Last Time: Tai found out about Kari's predicament. And miraculously, TK and Davis are still alive. But now Tai is 100% focused on getting the handcuffs off his little sister and he'll do whatever he has to do. And that means going into the Odaiba High School Chemistry Lab!
Three's Always A Crowd: Part 9
Kari sat by one of the desks anxiously. She continually wiggled her fingers, almost twitching her wrist which almost had Davis and TK's own wrists moving. Those two boys had anxieties of their own. They knew that just about anything could happen at this point, especially with Tai in the state he was in.
Tai looked around to see four or five beakers full of different chemicals. Kari gulped at the thought of what Tai was liable to do. In the state he was in, he obviously didn't have his head on straight and he was either about to do something stupid or about to get himself hurt.
The older Kamiya poured all the chemicals in one beaker and started shaking them. Amazingly, the beaker DIDN'T explode in Tai's face. But that didn't mean the would-be 'scientist' wouldn't push his luck. Tai nodded to his assistant.
"Ok, turn up the heat."
Sora reluctantly turned on a blue flame. Tai put the beaker over the flame and let the compound mix together. The compound started bubbling and that meant Tai's work must have been done. All that was left was a boiling brown liquid. Tai took the beaker out and started walking towards the handcuffed threesome.
"Now don't move, Davis," Tai instructed.
Davis was sweating profusely and Kari could only close her eyes. As much as she trusted her big brother, she still felt like something was about to go wrong. Finally, she heard a sizzling sound as the liquid poured onto the metal handcuffs. But when Kari opened her eyes, she saw that the handcuffs were still in one piece.
Tai blinked. "Huh? I don't get it. That should have made a really powerful acid and should have melted the handcuffs."
"And you wonder why you got a C- in Chem," Matt groaned. "Gimme that!"
Matt swiped the beaker and poured some of it on his finger. While that was a very dangerous thing to do, Matt looked fairly confident that the compound was harmless. He was SO confident, that he even went as far as to taste it as Sora, Yolei, and everyone else gasped.
Matt smacked his lips. "Just as I thought. The CO2 from the fire extinguisher sunk into your brain. You made HOT CHOCOLATE!!"
Tai took the beaker in his hand. "Really?" He drank the whole thing. "Hey! This is pretty good!" Then a light bulb appeared over his head. "Wait! I got it! The flame!"
Tai grabbed Davis' wrist and dragged the entire handcuffed threesome over to the blue flame. He lifted Davis' wrist until the metal of the handcuffs was hanging over the blue flame. In theory, it was a good idea. But it was only in theory.
Because after a few minutes, the metal wasn't melting.
"Unbelievable," Yolei said in amazement. "Those things have to be indestructible."
"That's impossible!" Tai exclaimed. "Matt, where'd you get these things, anyway?!"
"Carnival," Matt answered casually. "I didn't think carnival folk could make such strong handcuffs. I'll have to remember that the next time the carnival comes to Odaiba."
"I'm not giving up that easily," Tai said with even more determination than before. "There has to be SOMETHING I can do!" Then a light bulb appeared over his head. "I GOT IT!!"
An hour later and everyone was still in the Odaiba High Chemistry Lab, but now there was one more little helper there. Tai made a quick call to the Digital World and called his Digimon partner, Agumon, who was more than happy to help.
Matt groaned. "Can you hurry this up, Tai? I have to rehearse in fifteen minutes."
Whereas Kari was feeling anxious before, now she was feeling scared. She was afraid that Tai was acting on his emotions again and he wasn't thinking straight. He had her, TK, and Davis all standing against the wall in a straight line. And she knew exactly what Tai was setting them up for…and Kari cringed at the thought.
"Tai…isn't this a little dangerous?" Sora asked, echoing Kari's thoughts.
"What do you want me to do, Tai?" Agumon asked.
Tai whispered something in the little dinosaur Digimon's ear. Agumon nodded and stood positioned to attack. Kari was now sweating heavily along with TK and Davis. And just as she thought and feared…Agumon fired.
"Pepper Breath!"
Agumon unleashed the large fireball and it was heading right for Kari and Davis' wrists. Before the Pepper Breath attack could hit, though, the handcuffed trio all ducked. The fireball made a loud explosion and left Kari feeling a little warmth on her back. A warmth that started to get much hotter. Then she realized…her poncho was on fire.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Kari tried to stop drop and roll, but there was one problem. Since she was attached at both wrists, she ended up colliding with TK and Davis. Kari's poncho remained on fire and was burning through the fabric fast.
Just like a while ago, Yolei reached for the fire extinguisher and tossed it to Matt. Matt sprayed the CO2 all over Kari and the flames were put out. Kari got to her feet and looked to her left to see Davis was about to faint. She turned to her right to see TK blush and suddenly turn away. She turned to Matt and Sora to see that they were obviously looking to say something, but the words weren't coming out. She looked over to Yolei…who only gulped. Just then…Kari felt a draft. First, she turned around to see that Agumon's attack had made a huge hole in the wall, bringing in a gust of wind. And that's when she realized something else.
Agumon's Pepper Breath had burned her entire poncho. Now Kari was only left in a pair of pants…and her bra. She was embarrassed beyond belief…and she had one person to blame for it.
"Thanks a lot, Tai!!" she shouted.
Sora shook her head. "Good one, Tai. Maybe for your next trick, you can burn her pants off."
"What's wrong with you, Tai?!" Matt demanded. "PEPPER BREATH?! That's too big! Are you trying to barbecue my little brother?!"
Tai's jaw was wide-open. The process of absorbing what he had just done was obviously a slow one. But in one small action, Tai had just made things worse. And Kari couldn't stand things getting EVEN WORSE than they were before. Every time she thought it couldn't get any worse, it got WORSE.
Finally realizing what he had just done, Tai did the only thing he could do. He banged his head repeatedly against the wall.
"I can't believe this!" Tai groaned. "All I want is for those handcuffs to be off my sister!"
Just then, Sora looked like she had an idea. "Uh…Tai…?"
But Tai wasn't listening. "There has to be something I haven't tried! I'm in a CHEMISTRY LAB! There has to be something here that works!"
"Tai…"
"You'd think one of these things could act as a powerful acid! I just want something to melt those handcuffs!"
"Tai…"
"Or maybe there's something else I haven't thought of! This can't be the only lab in the school! Maybe there's something in the Woodshop Lab!"
"TAI!!"
"What is it, Sora?"
Sora calmly walked over to the handcuffed threesome…and pulled out a hairpin. She put the hairpin in the lock of Davis' handcuffs…and they opened. She put the hairpin in TK's handcuffs and they also fell open. Kari couldn't believe it…but the pressure on her wrists was finally relieved. The handcuffs were finally off.
Tai's jaw dropped open again. "You mean that's it?! After all the trouble I've gone through and all it took was one of your hairpins?!"
Yolei sweatdropped. "Hairpins…why didn't I think of that?"
It almost felt like a miracle and Kari could hardly move. She was free, no longer attached at either wrist. And that meant this horrible nightmare was over.
"Kari…?"
Kari's blood boiled when she heard that voice. She turned around and gave TK the coldest stare she could give him, freezing him in his tracks. Then she did something she never thought she'd ever do. She raised her hand and slapped him in the face.
TK stopped everything. He rubbed his left cheek, but his expression was blank. He was completely shocked…and hurt. But after everything that happened, Kari didn't care.
"Stay…away…from me!" Kari spat.
Kari just wanted to turn and run away, but she ran into the other dodo. She stood right in front of Davis. The goggle boy looked nervous, but nonetheless tried to put his own unique spin on the situation again.
"Well…now that we're out…can I show you my next trick?" Davis grinned.
Kari groaned in disgust before slapping the taste out of Davis' mouth, too. "You too! I don't EVER want to see either of you again! Just stay away from me! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Kari was about to run, but someone stopped her. It was Tai. Tai quickly took off his jacket and gave it to Kari so she could cover up. Kari gave her brother a quick hug.
"Thank you, Tai…for looking out for me again."
After giving her brother a hug, Kari had no other reason to stay in that place. So she kept running and didn't look back. All she wanted was to go home.
Davis rubbed his cheek painfully. It really hurt him to see Kari slap him. It wasn't the first time it happened, but it still hurt. And that's when he started to come to his senses.
This WAS his fault. No matter how many times he tried to pass the blame onto TK, Davis was the one who started it. He made a mistake and all he could do now was admit to it…and think about what drove him to it.
All Davis wanted to do that day was show Kari some magic. But it ended up becoming another heated competition between him and TK. Davis didn't MEAN to make Kari angry. He really liked her. But his fear and jealousy only resulted in him doing stupid things that only made things worse.
Davis suddenly made a bold move. He walked up to Tai. "Tai?"
Tai glared coldly at Davis. "How could you do this, Davis? After all the times I stuck up for you and tried to help you? After all the advice I've given you? After all the times I had faith in you when no one else would? After all the times I tried to convince everyone that you AREN'T the biggest dope on the face of the Earth and then you do THIS? You handcuff yourself to my little sister? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Davis hung his head down. "I'm sorry, Tai. I really didn't mean for the handcuffs to get stuck. I was just trying to do a trick…to make Kari happy. Because I really like her."
Tai sighed deeply. "I know you like her. I mean, it's pretty obvious. Look, if it were up to me, I'd make sure Kari ended up with only one person…and that's you, Davis. You aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer…but you have a really good heart. You remind me…of me."
Davis' face brightened. "You mean it?"
"BUT…it's NOT up to me," Tai continued. "I can't MAKE Kari like you. And right now, she's really mad at you…and I can't say I blame her. Good intentions or not, these last few days had to have been some of the worst days of her entire life."
Davis frowned. "And it's all my fault. I have to talk to her, Tai. I want her to forgive me."
Tai stepped aside. "Then go after her. She's on her way home. Maybe you can catch up to her. But Davis…watch what you say. I know you have that same wonderful charm that I do, but you really have to be careful what you say around Kari right now. I want you two to make up."
Davis smiled. "Thanks, Tai."
After all that had happened, it looked there was one redeeming thing that came out of this whole ordeal. Davis didn't know it before, but he knew it now. He had Tai's blessing. And that made Davis feel so much better. He was on top of the world.
"Davis, wait!"
Davis stopped and turned back as Tai walked up to him.
"Maybe you should think about telling Kari how you feel someday. Instead of doing the kind of things guys like you and I typically do…maybe you should be honest with her."
"You think so?"
Tai shrugged. "It sounds like the kind of thing Sora would say. But yeah…sounds right to me. So maybe you should think about that."
Davis nodded. "I'll do that. Thanks, Tai."
Tai gave Davis a thumbs up. "Good luck, Davis."
Davis smiled and returned the gesture. Then he quickly ran out of the lab…hoping to catch up to Kari.
TK honestly felt like he was about to cry. He used to cry a lot, but he hadn't cried in a very long time. But he never felt this kind of pain in his heart before. He was trying his best not to burst into tears, but there were three people already set to comfort him in case they came. TK first leaned on Sora.
"TK…it's ok," she said soothingly. "Let it all out."
No longer able to hold it in, TK started crying into Sora's shirt. He hadn't cried like this in a long time and Sora's shirt was getting soaked with tears.
Matt tried to look the other way. "TK…you're crying like you're eight again…"
"How about a little sensitivity, Matt?!" Sora snapped. "He's obviously really hurt right now!"
"Kari NEVER slapped me in the face before," TK wept. "Everything you said was right! I HAVE changed! What's happened to me, Sora? What's wrong with me?!"
"That's what I don't understand," Sora said softly. "Why HAVE you been acting this way? The whole fashion show incident* was just one example. Then you went and…handcuffed yourself to Kari. The TK I knew would NEVER do something like that. Why have you been like this?"
TK knew exactly what it was…and he decided to come clean. "It's because…I'm afraid. It feels like Kari and I have been drifting apart…and she's been drifting more towards…Davis. And I don't want to lose her. I…really like her."
Yolei gasped. "I knew it!"
Matt smirked at Sora. "Told you so."
"That's sweet that you like her, TK," Sora smiled. "But…is THAT why you've been acting this way? Are you afraid Kari's gonna like…Davis?"
TK nodded and sniffled. "I know it sounds really dumb. But Davis is a great guy. Why wouldn't Kari like him? Underneath all that ego, Davis is all heart. I've seen that side of Davis. It's just what Kari looks for in a guy."
Sora patted TK on the back of his head. "TK…you're really selling yourself short. You are a WONDERFUL guy. Am I right, Yolei?"
"There was NOTHING wrong with the old TK," Yolei agreed. "In fact, I think Kari really liked the old TK. She didn't really start drifting away from you until you started doing things more like…Davis."
Sora nodded. "I think what Yolei is trying to say is…the same thing I am. TK…I think Kari would like you…and I think you and her would make a great couple."
"Of course they would," Matt added. "They've known each other for a long time. And I don't think Kari should be with anyone else. Look, if it were up to me, I'd make sure Kari ended up with only one person…and that's you, TK."
TK raised his head and dried off a tear. "You think so?"
"BUT…it's NOT up to me," Matt continued. "I can't MAKE Kari like you. I can't even make SORA like me."
Sora slapped Matt upside the head. "You got that right."
"But as I was saying…right now, Kari's really mad at you…and I can't say I blame her. Good intentions or not…and as funny as it sounded to me…these last few days had to have been some of the worst days of her entire life."
TK stopped crying long enough to adjust his robe and realize what he had to do. "I want to ask her to forgive me."
"That's good, TK," Sora said warmly. "But…there's one more thing you could do."
TK looked up. "What's that, Sora?"
"Maybe you could think about telling Kari how you feel someday. Instead of doing things like Davis would do…do things like YOU would do. Be yourself, TK. And be honest with her."
"I'll do that," TK smiled. "Thanks, you guys."
"You can thank us by catching up to Kari," Matt shrugged.
TK nodded and decided to do just that. He ran out of the lab, but suddenly noticed something.
Davis was also running out…and soon both boys were side-by-side…
…both trying to catch up to Kari.
Next Time: The end comes next time. Do things end happily ever after? Come back and find out!
* - refers to 'The Fashion Show' in which TK and Davis both lose control and get in a food fight.
Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below!
