Disclaimer: If I did own Digimon, it'd have a bit more romance than, '"Hey Sora, are you
going to the concert with anybody? I mean, not that it matters to me that you are, but..."',
but of course I don't own digimon, so we'll have to settle for, '"The Crests of Hope and Light
are different from the others..."'.

A/N: I'm extremely glad that you've enjoyed the fic so far, especially since its my first!
Well, hope you enjoy this chapter more than the others! This is the final part of the story,
so, as always, read, review, and enjoy!

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Joys Of Being Evil
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"She's gone."

TK woke up just before noon, tear streaks stained on his face from the night before. He had
gotten barely any sleep. The boy felt angry and upset...with himself. The vision of what
happened was still fresh in his mind....


{[(Flashback: TK's POV)]}
*The Dance*

"I love you too, Takeru."

My world shattered like a broken mirror. 'Love? ME? ...too?'

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" I knew I screamed the same thing, but I only heard her voice. It
was deafening. I knew what she had said, and what I had said. And I couldn't believe what had
just come out of my mouth seconds before.

"How could you...why couldn't you..." she stammered out. It was so confusing, yet almost clear.
I knew what she wanted to know, but I couldn't bring myself to understand any of it. Kari ran
out of the gym, crying her eyes out, with Tai and Sora after her.

I soon felt my own eyes starting to water. The lump in my throat grew.

'She thought I was going to confess my feelings to her...and I blew her off. My feelings...but
how do I feel about her? Why is this so difficult? It's just Kari...no, not *just* Kari. It is
Kari. How could think of her like that? It's impossible to think of her like that, not the way
I feel about her...Why have I been feeling like this for so long, what is it?!'

And then the song answered for me.

"That feeling is love..."

I ran out the same gym door Kari did, trying to find her, but it was too late. She was gone.

{[(End Flashback)]}


TK stood up, getting dressed first this time, and walked into the living room. He then passed
Mimi and Matt, who were simply making out, on his way to the TV.

After about a minute or so, this became a bit annoying while trying to watch the television.

"Don't mind me, but I'd like a warning if you too are going to go all the way...."

As if they just now noticed him, Matt and Mimi parted, drawing deep breaths.

"Sorry TK, we thought you were out..." Matt eventually spoke.

"No, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm still here." Matt could hear the anger in his brother's
voice. He only hoped TK wasn't angry at him.

"Look, TK, Matt told me about what happened at the dance, and--"

"How could he? His tounge was so far down your throat he might as well have been giving you--"

"TK!" Matt shouted at TK, his own anger building.

TK sighed, hanging his head. "I'm sorry...I just...I'm so fustrated! How could this happen?!
Why would this happen...?"

Mimi sat down next to TK. "Well, TK, sometimes things just don't work out. Maybe she wasn't
right for--"

"Excuse me? Are you saying that Kari and I couldn't work out? Are you saying Kari isn't right
for me? Any girl who is smart, pretty, and funny is right for me. But Kari is more than just
any girl to me. Not only is she smart, beautiful, funny, but she is a wonderful person. She is
caring, and fun to be around. Kari was...is my best friend. And I lo... I love her."

Mimi smiled at TK, and walked back over to Matt, putting an arm around his neck.

"I knew he'd figure it out someday," Matt smirked, then frowned. "But it may be too late."

TK stood up to get his jacket. "No, this isn't going to happen. I won't let it. I'm not going
to lose Kari."

"So what are you going to do?" Mimi asked, Matt already knowing the answer.

"He's going to go look for her and try to confess his feelings to her...sounds like part of
some twisted romantic comedy to me. Oh well, good luck bro."

"Thanks guys. Bye!"

The two watched TK walk out of the apartment and smiled at each other.

The door whisked open once again. "And another thing! You guys shouldn't be--"

"GO!" Matt and Mimi thundered, throwing TK out the door.

*****

"So in other words, you blew it, didn't you?"

"Well...yeah. What should I do?"

Yolei pulled away from the computer screen. "To tell you the truth...I don't know. What would
you do, Kenny?"

"Kenny...?" TK wondered aloud.

Ken looked up from his laptop. "Well...have you talked to her?"

"No."

"Have you tried to find out how she feels?"

"Sort of."

"Do you have any confindence at all?"

"Ken, Yolei... I really need help here. I went to her apartment, and either no one was home or
no one answered."

"Well...find Tai. He should know where she is." Yolei stated, going back to her
computer.

"Thanks guys. Tai should be at soccer practice, right? So I'll just head over to the field.
Bye."

"Bye TK."


TK walked out the door, and over to the elevator, where he met Cody.

"Hi TK. I heard about the dance, is everything alright?"

"Not really."

"I'm sure Kari is alright. You guys have been through a lot together, and she really does care
about you. And I know you feel the same way about her."

TK sighed. "I do Cody, I just couldn't realize it until after I..." he trailed off, not wanting
to remember it.

"I know TK. I just hope for Kari's sake, and for your's, that she knows that."

The elevator door opened and TK stepped in. "Goodbye Cody."

"Goodbye TK."

*****

TK caught up with Tai as he was leaving the park. However, Tai wasn't exactly happy to see
him....

"What do you want?" the older DigiDestined asked firmly.

TK hesistated. He didn't want to make things worse between him and Kari, and things not going
right with Tai would be an easy way of letting that happen.

"I..I just want to know where Kari is."

Tai crossed the street, TK trying to follow.

"I don't know why you're following me, she isn't home. And even if she were, she wouldn't want
to see you."

"Tai, please! Do you know where she is...I have to talk to her."

Tai stopped walking, and turned to TK.

"I think she needs some time alone, TK...."

"I need to talk to her Tai, before..."

"Before what, TK? Before she finds someone else? That won't happened for a long time, because
she is too scared to get close to anyone like you two were. Or maybe before she doesn't want
to see you ever again? I think it's too late for that." Tai finished off, turning to walk away.

But TK jumped in front of him, eyes narrowed. "Tai, I don't care what you think. I must talk to
Kari. I'm not going to lose her. You may think I already have, but I know I haven't." TK looked
Tai straight in the eyes. "Now if you want to help her, you should help me."

Tai sighed. "I really don't know where she is, TK. I'm sorry."

TK stared at Tai for a moment, and ran back in the direction of his apartment building.

Tai sighed, thinking aloud, "I'm sorry Takeru, but I can't let you hurt her anymore than you
already have."

*****

"Yeah, what? Oh, hey TK."

"Matt...Why is your hair like that?...And why is your shirt on backwards?"

Matt closed the door after TK walked in.

"Uh...I just got out of the shower....I guess I didn't notice my shirt, thanks." He fixes his
shirt, and starts to comb his hair. "So how did it go with Kari?"

"I couldn't find her. Tai doesn't know where she is, or at least that's what he says. I didn't
even bother talking to Davis," TK sat down on the couch. "So wheres Mimi?"

"Well, uh, shes, er...."

"Matt..."

Just then, the two heard a knocking at the door. TK answered it.

"Hey T--"

"YOU!!!"

Davis had barely anytime to react as the flying missle known as TK tackled him against the
wall, and started punching and kicking wildly at him.

"You! This! Is! All! Your! Fault!" Takeru screamed as he layed punches on Davis' chest with
each word. "If you didn't get me thinking about how Kari felt about me, none of this would've
happened!"

"None of what would've happened?! OW! STOP IT! Help!" Davis cried.

Matt finally pulled TK off of Davis, and brought them both inside.

"Both of you guys, stop it!"

Davis stood across the room, in front of TK. "Did something happen at the dance? It couldn't
have been worse than my night."

"Uh, Davis...," Matt tried to warn.

"I mean, after my date slapped me and poured her cherry soda down my pants, I didn't think it
could get any worse..."

"Davis...," Matt spoke again.

"But then, she takes the entire punch bowl, and drenches me. In front of the entire school! Can
you believe that? Everyone was laughing and making fun of me! It was horrible! So how was your
night TK?"

"Davis!"

TK rushed Davis once more, his anger built up so much. "You fool! Do you have any freaking idea
what you did?! To me?! To KARI!?"

Matt held back TK as Davis spoke, confused. "What are you talking about? What happened to
Kari?"

"You and your stupid questions you got into my head! I should have never talked to you! I may
never talk to Kari again because of you!"

"Oh, that's what this is about. What do you mean because of me?! You couldn't figure out how
you felt about Kari! Of all the people that know your feelings for her, you're the only one who
didn't! And that is not my fault!"

*****

Kari didn't hear the yelling from outside the apartment. She wondered if she should be where
she was. Tai told her about his conversation with TK, but she still didn't feel right to do
this.

She raised her hand to knock on the door...


{[(Flashback: Kari's POV)]}
*The Dance*

"I want to know why you wanted to go to the dance with me so much."
"I love you too, Takeru."

For a brief moment in time, I believed he loved me. I mean, this was the perfect time, the
perfect place. But it just didn't happen. He had to ask about his own feelings. He would've
known why I wanted to go with him if he had the same feelings I had for him.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" I boomed. I saw his mouth move, but I didn't hear anything.

"How could you...why couldn't you..." I spoke, trying to get my words across. I just couldn't
believe how he couldn't understand. I ran out of the building, cryin. Tai and Sora came after
me. I didn't see TK follow me...and for that...I was glad.

{[(End Flashback)]}


Kari took her hand away from the door, and walked back to the elevator.

*****

Davis went over to the window, looking at the clouds forming in the sky. "Look, TK. I had
nothing to do with what happened between you and Kari, and you know that. Now I suggest that
you--". Something outside caught Davis' eye.

"What is it Davis?" TK ran over to the window and saw the same thing Davis saw.
Kari was getting into a cab.

TK raced out the door.

*****

"Kari wait!" TK yelled, but it was too late. The cab was speeding off in the direction of
Kari's apartment building. TK sighed and turned back. He felt water on fall on the top of his
head. Then came more. Then more. And more. It started pouring.

TK closed his eyes for a moment, thought about it, and ran off into the nearby alley. He knew
a shortcut to Kari's apartment. He raced to a seemingly dead end until he climbed up the brick
wall that was just a bit taller than he was.

He would have to reach Kari before she got into her apartment. She'd never let him in. TK leapt
over a small gathering of bushes to let himself into the park.

'Why am I doing this?', the question suddednly came to the young boy's mind. Then a voice from
the inside answered for him. *Because you love her, duh!*

TK knew the voice was right. All his feelings about her pointed towards love. Whenever he was
with her, even in the worst situation, she made him feel better. All this thinking almost let
TK run into a tree, but he narrowly dodged it. Soon, TK reached the end of the park and found
a VERY busy road.

He would have to wait for the stoplight to change. ...Two seconds went by and he had made his
decision. 'There's no time,' he told himself as he ran across the cement. The first two lanes
were empty, so he had no problem with two to go. One car slammed on the brakes quickly, allowing
him to roll over the front. He didn't see the truck coming until the driver sounded the horn.

TK turned around and did the only thing he could. He jumped back and layed himself straight
and flat on the ground, praying that the stunts they did in the movies really worked. TK closed
his eyes and suddenly...the truck was behind him. TK quickly ran to the other edge of the road,
to fixated on Kari to celebrate the fact that he was alive.

*****

Almost as soon as Kari walked out of the cab, umbrella in hand, she heard a painfully familiar
voice.

"Kari! Please...we...must talk...," TK started, panting.

Kari turned around, surprised to see a soak-and-wet, out-of-breath, dazed, and riding a small
pink bicycle.

"I have nothing to talk to you about Takeru. Go!" Kari replied coldly, walking quickly back to
her home.

"Please Kari. I have to talk to you!"

"Leave me alone, Takaishi!"

"Kari, I have climbed up walls, raced through parks, dodged trees, rolled over cars, and have
been run over by a truck to get to you right now! Not to mention battled countless demons from
another universe to help save your live and the lives of people we both love! I think you can
give me a few seconds!"

Kari sighed. "Fine. What is it?"

~~~~~

Tai watched what was happening from his living room window, and raced for the door. A strong
pulling from behind tugged at his arm and brought him back to the window.

"I don't know where you think you're going. We're going to let them work this out for
themselves," Sora kept Tai from doing anything except staring out the window.

"Fine, but if anything goes wrong, I'm going down there."

~~~~~

"Kari...last night, I just couldn't understand. But I understand, and I know now, that I do
love you."

SMACK! Kari's hand left a red hot handprint on TK's face.

"You expect me to believe that?! You never loved me, you only wanted me to love you. And I
did."

"I always loved you Kari. All the stuff that happened last night only means one thing:
It took me time to realize how much I loved you. I will feel like this about you forever, no
matter how you feel about me."

She sighed and drew closer to him. "TK...I still love you, I do. But even after all of this, I
still don't know if we can be together. I..."

"Kari. How long have we been friends? Five, maybe six years? How can we ruin this relationship?
I just have to know how you feel about me. You just have to know that I love you, and not just
as a friend. Sure, you are my very best friend. But you're more than that to me."

"TK...you are more to me too....But if you couldn't understand until I had to tell you...."

"Kari, I made a mistake last night by not being able to see how we felt. But I can now. And I
just hope you can see how I feel."

Kari sighed a small, happy sigh. She smiled. "TK...I have no idea how you do it," she curved
her arms around his neck. "But still, after all we've gone through together, good and bad, you
keep your Hope. And through this crazy bet that your brother made up, I expected to get so many
laughs from you. And really, it's all been a terrible experience, with a few joys here and there.
Us coming together has been one of them. After all of this, how do you keep your Hope?"

TK put his arms around Kari's waist. "It's because I have you to hope for. I hope for your love
because it's the only thing worth having in two worlds. I love you Hikari."

Kari's smile grew. "I love you too, Takeru."

After Kari repeated her words from the last night, the two finally embraced in a long, lovely,
tongues-entwined kiss. When they finally parted, they simply smiled at each other. Kari put her
hand to where she had slapped TK before.

"Oh...I'm sorry about that..."

TK laughed. "It's alright."

"No, really, how can I make it up to you?" Kari asked.

"Well, you just did, really," TK grinned. "But helping me with my math homework would do."

They both laughed, and walked towards the building hand in hand.

Kari giggled once more, saying, "And to think you were really only suppose to buy me a slice of
pizza, but then Matt came up with the idea for this slave thing...."

"What?!"


*******
The End
*******

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Well...my first fic...hope you all liked it! I think I could have done this chapter better...oh
well, maybe I'll rewrite it later on. Tell me what you thought, and review!

-- KetchupBoy