Author's Note: With FF.net updating constantly and uploads at an all-time high (which is not a BAD thing...but a GOOD thing), I've decided to put out a mailing list. If you wish to be notified via e-mail about any of my updates, then let me know by sending a quick e-mail to AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and I will add you to my mailing list.


Last Time: TK and Kari went to the Digital World for a picnic. But Etemon put the next part of his plan into action by knocking Kari off a cliff and into the river below. TK rushed down, but found Kari's clone and ended up taking her back to the real world. Meanwhile, the real Kari is missing. Knowing she can put a monkey wrench (no pun intended) into his plans, Etemon decides to go find her.


Double Play: Part 4


Kari woke up and found herself lying at the foot of the river. All she remembered was falling down from a cliff and landing in the river before losing consciousness. By all logic, she should have drowned. Something must have saved her…but she had no idea what.

She felt awfully dizzy and immediately looked around to see no sign of TK anywhere. She then got the idea to locate him with her Digivice. But Kari nearly turned white when she searched her pockets and discovered emptiness. Her D-3 Digivice was gone. And not only did that mean she had no way to get home…but it also meant there was no way for her friends to find her.

Kari observed her surroundings. She was at the bottom of a huge canyon, surrounded only be the river and a series of sharp, jagged rocks. She couldn't imagine what could have possibly saved her. By all means, if Kari had hit the ground or the river, then she should have at least had a bruise. But there were no bruises anywhere on her body. Kari came out of that whole fall unscathed. She just came out a little wet from the river.

If there was one thing Kari DID know about the Digital World, it was that there could be hostile Digimon around every corner. So the first thing she did was seek some shelter. She got to her feet and started wandering down the long path towards seemingly nowhere.

Somewhere in the midst of the jagged rocks, however, she saw a cave. It was the only place she had to go, so Kari headed towards the cave.

She just hoped there was nothing inside.

Back in Odaiba, TK's nerves were finally starting to calm down after that harrowing experience in the Digital World. He was just glad that Kari was alive and well. If all that was lost in that trip to the Digital World was her Digivice, then TK was certainly thankful. Now it was just time to go home, walking down the street towards Kari's house.

"Are you sure you're ok, Kari?" TK asked again.

Kari looked around in awe, as if she were captivated by the city. "Um…yeah…fine."

TK found it a bit odd at first, but then he realized that maybe she was beginning to cherish what she almost lost by falling off that cliff. She must have still been in a state of shock.

"Kari?"

Kari hesitated before responding. "Oh…yes…TK?"

"I think you should just lie down as soon as I get you home. But maybe it's best if we don't tell anybody what happened. They'd just worry over nothing."

"Oh…ok."

TK kept leading Kari by the hand towards her house. What started out as such a great day had quickly turned sour. TK just wanted the day to end.

"Hey guys!"

Of course, impeccable timing just had to strike. TK didn't get Kari very far before Davis ran into them.

"How'd everything go?" Davis asked cheerfully. "Did you guys have a good time?"

TK shook his head. "Davis, this isn't a good time. I need to get Kari home."

That only served to raise Davis's curiosity. "Huh? TK…did something happen? Is something wrong?" When he saw he wasn't getting an answer from TK, he shifted to Kari. "Kari? Are you all right?"

Kari looked at Davis for a moment…then smiled. "I'm…fine. I'm just…a little shaken up, that's all."

Davis focused on TK again. "Did something happen to her?"

"She's fine," TK replied. "I just need to get her home. She's a little shaken up. Now please get out of our way, Davis."

Davis looked like he wanted answers and TK couldn't blame him. Kari was his friend, too, and he was entitled to answers. But Davis was likely to tell certain other people who would overreact. People like Tai. So TK decided to keep his mouth shut at the moment until this all blew over. TK tried leading Kari away, but Davis put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you going to be ok?" he asked concernedly.

Kari smiled and nodded. "I'll be fine. Thank you…Davis."

After confirming she was ok, TK continued walking Kari. He couldn't blame Davis for being concerned, but right now TK just wanted to get Kari home.

After she had been brought home, Kari looked around her room. It all looked so familiar to her. She sensed she had been here before. It was starting to come back to her. But she still didn't remember completely.

"Will you be ok?" TK asked.

Kari nodded. "Thank you for bringing me home, TK. I'll be fine."

TK walked over and gave Kari a quick peck on the cheek. "Then I'll call you later. Take care of yourself and get some rest."

With that, TK took his leave, leaving Kari by herself in her room. She was beginning to realize that Etemon was right. This was turning to be what's best. By coming back to her home, Kari was starting to remember a lot about her past. She recognized her old home; she recognized her old city; she recognized her mother when she opened the door; and she recognized…that boy with the goggles, Davis.

She couldn't stop thinking about Davis. He looked so concerned for her safety. Of course, he could have just as easily been as bad as the others Etemon told her about. But then again…Etemon NEVER mentioned Davis. That little encounter got her thinking.

She began to wonder…how well DID she know Davis? Did she know him as well as she did her other 'friends'? She didn't know what to think. She just knew she felt…confused.

"Kari?"

Kari gasped and turned to face her door. She immediately recognized him as the guy with the poofy hair. It was…her brother.

Kari hesitated. "Tai?"

Tai grinned. "Yeah, you look surprised to see me. I actually decided to come home this weekend. So how's everything going?"

Etemon wasn't kidding when he said Tai would try to come off as if nothing had happened. He warned her not to say anything, otherwise he would try something else. So Kari tried her best to act natural.

"I…just got back. Uh…TK brought me home."

Tai smiled. "Oh, then I guess you're both getting ready for your prom."

Kari blinked. "Prom?"

Tai was taken aback by Kari's expression. "Well, yeah! You're Senior Prom. The one coming up in two days. You and TK are going together, right?"

Kari remembered she had to act natural. "Oh…yeah! Of course!"

"Great! You know I'm getting plenty of pictures, right?"

"Oh…uh huh. Of course."

This was getting to be a little too intense for Kari. These sudden revelations weren't doing her any good. Right now, she just wanted some time to herself to absorb all this.

"Tai…I'm a little tired. Can we talk later?"

Tai grinned. "Ok, ok. I need to call Sora and Matt anyway. So I'll let you go ahead and think about……your magical night with TK."

With that big grin on his face, Tai left and closed Kari's door. Kari sighed deeply. This was all so confusing for her. She needed some time to think about all this. Then Kari reached into her pocket…and took out her communicator. Now would be a good time to check in with Etemon and let him know she was safe.

Etemon didn't see the Kari girl anywhere. The urgency was becoming greater, since the real Kari Kamiya could potentially destroy his plan. If she could find a way to contact her friends, then Etemon's charade would be uncovered. He had to find her and stop her.

But there looked to be nothing that could lead her to him. Etemon kicked the ground in frustration. Things weren't going his way at the moment and it seemed as if things couldn't get any better.

That's when he got a beeping from his communicator. The clone was ALREADY contacting him. He reached for the communicator and read the e-mail she sent him.


Dear Etemon,

My memory's getting a lot better. This world certainly seems very familiar to me and even my own home is starting to ring a few bells. I remember my mother and I even recognized my brother, whom you said tried to knock me off that cliff.

I feel so confused. My brother and my boyfriend seem like such caring people. But I can't forget that they're the ones who tried to kill me. Yet…they act as if they care about me so much. TK's even going on about how he can't wait for our Senior Prom, which is in TWO DAYS! I feel so confused, Etemon! I don't what I should think!

At least I know I can confide in someone. I ran into this boy named Davis and…he looks really familiar. And it looks like he genuinely cares for me. At least he isn't like the ones who tried to kill me.

But anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'm ok and that I'm safe. I hope things stay that way, but I'll let you know how things go. I'll keep in touch. Take care of yourself.

Love,
Kari


Etemon was beginning to think he underestimated the sickening kindness of those rotten DigiDestined. He also couldn't forget that his clone WAS of the holder of the Crest of Light, who obviously had human feelings and emotions. The clone was obviously getting mixed feelings and was probably beginning to second guess herself AND Etemon's story. It would take some more of the evil monkey's clever planning to keep the clone on his side and against the DigiDestined. That's when he got an idea.

Etemon knew there was still a way he could manipulate the clone's mind further…and that would mean he'd have to fabricate his story a little more.

Etemon quickly began replying to the e-mail…before pausing for a moment.

"Davis?"

He shrugged it off. Whoever this Davis person was probably wasn't anyone significant anyway.

Still in the Digital World, Kari just stayed inside the cave. She was starting to wish she had Gatomon to help her out, but she wasn't around. Kari was on her own and she needed to find her own way out. The best way to do that would be to find her lost Digivice. Of course, she didn't have the slightest idea where to begin looking.

Then she looked outside the cave and saw the best place she could possibly look. Kari looked into the river. Her Digivice could have easily fallen out of her pocket and into the river. It may have been somewhere near the bottom. Knowing there was no time to be wasted, Kari was ready to rush straight for the river…and take a long swim.

But before she made it…

…something grabbed her shoulder.


Next Time: What's got Kari by the shoulder? Is it a friend or a foe? What's going on back in Odaiba with Kari's clone? What's in Etemon's e-mail? And where IS Kari's Digivice?


Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below!