Title: First Kiss; Part Three- Love and Devotion
Rating: PG-13
Description: Final act? Who knows, maybe not yet. Kari isn't speaking at all, with one exception. She does a lot of thinking and feeling in this fic, and some flashbacks as well. Confusion sways in her mind, and her brain maybe damaged from a concussion. All because of T.K. and Davis... Or maybe because of her...
I don't own Digimon once again, blah blah blah, this is for my entertainment only Thanx ^.^
Sora glanced around her as she knelt beside the flower garden, in which she'd just finished planting some new perennials and weeding. She couldn't believe it was dark already. She'd become so absorbed in her work that she didn't pay attention to how late it was getting, much less how her knees were aching and her back was aching and her neck was stiff and her fingers sore and dirty. And, most of all, how her stomach was rumbling.
She slowly rose to her feet, feeling her muscles bunch, crying out their pain at being stretched after so long in one position. She did a few quick moves she remembered from soccer practice, at least two years ago, and worked herself back into shape. Then she gathered up her things, grabbed the keys to her mother's flower shop, and locked the gate behind her. She was near the park, not near the city, so the part of the street she walked on wasn't usually occupied with people. Tonight though, there was some coming out of the park entrance. Sora crained her neck to get a look, and noticed that it was Matt, T.K., and... Davis? She thought T.K. and Davis didn't usually hang out, especially with Matt. Right behind them was Kari, being carried in someone's arms... Taichi. Her heart fluttered a bit.
Sora ran to catch up with them. Davis lived in her apartment complex, so she felt she had a valid reason to walk with them... Wait a minute. Why should she need a reason? These people were her friends, she had every right to want to walk with them!
"Hey guys!" she called with a smile, ignoring the complaints her body was making. She continued running and caught up with them. Her smile vanished when she saw the looks on everyone's faces... haunting looks. "What's- going on? Is it... ?"
At first she was going to ask if there was a huge problem in the Digiworld, one too extravagant for even the old Digidestined to help. But then she saw a bruised T.K. and a battered Davis, blood dripping down his chin, both of them with dry tears on their cheeks, and even Matt with a swollen redness around one eye. And when she looked at Kari, she felt a great sadness decsending on her soul. Kari's eyes... they were so empty, it was disheartening. She realized something bad must have happened. Something very bad.
Tai was the first to even notice she was there. He looked up at her with worry and panic in his eyes, but when they registered that it was Sora, his best friend in the whole world, they mellowed to concern. For Sora was here now, and she would make everything all right once again like she has so many times in the past.
"Sora... " Tai said, his voice shaky and on the verge of tears. "Kari's hurt. I don't know if she's brain-damaged or what. She's not talking at all. She hit her head, I think, hard. And she was bleeding from her scalp, Sora! So much blood..." Tai let out a sob as his voice broke. But he quickly regained control and continued. "Those two over were- fighting like idiots!-
and they- they..." Sora nodded. Tai just couldn't continue anymore.
"Here, hand her to me. I'll carry her now, if you'd like," she volunteered. All four boys looked really tired, and the least she could do was forget that her back was screaming with pain and relieve Tai. Tai nodded and placed Kari into Sora's arms delicately, as if she were one of the beautiful yet fragile flowers growing in the Takenouchi's garden shop.
Kari actually turned her head to stare blankly into Sora's face. None of the boys noticed though. Tai hung his head and started walking toward Matt, who had stopped and turned back to look at the three, his hands in his pockets. T.K. stopped and faced the opposite direction of Davis, who stood with his hands jammed in his pockets. The two would not face each other, one because of shame at what he'd done and not wanting to see it written all over the other's face, knowing he probably knew it was all his fault. The other, it was out of anger, and he was afraid if he saw the other's face, he'd lunge out and ram his tightened fist to smash that broken nose even more.
While the boys all started walking to Tai's apartment building, Sora hung back for a second longer, staring into Kari's eyes, which were now alive and full of feeling. Kari whispered to Sora. "Please tell them I'm not sick or brain-damaged. I'm fine, but I'm angry at all of them. I don't want to talk to anyone anymore. You're the only one I can trust now, Sora."
Sora just blinked at her for a moment before replying. "Not even your brother? Or Matt? What could they have possibly done?" Kari simply went away again, for Tai was running back to her.
"What is it? Is she talking now?" he let out in one breath. His expression was so worried and hopeful, so full of angst that it actually made Sora a little angry at Kari for being so selfish when her brother was so worried about her well-being. But then she stopped herself. How did she know what happened? There could be a lot more to the story than what was in front of her face.
"She did say something, Tai, but... W-we should talk later. Just trust me on this. She doesn't need to go to a doctor or anything. She's just fine and she's not speaking 'cause it's her choice." Sora let Tai absorb that, then they started walking again. After a while, they finally separated, Matt taking T.K. home and Davis going with Tai, Sora, and Kari. But before they did separate, T.K. ran over to Sora and laid his head on Kari's chest, fresh tears rolling down.
"Kari, I'm so sorry," he sobbed slightly. Davis jerked his head away from this touching scene and swallowed bile that had arisen in his throat. He forced his flaming jealousy to cool down as well. Now wasn't the time to get into this again. There would be other times and places to finish what he'd started, times when Kari wasn't around...
Later on, Tai had dropped Kari off at home, gave a brief explanation to his parents, including the fact that Kari wasn't talking out of preference, and announced that he was going to see Davis and Sora home. His parents, concerned about Kari, didn't seem to mind that their son's explanation was full of holes. Davis walked in silence for once, still ashamed and sure that Tai was disappointed in him. He wanted his admiration so much, but it seemed he couldn't keep his emotions under control anymore. It's not that he hated T.K. In fact, he and T.K. got along quite well, if only it wasn't for Kari.
Sora and Tai walked side-by-side like they had so many times in the past when they first became the Digidestined, trailing the new leader. Davis suddenly broke off into a run and Tai and Sora watched him go. He flew up the stairs in the nearest building, dashed down the hall and burst into his apartment, slamming the door behind him. Tai took a breath and looked at Sora, who's arms were crossed over her chest. He got a feeling deep in his chest, an aching feeling, and suddenly heard a low rumbling coming from Sora's stomach.
Both Sora and Tai sweatdropped, and Sora's eyes widened. "Heh heh. I guess I didn't eat much today..."
"So you, uh, wanna go out for pizza real quick before we go home?"
"Sure I guess. That's sounds good." For more reasons than one, she thought to herself. Her stomach complained again, and they both sweatdropped again.
Tai explained everything that happened in the park while they ate their late dinner. Then Sora told Tai about what Kari said to her. It made Tai think a little, then he said, "I guess I don't blame her. But I know my sister. She'll get over it, hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm just relieved she's okay. I mean, I know she needs time to think. This is a big ordeal for her." Sora nodded in agreement. "And I wanna know if you'll do me a favor. She still needs to talk to someone so she doesn't lose her touch with reality. Will you come over as often as you can? If only to help Kari..." he pleaded with her.
"Of course Taichi, I wouldn't mind..." Sora abruptly cut off. She hadn't meant to call Tai by his full name. It was something she only did in her thoughts. Tai only looked at her for a moment, then resumed eating his pizza. "My mom's going to be mad at me for being so late. I didn't tell her I was staying to finish up the new section of the garden in our store."
Tai took that as a cue. He got up and paid the bill, then came back. "You ready?" Sora nodded.
"You didn't have to pay for it all, you know."
"I know," Tai said, not giving her a chance to finish. "By the way," he continued once they were out of the restaurant, "do you ever get tired of that shirt?"
"What? This one?" Sora looked down at her lime green shirt, her favorite one. It was a little small on her now, after all, she'd had it for three years, and it was dirty because of all the soil she'd been handling earlier. "No, it's my favorite. I wore it the whole time we were in the Digiworld the first time."
"Yeah I can understand why you love it, when you put it that way. But can I give a word of advice? I think this is the last time you're gonna squeeze into that shirt, if you know what I mean..." Tai suddenly blushed, looking away from Sora. Did he just say that aloud? He looked back at her. She was faintly blushing and looking down at her own chest. Yes, he did say that aloud. Holy crap, what was wrong with him today? But then Sora chuckled a little.
"You're right, Tai. I guess it's time to hang up old memories and make room for new ones. I mean there should be some good ones with the new kids, right? Yolei, Cody, this new thing going on between Davis and... Tai?" Tai looked at her. "They'll beat that Digimon Emperor, right? This kid couldn't possibly be worse than anyone we've defeated. Right?"
"I hope so, Sora. If only all of them will get along like they're supposed to. For crying out loud, they're worse than me and Matt ever were..."
It was after midnight. Everyone was in bed asleep, soundly in their pleasant dreams of hope... Hope. That was T.K.'s crest. Hope. Kari lay in her bed, still fully clothed, in the exact position Sora had put her down in. On her side, staring at the wall. Except now, with no one around, Kari let her pretty dark red eyes fill with tears and sadness. She knew she'd done something to deserve this. Having two boys she loved deeply almost kill each other and kill her in the process. She saw that glimpse of the future the moment she felt her head thwack against the rough bark of that tree. She saw herself bleeding to death, she saw Davis ripping out T.K.'s beating heart, and, worse of all, she saw T.K. crack Davis' spine while he was still alive. All on account of the love both boys had for her.
"Is it my fault?" she asked her self aloud. "What do I do to make it this way? How can I stop?" She wasn't really mad at anyone. Not anymore anyway. If she really had any anger for anyone in the first place, it would be Davis for starting that fight, and at T.K., for fighting back instead of making sure she was okay... but that wasn't really fair. He couldn't help it. But she'd also have to say that she was mad at Tai and Matt for spying on her and T.K. Yet what would have happened if they hadn't come? No, if she was mad at anyone, it'd have to be herself. If only she could figure out what for.
Kari thought of T.K. and Davis, and got this burning, aching deep inside of her. She wasn't sure what for, she only knew that the pain was unbelievable.
She clutched her chest in a state of agony, and cried out for T.K., sobs racking her frail body and tears of fire spilling from her squinted eyes. She lay there on her side for a while, shaking and calling for T.K., asking what she should do, and hating herself for what she was. Tai silently watched his baby sister from the door, torn up at his helplessness. He wanted to comfort her, the way he always used to do when they were younger. But he couldn't now. She was growing up and becoming a woman, and there were things he knew for a fact he couldn't help her with anymore. That's the main reason he wanted Sora over to help. She was already like a big sister to her, so it would be a lot easier to deal with that way. Kari just needed her space now. After all, Tai remembered being eleven...
(((((Sora was kidnapped. That selfish digimon took her away for God knows why, and he, the leader, couldn't even get the courage to save her. The most important thing should've been to find that barrier Izzy said was in the electric wall, and go through it. But like the spineless wimp he was always afraid of being, he froze and couldn't go through to even save Sora...))))))))
Tai remembered that time well, because that night, he called for Sora the way Kari was calling for T.K. He remembered how his chest ached and felt as if it would explode, and how he screamed out for Sora late into the night. And how he vowed to get her back...
Kari's sobs finally subsided, and she finally got up to get a drink to try and cool herself. It felt as if she had a fever again. Right outside her door, she bumped into her brother. Literally. Quietly, without even looking at him, she slipped into his arms, and felt them tighten around her. They both knew what it was like to long for someone, and either not get them, or get two for an unpayable price.
(((((Kari watched T.K. climbing the rope after her, listened to him encouraging her to climb faster, pretending she was in gym class... And she watched as Piedmon grabbed his ankle, laughing evily, pulling him back down. She reached down quickly and snatched his small hand into her own, refusing to let go even when T.K. told her to or she'd get caught. Then she heard Piedmon say something like them two falling for each other, then she saw Piedmon cutting the rope, both of them, falling...))))))))
Kari lay awake still in bed even after Tai had finally gone to sleep, but this time she was just thinking, trying to sort out her feelings for both boys. Okay, she longed to be with T.K. If Davis got over her not making a decision and moved on to other girls, could she live with it? Could she cope just being friends? Of course. That answer came to her almost too fast. But she couldn't bear thinking of T.K. that way. So what does it mean? Yes, she did like Davis. A lot, if you want the truth. He was cute and he reminded her a lot of her brother... maybe that was the problem. He was too much like Tai for Kari to have the same aching passion she had for T.K. So that was it, right? Her decision? Would it be the right one, though? She was pretty sure of that. Now all she had to do was forgive the boys, if they apologized once and for all...
T.K.
Rating: PG-13
Description: Final act? Who knows, maybe not yet. Kari isn't speaking at all, with one exception. She does a lot of thinking and feeling in this fic, and some flashbacks as well. Confusion sways in her mind, and her brain maybe damaged from a concussion. All because of T.K. and Davis... Or maybe because of her...
I don't own Digimon once again, blah blah blah, this is for my entertainment only Thanx ^.^
Sora glanced around her as she knelt beside the flower garden, in which she'd just finished planting some new perennials and weeding. She couldn't believe it was dark already. She'd become so absorbed in her work that she didn't pay attention to how late it was getting, much less how her knees were aching and her back was aching and her neck was stiff and her fingers sore and dirty. And, most of all, how her stomach was rumbling.
She slowly rose to her feet, feeling her muscles bunch, crying out their pain at being stretched after so long in one position. She did a few quick moves she remembered from soccer practice, at least two years ago, and worked herself back into shape. Then she gathered up her things, grabbed the keys to her mother's flower shop, and locked the gate behind her. She was near the park, not near the city, so the part of the street she walked on wasn't usually occupied with people. Tonight though, there was some coming out of the park entrance. Sora crained her neck to get a look, and noticed that it was Matt, T.K., and... Davis? She thought T.K. and Davis didn't usually hang out, especially with Matt. Right behind them was Kari, being carried in someone's arms... Taichi. Her heart fluttered a bit.
Sora ran to catch up with them. Davis lived in her apartment complex, so she felt she had a valid reason to walk with them... Wait a minute. Why should she need a reason? These people were her friends, she had every right to want to walk with them!
"Hey guys!" she called with a smile, ignoring the complaints her body was making. She continued running and caught up with them. Her smile vanished when she saw the looks on everyone's faces... haunting looks. "What's- going on? Is it... ?"
At first she was going to ask if there was a huge problem in the Digiworld, one too extravagant for even the old Digidestined to help. But then she saw a bruised T.K. and a battered Davis, blood dripping down his chin, both of them with dry tears on their cheeks, and even Matt with a swollen redness around one eye. And when she looked at Kari, she felt a great sadness decsending on her soul. Kari's eyes... they were so empty, it was disheartening. She realized something bad must have happened. Something very bad.
Tai was the first to even notice she was there. He looked up at her with worry and panic in his eyes, but when they registered that it was Sora, his best friend in the whole world, they mellowed to concern. For Sora was here now, and she would make everything all right once again like she has so many times in the past.
"Sora... " Tai said, his voice shaky and on the verge of tears. "Kari's hurt. I don't know if she's brain-damaged or what. She's not talking at all. She hit her head, I think, hard. And she was bleeding from her scalp, Sora! So much blood..." Tai let out a sob as his voice broke. But he quickly regained control and continued. "Those two over were- fighting like idiots!-
and they- they..." Sora nodded. Tai just couldn't continue anymore.
"Here, hand her to me. I'll carry her now, if you'd like," she volunteered. All four boys looked really tired, and the least she could do was forget that her back was screaming with pain and relieve Tai. Tai nodded and placed Kari into Sora's arms delicately, as if she were one of the beautiful yet fragile flowers growing in the Takenouchi's garden shop.
Kari actually turned her head to stare blankly into Sora's face. None of the boys noticed though. Tai hung his head and started walking toward Matt, who had stopped and turned back to look at the three, his hands in his pockets. T.K. stopped and faced the opposite direction of Davis, who stood with his hands jammed in his pockets. The two would not face each other, one because of shame at what he'd done and not wanting to see it written all over the other's face, knowing he probably knew it was all his fault. The other, it was out of anger, and he was afraid if he saw the other's face, he'd lunge out and ram his tightened fist to smash that broken nose even more.
While the boys all started walking to Tai's apartment building, Sora hung back for a second longer, staring into Kari's eyes, which were now alive and full of feeling. Kari whispered to Sora. "Please tell them I'm not sick or brain-damaged. I'm fine, but I'm angry at all of them. I don't want to talk to anyone anymore. You're the only one I can trust now, Sora."
Sora just blinked at her for a moment before replying. "Not even your brother? Or Matt? What could they have possibly done?" Kari simply went away again, for Tai was running back to her.
"What is it? Is she talking now?" he let out in one breath. His expression was so worried and hopeful, so full of angst that it actually made Sora a little angry at Kari for being so selfish when her brother was so worried about her well-being. But then she stopped herself. How did she know what happened? There could be a lot more to the story than what was in front of her face.
"She did say something, Tai, but... W-we should talk later. Just trust me on this. She doesn't need to go to a doctor or anything. She's just fine and she's not speaking 'cause it's her choice." Sora let Tai absorb that, then they started walking again. After a while, they finally separated, Matt taking T.K. home and Davis going with Tai, Sora, and Kari. But before they did separate, T.K. ran over to Sora and laid his head on Kari's chest, fresh tears rolling down.
"Kari, I'm so sorry," he sobbed slightly. Davis jerked his head away from this touching scene and swallowed bile that had arisen in his throat. He forced his flaming jealousy to cool down as well. Now wasn't the time to get into this again. There would be other times and places to finish what he'd started, times when Kari wasn't around...
Later on, Tai had dropped Kari off at home, gave a brief explanation to his parents, including the fact that Kari wasn't talking out of preference, and announced that he was going to see Davis and Sora home. His parents, concerned about Kari, didn't seem to mind that their son's explanation was full of holes. Davis walked in silence for once, still ashamed and sure that Tai was disappointed in him. He wanted his admiration so much, but it seemed he couldn't keep his emotions under control anymore. It's not that he hated T.K. In fact, he and T.K. got along quite well, if only it wasn't for Kari.
Sora and Tai walked side-by-side like they had so many times in the past when they first became the Digidestined, trailing the new leader. Davis suddenly broke off into a run and Tai and Sora watched him go. He flew up the stairs in the nearest building, dashed down the hall and burst into his apartment, slamming the door behind him. Tai took a breath and looked at Sora, who's arms were crossed over her chest. He got a feeling deep in his chest, an aching feeling, and suddenly heard a low rumbling coming from Sora's stomach.
Both Sora and Tai sweatdropped, and Sora's eyes widened. "Heh heh. I guess I didn't eat much today..."
"So you, uh, wanna go out for pizza real quick before we go home?"
"Sure I guess. That's sounds good." For more reasons than one, she thought to herself. Her stomach complained again, and they both sweatdropped again.
Tai explained everything that happened in the park while they ate their late dinner. Then Sora told Tai about what Kari said to her. It made Tai think a little, then he said, "I guess I don't blame her. But I know my sister. She'll get over it, hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm just relieved she's okay. I mean, I know she needs time to think. This is a big ordeal for her." Sora nodded in agreement. "And I wanna know if you'll do me a favor. She still needs to talk to someone so she doesn't lose her touch with reality. Will you come over as often as you can? If only to help Kari..." he pleaded with her.
"Of course Taichi, I wouldn't mind..." Sora abruptly cut off. She hadn't meant to call Tai by his full name. It was something she only did in her thoughts. Tai only looked at her for a moment, then resumed eating his pizza. "My mom's going to be mad at me for being so late. I didn't tell her I was staying to finish up the new section of the garden in our store."
Tai took that as a cue. He got up and paid the bill, then came back. "You ready?" Sora nodded.
"You didn't have to pay for it all, you know."
"I know," Tai said, not giving her a chance to finish. "By the way," he continued once they were out of the restaurant, "do you ever get tired of that shirt?"
"What? This one?" Sora looked down at her lime green shirt, her favorite one. It was a little small on her now, after all, she'd had it for three years, and it was dirty because of all the soil she'd been handling earlier. "No, it's my favorite. I wore it the whole time we were in the Digiworld the first time."
"Yeah I can understand why you love it, when you put it that way. But can I give a word of advice? I think this is the last time you're gonna squeeze into that shirt, if you know what I mean..." Tai suddenly blushed, looking away from Sora. Did he just say that aloud? He looked back at her. She was faintly blushing and looking down at her own chest. Yes, he did say that aloud. Holy crap, what was wrong with him today? But then Sora chuckled a little.
"You're right, Tai. I guess it's time to hang up old memories and make room for new ones. I mean there should be some good ones with the new kids, right? Yolei, Cody, this new thing going on between Davis and... Tai?" Tai looked at her. "They'll beat that Digimon Emperor, right? This kid couldn't possibly be worse than anyone we've defeated. Right?"
"I hope so, Sora. If only all of them will get along like they're supposed to. For crying out loud, they're worse than me and Matt ever were..."
It was after midnight. Everyone was in bed asleep, soundly in their pleasant dreams of hope... Hope. That was T.K.'s crest. Hope. Kari lay in her bed, still fully clothed, in the exact position Sora had put her down in. On her side, staring at the wall. Except now, with no one around, Kari let her pretty dark red eyes fill with tears and sadness. She knew she'd done something to deserve this. Having two boys she loved deeply almost kill each other and kill her in the process. She saw that glimpse of the future the moment she felt her head thwack against the rough bark of that tree. She saw herself bleeding to death, she saw Davis ripping out T.K.'s beating heart, and, worse of all, she saw T.K. crack Davis' spine while he was still alive. All on account of the love both boys had for her.
"Is it my fault?" she asked her self aloud. "What do I do to make it this way? How can I stop?" She wasn't really mad at anyone. Not anymore anyway. If she really had any anger for anyone in the first place, it would be Davis for starting that fight, and at T.K., for fighting back instead of making sure she was okay... but that wasn't really fair. He couldn't help it. But she'd also have to say that she was mad at Tai and Matt for spying on her and T.K. Yet what would have happened if they hadn't come? No, if she was mad at anyone, it'd have to be herself. If only she could figure out what for.
Kari thought of T.K. and Davis, and got this burning, aching deep inside of her. She wasn't sure what for, she only knew that the pain was unbelievable.
She clutched her chest in a state of agony, and cried out for T.K., sobs racking her frail body and tears of fire spilling from her squinted eyes. She lay there on her side for a while, shaking and calling for T.K., asking what she should do, and hating herself for what she was. Tai silently watched his baby sister from the door, torn up at his helplessness. He wanted to comfort her, the way he always used to do when they were younger. But he couldn't now. She was growing up and becoming a woman, and there were things he knew for a fact he couldn't help her with anymore. That's the main reason he wanted Sora over to help. She was already like a big sister to her, so it would be a lot easier to deal with that way. Kari just needed her space now. After all, Tai remembered being eleven...
(((((Sora was kidnapped. That selfish digimon took her away for God knows why, and he, the leader, couldn't even get the courage to save her. The most important thing should've been to find that barrier Izzy said was in the electric wall, and go through it. But like the spineless wimp he was always afraid of being, he froze and couldn't go through to even save Sora...))))))))
Tai remembered that time well, because that night, he called for Sora the way Kari was calling for T.K. He remembered how his chest ached and felt as if it would explode, and how he screamed out for Sora late into the night. And how he vowed to get her back...
Kari's sobs finally subsided, and she finally got up to get a drink to try and cool herself. It felt as if she had a fever again. Right outside her door, she bumped into her brother. Literally. Quietly, without even looking at him, she slipped into his arms, and felt them tighten around her. They both knew what it was like to long for someone, and either not get them, or get two for an unpayable price.
(((((Kari watched T.K. climbing the rope after her, listened to him encouraging her to climb faster, pretending she was in gym class... And she watched as Piedmon grabbed his ankle, laughing evily, pulling him back down. She reached down quickly and snatched his small hand into her own, refusing to let go even when T.K. told her to or she'd get caught. Then she heard Piedmon say something like them two falling for each other, then she saw Piedmon cutting the rope, both of them, falling...))))))))
Kari lay awake still in bed even after Tai had finally gone to sleep, but this time she was just thinking, trying to sort out her feelings for both boys. Okay, she longed to be with T.K. If Davis got over her not making a decision and moved on to other girls, could she live with it? Could she cope just being friends? Of course. That answer came to her almost too fast. But she couldn't bear thinking of T.K. that way. So what does it mean? Yes, she did like Davis. A lot, if you want the truth. He was cute and he reminded her a lot of her brother... maybe that was the problem. He was too much like Tai for Kari to have the same aching passion she had for T.K. So that was it, right? Her decision? Would it be the right one, though? She was pretty sure of that. Now all she had to do was forgive the boys, if they apologized once and for all...
T.K.