A/N: I had to get this chapter up already. I'd waited too long. I felt guilty. Blargh. So, here's the conclusion to the Halloween party. I hope you all like it, and that it isn't too rushed. I've had a stupid writer's block, and I've been in bed with the flu. I managed to get this out, though. Are you proud of me? Tell me what you like or don't like. I don't know anymore.

Sweet Reconciliation

To say that she was frightened was a bit of an understatement. She knew everything she had done and she hated every second of doing it, but she'd felt the need to protect herself from harm. She figured that she should have just apologized and got it over with, but she'd instead continued lying, burying herself deeper and deeper into the problem. Tonight, she was going to dig herself out, with a little help from an old friend, but she still dreaded being rejected by the people she used to - and still did - love so much.

Jyou squeezed her hand in reassurance, feeling how tense she was, and she managed a small smile. They finally reached the kitchen and Jyou lead her in. Sora, Mimi, and Iori were busy talking about this and that. Iori was the one that looked up and saw her. He smiled at her and waved.

"Hey, Kari, I haven't seen you in such a long time. Have you been sick?"

Sora and Mimi froze and slowly looked up at the doorway, where Jyou and Kari stood, holding hands, Jyou looking determined and Kari looking uncertain.

They hadn't told Iori about what had happened, not wanting to destroy any innocence, since he didn't know about Takeru and Daisuke, and he hardly had a hint at how close Taichi and Yamato had gotten. They were going to wait a year or two before telling him all about it, even though they knew he was mature enough to understand it. Iori was mature enough to understand about gay people, but hearing that his close friends were gay was a whole different story.

Kari slowly took steps into the kitchen and walked right past Sora and Mimi, standing in front of Iori and smiling. She leant down and hugged him tightly.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Iori-kun?"

Iori hugged her back happily. Out of all the group, Miyako, Kari and Sora were the nicest and most kind-hearted towards the youngest member of the group. He'd dearly missed Miyako and she, since he felt for her as a little brother would a big sister.

"Is Miya-chan here?"

"No, not right now," Kari answered him a bit sadly. She knew he'd missed the purple-haired girl most of all.

She stood up straight and turned to look at Sora and Mimi. Sora had her arms crossed and a big I-knew-you'd-come-back-soon smile on her face. Mimi was smiling gently, probably because Sora had constantly kept telling her how she thought Kari and Miyako were hiding something and weren't really angry with them. Kari went to them and the three had a little group hug. Sora rubbed Kari's back comfortingly, because the younger girl looked as if she were going to start crying.

"I wish Miya-chan were here to see this," Kari said softly.

"Mmm," Sora mumbled back, knowing that Kari didn't really need an answer to that.

"Why don't you call her?" Mimi asked when they had stopped hugging.

Kari bit her lip and rested back against the counter. "I sort of want to apologize to everyone and make sure everything's okay again before I bring her over."

Mimi smiled. Kari was always looking out for Miyako, and if she wasn't completely sure everyone was going to forgive them, she wouldn't let Miyako come over, in case she might be hurt.

"Well, I think you should pay your brother and his boyfriend a visit next. They're sort of the ones you really need to apologize to, apart from Takeru."

Kari turned to stare at Sora. She didn't know Sora knew the whole story, too. She guessed that Taichi had called her right after he'd found out what she did to Takeru. She sighed and nodded reluctantly.

"Yeah, I'll go find him."

Jyou moved from his place in the doorway, where he'd happily watched the entire thing. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Kari turned and smiled genuinely at him. "No, I think I need to do this on my own. Thanks anyways, Jyou. You have no idea how much you've done for me tonight."

"Hey, that's what friends are for," Jyou replied, and at the mention of the word 'friends', Kari broke into the biggest smile he'd seen on her face ever since before the entire mess had started.

~ ~ ~ ~

Daisuke and Takeru fought over the mini-Snickers bar, eyes flashing warnings. It was the last one. Who would triumph and be able to taste the sweet chocolate melting in their mouth? Daisuke finally wrestled it away and took off running to the couch. Takeru followed in hot pursuit, and by the time Daisuke had reached the couch, Daisuke had fought the wrapper off.

Daisuke turned around and held a hand up to stop Takeru from ramming him into the couch, and he slowly broke the Snickers bar into two pieces. One piece ended up being a bit bigger than the other piece. Daisuke looked from one to the other, trying to decide whether to give the bigger piece up to Takeru, or if maybe Takeru wouldn't mind letting him have the bigger one. Takeru looked at him, tapping his foot.

Daisuke ended up closing his eyes and switching the pieces from one hand to the other, then holding one out to Takeru. He opened his eyes and saw that he was holding out the smaller piece. Takeru took it and looked at it, looking a bit disappointed.

Daisuke grumbled to himself before snatching the little piece back and shoving the big piece at Takeru.

"Fine, you can have it."

Takeru grinned and took the offer, biting into it and closing his eyes as he savored the taste of chocolate.

"Mmm, yummy."

"Don't rub it in." Daisuke pouted at his small piece and shoved it all into his mouth. Takeru smiled and broke off a little piece from his piece and handed it to Daisuke.

Daisuke smiled. "No, you can keep it."

"Really?"

Takeru looked surprised. Daisuke must really like him, if he was letting Takeru have all of the big piece of the Snickers bar, especially since Snickers was Daisuke's personal favorite.

Takeru leant over and hugged Daisuke tightly, squealing, "You are so sweet, Dai-chan!"

Daisuke blushed and mumbled something like, "Thanks, I guess."

Ken and Koushirou wandered in, hands entwined. They sat down on the other couch and Ken sighed and slumped down. Koushirou looked over at him and grinned at him, and Ken involuntarily smiled back. He automatically made himself stop smiling and tried to look depressed again, though it was hard with Koushirou holding his hand and leaning his head on Ken's shoulder, making him feel those stupid tingly things again.

Daisuke and Takeru blinked at the pair and then looked at each other, smiling. Daisuke caught Koushirou's eye and winked at him, and Koushirou blushed almost as red as his hair.

Then, Koushirou remembered he was supposed to be mad at Daisuke and glared at him.

"Never, ever touch my machinery again. Do you understand me, Daisuke?"

Daisuke grinned. "Yes, I understand you."

'But just because I understand doesn't mean I'll listen to you,' Daisuke thought, and hid his smirk with his hand.

Takeru saw it and swatted at his arm, then grabbed his hand and stood up, pulling his boyfriend up with him.

"Let's go into the kitchen. I'm hungry again."

Daisuke sighed. "Will nothing satisfy your hunger?"

"Hey, you're even more of a pig than me. You've had four helpings, and I've only had three."

Daisuke smiled. "Only four? Well, I guess I could use a fifth right about now."

Takeru sighed and lead him into the kitchen, shaking his head.

Koushirou chuckled at the younger pair and ruffled Ken's hair. Ken grumbled and let his chin sink to touch his chest, trying to hide any visible evidence of the heat he felt on his cheeks. Damn Koushirou for making him feel this way. The most annoying part was he was sort of enjoying it all. He liked Koushirou's company.

Suddenly Kari plopped down on the other couch. "Hey, have you guys seen Tai or Yamato?"

They stared at her for awhile, eyes slightly wide. She grinned.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

Koushirou suddenly smiled and held his arms out. "Welcome back, Kari!"

Kari stood and went over to hug Koushirou tightly. He hugged back as best as he could in their position, with her standing and him sitting.

Ken grumbled to himself again, not sure if he was feeling anger towards her now because she was hugging Koushirou so closely or because she had hurt Takeru so much before. He guessed it was both.

She turned and gave him a small smile.

"Ken? Could you ever forgive me?"

Ken sighed. "I suppose I could...sometime. Right now, I'm still a bit..." He trailed off and Kari sighed, nodding.

"Well, as long as I know you will, eventually. I just want you to know I'm sorry for anything and everything, and I really want to be friends again, Ken."

Ken noticed the sad yet hopeful look in her eyes and knew she was telling the truth. He reluctantly held his arms out. "Okay, okay, just quit giving me that look."

She smiled brightly and hugged him the way she had Koushirou, and Ken let go sooner than Koushirou had let her go. Kari nodded in understandment, smiled and waved at them both, and went off to another room in search of her brother.

Koushirou sighed in relief. "Well, I'm glad that's over. Aren't you?"

Ken glanced up at him. "Hmm?"

Koushirou smiled and ruffled his hair again. "Never mind, Kenny."

Ken sighed loudly at his messed-up hair, which now hung in his face, but Koushirou saw the smile through that dark curtain, and knew it was genuine.

~ ~ ~ ~

Kari slowly knocked at the door to her brother's room, not wanting to interrupt him and Yamato, whatever they might be doing. She waited, head down, until someone opened the door. She slowly looked up at her brother's face.

Taichi stared down at her, looking surprised. When was the last time his sister had come to his room to seek him out for anything?

"Does Mom want something?"

"No...I just wanted to talk to you about something. I want to talk to you both," she added, as she saw Yamato getting up to leave. Yamato sat back down, looking wary.

Taichi slowly moved back to let her in, and then closed the door once she'd gotten inside the room.

They sat on Taichi's bed, Taichi and Yamato sitting across from Kari. Kari took a deep breath and then looked up at them.

"I came to apologize for everything I've done. I'm talking about actions, words...anything."

Taichi looked even more surprised and Yamato raised an eyebrow.

"I truly think you guys make a great couple...and I don't have anything against gay or bisexual people, okay? Nothing at all. You're still my brother and my brother's boyfriend to me."

"So...all of that angry-at-us stuff was all a load of bull?" Yamato asked.

"Yeah," Kari said slowly, still bowing her head.

"Why?" Taichi asked simply.

"Because I couldn't accept the fact that Takeru was actually gay, and therefore, I had absolutely no chance with him."

"You should have accepted it anyways, and not forgotten you were also his friend," Taichi said a bit sternly.

"I know, I know. I should have. I made a stupid mistake, okay? I've paid for it. I'm sorry. Are we okay again?"

Kari looked up expectantly. Yamato was laughing.

"She sounds like you after we've had a fight, Taichi."

"Shut up," Taichi said lovingly, and gathered the both of them into a hug.

"Of course we're okay again, little sis," Taichi finished, smirking.

Kari pulled on his arm. "Loosen...grip...please."

And with that, brother and sister were reunited, and even though all was not perfect, at least they had each other again.

~ ~ ~ ~

"...so that's the whole story. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, my bad."

Takeru blinked at Kari. She gave him a lopsided grin and patted his cheek.

"So, are we cool?"

"Taichi is so influencing you," Daisuke commented. He still hadn't stopped squeezing Kari. He'd hugged her since she walked in with that sad look on her face.

"Yeah, I can forgive you," Takeru finally said, uncrossing his arms slowly. They were the first words he'd spoken to her that night.

Kari grinned and clapped her hands, squealing slightly. She reached forward and hugged him, and he hugged back, so that anyone that walked in then would see a Kari sandwich.

"You know, I like your hair red like that, Takeru. What were you dressed as before, anyways?"

"You don't want to know..."

They stopped hugging, and Daisuke finally let her go. She giggled and put her arms around them both.

"So, I take it you guys are finally an item?"

They both blushed and she giggled even more.

"Congratulations, whoever asked whoever out!"

"Thank you," they both said simultaneously.

"Jinx!" they screeched, pointing at each other and holding up crossed fingers, otherwise known as "kings".

"You owe me a soda!"

"No way, man, you owe me a soda!"

"I said Jinx first!"

Kari smiled to herself, sighing. It was good to be back.

~ ~ ~ ~

"Well, it was a great party, everyone, and I hate to say this, but...get the hell outta my house!"

Taichi chased them all out the door and the gang all walked to their cars or rides, laughing.

Taichi yelled a farewell and waved, gave Yamato a goodbye kiss, and closed the door to his house. He ushered Kari to her room with orders to get right to sleep.

Takeru had some difficulty cramming his olive costume into Yamato's car, but the combined efforts of the brothers soon got it in.

Koushirou gave Ken a ride home, leant over and kissed his cheek as a parting gift, and smiled when he saw Ken was blushing madly when he stepped into the outside light of his house.

Kari smiled as she drifted off to sleep, feeling her soul grow lighter just knowing that the days ahead would be so much easier, knowing she had ten special people back in her life.

~ ~ ~ ~

A/N: To continue or not to continue, that is the question. **Sigh** Please, please, please review.