There'll Always Be Hope: Part Two

There'll Always Be Hope: Part Two

By: Sakura

Someone pounded on the door. "Open up!"

Tai got up and opened the door. In burst Matt, slamming the door into Tai, with a frantic expression on his face. "Where is he? Where's T.K.?"

Tai rubbed his nose gingerly, then wiggled it to see if it was okay. He put a finger to his lips. "Shh," he said. "They're asleep. You'll wake them up."

"They?" Matt asked, incredulously. Tai motioned for Matt to follow him into the living room. T.K. was lying down on the sofa with his eyes closed. Kari sat on the floor next to him and rested her head in her arms. They both appeared to be fast asleep. "Oh," said Matt softly. Matt and Tai started to leave the room.

"Hi, Matt."

Matt turned around, as did Tai. T.K. sat up while Kari lifted her head from its former position. Both of them turned to face their brothers. It was T.K. who had spoken. Matt sat down next to Kari and faced T.K.

"How are you holding up, little bro?" he asked.

"Not so great," answered T.K. glumly. He tightened his grip on Kari's hand. "If it weren't for Kari, I wouldn't have made it this far." There was silence for a few moments. Then T.K. spoke again. "Kari was hurt pretty badly."

Two pairs of eyes turned to Kari.

"I'm okay," she protested. "Really." Neither of the brothers looked convinced.

Tai helped his sister to her feet. "Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked, scolding her gently. "Come on, let's see what we can do to fix you up." Kari gave in and Tai led her out of the room.

Matt turned back to T.K. He placed his hands on his brother's shoulders and shook him. "What happened?" he demanded. "Who did this to you?"

T.K. brushed his brother's hands off his shoulders. "I don't want to talk about it," he answered softly.

Matt folded his arms. "And why not? I'm your big brother, T.K."

Speaking in an even softer tone, T.K. said, "I feel so useless, worthless. I couldn't protect Kari when she needed me the most. What kind of a friend am I?" He sat straight up, fists clenched, and continued in a louder tone of voice. "I'm just a burden to everyone, so why am I still here? What's the point?" His shoulders slumped and T.K. fell back onto the sofa. "I don't even understand why Kari bothered to take care of me like she did." Silence followed as T.K.'s words hung in the air.

Kari had come back as soon as Tai had finished bandaging her wounds and had heard all of what T.K. had said. Kari hastened to T.K.'s side and threw her arms around him. She held him in a tight hug. There were tears in her eyes as she spoke. "T.K., I love you. Don't you ever dare forget that." She squeezed his hand gently. "Don't worry, we'll all work to find a way to get your sight back." T.K. held Kari close to him and stroked her hair.

"Thanks, Kari," he whispered. "For being there for me."

Ring! Ring!

Matt walked to the kitchen to answer the phone. "Hello, Takaishi Residence. Izzy!" Tai came into the kitchen, a questioning look on his face. "Gennai?" Matt continued. "He said what? Okay, then. I'll see you in a few minutes." He hung up the phone and turned to Tai. "Izzy just got an e-mail from Gennai," he said. "And he's on his way over."

"Gennai?" asked Tai, puzzled.

"No," said Matt. "Izzy. I think we know where we have to go to help T.K."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Kari opened her eyes.

Looking out the window, Kari could see the sun beginning to rise. She sat up and looked around her. Matt and Tai were arguing about something in the kitchen and Izzy was on his laptop, talking to someone via e-mail. Probably Gennai. She glanced over at T.K.'s sleeping form. His eyelids were closed and he had a peaceful expression on his face, quite different from last night, when it was filled with anger and frustration.

Kari slowly slid off the sofa, not wanting to wake T.K. She hadn't realized until then that she had fallen asleep in T.K.'s arms. She was also surprised that neither of their brothers had attempted to separate them while they slept. Kari quietly tiptoed her way out of the living room when a voice stopped her.

"Good morning, Kari."

Kari turned around. T.K. was sitting up on the sofa, his face turned toward the window. Kari mustered up all the cheerfulness she could put into her tone. "'Morning, T.K." She walked back to the sofa and sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a few moments. "I'm sorry," she said, breaking the silence. "If I woke you."

"You didn't," replied T.K., with a little smile. "Matt and Tai are just a little too loud. It's a wonder our neighbours haven't complained yet." T.K. slowly swung his legs over the edge of the sofa and stepped onto the floor. Kari locked her right arm with T.K.'s left and the pair walked to the kitchen together. Upon entering, they found themselves amidst the argument between Matt and Tai.

Tai was yelling at the top of his lungs. "…and I keep telling you it would be better if- Mmm!" He spoke in muffled tones when Matt clamped his hand over Tai's mouth and pointed behind him. "Humph?" (Huh?) said Tai. He turned around and saw T.K. with Kari. "Oh! Morning, you two. Sleep well?"

"As good as can be expected, given the circumstances," answered T.K. He sniffed the aroma in the air. "Is that…pancakes?" he asked.

Matt nodded, then checked himself for forgetting that T.K. couldn't see him. "Yep, it sure is." He made a face to Kari. "We'd have more, but Tai burned the batch he was making earlier."

Tai whirled around angrily. "I did not! It was you who…" The two began their argument all over again. Both T.K. and Kari sweatdropped.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Everything's set." Izzy turned to the other four DigiDestined behind him. "Are you guys ready to go to the Digital World?" Everyone nodded.

"All right," said Kari, holding out her D-3 in front of the computer screen. "Digi-port -"

Ding-Dong!

Everyone froze where they were at that sound. Matt walked over to the door and opened it. To his surprise, he found Davis on the doorstep.

"Er…hi," said Davis nervously. "Matt stared at him quizzically. "Could I come in?" Matt nodded wordlessly and opened the door further to allow Davis to enter. Davis walked in and went to the room the other five DigiDestined were gathered in. "Nice shades, T.K.," he said, commenting on T.K.'s sunglasses. "But where's the sun?" He laughed at his own little joke. Noticing nobody joined in with his laughter, he looked around him at everyone and saw Kari glaring at him.

"Have a little compassion, Davis," she said angrily. "T.K.'s having a hard enough time as it is."

Davis held his hands in front of him in defense. "Hey, I was just kidding. Boy," he said. "You guys look so grim. You need to go outside more and not be cooped up in here and - wha?" he cried, seeing the gate to the Digi-World open. "You guys were going to go to the Digital World without telling me? How could you?"

"We were in a hurry, Davis," answered Tai. "And we didn't have time to call you." Then he raised an eyebrow. "By the way, how did you know we were here, anyway?"

Davis laughed nervously. "Oh, you see," he started. "I was bored, so I went to visit you and Kari, but your mom said you two were out. Then I went to Ken's and he was out, too. I went to see Matt after, but his dad also said he was out and that he came here, so…here I am." He looked at them uneasily. "Can I come to the Digital World with you guys?"

Matt and Tai exchanged a glance. "I guess so," said Tai, with a shrug. "But we're not going there for fun." Davis nodded. Tai turned toward Kari. "Go ahead."

Kari held out her digivice in front of the monitor again. "Digi-port, open!" The six DigiDestined disappeared through the gateway.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"They're coming, aren't they?"

DarkAngemon was kneeling on one knee in front of his master. "Yes, they are," he answered.

The dark figure paced back and forth, his robes swirling around him. DarkAngemon could have sworn his master was worried, but the expression on his master's face remained unchanged. "Shall I go destroy them, Master?"

The cloaked figure stopped pacing. "No, not yet. They're still too strong. Although," he said thoughtfully. "The keeper of the Crest of Hope has lost some of his 'Hope'." The figure turned to DarkAngemon. "Send out our forces to battle them. When they have weakened…" he said trailing off. The master resumed speaking with a smirk on his face.

"We'll destroy them all."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Somewhere far away, in another part of the Digi-World, an apprentice and his master stood by a cliffside, overlooking the ocean.

"Master," started the apprentice. "The DigiDestined have returned to the Digital World."

The master nodded. "Let's hope they're strong enough, so they can succeed in putting an end to the newly risen forces lurking in the shadows."

The apprentice said nothing, but his thoughts were on a certain DigiDestined. One he had not seen for five long years…

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Are we there yet?"

Matt glared at Davis. "Quit complaining already, Davis," he said. "When we get there, we'll let you know." Davis sighed with a small huff.

Kari rolled her eyes and T.K. stifled a grin. The six DigiDestined had entered the Digital World a few hours ago and they were heading over to Gennai's home. Ever since they had entered the forest, Davis had begun complaining about how bored and tired he was, and the others were just exasperated by it. In reality, it wasn't fatigue that was wearing down Davis. He was merely tired of seeing the always-growing closeness between T.K. and Kari. The fact that they were together didn't really bother him that much when he wasn't around to witness it. But to see them like that right in front of his eyes really hurt him. After all, he still loves Kari.

Upon entering the Digital World, Davis had learned that T.K. had lost his vision and that that was their reason for being in the Digi-World in the first place. He felt sorry for him, of course, but that didn't mean he liked the idea that T.K. needed to depend on other people - especially Kari - so much.

Davis clasped his hands together and held them behind his head. "Why don't you just get this Gennai person to teleport us to his place?" he asked. "It'd be so much faster."

Izzy, walking and tapping in keys on his laptop at the same time, said, "That's a nice idea, Davis, but I don't think Gennai has the power to- whoa!" Izzy and T.K. disappeared. The remaining four looked at each other with astonishment.

"Where did T.K. and Izzy go?" asked Kari worriedly. Soon after, she disappeared also, followed by Matt, and then Tai. Davis looked around him. They were all gone.

"Hey!" he cried. "This isn't funny! Stop hiding and- ah!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Davis? Are you okay?"

Davis opened his eyes and the first thing - person - he saw was Kari. He noticed the concerned expression on her face. Kari smiled. "You're finally awake." She stood up and went inside.

Davis sat up, a little bewildered at the events. He was surrounded by pink fog and was seated on a porch. "Man," he thought. "This place is weird."

Kari came out. "Davis, are you coming inside or are you just going to lie there all day?" She went back inside.

Davis clambered up and hurried inside. All the others, except T.K. and Kari, were seated inside around a table. Davis walked in and sat down between Tai and Izzy. "I wonder where Kari went," he thought.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"How are you feeling, T.K.?"

T.K. smiled at Kari. "I'm fine," he answered. "Don't worry about me." Kari returned the smile, even though T.K. couldn't see it.

"I can't help it," she said. "You know that."

T.K. reached out and grasped Kari's hand. "You're a great friend."

Kari squeezed T.K.'s hand gently. "I'll find a way to get your sight back, T.K. I promise."

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep."

Kari whirled around and faced the door. Seeing no one, she stood up and walked to the doorway. Who had said that? Peering through and looking down the hallway, she caught a glimpse of someone with dark brown - almost black - hair. He had disappeared around the corner. There was something almost familiar about him…She shook the feeling off, went back into the room, and sat down by T.K.'s side.

"Did you find out who said that?" asked T.K.

Kari sighed. "Nope. I just saw a small glimpse. But it's like I've seen him somewhere before."

"Who, me?"

Both DigiDestined turned toward the sound of the voice. By the doorway stood Gennai. "Come on, children, time for you to join the others." T.K., with Kari's assistance, stood up and they followed Gennai out of the room and into a larger one. Matt, Tai, Davis, and Izzy were already assembled there. The pair settled down by Izzy's side.

"It's great to see you again," said Gennai. "I haven't see you all for five years now."

"Wouldn't it be eight years, Gennai?" asked Izzy. "Counting from the time we faced Diaboromon?"

"Oh," said Gennai, chuckling nervously. "You're right. I guess I miscounted."

A young boy, of about seventeen years of age, entered the room. He bowed to Gennai and then to the other DigiDestined. His eyes scanned over the six of them, but they lingered a little while longer on Kari. Davis, noticing this, got jealous, but then remembered that it should be T.K. getting jealous since he was Kari's boyfriend. Kari couldn't understand why, but she felt like she had met this boy somewhere before. "Wait a second," she thought. That was the one who had spoken about promises. She had to ask him what he meant by that.

"Who's that, Gennai?" asked Matt.

"This is Dylan," said Gennai, introducing the newcomer. "He's my apprentice."

"It's to meet you all," Dylan said, formally. "I have heard a great deal about you, DigiDestined. Master Gennai always tells me about all your feats in the Digital World. You have truly saved this world in the past."

"Yeah! That's us!" cried Davis, shooting a fist into the air.

"Hmm…" said Dylan mildly. "I don't believe I've heard of you. Who are you, anyway?"

Davis crashed to the ground. He jumped back up. "I'm Davis!" he yelled. "D-A-V-I-S! Remember it, 'cause you're going to be hearing it a lot!"

Dylan raised an eyebrow with perfect indifference. "In a good way or bad?"

Davis crashed to the ground again. He sat up with a sigh. "Forget it," he mumbled.

"Let's remember why we're here, okay, Davis?" said Kari. She turned to face Gennai. "What can we do to help T.K., Gennai?" All eyes turned to face him.

Gennai stared blankly into space for a while. Then he finally spoke. "I forgot," he stated simply.

Everyone groaned. "Then why did you call us here?" asked Tai.

"It was Dylan's idea." Everyone turned to Dylan.

Dylan spoke, again with the air of indifference. "I do have an idea, but it can't be expressed just yet."

Kari stood up angrily and glared at him. "And why not?"

Dylan gazed at her, with a detachment in his eyes. "You aren't strong enough yet." Dylan turned his back toward them. "That is all I can say for now." After bowing to Gennai, he left the room. Kari got up and followed him, much to everyone's surprise, everyone except Gennai and T.K.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Dylan walked outside and paused for a second. A moment later, he could hear footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Kari. She approached him slowly.

"What do we have to do?" she asked. "To become stronger?"

Dylan turned away again. "I already told you, that's all I can say for now." He continued to walk on. Kari went forward, took hold of the sleeve on his robe, and stopped him from moving any further.

"Please," she said pleadingly. "You have to tell me. My friend…he needs to get his sight back or he'll lose it forever. Please help us." Dylan felt his resolve weakening as he listened to her words and his face softened for a moment. But then he wrenched his sleeve free from her grip and walked on. He stopped a few feet away.

"I have told you twice already, DigiDestined," he said coldly, over his shoulder. "I will not tell you again." He continued down the path. Kari stood on the porch, staring after him.

Gennai stepped outside. "Come back inside, Kari," he said. "You won't be able to get any answer from him in that manner. You can try again later." Kari looked back in the direction Dylan had taken, then, resignedly, she followed Gennai back into his home.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Having travelled up to the surface, Dylan was back by the cliffside, but this time he sat on the rolling grassy hill. He stared off into the waters of the ocean for a long time. With his legs pulled up to his chest, his chin rested atop his knees.

Dylan thought back to the events that had happened eight years ago. He had been nine when he began training with Gennai. He wasn't really a human, though, his structure, his emotions, and pretty much everything else about him, was just like a human's. The difference was that he was made up of data taken from the DigiDestined's world.

The boy ran a hand through his uncombed hair and ruffled it up. Master Gennai had been very kind to him, teaching him everything he knew about the Digimon and the kind of 'person' he was. He remembered seeing a picture of all the DigiDestined that Master Gennai had kept as a reminder for all of the things that they had done to save the Digi-World…and their own.

The minute his eyes had seen the picture of the serene-looking Kari holding the digiegg, Dylan had fallen in love with her. Ever since then, he resolved to meet her someday. And then, three years later, the trouble began. There had been some strange force stirring up problems in the Digital World. Dylan had went to investigate it but then he had fallen under the control of the dark mask. He left Gennai and went around the Digital World, creating havoc for the DigiDestined's Digimon. The only pure thing that remained in his heart was his love for Kari.

Since Kari revealed the true power of Light and his mask disintegrated, he had never fallen under the control of evil again. But because the DigiDestined had forgotten the events of five years previous, Kari (and T.K.'s) true powers were lost, as were the memories of those few days.

After seeing Kari again, Dylan realized that he still cared for her, though he could no longer call it love. Besides, she was deeply devoted - and loyal - to T.K. Though neither Kari nor T.K. could remember growing closer during that time, the end result was still the same; they beat the odds and still came out together.

Dylan closed his eyes and listened to the waves breaking against the shore. He would have to return to Master Gennai soon. But not yet, not just yet. He wanted to be alone for a little while longer.

"I'm sorry, Kari," he whispered. "I can't tell you yet. Not until you regain your true powers."