Last Time: We took a look into a day in the life of the cloned Kari Kamiya. From doing daily chores, to running from the occasional hostile Digimon, she basically lives a normal life in the Digital World with her caretaker…Etemon. What she doesn't know is that Etemon is playing her like a total fool, using her only for his malicious intentions.


Double Play: Part 3


With another few days having passed, Etemon made his way into one of the more lush areas of the Digital World, seeking out more of the resources he needed. With the clone out doing different chores for him, Etemon was on his own looking for new supplies. But it wouldn't be long. Not only was his stage almost finished, but he had recruited some Gazimon to help him rebuild it. It would just take a few more supplies and days of the Gazimons' hard labor and he and his stage would both be good to go.

There was a stubborn stone that wouldn't come out of the ground, no matter how much Etemon pulled on it. It proved to be an exercise in frustration and futility. But it also proved to be a blessing in disguise, because as he struggled to pull the stone out, he began to hear voices coming from the distance.

"TK…stop! That tickles!"

Etemon recognized that voice. It sounded like…Kari Kamiya, the REAL Kari Kamiya. And obviously, her boyfriend TK was with her. It looked like they had come back to the Digital World to take another stroll. It was all so sudden, but the time to put the next phase of his plan into action was here.

Forgetting about the stubborn stone, Etemon walked towards a nearby bush. He peeked over to see Kari and TK…heading towards a bridge that overlooked a 25-foot cliff. Things couldn't have been more perfect. So now came the time for Etemon to do what he had to do.

Kari was just taking another leisurely stroll along with TK. With the end of senior year and Senior Prom rapidly approaching, both of them needed to take a break. And there was no better place to forget their worries than the Digital World. And Kari was having a good time. She giggled again as TK brushed a blade of grass by her ear.

"TK, I'm warning you," Kari teased. "Cut that out."

TK pulled the blade of grass back and kissed Kari on the cheek. "Ok, fine. Be that way." He held up the picnic basket. "You want to set up over here?"

Kari pointed towards a tree that provided plenty of shade. "Over there's good."

TK walked over and set the blanket up by the tree. He put the picnic basket down and everything was ready. TK kneeled down and patted on an empty space, reserved especially for Kari. Kari walked out of the heat and sat down on the empty space. As soon as she sat down, TK started tickling her ear with that blade of grass again.

Kari immediately knocked TK over and started tickling him furiously. And thus, a day of fun had begun.

Etemon immediately headed back towards his cave. But luck had played its part again, because as the ultimate-level Digimon was running, he ran into just the person he was seeking. He found the clone of Kari Kamiya.

"Etemon? Is something wrong?"

The time was here for Etemon to put on the best acting job he possibly could. Everything would depend on this performance. He just hoped this clone was as gullible as he thought she was.

Etemon began his act. "Kari…I've been thinking about this for so long now and…it's difficult for me…but I've come to a decision. I believe…it's time for you to go home."

The clone blinked. "Um…back to the cave?"

Etemon shook his head. "No, Kari. To your REAL home. Back to the real world…with your family."

The clone looked confused. "But Etemon…they tried to kill me! I CAN'T go back!"

"Kari, I know it's difficult. But you can't stay here. You don't belong here. This isn't your real home. You need to go back with your mother and father…as hard as it may sound."

"But Etemon…didn't my brother try to kill me?"

The crafty Etemon realized that he may have put one too many holes into his fabricated story. This wouldn't be easy, but he would think of something. After all, there weren't many others in the Digital World as intelligent as he. And sure enough, Etemon knew how to dodge this bullet.

"Kari, your brother would NEVER try to kill you…in broad daylight in the real world. Too many witnesses, you know. In fact, he'll try to make it seem as if nothing happened. So the best thing you can do is NOT mention it at all! If you DO say something, then he may try to finish you off once and for all."

"But Etemon…I don't want to leave you," the clone said timidly.

Etemon soon saw the next flaw in his façade. The clone had become attached to him. But that wasn't a bad thing. In fact, that could work to his advantage. Etemon was prepared for such a situation and handed Kari a handheld electronic device.

"Always keep this with you," Etemon instructed. "This communicator will allow us to keep in touch through e-mail. If you ever need anything, just send me a quick e-mail. And I'll be sure to stay in touch."

The clone still looked skeptical. "Etemon…are you sure about this? I'm…scared."

"Don't be afraid, Kari. Just go back to your world and go on as if nothing happened."

"But…does that mean…they're just going to get away with what they did?" she asked indignantly. "They tried to kill me and now we're just going back to life as if nothing ever happened? That just feels so…wrong!"

"You make a very good point," Etemon replied. "That's why when the time comes…I'll give you a call through that communicator. Once everything is ready…I'll be ready to teach those so-called friends of yours a lesson they'll never forget!"

The clone wasn't sure what that meant, but she smirked anyway. "What do you have in mind?"

"That's a surprise," Etemon grinned. "Now go on, Kari. As much as I hate to let you go…it's time for you to go back home."

"But how?" the clone asked curiously. "How do I get back? I don't even remember how I got here."

"One of…THEM is looking for you," Etemon pointed out. "Your so-called boyfriend has come looking for you."

"Even AFTER he tried to have me killed?" the clone growled.

"He probably wants to bring you back to cover the tracks," Etemon lied. "So you'd better head back to the bottom of the cliff where he left you so he won't suspect anything."

The clone looked back. She looked so confused, but ready to do whatever she was told. So she took a step back, but quickly turned around to give Etemon one last hug.

"I'm gonna miss you!" she cried.

Etemon tried to push her off. She was wasting valuable time. "Yeah, yeah, I'll miss you, too. Kari, you've got to go! There isn't much time!"

The clone finally broke the hug and started running, without looking back. It looked like the clone understood what needed to be done. So she just kept on running, heading in the direction of the path that would lead her to the bottom of the cliff.

If Etemon could pull this next part of his plan off successfully, then the clone would infiltrate the real world. Of course, there was one minor risk. When he created the clone, her memory came out VERY fuzzy. And while that gave Etemon the golden opportunity to manipulate her mind, it could also draw suspicion from among the other DigiDestined. Of course, Etemon wasn't TOO worried. After all, it had only been about eight or nine years. How much could have possibly changed in that time?

As he thought about that, the Machiavellian monkey headed the other way, back to where the real Kari and TK were spending the day. It was time for the next part of his plan to be implemented.

Kari was starting to get stuffed. After about four sandwiches, she didn't think she could take another bite. TK, on the other hand, was on his sixth sandwich.

"You done already, Kari?" TK asked.

Kari nodded. "I really should watch my figure."

"Oh come on, Kari," TK scoffed. "You look beautiful." Then he smirked. "Well…you COULD stand to lose a little weight."

Kari threw the rest of her sandwich at TK.

"Hey, I'm just joking," TK grinned. "I really think you ARE beautiful just the way you are."

Kari blushed when she heard that compliment. In fact, she was starting to feel rather flushed, so she got up for a little fresh air. She walked over towards the cliffside. And that's where she saw the most breathtaking view she had ever seen. Kari was in awe.

"It's so amazing!"

Kari was completely distracted by the beautiful view. She was SO distracted…that she was completely unaware of her surroundings.

TK took another bite out of his sandwich. Kari was standing pretty close to the cliff and was obviously getting a great view. It must have been pretty refreshing. In fact, he started to get the idea of walking over to join her. But before he did, he took one more sip of his punch. Unfortunately, that one hesitation was all it took for tragedy to strike.

A long branch from a nearby tree suddenly came flying out of nowhere and struck Kari in the back…sending her flying off the cliff. TK looked on in horror.

"KARI!!"

TK scrambled to his feet and ran over towards the end of the cliff. He looked down to look for any signs of Kari, but there were none. The river was right below and TK was beginning to think she might have fallen in. Already, TK was sweating profusely. He loved Kari more than anything. It couldn't have all come to an end so suddenly…and so tragically.

TK wasn't ready to abandon hope yet. There had to be a way down that cliff. He looked around everywhere for something that could get him down there. But there seemed to be nothing. It was a long way down and there looked to be no way for TK to get down there. Then he got an idea. He ran over to the tree and pulled out a very long vine, cutting it off at one end with a trusty Swiss army knife.

One of the vines was now tied to the tree and the other end was tied to TK's waist. He inched towards the cliff and started climbing down, being careful as he was surrounded by jagged rocks. But TK was willing to risk jagged rocks and falling to his death…to find Kari. She just HAD to be ok.

TK wanted to go faster, but if he did, he might snap the vine and plummet to the ground while bouncing off the jagged rocks. This had to be done carefully, no matter how badly TK wanted to get to the bottom quickly. So he was careful as he lowered himself down, knowing he would be down there soon.

He just HAD to find Kari. She HAD to be down there. If she wasn't alive…TK would have nothing to live for.

TK finally made it down, after what felt like an agonizing eternity. He looked in every direction looking for any signs of life.

"KARI!! KARI!!"

There was no answer. TK was answered by tormenting silence. The young boy was in tears now. He didn't cry often anymore, but he couldn't help it. The love of his life was gone. She was nowhere to be found. But there was still a feeling that she was still alive. TK was beginning to think that she fell into the river and it carried her away. He was prepared to do the drastic thing and go down the river looking for her. But suddenly…

…he found her.

"Kari?"

TK saw her walking his way. It was Kari…and she looked around with a dazed look on her face. He quickly rushed over to her and gave the biggest hug he could give her.

"I'm so glad you're alive!"

Kari returned the hug…but stayed silent momentarily. Finally, she broke the long silence.

"Is that you……………TK?"

TK nodded. Then he examined Kari. There seemed to be absolutely NO signs of any bumps or bruises…which had to be the strangest thing he had ever seen, because Kari took a LONG fall.

"Kari…are you all right?"

Kari nodded slowly. "I feel fine…TK. It's just…my head."

TK embraced Kari's head. "Your head? Are you feeling ok?"

"I…I just need to go home," she said with a tone of uncertainty.

TK nodded. "I'll get you home. You want to use your Digivice or should I?"

"Digivice?" Kari repeated.

TK looked at Kari strangely. "Kari…did you lose your Digivice?"

Kari searched her pockets. "I…don't have anything with me."

TK knew there wasn't any time to look for it. They'd have to come back some other time. In the meantime, they'd have to get back to Odaiba using his own Digivice. So TK took out his D-3 and opened a port to the real world.

TK smiled. "Ladies first."

Kari looked skeptical, but TK gently led her in…and walked in right behind her…while thinking about how happy he was to see her alive.

Etemon had finally made it to the bottom of the cliff. There were no signs of life anywhere and that meant things must have gone according to plan. There were no signs of TK, Kari, or the clone. But there was one thing that bothered Etemon.

It was the fact that the real Kari WAS missing. He would feel much more secure about his plan if he had her under his watchful eye. But if she regained consciousness anywhere, she might find a way to get back to the real world and put a kibosh on his plans. That meant he had to act fast and find her. So Etemon headed out, following the river, seeking to find the real Kari Kamiya.


Next Time: Things begin to get complicated. What happens when TK returns to Odaiba with Kari's clone? Where IS the real Kari? Will Etemon get to her? Find these answers and more next time!


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