A Different Reality Part 9
by Cybra
A/N: You most likely predicted this one. It's Kari's POV!
Disclaimer: I…:::watches Toei's and Bandai's lawyers sit on the edges of their seats::: do not own Digimon! :::the lawyers all sigh and lean back::: Ha ha!
I don't think I'll have to reintroduce myself, but for those of who don't know me, I'm Kari.
I was running along the trail Tentomon must've flown through, searching for Light Child.
Only now I know his real name.
Koushiro.
I'd put the pieces together just a second after Tentomon said his name.
You see, the literal translation of "Koushiro" is "Light Child".
I'd been calling him by his real name the whole time without even realizing it!
I stopped when a fallen tree blocked my path. The trunk had been sliced in half and there was no way around it.
"Kari, hold onto me!" Gatomon told me.
I did as she told me to and she began climbing over the large tree. Actually, she was leaping from branch to branch, sinking her claws into the bark as she went. We were really moving!
'Hold on, Koushiro…hold on,' I told our friend from afar.
Suddenly, Gatomon leaped out into space. I gave a slight yelp as we fell, but Gatomon easily landed on her feet. She looked back at me with her pretty blue eyes to make sure I was okay.
"I'm fine, Gatomon, but we've got to hurry. I have a bad feeling…"
"I understand, Kari. Come on! He can't be too far away!"
Gatomon led the way just in case of bad monsters as we ran along the path.
In the distance, I heard my brother shout, "Kari!!!"
I groaned while Gatomon commented, "Tai is going to give you the big brother lecture of the century when we get back…"
I nodded as we continued running. There were thick patches of brush that continued to block our way, but I wouldn't give up! He had risked his life to save me before, and I was determined to help him now. I continued running with Gatomon until we reached a clearing.
It was obvious that this clearing had been created by a battle. There were branches lying everywhere. It was like a bunch of Kuwagamon had come through and trimmed the trees at odd angles. Rocks were everywhere. I found Koushiro's backpack, satchel, and computer, but no Koushiro.
"Koushiro!" I called.
Gatomon walked a little ahead of me, picking her way through the branches and rocks. I heard her gasp.
"Kari! Over here! Quickly!"
I made my way quickly and carefully over to her. When I came up beside my Digimon friend, I saw what had made her gasp.
Koushiro was lying on his side, his breathing slow. His whole body had been thrown against a rock, knocking him out. Blood oozed from several different places, one of them from a gash on his forehead. For a moment, he began to shake, like he was cold or something, then he fell mostly still.
"Koushiro? Koushiro! Koushiro, are you all right?!" I asked, leaning close to him.
He took a big breath and one of his dark eyes opened.
"Hikari…?"
"It's me. Don't worry. You'll be just fine."
I'd never seen anyone like this before. Koushiro's eye focused on me, which I was glad for, but it began to blink rapidly when a bit of blood got into it. Gatomon looked up at me.
"We've got to get him back to Piximon's training grounds."
"But how? Gatomon, you can't carry both of us!"
She looked up at the sky and said, ignoring what I'd just said, "It's a good thing that Kabuterimon ripped apart the trees."
I blinked then realized what she was getting at.
"Do you think I could carry him okay as Angewomon?" Gatomon asked me.
"I hope so." I turned back to Koushiro.
He'd closed his eye once more and looked like he was sleeping…but I knew better. I gently lifted his head up.
"Koushiro? Gatomon and I think we have a plan to get you out of here and to get some help. Would it be okay if Angewomon carried both of us?"
I felt Koushiro nod slightly. However, Gatomon didn't have enough time to digivolve when Garurumon, with Matt riding on his back, ran into view.
"Kari, you're okay! Tai's looking – Wha – ?!"
"Please, Matt, Garurumon! You two can help! Carry Kari back to Piximon's training grounds. I'll be able to carry Koushiro more gently this way," Gatomon explained.
I couldn't have said that better myself. Within moments, I was on Garurumon's back, holding onto Matt and Koushiro's things, and Angewomon was in the air with Koushiro in her arms. I gripped my Crest.
"Angewomon, listen up!" A pink light came out of my Crest and hit Angewomon. "You know that room we sleep in? Put Koushiro in my bed there. It's the closest one to the balcony. That way we won't have to move him as much!"
Matt looked impressed as I gave Angewomon her instructions. Angewomon smiled and nodded, flying ahead.
"And don't forget to get Joe!" I shouted.
"Don't worry, Kari! I'll see you back at Piximon's training grounds!"
Garurumon ran tirelessly along the path. The fallen tree quickly came into view…
"Howling Blaster!"
…And went quickly out of view.
We ran by Tai and Agumon, but I hardly noticed. Tai was shouting at Matt to stop, but Matt either didn't hear him or was ignoring him. My money's on number 2.
~~~~~
As soon as we reached Piximon's training ground, I ran upstairs to where we slept, taking the steps two at a time. I raced through the hallways creating so much noise, you would've thought an army was running through.
When I got into the room, Gatomon was waiting for me. Joe was in there, finishing up with Koushiro's wounds. I walked up to them, not wanting to disturb them.
"Someone's going to have to watch him to make sure he doesn't make himself worse. He's lost a good amount of blood, and I don't know his blood type or even how to give a transfusion from one of us," Joe told us. "Tai's going to need me in plotting our strategy, but I don't want to leave him alone just in case."
"I'll do it," I volunteered.
"I'll help," Gatomon added.
Joe turned and nodded. I quickly left and grabbed a chair. I came back and began to sit patiently beside the bed, waiting for him to wake up.
Gatomon hopped up into my lap like she does a lot and curled up like a slightly larger version of Meeko. I began to pet her.
"He'll be fine, Kari. I know it," she told me.
"I know," I agreed smiling.
Gatomon smiled back and began to purr. I love it when she purrs. It reminds me of home, but it's a nice reminder of home. I had always loved to hear Meeko purr.
I looked over Koushiro as he slept. He was looking paler than usual and there were bandages on his left arm, around his forehead, and probably a few other places. He looked…well…helpless. I didn't like that look on him at all.
~~~~~
About an hour later, I heard him moan slightly as he began to move a little. I'd dozed off a bit and Gatomon was asleep in my lap. I gently put Gatomon on the floor and stood up, leaning forward to stop him from sitting up.
"Joe says you have to rest," I told him.
He opened his eyes and looked at me. I smiled, happy he was okay. However, he tried to sit up again.
"Don't do that!" I ordered.
"Kari…" he started, his voice as cold as normal, but it ended in a groan.
I froze. He'd never called me by my nickname before! It'd always been "Hikari".
"What did you just call me?" I asked, wondering if I'd heard correctly.
"Kari," he answered, slightly amazed himself, but he ignored that after a moment. "Kari, I need to talk with your brother."
"Why do you need to talk to Tai?" I asked.
He looked at me directly in the eye. "I need to tell him where Puppetmon's mansion is. I know he, Yamato, and Jyou were trying to figure out where it was. I was coming here anyway to sneak in and circle the area on the map when no one was in the room, but then…" He winced in sudden pain.
I forced him to lay back down.
"But then the evil Kabuterimon showed up."
"Tentomon and I lead him away from all of you. Tento didn't even get the chance to…oh, God! Tentomon! Where is he?" He snapped back up and looked around wildly.
I forced him back down again. Realizing that his control had slipped, his face held no more emotion, but his eyes showed off his worry for his Digimon friend.
"Don't worry. Tentomon's okay. He's with the other Digimon right now, resting up." I gave him a stern look. "Like you should be."
Gatomon said, "I'll go get Tai."
Koushiro and I nodded. I couldn't believe that I'd found someone as stubborn as I was! It was obvious that he wouldn't rest until he'd spoken to Tai…or got his hands on that map. I had to smile at the trait we both shared.
He raised an eyebrow at me just as Tai walked into the room with Joe and Matt behind him, Gatomon in the lead.
"You know where Puppetmon's mansion is? How?" Tai asked.
Koushiro dispassionately told him, "I've flown over the forest many times with Kabuterimon and Megakabuterimon. I've also been inside Puppetmon's demented mansion."
Tai looked at Joe and Matt. They nodded. Tai handed him the map and a pen.
"Just circle where it is."
After studying the map for a minute, Koushiro drew a circle around the spot. Tai blinked at the spot, but Matt was grinning.
"I knew it! I was right!" he shouted gleefully.
"Shut up, Matt!" Tai snapped.
Joe pushed Tai and Matt out of the room once again. They were obviously going to plan our attack now that we knew where Puppetmon's hideout was.
I turned back to Koushiro was sinking back into the bed.
"Whose bed have I stolen?" he asked wearily.
"Mine, but I volunteered it."
Both of us were silent for a minute until he said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome! Just get better. Okay?"
He nodded.
"You don't mind me calling you 'Kari' from now on, do you?"
"No. Actually, I like it better than 'Hikari'." I paused. "Do you have a nickname I could call you by?"
Koushiro shook his head. "Never had one. I gave Tentomon one, but never had one myself."
We both sat in silence again. Gatomon stood next to me and allowed me to scratch her ears.
"There's something else you want to know."
I looked surprised, then nodded. His eyes gave me a smile.
"I could tell. What is it?"
"Why did you hide from us all this time? I just don't understand it."
I watched as his already dark eyes darkened.
"It's not important. I had my reasons. Anyway, I knew I was going to join up with all of you sooner or later. Might as well be sooner."
I watched as he closed his eyes and began to drift off.
"Sorry…" he mumbled.
"You just get some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up. I promise."
Koushiro just nodded and fell asleep. I sat back down in my chair and Gatomon took up her position in my lap. I was going to keep my promise. No matter what.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Well? Anybody still interested in my story?
Thanks to…
Kyra: :::hug::: You're so spiffy! You and your muse Matt!
Her Royal Weirdness: :::hug::: Arigato for listening to me babble!
Kelly Moon: :::hug::: I have no idea what we're talking about! ;)
Shameless promos (I'm lazy. And I gave you the web addresses in my last part)…
Kyra's Fanfic Archive: See the submit section. Click on the submit section. Now submit!!! :::counts her money::: Anyway, it's a cool site!
World Under Ours: A spiffy site run by Her Royal Weirdness. Good thing I don't run a webpage ;)
The Crest of Knowledge: Izzy shrine…Izzy… :::melts:::