CHAPTER 1: If I Die Before I Wake


Authors Note: Hi!^_^ This is my first posted story in what I hope will be a long line of cool fan fics yet to come. Before I start, a few fave authors I'd like ta thank: Psycho G, Ben Myatt, Silver, Anthony, Digivice, Digi Bonds and Darkstar01, you guys are soo l33t! Hey...guess what? I am DarkStar01's sister! lol. Pretty cool, huh? Thats why you may find a few similarities here and there in our stories, writing styles, or maybe even our story formats! Ok, with that stuff finally out of the way, here is whats goin on in my fic. It is about two to three weeks after 02 is over, and the digidestined are getting on with their happy little lives. Just a note to all you readers out there, when something written during the story is in italics, it's somebody thinking. When (if I ever feel the need to) I talk to you, it will be in ( ) these. Got that? Well, guess thats it for now. Read and ,dear god, please enjoy!^_^




Warning:this is a Dakari fic and all of you Takari fans should quit while you are ahead. Please don't send any flames, its really a pain. But you know, come to think of it, feel free to send me the flamers. I would really like to beat the crap out of some of them. Thanx ahead of time!


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"It is a long, long game destiny plays and our stories are but the slightest of pieces in its great pattern."
-Juliet Marillier


The snow drifted in a lazy spiral downward. Silent and soft, it blanketed the ground in a clean white. The forest had a serene, almost eerie calm as the snow hushed the noises of everything for miles.

"Hello?" Kari cupped her hands and shouted. Where the heck am I?!

She shivered and hugged herself tightly against the dark night and the bitter frost. A snowflake landed on her eyelash and she brushed it away with some annoyance.

"Hello? Can anybody hear me?! Tai? Anybody?" Kari rubbed her arms , which had started to go numb, and gave a frustrated sigh. If anyody is here they sure won't hear me. The stupid snow is muffiling my voice!

She turned in a complete circle where she stood looking for any sign of life at all. To her dissapointment, all she saw was trees and snow. Well, Kari, pick a direction.

She turned to her left and started to walk. After she got her legs moving, she warmed up a little and tried to get a grasp on her bearings. It was to dark to tell much about where she was except that the trees were tall and dense. They were packed together tightly, so that it was hard for her to not trip on tree roots covered up by the snow.

After about ten minutes of walking, Kari was beginning to lose her patience. Is it just me or have I passed this rock two times already?! Kari looked at the ground and next to her foot was an unmistakable footprint left in the snow.

"Arg! Dammit! I picked the wrong stupid direction." Kari sat down on the rock in frustration. She put her head in her hands and miserably gazed at the ground.

Where am I? Why can't I remember why I'm here?

She stared at her footprint left in the snow when something caught her eye. Right next to her set of footprints were a different set, they looked a lot bigger.

"But thats immpossible. I would have noticed that I was following a set of tracks." Then a thought to her disliking crossed her mind. "What if they were following..."

Kari jumped off the rock and gave a furtive look around. All she saw was the same trees and snow. The haunting silence that had almost started to seem peacefull was now foreboding.

"Hello?" Kari said in a small voice.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something dart between two trees nearby to her right. Kari whipped around. She caught her breath.

A person stared back at her. To dark to tell if it was a man or a woman, Kari froze in fright.

"Who-who are you? What do want from me?!" Kari began backing up only to trip over a tree root.

The being was tall but slender. It moved with a grace unlike a normal person, but more like that of the elegant gestures of a deer. It seemed to glide effortlessly ,rather than walk, towards Kari. It stopped a few feet in front of Kari and slowly lifted a hand until its palm faced Kari, as if signaling her to stop.

"Please d-don't hurt me." Kari looked up at figure's head so far above her.

Slowly the figure lowered it's hood to reveal-

~BEEP-BEEP-BEEP~

Kari awoke with a start to the annoyying beep of her alarm clock. She fumbled with the clock and turned off the alarm.

"You look horrible." A concerned Gatomon comented from the foot of Kari's bed. "Is it that same wierd dream you've been having?"

"Yeah-" Kari paused. "Its getting...I don't know. Weirder. Its like I am watching a movie and each time I fall asleep I see just a little more."

"That is wierd. Maybe you should tell Tai..."

"No!" Kari sat up so quickly it sent her feline freind flying off the bed.

"Why? Why not tell him Kari? He'll know what to do." Gatomon jumped back on the foot of Kari's bed. Kari? Why won't you tell anybody? You need help...

"Because I..uh...really don't think its that big of a deal." Because they will all think I am going insane. Besides, Tai has enough on his mind to deal with already.

"I'm not convinced." Gatomon raised an eyebrow.

Kari gave a nervous laugh. "Hey? Is it time for breakfast yet? I am starved, what about you?" Kari hopped out of bed and ran for the door.

"Hey! Kari? Get back here!" She does think its that big of a deal. Why else would she be acting so strange... A troubled Gatomon patiently watched the doorway for Kari's return, deep in thought.

Kari rushed into the kitchen to find her mother there, making pancakes and sausage (A/N: yum yum yum^_^!).

Kari relaxed and gave the air a few sniffs before she sat herself at the table.

"Good morning Kari." Her mother smiled at her sweetly.

"Morning mom." Kari managed a smile back.

"Did you sleep well?" Her mother turned around to load the pancakes onto a plate. Kari is as white as a sheet again. I wonder if she is sick...

"Um..Yeah! Just great." If only you knew.

"Are you sure?" She paused. "You know, Kari, I was thinking of keepimg you home from school toda-"

"No! I mean, no thank you. I am fine! Really. See?" Kari smiled with all her teeth and waved her arms energetically. First Gatomon and now you? Before you know it, Tai will have me on pills, TK will have me on an IV, Davis will have me hospitalized, and Yolei will be writing my will.

Her mother didn't reply, but pursed her lips until they were a thin line. She has always been better than Tai about admitting when theres something wrong. Maybe its just my imagination.

Kari wolfed her breakfast down, and within ten minutes was ready and running out the door.

"Bye mom!" She shouldn't worry so much. Nobody should. I'll have to do better at school. I can't stand a full day of people asking me if I'm feeling ok.

"Hey Kari, wait up!"

Kari stopped and glanced back over her shoulder. Davis and a boy from her second period math class ,Trevor, were running towards her.

A small smile escaped her lips. Atleast I can cheer up a little now that I have somebody to walk with.

"Hey Kari, guess what? Trevor moved into the same apartment building." Davis and Trevor slapped a high five. I hope Kari notices my cologne.

"Ugh! Whats that awfull smell?!" Kari covered her mouth and nose and began coughing.

Trevor burst out laughing.

"Oh..ha ha ha...that smell..." He was laughing so hard he started to cry. "Ha ha...is Davis's...he he he...colo-OUCH!"

Davis *sweatdrop* stomped hard on Trevor's foot.

Kari had gotten the jist of what Trevor was saying. Better not let on that I know. She couldn't help but break down in a mad giggling fit.

"We ...hehe... had better hurry up and get ...*snicker*... to school." Kari muffled her giggles, disguising them as polite coughs.

"Uh you guys go on ahead. I am -uh- just gonna run back home real quick. I...um...forgot something." I knew that Tommy Hilfilger stuff was crap!

Before Trevor or Kari could stop him, Davis was in a full blown sprint for his house.

Oh no! I hope it had nothing to do with me. Kari let out a sigh as she watched the rapidly dissapearing figure of Davis.

"Well, I guess we should get going." Trevor glanced at his watch. "We have about ten more minutes before our first bell."

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Hey everyone! Is this story long? Is it short? Is it boring? Or did you just have to much to drink? Any of these reasons can make you, well, a little tired of reading. So here it is. Your very own spot saver. Thats right! Every chapter's Spot saver is stretegically placed for your convinience. So get up! Use the bathroom, strech your legs, do whatever. Or keep reading. Whatever suits you best. But wait! Theres more! Every spot saver is my little rave spot. Each time I will complain about something that annoys me. You can read my litle rants. They might actually turn out to be funny. So here we go:
VIDEO RENTALS: Doesn't it just bug the hell out of you when you go to the rental videos store and spend half an hour choosing the right movies. Then you wait in line ten minutes, pay an outrageous sum of money for two days of veiwing (wich will probly double in late fees). You go to all the trouble of watching the entire movie and it turns out that the coolest thing about it was the COVER?! God! I wish movie stores would warn you if you are going to get a dud. If the movie was a freakin scam. You feel violated. You feel duped. Its almost as bad as finding out that you are allergic to your Instant Sun-Tan lotion on the day of your school pictures! Ok. Thanx for listening. Now back to your story...

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TK slammed his locker shut as the lunch bell rang.

"Dumb locker." TK grunted with effort. He leaned all his weight against the locker door. "Why won't you shut?"

The rebelious locker finally surrendered with a small *click*.

Its about time. They sure don't make lockers like they used to. Hey is that Kari? Why has she been acting so distant today?

"Hey! Kari!" TK pushed his way through the throbbing hordes of people to reach Kari who was standing in a secluded corner of the hall.

Kari looked up and a gohst of a smile touched her lips when she saw who was calling her name. TK. Should I tell him? No. He wouldn't understand. Why bother him with something so small anyway? Besides, he wouldn't have any answers. Infact, no one would...

"Hi TK. Whats up?"

"I was just gonna ask you the same thing. You feeling alright Kari?" Please don't lie. I need to know if something is wrong.

"...nothings wrong Tk. Why do you ask?" Not you to! Why don't people understand? I can figure this out on my own just fine. I am strong enough to take care of myself.

"I don't know. You just seem troubled. Like you've been at school but your mind has been somewhere else all day. Anything you want to talk about?" Tell me!

Kari was silent.

"Kari?" Please tell me Kari.

"No." She said it slowly. Just leave me alone. Please, no more qeustions. I just need to think.

It was an awkward moment. Both of them wondering about the other.

"Well...if you do need to talk about anything. Well you know. I mean, I can always listen."

"Thanks TK. I'll remember that." She smiled at him. Leave. Please leave.

Tk turned into the flow of the students who filed into the lunchroom. Oh well. Shes not completely helpless.

Kari watched TK leave. Peace at last.

"Hey Kari! Over here!"

Is that-

"Davis, where were you? I didn't see you in any of our classes today." Whatever you do don't ask me if anythings wrong.

"Oh that!" Davis put a hand behind his head in embarassment. "I...uh...got lost!"

"What?! You got lost coming to school?!" Yeah right. I'm not buying it for a second. I wonder where he really was...

"He he. Anyway, I was wondering if I could borrow your notes from math, you know, since I wasn't there and all." What would she say if she knew what I was really doing? Hey, she doesn't look that good.

"Oh, math. Um. I didn't exactly ,well, take any notes today."

"What?!" Now I know that something is wrong. She always takes notes. "Hey Kari?"

"Yeah?" Don't say it. Don't say it.

"Is anything wrong?"

"NO! Nothing is wrong, OK?! Get off my back!"

She almost instantly regretted blowing up in his face. Davis stood stunned. She had never used that tone of voice with him before.

"Davis. I...I am sorry. I didn't mean-" I shouldn't have done that. Its not like my bad day is his fault.

"I...I have to be going." Shes mad at me. I did something. What did I say?

"Davis, wait!"

He turned around and slinked off into the lunchroom.

Kari stood there. I shouldn't have taken out my anger on him. *sigh* If only I coul figure out what these dreams mean. This lack of sleep is starting to get to my head.

A loud rumble from her stomach silenced further thought and she headed for the lunchroom.



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As with everyday, the sigh of releif was almost audible as the bell rang for school to be over. Kari Kamiya packed up her things in a rush to get out of her history class.

"...and that is why vikings never got along with people who owned zebras or demacrats. Don't forget your homework, pages 51-104..."

The class melted out the door into the general choas of the hallway outside that was filling up at an alarming rate.

"Miss Kamiya? Could I have a few words with you?" The teacher beckoned Kari over.

Oh geez. Now my teacher too. "Coming Mr.Unzari."

The teacher pulled her aside and waited a moment while the last few students filed out. When the room was empty, he took in a deep, important breath.

"Now, do you want to talk about anything?"

This is pathetic. Kari was on the verge of laughing at how serious her teacher was trying to be.

"Not that I can think of." She managed a convincing smile.

"Now now. You can't fool me. I have seen many students in my day. I know whats wrong. No use trying to hide it from me." He winked.

Kari stared at him blankly. "Uh, actually, there realy isn't anything wrong."

"Haha! You almost had me fooled there for a second. Come on. Just tell me. You'll feel a lot better. I think we both know what I am talking about."

He nugded her with his elbow.

"Mr.Unzari- there isn't anything wrong!"

"Just give it up. I think we both know what this is all about."

Kari remained blank.

He gave an exasperated sigh. "Having guy trouble?"

Kari's face slowly turned blue. The corner of her mouth started twiching. Aparrently he didn't notice.

"A-ha! I thought so. Well I can certainly lend you some advice there." He continued on smugly. "When you see that certain some one you-"

"Hey Mr.Unzari!"

TK took one look at Kari's face and realized what dire peril the teacher was in.

"Yes TJ?" Said Mr.Unzari impatiently.

"Uh...there are...um two ,er, kids vandilizing a hallway on the ,uh, second floor!"

"Really?! Thanks TP!"

Mr.Unzari rushed out of the room. TK and Kari listend to his footsteps receding down the hallway.

"If there's one thing Mr.Unzari likes more than giving advice its punishing somebody."

"Thanks TK. Wow."

"What?"

"Oh, its just, I don't think that I've ever been so close to beating up a teacher in my life!"

TK and Kari laughed.



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"You look like you have had a long day Kari. Want to talk about it."

""Do you know how many times I've heard that today? Its like everyone in the entire school wanted to know if I was sick or something. Except for my teacher, he didn't think I was sick..."

"Well that just goes to show how many people care about you Kari." Gatomon smiled at her human companion.

"I guess you're right. Even so, it feels good to be back home. I really need to relax." Kari took the clips out of her hair and threw her backpack onto her bed, narrowly missing Gatomon.

"If its all the same to you Kari, I think I am gonna take a catnap."

"Go ahead. I'll wake you up if I need anything."

Kari walked over to her computer desk and sat down. she wiggled the mouse a little until the screen saver turned off. Slowly the computer whirred back into action.

Kari began typing away. For a while she was fine, until her eyes got sore from staring at the computer screen so long. She rubbed them hard. Come on Kari, wake up. You still have three pages of your Biology left to write.

She typed on, but her eyelids just kept getting heavier and heavier. She shook her head and tried to concentrate. Days of little sleep were starting to take their toll.

She was on the last page when her head began to loll to one side. She snapped it back up just before she fell off her chair.

This is rediculous. I think I should take a leaf out of Gatomon's book.

Kari turned her monitor off. In a daze she stumbled over to her bed. She took off her shoes and collapsed, exhausted, next to Gatomon.






Authors Note: oooh. Spooky! Kari has a wierd dream and can't get people off her back. How much more is she gonna see when she falls asleep this time? Well, I am working on the second chapter as we speak, and things get a lot more interesting. Somebody out there wondering when the pace is gonna pick up? lol. Sorry the story seemed to start out slow, but there was much to be included. I am gonna refer back to some of this stuff and it becomes important later on in the story. I know its asking a lot, but just review it please! Even if you are confused or don't like it, review it so you can tell me why! Thanx.^_^