That's so strange…There are a few people who, even though this is a Takari fic, wanted a T.K./Mia couple. Hm…That would've been interesting…but this is how the story plays out, so don't kill me!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, never have, never will, unfortunately.

Of Rivets and Angels

Chapter 5: Sacrifice

Mia ran forward as quick as a flash and pressed herself against the wall. She leaned out just a moment and peeked inside, then motioned to Kari, who hurried over and looked inside.

Her eyes widened. "What are they…"

"Shush." Mia cupped her hand over Kari's mouth. "Watch."

T.K. was bound to the large cement support pole in the very center of the warehouse. His arms were strapped on by what looked like bicycle chains, all linked together around the pillar so that they barely fit, a tight loop around each wrist and locked with a pad lock. But he didn't quite fit, so his arms were stretched back so badly it looked like his shoulders would break, and he was pressed against the side of the pillar. To stop any other fighting, his legs were latched together with a pair of handcuffs.

But it wasn't enough that the Rivets had pulled him almost to the point of breaking, oh no.

One by one, each of the members of the gang stepped forward for a chance at their captive. Every moment, the hall rang with the disgusting noise of fist hitting flesh, flesh hitting bone, and bone hitting cement. And with every punch came a new taunt:

"What's da matter, Angel-boy?"

"Not so tough now, are you?"

"Awful quiet. What, did that girl run off with you tongue and your heart?"

"Perk up, Romeo, it don't last much longer."

"Hey, Rivet-head, that's my nick name!" Mia growled, clinching her fists angrily.

"That's terrible!" Kari was horrified. "T.K.'s totally helpless!"

"We told you, Rivets play dirty." Mia whispered back.

"What do we do?" Kari asked, worried sick. "How do we get him away from there?"

"Simple. It's getting out that's the problem." Mia shrugged, then pointed to one man, who was twirling a ring of keys. "See that guy there? He probably organized the operation. Since it was successful, he got first shot. Now listen carefully…" she pulled Kari over. "I'm gonna need your help."

"My help?" Kari squeaked. "What can I do?"

"I'm gonna grab the guy with the keys. Shouldn't be too hard, given they don't notice me." Mia had worked this out very carefully. "Then I'll give you get the keys. I'll make a big show, a distraction, to give you time to unlock T.K."

"And then…?"

"I've already called for a little back-up, but it could be an hour before they arrive. But T.K. and I should be able to hold 'em off 'til then."

"Mia…I dunno…" Kari looked in, worriedly. "Is T.K. in any shape to fight? They must have been beating on him the whole time we weren't here…"

"Naw." Mia shook her head. "The Rivets are cowards, but they like to watch their prisoners suffer. 'Specially us Angels." she pointed to a small welt rising on the back of T.K.'s head. "That looked like they hit 'em with something. If he was knocked out, they chained him up while he was still unconcious, but waited for the beating until he woke up. By the looks of it, they've only been doin' it about fifteen minutes by now."

"So are you ready or not?" Mia turned back to Kari impatiently. "Because there isn't much time!"

Kari nodded. "I'm ready."

"All right." Mia sighed, rubbed her hands together, and sighed again. "I'm goin' in."

"Good luck." Kari whispered as she disappeared into the warehouse.

It didn't take Mia very long. The guy with the keys was tall and cocky, twirling them around his finger as he leaned on the wall nearest the door. Mia just grabbed him, cupped her hand over his mouth silently, dragged him out, and rightly beat the stuffing outta him.

She pulled the keys out of his hand and gave them to Kari, who was ready for her part. The two rivals/partners gave each other a silent look, both of which said "Don't you dare try anything funny with him."

"Ready?" Mia asked out loud. Kari nodded. "Alright then…On three…One… Two……"

The Rivets gloated over their catch. The once-proud Angel, helpless against their on slot of attacks. He would be pounded to a pulp, before they stopped and ended him for good.

Suddenly, screaming like a cat, a girl with long black hair and the trademark Angels jacket came swinging into the room and knocked the Rivet pounding the boy away with a kick. "What in all the…" he gasped, hitting the ground, and the new Angel landed on top of him.

T.K. looked up groggily, and spotted his rescuer. "M-Mia!" he cried.

"Hey Romeo!" she called, knocking another out. "You still in one piece?"

T.K. could feel the cuffs around his feet undo suddenly. Another head suddenly popped up, and his heart skipped a beat. "Kari!"

"T.K., I am so sorry!" Kari gasped, going for the chain on his right wrist. "I never meant to hurt you like this…It's all my fault! I never should have laughed at you…"

T.K. put a finger of his now-free hand to her lips, silencing her instantly. "No time for that now." he whispered. "No time…"

One of the Rivets lunged for Kari. "Watch out!" T.K. warned, snapping his arm back. The chain, still attached to his left wrist, curved around and struck the Rivet in the forehead, knocking the opponent back.

"That worked well." Kari muttered, but more Rivets were closing in.

"Hurry!" T.K. held the wrist out to her. "Get this chain off!"

It only took her a split second, then he leapt into the fray. "There's backup coming!" Mia shouted to her partner.

"Well, they better hurry up!" T.K. muttered, throwing another over his shoulder.

Kari, not having the Angels training, hovered on the side of the battlefield like a cheerleader, wondering what she could do to help. Two of the gang suddenly appeared behind her, and each grabbed a different shoulder.

"Well well well, little lady." one growled.

"Strange place for such a pretty woman…" the other laughed.

But this time she'd had enough. She wouldn't be a damsel in distress anymore.

T.K. and Mia turned at the sound of flesh hitting flesh, the loss of air, and two loud thumps. Kari was standing over the two crumpled forms, brushing her hands together contently. Mia grinned. "'Knew you had it in ya." she laughed.

Kari grinned, but the she backed into a living wall of Rivets. The three realized they were completely surrounded by the gang, about twenty of them, and the ones they had knocked over were back with a vengeance.

"Something tells me we're in trouble…" T.K. muttered under his breath.

The circle was closing in and the three were standing back to back to back. The Rivets grinned greedily, ready for a good pounding, even if two of the opponents were girls. The group was raising their hands, preparing in case they were set upon suddenly and…

With loud whoops and yells, Angels came pouring in. There weren't as many as the Rivets, but there were enough to hold them off.

"Yes!" Mia cheered. "The cavalry has arrived!"

She glanced back at her companions and her face fell. She could tell, the way those two looked at each other, fought along side each other, and protected each other so lovingly…He'd chosen long ago.

She was upset, but she just consoled herself with an old saying her mother had once used on a stray cat she'd found. Wanting desperately to keep the kitten, she'd tried everything to make it stay put. That's when her mother had said it: "If you love them, let them go."

He's happy… she muttered to herself. I mean, he's missed her all these years…I couldn't change it, no matter how much I care…I guess…If it's really what he wants…

These thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a shotgun loading to the side. Two quick glances, and she realized that the Rivet leader was pointing the gun, not at her, but at him.

"T.K., look out!" she shouted, racing forward.

T.K. looked up just as Mia pushed him out of the way. The gun fired with a blast of smoke, and Mia dropped limp, clutching her chest.

"Mia!" T.K. cried, scrambling to her side.

Kari heard him and hurried over, eyes widening as well. When something like this happened, the other Angels would always cover for the others, and it applied now.

T.K. lifted Mia up so they could see her. Kari clutched her hands close. "Oh…Mia…" she whispered.

Mia coughed and spat up a bit of blood. She shrugged, smiling a bit. "Well…We had our fun, didn't we?"

Then she looked into T.K.'s eyes. Those beautiful, captivatingly blue eyes that had pulled her in three years ago, now filled with tears. "Hey Romeo…" she whispered to him, and just to him. "Why're you crying?"

T.K took a deep, stuttering breath. "M-Mia…" he tried to start, but his throat was so tight he couldn't speak.

"You got your girl…" Mia continued, "The one you waited for all these years. So go on. Be happy. Don't cry…over little ol' me…"

"Mia…" T.K. whispered again, voice cracking. "You can't…You just…"

Mia smiled gently. "See ya around…" she muttered.

With that, her eyes closed and her body dropped limp. T.K. stared at her a moment, then his head drooped in sorrow.

Kari looked on with a heavy heart. He'd always…cared about her. She could understand why…But now…He'd lost her forever… "T.K.…" she whispered, reaching out and squeezing his hand comfortingly.

A gruff, disgusting sound, like a cross between a boar and a cow, floated to their ears. The leader of the gang, the one that had shot Mia, was laughing over their touching scene mercilessly.

Kari felt a spasm of rage rush through T.K.'s hand. The boy suddenly leapt up and, snatching a knife from the floor, rushed forward. Kari realized to late what was happening, and now she couldn't stop him.

T.K. plunged the blade into the leader's chest. Blood splashed everywhere as he fell, getting all over T.K. in particular.

A spotlight suddenly shone through the window. "Attention. This is the police. Disband all acts of violence immediately.

Within moments, both Angels and Rivets had cleared the scene. The police always warned the Angels that if they were caught in a death brawl, there would be a price to pay.

Kari looked up. T.K. was the only one who hadn't fled. He was just standing there, staring between the bloody blade in his hand, Mia's body, and the body of the Rivet boss.

Kari stood and touched his arm. "T.K.?" she whispered, but he wasn't listening.

With a sudden movement, and before she could stop him, he'd run from the warehouse and disappeared down the streets, shedding visible tears in his wake.