Last Time: Kari found out who saved her. It was none other than the heroic Leomon. As for Kari's Digivice, it was lying on the bottom of the river and who should retrieve it but Gomamon. Back in Odaiba, Kari's clone received a distressing letter from Etemon telling her that another plot to kill her was underway, leaving her unsure of anything except one thing, she couldn't trust her brother or her boyfriend. And as they all went out to dinner…Kari rushed out after realizing a logic gap.


Double Play: Part 6


Kari sat by the wall outside the restaurant with her face buried in her hands. She was starting to get that headache again. And that was because…she was feeling confused again. She truly believed in everything Etemon told her. She knew he couldn't be lying to her about anything.

But then she thought about what Sora and Mimi were telling them. Kari had supposedly promised to model for them three days ago. Yet…she wasn't AROUND three days ago. Kari was supposedly still lost three days ago. TK didn't find her until the day before. She didn't know if this was a trick or if it was them trying to go on as if nothing happened. But it DID leave her more confused than ever.

"Kari, are you ok?"

Kari didn't even realize it, but someone was out there with her. She took her face out of her hands and looked over to see…that Davis was sitting right next to her. And just like the day before, Davis had a look of concern on his face.

Etemon revealed a lot about what happened to Kari on that fateful day she was left for dead. He told her she couldn't trust her so-called friends. But none of those so-called friends included Davis.

"Davis…I…there's just so much going through my head right now," Kari said sadly. "I…it's like I don't know who to trust anymore. A lot's…happened."

"Like what? You can tell me."

Kari looked up at Davis and decided to ask an important question. "Davis…have you ever noticed anyone talking about me behind my back?"

Davis thought about that. "Why would you think that?"

Kari shook her head. "I guess you wouldn't understand. You…aren't like them." That put a smile on Kari's face. "Davis…how long have I known you?"

Davis thought about that, too. "We've known each other for a long time. For about seven or eight years."

"Davis…do you care about me?"

Davis didn't have to think about that. "Of course I do, Kari. You're one of my best friends. Why would you even ask me that question?"

Kari was starting to think about everything now. She was thinking about the e-mail Etemon sent her and how he said the others were plotting against her again. She thought about how she couldn't trust anybody…and she remembered prom was one day away. She knew that if she walked in with TK, she wasn't likely to come out of that night alive. So she came to a decision.

Kari looked up at Davis…and smiled. "Davis…can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Do you have a date for prom?

Davis hung his head down. "No…but it's no big deal. I'm not worried about it. I…"

Kari held Davis's hand. "Would you go to the prom with me?"

Davis's jaw just about dropped open. He obviously wasn't expecting that question, but Kari knew exactly what she doing. She needed someone who cared about her as much as Davis did. If she went into prom with him at her side, her chances of surviving were much greater. Kari KNEW she could trust Davis. And maybe…just maybe…Davis WAS starting to grow on her a little bit.

It took a while for the shock to wear off, but Davis finally responded.

"M-Me? Kari……what about TK?"

Kari shut her eyes, leaving a solemn look on her face. "I…can't go with TK. It's…complicated. Please don't ask me why."

"Kari, you can tell me anything. Why can't you go with TK?"

Kari honestly wanted to say something, but she couldn't. All it would do was get Davis worrying about her more. Not to mention the possibility of her brother and TK doing away with her sooner if they found out Kari knew something.

"I just can't say. As a friend, I'm asking that you please not ask."

"Well…ok. But…do you really want to just…dump TK like that?"

Kari rested her head on Davis's shoulder. "Davis…right now…I can't tell you what I'm feeling for TK. But I can tell you what I'm feeling for you. Right now…I honestly feel…safe around you."

Davis looked like he didn't know what to make of any of this. He was going through many emotions and among those were confusion, happiness, and total SHOCK. Kari looked into his eyes…and saw he that range of emotions. It was like he desperately wanted to give her a definite answer, but was unsure what that answer was.

Kari decided to coax Davis a little further. "Davis…you aren't…turning me down, are you?"

Davis finally smiled. "N-N-No…I…I'll…well…ok! I'll go to the prom with you, Kari!"

That was all Kari wanted to hear. She threw her arms around Davis, who briefly hesitated before finally returning the hug. Kari still felt like she had a lot of problems…but for the moment, she felt a lot better. She felt much more secure around Davis.

Kari got to her feet. "Come on, Davis. I need to take a walk."

"Kari…shouldn't we tell everyone else?"

Kari looked inside the restaurant to see that everyone was already eating. She knew they wouldn't notice if she left. So she just shrugged.

"We'll let them eat in peace. Let's just go to the park. I need to clear my head and…maybe we can talk?"

Davis smiled. "Ok."

As they were both walking down the street and leaving the restaurant, Davis was still a little hesitant, so Kari encouraged him a little more by leaning her head on his shoulder. It was starting to loosen Davis up a little more and that left Kari a bit relieved. She didn't want Davis to have any worries about this.

A few hours passed and Davis still wasn't ready to leave the park yet. Of course this whole day was like a dream. Not just because he was enjoying it so much, but because…it all seemed so impossible. It was just 24 hours ago that she was with TK and seemingly looking forward to going to the prom with him. Apparently, something changed between then and now.

Throughout this whole day, Davis tried to examine the look on Kari's face. It was seemingly an empty, confused stare. There was something on her mind…and she wasn't opening up to anyone. Davis was beginning to wonder…if she and TK had a fight. Why else would she want to go the prom with him instead of TK?

Kari sat under a nearby tree in the refreshing shade. Davis sat right beside her and thought about getting some answers. There had to be a reason Kari was suddenly going to him instead of TK.

"Kari…has something been bothering you lately?"

Kari paused for a moment. "Why…no. Nothing's wrong."

Davis shook his head. "Kari, I can see it. Something IS wrong. Did something happen between you and TK?"

Kari sighed deeply. "I…we…well………Davis……I can confide in you…right?"

"Of course you can! You can tell me anything!"

"Well…Davis…I…can't trust TK right now. Right now…I don't feel safe around him. And…I'm sure not in love with him. Right now…I feel safe around you. I can trust you. And…I…I might even be in love with you."

Davis couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Kari…do you realize what you're saying?"

Kari looked into Davis's eyes and smiled. "Do YOU?"

And with that…Kari leaned over…and kissed Davis. For Davis, this was like a dream was coming true…although it was a dream that he hadn't even thought about in many years. Davis had dismissed this whole scenario as impossible…yet here he was. His lips and Kari's lips were pressed together in an affectionate kiss.

"Kari?!"

The kiss suddenly broke. And Davis turned white as soon as he heard that voice. He turned his head to see…

…TK.

The first thing Davis noticed was the look of shock…and fear on Kari's face. She quickly got to her feet…and ran out, leaving Davis alone.

TK cried out for her. "KARI!"

Davis, on the other hand, was still sitting. There was a part of him that still hadn't absorbed everything that had happened. So he was still sitting even after Kari had left. Davis could only look on as TK just watched Kari run away. The poor boy was in shock.

Of course, TK also looked betrayed. His expression of heartbreak soon turned to anger…as soon as he turned to Davis. And Davis was in the wrong place at the wrong time. TK slowly approached Davis.

Davis quickly tried to defend himself. "TK…that wasn't what it looked like! I…"

**POW**

Davis didn't even get to finish…before TK's fist connected with his eye.

Davis could only just lie back and lose consciousness.

Still in the Digital World, Kari desperately wanted to get home. She had been gone more than a day and Senior Prom was tomorrow. She knew she had to hurry and get back. She knew one of her friends, most likely TK, was probably looking for her, but they wouldn't get far if they tried to track her Digivice. Since Kari had lost her D-3, her friends couldn't track her location. Kari also knew she could get back herself home with her Digivice. Unfortunately, it was still missing.

Kari sat by the river as Leomon helpfully scoured the waters, searching for the missing D-3. She wanted to help look for it, too, but Leomon insisted she get some rest. She felt fine, but the big champion lion didn't think Kari should be exerting herself after that long fall she had.

Leomon's head popped up out of the water. "Nope. Nothing. There's no sign of your Digivice."

Kari groaned. "Where could it be? I can't lose it! I can't get home without it!"

"It's a big river," Leomon offered. "It may be somewhere else. We can keep looking until we find something. I'll help you find it."

With that, Kari started walking along the dry land while Leomon swam down the river beside her.

"Thanks for helping me, Leomon," Kari smiled. "It's nice to hear that good Digimon like you are still being reconfigured."

Leomon nodded. "Evil Digimon like Ogremon can't keep me down forever. And trust me, for as many times as he's beaten me, I've beaten the likes of Ogremon twice as much."

Such a thought comforted Kari. The fact that heroic Digimon like Leomon were still wandering the Digital World made her feel much better. It looked like the unenviable task of confronting evil wasn't exclusive to DigiDestined.

Leomon dove into the river again and searched around. That's when the water started splashing violently. It looked like Leomon was in the midst of a struggle. Kari quickly jumped into the water to try to help. But as she got in, Leomon's head popped out of the water again.

"I've found something!" Leomon exclaimed.

Leomon tossed something to Kari. It was just what Kari was looking for. It was Kari's Digivice. Leomon had found it. Before Kari could even thank Leomon, he pulled out a Digimon from the water. Kari immediately recognized him.

"Gomamon?!"

"Is this what I get for just swimming around?!" Gomamon asked indignantly. "I try to do the right thing and I end up getting ambushed!" After that initial complaint, Gomamon noticed Kari. "Kari? Great to see you! Is that your Digivice?"

Kari nodded. "Yes it is. Where'd you find it, Gomamon?"

"It was sitting in the bottom of the river. I knew it belonged to one of you guys."

"Do you know this guy?" Leomon asked.

"Yes, she knows me!" Gomamon growled. "Hmm…you look familiar. Hey! You're Leomon!"

"That's me. I was helping Kari find her lost Digivice." He turned to Kari. "I take it that's your lost Digivice?"

"Yes it is!" Kari replied cheerfully, obviously relieved that she could now get home. "Thank you so much, Leomon!"

"Ahem…"

"Oh, and thank you, Gomamon! I guess now I'll go home."

"Hey Kari, is it all right if I tag along?" Gomamon asked.

"Sure, why not?" Kari replied cheerfully. "We're going back through my PC anyway. I'm sure Joe will be REALLY surprised to see you."

"That's what I'm hoping for," Gomamon grinned. "I wonder if he's restocked his fridge yet?"

Kari held out her D-3. "Let's find out."

The D-3 Digivice opened a port back to the real world. Kari never thought much of how Izzy tweaked the D-3s so that they were able to open a port from any home computer, but it was sure a blessing now. Luckily, Kari kept her computer on all day long just for such an emergency as this one.

With the port opened, Kari let Gomamon pass through first. But before Kari passed through, she looked back one more time.

"Thanks again, Leomon. I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't saved me."

"Think nothing of it," Leomon said. "You just keep yourself safe. I can't always be around."

Having said her goodbye to Leomon, Kari passed through the port. She was finally going home.

Etemon's fears were being realized as he saw the real Kari Kamiya opening a port back to the real world. This could potentially put a huge snag in his plan. But soon, some good news came to the monkey mastermind. His communicator was going off.

It was a message from the Gazimon back in the cave. And they're message was a simple one.

The Stage Is Finished

Etemon grinned evilly upon seeing that news. Everything was all set. It was time…for a comeback. But there was still one piece of the puzzle missing. He still needed the clone to do her part and open a port to the Digital World so Etemon could invade with his new stage.

So he reached for his communicator and began writing the clone an e-mail.


Next Time: We've got two Karis in the real world. The real Kari's heading to her house. The clone is who-knows-where. And for the real Kari Kamiya, the night before prom quickly gets complicated. As for Etemon, his stage is finished. All that's left is for him to head to the real world. Does he get there…with the aid of the clone? Find out next time!


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