Kari's Quest-A Single Tear-Part 1
Author: Angel aka Kari Kamiya
As I'm walking down these streets that I used to know so well, I wonder what I'm doing here again. I left here so long ago, to start a new life, but now that's all in shambles. There's nothing left for me there. It's been destroyed, just like so many other things I knew and loved. Just like so many friendships lost when I left. Friends that I haven't seen or spoken to for seven long years. Has it really been that long? Seven years since we were all together, seven years, since I had last
been there, the place where I grew up, gained maturity, and hope, the Digiworld? Flashback We all stood there in front of the gate out of the digital world, our job finally done. In our arms, or by our sides, are our faithful Digimon, our friends. I find myself thinking, will we ever see them again? "It's time to go." Stated Izzy, "The gate will only be open for another three minutes. You had better say your last goodbyes now. There isn't much time." I sighed, a single tear drop falling from my eye to land on the soft fur of Patamon who was lying in my arms. "TK?" he asked.
"What is it Patamon?" I replied, trying to hide the fact that my voice was shaking. "Will I ever see you again?" He questioned, his clear blue eyes gazing straight into mine. I couldn't lie. "I don't know Patamon, but I sure hope so!" He smiled up at me. "Good TK! As long as you have your hope, there is always a chance that we can see each other again! Never loose your hope!" I smiled back. "I won't Patamon, I promise!" End Flashback I thought that I couldn't lie to him. How
wrong I was. There was nothing left for me to hope for, that had all been destroyed in that one split second. Actually, there was one last hope left. I hope that I won't have to suffer much longer. Flashback I saw it, but I couldn't believe it. This couldn't be happening. There was no way! She was just getting home, pulling onto our street, when it happened. The car came out of nowhere, jetting sown the street, on the wrong side of the road. The side that her car was on. I saw that they
were about to crash, but there was nothing I could do. I let my basketball drop as I ran down the driveway. "Mom, watch out!!!!!!" But there was nothing that could be done. They crashed into each other, head on, my mothers car spinning to the side, crashing into a lampost, crumpling up horribly at the front. I could see it, pushing her backwards, crushing her. I ran as fast as I could to the car. As I got there, I noticed the other driver getting out of his car. Just getting out. When they
had hit, he had been thrown sideways, hitting the curb and stopping. He was fine. But my mom was another story. I got there, and tried to yank the door open, but to no avail. I looked inside, and saw her, at least part of her, because the other have was jammed under the dashboard. Her head was cut open and bleeding, bleeding too much. It trickled down her face in crimson rivers, standing out pointedly against her pale face. The part of her stomach that I could see was torn
and bleeding even more than her head, if that was even possible. I felt the tears streaming down my face as I looked in. "It's ok mom, I'll get help, your gonna be fine!" She attempted a weak smile, but it just turned into a grimace of pain. Her voice was barley more than a whisper. "No TK, my little boy, I won't be. I'm sorry that this had to happen, I don't want to leave you like this." "No mom, no! You have to live, you have to! You can't leave me, you have to stay!" I was sobbing by now, still trying to force open the door. I could hear the faint sounds of sirens in the distance. "See mom, they're coming, everything will be just fine!" A single tear left her eye. I was struck with the feeling that I was back in Digiworld, leaving something that I loved so much behind. "TK......" she gasped, "Before I go, I want you to know that I've always loved you...I'm so proud... to have you... as... my son... I love you TK..." With that she went limp, and I knew that she was gone. Everyone who I had cared about in this life had left me. I was alone. "No mom, you can't leave me!!!!!! Mom, I love you!" End Flashback. And I was right. Back then I had been so naïve, I thought my life would stay perfect forever. I never knew how much life hurts. I found myself in an alleyway, sitting on a bunch of tied up cardboard sitting near the dumpster. The neighborhood that had once
been so clean, and lively, was now the wrong side of town. Had everything changed so much since I was last here? Had I changed that much? Would anyone even recognize me now, if I showed up on their door? Would I know them? Flashback I was standing in the terminal of the airport, ready to leave for my new home with my mother, who had decided after the "horrors" of what we'd faced in Digiworld, we should get a new start. As if staying away would keep me with her. I looked into the faces of my friends and family, and I wondered if I would ever see them again. I said goodbye to the gang, Mimi, Joe, Sora, Tai, Davis, Yolei, Cody, and Izzy. Next came Matt and dad. There were tears brimming in my eyes, just knowing that I had to leave them. My father gave me a gruff goodbye and a quick hug, but I knew that he cared, the slight wetness in his eyes told me more than any words ever could. The gang slightly backed away to let me and Matt say goodbye, as if they knew how much it saddened us to let go of each other, after we had grown so close. "So, I guess this is it squirt." Matt stated, in his usual unemotional voice. If I didn't know him better, I would have thought that he didn't care. "Yeah, I guess so." I stated, trying to stay calm, but a single tear slid down my cheek. Matt noticed this and smiled. "Hey, don't worry bro, I'll see you again soon! Goodbye isn't forever!" I sniffed a bit, determined not to break down. "I know, its just..." What happened next probably surprised me the most. Matt grabbed me and hugged me fiercely, and I could feel tears from his eyes dripping onto my shoulder. He backed away and his icy blue eyes stared into mine, holding more emotion than I would have felt possible from him. Then he spoke, I still remember every word that he said. "Listen TK, I'm here for you no matter what. If there is ever anything that you need, you just come straight to me. I love you TK, and no matter what happens, I always will. I'm gonna miss you." "I'm going to miss you too Matt! I don't want to leave!" He gave me a smile and gestured over my shoulder. "I think there's someone else who wants to say goodbye." I turned around and saw Kari standing there. Matt walked back to the group, composed once again, and I walked over to Kari, staring intently at my shoes. "I guess this is goodbye then." I said. "Yeah, I guess so." She replied, appearing equally
interested in her camera. That's when I got an idea. "Hey, Kari, ya wanna get my mom to take a picture of us, so we can remember? I asked. "Sure thing!" she grinned, and gestured my mom over. "Ok you two, pose!" she said. Kari started to giggle. "So, how are we going to mark his occasion?" she asked. I was starting to feel a bit silly too, and since this was the last time that I may ever see her, a simply picked her up in my arms and twirled her around. She let out a little scream and latched her arms around my neck. "Smile!" my mom cried. We both turned our heads to face the camera, grinning like idiots. After the picture was taken, we collapsed in a laughing heap on the floor. "That was fun!" I said between gasps for air. "You should have seen Davis's face! He looked about ready to kill you!" she exclaimed, equally winded. "Here you go!" my mom said, handing us both a picture. One was of us posing, another in our ungainly pile on the ground. I quickly grabbed the latter. "I think I'll take this one," I said, "So your last memory of me
isn't sprawled on the ground like an idiot. You keep the nice one!" She smiled." Alright! You had better keep in touch, ok?" "Ok!" 'Flight 203 is now boarding, all passengers please report to gate 4 immediately.' "That's us!" my mom cried. Yelling our final farewells, we boarded the plane. Looking out my window before takeoff, I could see Kari staring through the window at me, crying. That was the last straw for me, I broke down in tears as well, waving madly at my friends as the plane left down the runway. End Flashback Too bad there was no one to turn to. I had lost touch after the second time we had moved, everyone was growing up and apart. Matt and his band had finally hit it big, becoming international superstars. He had finally made it big. Tai was a pro soccer player, while Davis was playing on a college team. Sora was really into her tennis, while Mimi was designing clothes. Izzy had become a bigshot computer expert, with Yolei as a close second in the company. Joe a surgeon, Kari had become an actress and started a show on our
adventures in the digiworld and Cody wrote a book. There was no way I could find any of them now, even if I wanted to. I don't need anyone's pity. I had to face it, my life was pretty much shot. No home, no family, no friends. There was no point anymore. No hope. I might as well just end it. I took out my Swiss army knife, and stared at it thoughtfully. Why hadn't I thought of this before? It's not like anyone would care, not like anyone would know it was me. Maybe after they checked my dentals and stuff, but that would be way longer after the press died down, if they ever got worked up at all, actually. I mean, who would actually care if some homeless kid killed himself anyways? I was lowering the knife to my wrist when I heard footsteps. There was someone coming into the alley. I jerked my head up quickly, catching them by surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry..." I heard them say. It was a girl, wearing blue jeans and a sweater, looking at me nervously. "No problem." I said, not really caring, just hoping that she would go away before I lost my nerve. She nodded, then caught sight of the knife in my hand, taking a step backwards in fear. I noticed this and managed a smile. "Don't worry girl, I'm not going to hurt you. Why don't you just leave, and forget that you saw me here. It might save you a lot of hassle." My voice sounded rough with disuse to me, there had been no reason to try and sound nice to anyone for months. She took a
cautious step forward, still eyeing my knife. "What are you doing then?" she asked. I smiled wryly. Geez I thought, this girl sure is persistent! "Well, if you really care to know, I was about to put a homeless good-for-nothing out of his misery and everyone else's. Will you leave now?" She took yet another step forward. Now that I could see her clearly, I saw she was pretty, with shoulder length brown hair, and reddish brown eyes. It almost reminded me off.... Well, her. "You, you were going to kill yourself?" she asked. "But why would you ever want to do that?" I eyed her in disdain. "You would never know. You have probably never been ripped away from your life, your friends, and everyone you care about. You've probably never been down so low, there is nothing you want more than just to end it all." The way that she looked at me, I would swear she could see right through my soul. The look that she could gave me held more pain than I would think possible. "I suppose I don't, but I do know what it's like to loose someone close to you." At that I laughed aloud. She gave me a questioning look and I explained. "Well, it just struck me as funny that I'm sitting here pouring my guts out to a complete stranger. But in some odd way, I feel like I know you." She looked at me with eyes filled with too much wisdom for one as young as I was. "I get that feeling too." We sat there like that for a minute, just staring at each other, until we
heard more steps coming from the opening of the alley. Looking up I saw someone so familiar I never knew it was possible. It was him, I had seen him on TV so many times after I left, I couldn't be mistaken. It was none other than Tai Kamiya He gave me a look filled with disdain, and grabbed the girls arm. "What took you so long? I told you not to take any shortcuts! This part of Japan is way different form when we were kids! And sitting in alleys with homeless guys, geez, you'd think you have no brains in your head Kari!" I froze. Kari? The girl... she was Kari! Oh god, why didn't is see it sooner? I just can't believe it... I quickly hung my head to discourage any chance of being recognized. I didn't want my old friends to see what I had become. "I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't mean to scare you. Your sister helped me out, I owe her." He whirled on me. "How did you know that she was my sister?" "Take It easy, buddy! I know because your one of the most famous guys in Japan, and everyone knows that you have a sister named Kari. Don't worry, alright?" He relaxed. "Ok, fine then. C'mon Kari." He said. She turned around and looked at me, a questioning look in her eyes. I smiled, and shook my head at her. She returned the smile and followed after Tai. "Why were you talking with him?" I could hear Tai ask. "Because," she responded, "He reminded me of someone." "Get your mind of him Kari, remember, the cops said
the was missing, most likely dead, they think that unidentified body could be him. That bum isn't worth cleaning TK's shoes. Cheer up, and don't put yourself in danger like that again!" I nearly choked. They thought that I was dead? They actually cared? I couldn't believe that I was actually here. About to face all the people that I had cared about, in my old life. What was I doing? I had found out that there was to be a party, open to the public, to celebrate the anniversary of the first day we had headed to Digiworld to save everyone. I had forgotten about that day, blocked it out, seen it as an injustice. Why had we fought all those battles, lost so much, just to loose so much more back here? So I cleaned myself up a bit, bought myself my first new pair of clothes for a long time, even got a haircut. Still, I was sure that no one would recognize me. It had been too long, too much had happened, I wasn't the same person that I was. I didn't plan on letting any of them to know that I was there, just to see them again would be enough. So on the day of the party, I arrive early so I can get a good place to see all of my old friends come in. I wouldn't be making one of the grand entrances, dead guys don't walk. As the first car pulls up, I nearly loose my will and run, but something keeps telling me to stay. First were Izzy and Yolei. A couple? I nearly laughed out loud. I never would have guessed it all those years back, but I guess that it made sense. Next came Tai and ...Sora? I actually expected. But I didn't care. Of all the things... Cody came with a girl named May. Davis cam with a girl named Lori it looked like he didn't get the girl after all. Next were Joe and Mimi, there was no surprise there, they had been dating for the longest time. Then came Matt. I made sure that he couldn't see me, out of all of them, he was probably the most likely to recognize me. He had some pretty girl or another on his arm, I think I remember reading in a magazine that her name was Jehana. (Ha! I got it in for you! Happy chica?) A whole bunch of girls went crazy and started taking pictures at him, and I wasn't surprised. Figured that he'd have a lot of groupies! Last of all was her, Kari. She was also alone, but it didn't matter she looked so beautiful, like a goddess, I couldn't believe that she had actually been talking to me only last week. I walked into the party with everyone else, standing close, but not noticeably so, to the clump of people surrounding my friends. I couldn't believe that they were all together like this. Just like old times... And I'm just so tired of waking up on the ground. Later on in the night, Matt and Jehana were standing a bit separated from the thong of people, and I took the opportunity to sneak closer. How much I wanted just to talk to him, but how could I? Would he know it's me? Or could I get away with it? I was just about to go over when Kari approached me. I just froze. She smiled at me and said, "Hey, It's nice to see you again! I'm glad you're ok! I never knew it was you before!" I smiled back. "Yeah, it's nice to see you too!" It was then that I noticed something around her neck. It looked like a tag and crest, but it was thicker, and had tiny hinges. I pointed to it and asked. "What is that?" "Oh!" She laughed. "You mean this old thing? I asked the jeweler to make it for me, isn't it pretty? It's a locket, I've only ever kept one picture inside. It's of a best friend of mine, that I very recently lost. Would you like to see?" I nodded, and she opened it. It was that picture from so long ago, that was taken at the airport. "That's... a vary nice picture Miss Kamiya." I said. She only giggled. "Please, call me Kari. And you are?" she asked. My mind raced. Uh oh, what am I gonna say? But I was saved by someone that I least expected. "Kari!" Davis called. "Over here!" Kari smiled apologetically at me and mouthed "Later." So I resumed my watch of Matt, but I noticed something. There was another person watching. A person with a gun. I raced over to him as fast as I could, yelling "Matt, watch out!" I couldn't save mom, but I sure as hell wasn't going to loose my brother too! He whirled and looked at me with an odd expression on his face. I barely reached him in time. I tackled him away just in time to hear the gun go off, but all didn't go as planned. I knew that when I felt the cold steal of the bullet puncturing my stomach, spilling my warm sticky blood all over my shirt. He looked at me and a hand went to his mouth. He only said one thing. "I never knew." I felt it pierce the skin on my stomach, and rip through me like a pack of hungry dogs. I don't think that I've ever been in so much pain in my life. My blood spilt freely out of my stomach as I fell down to the ground. I hear Matt saying. "I never knew! I never knew that there was someone there!" I see feet rushing towards me, and feel the heat of many bodies around me. Kari kneels down and props me up, trying to stop the rushing flow of blood. "Oh my god, how could this happen! How?" I felt her tears fall onto my face. I reach up and try to brush them away. "Don't cry, I'm not worth it. Just let me die!" Joe breaks through the crowd, bending down and taking my pulse. "What happened here? Did someone shoot him?" Matt bent down too, I closed my eyes, half to try and hide my identity, half in pain. The agony was enough to make me want to die right there and then. "Someone tried to kill me, but this guy knocked me out of the way." He said. Joe was confused. "But why give up his life for yours? You don't even know him!" If they only knew. It must have been good, This can't be for good. Everyone's... Is everyone ok? I feel something being pressed on my wound, it helps, but still hurts. I hear them trying to get answers out of me, but I won't respond. If I just die, then no one will get upset knowing it's me. I've already died once to them, twice would be too much of a heartbreak. Then I hear the voice of Kari. "Why won't you just tell us who you are? Don't you owe me that much?" I managed to shake my head, eyes still sealed
shut. "No. It is better for you not to know. But is Matt ok? Are you all alright?" A heard someone get down on their knees in front of me, I could feel their breath on my face. "Why did you save me?" Matt asks, "What do I mean to you?" "More than you can know." But Matt wouldn't be satisfied. "And what is that supposed to mean?" It was in that moment, that I realized that it might hurt even more to die without them knowing I cared. What if they found out afterwards, and thought I didn't care enough to tell them? Knowing that he was saved by his brother may bear less guilt than thinking he was saved by a complete stranger. I opened my eyes and stared him straight in the face. It was like time had reversed, and it was that day in the airport again. "It's me. TK." He gazed at me uncomprehendingly for a second then gasped. I could see the shock in his eyes. "TK?" He gasped. "Oh my god, I thought you were dead, I thought... TK!" He said it that last time a bit loud. I heard a collective gasp from around me, it seemed like something out of the movies. But this time it wasn't happening to someone else, it was happening to me. I gave a weak smile. "You know it." Then all I heard was muted shouts from around me, everything was starting to blur together. I heard a yell of "We're loosing him!" And then I fell into the darkness, back down. I woke up to the sound of a heart monitor beeping, and various mumbles coming form around me. I couldn't get up the strength to open my eyes, but eventually the voices became distinguished. Kari? I thought, Kari, are you here with me?
Author: Angel aka Kari Kamiya
As I'm walking down these streets that I used to know so well, I wonder what I'm doing here again. I left here so long ago, to start a new life, but now that's all in shambles. There's nothing left for me there. It's been destroyed, just like so many other things I knew and loved. Just like so many friendships lost when I left. Friends that I haven't seen or spoken to for seven long years. Has it really been that long? Seven years since we were all together, seven years, since I had last
been there, the place where I grew up, gained maturity, and hope, the Digiworld? Flashback We all stood there in front of the gate out of the digital world, our job finally done. In our arms, or by our sides, are our faithful Digimon, our friends. I find myself thinking, will we ever see them again? "It's time to go." Stated Izzy, "The gate will only be open for another three minutes. You had better say your last goodbyes now. There isn't much time." I sighed, a single tear drop falling from my eye to land on the soft fur of Patamon who was lying in my arms. "TK?" he asked.
"What is it Patamon?" I replied, trying to hide the fact that my voice was shaking. "Will I ever see you again?" He questioned, his clear blue eyes gazing straight into mine. I couldn't lie. "I don't know Patamon, but I sure hope so!" He smiled up at me. "Good TK! As long as you have your hope, there is always a chance that we can see each other again! Never loose your hope!" I smiled back. "I won't Patamon, I promise!" End Flashback I thought that I couldn't lie to him. How
wrong I was. There was nothing left for me to hope for, that had all been destroyed in that one split second. Actually, there was one last hope left. I hope that I won't have to suffer much longer. Flashback I saw it, but I couldn't believe it. This couldn't be happening. There was no way! She was just getting home, pulling onto our street, when it happened. The car came out of nowhere, jetting sown the street, on the wrong side of the road. The side that her car was on. I saw that they
were about to crash, but there was nothing I could do. I let my basketball drop as I ran down the driveway. "Mom, watch out!!!!!!" But there was nothing that could be done. They crashed into each other, head on, my mothers car spinning to the side, crashing into a lampost, crumpling up horribly at the front. I could see it, pushing her backwards, crushing her. I ran as fast as I could to the car. As I got there, I noticed the other driver getting out of his car. Just getting out. When they
had hit, he had been thrown sideways, hitting the curb and stopping. He was fine. But my mom was another story. I got there, and tried to yank the door open, but to no avail. I looked inside, and saw her, at least part of her, because the other have was jammed under the dashboard. Her head was cut open and bleeding, bleeding too much. It trickled down her face in crimson rivers, standing out pointedly against her pale face. The part of her stomach that I could see was torn
and bleeding even more than her head, if that was even possible. I felt the tears streaming down my face as I looked in. "It's ok mom, I'll get help, your gonna be fine!" She attempted a weak smile, but it just turned into a grimace of pain. Her voice was barley more than a whisper. "No TK, my little boy, I won't be. I'm sorry that this had to happen, I don't want to leave you like this." "No mom, no! You have to live, you have to! You can't leave me, you have to stay!" I was sobbing by now, still trying to force open the door. I could hear the faint sounds of sirens in the distance. "See mom, they're coming, everything will be just fine!" A single tear left her eye. I was struck with the feeling that I was back in Digiworld, leaving something that I loved so much behind. "TK......" she gasped, "Before I go, I want you to know that I've always loved you...I'm so proud... to have you... as... my son... I love you TK..." With that she went limp, and I knew that she was gone. Everyone who I had cared about in this life had left me. I was alone. "No mom, you can't leave me!!!!!! Mom, I love you!" End Flashback. And I was right. Back then I had been so naïve, I thought my life would stay perfect forever. I never knew how much life hurts. I found myself in an alleyway, sitting on a bunch of tied up cardboard sitting near the dumpster. The neighborhood that had once
been so clean, and lively, was now the wrong side of town. Had everything changed so much since I was last here? Had I changed that much? Would anyone even recognize me now, if I showed up on their door? Would I know them? Flashback I was standing in the terminal of the airport, ready to leave for my new home with my mother, who had decided after the "horrors" of what we'd faced in Digiworld, we should get a new start. As if staying away would keep me with her. I looked into the faces of my friends and family, and I wondered if I would ever see them again. I said goodbye to the gang, Mimi, Joe, Sora, Tai, Davis, Yolei, Cody, and Izzy. Next came Matt and dad. There were tears brimming in my eyes, just knowing that I had to leave them. My father gave me a gruff goodbye and a quick hug, but I knew that he cared, the slight wetness in his eyes told me more than any words ever could. The gang slightly backed away to let me and Matt say goodbye, as if they knew how much it saddened us to let go of each other, after we had grown so close. "So, I guess this is it squirt." Matt stated, in his usual unemotional voice. If I didn't know him better, I would have thought that he didn't care. "Yeah, I guess so." I stated, trying to stay calm, but a single tear slid down my cheek. Matt noticed this and smiled. "Hey, don't worry bro, I'll see you again soon! Goodbye isn't forever!" I sniffed a bit, determined not to break down. "I know, its just..." What happened next probably surprised me the most. Matt grabbed me and hugged me fiercely, and I could feel tears from his eyes dripping onto my shoulder. He backed away and his icy blue eyes stared into mine, holding more emotion than I would have felt possible from him. Then he spoke, I still remember every word that he said. "Listen TK, I'm here for you no matter what. If there is ever anything that you need, you just come straight to me. I love you TK, and no matter what happens, I always will. I'm gonna miss you." "I'm going to miss you too Matt! I don't want to leave!" He gave me a smile and gestured over my shoulder. "I think there's someone else who wants to say goodbye." I turned around and saw Kari standing there. Matt walked back to the group, composed once again, and I walked over to Kari, staring intently at my shoes. "I guess this is goodbye then." I said. "Yeah, I guess so." She replied, appearing equally
interested in her camera. That's when I got an idea. "Hey, Kari, ya wanna get my mom to take a picture of us, so we can remember? I asked. "Sure thing!" she grinned, and gestured my mom over. "Ok you two, pose!" she said. Kari started to giggle. "So, how are we going to mark his occasion?" she asked. I was starting to feel a bit silly too, and since this was the last time that I may ever see her, a simply picked her up in my arms and twirled her around. She let out a little scream and latched her arms around my neck. "Smile!" my mom cried. We both turned our heads to face the camera, grinning like idiots. After the picture was taken, we collapsed in a laughing heap on the floor. "That was fun!" I said between gasps for air. "You should have seen Davis's face! He looked about ready to kill you!" she exclaimed, equally winded. "Here you go!" my mom said, handing us both a picture. One was of us posing, another in our ungainly pile on the ground. I quickly grabbed the latter. "I think I'll take this one," I said, "So your last memory of me
isn't sprawled on the ground like an idiot. You keep the nice one!" She smiled." Alright! You had better keep in touch, ok?" "Ok!" 'Flight 203 is now boarding, all passengers please report to gate 4 immediately.' "That's us!" my mom cried. Yelling our final farewells, we boarded the plane. Looking out my window before takeoff, I could see Kari staring through the window at me, crying. That was the last straw for me, I broke down in tears as well, waving madly at my friends as the plane left down the runway. End Flashback Too bad there was no one to turn to. I had lost touch after the second time we had moved, everyone was growing up and apart. Matt and his band had finally hit it big, becoming international superstars. He had finally made it big. Tai was a pro soccer player, while Davis was playing on a college team. Sora was really into her tennis, while Mimi was designing clothes. Izzy had become a bigshot computer expert, with Yolei as a close second in the company. Joe a surgeon, Kari had become an actress and started a show on our
adventures in the digiworld and Cody wrote a book. There was no way I could find any of them now, even if I wanted to. I don't need anyone's pity. I had to face it, my life was pretty much shot. No home, no family, no friends. There was no point anymore. No hope. I might as well just end it. I took out my Swiss army knife, and stared at it thoughtfully. Why hadn't I thought of this before? It's not like anyone would care, not like anyone would know it was me. Maybe after they checked my dentals and stuff, but that would be way longer after the press died down, if they ever got worked up at all, actually. I mean, who would actually care if some homeless kid killed himself anyways? I was lowering the knife to my wrist when I heard footsteps. There was someone coming into the alley. I jerked my head up quickly, catching them by surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry..." I heard them say. It was a girl, wearing blue jeans and a sweater, looking at me nervously. "No problem." I said, not really caring, just hoping that she would go away before I lost my nerve. She nodded, then caught sight of the knife in my hand, taking a step backwards in fear. I noticed this and managed a smile. "Don't worry girl, I'm not going to hurt you. Why don't you just leave, and forget that you saw me here. It might save you a lot of hassle." My voice sounded rough with disuse to me, there had been no reason to try and sound nice to anyone for months. She took a
cautious step forward, still eyeing my knife. "What are you doing then?" she asked. I smiled wryly. Geez I thought, this girl sure is persistent! "Well, if you really care to know, I was about to put a homeless good-for-nothing out of his misery and everyone else's. Will you leave now?" She took yet another step forward. Now that I could see her clearly, I saw she was pretty, with shoulder length brown hair, and reddish brown eyes. It almost reminded me off.... Well, her. "You, you were going to kill yourself?" she asked. "But why would you ever want to do that?" I eyed her in disdain. "You would never know. You have probably never been ripped away from your life, your friends, and everyone you care about. You've probably never been down so low, there is nothing you want more than just to end it all." The way that she looked at me, I would swear she could see right through my soul. The look that she could gave me held more pain than I would think possible. "I suppose I don't, but I do know what it's like to loose someone close to you." At that I laughed aloud. She gave me a questioning look and I explained. "Well, it just struck me as funny that I'm sitting here pouring my guts out to a complete stranger. But in some odd way, I feel like I know you." She looked at me with eyes filled with too much wisdom for one as young as I was. "I get that feeling too." We sat there like that for a minute, just staring at each other, until we
heard more steps coming from the opening of the alley. Looking up I saw someone so familiar I never knew it was possible. It was him, I had seen him on TV so many times after I left, I couldn't be mistaken. It was none other than Tai Kamiya He gave me a look filled with disdain, and grabbed the girls arm. "What took you so long? I told you not to take any shortcuts! This part of Japan is way different form when we were kids! And sitting in alleys with homeless guys, geez, you'd think you have no brains in your head Kari!" I froze. Kari? The girl... she was Kari! Oh god, why didn't is see it sooner? I just can't believe it... I quickly hung my head to discourage any chance of being recognized. I didn't want my old friends to see what I had become. "I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't mean to scare you. Your sister helped me out, I owe her." He whirled on me. "How did you know that she was my sister?" "Take It easy, buddy! I know because your one of the most famous guys in Japan, and everyone knows that you have a sister named Kari. Don't worry, alright?" He relaxed. "Ok, fine then. C'mon Kari." He said. She turned around and looked at me, a questioning look in her eyes. I smiled, and shook my head at her. She returned the smile and followed after Tai. "Why were you talking with him?" I could hear Tai ask. "Because," she responded, "He reminded me of someone." "Get your mind of him Kari, remember, the cops said
the was missing, most likely dead, they think that unidentified body could be him. That bum isn't worth cleaning TK's shoes. Cheer up, and don't put yourself in danger like that again!" I nearly choked. They thought that I was dead? They actually cared? I couldn't believe that I was actually here. About to face all the people that I had cared about, in my old life. What was I doing? I had found out that there was to be a party, open to the public, to celebrate the anniversary of the first day we had headed to Digiworld to save everyone. I had forgotten about that day, blocked it out, seen it as an injustice. Why had we fought all those battles, lost so much, just to loose so much more back here? So I cleaned myself up a bit, bought myself my first new pair of clothes for a long time, even got a haircut. Still, I was sure that no one would recognize me. It had been too long, too much had happened, I wasn't the same person that I was. I didn't plan on letting any of them to know that I was there, just to see them again would be enough. So on the day of the party, I arrive early so I can get a good place to see all of my old friends come in. I wouldn't be making one of the grand entrances, dead guys don't walk. As the first car pulls up, I nearly loose my will and run, but something keeps telling me to stay. First were Izzy and Yolei. A couple? I nearly laughed out loud. I never would have guessed it all those years back, but I guess that it made sense. Next came Tai and ...Sora? I actually expected. But I didn't care. Of all the things... Cody came with a girl named May. Davis cam with a girl named Lori it looked like he didn't get the girl after all. Next were Joe and Mimi, there was no surprise there, they had been dating for the longest time. Then came Matt. I made sure that he couldn't see me, out of all of them, he was probably the most likely to recognize me. He had some pretty girl or another on his arm, I think I remember reading in a magazine that her name was Jehana. (Ha! I got it in for you! Happy chica?) A whole bunch of girls went crazy and started taking pictures at him, and I wasn't surprised. Figured that he'd have a lot of groupies! Last of all was her, Kari. She was also alone, but it didn't matter she looked so beautiful, like a goddess, I couldn't believe that she had actually been talking to me only last week. I walked into the party with everyone else, standing close, but not noticeably so, to the clump of people surrounding my friends. I couldn't believe that they were all together like this. Just like old times... And I'm just so tired of waking up on the ground. Later on in the night, Matt and Jehana were standing a bit separated from the thong of people, and I took the opportunity to sneak closer. How much I wanted just to talk to him, but how could I? Would he know it's me? Or could I get away with it? I was just about to go over when Kari approached me. I just froze. She smiled at me and said, "Hey, It's nice to see you again! I'm glad you're ok! I never knew it was you before!" I smiled back. "Yeah, it's nice to see you too!" It was then that I noticed something around her neck. It looked like a tag and crest, but it was thicker, and had tiny hinges. I pointed to it and asked. "What is that?" "Oh!" She laughed. "You mean this old thing? I asked the jeweler to make it for me, isn't it pretty? It's a locket, I've only ever kept one picture inside. It's of a best friend of mine, that I very recently lost. Would you like to see?" I nodded, and she opened it. It was that picture from so long ago, that was taken at the airport. "That's... a vary nice picture Miss Kamiya." I said. She only giggled. "Please, call me Kari. And you are?" she asked. My mind raced. Uh oh, what am I gonna say? But I was saved by someone that I least expected. "Kari!" Davis called. "Over here!" Kari smiled apologetically at me and mouthed "Later." So I resumed my watch of Matt, but I noticed something. There was another person watching. A person with a gun. I raced over to him as fast as I could, yelling "Matt, watch out!" I couldn't save mom, but I sure as hell wasn't going to loose my brother too! He whirled and looked at me with an odd expression on his face. I barely reached him in time. I tackled him away just in time to hear the gun go off, but all didn't go as planned. I knew that when I felt the cold steal of the bullet puncturing my stomach, spilling my warm sticky blood all over my shirt. He looked at me and a hand went to his mouth. He only said one thing. "I never knew." I felt it pierce the skin on my stomach, and rip through me like a pack of hungry dogs. I don't think that I've ever been in so much pain in my life. My blood spilt freely out of my stomach as I fell down to the ground. I hear Matt saying. "I never knew! I never knew that there was someone there!" I see feet rushing towards me, and feel the heat of many bodies around me. Kari kneels down and props me up, trying to stop the rushing flow of blood. "Oh my god, how could this happen! How?" I felt her tears fall onto my face. I reach up and try to brush them away. "Don't cry, I'm not worth it. Just let me die!" Joe breaks through the crowd, bending down and taking my pulse. "What happened here? Did someone shoot him?" Matt bent down too, I closed my eyes, half to try and hide my identity, half in pain. The agony was enough to make me want to die right there and then. "Someone tried to kill me, but this guy knocked me out of the way." He said. Joe was confused. "But why give up his life for yours? You don't even know him!" If they only knew. It must have been good, This can't be for good. Everyone's... Is everyone ok? I feel something being pressed on my wound, it helps, but still hurts. I hear them trying to get answers out of me, but I won't respond. If I just die, then no one will get upset knowing it's me. I've already died once to them, twice would be too much of a heartbreak. Then I hear the voice of Kari. "Why won't you just tell us who you are? Don't you owe me that much?" I managed to shake my head, eyes still sealed
shut. "No. It is better for you not to know. But is Matt ok? Are you all alright?" A heard someone get down on their knees in front of me, I could feel their breath on my face. "Why did you save me?" Matt asks, "What do I mean to you?" "More than you can know." But Matt wouldn't be satisfied. "And what is that supposed to mean?" It was in that moment, that I realized that it might hurt even more to die without them knowing I cared. What if they found out afterwards, and thought I didn't care enough to tell them? Knowing that he was saved by his brother may bear less guilt than thinking he was saved by a complete stranger. I opened my eyes and stared him straight in the face. It was like time had reversed, and it was that day in the airport again. "It's me. TK." He gazed at me uncomprehendingly for a second then gasped. I could see the shock in his eyes. "TK?" He gasped. "Oh my god, I thought you were dead, I thought... TK!" He said it that last time a bit loud. I heard a collective gasp from around me, it seemed like something out of the movies. But this time it wasn't happening to someone else, it was happening to me. I gave a weak smile. "You know it." Then all I heard was muted shouts from around me, everything was starting to blur together. I heard a yell of "We're loosing him!" And then I fell into the darkness, back down. I woke up to the sound of a heart monitor beeping, and various mumbles coming form around me. I couldn't get up the strength to open my eyes, but eventually the voices became distinguished. Kari? I thought, Kari, are you here with me?