~THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY, PART 4~
T.K. happily walks in.
"Hello everyone! Being on Venus163's good side is just great! I know that this is my own story, and maybe I shouldn't tell you this because of that, but I can't help it! Since like, everyone has said something or other, I want to too!
"I have, unlike my brother, thought to ask Venus163 for approval, which was graciously given. Now..."
(Venus163 walks in, dragging Matt by the hair)
"Let go!" Matt yells. "Don't do that to the hair!"
Don't tell me what to do and what *not* to do!
Matt sees T.K. "Little bro, please, HELP ME!!"
T.K. shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Matt, but it *was* your fault. Venus163 has a right to do this..."
Matt grumbles, "Some little brother you are...OOWW!"
Serves you right!
"But still, Venus163, aren't you overdoing it a *little*?"
(Venus163 tugs on his hair viciously)
"Okay, okay! You're not overdoing it!"
Carry on with the good work, T.K.! I'm locking Matt up in the closet.
(Venus163 and Matt go out of the room)
T.K. shrugs. "Okay. Venus163 doesn't own Digimon, and she never will, unfortunately. However, Jare and Stacey are of her own creation, as is the plot. If you ask nicely, she'll let you use them.
"This is called an alternate-reality fic. Kari, Stacey, and I are in middle school. Everybody else is in high school." T.K. makes a face. "I *hate* not being able to drive! I'm so dependent on..."
(Venus163 comes in again, this time, dragging Izzy by the collar)
"I knew it!" Izzy says aloud. "The chances of going any longer without getting caught were improbable!"
Shut up, Izzy. You're lucky to be alive.
"But still, Venus163, isn't it amazing we went so far without getting..."
Oh, hi, T.K. Izzy's going to be joining Matt in the closet.
(Venus163 goes out of the room, along with Izzy)
T.K. shakes his head. "See, evil doesn't pay. Well, this is rated PG-13, due to the whole plot. I think it could be PG, maybe even G, but Venus163 thinks the whole plot thing is for more mature people. I agree. All the pain I had to go through...
"Oh well. She's been ecstatic lately over the reviews, since their all good, and I can't see how anyone *couldn't* be ecstatic over those reviews. She's talented..."
(Venus163 comes in once again, this time with Joe)
"Please, *please* let Venus163 be easy on me!" Joe prayed.
Well, you *did* have a little conscience, so I think I'll be a little easier on you.
"Thank you!"
But you're still getting locked up in the closet.
"Aw, do I?"
Yes! Meanie, you're a traitor!
"Traitor? Aren't you being a little harsh?"
Grrrr...
"Alright, alright! I...am a traitor."
(Dramatic Joe and Irritated Venus163 leaves)
T.K. counts on his fingers. "That's Matt, Izzy, and Joe...which leaves Tai! Just you see, it's not going to be long before Venus163 catches him.
"Well, let's see...oh yeah! You send all reviews and criticism to crescent87@hotmail.com, her E-Mail address.
Mimi and Kari come in.
"How many of the boys has Venus163 caught?" Mimi asked.
"Everyone but Tai," T.K. answered.
"Then he's doomed," Kari said forbodingly. "Venus163's going to..."
"HELP!"
(Scuffling noise in the background, then Venus163 and a battered Tai enter)
There! Caught all of the little rats.
"Who are you calling a rat?" Tai snaps.
Mimi shakes her head. "Stop baiting her, Tai, or she'll do something really bad to you."
"She might cut you out of her stories," Kari suggests.
"No!" Tai gasps.
T.K., are you done with the intro?
"I just need to announce the story."
Then, could you do me a favor and lock Tai up in the closet?
"Okay."
"Treason!" Tai screams.
(T.K. takes Tai by the arm and firmly drags him out of the room, closely followed by Mimi and Kari)
(Venus163 turns back to the reader(s))
Hey, y'all! Once again, Venus163 is back in action! What a lot of turmoil this has been since *MATT* (frowns) first lied to me and said all my files were erased. Ugh, I can't believe I believed him!
Well, you're here to read my story, not my complaints, so here it is, the fourth and final part of T.K.'s Story!
~THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY, PART 4~
By Venus163
"I...I said some awful things about you, T.K., when you were right and I was wrong...oh T.K.!"
"Did he...did he...?" T.K. said hoarsely.
"No...only touched me..." Kari whispered.
T.K. sighed in relief. "Thank heaven."
"T.K...."
T.K. saw the shame, fear, and hesitation in her eyes, so forcing a smile, he hugged her. "I'll always be there for you, Kari. I promise."
She pulled away from him. "But you have Stacey."
"Stacey?" He thought, 'How did Stacey get into the picture?' "What about Stacey?" he asked aloud.
"You need to be there for her, not me," Kari choked, turning away from him. "You love her, don't you?"
T.K. answered cautiously, "Yes."
"Well, a girlfriend has first priority..."
Staring at Kari in shock, T.K. couldn't hold back the laughter. 'So *that's* what she thinks! That Stacey and I are together!'
Putting a finger under Kari's chin, he pushed her face up, so he could look into her eyes. Smiling, he told her, "There's nothing between Stacey and me."
Kari looked up at him in surprise. "What? But-but you love her!"
"Not in that way, Kar. *Never* in that way. It's kind of gross if you think about it, us being related and all..."
"Related?"
T.K. grinned. "Yes, Kari. Stacey and I are cousins. I love her as a cousin, nothing more."
Kari looked very stunned. "Cousins?"
T.K. caressed her cheek. "Yes, cousins. Besides, how could I fall in love when I'm already in...oh, never mind."
"What?" Kari asked interestedly.
"Um, nothing. Come on, I'd better get you home. Tai's been worried sick." Scooping her up into his arms, he began to carry her.
"T.K.!" Kari exclaimed.
T.K. grinned lopsidedly. "You've just had a traumatic experience. I'm carrying you whether you like it or not."
Soon, Kari's breathing slowed, falling asleep.
T.K. paused for a moment to cherish the feeling of her against him, to have her in his arms again, before heading towards the Kamiya house.
"Kari!"
Tai burst out of his chair as T.K. walked into the room.
"Shh!" T.K. insisted. "She's asleep. She's had a long day."
"Let me put her in bed!" Tai said eagerly.
Matt appeared from behind him. "Nuh uh, Tai, you've been on edge all night. You'd drop her at the first sound. I'll put her to bed."
Tai's eyes widened. "What, and undress her too?"
"Enough!"
Both boys stopped fighting as Mimi walked in between them. " *I'll* put her to bed."
Both boys looked satisfied. T.K., relieved, handed over Kari to Mimi.
"I'll help," Sora added. As Mimi and she went up the stairs, Tai pounced on him.
"Spill, T.K. What happened?"
T.K. collapsed into the nearest chair. "Well..."
"Hey!" Matt interrupted. "T.K. looks beat. Get him a cup of hot chocolate or something."
"I'll get it," Joe said, relieved to do something.
"Good old reliable Joe," Tai teased.
Joe, blushing, hurried out of the room to ask the cook.
"Izzy, get off the Internet!" Matt ordered. "You don't have to send in a missing person bulletin. She's found!"
Izzy, also blushing, shut his laptop. "Okay."
At that moment, Mimi and Sora walked back into the room. "She's safe and sound in bed," Mimi assured Tai.
Joe walked in too, with a tray. "And here's the hot chocolate."
T.K. thankfully took it and sipped it. The warmth took over his cold body, heating it.
"Well," he started, "I found her at the cherry tree, right where I thought she'd be. But...she was with Jare..."
Gasps broke from everyone in the room.
T.K. went on, holding the hot chocolate between his hands, savoring its warmth. "He was on top of her. I managed to get him off her, and I kinda knocked him unconscious..."
Matt whistled. "Way to go, T.K.!"
T.K. nodded. "Kari...she was fine, he didn't do *that*," he said quickly, seeing the look on Tai's face. "She said that he'd only touched her."
"Thank heaven!" Tai announced.
"Kari said that she was going to press charges," T.K. went on, "but Jare said that no one was going to let him lose, considering who he was..."
"Who is he, anyway?" asked Sora.
"Yeah, I still don't know!" Joe added.
"His full name is Jared Sugamora..."
A small squeak interrupted him, and all eyes turned to Mimi.
"Mimi! Are you alright?" Matt demanded, clutching her hand.
Mimi was deathly pale, fear in her eyes. "Did you...Did you say Jared Sugamora, T.K.?" Mimi asked quietly.
"Yes."
Mimi tottered, holding onto Matt's arm for support. "Oh dear. This complicates things."
"Who is Jared Sugamora?" Joe asked. "Who is he to make you so upset?"
Mimi trembling, said hoarsely, "He was my fiance. I was engaged to marry him, an arranged marriage..."
Sora gasped. "Him? *He* was the Sugamora guy your parents wanted you to marry?"
Mimi nodded. "Yes."
T.K. felt the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. "That's why the name Sugamora seemed so familiar! I heard it, the day you two announced your enga...your relationship to the parents!"
"No wonder," Izzy said suddenly. He had been silent the whole time. Fingers flying over the keyboard of his laptop, he announced, "Jared Sugamora is incredibly rich. Rich enough to have paid his way out of court and jail! He could...he could bribe the whole police force if he wanted!"
"We couldn't take on that," Tai said, crestfallen.
"At least...at least Kari's okay," T.K. whispered. Then, from sheer exhaustion, he fainted.
T.K. walked slowly home from school, a piece of paper tucked safely into his jacket. 'Geez, T.K., what is this, the thousandth letter you've written to Kari?' he asked himself disgustedly. 'It's been a month since 'the incident' and you *still* write letters that will never reach her!'
Cutting through the park, he avoided the cherry tree on purpose, knowing that Kari would be there, and headed straight home.
Dropping his bookbag on the bed, he reached inside his jacket pocket for the letter...except it wasn't there...
"Oh great," T.K. muttered, cursing under his breath. Knowing that there was nothing to do but to go search for it, he went out of the mansion and began to retrace his steps.
Walking through the park, he noticed Kari ahead of him on the path. Brightening, he called, "Kari!"
Kari turned, and it was only then that T.K. noticed the paper in her hands. "Oh..." he cursed.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up to her. "Um, Kari..."
He swallowed. He just *couldn't* think with those beautiful eyes turned to him.
Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Um, Kari...I can explain..."
"You...you care," she said quietly. "You really care."
"I...I do," T.K. admitted guiltily. "Listen Kari, I..."
He stopped, shocked, as Kari looked into his eyes, her eyes
sparkling and a beautiful smile gracing her face.
"You really love me," she told him, pure joy in her voice. "I wasn't imagining things, you truly love me!"
T.K. hungrily took in her glowing face. Hesistantly, he mumbled, "Yes. Kari, I love you."
He closed his eyes, expecting a hard slap.
It never came.
What he felt made him melt. Opening his eyes, he found Kari's face close to his, her lips on his.
Kari quickly pulled away, blushing. "I'm sorry, T.K., I..." she stuttered. "I thought it was just wistful thinking on my part, that you really cared for me. I thought it was my feelings that were twisting everything so I thought this way. Oh, T.K., when I realized I loved you..."
"What?" T.K. asked sharply. He couldn't believe his ears.
Kari turned away. "I love you T.K.," she whispered.
T.K. cupped her chin in his hand, shocked that she really loved him, scared that she really didn't. Trying to tamp down the singing in his heart, unsuccessfully though, he asked casually, "Do you really love me?" 'Slow down, racing heart,' he thought.
Kari's eyes were tightly closed. "I-I do, T.K. I love you."
Slowly, a grin spread across his face. With a finger, he lightly caressed her cheek, marveling at her beauty.
Her eyes slowly opened. "T.K.?"
"Do you know how long I've waited for you to say those words?" he asked her, bringing her closer. "I've waited for eight years for you to say that, three with all my heart."
Their eyes met.
T.K. brought her even closer and slipped his arms around her waist. Kari's arms went around his neck.
Leaning down, T.K. pressed his lips against hers in a soft, shy kiss.
They pulled away gradually.
"T.K.?" Kari asked quietly.
"Yes, love?"
"Will you kiss me again?"
"Gladly, love."
T.K.'s aching lips found hers again, having waited for a long time. He couldn't hold back any longer. Deepening the kiss, his arms around her tightened, as did her arms around his neck.
Feeling Kari's fingers run through his hair, T.K. felt tingles running down his spine. Groaning softly in delight, he pulled her as close as he possibly could, still kissing her.
"Yo! T.K.!"
T.K. relunctantly pulled away. Kari rewarded him with a smile before turning around and seeing who had called him so.
Tai laughed. "About time! I was wondering how much longer it was going to take!"
Kari nervously smoothed down her hair. "Um, hi Tai..."
T.K. draped an arm around Kari's shoulders. "We're together now, Tai. No need to worry any more."
"Great!" Tai exclaimed.
"So you...you approve?" Kari asked, amazed.
" 'Course I approve! You two were destined!"
"What took you so long, little bro?" Matt asked, coming up behind Tai, with Mimi in his arms.
"Leave him alone, Matt," Mimi scolded. Then, she smilingly turned to T.K. "See, what did I tell you?"
"And what did I tell *you*, Kari?" Sora asked, popping up.
"Guess what, T.K.?" Joe asked excitedly, running up to him.
"What?" T.K. asked, taking hold of Kari's hand.
"Your cousin Stacey's here."
"WHAT?"
Joe snickered. "I think she and Izzy have hit it off!"
T.K. looked past the gang to see Stacey walking with Izzy, Izzy talking shyly to her. She was blushing.
"Now *that* was unexpected," Matt remarked.
"Definitely," Sora added.
Mimi, winking at T.K., announced, "I want to go shopping!"
Matt immediately began leading her away. "Of course we'll go shopping."
Sora grinned. "Hey Tai! Joe! Do you guys want to spy on Izzy and Stacey?"
"Of course!" Tai grinned.
"Wait for me!" Joe pleaded, running after them.
"I think they went to the computer store!" Sora yelled as they disappeared.
T.K. chuckled as Kari giggled in his arms.
"Now," he said, clearing his throat, "where were we?"
Kari smiled. "I think we were about...here..." Their lips met and locked again in a passionate kiss.
~END OF THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY, PART 4...END OF T.K.'S STORY, PERIOD!~
~TO BE CONTINUED...IN THE GOOD LIFE: KARI'S STORY
Sora walks into the room.
"Hey, ya'll! I'm here with Venus163's approval to announce the conclusion. Then, we'll focus on what happens to Matt, Izzy, Joe, and Tai.
"First of all, Venus163 thanks everyone who helped her in any way! Whether it was inspiring her with a great story on Fanfiction.net, or sending her helpful reviews, she appreciates it all!
"As for reviews: Keep them coming!" Sora winks and strikes a pose. "As Mimi said earlier, she reads them *all*. Not one has she passed up. She has about 40+ reviews and she'd like the number to keep rising.
"For Venus163, this is practice. She wants to turn professional, but she's not perfect yet, no one is when they're only 13. With a lot of practice, she may become a best-selling author in the future!
"As she is an over-romantic, she *loves* romance stories, especially Mimato, Takari, and..." Sora blushes, "...Taiora. She would appreciate any suggestions on good reads.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...What happens to Matt, Izzy, Joe, and Tai?"
Sora walks out of the room. The reader follows into a courtroom. Venus163 is dressed in a judge's outfit, while the four boys are trussed up. Mimi, T.K., Kari, and now Sora sit in the jury's box.
"Fire away, Venus163," Sora tells her.
Okie-dokey-pokie! Ahem. Matt, I sentence you to a week of doing all my chores.
"What?"
Izzy, I sentence you to fix my broken computer, oh, and my crappy modem.
"That's not too bad."
Joe, since you had some conscience, and I promised to be easier on you, I sentence you to clean out my E-Mail Inbox for a week.
Joe sighs in relief. "Whew!"
Tai...let's see...I sentence you to a week of being Mimi, Sora, and Kari's slave.
"WHAT??"
Matt snickers. "Have fun, Tai!"
Tai unhappily gets up. "Oh well. Let's go, girls."
Giggling, Mimi, Sora, Kari, and Tai disappear.
Matt stretches. "Might as well get moving."
"I'll help, Matt," T.K. pipes up.
"You're the greatest, T.K.," Matt says gratefully.
Izzy starts connecting to the Internet. "I'll do some virus research." He heads towards the broken computer in the corner.
"And I'll clean out her Inbox." Joe goes into her Inbox. "Gawd! 16 new?"
Heh, heh...I conveniently forgot to tell Joe about all my friends...oh well. Thanks everyone, for putting up with them. It's been my life's misery, but...come to think of it, they were pretty funny...
Thanks, Ja!
-Venus163
T.K. happily walks in.
"Hello everyone! Being on Venus163's good side is just great! I know that this is my own story, and maybe I shouldn't tell you this because of that, but I can't help it! Since like, everyone has said something or other, I want to too!
"I have, unlike my brother, thought to ask Venus163 for approval, which was graciously given. Now..."
(Venus163 walks in, dragging Matt by the hair)
"Let go!" Matt yells. "Don't do that to the hair!"
Don't tell me what to do and what *not* to do!
Matt sees T.K. "Little bro, please, HELP ME!!"
T.K. shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Matt, but it *was* your fault. Venus163 has a right to do this..."
Matt grumbles, "Some little brother you are...OOWW!"
Serves you right!
"But still, Venus163, aren't you overdoing it a *little*?"
(Venus163 tugs on his hair viciously)
"Okay, okay! You're not overdoing it!"
Carry on with the good work, T.K.! I'm locking Matt up in the closet.
(Venus163 and Matt go out of the room)
T.K. shrugs. "Okay. Venus163 doesn't own Digimon, and she never will, unfortunately. However, Jare and Stacey are of her own creation, as is the plot. If you ask nicely, she'll let you use them.
"This is called an alternate-reality fic. Kari, Stacey, and I are in middle school. Everybody else is in high school." T.K. makes a face. "I *hate* not being able to drive! I'm so dependent on..."
(Venus163 comes in again, this time, dragging Izzy by the collar)
"I knew it!" Izzy says aloud. "The chances of going any longer without getting caught were improbable!"
Shut up, Izzy. You're lucky to be alive.
"But still, Venus163, isn't it amazing we went so far without getting..."
Oh, hi, T.K. Izzy's going to be joining Matt in the closet.
(Venus163 goes out of the room, along with Izzy)
T.K. shakes his head. "See, evil doesn't pay. Well, this is rated PG-13, due to the whole plot. I think it could be PG, maybe even G, but Venus163 thinks the whole plot thing is for more mature people. I agree. All the pain I had to go through...
"Oh well. She's been ecstatic lately over the reviews, since their all good, and I can't see how anyone *couldn't* be ecstatic over those reviews. She's talented..."
(Venus163 comes in once again, this time with Joe)
"Please, *please* let Venus163 be easy on me!" Joe prayed.
Well, you *did* have a little conscience, so I think I'll be a little easier on you.
"Thank you!"
But you're still getting locked up in the closet.
"Aw, do I?"
Yes! Meanie, you're a traitor!
"Traitor? Aren't you being a little harsh?"
Grrrr...
"Alright, alright! I...am a traitor."
(Dramatic Joe and Irritated Venus163 leaves)
T.K. counts on his fingers. "That's Matt, Izzy, and Joe...which leaves Tai! Just you see, it's not going to be long before Venus163 catches him.
"Well, let's see...oh yeah! You send all reviews and criticism to crescent87@hotmail.com, her E-Mail address.
Mimi and Kari come in.
"How many of the boys has Venus163 caught?" Mimi asked.
"Everyone but Tai," T.K. answered.
"Then he's doomed," Kari said forbodingly. "Venus163's going to..."
"HELP!"
(Scuffling noise in the background, then Venus163 and a battered Tai enter)
There! Caught all of the little rats.
"Who are you calling a rat?" Tai snaps.
Mimi shakes her head. "Stop baiting her, Tai, or she'll do something really bad to you."
"She might cut you out of her stories," Kari suggests.
"No!" Tai gasps.
T.K., are you done with the intro?
"I just need to announce the story."
Then, could you do me a favor and lock Tai up in the closet?
"Okay."
"Treason!" Tai screams.
(T.K. takes Tai by the arm and firmly drags him out of the room, closely followed by Mimi and Kari)
(Venus163 turns back to the reader(s))
Hey, y'all! Once again, Venus163 is back in action! What a lot of turmoil this has been since *MATT* (frowns) first lied to me and said all my files were erased. Ugh, I can't believe I believed him!
Well, you're here to read my story, not my complaints, so here it is, the fourth and final part of T.K.'s Story!
~THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY, PART 4~
By Venus163
"I...I said some awful things about you, T.K., when you were right and I was wrong...oh T.K.!"
"Did he...did he...?" T.K. said hoarsely.
"No...only touched me..." Kari whispered.
T.K. sighed in relief. "Thank heaven."
"T.K...."
T.K. saw the shame, fear, and hesitation in her eyes, so forcing a smile, he hugged her. "I'll always be there for you, Kari. I promise."
She pulled away from him. "But you have Stacey."
"Stacey?" He thought, 'How did Stacey get into the picture?' "What about Stacey?" he asked aloud.
"You need to be there for her, not me," Kari choked, turning away from him. "You love her, don't you?"
T.K. answered cautiously, "Yes."
"Well, a girlfriend has first priority..."
Staring at Kari in shock, T.K. couldn't hold back the laughter. 'So *that's* what she thinks! That Stacey and I are together!'
Putting a finger under Kari's chin, he pushed her face up, so he could look into her eyes. Smiling, he told her, "There's nothing between Stacey and me."
Kari looked up at him in surprise. "What? But-but you love her!"
"Not in that way, Kar. *Never* in that way. It's kind of gross if you think about it, us being related and all..."
"Related?"
T.K. grinned. "Yes, Kari. Stacey and I are cousins. I love her as a cousin, nothing more."
Kari looked very stunned. "Cousins?"
T.K. caressed her cheek. "Yes, cousins. Besides, how could I fall in love when I'm already in...oh, never mind."
"What?" Kari asked interestedly.
"Um, nothing. Come on, I'd better get you home. Tai's been worried sick." Scooping her up into his arms, he began to carry her.
"T.K.!" Kari exclaimed.
T.K. grinned lopsidedly. "You've just had a traumatic experience. I'm carrying you whether you like it or not."
Soon, Kari's breathing slowed, falling asleep.
T.K. paused for a moment to cherish the feeling of her against him, to have her in his arms again, before heading towards the Kamiya house.
"Kari!"
Tai burst out of his chair as T.K. walked into the room.
"Shh!" T.K. insisted. "She's asleep. She's had a long day."
"Let me put her in bed!" Tai said eagerly.
Matt appeared from behind him. "Nuh uh, Tai, you've been on edge all night. You'd drop her at the first sound. I'll put her to bed."
Tai's eyes widened. "What, and undress her too?"
"Enough!"
Both boys stopped fighting as Mimi walked in between them. " *I'll* put her to bed."
Both boys looked satisfied. T.K., relieved, handed over Kari to Mimi.
"I'll help," Sora added. As Mimi and she went up the stairs, Tai pounced on him.
"Spill, T.K. What happened?"
T.K. collapsed into the nearest chair. "Well..."
"Hey!" Matt interrupted. "T.K. looks beat. Get him a cup of hot chocolate or something."
"I'll get it," Joe said, relieved to do something.
"Good old reliable Joe," Tai teased.
Joe, blushing, hurried out of the room to ask the cook.
"Izzy, get off the Internet!" Matt ordered. "You don't have to send in a missing person bulletin. She's found!"
Izzy, also blushing, shut his laptop. "Okay."
At that moment, Mimi and Sora walked back into the room. "She's safe and sound in bed," Mimi assured Tai.
Joe walked in too, with a tray. "And here's the hot chocolate."
T.K. thankfully took it and sipped it. The warmth took over his cold body, heating it.
"Well," he started, "I found her at the cherry tree, right where I thought she'd be. But...she was with Jare..."
Gasps broke from everyone in the room.
T.K. went on, holding the hot chocolate between his hands, savoring its warmth. "He was on top of her. I managed to get him off her, and I kinda knocked him unconscious..."
Matt whistled. "Way to go, T.K.!"
T.K. nodded. "Kari...she was fine, he didn't do *that*," he said quickly, seeing the look on Tai's face. "She said that he'd only touched her."
"Thank heaven!" Tai announced.
"Kari said that she was going to press charges," T.K. went on, "but Jare said that no one was going to let him lose, considering who he was..."
"Who is he, anyway?" asked Sora.
"Yeah, I still don't know!" Joe added.
"His full name is Jared Sugamora..."
A small squeak interrupted him, and all eyes turned to Mimi.
"Mimi! Are you alright?" Matt demanded, clutching her hand.
Mimi was deathly pale, fear in her eyes. "Did you...Did you say Jared Sugamora, T.K.?" Mimi asked quietly.
"Yes."
Mimi tottered, holding onto Matt's arm for support. "Oh dear. This complicates things."
"Who is Jared Sugamora?" Joe asked. "Who is he to make you so upset?"
Mimi trembling, said hoarsely, "He was my fiance. I was engaged to marry him, an arranged marriage..."
Sora gasped. "Him? *He* was the Sugamora guy your parents wanted you to marry?"
Mimi nodded. "Yes."
T.K. felt the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. "That's why the name Sugamora seemed so familiar! I heard it, the day you two announced your enga...your relationship to the parents!"
"No wonder," Izzy said suddenly. He had been silent the whole time. Fingers flying over the keyboard of his laptop, he announced, "Jared Sugamora is incredibly rich. Rich enough to have paid his way out of court and jail! He could...he could bribe the whole police force if he wanted!"
"We couldn't take on that," Tai said, crestfallen.
"At least...at least Kari's okay," T.K. whispered. Then, from sheer exhaustion, he fainted.
T.K. walked slowly home from school, a piece of paper tucked safely into his jacket. 'Geez, T.K., what is this, the thousandth letter you've written to Kari?' he asked himself disgustedly. 'It's been a month since 'the incident' and you *still* write letters that will never reach her!'
Cutting through the park, he avoided the cherry tree on purpose, knowing that Kari would be there, and headed straight home.
Dropping his bookbag on the bed, he reached inside his jacket pocket for the letter...except it wasn't there...
"Oh great," T.K. muttered, cursing under his breath. Knowing that there was nothing to do but to go search for it, he went out of the mansion and began to retrace his steps.
Walking through the park, he noticed Kari ahead of him on the path. Brightening, he called, "Kari!"
Kari turned, and it was only then that T.K. noticed the paper in her hands. "Oh..." he cursed.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up to her. "Um, Kari..."
He swallowed. He just *couldn't* think with those beautiful eyes turned to him.
Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Um, Kari...I can explain..."
"You...you care," she said quietly. "You really care."
"I...I do," T.K. admitted guiltily. "Listen Kari, I..."
He stopped, shocked, as Kari looked into his eyes, her eyes
sparkling and a beautiful smile gracing her face.
"You really love me," she told him, pure joy in her voice. "I wasn't imagining things, you truly love me!"
T.K. hungrily took in her glowing face. Hesistantly, he mumbled, "Yes. Kari, I love you."
He closed his eyes, expecting a hard slap.
It never came.
What he felt made him melt. Opening his eyes, he found Kari's face close to his, her lips on his.
Kari quickly pulled away, blushing. "I'm sorry, T.K., I..." she stuttered. "I thought it was just wistful thinking on my part, that you really cared for me. I thought it was my feelings that were twisting everything so I thought this way. Oh, T.K., when I realized I loved you..."
"What?" T.K. asked sharply. He couldn't believe his ears.
Kari turned away. "I love you T.K.," she whispered.
T.K. cupped her chin in his hand, shocked that she really loved him, scared that she really didn't. Trying to tamp down the singing in his heart, unsuccessfully though, he asked casually, "Do you really love me?" 'Slow down, racing heart,' he thought.
Kari's eyes were tightly closed. "I-I do, T.K. I love you."
Slowly, a grin spread across his face. With a finger, he lightly caressed her cheek, marveling at her beauty.
Her eyes slowly opened. "T.K.?"
"Do you know how long I've waited for you to say those words?" he asked her, bringing her closer. "I've waited for eight years for you to say that, three with all my heart."
Their eyes met.
T.K. brought her even closer and slipped his arms around her waist. Kari's arms went around his neck.
Leaning down, T.K. pressed his lips against hers in a soft, shy kiss.
They pulled away gradually.
"T.K.?" Kari asked quietly.
"Yes, love?"
"Will you kiss me again?"
"Gladly, love."
T.K.'s aching lips found hers again, having waited for a long time. He couldn't hold back any longer. Deepening the kiss, his arms around her tightened, as did her arms around his neck.
Feeling Kari's fingers run through his hair, T.K. felt tingles running down his spine. Groaning softly in delight, he pulled her as close as he possibly could, still kissing her.
"Yo! T.K.!"
T.K. relunctantly pulled away. Kari rewarded him with a smile before turning around and seeing who had called him so.
Tai laughed. "About time! I was wondering how much longer it was going to take!"
Kari nervously smoothed down her hair. "Um, hi Tai..."
T.K. draped an arm around Kari's shoulders. "We're together now, Tai. No need to worry any more."
"Great!" Tai exclaimed.
"So you...you approve?" Kari asked, amazed.
" 'Course I approve! You two were destined!"
"What took you so long, little bro?" Matt asked, coming up behind Tai, with Mimi in his arms.
"Leave him alone, Matt," Mimi scolded. Then, she smilingly turned to T.K. "See, what did I tell you?"
"And what did I tell *you*, Kari?" Sora asked, popping up.
"Guess what, T.K.?" Joe asked excitedly, running up to him.
"What?" T.K. asked, taking hold of Kari's hand.
"Your cousin Stacey's here."
"WHAT?"
Joe snickered. "I think she and Izzy have hit it off!"
T.K. looked past the gang to see Stacey walking with Izzy, Izzy talking shyly to her. She was blushing.
"Now *that* was unexpected," Matt remarked.
"Definitely," Sora added.
Mimi, winking at T.K., announced, "I want to go shopping!"
Matt immediately began leading her away. "Of course we'll go shopping."
Sora grinned. "Hey Tai! Joe! Do you guys want to spy on Izzy and Stacey?"
"Of course!" Tai grinned.
"Wait for me!" Joe pleaded, running after them.
"I think they went to the computer store!" Sora yelled as they disappeared.
T.K. chuckled as Kari giggled in his arms.
"Now," he said, clearing his throat, "where were we?"
Kari smiled. "I think we were about...here..." Their lips met and locked again in a passionate kiss.
~END OF THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY, PART 4...END OF T.K.'S STORY, PERIOD!~
~TO BE CONTINUED...IN THE GOOD LIFE: KARI'S STORY
Sora walks into the room.
"Hey, ya'll! I'm here with Venus163's approval to announce the conclusion. Then, we'll focus on what happens to Matt, Izzy, Joe, and Tai.
"First of all, Venus163 thanks everyone who helped her in any way! Whether it was inspiring her with a great story on Fanfiction.net, or sending her helpful reviews, she appreciates it all!
"As for reviews: Keep them coming!" Sora winks and strikes a pose. "As Mimi said earlier, she reads them *all*. Not one has she passed up. She has about 40+ reviews and she'd like the number to keep rising.
"For Venus163, this is practice. She wants to turn professional, but she's not perfect yet, no one is when they're only 13. With a lot of practice, she may become a best-selling author in the future!
"As she is an over-romantic, she *loves* romance stories, especially Mimato, Takari, and..." Sora blushes, "...Taiora. She would appreciate any suggestions on good reads.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...What happens to Matt, Izzy, Joe, and Tai?"
Sora walks out of the room. The reader follows into a courtroom. Venus163 is dressed in a judge's outfit, while the four boys are trussed up. Mimi, T.K., Kari, and now Sora sit in the jury's box.
"Fire away, Venus163," Sora tells her.
Okie-dokey-pokie! Ahem. Matt, I sentence you to a week of doing all my chores.
"What?"
Izzy, I sentence you to fix my broken computer, oh, and my crappy modem.
"That's not too bad."
Joe, since you had some conscience, and I promised to be easier on you, I sentence you to clean out my E-Mail Inbox for a week.
Joe sighs in relief. "Whew!"
Tai...let's see...I sentence you to a week of being Mimi, Sora, and Kari's slave.
"WHAT??"
Matt snickers. "Have fun, Tai!"
Tai unhappily gets up. "Oh well. Let's go, girls."
Giggling, Mimi, Sora, Kari, and Tai disappear.
Matt stretches. "Might as well get moving."
"I'll help, Matt," T.K. pipes up.
"You're the greatest, T.K.," Matt says gratefully.
Izzy starts connecting to the Internet. "I'll do some virus research." He heads towards the broken computer in the corner.
"And I'll clean out her Inbox." Joe goes into her Inbox. "Gawd! 16 new?"
Heh, heh...I conveniently forgot to tell Joe about all my friends...oh well. Thanks everyone, for putting up with them. It's been my life's misery, but...come to think of it, they were pretty funny...
Thanks, Ja!
-Venus163