next chapter, probably in the following one. Ex-Veemon will not appear in that chapter. He will not be around for a little while, but he will be big, very important at the end I promise I haven't mapped him off the face of the earth just yet.

I HOPE my dakari fans finally got what they were looking for. I haven't forgotten what started this story I promise. Just to prove my point that it would be Dakari I wrote that whole scene… My apologies to my takari friends but I think I have been over this. I hope you are satisfied my buds.

And Leave Me with a review if you dug it PLEASE!