Author's note: Here's Chapter 2! Thanks go to everyone who's following this series and reviewing!
My beta-reader told me to make a note of this: Remember when whoever-it-was said that the Digimon need to take energy from their partners to Digivolve? Normally it doesn't matter much, because the humans are at full strength. However, if they are especially weak or injured (as in this part), then it could be dangerous to take their energy. And the bit about Agumon...since Digimon and their partners share life forces, if the human dies, then so does the Digimon, and they can't get reconfigured because they're still missing the life force.
Oh, and a trainer is the British word for a sneaker, and the song is 'If Only Tears Could Bring You Back', by the Midnight Sons.
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Chapter 2: Broken Courage, Shattered Hope
There was a miniature party going on in the Kamiya household.
After discovering Tai's note, Kari and Gatomon had took it upon themselves to cheer up Patamon by throwing a small party. Music was playing, they'd made little party snacks and shoved the furniture to one side. Kari had found some tinsel from last Christmas and they'd all wrapped themselves up in it. After dancing and eating, they started to play some games. First they'd prank called some friends (they couldn't believe that Ken still fell for the 'is your refrigerator running' gag), then spin the bottle, and now they were flipping Smarties into the air and trying to catch them in their mouths. So far Gatomon was winning.
"And NOW..." said Patamon dramatically, scooping up three in his wing "Three at once!"
"Go Pata, go Pata!" cheered the others. Grinning, Patamon flipped them into the air and opened his mouth...
BANGBANGBANG!
"Ahh!" his concentration broke, Patamon missed the Smarties and they landed on his head.
BANGBANGBANG!!
Someone was pounding on the door.
"Kari! Kari, open up!"
"That's TK!" Kari got to her feet in surprise. TK's voice sounded...different somehow. Desperate...
"Kari! Please, open up!"
"Coming!" Kari unlocked the door and TK fell through, collapsing into a heap on the floor. He raised himself on his arms and tried to stand, but his legs failed him. He slumped there, breathing heavily, dark liquid dripping off him like sweat. His whole body shook from gasping breaths from his running. He tried to raise himself once more but exhaustion set in and he collapsed again, lying shivering on the carpeted floor.
Silence reigned in the household save for TK's ragged breathing and the soft sound of the background music.
"TK?" asked Kari, bending down. TK was lying on his stomach, eyes closed, and he was breathing so heavily it was hard to tell whether he was conscious or not "Are you alright?" She rolled him over and gasped in shock, barely holding back a scream.
TK's clothes were almost completely shredded with long rip marks and saturated with blood. His white hat, clutched in his hands, was now a dark red, and his hair hardly looked blond with the matted blood. He bled from numerous slashes across his chest and body, and a large red bruise blossomed across the left side of his face. He was breathing heavily and pale from running, and he barely had enough strength to open his eyes. Those too were filled with pain, and his voice was barely above a whisper.
"Kari..."
"Oh my God, TK! What on earth happened to you??"
"Ta...Tai..."
"No, he's not here right now."
"...No...Tai..."
"Tai did this to you?"
TK squeezed his eyes shut and tried his best to shake his head.
"No, Tai..."
Not waiting for the answer and ignoring the blood, Kari bent down and propped TK into a sitting position. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders and hers around his, she managed to pull him to his feet and half dragged, half led him to the sofa, where he had to fight to stay sitting upright. She pulled his ruined T-shirt off him and gasped as she saw the extent of his injuries. "TK, we've got to get you to a doctor!"
"No!" he winced, as if the ferocity of the reply had hurt him "Not...not yet..."
"But TK!" protested Kari "You're hurt! You need help!"
"Then..." he gritted his teeth "Get...Joe!"
Kari hesitated for a moment, then gave in. Going over to the phone, she rang Joe's number.
*bringbring, bringbring*
Pick up the phone...
*bringbring, bringbring*
Pick up the phone...
*bringbring, bringbring*
"PICK UP THE PHONE!!!" she screamed down the receiver.
*bringbring click*
"Moshi moshi, Kido residence, Koushiro speaking!"
"Izzy?" asked Kari.
"Kari? Oh, hey!" came the reply.
"What are you doing round Joe's?" she asked, puzzled.
"Waiting for him to get of the shower! We're *supposed* to be going out with some friends to the cinema, but he's taking ages! Even Matt doesn't spend this long washing his hair then Joe does!"
"Can you put him on? It's really urgent!"
"But I told you, he's in the shower..."
"Listen Izzy," Kari turned away so neither TK nor the Digimon could hear, and lowered her voice to a whisper "TK's just come round my place and collapsed. He's really badly hurt and we need Joe's help right away!"
There was a moment's silence "Right, hang on."
Kari strained to hear the background noises as Izzy put the phone down on the table. She heard some faint banging, some shouting, then louder banging, louder shouting, then a REALLY loud bang, followed by a shrill 'do you mind!?!', then some sloshing, footsteps, then someone picked up the receiver again.
"What is it??" It was Joe, sounding really peeved.
"Joe, it's Kari!"
"Yes, and what's so urgent that Izzy had to break down the bathroom door to get me to the phone?"
Obviously Koushiro hadn't told Joe what Kari had told him previously "TK disappeared earlier today, and he's just come back, but he's really badly injured. He's covered in cuts and bleeding badly, and he's exhausted. He's refusing to see a doctor, and he's saying he needs your help! Joe, you've got to do something!"
So the silence on the other end was so deafening that for a moment Kari thought that Joe had hung up. Finally, he spoke "I'll be right over." Then the line went dead as he hung up.
Kari hooked the receiver and lent against the wall. How long would it take for Joe to get here? Hopefully not long.
"TEEEKKAAAYY!!!"
Kari jumped as Patamon's shrill shout caught her by surprise. She ran back to sofa to see that TK had collapsed again, and Patamon frantically patting the unbruised side of his partner's face to revive him. Panic gripped her as she felt for a pulse, and she sighed with relief when she found one.
"It's alright," she told the Digimon "He's just passed out. At least now we can try to patch him up before Joe gets here."
Doing so was not an easy task. Most of the blood around the wounds had clotted and cleaning it off only made them bleed again. They bandaged up the most serious ones and had just begun on the smaller ones when TK came round again. He tried to sit up but Kari pushed him back down.
"Oh no you don't. You're staying down there until Joe gets here!"
He opened his mouth to protest but a cough came out instead. Gatomon went over to the kitchen area and got him a glass of water. He greedily downed it, the water sloshing over the sides and onto the couch. Then he lent back again, closing his eyes and resting until Joe came.
They didn't have to wait long. There was a banging on the door and Kari opened it to let both Jyou and Koushiro in. The latter was dressed up in his party gear for the night out, while the former looked as if he had just thrown on whatever he had grabbed from the wardrobe. His blue hair was still dripping wet, making the shoulders of his jacket damp. Striding forward, he saw TK lying on the sofa, Patamon standing protectively over him and swore softly under his breath. He bent down and gently shook the younger boy.
"TK? TK, can you hear me?"
Takeru opened his eyes again and focused on Joe "You...you came!"
"How badly hurt are you? Are there any serious injuries?"
"No," said Kari, standing behind him with Koushiro "Not that I can tell, anyway. He's just been bleeding a lot."
Jyou stole a look at the stained carpet "I can tell." he muttered. He shifted TK into a sitting position and began to check him over. Satisfied that TK wasn't about to suddenly die on them and that the cuts not bandaged up weren't going to kill him, he sat down next to him.
"Now TK..." he said carefully "What exactly happened to you?"
The boy began to shiver and Kari, noticing, went into her brother's room and came back with his green school jacket. She draped it over TK's naked shoulders and he huddled into it like a security blanket. Patamon, sensing his distress, hopped onto his lap and nuzzled up to him.
TK began to speak, quietly at first and the others had to strain to hear him "I was in the Digital World, in Ken's old base...I needed some time alone after Kari broke up with me..." Izzy and Joe started and looked at Kari, who averted her eyes to the floor "I was all alone and desperate; I needed someone to talk to. So I e-mailed Tai." Tears began to well up in his eyes at the mention of the name "He came and talked to me, and then we realised something..." TK's voice dropped again "We weren't alone."
By now both Kari and Izzy had moved onto the sofa, Kari next to TK and Izzy beside her, with Gatomon on the back.
"I don't know what they were, they moved to fast to see. They were like ninjas or shadows...they had to have been! We didn't hear them sneak up on us or anything, when they just all ambushed us!" They were hanging off his every word now "We tried to run to the nearest TV to escape. We thought that they'd leave us as we went over open ground, but they didn't! They just found it easier to hunt us down!" A few tears spilled down his cheeks and his fists clenched "We were running when Tai tripped, and they were upon him! I tried to fight them off, I really did! But Tai told me to run, and I did! Like a coward I did!" Tears were flowing freely now "I ran and ran, but they were still after me! And then they caught up with me."
He stroked the bandage around one of his hands "But I fought like a mad beast and got free, then I just ran and ran until I got to the TV, and went through. And then I ran here." He bit his lip as the salt from the tears stung his cuts "And I left him behind. I abandoned him." At that, Takeru buried his face into his hands and wept.
Silence reigned once more.
"Then..." said Kari, slowly "Where's Tai now?"
TK sobbed even harder "He's...he's dead."
"No...no! I don't believe it! He's not dead! He's not!"
"Kari, please..." said Izzy, trying to calm her down.
"NO! He's not dead!" Kari leapt to her feet and screamed at TK "You're lying! He's not dead!"
"Face it Kari, he IS!" TK was on his feet now, tears still running down his face "Whether you like it or not, he's dead! I saw it! Stop living in denial and except that he's DEAD!"
SLAP
Kari whacked TK on the side of the face with the bruise, and the force of the blow knocked him to the floor. The slap had opened up the cut and it began to bleed again. A stunned silence descended on the room. TK raised his hand to his face, shocked. Then, his eyes burning, he leapt to his feet.
"Fine then! If you won't believe me, then I'll go bring back his body! Would you like that, eh? Is that what would convince you? Then I'll bring it back for you!" he turned to leave the room, but Joe's strong arm stopped him.
"Oh no you don't, TK. You're not going anywhere in your state!"
"Get out of my way!" snarled Takeru. In his current condition he knew he could never best Jyou in a fight, so instead he glared daggers at the older Digi-Destined.
"TK has a point, however." Said Izzy, who had been quietly musing on the sofa "Although it seems highly unlikely, there is a possibility that Tai could still be alive and in need of help. And even if he isn't, it wouldn't be right to leave him there in the Digi-World."
Joe nodded "I guess you're right on that. We'll have to go."
Kari took up a fighting stance "Gatomon and I are coming!"
"No you're not." Admonished Joe "You're staying here. Izzy, TK, Patamon and I will go."
Kari started to voice a protest, but Jyou's look cut her off. She slumped down into an armchair and waved vaguely in the direction of the computer "Fine. Go use our computer."
"Arigatou, Kari." Izzy went ahead to boot up the computer, while Joe braced TK on his shoulder and led him into the computer room, Patamon fluttering overhead. By the time they reached the room, Izzy had called up the Digi-Port and was waiting. As one, they held up their Digivices/ D3 to the screen.
"DIGI-PORT, OPEN!"
************************************************************
They emerged from a TV in the middle of the desert. Squinting against the sun, Izzy tried to get some bearings. There was nothing but sand dunes all around.
"TK, do you remember where the base was?"
The boy blinked and looked around, before nodding towards a nearby dune "I think it's somewhere over there."
"Right, let's go." Jyou led the way, still supporting TK "And watch out for any of those things that attacked earlier."
Patamon frowned as he watched the humans struggle up the dune. He fluttered down and flapped next to Joe "Wouldn't it be easier for me to Armour-Digivolve and carry you all to the base?"
"No, I don't think TK has enough strength..."
"Yes I do," TK looked up at Joe "it'd be quicker and safer that way as well. Any one of those creatures could attack while we're down here, but I'd like to see them try to get us in the air!"
Joe turned and looked at Izzy "What do you think?"
"I'm with TK here. There's no telling if the Digimon are still around or not."
With difficulty, TK pulled out his D3 and gritted his teeth.
"Digi-Armour...energise!"
"Patamon Armour-Digivolve to...PEGASUSMON! Flying Hope!"
Soon, all three humans were aboard the flying horse, soaring across the desert. They scanned the sands below for any sign of a struggle, or Tai's body, but found nothing.
"Didn't you say that you and Tai were attacked over open ground?" asked Izzy, rubbing sand from his eyes.
"He may have crawled to shelter...or been dragged." TK added the last part under his breath, just loud enough for Joe to hear. The older boy pretended not to hear.
"Then if Tai tried to get to safety, he would have gone back to the base. If he's badly injured, he wouldn't try to cross the desert. Our best bet's to search the ruins for him."
"I agree," came Pegasusmon's voice "Even Tai's smart enough to know that he wouldn't stand a chance in the desert. I'll be able to search overhead, but you three will have to get off. I can't carry you all for much longer."
"I understand. But we should be by the base soon anyway."
As true to his word, the ruins came looming over the horizon, like the broken skeleton of a long dead behemoth. Pegasusmon landed and allowed the humans to climb off his back. TK, still weak and wrapped up in Tai's jacket, sat down on a rock.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" asked Pegasusmon, nudging his partner with his head.
"I'll be fine," TK pushed the Digimon's head away. "You guys just hurry up and see if you can find Tai."
Pegasusmon spread his wings and took off again, circling in the sky, while Joe and Izzy went off in different directions, going through the wreckage by foot.
TK pulled the jacket closer around himself and stared wordlessly off into the barren landscape in front of him.
************************************************************
Jyou picked his way through the ruins, occasionally calling out for Tai. He didn't want to make too much noise; those creatures TK claimed had attacked him might still be around. That was why he and Izzy tried to stay in visual contact, so if one of them got picked off, then the other could raise the alarm.
He looked up into the cloudless sky. Pegasusmon was still circling, occasionally swooping down for a closer look. So far, no sign of Taichi.
Suddenly, he heard a noise and stiffened.
A strange noise, somewhere between a squelch and a crack.
He looked down.
He had stood in a pool of dark liquid that had almost hardened in the sun. That explained the weird noise.
He lifted his foot and watched it drip off from the bottom of his trainer.
It was red.
Blood.
A sick feeling began to grow inside him.
Looking closer at the puddle, he noticed a thin trickle running into the pool.
The trickle came from behind what was once a doorframe.
Joe went forward, then hesitated.
Shaking his head and steeling himself, he went through.
Keeping his eyes to the ground, he followed the trickle visually upstream.
It got wider and wider.
Until it reached its source, a lake of blood.
And something was lying in that lake.
Jyou raised his gaze.
************************************************************
Izzy peered under some wreckage and sighed. The search was taking too long. What if Tai was badly hurt? It could take hours for them to find him, the base was so big! And there wasn't a trace of him anywhere!
"Izzy..."
He looked up to see Joe, his face completely pale.
"What is it?" asked Izzy "Have you found Tai?"
Joe nodded weakly "Yeah..."
Izzy grinned, not picking up on his friend's mood "Great! Where abouts?"
The older boy pointed behind him "Over there, but..."
"Then what are we standing here for?" Izzy stood up and strode past Joe "We've got to help him!"
"Izzy! Wai-"
Koushiro, ignoring him, continued going forward.
"Tai! Are you..."
He froze as he saw what Joe had seen earlier "...alright?"
But Tai was far from alright.
His face was still caught in its terrified expression, his light brown eyes staring sightlessly into the sky. The desert wind had begun to drive sand against him, and the ground was stained from the blood.
Izzy raised his hand to his mouth to hold back a scream.
Jyou was beside him, and put his arm comfortingly around his shoulders "I tried to warn you, but..."
Izzy shook his head, unable to tear his gaze away. He fought to speak, but only one word came out.
"Shit."
"Exactly." Said Joe, sighing.
Izzy shook his head again, as if denying the truth.
"Shit!"
"We'll have to take him back to the Real World somehow." Joe broke off and searched the nearby wreckage "We'll have to find something to use as a travois." He turned to look at Izzy, who was still staring at Tai's corpse "Don't just stand there! Help me!"
Koushiro snapped out his trance and, mumbling an apology, went to help. They eventually found a wedge of flat metal, large enough to carry a person. They dragged it towards the sandy clearing where Tai had met his end.
They looked at each other.
Neither fancied touching the body.
Eventually, they managed to slide the metal under the boy, before shifting it so that his whole body was on the makeshift travois.
"He looks pretty bad," said Joe, shaking his head. He took off his jacket and used it to cover Tai the best he could. However, it wasn't big enough and the bloodstained bottom-half of his body still remained uncovered.
He looked up at Izzy.
"Oh no!" said Izzy, backing away "You're not using this jacket! This is my best! I was saving it especially for the party tonight!"
Jyou glared at the younger boy "Izzy, I hardly think that we're going to the party tonight! And I don't think your jacket matters much!"
Koushiro started to voice a protest, but it died in his throat. Grumbling, he took off his jacket and covered Tai with it.
"Now," said Joe, testing the weight of the travois "Go signal Pegasusmon. Tell him to take TK back and to prepare Kari for the worst...I don't think any of them would benefit from seeing Tai now."
Izzy nodded, then ran ahead to get Pegasusmon's attention. After a few minutes, he came back.
"They're going off now."
"Good," Jyou looked back at the travois "You pick up the other end and we'll carry it back to the Digi-Port. Ready? One, two, THREE!"
************************************************************
"I don't believe you!"
"Kari, please..."
"I said I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"
"Kari, please calm down!" Gatomon tugged at her partner's sleeve "You know that Joe and Izzy wouldn't lie about something like this..."
"Let go of me!" Kari tore her sleeve away "You're lying, TK! You're lying!"
"I'm not! Please Kari, you have to believe me!" TK was practically begging now, trying to calm her down.
"My brother is not dead! He's NOT!" Kari screeched "You're wrong! You have to be!"
"I'm sorry Kari," said Patamon, sitting on top of the computer "It's true. I'm as upset as you...but you have to except it!"
"No I don't! Because he's NOT DEAD!"
Suddenly the computer screen flickered, then a dazzling bright light caused them all shield their eyes. Before anyone could move, the Digi-Port opened and the rest crashed through on top of everyone in the room.
Kari struggled under the weight of something, something that felt like metal.
Metal?
She moved and the thing on top of her shifted, allowing something to slip off.
Something half red, half flesh that swung slowly in front of her.
An arm.
Taichi's arm.
Taichi's slashed arm, caked with blood.
Without realising, Kari began to scream.
************************************************************
"And so we return Taichi to the earth from which he sprung...ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
It was a grey day, the heavily clouded sky matching the mood. Not just a burial for Tai...but for Agumon as well. Without his partner's life force, Agumon couldn't survive. A double funeral.
Although surrounded by a crowd, Kari felt alone. Her memories of the past week had slipped into merciful oblivion...seeing his torn body, her mourning parents, arranging the funeral, the service...
She looked at the tombstone.
TAICHI 'TAI' KAMIYA
And his Digimon partner Agumon
She tore her gaze away. No, it wasn't true, it just wasn't...Tai wasn't dead. She still expected him to come bouncing into her room again, laughing and being an idiot. Then she'd throw a pillow at him and he'd go running off...and she'd come home from school to find him sprawled over the sofa, stuffing himself with food and watching TV. And then he'd go up to her and ask what his favourite little sister had done today...
She began to shake.
A strong hand grasped her own and squeezed.
She looked up.
TK stood next to her and gave her a brave smile. His injuries were mainly superficial, most of which had healed, and the bruise on his face had faded to an angry red mark. He had probably suffered more than she had, because he had actually seen Tai get killed, but he still carried on.
She smiled back and returned the hand squeeze.
He grinned.
************************************************************
The party afterwards was even more sombre than the funeral. It didn't deserve to be called a party, for there was no fun or laughter anywhere. More of a gathering, with everyone sharing the same thing: the grief of losing Tai.
Jyou took a bite out of his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. In the week since he and Izzy had bought back the body, something had been preying on his mind. At first it was only a little thing, but it had grown and grown until it was permanently niggling in the back of his mind, refusing to go away. Finishing his sandwich, he rose and went to the main table to pour himself a drink.
Also at the table was Izzy, getting himself some punch, his eyes solemn. He had withdrawn since the discovery of Tai's body. Joe didn't blame him; there were still times when he woke in the middle of the night with nightmares of Taichi coming towards them, torn up and dripping blood. He went next to the younger boy and lent down, using the cover of pouring his drink to whisper to him.
"Izzy, I need to talk to you."
Koushiro blinked up at him "What about?"
"Not here," he nodded back over to his table in the corner "Over there."
Izzy raised an eyebrow in curiosity, but wordlessly followed Jyou back to his table.
"Well?" asked Koushiro "What is it?"
"I've been thinking..."
"A dangerous thing to do." grimaced Izzy.
"I never thought I'd hear that from you, Koushiro." said Jyou, surprised.
"Neither did I..." Izzy sighed and looked into his drink "But sometimes thinking isn't the best thing...sometimes only the oblivion is welcomed..."
"Having nightmares too?"
"Yeah."
There was a minute's silence between them.
"But what I wanted to talk to you about, Izzy...is Tai's death."
"Jyou, please..."
"No, hear me out...I don't think that it was an accident anymore."
Izzy looked at Joe as if he was mad "What do you mean? That he was killed deliberately? Joe, we know that he was killed by Digimon!"
"But do we?" pressed Joe "Look, I've been thinking about it, and I don't think it makes sense anymore."
"What doesn't?" muttered Izzy darkly.
"TK said that they were attacked by a horde of Digimon! But they were in the middle of a desert!"
"So?"
"So, think about it! The Digital Desert spans for hundreds of miles! And the base was almost right in the middle of it!"
"So?"
"So? Don't you get it?"
"Get what?"
Jyou sighed "Izzy, the desert has hardly any life in it at all. It's totally barren, a wasteland. If any creature attacked them for food, then they would've killed TK too, and at least eaten Tai."
"But they were probably in their territory..."
"But that's just it! Izzy, that desert is a wasteland. If a single creature were to survive there, it would need a territory of at least 50 miles square, easily. And that's for a creature the size of Gomamon. TK said that the creatures were at least shoulder high, and that there were at least 20 of them."
"I still don't get what you're aiming at here."
"Izzy, it's impossible for there to have been a pack of creatures that size in the middle of the desert! There wouldn't have been enough food or water to sustain them!"
"So Tai wasn't killed for food...or because he was in their territory."
"No!"
"And it's impossible for a pack of Digimon to attack them."
"Yes!"
"Then...what was he killed for, or, more to the point, who by?"
Joe looked into the bottom of his glass "That's exactly what I've been thinking."
"But why would TK lie about this?"
"Who says he is? Remember, he was attacked too. But he'd lost so much blood-and was terrified too- that he probably was suffering from shock. His account could be distorted, or even completely wrong."
"Then what did kill Tai?"
Jyou looked out across the crowd, his gaze finally resting on Takeru.
"I don't know, Koushiro. I just don't know."
************************************************************
A cold breeze blew across the city, hurrying the clouds across the sky and shrieking round the corners of the buildings. The sky was an endless sea of white and greys, creating a suffocating haze for the musky period between afternoon and evening. There was the heavy sense of approaching storms, weighing down the air, smothering all noise. The river mirrored the sky with its uncompassionate cold grey, lapping roughly at the shore, as if to stretch out and touch the feet of the girl who stood there alone.
Kari let the wind whip through her hair, tussling it like the hand of a friendly brother. Everything reminded her of Tai...every breath of wind, every sight...he was everywhere.
How will I start tomorrow without you here?
Whose heart will guide me when all the answers disappear?
She didn't know pain until now. She thought that she had reached the pinnacle when she lost Davis...but now...
She had never known life without Tai. He had always been there for her. Even when he was only 6 years old, he'd babysat for her while their mother was out.
Is it too late?
Are you too far gone to stay?
Best friends forever
Should never have to go away
She couldn't even remember coming to the beach. In fact, she could hardly remember anything anymore. Her life was a blur. For all she knew, she could have stood on this beach for eternity.
How was she supposed to live without Tai? All the times they had spent together came back, haunting her, tormenting her...
What will I do?
You know
I'm only half without you
How will I make it through?
Every time she tried to think of some point of her life, he was there. Being sick and getting taken to hospital: he was there with flowers he had picked himself. Coming first in the school race: he was there, congratulating her. Fighting the Dark Masters and Apocalymon...he was there. Always, always there!
If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
Why wouldn't the memories leave her alone? Why couldn't she sink into the bleakness of oblivion?
And, for the first time in her life, she begged the Dark Ocean to take her.
What I would do
What I would give if you
The tears spilled from her eyes as she wished for the cold embrace of the Ocean, to wrap her in a covering of darkness, to suffocate her in the black. But her wishes went unanswered.
Return to me
Some day
Some how
Somewhere
If my tears could bring you back...to me
"WHY WON'T YOU TAKE ME!?!" she screamed, her hands balling into fists "You wanted me before! Why not now? WHY WON'T YOU TAKE ME??" she buried her head into her hands and sobbed.
Somebody wrapped their arms around her in a hug.
She looked up.
TK's sapphire blue eyes answered her own, with not pity or sympathy...but with concern and understanding.
She gave in and began to cry again. They sank into the sand and she buried her face into his chest, sobs wracking her small frame. TK didn't speak, or murmur soothing words...he just held her. And, for a while, that was all she needed.
Eventually, she quietened, and his hand was at her face. She lent into it as he spoke one word.
"Kari..."
There was nothing in the world now but him. His gentle caresses, his soft voice...and his sapphire eyes.
They leant towards each other.
Their lips brushed.
Suddenly her eyes widened and she pushed him away.
"Kari?" he looked at her, puzzled.
She scrambled away and got to her feet "I'm sorry TK, I just... just can't. Not yet. It's just too soon..."
TK got to his own feet and held out his hand to her.
"Kari, please..."
"I can't..." she shook her head "I just can't..."
She turned and ran away from the beach in a flurry of sand.
TK let his arm drop to his side and watched her go.
Almost...almost.
************************************************************
I waited patiently as the florist wrapped the flowers.
Roses and gypsophila.
The red complementing the white.
A beautiful arrangement.
Kari loved roses.
And weren't they the flowers of love and romance?
I paid and left the store.
The night sky was the deepest black, twinkling with pale stars.
The curse of cities...being unable to see the stars.
But there was hardly any light here, so I could faintly see them.
Beautiful stars...
But not as beautiful as Kari.
I was so close on the beach...
We were nearly together again...
I could still tip the balance in my favour.
Flowers. Who didn't like flowers?
For some reason, the roses reminded me of Tai.
Deep, red blood.
Just like mine.
I really was a genius.
Hurting myself, making it look like I was attacked.
Now no one would guess that I had killed him.
It was getting late. My okaasan would be getting worried.
But first I had to give these flowers to Kari.
What was the quickest route?
Through the park. Of course.
I turned in that direction.
It was only in the park that you could truly see the stars.
No lights from the city.
The traffic was just a background murmur.
A beautiful night.
I walked down the path, when I spotted someone sitting on the bench.
Our bench.
Kari!
My, this is great! I can give her the flowers now!
She was looking impatient and nervous.
Was she waiting for someone?
I started towards her, when I noticed someone walking towards her from the other end.
Yamato.
My brother.
What was he doing here?
He went over to Kari and sat down.
I slunk behind a tree and hid in the shadow.
What were they doing?
Matt was talking to her, but she didn't answer.
He put a hand on her shoulder and said something.
It looked like What's the matter?
She started to talk.
I wish I could lip read.
Matt watched her intently.
Finally, she looked up at him and said something that caused her to hide her face and cry.
I recognised what she said.
Something I had seen before.
I love you.
My blood ran cold.
Yamato sat there, shocked.
Kari loves...Matt?
Not me?
He took her face in his hand and turned it towards him.
He said something.
What? What did he say?
She blinked up at him.
He spoke some more.
She said one word, almost in disbelief.
Matt...
Matt? What about Matt? What was he saying???
When Yamato talks with conviction, his eyes go hard and shining.
Now they were like stone.
He carried on talking.
Kari continued to stare at him.
He cupped her face in his hands.
He pulled her forward...and kissed her.
The earth dropped from under me.
The world shattered into a thousand fragments.
No...NO!!!!
He loves her!
She loves him!
Not me!
She loves Matt!
Matt loves her!
What about me!?!?!
I slumped against the tree trunk.
Hard, like stone.
Cold, like ice.
I don't love you.
I love you, Matt.
Matt.
Yamato.
Ishida Yamato.
She loves him!
Not me!!
I looked at the bouquet in my hands.
Snarling, I threw it to the floor and stamped on it, crushing the flowers beneath my foot.
Petals laced the grass like blood.
Just like blood.
Sweet, red lifeblood.
He stole my girl!
My own brother!
After all I've done for them!
After all I've done for her!
I killed for her!
And for what?
For my own flesh and blood to take her away from me!
Kari is MINE, Matt!
She's been mine since the beginning!
I'm not going to let you steal her from me!
I reached inside my pocket and pulled something out.
Small. Metallic.
I pushed a button and a blade snapped out.
A switchblade.
Beautiful, cold metal.
I slammed it into the tree trunk and tore it down.
Sap wept out like blood.
Like so much blood...
You've done it now, Yamato.
You've crossed the line.
I don't care if you're my brother!
Kari is MINE!
No one can have her but ME!
And you're not going to live long enough to find out why!!!
To be continued...