I'm guess I didn't make it too clear, some people were confused…see, what I meant by 'Carie never exists' was that this agent in the past would do something to keep Kari and T.K. away from each other, like break them up or keep them from getting married before Daemon arrived, so that she was never even born. So they went into the future, but not far enough back that Carie would be there. You'll see the key point of why in a moment. Okay? Does that clear a few things up? Good.
I would like to issue a bit of a challenge to those of you who read the Sailor Moon Mangas. Kari-mama and T.K.-papa were taken ever so slightly from that…but the question is, where? I just wonder if anyone can guess…(Answer in the next Ch.)
Disclaimer: This could mean that the whole balance of time and space will spin out of control and all will be lost…Or it could just mean I don't own Digimon. Either way.
(P.S.-Yes, Laur, I know exactly who you are. And there are probably 2000 other people in the world with your name. Don't be such a baby)
The Future's Course
Chapter 2: Hello, Goodbye
Kari stood in the middle of Tokyo International Airport, trying not to cry. T.K. was avoiding her eyes, pulling a back pack over his shoulder. He was going to join his mom in England, where she'd gone for a short job. He'd stayed behind to get the apartment taken care of and everything arranged with the school board, but now he was flying up to join her. Matt had wanted to see his brother off, but he had to make up a big test, so only Kari was there.
"Are you guys gonna stay long?" Kari asked him.
"Just a year or so." T.K. muttered. "It's really kinda up to mom…"
Kari frowned. "I saw your schedule." she said. "You won't come back 'til after we've graduated…"
He turned to her. "Kari, listen…I promise I'll come back for Christmas, and maybe even a couple of times between then. And…" he picked up both her hands and kissed them. "I'll come back just for the prom, so we can go together, alright?"
Kari smiled, but you could see she was still on the verge of crying. And it was understandable. They'd been going out steadily and passionately for two years now, and since their little visitor two years ago, they both knew how perfectly they were destined for each other. This was going to be a real test of their relationship, and it made her nervous.
T.K. pulled a small black box out of his pocket. It was the hinged kind jewelry comes in, and tied with a golden ribbon. "For you." he said, holding it out to her. "A forget-me-not."
Kari took the small box and undid the ribbon. Lifting the lid and gazing inside, she gasped with pleased surprise.
Nestled in the black cushion was the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. The band was pure white-silver, which she'd always thought oh so much more beautiful than gold. In the middle was a pure white gem, an opal, a symbol of hope, in the shape of a heart. Around it, in an alternating pattern of small, circular stones, were the purple amethyst, a symbol of sincerity, and the green emerald, symbol of love. They only knew this because last year's English teacher was a sucker for meaningful jewels.
In short, it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, just because it was from him.
"Oh T.K…" she gasped. "Thank you! Can I put it on?"
T.K. smiled gently. He knew she'd love it. He took her hand and the box at the same time, lifting the ring out. He slid it onto her finger, then looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, Kari-mama." he whispered.
"I love you too, T.K.-papa." she whispered back. Then, because the loudspeaker had just announced boarding for the flight to England, they shared one last kiss to last until they met again. Then T.K. slung his pack over his shoulder, and with one last wave, entered the long tunnel to the plane.
~ * ~ * ~
Kari was relatively gloomy, walking home from the airport that afternoon. The weather didn't improve her mood much. It was pouring down rain.
The whole thing looked like one big sheet of water, washing over the streets and practically drowning everything around. Kari had, fortunately, brought her umbrella, so she was semi-cozy under it's cover, despite her lack of soul mate, fingering the ring.
About half-way home, she stumbled apon a small boy and his pet cat, drenched to the bone. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, reminding her shockingly of a much younger T.K. The cat was small and white, with purple stripes. He was hidden under the boy's coat as he tried to cover the creature from the rain.
He looked up at the sudden stop in a steady flow of rain. Kari was holding her umbrella over him and smiling down gently. "Poor thing." she cooed. "You shouldn't be out in weather like this. You'll catch your death of cold."
He just kind of stared at her, remaining in his sitting position. "Where do you live?" she asked. "Is it near-by?"
The boy just shook his head, then looked down at a piece of paper clutched in the cat's paws. Kari had the sudden feeling of déjà vu. The boy gazed up at her again, with big blue eyes under his soaked wet hair. Then, with a stuttering voice, he whispered just one word:
"M-Mom."
~ * ~ * ~
"What do you mean, he's calling you mom?" Tai demanded. He glanced sideways at the little boy, Hikaru, wrapped in a blanket by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate in his hands. The white winged cat, the one he called Roarmon, was curled next to him.
"Just what I said, Tai." Kari said. She was just as perturbed as her brother. "He's calling me his mother, just like Carie did…"
It was rather good luck that their parents were out for the weekend. The whole of the DigiDestined were there in the living room. Gathered in a semi-circle around the little boy, warming by the fire. Kari was holding the picture Hikaru had handed her. It was this picture that disturbed her most.
It was the same shot Carie had brought with her through the port two years ago. They'd taken it only a year earlier, at one of the picnics. Kari was hanging onto T.K.'s arm, and leaning on his shoulder, while a pleasantly red shade of blush crossed his cheeks. There were only two copies of this picture made: One that T.K. kept with him in his wallet, the other was in a frame in Kari's room.
"If he's really who he claims to be…" Sora got a mischievous look on her face. "Then he's Carie's brother!"
Kari's heart quivered. She'd always had a longingly soft spot in there for that little girl, her future daughter. She couldn't help thinking, even now, that if Hikaru was Carie's brother…If he really was…
"Carie's my big sister." Hikaru said calmly, and most were surprised at the child's diction.
"Big sister, is she?" Mimi giggled. "How old, now?"
"Fourteen." he whispered.
There was silence. Kari's head was already in the clouds. Fourteen… That sweet little girl, her baby…Fourteen…
Izzy cleared his throat and leaned down to see Hikaru better. "Hikaru." he said slowly. "There must be some reason you're here. It can't just be some little pleasure trip, by yourself, to this time. Why are you here?"
Hikaru was very quiet for a moment. "It's Carie." he finally said. "She's sick, real sick. Mr. Izumi called it a…a parydox. He said something's gone wrong back here, and I've gotta fix it."
"Parydox?" Davis asked.
"I think he means a paradox." Izzy corrected.
"What does that mean?" Kari asked. She'd gotten worried about Carie since Hikaru had opened his mouth. "What's happening to Carie?"
"A paradox…" Izzy explained. "Is an inconsistency in time. Someone is changing something in this time, to affect something in the future. In this case, it seams that this someone is affecting this time so that Carie is never born in the future…" He considered this deeply. "And from what happened before, I'd say that'd be a destruction of everything as we know it. So Hikaru must have been sent here to stop this…thing…from ruining the future. Am I right, Hikaru?"
Hikaru nodded, then looked down. "I don't know about the future and history and all that stuff." he whispered. "I just want Carie to be okay."
Kari had the sudden urge to hold him in her arms, but she restrained to simply stroking her hand through his hair. Mimi's eyes focused on her hand. "Kari!" she squeaked suddenly. "What's that on your finger?!"
Turning pink, Kari snapped her hand behind her back. But she'd caught the girl's interest, and even the boys were wondering what was going on. "Come on, Kari!" Yolei urged, pulling her hand out from behind her. "Let's see!"
She finally had to spread her fingers out to show the ring. Instantly, you could tell it was expensive. The boys started snickering to each other, Tai and Matt exchanged a knowing glance, and the girls went wild.
"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Mimi shrieked wildly.
"Did T.K. give you that?!" Sora cried.
Kari was to embarrassed by the big show to answer, but the blush across her cheek was a defiant 'yes'. "So!" Matt laughed. "That's what T.K.'s been saving for all year! He must've stayed inside all year!"
Kari turned a deeper shade of red. Hikaru closed his eyes and leaned against her arm. He sneezed once, then yawned and fell asleep.
"I think it's time we put little boy here to bed." Kari muttered, taking the chance to get away from the others. "But I'm worried about one thing…Tomorrow's a school day."
Everyone stopped. It was pretty obvious they hadn't thought about that either. "That's…right…isn't it?" Tai said slowly. "I…forgot about that part."
"What're we supposed to do with him during the day?" Kari looked the at little boy, falling asleep next to her. "It's not like I can take him to school."
"Well…" Izzy sighed. "I'm sure we'll figure something out…"
Tell me…Is this bad? I am very not impressed with how this turned out. If you have any suggestions, just review, and I may rewrite it.