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Matt returned to camp not wearing a shirt. Izzy looked at the older blond oddly.
"Uhmmm, want to explain brother?" TK asked and Matt shook his head.
"Just don't go over that way. The girls are..." He stopped and Izzy raised an eyebrow.
"Are they okay?" Joe asked. Matt nodded,
"Yep they should be fine." Matt said and he sat down in front of the fire. Izzy shared a look with TK who walked over to his brother.
"So they stole your shirt?" TK asked and Matt nodded.
"I mean no. I gave it to them." Izzy felt even more confused.
"Wait what is going on?" Joe asked and Matt huffed,
"The girls are naked." Matt blurted out. Izzy almost fell over.
"No we're not!" Mimi spoke and Izzy turned to see Mimi, Kari, Sora, Palmon and Biyomon walking towards them.
"Uhmm, Kar?" TK walked over to the youngest teen. Kari looked red in the face and she shook her head. Izzy watched Mimi sigh.
"Matt was just being a gentlemen. Here." She tossed a clearly damp T-Shirt to Matt who caught it. He then flattened it out on the ground in front of the fire. Izzy was still a little uncomfortable with Matt being shirtless.
"So you girls needed his shirt for what?" Joe asked the burning question. Mimi smirked.
"To dry. We were swimming. There's a nice lake back that way. We just wanted to freshen up." She said matter of factly. Izzy felt his cheeks burn. If they were swimming they probably weren't wearing any clothes. Izzy quickly cleared his throat and looked at the fire.
"But no one is hurt?" TK asked and Izzy looked over to see Kari shake her head.
"Sora needs to lie down anyway." Mimi said and Izzy looked over at the redheaded female.
"You okay?" Izzy asked and he saw her shoot a quick look to Mimi. Mimi sighed,
"Yep she's peachy. Just too much action for today." Joe stood and offered his spot closest to the fire.
"Here Sor. I guess being kidnapped would take a lot of of a person." Izzy watched Sora nod and then sit in Joe's vacant spot. She laid down next to Matt's drying T shirt. Joe then knelt down and handed her something.
"You should also finish this." He said and Izzy then saw Joe was holding a partly eaten banana to Sora. Sora took it and turned onto her back. She then sat up and took a bite.
"Here Sora I'll keep you warm." Biyomon cooed and she went and curled up next to Sora. Izzy wasn't sure why but he could see Sora tense as Biyomon snuggled into her. She seemed to always tense when Biyomon or anyone touched her. Izzy wondered about Sora.
"So any one have any idea what our next move should be. I'm thinking we might want to start searching." Mimi sat next to Izzy and he stared at her a moment.
"Searching for what?" Izzy asked and Mimi looked at him.
"For Tai of course!" Izzy felt a pit in his stomach. Tai was a sore subject. He was really worried for his friend and didn't want to think the worst. However, he wasn't sure what other alternative there could be. Tai being sucked into the vortex played over in Izzy's head and he had to close his eyes trying to stop the image.
"Mimi we don't know that Tai is here." Joe said softly and Mimi huffed.
"We'll he's not dead!" She said loudly and the group was stunned into silence. Izzy watched Mimi look over everyone.
"That's what you guys think?" She asked shocked. No one answered. Mimi tucked her wet hair behind her ears.
"We'll he's not." She didn't elaborate. Izzy felt uneasy. He instinctively went to open his laptop. This is what he did when anxiety flooded through him. He got to work on his computer. He was crestfallen to see his laptop was still out of battery. The reflection of himself in the black screen almost mocked him. He slammed his laptop shut.
"You okay Iz?" Tentomon asked and Izzy nodded. No one said much of anything. Sora was laying down but she didn't sleep although Izzy wondered if she was trying to make them believe she was sleeping. He could see her eyes moving and she twitched a lot more. Biyomon was fast asleep. It was still day and Izzy wondered what time it was. He watched Joe sit with Gomamon looking almost bored. Mimi and Palmon sat together and Kari. Izzy stopped to look at Kari. Her lips looked a little discoloured like she was cold. TK stood up and grabbed her hand. He said something to her and she said something back in a whisper. TK then addressed the group.
"Kari and I will be right back." TK announced and the two youngest teens turned and walked away from the group. Matt stood,
"Wait!" He called but Mimi chucked a pinecone at him.
"Let them be there's nothing dangerous that way, just the lake." Mimi informed. Matt sighed and reluctantly sat back down. Izzy watched him look to his right and study Sora a moment. He raised a hand as if he was going to place it on her. Instead, Matt flexed his fingers and then curled them into a fist. He then dropped his hand to his side.
"How do you guys suppose the crests work?" Mimi asked and Izzy opened his laptop again. He slammed it shut realizing it was still dead and felt annoyed.
"I would look that up." Izzy said hotly.
"We'll whatever Tai did, I mean. It worked right?" Joe asked and Izzy thought about what had happened before Tai disappeared. Tai seemed strong and confident he was sure of himself and then his crest glowed.
"Wait. Tentomon Gomamon, what was the symbol of Tai's crest?" Izzy asked the digimon.
"Courage." Gabumon answered and Izzy had a thought.
"So if Tai's trait is courage. It makes sense that his crest would be activated. That's what he was, he was courageous. He went straight into the belly of the beast with no fear. Confidence and..." Izzy trailed off.
"Courage." Matt finished. Izzy nodded,
"yeah." He said quietly. Izzy pulled out his crest and could see Matt, Mimi and Joe do the same.
Knowledge... Izzy thought and his eyes focused on his computer again. He sighed,
How am I supposed to activate this thing if the one thing that makes me knowledgeable is dead?! Izzy huffed. He tucked his crest back under his shirt. He wondered if the others were having a similar thought.
"You okay squirt?" Matt's question brought Izzy out of his thoughts. TK had returned and looked annoyed.
"Sorry, was just thinking." TK said and Izzy could see Matt relax.
"You looked pissed." Matt informed TK and Izzy agreed. TK waved his hands in front of his face.
"sorry. I'm fine." TK pulled a smile and then sat with Patamon resting on his shoulder.
"Kari?" Izzy asked and TK pointed his thumb behind him.
"She's coming." TK said and Izzy thought he sounded annoyed. Sora sat up.
"TK?" She asked and TK shook his head.
"Nothing, uhmm. I think I need another banana. I know there weren't anymore but maybe I can find one." TK said and he stood. Matt then stood and Izzy watched Sora look between the brothers and then rest her head back onto the ground.
"If you're coming you have to put your shirt back on." TK commented. Matt bent down and picked up his drying shirt. He pulled it over his body and Izzy watched him shake.
"Jesus that's cold." Matt said and then he called to his partner,
"Come on Gabumon." The blond brothers and their partners walked into the woods. Izzy opened his laptop and once again felt annoyed forgetting it was dead. He closed it.
"Where'd TK go?" Kari asked and Izzy looked up seeing her join the group.
"To find food." Joe replied. Kari nodded and sat next to Palmon. No one spoke. Izzy studied Kari and then Mimi and then Sora. He felt like everyone was hiding something. Joe was oddly hovering over Sora and had been ever since they were first separated by Devimon. Mimi seemed to be keeping something to herself and Sora flinched any time anyone touched her. Izzy knew there was a lot going on between Tai and Matt that he was left out of and he felt hurt by that. He looked at Tai's sister and frowned
she's a whirl wind of secrets I can't even begin to unravel. Izzy thought. He thought about how pale she looked, how she was taken by Devimon. He figured the evil digimon must have done something to her but she never mentioned it. She was locked up tight and Izzy wondered if anyone knew.
Maybe TK? He thought and then he felt another sigh escape him. TK was another secret,
His memory was erased and then it came back, why? Why was it erased in the first place? Why was he with Kari? Why doesn't Kari have a digivice or digimon? Why? These questions were filling Izzy's head. He opened his laptop.
"It's still dead Izzy." Tentomon commented and Izzy quickly shut it. He wanted to find a power source. He wanted to charge it up so he could write down his questions. And then, he could work on solving them. Work on unravelling the mysteries and getting clear answers.
"I hate secrets." Izzy whispered.
"What's that Iz?" Tentomon asked and Izzy shook his head. Secrets were the worst. Izzy could see his parents and he winced.
"You okay?" Tentomon asked and Izzy let out a breath of air.
"Er, yeah." The sky started to darken and Izzy looked up.
"It must be getting close to dinner time." Mimi commented. She had her elbow on her knee and her chin resting in her hand. She looked bored.
"Maybe Matt and TK found something more than bananas." Joe said.
"Or at least more" Gomamon commented. The group fell into silence. The fire cracked and Joe stood up and added more wood to it. No one else moved. Izzy looked over at Sora. Her eyes were wide awake but she continued laying on the ground.
Maybe an hour passed before Matt and TK returned. They had found more fruit but nothing too substantial.
"Great more hunger pains." Joe commented and Izzy didn't have the energy to be annoyed at his sour outlook. Izzy picked up a pear and took a bite. He then handed it to Tentomon to eat. The group ate in silence and Izzy could feel their morale dropping. Matt added more logs to the fire as the night came over them. The group finished what little food they had. Izzy caught TK staring at Kari. He seemed to be intensely staring at her when a pinecone hit him in the face.
"You should get some sleep you look tired." Matt said and TK picked up the pinecone that had hit him.
"Yeah maybe we should all do that." Izzy put a hand on his laptop and resisted the urge to check it. He then sighed and slid his body so he could lie down. He turned to look at his partner.
"You okay Izzy?" Tnetomon asked. Izzy gave a soft smile to his friend.
"I think I'm just really tired." Izzy replied. Tnetomon closed his eyes and Izzy could hear the others settling around him. He wondered if Sora would actually fall asleep. He then thought of Tai being sucked into the vortex. He wanted to run away from the memory but exhaustion pulled him deeper into it and then he was asleep.
"TK" Izzy's eyes snapped open. Someone had yelled. He didn't move and he made no effort to find the source of the cry. He heard movement and he rubbed his eyes. He rolled over and slowly opened his eyes. He could see TK standing. And then, the young teen walked away. Izzy sat up and saw TK moving away from the group into the trees. Izzy rolled onto his back thinking that TK was probably going to use the bushes. He wondered a moment who yelled but then thought maybe it was in his dream. He looked at his sleeping partner. He sat up seeing the fire was low, very low. Izzy felt a little cold and decided to warm up the fire. He stood and looked around for sticks. It was hard to see in the darkness and with the fire so low it gave off almost no light. Izzy then decided to go the same way TK had gone and see if he could get him to help to grab some more wood. Izzy lightly stepped over Mimi and Palmon and then walked into the trees. The moon was shining brightly so it made it easier to see. Izzy picked up a few branches. He could hear something and he stopped a moment to listen. It sounded like voices. He stepped towards the noise and stopped again. The voices stopped but there was still noise. He walked further and then his jaw dropped. He saw TK and Kari. They were wrapped in each others arms and they were kissing. Izzy stepped back feeling embarrassed that he walked in on that. He stepped on a twig and it snapped. Kari and TK broke apart and Kari seemed to lower herself to the ground. TK turned and kept Kari behind his body
"I didn't see you guys sorry." Izzy spoke awkwardly. TK blocked Kari's body from Izzy's view.
"Please don't say anything." TK asked and Izzy pulled a face.
"I mean-" Kari held onto TK's arm and then pleaded with Izzy.
"Please Izzy. Don't tell anyone. Especially not Tai." Kari said frantically. Izzy's mouth parted and he pondered the implications.
"I don't like keeping secrets." Izzy admitted and a memory flashed before his eyes. Izzy flinched feeling the memory sting him.
"Please Izzy, you can't. Just please keep this to yourself." TK said in a stern voice. Izzy knew, in reality, he was older than TK. However the way TK kept one arm protecting Kari and the other clenched in front of him in a fist. TK looked like the alpha and Izzy felt himself nod at Tk's request.
"I won't say anything." Izzy promised and then he turned to leave the younger teens. He abandoned the sticks he had picked up and walked briskly. He felt uncomfortable with what he had just witnessed.
Don't tell Tai. Kari's words rang in Izzy's head.
"I couldn't even if I wanted too." Izzy said bitterly. Izzy felt hot in his body and uncomfortable. He made his way back to the group and quickly sat down in his spot next to Tentomon. Tentomon continued to sleep and Izzy brought his laptop onto his lap. He then shoved it away remembering it was dead.
FUCK! Izzy thought. He rarely ever swore but he really felt like screaming it.
Why does everyone want to keep secrets? Why is Kari kissing TK? Why are they hiding it? Why is Tai not here? Why can't I talk to anyone? Izzy was beyond frustrated. He heard footsteps approaching and didn't want to look or talk to Kari or TK. He slid down and laid his head onto the ground. He pretended to be asleep as he heard either TK or Kari return. Izzy wrestled with his thoughts and his disgust for secrets for the rest of the night.
TK studied his crest. He traced over the symbol with his thumb.
"It suits you TK." Patamon said affectionately. TK looked to his right shoulder where Patamon was perched.
"What does it mean?" TK asked. Patamon smiled
"Hope." Patamon fluttered his wings. TK stared at his crest again. How is my trait Hope? He thought. The sound of approaching footsteps brought his eyes from the necklace to a person walking near him. Kari met his eyes and TK was halted as he looked at her. She shook her head and then walked away and TK felt anger course through him.
Stop pushing me away! He wanted to scream at her. He heard a sigh and looked to his left. Izzy sat with his laptop in his lap. The red head opened it and then shut it clearly annoyed. TK wanted to say something. It was on the tip of his tongue to offer some sort of explanation. Events from the previous day trickled into TKs mind.
He had been desperate to talk to her. He wanted to know how she was really doing. He had tried to be secretive not lead on to anyone that things might not be okay. He couldn't handle the worry anymore and he marched over to her after she returned with Mimi and Sora. Kari stood while the rest of the group was starting to sit around the fire. TK marched over to her.
"We need to talk." He said in a hurried whisper. Kari jumped a little. She looked to TK surprised.
"You scared me." She admitted quietly. TK gently put his hand around her wrist and pulled her towards the trees.
"Be right back!" TK called and pushed Kari in front of him. He thought he heard Matt yell to them but didn't pay close attention to it. He knew what he needed to do. Kari quickly walked ahead and soon the pair were out of sight of the others. Kari spun around to look at TK.
"What?" She asked and then TK decided to put it all on the table. He grabbed the back of Kari's head and pulled her lips to his own. He kissed her hard and Kari gently moved her hands up to his face. She cupped his face and slowly pulled out of the kiss.
"We said we weren't going to do that anymore." She whispered as her fingers lingered on TK's cheeks.
"I don't remember agreeing to anything like that." He kissed her again and Kari pulled him close and explored his mouth with her own. TK pulled back and Kari was disappointed.
"Why'd you stop?" She asked a little breathless. TK smoothed Kari's hair down and kissed her forehead.
"You're keeping something from me." TK whispered into her temple. Kari started to shake and TK held her close.
"Talk to me." TK begged and Kari slowly stepped out of his hold.
"You're everything I want TK." Kari said her voice shaking.
"But I can't have you. I can't be anything to you other than a friend. I can't let you get hurt." TK's shoulders slouched as she started to cry. TK closed the space between them and held her once again.
"What if I can't be just friends with you Kari? What if I need to be with you?" TK felt her grab his back harder.
"Please TK. I can't have you get hurt. I can't have them get you." She said more than TK had ever heard her admit. TK pulled her so the two were staring at each others eyes.
"Who Kari? Please tell me!" Kari's eyes darted from left to right and then she looked at TK.
"No, TK. I didn't say-" She licked her lips and pulled her arms from TK's grasp.
"I didn't say anything. I'm going for a walk." Kari quickly walked away from TK and TK was frozen watching her body retreat towards more trees. TK's eyes narrowed and he cursed. He heard the flapping of wings and knew Patamon was coming. He was about to go after her but felt too angry. He knew he'd just yell at her and he didn't want to do that. He turned and headed back to the group. He sat down in huff at the fire with the others
"You okay squirt?" Matt's question filtered into TKs ears. He could feel his emotions were on his face. He tried to calm himself and answered his brother.
"Sorry, was just thinking." TK looked at the fire.
"You looked pissed." Matt informed TK. TK waved his hands in front of his face.
"sorry. I'm fine." TK pulled a smile and then Patamon came and rested on his shoulder.
"Kari?" Izzy asked and TK pointed his thumb behind him.
"She's coming." TK said. He figured she'd come back soon. He tried not to care but found himself looking over his shoulder hoping to see her return. TK saw Sora sit up
"TK?" She asked and TK shook his head. Sora was another worry for him. He was starting to feel claustrophobic.
"Nothing, uhmm. I think I need another banana. I know there weren't anymore but maybe I can find one." TK said and he stood.
The memory faded and reality set in around him. TK placed his crest back under his shirt. He looked up seeing the sun was directly above them.
"Must be noon." TK thought out loud. No one spoke. They were one day without Tai and TK could feel the group was bleeding. He could see Izzy put his laptop away.
"There has to be something we can do!" Mimi said and TK looked to the older girl.
"I mean. Maybe we should move." Mimi said and TK looked around. No one moved.
"I think I might have an idea." Izzy spoke and TK looked at the red head.
"Back in the desert, there was cable and power sources." Joe then spoke.
"Yeah but that was Etemon, right?" TK nodded.
"It was his way of watching us. Now that he's gone, shouldn't they be gone too?" Sora asked. TK saw Izzy stand.
"I don't think they are. I think." He stopped and took a deep breath.
"I think we should head back. We can use the network to load my laptop. Then I can maybe get a read and we can figure out where to go." Kari stood and TK looked at her.
"Izzy. Tai's not back in the desert. We shouldn't leave. We should wait for him." TK felt bitter towards Kari. He knew she didn't know how she knew half of the stuff she knew but it was growing irksome hearing her spew out advice with no explanation.
"He's not here though Kari!" Izzy said a little exasperated. The group was silent. TK watched Izzy hang his head.
"You're keeping-" he stopped and TK went wide eyed. The blond quickly stood and gave Izzy a stern look
Don't say anything Izzy. TK threatened in his mind. He may feel annoyed and frustrated but he did not want Izzy to tell anyone what he had walked in on the night before.
Izzy looked to TK and then bent down and picked up his laptop.
"I'm not keeping secrets. I'm leaving." TK's jaw dropped.
"Izzy wait." Tentomon said. Izzy pointed a finger at TK.
"You're keeping secrets." TK was stunned. Izzy then point a finger at Kari.
"And so is she!" He then pointed at Sora and Joe.
"You two as well and you know what?! I'm done. I hate secrets! I hate lying and that's all this group is doing. I'm going back to the desert. I'm going to charge my laptop and find a way home." Izzy started to stomp away. Tentomon scurried after him. Mimi yelled out.
"Wait Izzy! We're coming!" Mimi then bent down and picked up some fruit off the ground.
"Come on guys! He's serious we gotta keep up!" Mimi stood and took several steps towards Izzys retreating form. No one followed and TK felt ambivalent.
"Guys? Come on!" Mimi said a little more sternly. TK knew no one was moving. His eyes traveled to the dying fire.
"Are you? Are you serious?!" Mimi started to yell.
"Izzy is leaving! He is leaving and no one is going to go after him?!" The silence was heavy TK kept his eyes on the fire.
"Fuck you guys. I'm not leaving him." Mimi then turned and TK heard her sniffle.
"Sora?" Mimi stopped and TK looked up. Mimi was looking at Sora. Her eyes were pleading.
"Please Sora. Come on." Mimi tried. TK saw Sora turn away. Mimi hiccuped.
"Fine. Fine! I can't believe you. All of you!" She screamed and then she turned and ran after Izzy.
"Mimi wait!" Palmon ran after her human and TK could hear Mimi's sobs fade as she walked away.
TK was stunned in silence. No one spoke. He felt his crest against his chest Hope. He felt like it was mocking him. He resisted the urge to tear if from around his neck and throw it.
"I think. I think Izzy has a point." Matt spoke and TK looked at his brother. Matt stared back.
"You are hiding something." Matt said. TK's lips parted wondering what Matt was going to say next.
"You are TK. And so is Kari and so is everyone else." Matt then turned and looked off into the distance.
"I want to know. I want to help but no one wants to talk." Matt then looked back at TK.
"I'm right here Teeks. Talk to me." TK felt a little embarrassed. Why was his brother doing this now? TK said nothing. Matt then bent down and picked up a banana.
"Then I'm going too." TK went wide eyed.
"You can come too but only if you're gonna be open and honest with me." TK didn't move.
"Fine." Matt then started to walk away.
"Come on Gabumon." Matt called to his Digimon who obediently followed. TK was stunned. He couldn't believe his brother would leave him. He stepped forward. It was on the tip of his tongue to call out. He didn't want to be without his brother.
"Matt!" TK yelled lamely. Matt didn't turn. TK felt a hand on his arm. Kari was next to him with tears in her eyes. The two looked at each other and TK knew his decision. He wouldn't leave Kari. That was a promise. Kari felt like they should stay, so TK knew they would stay.
"Wait what do we do? Everyone's leaving?" Gomamon said and TK looked down at the digimon.
"Matt's a big boy. He can handle himself." TK was bitter he couldn't believe his brother would leave him.
"Then I'm going after him." TK looked up at Joe. Joe had fierce determination on his face.
"Matt shouldn't be alone. You guys going to be here?" Joe asked and TK felt his head move up and down. Joe looked forward and nodded.
"Come on Gomamon." Joe then walked after Matt. Gomamon followed.
"Joe! Wait!" Sora called. Joe turned and shrugged his shoulders as he walked backwards.
"I cant let Matt be on his own. You three stay there. We'll be back!" Joe announced and then he turned and went after Matt. TK felt almost empty. How did this happen so fast? Why is everyone leaving? TK felt his eyes well up. He was feeling very vulnerable. Watching his brother disappear and leave him was affecting him more than he thought it would. TK inhaled and felt his breath catch. Arms were suddenly around his neck and he heard Kari whisper in his ear.
"Its okay." She soothed and she held his head on her shoulder. TK allowed a few tears to fall. Kari stroked his head and rubbed his back.
"Why is everyone leaving?" Biyomon asked and TK could hear Sora.
"Because they have too." TK stood tall and looked at Sora.
"They had to?!" TK snapped at her.
"No one had to do anything! We could have all stayed here and waited like we were supposed to! What if we never see each other again!" His own words hit TK hard and he almost fell into more sobs. Kari hugged him from behind. He felt her squeeze his mid section. He could feel her kissing his back and while he was happy with what she was doing, he was heartbroken over why.
"I'll go collect some more wood." Sora said. TK didn't look at her. She heard Sora and Biyomon leave and then TK rounded on Kari. She was surprised and he took her face into his hands.
"You can't leave me." He blurted out. He saw her try to look away. TK grew stern and he shook her.
"Look at me Kari! Promise me." Kari looked into his eyes. He was angry and desperate. He needed her to make it better, to promise. Kari slowly nodded and put her hands on his cheeks. She wiped away the tears that were falling down his face.
"I promise." Kari said and TK broke and started to cry. It was like reliving his worst day all over again. His brother and his father left and he barley saw them for years. It was like he didn't matter to them. Kari brought TK's head to her shoulder and kissed it. TK felt her rub his back and softly whisper in his ear.
"Shh. I promise. I promise." She repeated.
"TK?" Patamon spoke and TK stood tall. Kari grabbed his hands in her own while TK looked over at his partner.
"Sorry Patamon. You're probably hungry." TK stepped back from Kari but didn't let go of her hands.
"Sora should be back soon." TK said. He felt like he was going to cry again. He inhaled and Kari pulled on his hands.
"Patamon. Stay here." Kari instructed.
"Tell Sora we're at the lake." Kari then pulled TK to follow. She let go of one of his hands and TK held onto her hand tighter. She lead him to the lake and then wiped the tears from his face.
"You should have a swim." Kari instructed and TK shook his head.
"Please. It'll make you feel better." Kari said softly. She slowly slipped her hands under TK's shirt and TK was suddenly breathless as she pulled his shirt off. TK wanted to kiss her. To hold her and not stop kissing. Kari stepped back holding his T-shirt.
"I'll stay with Patamon. You try to relax." She turned on her heel and then paused. She then walked back over and TK was stunned when she grabbed him and kissed him hard on the lips.
"I'm not leaving you." She declared and TK nodded. TK felt her slip away and when he opened his eyes she was walking back to the camp with his T-shirt. TK rubbed his nose. He then kicked off his shoes and socks. He pulled his shorts and boxers off and then jumped into the water. As soon as he went under, he could feel his body relax. It was strange. The cool water soothed his anxiety. He could see Matt leaving and it hurt but it was softened. Almost like a pillow it made the blow less painful. He came up for air and blew out some water from his mouth. He rubbed his face and thought about his brother. He was right, there were things TK was keeping from him. But mostly because, they weren't TK's to tell. He knew he wasn't doing well. TK floated on his back. He could still feel Kari's lips on his own and he sunk into a memory of the first time he had kissed her.
They were at her house. She had missed school. TK found her in her room looking pale and sickly. No parents were home and TK was worried. She looked so tired. She had tried to get rid of TK. Tried to get him to leave her but TK stayed. He was relentless in his ways. He wouldn't leave her. Finally Kari broke
"If you stay then you're going to see and I can't have you see." She said and a few tears fell down her cheeks.
"See what? Kari you are freaking me out?!" TK said. Kari rubbed her nose and then went and shut her bedroom door. She then rolled up a towel and placed it at the bottom of the door. She was shaking. TK wanted to hold her. He had been developing strong feelings for the girl for a while now. He resisted and Kari stood in front of him. She continued to cry and looked at him sternly.
"You can't, you can't get mad. You can't tell me not to because I swear I wish it wasn't this way. I wish this didn't help but it does." TK was confused and growing more worried.
"I wont I promise please tell me!" TK pleaded. He saw Kari shake. She nodded.
"No getting mad." She said and she wiped her cheeks. She walked over to her dresser. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a sock. She then reached into the sock and pulled out a lighter and something rolled up that looked like a cigarette.
"Kari, is that-?" TK was cut off. Kari hushed him.
"You promised no getting mad!" Kari snapped and TK tried to compose himself.
"Right not mad just wondering." TK said a little more slowly. Kari grabbed a candle holder off her dresser. She then sat cross legged on the floor. She placed the candle holder next to her.
"I cant believe I'm showing you this." Kari said. Her shoulders started to shake. TK quickly sat down next to her.
"Hey, hey its okay." TK soothed and Kari shook her head.
"No its not!" She was angry now.
"This is the only thing that helps that keeps it away and it's so stupid! I swore I'd never smoke let alone pot!" She put a hand to her face and shook more as she cried harder. TK wrapped his arms around her shoulder. He rubbed her back and Kari yelped.
"No don't!" She said and TK recoiled his hand. Kari then stood and stopped crying. She lit the joint in her hand and inhaled. She held it in and then blew out. TK was frozen, watching her. She took another drag and then blew out. She coughed and slowly sat down on the ground. TK sat next to her. She passed TK the joint. At first TK was disgusted by the object between Kari's fingers.
"This helps?" TK asked and Kari pulled her head back and looked to the ceiling.
"Yep." She said blowing out and popping the P. She had now stopped crying and seemed calmer. TK took the joint from Kari. His fingers brushed hers and TK saw Kari close her eyes. TK put the joint to his lips and closed his eyes as he inhaled. It burned his chest but TK held it inside. He tried to swallow and breathe. He couldn't hold it any longer and he coughed out the smoke. Kari slowly turned to look at him she giggled. TK hit his chest a couple of times trying to break up the coughing. He smirked and looked at Kari.
"That wasn't very manly was it." TK admitted. The two were quiet. TK put the joint out on the candle holder and then looked at Kari. Kari looked away and down to the carpet. Kari moved her fingers along the carpet towards TK's hand. The movement caught TK's eyes and he watched as Kari's fingers came to a stop at the tip of his fingers. TK flexed his fingers lightly and then bravery pulsed through him and he grabbed Kari's fingers. He laced his fingers through hers and then slowly looked up at Kari. Kari was staring at him her breath caught. TK then did the one thing he had been hoping to do since the day he met Kari. He grabbed the back of her head with his free hand and crushed his lips against hers. Kari wrapped her free hand around TK's back and kissed him back. TK didn't know such ecstasy. His head was swimming and his lips moved against Kari's. Kari kissed him back and then she opened her eyes. She slowly pulled away but kept her hand laced in his. TK watched her turn her computer towards them. She then put on music and then put the visualizer on. TK's eyes widened at the colour on the screen and Kari pulled him towards her.
"This is the best." She told him and he sat behind her. He pulled her back to his chest and wrapped his arms around her hugging her. Kari looked up.
"I'm really high." Kari said honestly and she laughed. TK looked down at her and laughed with her.
"Me too." He said and he covered Kari's lips with his. Kari made a noise and pulled back.
"We should watch this." she whispered and she looked towards the computer. TK laughed and then as his eyes looked at the screen he was pulled in as the shapes danced. TK felt good. His body felt lose and he felt warm and safe with Kari in his arms. The weed was drifting through his body and he couldn't deny how intoxicating the drug was.
"I get it." TK said swaying to the music. Kari swayed as well,
"What?" She asked and TK moved her hair to the side. He then started kissing her neck.
"This feeling. You can't be anything but content." He said between kisses. Kari moaned and nodded,
"Yeah." She said and TK closed his eyes to the music.
"Whatever you do, I do too. Okay?" TK said and Kari nodded leaning her head more to the side to let TK kiss it more.
"We do it all together." Kari agreed and TK pulled his lips from her skin.
"Yes." He then turned her so she was facing him. TK put his forehead against hers. Kari then pushed her lips up towards him. TK leaned into her lips and the two continued kissing while the music pulsed and made its way into every avenue of their bodies.
TK's mind focused on the present the memory fading. He turned his body over and started swimming forward. He and Kari had promised to do things together. He was serious when it came to promises. He would never break one as long as he lived and he hoped Kari felt the same. He stopped swimming to catch his breath. He rubbed his face and blew out a breath. He knew Kari was struggling with her feelings for him. TK knew she knew how he felt. He never tried to hide it. But he did respect Kari. She had asked to keep it secret. To not be anymore than friends. TK groaned remembering last night. He spat as he remembered Kari asking him to keep his distance. TK started doing laps again. So this was it? Everyone left and now it was Kari Sora Biyomon, Patamon and him. He thought about Sora and cringed. A memory flashed into his mind
He had come into Soras room. He could see her on her bed. She was leaning her back against he wall her mouth open and her eyes closed. TK panicked and rushed to her
"Sora! Sora!" He shook her and suddenly she inhaled and opened her eyes.
"Holy shit!" TK said as he rubbed her back. Sora started to catch her breath.
"Sorry must have dozed off." Sora said and TK growled.
"Dozed off? That's what you call it? You weren't breathing Sora!" He then spotted a pill bottle next to her. TK picked them up and then got angry.
"You took these?! Are you stupid?! This is what you confiscated from Kari! Now I find you taking them!" Sora said nothing and TK's shoulders dropped.
"What are you doing Sora?" TK asked his voice broken.
"I'll stop. I promise. It just helps. I can sleep when I take them." Sora admitted. TK rolled his eyes.
"Yeah is that what I just walked in on? You sleeping?" He said sarcastically. Sora shook her head.
"Maybe I took one too many this time. Please keep this to yourself." Sora demanded and TK nodded.
"Yeah, I'll keep quiet. Promise you won't do this again." TK said sternly. Sora nodded.
"I promise." The memory dissipated into the background and TK could see the lake around him. There was so much fucked up shit going on. Now they were in a world millions of miles from home and danger around every corner. TK suddenly felt very small and alone. He growled and swam to the shore. He pulled himself out of the water and laid down trying to catch his breath. Everything was spinning out of control. He knew how he could stop the spinning. He quickly stood. He used his shorts to dry himself and then put his boxers and shorts on. He slipped his shoes on and held his socks in his hands. He then marched back to the camp. He saw Kari and Patamon standing in front of a fire. TK jogged over to the two.
"Where's Sora?" TK asked a little panicked. Kari put a hand to his cheek as he approached. She took a deep breath and TK stared into her eyes copying her.
"She and Biyomon came and started the fire. They're okay they just went to get more food." TK blew out his breath. He couldn't believe how scared he felt. People leaving was an area TK always knew was touchy for him but he didn't expect such a big reaction. Kari rubbed his arms.
"Come sit." She said softly. TK listened and then was aware he was without a shirt.
"Kar?" Kari looked at him and then his bare torso. She blushed.
"Hang on." She stepped away from him and went to the other side of the fire. She picked up his shirt and handed it to him. TK pulled it on and felt warm since the shirt was heated by the fire. He sat down. Tk kicked off his shoes and laid his socks in front of the fire. They were a little damp and TK could feel his feet were still wet. He flexed his toes hoping to dry them.
"So what do you feel? Where is Tai?" TK asked and Kari sat next to him.
"I don't know." Kari said quietly. She continued,
"It feels like it did with Piximon. Like he's okay. It also keeps getting brighter over here. I think this is where Tai will come when he returns." TK desperately wanted to ask how she knew this but knew better. The two were quiet. Patamon chomped on a Banana.
"Matt will come back." Kari said. TK looked at her.
"I hate that he left and I hate how much it hurts you but he's going to come back." She grabbed his hand in her own. She then kissed his hand. She slowly released it and then stood.
"Stay here with Patamon. You should eat something." Kari bent down and picked up an apple. She then handed it to TK.
"Eat." She instructed and TK looked at her suspiciously.
"Where are you going?" He asked quickly. Kari gave him a small smile.
"To use the bushes. If I'm not back in 10 minutes I give you permission to come find me." She gave him a wink and TK felt comforted. He nodded and she turned and walked away. He was spiralling. Thats the only reason she was acting the way she was. She was trying to comfort him. She wanted to make him feel better. TK loved when she showed her affection for him. When she gave him kisses and flirted. It wasn't often and after last night he feared she wouldn't touch him again. But she was there, comforting him. He felt pulled in two different directions. He wanted to keep having Kari comfort him but he also wanted her to be honest with him. He knew the two could not coincide. As soon as Kari was honest with him, she'd pull away. "Im protecting you." She had said the night before. TK hated it.
"You okay TK?" Patamon came and rested on TK's lap. TK scratched behind his partners ears. He took a bite of his apple and nodded.
"Yeah bud, I'll be fine." He said.
