Well, after the whole lot of stuff that happened in last chapter, a lot of questions remain, the most important one probably being: where the hell is Kari? Well, get ready, because chapter 6 is right here! Oh, and by the way, a lot of thanks to my reviewers. I find it impressing to have 30 reviews at the end of the fifth chapter. Let's see if this fic can break my 59-review record…
CHAPTER 6
Constant
Almost as if the house were on fire, TK Takaishi jumped out of the bed and quickly looked around himself, realizing that he was surrounded by…something unknown. It was a room he hadn't been before, even if he had already lived in that house for a couple of years. And he also realized that in his seventeen years of existence, he hadn't been in a girl's room, except for Kari's. However, he remembered that Kari's room was also Tai's, so there was a difference. After making sure he wasn't in Mimi's room (probably because of the sickening amount of pink in that room), Mina was the one who reminded him of the fact that he was naked.
"Aren't you cold out there? I can warm you…again." She purred. But the glare she received removed every sexy expression she could have think of doing at the moment. TK rushed to get dressed, even if he had to wear the same clothes he used the day before. On the other side, Mina remained calm, her naked body only covered by her bed's sheets. A little grin crossed her face when she noticed that Takeru was blushing. And Mina sighed when she realized what was going on.
"What's wrong, Takeru?" TK noticed that Mina had been using his full name for a while, and he wondered the reason. Was it because she felt close to him, or maybe there was no reason at all…?
"What's wrong!? You asked me what's wrong!? What we did! That was wrong!" he shouted, even if his face or his voice didn't show any anger. He couldn't blame her, after all. She had done it because she wanted to, and he…
"I don't see what's so wrong about it. What we did was beautiful. In fact, it was fantastic…"
"Mina…" he said with an exasperated tone of voice.
"Ok, ok, but the thing is, you started it! And you shouldn't act that way!"
"Mina, you aren't helping me at all…"
TK was now fully dressed. His white t-shirt; black, baggy jeans and black tennis shoes were covered by a long, black coat. Since the day he became a sorcerer, black became his favorite color, besides green. Maybe it was a way to remember himself that he also has a dark side. A side he has to control. A side which had almost possessed him. He was about to get out of the room, when Mina's voice interrupted him again.
"Where are you going? It's Sunday, sweetheart. Get on the bed and rest a little…" she said as she patted the bed next to her. TK looked at his friend. She had sat on a side of the bed, her body still covered by the sheets. A beautiful smile covered her face, and her eyes shone with happiness. After all, the night before had been a dream come true for her.
"I made a horrible mistake. I must talk to Kari again, and I must tell her the truth. My feelings for her are strong, even stronger than my feelings for you. If she accepts me again, even it is only as a friend; I'll be the happiest man in the world. If she doesn't, well…I'll…I'll have to find a meaning to my life again…"
When TK noticed Mina's reaction, he was deeply surprised. For the second time since he met her, she looked angry. She stood up, forgetting the fact that she was naked, and walked it front of him. Maybe because of her incredible beauty, or maybe because of the tension in the room, TK began to breathe heavily. His eyes locked in hers, and he waited for her words.
"Do you…do you love me, Takeru?" Mina finally asked. TK, who had never been more nervous before, slowly nodded. Immediately, a glimpse of hope and happiness filled Mina's eyes, and the female sorceress jumped to Takeru's arms.
"Then, why do you have to go with her!? I love you, and you love me! That should be everything we need…everything…"
TK placed his arms around her, and enjoyed the sensation of his hands touching her skin. He enjoyed the scent of her hair, but resisted the overwhelming desire to stay with her.
"We…we could be so happy…" Mina said between sobs, breaking Takeru's heart. He didn't want her to be sad. After all, she hadn't done anything wrong. Loving him wasn't a sin, was it?
"Mina, I just have to see her. My mind is so confused now, my heart aches for the two of you, and I know that if I find her, all of my questions will be answered. Please, let me go."
Mina reluctantly released him and sat on the bed again, and TK looked how all the beauty had disappeared with her tears. Before leaving the room, TK looked at her for the last time, and realized how much he cared for that woman. And her young, fragile body; her face, covered by her long, black hair; her deep blue eyes filled with tears…all those things made him realize that, whatever the outcome of everything were, someone would end up really hurt.
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His chocolate eyes met hers, and the message became clear: she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Sora Takenouchi moaned softly when her boyfriend, Taichi Kamiya, slowly took off her clothes, while kissing the revealed parts: her neck, her stomach, her long and slender legs, another part of her athletic body, which Tai enjoyed very much. And now that the only clothes she had was her underwear, she happily welcome her boyfriend, her best friend, her protector, her angel, her man, her Taichi.
"I couldn't ask for anything better…"
A loud knock startled her, and she finally woke up. It took her a while to realize she was in Taichi's room, and she was still dressed, if one of Tai's shirts and her panties could be considered "dressing". But she also realized she had just been dreaming, and the little details she still could remember sent a lot of blood to her cheeks. It wasn't the first time such "fantasies" had invaded her during her sleep. Not that she didn't like them, though…
The only thing that had stopped her to make those dreams come true was her strong will to remain "untouched" until she got married. In the meantime, she had forced herself to think of other… efficient ways to please her boyfriend's desires, until the day came…that is, if the day came…
Of course the day will come! I'll become Sora Takenouchi Kamiya, and when that day arrives…the possibility sent even more blood to her already reddened cheeks. But the question was, what would she do until then? The desire grew stronger everyday, and after several months of undeniable happiness, making out wasn't as thrilling as it used to be (not that it isn't pleasant anymore… Sora thought with a snicker.). Yet she was a strong woman, and she wouldn't let herself fall in her own lust.
But, after all…where is Tai?
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Tai Kamiya was preparing breakfast when a knock on the door interrupted him. It had been the first time Sora and himself had spent the night completely alone in his family's apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya had left for the weekend ("Hey! We also want to spend a romantic Valentine's Day!" they had said.), and Kari never returned from the Valentine's Party (Something that made him feel really worried, even if he didn't want to admit it.). That way, he and Sora got the apartment just for themselves. Yet still, they didn't go any farther from making out –passionately and loudly– on Tai's bed. But Tai was used to it. He knew about Sora's plans and ideals, and he respected that. However…
I just can't help it! She's just so damn HOT!
…Tai still had hope. Maybe one day (…the sooner the better…) Sora would allow him to make his dreams come true. Because he couldn't wait until the day Sora was waiting for. He just wasn't THAT patient. How could he be patient when he had his dream girl for girlfriend? Her girlfriend, her everything, her angel of perfection…
Yes…perfect…that's the word that describes her…she's so warm and friendly, so caring and intelligent, so nice…and don't forget that hair…and those eyes, and for God's sake, check out that body!
Thank God the door knocked, or Tai's drool would have spread all over Sora's soon-to-be breakfast. As Tai returned to the real world, and made his way to the door, he ignored that Sora was coming out of his bedroom, where they both had slept the night before. They had cuddled next to each other, sharing their feelings, proving their love for each other, and the sweet kisses they shared would never leave their minds. But when Tai opened the door, how big would his surprise be when he saw that in the other side was no one but…TK Takaishi.
"Good Morning, Tai. Sorry to wake you up this early in the morning, but…I was wondering if…Kari was around…?"
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"So she never came home…"
Tai waited quietly while Takeru thought about it. Kari hadn't returned since the party, and her absence was already awkward. Tai knew that if there was someone to blame for it, it was Ryo. However, they had to find him first. The only sound in the house came from the bathroom, where Sora was obviously taking a shower. But the falling water didn't seem to distract young Takeru, who didn't even flinch, lost and focused on his thoughts. They remained silent for a long time, almost an eternity for Tai. Eventually, Sora got out of the bathroom, fully dressed, trying to dry her hair, and TK still remained silent.
"What's wrong with him?" Sora asked her boyfriend at the same moment she happily sat on his lap. Tai welcomed her with open arms, greeted her with a kiss, and finally answered.
"I have no idea."
Suddenly, TK got up, taking the couple by surprise, as they caught the look of his eyes. They showed something they didn't expect from him. He looked afraid.
"Whoa, man, seriously, what's wrong with you? You almost scared the living crap out of us!" Tai shouted. But TK's expression didn't change. As his eyes fixed in a place Tai and Sora couldn't see, his mouth allowed some words to escape.
"I…I can't find her…"
And with the velocity of a tempest and the bitterness of a blizzard, TK stormed out of the apartment. Tai was about to follow him when the blonde man's voice echoed from outside.
"YOU don't move from here!"
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Darkness…what else could I expect?
As her limp body lied on the hard, cold concrete, Hikari Kamiya did the only thing she still reacted to: she thought. A lot. And it hadn't been the way she had expected it. After all, she was dying.
I must give some credit to Ryo. He had this well planned…but I'm sure he didn't expect me to last THIS long…
Covered by darkness, Kari couldn't tell how long had she been lying there, but she knew it had been a lot of time, probably more than what she would have liked to. Several hours had passed after he attacked her, and she could help but cry at the precise, yet horrible delight Ryo seemed to have while he completed his plan. She still could feel his voice, his breath, his laughter, his reasons…
Since the beginning…I was just an objective…the way he acted during Tai and Matt's party…each one of his words…how many times did he say "I love you"? And I fell in all of them…since the beginning…I was a fool, looking for an easy love…an easy way out…
Kari had always tried to be a normal person, and she thought she would succeed when the Digimon Adventure had come to an end. The only thing that attached her to her turbulent past was her Digimon, Gatomon, and her friends, who were as willing to restart their lives as her. However, who could have known that everything they had ever lived for, fought for, and believed in was about to change, by the hands of Mina Kirahashi, and Takeru Takaishi?
I fought so hard to regain a normal life…and it took me so long to realize that my life would never be normal…since the moment I met him?
Takeru knew about her desire to be an average person, but he tried to convince her of the exact opposite. Normal people aren't the ones who can claim to be happy, when their last day comes. Only if you go beyond the average, if you challenge fate in every possible way, and prove the world that it is you: your actions, your decisions, every single word you say; who gives your life a meaning. But she never believed in him…
He tried to make my life worthy…but he wasn't alone…
How could she forget her real friends, her only friends? How could she ignore Davis, and his never-ending attempts to win her heart? How could she forget Sora, Mimi and Yolei, always beside her, always showing her what to do, what to say, how to act? Matt's cool attitude, Cody's accurate words, Joe's eternal preoccupations, Ken's charming personality, Izzy's incredible knowledge, and Tai's…
…what about Tai? He is my brother…and I couldn't ask for anyone else…memories…
As life seemed to escape her grasp, and death became a horrible truth to bear, only memories worked as a temporal comfort. Sad memories, happy memories, details that had escaped before now seemed so clear in her mind. Her whole life became nothing but a shadow, a point in the infinite thread of time and space, where millions had preceded her, and where millions would follow her long after she was gone. But still, the memories remained, each one carrying a message from her conscience.
…Gatomon…my partner…my friend…always by my side…
…I remember…a sacrifice…Gatomon, Angemon and TK tried to solve things, but Wizardmon had to die…
…yes…I fell sick…thank God I had Sora and TK with me…and my brother…I had never seen him that worried…
…Piedmon…what he did…was horrible…I almost gave up…but TK saved us all…a promise…I remember…
…America…Mimi moved there…and we went to visit her…me and TK…and we met Willis, too…my friends…
…memories…that haunt me…the Dark Ocean…the Digimon Emperor…but always by my side…I could rely on him…always…
"You're gonna quit, give up just like that? Look Kari, I care too much about you to let anyone take you without a fight!"
"Well, you know what? I care for you too."
…why…why did things have to change? Why…did I have to fall in love?
"We…we're…we're best friends in love."
…love just brought me pain…pain…and loneliness…
"I DON'T LOVE YOU! I HATE YOU, TAKERU TAKAISHI!"
…but even after that…he was always there…
Somehow, and for some reason, an unknown light blinded her. She tried to cover her eyes, but her body didn't respond to her brain's commands. She had lost too much blood; she could feel it against her clothes. The pain in her body seemed to return, but her throat and her eyes wouldn't her cry. Just when she was getting used to the light, a sudden shadow covered her. She silently thanked God for the newfound relief, and she tried to get a new look to her new source of comfort. It was a face. Someone's face. An illusion, of course. She made an effort to say some final words, the words she wanted to say.
"Kari! Kari! Oh, God, Kari!" the voice said. Her face showed something that would have looked like a smile, if she weren't dying, of course.
"Just…just in the last moment………God shows me…what I want…to see…"
"Kari, don't talk!"
"Thank you……"
"What? What? Please, Kari, stop it, I'll take you back to safety…" the voice said, but Kari just ignored his pleas and said what she had always wanted to say.
"Thank you…for being…the constant…of my life…thank you…Ta…Takeru…"
And she finally closed her eyes.
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Ryo Asamiya proudly walked through the main hallway of his Master's Palace. After a job well done, he deserved some kind of retribution. He smiled confidently when he noticed how everybody who saw him showed faces of admiration. After all, he was the Master's favorite. And not only that. He had successfully completed the special mission assigned to him. He had destroyed the sorcerer named Takeru Takaishi; by killing the person he loved the most. If that didn't make him the best Sorcerer Hunter that had existed, nothing else could. He didn't stop walking, making his way to the Master's room, ignoring the staring and the continuous whispering around him, and only stopped in front of the giant door. A cold breeze, something common in the eternal despair of the Dark Ocean, filled the passage and sent a shiver to Ryo's spine. He slowly opened the door, prepared his best smile, and entered the room. On the other side, the Master awaited for him with a smile of her own. No ritual, no special greeting was needed in front of the Master, as she could see through the body and find the truth in your soul. She slowly stood up of her throne and guided the way to her room. Ryo followed her closely, enjoying her scent, more excited with each step. The woman sat down again, this time on a small chair, and Ryo sat on a similar one. On a table next to them, tea was served. Ryo waited for her to serve a cup and finally speak.
"So…how was it?" That was just the question Ryo was waiting for. A big smile crossed his face, as the memories of what had happened just a few hours ago were still fresh in his mind.
"Oh, it was wonderful…easy and wonderful…she never stood a chance…"
"Of course not…" the so called "Master" said with a smile. "Are you sure you succeeded?"
"Of course I succeeded! No human could have survived after that!" Ryo said angrily. He hated it when someone doubted of his abilities in the beautiful art of assassination.
"Please, don't get mad, Ryo. I've never doubted you…but I have to make the questions. Do you understand?"
"Of course, Master." Ryo replied, after he had regained his normal composure. The Master slowly served another cup of tea, which Ryo received thankfully. Only after she was done with her own tea, she continued.
"Did you make sure Takaishi found her?"
"Only Takaishi could have found her. She was pretty well hidden, and I took care of the possible stench." Ryo said with a smirk.
"Perfect. Now that we've dealt with her, Takaishi won't be a burden. Our original plan shall continue, and soon, all of the wizards and sorcerers of this world will die! Magic will become nothing but a forgotten shadow from a distant past!"
Ryo could feel the emotion in his Master's words. He had always wondered for her reasons, but he knew he shouldn't ask. He only cared about being the best hunter out there, and he always looked forward to the Master's "retributions". But he now had to take a risk, and make a request.
"Can I…Can I kill the sorcerer Takaishi myself?"
Interrupting the Master's thoughts was generally a big mistake. Luckily, she was on a good mood that day, and listened to Ryo's question with delight. She moved from the chair to her bed, and look at him with a warm smile.
"Of course, of course…I know you're looking forward to it…but it will have to wait…there's something I must do before the plan takes place…"
"But, why?" Ryo asked again. "We've already got Takaishi where we want him. Kamiya is dead! I just have to go to that girl Kirahashi's place, and dispatch the two of them…"
"NO!" The woman shouted, and that was something that completely startled Ryo. She had never shouted at him, and he knew he had made a fatal mistake, even if he wasn't sure of which had been. The woman looked at him with her black eyes, cold as ice daggers, and explained the situation to him.
"The plan will wait, and when the day comes, you will kill Takeru Takaishi, if that's what you want…but…Mina Kirahashi…she's mine…"
After all, I've already made an approach…
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"But, will she be okay?"
"I did what I could, okay!? She'll be alright; it will just take some time…"
Hikari slowly opened her eyes, and a horrible headache attacked her almost instantly. A white roof was everything she could see, but a lot of different feelings crossed her mind at that moment. Confusion, especially.
Am I…dead?
However, she could swear the voices she heard sounded very familiar. Only when a third voice reached her ears, all of her questions were answered.
"Please, let Kari rest, Davis. She has been through a horrible experience, and she really needs to rest. The more she rests, the sooner her wounds will heal."
Those words immediately reminded her of the events of the last night. For a second, she had thought it all had been a long, horrible nightmare: the reunion, the breakup, Ryo…… However, her body, covered with bandages, sent her back to reality. All the questions she wanted to make forced her to try to get up, an action that made her pain grow even worse.
"Ouch, ouch, dammit!"
Her cry of pain caused a reaction he would have never expected. A swarm of people immediately entered her room, and looked at her with an obvious surprise. The Digi-Destined confused her with their combined phrases, as everyone talked at the same time.
"Kari, are you okay!?"
"Kari, what happened!?"
"Sister, please say something!"
"I'm okay, people, I'm okay!" Kari said, exasperated. The others immediately shut up, and waited for Kari's next words. Out of nowhere, Mina Kirahashi appeared with a glass containing something that didn't look very appealing. But Kari was more interested in the person holding the glass.
"Mina…did you…did you cure me?" Kari asked softly. Mina nodded cheerfully.
"If there's something I can be proud of, that is my healing potion. Go ahead, drink it!" Mina said, offering the glass. But Kari rushed to talk again, probably because she didn't want to find out how did that thing taste.
"Thanks…thanks a lot…"
Kari was instantly surprised at Mina's reaction. Her smile disappeared, and the hands that held the potion slightly shook, as if she wanted to regret what she was about to say.
"Don't…don't thank me…thank Takeru…he found you, after all…"
It was then when Kari noticed him. Leaning on the door frame, TK Takaishi looked at her with the saddest look she had ever seen. But in the moment their eyes met, TK looked away and left the room. Kari wanted to follow him, there were so many things she wanted to say, but she knew her body wouldn't resist the act of getting up. Not yet. However, as one blonde left, Kari noticed there was another one standing close to her.
"Now, what are you doing here, Matt!?"
Much to Kari's surprise, it seemed like the others had just realized that Matt Ishida was standing next to her. They had a LOT of explaining to do.
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A couple of hours later, after Kari finally fell asleep again (probably because of Mina's magic), the group of Digi-Destined sat together in Mina's living room. But that didn't stop Matt from making the question.
"Ok, now, tell me. What the hell is going on here!?"
The others looked amongst themselves, with worried looks on their faces. How could they explain him EVERYTHING? After all, the story of TK's death and return was kind of incredible, unless you lived it. But Cody seemed to have the solution.
"Well…Davis…as leader of the Digi-Destined, you're in charge of explaining the truth to our friend Matt here." He said.
"Okay, I'll…WHAT!?" Davis replied. "No way, dude!" However, he was in a lost battle. The others hastily agreed with Cody, big smirks on their faces.
"Alright, Davis, I'm waiting." Matt said anxiously. The others noticed how Davis was beginning to sweat and breathe heavily.
"Ah…umm…well…it's…it's kind of a long story…"
"I've got plenty of time." Matt replied, Davis gulped. Luckily for him, Tai and Sora got up, holding hands, of course.
"Alright, Matt, let's go. We'll tell you the whole story." Tai said. Finally, the two guys and the girl left to TK's room.
"Well, I guess Matt won't be a problem anymore." Ken said.
"But I still can't believe it! What kind of psycho freak would do that to Kari?" Yolei wondered.
"Well, Yolei, we kind of have Ryo as our main suspect." Izzy explained.
"But…Ryo? He seemed so nice…" Yolei said, her voice filled with doubt.
"He's a hunter." TK's voice echoed in the living room, as he walked next to Mina, who had remained silent on a chair. Unnoticeable to the others, the two sorcerers exchanged a glance before TK continued.
"He's a sorcerer hunter. I'm sure. He tried to kill Kari to get to me."
The others just looked at him, as if they couldn't believe what he said. Davis was first to speak after the awkward silence.
"But…why didn't they just attack you?"
"That's obvious, Davis. I already proved they cannot kill me, so they're trying to weaken, by attacking the people…I…care…the most…" TK muttered the last words, even if the others already had the idea.
"Ok, so…that leaves the question of what do we do now?" Mimi said. Everyone showed surprised faces at the girl of sincerity, who just made a face of "hey, I can think too!". But TK didn't waste any time, and answered.
"We wait. We wait until they try another approach. That's the only thing we can do now."
However, his thoughts drifted to Kari against his will. Kari and Mina…
I found her because I wanted to see her…but…am I still worthy of love, after what I did? What I did with Mina is not a crime, but then…why does it feel like so?
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End of chapter 6…
Okay, this is the shortest chapter of the fic, but it moved the plot quite a bit, don't you think? Anyway, now that our friend's love triangle enters a critical phase, will TK make the right decision? Will Kari still accept him, even after he "literally" spoiled himself? (Did that make any sense, after all?) How is Mina related to this "Master"? And the most important question: will I be capable of getting through the finals at college while writing the next chapters!? Wish me luck, I'll need it! See ya!
Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)