Chapter 2

            "I kept meaning to call," Ken explained as he and TK walked through the halls towards the gym.  TK shrugged.

            "Hey, no big deal.  I mean, I did what I did of my own free will."

            "Yeah, but that shouldn't have happened to you," Ken replied.  TK shrugged again.

            "Look, stop worrying about it.  I was probably more worried about you."  They walked in silence for a while longer.

            "I thought you'd still have a limp," Ken spoke up.  TK shrugged once more.

            "I got used to it.  I can hide it most of the time.  I still can't play."  The last remark was made quietly, almost to himself, but a look of grief shot across Ken's face as they reached the locker room doors.  They were assailed by noise and body odor as they opened the door.  A small crowed was gathered around a young boy with slightly puffy hair and a striking resemblance to Tai.  He looked up as Ken and TK walked in and waved.

            "Hey, Ken!  For a minute, I thought you weren't going to make it!"  Ken waved back and grinned.

            "Hey Davis.  Like I would miss the chance to beat you in sports."  Davis laughed and then looked at TK.

            "Who's the new guy?"  Ken grinned.    

            "This is TK Takeshi.  He's a friend of mine from my old school.  He also knows Kari."  Davis raised an eyebrow.

            "Kari and I grew up together before I had to move away," TK explained as he changed into his gym clothes.  Davis nodded and they all moved out into the gym where Kari and several other girls were waiting.  Kari grinned as soon as she saw TK and waved.  He grinned and waved back and the boys made their way over to the coach.

            "Alright," the coach looked over the class.  "We've got a new kid starting today, so let's give him a workout.  Davis!  Ken!  Captains for soccer, start picking teams."  Davis and Ken moved to the front of the group of kids and did a quick round of rock paper scissors to decide who would go first.  Ken won.

            "TK."  Davis nodded and turned back to the rest of the kids.

            "Akira."

            "Yoshi."

            "Alex."

            "Carter."  The two teams quickly took shape and Ken and his team moved off to one side of the gym while Davis and his team moved to the other.  Ken motioned for a huddle and quickly sketched out the rules for TK.

            "Goal is over there, basic soccer rules.  Watch Davis, he and I are the best.  I'll try and keep him covered.  Everyone else, grab a position.  TK, are you going to be OK?"  TK just grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

            "Just tell me where to go."  The game quickly got under way and everyone focused on Davis and Ken who were obviously better than anyone else on the court.  Kari and several other girls watched from the sidelines.

            "Hey Kari, what's the story with the new kid?" one of them asked.

            "His name's TK.  He's an old friend of mine."
            "So, why isn't he really playing?" another asked.  Kari shook her head.

            "I'm not sure.  He used to be really athletic.  I know he was into basketball before.  I'm really not sure."

            "Is he taken?" a third asked.  Kari turned to her and shot her a possessive look.

            "He will be."  She grinned and the others smiled at her, glad that Kari had finally found someone.  They turned back to the game, only to find that TK had taken possession of the ball and was making his way down field.  Kari began to cheer and the others joined her.

            It all happened so fast.  TK was making his way down field when Davis came out of seemingly nowhere.  In one move, he tried to steal the ball from TK, who shifted to keep it away from him.  Davis tried to get around him and TK shifted again and suddenly collapsed with a scream of pain.  Kari was halfway across the field before the scream had died.  Ken was next to him in an instant as TK lay on the ground, clutching his right leg at the knee.

            "What happened?" the coach demanded as he came jogging out onto the field.  Davis shrugged helplessly.

            "I didn't touch him!  I tried to steal the ball and he pivoted and suddenly his leg gave out.  I don't know!"  Ken was looking over TK's leg and spoke up.

            "It's an old injury.  His knee's out of whack and trying to pivot like that must have made it flare up."

            "How do you know that?" Davis asked as Kari ran up.

            "It happened at our old school," Ken replied, obviously trying to avoid the question.  He helped TK to stand and moved him over to the bleachers.  Kari kneeled next to TK, worry evident in her eyes.

            "I'll be alright."  TK tried to grin, but couldn't manage a convincing one.

            "Alright.  Ken, Kari, help TK to the nurse's office, then come back here and change.  If you're late to your next class, I'll write you both a pass."

            "Alright, thanks," Kari replied absently as she slung TK's right arm over her shoulder as Ken copied her movements with TK's other arm.  Together, they helped TK out of the gym, with Davis getting the door for them.  They made their way down the hall to the nurse's office.  As they entered the nurse, a plump, kind looking woman of middle years, looked up.

            "Oh dear," she gasped, seeing the obvious pain TK was going through.  "What happened?"
            "TK has an old leg injury that got aggravated in PE," Ken replied.  The nurse nodded with a thoughtful expression on her face.

            "What exactly is the injury?" she asked.

            "Nothing," TK replied.  "Just an old leg wound.  I'll be fine in an hour or so."  Ken started to protest, but TK shot him a glare that made him be silent.

            "Well, I don't happen to believe you," the nurse responded, looking over TK's leg.  "It looks to me like your leg was shattered a few years ago.  Badly, from the size and shapes of the scars you still have on your leg.  Why wasn't this included in your file?"  TK refused to answer and Ken stayed silent.  Finally the nurse just shrugged and gave up.  "Well, I can't force you to tell me.  Still, I am going to confine you here for the next hour and see how you are then."  TK nodded and struggled to lie down in the bed.  Kari ended up helping him at which he smiled in gratitude.  She and Ken then left to go change and get to their next class.