Chapter 3

            It was late in the afternoon when the older digidestined meet in a small diner near the high school.  The diner had long ago become a meeting spot for them after they had all stopped in at the same time to have a cup of coffee before school.  Tai, Joe, Izzy, Mimi, Matt and Sora all sat in what had rapidly become their booth.  It was in one of the back corners, fairly out of the way and inconspicuous, but offered an excellent view of the door from any spot in the booth.

            "I think I speak for all of us when I say that TK surprised me this afternoon," Izzy began.  "I never had any idea that he felt that way."  Joe, Mimi, and Tai all nodded in agreement, but Sora slowly shook her head.

            "I don't know," she reluctantly spoke up.  "I was seeing signs that something was wrong for a while before he tried to kill himself."

            "Like what?"  Mimi asked intently.

            "Little things at first.  He called me up one afternoon, a couple of weeks after they had returned Ken to the side of good.  He was wondering if I could come over for dinner so that the two of us could talk.  There was a hint of disappointment in his voice when I told him that I couldn't because I had tennis practice.  I suggested something about calling one of you guys instead, but he just mumbled something about you not understanding and hung up."  Sora took a sip from her soda, looking thoughtful.  "Looking back on it, I think that he wanted my help in dealing with his feelings for Kari."  Matt nodded in agreement.

            "I remember that time.  I had just started to work full-time on the band.  We were starting to get serious and were working on some songs for an album.  I remember that I didn't see TK much then.  We never really had time to bond or anything.  I always felt kind of bad that I was putting off time with my little brother, but this was important to me and to the other guys.  I always just figured that he would understand."  Matt heaved a sigh of regret.  "I never thought that he would think that I was abandoning him."

            "I think that's our main problem," Joe spoke up.  "We all remember what troopers TK and Kari were in the digital world and we always kind of see them with that same level of maturity, but we keep forgetting that they're just kids.  Legally, they're only sixteen.  They grew up fast in the digital world because they had too.  Unfortunately, we kept thinking of them that way after we came home.  At least Kari has you, Tai, and your mom and dad.  I can't imagine what it must have been like for TK."  They all sat, deep in thought for several minutes.  Finally Izzy spoke up.

            "Then what do we do about it?"

            "Well," Matt responded, "after we play this next gig, the band is going to be taking a vacation.  We've been working really hard for the last few months, so we're going to take a break.  I was trying to think of something where TK and I could get away and spend some time together.  Unfortunately, I'm fresh out of ideas."  After a moment Mimi spoke up.

            "How about some time in the digital world?"

            "TK and the others tend to go there a lot more often that we do," Joe reminded her.  "He probably wouldn't find the idea of a trip to the digital world that refreshing."

            "What about a camping trip, though?  All of us digidestined could go, new and old, and we could get together all of the digimon who helped us during the wars, and we could have a giant party!"

            "No dice," Matt responded.  "This is TK we're talking about.  I doubt very much that he would find a wild party very relaxing.  I do like that idea of all of us going up together, though.  It might give him a better feeling of family."

            "How about a cabin up in the woods?" Joe suggested.  "My mom and dad own a nice cabin up in the woods near Kyoto.  It's a fairly big place, so we could probably fit everyone inside.  We'd have to do some room sharing though."

            "That might work," Matt conceded.  "How isolated is it?"

            "Not at all.  It used to be part of a ski resort, but it went out of business.  Rather than tear all of the cabins down, the owners sold them to a number of people.  My parents managed to afford the main ski lodge."

            "It would be perfect," Sora commented.  "We would all be together, but we could probably split up and do things individually so we wouldn't feel smothered."

            "So it's decided?"  Joe asked.  Everyone nodded.  "Then why don't we suggest it tomorrow at the picnic.  Then we can all decide when we can go."  Everyone agreed and they called the waitress over for their check.  As they were waiting for her to come back with the change, Matt turned to look at Sora.

            "Hey, do you think your mom would mind if I crashed at your place tonight?"

            "No, probably not.  Why?"  Matt made a face.

            "Dad got a day off tomorrow, which means that first thing in the morning, he's going to be up moping about what he could be getting done at work today."

            "Why did he ask for a day off then?"  Izzy wondered.

            "Who said he asked for it?"  Matt replied.  "Every now and then the staff at the TV station gets sick of Dad being there twenty-four seven and tell him to go home and get some sleep.  He goes home after an hour of arguing, passes out once his head hits the pillow, sleeps for fourteen hours and then wakes up and putters around the house looking for some excuse to go back to work."  The others were laughing so hard by now that they were starting to cry.  By the time they all finally calmed down, the waitress had brought their change and the six of them stepped out into the brisk summer evening.  They all began to walk in the general direction of the apartment complex where most of them lived.  Finally, Sora spoke up.

            "I've got an idea.  Why doesn't everyone sleep over tonight?  It would certainly make it easier for my mom to accept and we have the room."  They all thought about it for a moment and then began to nod enthusiastically.

            "That's a great idea!"  Mimi cried as she practically jumped into the air with joy.  "Let's hurry up and get in touch with everyone and see who can make it."  They all hurried to Sora's apartment and began to make telephone calls.  As it turned out, it was fairly easy to find most of the new digidetined.  Yolei and Ken were having dinner at Cody's apartment and Davis was at home trying to think of a way to get away form his house for the next few hours after his sister Jun had blabbed to their parents that he had a girlfriend.  However, no one answered at TK's apartment, even thought Yolei assured them that TK and Kari had still been there when they had left.  Sora sighed as she hung up after talking with Yolei and looked at Matt.

            "Looks like we have to go give the invitation in person," she commented.  Matt nodded and retrieved his car keys.

            "I'll go with you," Tai volunteered.  Sora gave Matt a worried look.  Matt thought for a moment and finally nodded.  Sora's eyes went wide for a moment, but quickly nodded in agreement.

            "Alright Tai," Sora replied.  "Why don't you meet us down on the street.  Matt and I need to talk privately, and it will be faster for us to talk while we go get the car."  Tai nodded in agreement and the three of them retrieved their shoes and left.

            "Why are you bringing Tai?"  Sora demanded once he was out of earshot.  "You know what the two of them are probably doing.  You do want your brother to keep breathing, don't you?"

            "Don't be silly," Matt countered.  "But do you think for a moment that TK and Kari will want to sleep anywhere but with each other at the cabin?  It's probably best to get Tai used to the idea of them sharing a bed now so he doesn't make a huge scene when we get to the cabin."  The two of them stopped as they got to the car.  "Sora, please try to see things my way.  I'm walking a fine line here between protecting by brother and his girlfriend and telling my best friend what he really should know about what his sister is doing and who she's doing it with."  Sora looked up into those blue eyes that made her melt.  Hidden deep in their recesses lurked the pain that he was feeling from having to lie to his best friend.  "And none of this even takes into account my feelings on the matter."

            "I know," Sora admitted, pulling him into a hug.  "I know how tough all of this has been for you."

            "Yeah.  I just hope that in the end, I made all of the right choices."

"You will," Sora assured him.  "It's in your nature to do what you think is best for everyone else.  And it's in my nature to do what I know is best for you."  She leaned up and their lips brushed together for a moment.  "We need to get going.  Tai's waiting."  Matt smiled and opened the door for her.

            Tai knocked on the door for the third time, his irritation written across his face.  He muttered something incoherent and raised his hand to knock again.  Matt and Sora stood behind him, one on either side.  Both were quiet and had been since their conversation in the parking garage earlier and they were absorbed in their own thoughts.  Tai knocked for a forth time and started to turn towards Matt when the door opened.  He turned back, ready to make a smart comment, but the words died in his throat.  Standing in the doorway was Kari, wearing nothing but a button down shirt of TK's.

            "Oh hell," Kari murmured as she saw her brother.  "I really need to start seeing who it is before I open the door."

            "It couldn't hurt," Sora replied.  Tai was still opening and closing his mouth, trying to make it work.

            "Mind if we come in?" Matt asked.  "It might be better if we have the impending conversation inside."  Kari motioned for them to come in and closed the door behind them.  After they had removed their shoes, she lead them into the living room, where she sat down on the recliner and pulled her legs up under her.

            "What are you guys doing here?" she asked.

            "What are you doing here half dressed?" Tai finally exploded.

            "Quiet!" Kari hissed.  "TK just dropped off to sleep a few minutes ago, and I don't want you waking him up!"

            "Is he alright?"  Matt looked up from where he was leaning against the wall, concern written on his face.

            "A little tired," Kari admitted.  "This afternoon was very draining for him.  He isn't used to voicing his feelings and it took a lot out of him."  Matt looked noticeably relieved.

            "Now answer my question," Tai demanded.  "What are you doing here, dressed in only a shirt?"

            "Nothing, actually," Kari admitted with a shrug.  "TK and I have just found that we prefer to not have clothing in the way when we sleep together.  We like the feeling of bare skin against bare skin.  It's very comforting," she admitted after a moment.  Tai's face was livid and he began to pace the room like a caged tiger.  "Sit down," Kari ordered.  "I don't want you waking TK up."  Tai stopped his pacing, but remained standing.

            "How, exactly, did you two make this discovery," he asked through clenched teeth.

            "How else," Kari replied.  "What do you want me to say Tai," she asked.  "That TK and I aren't lovers?  That I'm still a virgin?  That we don't both love and respect each other enough to take our relationship to this step?  Well, tough.  I love you too much to try and lie to you."

            "How can you guys be so calm about this?" Tai asked Sora and Matt.  Then a realization dawned on him.  "You knew, didn't you?" he accused.  "That's why you tried to make me accept their relationship earlier."

            "We only found out today," Sora rushed to assure him.  "We found out by accident, this morning."

            "That still doesn't change anything," Tai complained.  "You should have told me what was happening."

            "Why?" Matt asked.  "Do you honestly think that anything you or I say will make them change their minds?  Your and Kari's relationship was already on rocky ground.  We were focusing on trying to repair the damage."  Tai still looked sullen.

            "Can't a guy get some sleep?"  The question came from TK, who stood in the hallway leading back to the bedrooms, clad only in a pair of blue jeans.  Kari stood and went over to TK, casting a glare at Tai, Matt and Sora.  "Now what's going on?" he inquired as he and Kari embraced.

            "We came over to see if you two wanted to spend the night at my house," Sora replied.

            "Who's going to be there?" TK asked.

            "Everyone," Matt answered.  "We called all the digidestined and they're all coming."

            "Well then we shouldn't disappoint everyone else by being the only wet blankets," TK replied with a grin.  Kari nodded in response and the two left the room to get ready.