Disclaimer:        I didn't have any money when I started this, and through books for classes I have even less now.  I don't own Digimon, TK, or Kari.  I wish I did though.

            Chapter 3

            "So then Tai comes back, totally forgetting that my roommate was getting home that day.  He hears the water running in the bathroom, and walks in as she's getting out of the shower.  I'm asleep back in my room until I hear a piercing shriek.  I bolt out of bed and race to the bathroom to find Tai cowering outside, desperately covering his eyes and babbling about not realizing she was home yet.  Alison's in the bathroom shouting that Tai's a pervert and that she should call the cops."  Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya laughed as their son turned a bright shade of red as his girlfriend recounted the embarrassing tale of his last humiliation.

            "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Tai mumbled.  "Like you said, I didn't realize Alison was supposed to be back that day, I thought it was you."

            "So why were you walking into the bathroom in the first place?" Mr. Kamiya questioned, raising his eyebrow but still smiling broadly.

            "Now honey, I'm sure it was something totally innocent," Mrs. Kamiya interjected.  "I'm sure Tai was just going to offer to wash her back or something, right dear?"  Tai's face managed to turn an even brighter shade of red as the car pulled into the apartment complex's underground parking garage.

            "At least we managed to come home," Tai grumbled.  "Maybe now Kari can bear the brunt of some of your ridicule."

            "I thought you liked your sister?" Megumi wondered, helping Tai pull the suitcases out of the trunk.

            "I love and revere Kari," Tai agreed.  "Just not enough to try and protect her from you three."  That got another round of laughter from the other three as they got off the elevator and moved to the apartment door.  Tai grinned back at his girlfriend as he inserted his key and opened the door.

Kari.

            I looked up in a panic as the front door opened, allowing laughter and my family into the apartment.  I panicked big time.  I was sitting on the sofa in nothing but a button up shirt and TK was naked and asleep in my bedroom.  So not good.  Tai looked up as he entered and broke into a wide grin.

            "Hey sis!  We're home!"

            "H-Hey Tai," I managed to reply.  Mom was just staring at me oddly, while Dad was just staring at me.

            "Kari, where are your clothes?"  It figures Dad would ask that, doesn't it?

            "Ah, my clothes?  Oh, those clothes!  They're in my room!  I wasn't expecting company…"

            "Obviously," Mom grinned.  Shit, she knows.  I hope she's still as supportive now as she was before.

            "So I didn't bother getting dressed.  Why don't I go pop back into my room so I can get dressed?"

            "Where's TK?"  Tai, I love you, but right now I wish I was an only child.  You had to ask that one question, didn't you?  Dad's eyes just narrowed slightly and I'm pretty sure Tai just picked up on it.  He's moving towards my room!

            "Tai, wait!"  I cry, launching myself at him, trying desperately to hold him back.

            "I'm going to kill that little shit," Tai growled, trying to push his way past me.  "I trusted him!  How could he take advantage of you like that?  I'm going to kill him!"

            "No, you won't and you know that."  I turn around and feel relieved and even more frightened as I see Takeru.

TK.

            I wake up slightly groggy.  I expect to find Kari in my arms, and the fact that she's not throws me.  Then I hear voices, and I pick out two at once.  One is Kari's and the other's is Tai.  Shit!  I glance at the clock and realize that they're home almost a full day early.  I hurry up and pull on my boxers and pants, searching for my shirt for a second.  I guess that Kari's wearing it as I find her clothes still in a pile on the floor.  I hurry out into the hallway just in time to hear Tai's last few words.

            "How could he take advantage of you like that?  I'm going to kill him!"  That hurts on a level Tai can't even begin to see in me.  All I can do is suck it up for the minute and face him.  As I step out into the hall I just say the first thing I can think of.

            "No, you won't and you know that."  Tai glares at me over Kari's shoulder.  For her part, Kari steps readily into my embrace, and for just a second all that exists are the two of us.  Then reality crashes down around us.  I release Kari and step between her and Tai.

            "If you have something to say to me, say it now."  I see Tai's fist tense and a part of me wants to believe he's not going to throw the punch.  Another part thinks that I probably deserve it.  His fist connects with my jaw, sending me staggering back a step or two.  I hear Kari gasp and she grabs me to try and steady me.  I push her away, trying desperately to keep Tai's anger focused on me.

Kari.

            I gasp as Tai's fist connects with TK.  Not even twenty minutes ago, my life was perfect.  Now, it feels like it's crashing in all around my head.  I grab onto TK to try and steady him as Tai's punch rocks him back on his feet.  He shrugs me off and faces Tai once more.  Tai pulls his fist back again and I see Megumi start to move to intercept him, but Takeru beats us to it.

            "Don't.  That one was free.  Anything else will cost you."  Takeru and Tai look eyes for a moment before Tai finally drops his hand and averts his eyes. 

            "I still want you out of this house," he growls.

            "Tough."  We all turn towards my mom and dad, who have been standing by during that little altercation.  "Your father and I want to have words with Kari and TK.  Tai, would you mind going out and showing Megumi around?  I'm sorry about this, dear."  The final remark was directed at Megumi who shook her head.

            "Please don't worry about me, Mrs. Kamiya.  Besides, Tai said he would show me around town and introduce me to some of his friends.  Now would be a wonderful time to do that."  She quickly crosses over to me and gives me a hug.

            "Do you love each other?" she whispers in my ear.

            "Forever," I whisper back.

            "Than you should be fine.  I'm going to go try and calm your brother down, so take care."  We separate and Megumi grabs Tai by the arm and practically drags him out of the apartment.  Takeru and I stand there, fidgeting under my parents gaze for a moment before my dad finally speaks.

            "TK, Tai hit you pretty hard.  Why don't you sit down?"

TK.

            I feel drained.  That standoff with Tai was exhausting and now I have to go through it again, only this time with Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya.  Fortunately, things appear to be somewhat better, when Mr. Kamiya asks me if I want to sit down.  I'm too tired to speak right now, so I just nod and almost fall into the sofa.  Fortunately, Kari manages to catch me and helps me sit down.

            "Are you alright, dear?"  I manage to raise my head as I vaguely hear Mrs. Kamiya's question.

            "I'll be fine," I managed to lie.  Kari doesn't believe me, and I'm pretty sure that her parents don't either, but for now, they aren't going to call me on it.

            "Alright, TK, if you're sure that you're alright.  I'm sure Kari wouldn't forgive you if you lied to her and us."  I stare at Kari's dad for a moment, trying to determine if he's really not mad.  He isn't.  I can see it in his eyes.  He's concerned about Kari, yes and slightly about me, but he isn't mad.

            "First off, let's set some things strait.  Your mother told me about your feelings, though I must say that I'm not surprised," he began.  "Secondly, I approve.  I know that you don't need it, but I'm sure you would feel better with it, and quite frankly, I feel better giving it.  I have always trusted my daughter with you, TK, and that isn't going to suddenly change now that you've both decided to act on your feelings."

            Dear God, that's a relief.  I can almost feel all the tension in my body drain away and suddenly, I have the consistency of Jell-O.  I practically collapse into Kari's arms, and I barely manage to hear her concerned yell.

Kari.

            "TK!"   I come damn close to panicking as he suddenly falls into my arms, totally lifeless.  Mom rushes over and quickly checks his pulse and then smiles.

            "He just passed out," she smiles.  "My guess would be that he hasn't slept too much and that little match up with Tai sapped the last of his strength.  Let's get him into bed and then the three of us can talk."  Normally, those words would have probably scared the hell out of me, but right now I know that they approve.  Besides, TK lying in my arms is somewhat distracting.  Oh well.  Dad helps me pick him up and move him back to my room and lay him down on the bed.  I take a second to feel at his forehead and stroke his hair.  Dad lays a hand on my shoulder and I place a kiss on TK's forehead and then head back to the living room.  I'm not too crazy about leaving him alone right now, but I do need to talk to Mom and Dad.  Especially about that little surprise TK gave me last night.

TK.

            I wake up disoriented, but oddly rested.  Glancing at the clock, I realize why.  It's nearly seven at night!  God, when did I go to bed?  I get up, still wearing my pants, and head out into the living room.  Kari and her dad are laughing at something, and the smell from the kitchen indicates that Mrs. Kamiya is probably cooking.  I sort of hope not, but oh well.  Kari looks up as I enter and smiles, rushing into my arms and kissing me.

            "Rub my face in it, why don't you?"  And Tai's back, I notice.  He and Megumi are sitting on the couch with Matt and Sora.  At least he seems less likely to kill me on sight.  I think.

            "Hey bro," Matt grins.  "We were starting to worry about you.  Dad and Mrs. Kamiya should be back soon, then you and I need to get cracking."

            "Huh?"  I'm really lost now.

            "Dinner," Sora chimes in.  "Right now, your mom's getting things ready and as soon as your dad and Mrs. Kamiya get back from the store, you and Matt need to make dinner."

            "Alright," I shrug.  No problems there.

            "TK?  Would you overly mind putting on a shirt?"  Megumi's request jars me back to reality as I realize that Kari's fully dressed, but still wearing my shirt from earlier.

            "Sorry, but I wasn't expecting company," I grin.  "Give me a sec."  I head back to Kari's room and pull a shirt out of my drawer and pull it on.  Before I can move, I feel a pair of arms encircle my waist and a quick kiss in between my shoulder blades.

            "I thought I had to make dinner?" I joked.  I turned around in her eyes to look down on the love of my life.

            "I just thought I'd fill you in all the way on what's happening," she smiled, kissing me again.

            "I talked to Mom and Dad after you passed out."  She gave me a scolding look for allowing myself to get to such a state.  "They're OK with our relationship, even with how far it's gone.  Tai's still kind of bitter since I never told him how I felt about you, but he's getting over it.  He really is happy for us; he's just kind of overwhelmed right now.  Mom called your parents so that they could have a little parental chat and decided that their fully behind us on whatever we decide to do."

            "What else?" I prompt, feeling that she's holding something back.

            "They know about your question," she replied, softly.  OK, I so wasn't seeing that one coming.

            "And?" I ask, almost afraid of the answer.

            "They're still thinking about it," she replied, still fairly quiet.

            "But, you hadn't given me an answer yet," I prompt, wondering if she's decided.

            "TK, of course I'd love to come with you," she sighs.  "It would be wonderful to go to France and meet your family after we graduate next year, but I'm still not sure if that would be a good idea.  I mean, for us to be alone, on our own," she trails off.

            "Yeah, just you and me, alone, in a beautiful country, living together and enjoying each other's company.  That would just be so horrible," I smile.

            "TK, you know what I mean," she sighs in exasperation.  "What about money?  It's not like either of us are very well off, financially."

            "Umm, actually, I'm kind of rich," I admit, sure that my cheeks are turning red.

Kari.

            I'm sure that I didn't hear him right.

            "What did you say?"  I try to keep the edge out of my voice, but I've never heard TK mention that he had money.

            "I said, I'm rich," he shrugs.  "My mother's parents are part owners of a major telecommunications firm in France.  When Matt and I were born, they set up accounts for us that we'd be able to access after we turned eighteen.  The last time I was in France, I checked the balance of the account with my Grandfather.  It's somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 million American dollars."  I simply stare at him, numb.  TK is rich.  It's not something that my mind can seem to be able to wrap itself around.

            "Kari?  Say something, Love, you're beginning to frighten me."

            "Why didn't you ever mention this before?" I wonder, still thrown.

            "Well, like I said, I can't gain access to the money until I turn eighteen, so I never really gave it that much thought before.  And later, I didn't want people to know in case they decided to become my friends to get to the money."

            "Why didn't you ever tell me?" I emphasis.  "TK, we've never kept secrets from each other before, why did you keep something like this from me?"  He shrugs, looking slightly guilty.

            "I didn't want it to color our friendship at first," he admits.  "I didn't want you to think any differently about me because I was rich.  Later on, I don't know, it just became kind of a habit to keep it a secret."

            "You're rich," I repeat, my brain finally absorbing the information.  A smile breaks out across my face.  "TK, this is great!" I yell throwing myself into his arms, laughing wildly.  "Of course I'll come with you, then!"

            "Hey, easy Angel," he laughs.  "First we have to graduate."
            "Oh, like that's going to be a problem for us!" I laugh.  "TK, this is going to be wonderful!  Don't you remember?  We both have an excess of credits!  We can graduate a semester early!"  His face lights up as he remembers and he begins to laugh with me.

            "Let's go tell our parents," I suggest, still beaming.

            "In a second, Angel," he smiles, capturing my lips.  I return his kiss with abandon, realizing that school can't come soon enough.

                                                End.