Till The End Of All
By CyberDracomon
Chapter 14 - Never
TK now stood in front of Ragnadramon, who up until now had been an enemy, now TK's last hope to save Kari. Now it was down to how the dragon Digimon took TK's request, most likely he could think it was a trick or trap they had set up. Then again he seemed very unconcerned by their best Digimon, Magnadramon, he probably felt he had little to fear from them.
"You surprise me, child..." Ragnadramon said, an honest tone of amazement to his deep, harmonic voice. "What could be so important to you that you would turn to me?" TK still found it surprising, as well, but this was too important to do anything less.
"...It's Kari, the girl I've been traveling with." TK said, unsure if Ragnadramon knew their names. "She's really important to me... I've loved her for years, but she's supposed to die when this journey ends. I don't want her to die but I can't find another way to finish the quest, so I have to stop it. I thought since you seem to always know where we are, you could help me stop her from traveling to the last temple." Ragnadramon had been listening carefully, examining the situation he described. The two smaller Digimon, however, both looked skeptical.
"Bah, he's lying." BlackGatomon said. "I say we shred him now and be done with one of them." TK looked to the black feline, hoping that wasn't what Ragnadramon came to for a conclusion.
"Quiet!" Ragnadramon roared, glaring sharply at BlackGatomon. She looked back, backing off from fear of her creator. "You will have to excuse BlackGatomon. You see they are copied from your Digimon, but I removed caring and compassion and the like. They have little appreciation for love." TK found it hard to believe a Digimon born from a force so evil would talk of love.
"And I'm supposed to believe you do?" TK retorted. He found it strange that he was the first that was questioning trust, but he had to know this much at least to know if this would work.
"But of course." The dragon replied. "The Cataclysm that formed me was made of all evil Digimon that had been destroyed since you and your friends came to the digital world. Their wisdom lies in me and I know how powerful a human's love for another can be and what lengths they will go to for the one they love." TK found this to be like a strange dream, nothing seemed to be right about this. Then again he had never talked one on one with an evil Digimon like this, he had little to compare it to.
"Fine, but you still haven't answered me." TK said. "Will you help me or won't you?" Ragnadramon looked on at TK closely, as if he was trying to read his mind and find out what TK had in mind. After what the dragon had put them through, he was ready to believe he was capable of it.
"If you would come to me, then I must believe you are serious." Ragnadramon replied. "You do amaze me, boy, betraying your friends and two world for the sake of one person." TK didn't want to think of it like that, this was only a way to save Kari, nothing more.
"This isn't betrayal!" TK yelled. "If there was another way, I wouldn't be here right now, believe me you were my last choice to help me." Ragnadramon's slight grin seemed to show a slight irritation at the implied insult of TK's answer.
"Very well, then." The dragon replied. "If you had a plan as to how you want this done, please feel free to tell me." TK had only given a passive thought as to how this would work, if it would at all.
"Well we're going to the fourth temple tomorrow." TK began. "You know where we are when we come to the Digital World so I was hoping you could find a way to stop us from collecting the last piece of energy without hurting anyone." Ragnadramon gave a glance to his two minions to his side, both not sure how to take in all of this. Their creator and one of their enemies working together?
"I could do that..." Ragnadramon replied. "However, no matter what I do to your journey, your Kari may still advance and reach the temple. Without killing her, I cannot insure stopping her. I had an idea of my own, though, one that would stop the quest even if she reached the temple." TK wasn't sure what he meant, once they were there then the job was done, how could he stop her?
"And that is...?" TK asked, still not trusting the dragon despite their alliance. Ragnadramon only grinned a bit more, however, not releasing the answer.
"Unfortunately that is my concern, not yours." He replied. "You shall have to trust me, but I promise you it will stop Kari's quest without hurting anyone in your group. However, it will require knowing where the temple of Duchoumon is located. I must be able to see the temple to make this work." Now TK was only more skeptical. He did have the map that would let Ragnadramon find the temple, but it couldn't require such secretive information just to stop Kari from going forward.
"Sorry, no deal." TK said. "I can't tell you where that temple is, you'll have to find another way." Ragnadramon let a slight chuckle escape from the back of his throat, sending a worried chill down TK's spine.
"You are in no position to make demands, boy." The dragon snapped. "Tomorrow I will find you in the southern region and when I do, one of two things will happen. Either I will destroy you and your precious Kari... or I will stop her progress and end the quest that threatens her life. The latter will only occur, however, if you show me the map to the temple's location!" TK suddenly realized Ragnadramon was right. The dragon didn't have to do what TK requested, but the only way to get him to save Kari was on his terms.
"...Fine, you win." TK said. Reluctantly he drew his Digivice, hitting the same tall button on the corner Kari used to activate the map. As it projected, he held it out to Ragnadramon, showing him the map and temple location. The dragon Digimon looked it over carefully, memorizing the terrain and the temple's exact spot in it. He nodded, silently telling TK he was finished with the map. TK shut off the D-3, replacing it in his pocket, hoping he wouldn't regret what he had just done.
"You have made a wise move, my friend." Ragnadramon said. "Tomorrow will be the last day of your quest, without Kari's sacrifice." TK was relieved to hear that, but still held worries about how exactly Ragnadramon was planning to do this. Ultimately TK really didn't care, though, it would end their quest and Kari would be alive, that's all that mattered to him.
"Then it's settled." TK said. He figured this was as even as it got, Ragnadramon didn't have to worry about the sure-fire way of being defeated and TK didn't have to worry about Kari dying. He turned away to return to the monitor that had brought him here, but turned again, looking back at the dragon. "This doesn't mean we're giving up, you know. Even with the quest stopped, we'll find a way to beat you." Ragnadramon expected such a response, nodding as he heard it.
"Of course you will." He said, watching TK walk off. Once he was out of sight, Ragnadramon looked down at his doppelgangers, both still unsure of what just happened.
"Don't tell me you're actually going to help that miserable human." Tsukaimon said, looking up at his creator. It was like his lord was going soft suddenly, helping a human for the sake of love.
"Of course I am, Tsukaimon." Ragnadramon replied. "TK wanted me to stop his quest without killing any of his friends. That is what I shall do." The dragon's eyes suddenly glowed, his grin becoming a bit more sinister. BlackGatomon and Tsukaimon exchanged a glance, eager to see what their creator had in mind for tomorrow.
**********
The next morning TK didn't feel any better about what he had done than he did when he went to bed the night before. For a while he thought he had dreamed the whole thing, but it had happened and it was too late to take back. If Ragnadramon remained true to his word, however, this would all be over soon. They still had to find out how to beat him and the Cataclysm without this quest, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Right now he found himself back with Kari, Davis, and their Digimon, all at Kari's apartment, but not in her bedroom. Instead they were in the living room of the vacant apartment, wanting to just spend time together. Kari was basically forced into taking the very cushy recliner after everyone's insistence that she relax the most, with TK and Davis both taking the couch across from it. With the quest drawing to a close they all new Kari wasn't going to be with them much longer, so they wanted to be there as much as possible while they still had her. Despite that, however, everyone knew the real reason they were there.
"So what do we do after today?" Kari asked, hoping for ideas. "How do we explain what happened after I stop the Cataclysm?" That was the question that had lingered on all of their minds for days now, with the exception of TK's. Kari's family, especially Tai, weren't going to take this very well, nor would any of the other Digidestined.
"Well I think the other Digidestined will know why you had to do this." Gatomon said from Kari's lap. "Except for Tai, that is." As hard as this was going to be to tell Kari's family, Tai would be worse. To this day he felt like Kari's personal guardian, to him Kari was still the sickly little girl he had watched over for most of her life and half of his.
"Yeah, Tai's going to take it really hard..." Davis said, leaning back on the couch. He looked over to TK, who was leaning against the arm of the far side of the sofa. "You better tell him, TK, he does like you the best." Davis spoke the truth, Tai felt like TK was a little brother to him, but in all honesty Davis feared telling Tai himself.
"I guess so..." TK said, trying to act as dreary as he had been in the last few days despite knowing Kari wouldn't die now. "Her parents are another big one, maybe that's Gatomon's job." Another truth, Gatomon had become part of the Kamiya family since they found out about her. Unfortunately Gatomon wasn't so sure about TK's suggestion, a worried look on her face.
"Actually I might not be able to..." Gatomon said regretfully. "We don't know what happens to a Digimon that loses their partner. We depend on them for energy, we did before we even knew we were connected to them. What if..." Gatomon nearly choked on the idea, but fought back the urge to stop. "What if I die along with Kari when she releases that energy?" Patamon shot up, not realizing that himself. He quickly flew over, setting down in front of Gatomon on Kari's lap.
"Gatomon, don't say that!" Patamon said. "You don't know for sure. Besides, how would I survive without you?" Gatomon was touched by his words, but still not sure of her own fate.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine, Gatomon." Kari said. "I thought of that a long time ago, I asked Azulongmon when I went into his temple. He said you would lose your digivolutions but you'll be able to stay the way you are if we connect you to another Digidestined." Kari then looked up at TK, who was watching his Digimon panic over Gatomon. "TK, if it's alright, I want you to take Gatomon when the quest is over. I wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of her." TK felt touched Kari would trust him with something so important to her. He wished he could tell her it wasn't necessary, but if she knew what he had done, her trust wouldn't be the same.
"Uh... Yeah, of course." TK said. "I'd be glad to take care of her." Gatomon smiled a bit, relieved she wouldn't be dying, as well. Still, it didn't feel any better knowing she would have to live without Kari.
"Well that's a conciliation, I guess." Gatomon said. "I'll get to spend every day with Patamon." Somehow Patamon seemed to enjoy the idea, smiling widely at the thought. "I really have to lose my Digivolutions, though?" Kari nodded regretfully, upset that her partner had to lose such an important aspect.
"Unless TK receives a power core from a guardian, he won't have enough energy for both of you." Kari explained. "Still I'd feel better than just leaving you on your own." She looked back up to Davis and TK, both now at attention. "That still leaves the others, though." Davis looked over to TK, knowing he had enough to think about with losing Kari and getting the duty of telling Tai.
"I guess that's up to me and Veemon, then." Davis said, volunteering. "Don't worry, we'll be sure and let them down easily." That seemed to wrap up the duties of telling everyone what was to happen, a relief on Kari's conscious.
"Thanks, Davis." Kari said. She turned to TK, something else coming to her mind. "Hey, TK, can you come to my room with me? There's something I want to give you." TK wasn't sure what she meant, as it was he felt bad that she wanted to give him Gatomon. Kari picked up Gatomon as she stood up, turning to set her back on the recliner, then walked passed TK to her room. He stood to follow, wondering what she was talking about. He followed her insider her room, closing the door behind him.
"So what did you want to give me?" TK asked. "If it's that science project we did that started crawling last year..." Kari turned, walking up to TK. He tried to back up a bit but found himself against the door. Before he could act Kari moved within inches, putting her hands on his chest before leaning up to put her lips to is. It caught TK off guard, but it didn't take long to recover, putting his hands at her waist. The kiss deepened as both got into it, but TK felt something else as Kari got closer, something wet against his cheek... tears? TK broke the kiss after another few seconds, looking at Kari and noticing the tears streaming from her eyes. This was one of the few sights TK hated seeing, it felt like something in his soul was ripping apart watching this. He brought one of his hands up to Kari's face, wiping off the tears as gently as he could.
"Kari, please don't cry..." TK beckoned. "You know it hurts seeing it." Kari nodded a bit, trying to dry the tears from her cheeks herself.
"TK, this might be our last time alone together..." Kari said, her voice with as much sorrow as he had ever heard. If she had been feeling as bad as he had, she was letting it out all at once.
"I know it might be." TK said, still keeping his deal with Ragnadramon secret. Seeing her crying, he wished he could tell her it wouldn't be their last time together, but as much as he wanted to, he couldn't. "I thought you were okay with this, though." Kari stared into TK's eyes for a second, again a painful sight from how much sadness they reflected.
"TK, you aren't the only one that doesn't like this, you know." She said, turning away from TK and stepping a few feet away. She crossed her arms over her chest, shuddering a bit, trying to keep herself together. "I hate this! This was the last thing I ever wanted to do..." TK didn't realize as badly as this situation was hurting him, Kari was hurting just as much for the same reasons. He walked up behind her, putting his arms around her, trying to comfort her through her shuddering.
"I know..." She said through her tears. "I just didn't expect this to feel so bad... I mean, I know I had to say goodbye like this eventually, I spent days thinking about it, trying not to break down like this..." TK tightened his embrace, now feeling her shuddering body through his arms.
"Kari, don't say that." He said gently. "We don't have to let this be good-bye, even if you die at the end of this, that won't be enough to keep us apart." That much was true, at least, TK didn't view death as separation of them, just a delay.
"TK, that day I told you I was going to die..." Kari continued. "...when you proposed to me... you don't know how badly I wanted to say yes, I was a second away from forgetting about the quest, the Digital World, everything... That's all I ever wanted in life, to know you would be with me forever. I dreamed about it, I could see it like I was there. Just you and me... and even our children... TK, I wanted it all to come true, I would have given anything..." Kari stopped, trying to hold back more tears from remembering it all. TK remembered telling Patamon something really similar just two nights ago, he didn't realize their dreams had been so close.
"Kari, I wanted all that, too..." TK said. "...but I think I understand that some things are more important." In all honesty this was said out of hopes of beating Ragnadramon, without Kari dying in the process, of course.
"I'm glad..." Kari said. "That's the only thing that kept me from saying yes... There's a billion other couples on this planet with the same hopes and dreams we have, some even stronger than us. If I had said yes and forgotten the quest, none of their dreams would come true. They'd be destroyed by the Cataclysm along with the Digital World if I don't do this. I just imagine so many people feeling the same pain I felt about it and I couldn't let them go through with it..." Suddenly TK felt like a heel... He hadn't thought about all of that, he was too concerned over just his own feelings of sorrow and depression from knowing his dream of life with Kari wouldn't come true, he didn't realize so many others had the same dreams, the same hopes for their lives, and TK had sold all of them out aligning himself with Ragnadramon just to save Kari... Kari had stopped shuddering and broke from TK's arms, turning around to look at him.
"Let's just make the most of the time we still have, okay?" She said, a small smile crossing her face. "Let's get back to the others, they're probably wondering what happened to us." With that Kari walked passed him, opening her door and walking back out to the front room. TK turned to watch her leave, still taking in the ramifications of what he had done just last night. He didn't realize how many people he risked, not just their lives, but their hopes, dreams, ambitions, their very future that was supposed to be so happy with the ones they loved, and now he may have very well robbed all of them of that.
"...What have I done..." TK whispered to himself, suddenly ashamed of himself and what he had done. Yes, it could still work out, they might still stop Ragnadramon, but it didn't change the fact that he had stolen the only sure-fire way of saving those hopes.
**********
A couple of hours later the entire group was in Kari's room, waiting for her computer to load up and activate the gate. It was an older system, a backup they kept for when Tai moved out, knowing he would take the new one, and they had yet to buy a new computer. At times it was annoying, but TK didn't mind right now, wanting this encounter with whatever Ragnadramon was planning to be delayed as long as possible.
"It shouldn't be long now." Kari said, leaning over the desk as she worked the mouse of the computer. "Sometimes I think it would be faster to go to Tai's apartment and use the other computer." TK looked over at Gatomon, who looked a little impatient. Maybe she was eager to try out her Mega form gain, she didn't get to use it very much before.
"We could always wait for a rainbow to pick ups up, that's how this all started." Patamon joked. Davis didn't seem to get the joke, though, with him and Veemon the only ones that hadn't gone to the Digital World via rainbow before.
"You know, it might have been a bit early to plan out all our explanations and final moments." TK said, hoping to somehow subconsciously prepare them for whatever his actions had caused. "It could be days before we even get to the last temple, let alone how long it will take to find the Cataclysm." TK did have a point, maybe it would have been better to save all of the planning until after they had the fourth temple cleared. Kari shook her head, though, having a different idea.
"It could take us days to get the fourth temple and find Cataclysm, then again it could be hours, too." She said, countering TK's idea. "This was the only for-sure chance we had, right?" Kari had him there, they didn't have to stop after getting the fourth piece of energy, they could be done before the day was over. In all honesty, TK had seen the map and it wasn't nearly long enough to take days to get to the temple.
"Come on, TK, try not to think like that." Davis said. "We'll just get this over with and be done with it." Davis wasn't helping, though, the last thing TK wanted was for anything to go fast right now. It seemed like even Kari's computer picked up it's pace, now loading the gate to the Digital World. It wasn't long before it was ready and as soon as it was, Davis and Veemon jumped in, eager to get to the last area. The others just stood there for a while, a bit taken by Davis's attitude at this temple.
"Well, at least he's motivated..." Gatomon said, jumping up to the computer's chair to get in range of the gate and Kari. She took hold of her Digimon, holding her Digivice out and letting the gate absorb her into the other world. That left Patamon and TK to enter next, TK still not wanting to continue.
"Something wrong, TK?" Patamon asked, flapping up to his human partner. TK took hold of Patamon, somehow with a feeling he would need all the help from him that he could get.
"Just some last minute regrets, that's all." TK said, trying to put it mildly. He withdrew his Digivice, looking down at it. A notion came to mind to just wipe the map off of it, forcing them to stop at least until they retrieved another, but he thought against it, not wanting Kari and Davis to think TK did anything to intentionally stop them. Unfortunately as he held out his D-3, letting the computer absorb him, he had a feeling it would come to that, anyway.
End Chapter 14
Next: Chapter 15 - Obstacles
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By CyberDracomon
Chapter 14 - Never
TK now stood in front of Ragnadramon, who up until now had been an enemy, now TK's last hope to save Kari. Now it was down to how the dragon Digimon took TK's request, most likely he could think it was a trick or trap they had set up. Then again he seemed very unconcerned by their best Digimon, Magnadramon, he probably felt he had little to fear from them.
"You surprise me, child..." Ragnadramon said, an honest tone of amazement to his deep, harmonic voice. "What could be so important to you that you would turn to me?" TK still found it surprising, as well, but this was too important to do anything less.
"...It's Kari, the girl I've been traveling with." TK said, unsure if Ragnadramon knew their names. "She's really important to me... I've loved her for years, but she's supposed to die when this journey ends. I don't want her to die but I can't find another way to finish the quest, so I have to stop it. I thought since you seem to always know where we are, you could help me stop her from traveling to the last temple." Ragnadramon had been listening carefully, examining the situation he described. The two smaller Digimon, however, both looked skeptical.
"Bah, he's lying." BlackGatomon said. "I say we shred him now and be done with one of them." TK looked to the black feline, hoping that wasn't what Ragnadramon came to for a conclusion.
"Quiet!" Ragnadramon roared, glaring sharply at BlackGatomon. She looked back, backing off from fear of her creator. "You will have to excuse BlackGatomon. You see they are copied from your Digimon, but I removed caring and compassion and the like. They have little appreciation for love." TK found it hard to believe a Digimon born from a force so evil would talk of love.
"And I'm supposed to believe you do?" TK retorted. He found it strange that he was the first that was questioning trust, but he had to know this much at least to know if this would work.
"But of course." The dragon replied. "The Cataclysm that formed me was made of all evil Digimon that had been destroyed since you and your friends came to the digital world. Their wisdom lies in me and I know how powerful a human's love for another can be and what lengths they will go to for the one they love." TK found this to be like a strange dream, nothing seemed to be right about this. Then again he had never talked one on one with an evil Digimon like this, he had little to compare it to.
"Fine, but you still haven't answered me." TK said. "Will you help me or won't you?" Ragnadramon looked on at TK closely, as if he was trying to read his mind and find out what TK had in mind. After what the dragon had put them through, he was ready to believe he was capable of it.
"If you would come to me, then I must believe you are serious." Ragnadramon replied. "You do amaze me, boy, betraying your friends and two world for the sake of one person." TK didn't want to think of it like that, this was only a way to save Kari, nothing more.
"This isn't betrayal!" TK yelled. "If there was another way, I wouldn't be here right now, believe me you were my last choice to help me." Ragnadramon's slight grin seemed to show a slight irritation at the implied insult of TK's answer.
"Very well, then." The dragon replied. "If you had a plan as to how you want this done, please feel free to tell me." TK had only given a passive thought as to how this would work, if it would at all.
"Well we're going to the fourth temple tomorrow." TK began. "You know where we are when we come to the Digital World so I was hoping you could find a way to stop us from collecting the last piece of energy without hurting anyone." Ragnadramon gave a glance to his two minions to his side, both not sure how to take in all of this. Their creator and one of their enemies working together?
"I could do that..." Ragnadramon replied. "However, no matter what I do to your journey, your Kari may still advance and reach the temple. Without killing her, I cannot insure stopping her. I had an idea of my own, though, one that would stop the quest even if she reached the temple." TK wasn't sure what he meant, once they were there then the job was done, how could he stop her?
"And that is...?" TK asked, still not trusting the dragon despite their alliance. Ragnadramon only grinned a bit more, however, not releasing the answer.
"Unfortunately that is my concern, not yours." He replied. "You shall have to trust me, but I promise you it will stop Kari's quest without hurting anyone in your group. However, it will require knowing where the temple of Duchoumon is located. I must be able to see the temple to make this work." Now TK was only more skeptical. He did have the map that would let Ragnadramon find the temple, but it couldn't require such secretive information just to stop Kari from going forward.
"Sorry, no deal." TK said. "I can't tell you where that temple is, you'll have to find another way." Ragnadramon let a slight chuckle escape from the back of his throat, sending a worried chill down TK's spine.
"You are in no position to make demands, boy." The dragon snapped. "Tomorrow I will find you in the southern region and when I do, one of two things will happen. Either I will destroy you and your precious Kari... or I will stop her progress and end the quest that threatens her life. The latter will only occur, however, if you show me the map to the temple's location!" TK suddenly realized Ragnadramon was right. The dragon didn't have to do what TK requested, but the only way to get him to save Kari was on his terms.
"...Fine, you win." TK said. Reluctantly he drew his Digivice, hitting the same tall button on the corner Kari used to activate the map. As it projected, he held it out to Ragnadramon, showing him the map and temple location. The dragon Digimon looked it over carefully, memorizing the terrain and the temple's exact spot in it. He nodded, silently telling TK he was finished with the map. TK shut off the D-3, replacing it in his pocket, hoping he wouldn't regret what he had just done.
"You have made a wise move, my friend." Ragnadramon said. "Tomorrow will be the last day of your quest, without Kari's sacrifice." TK was relieved to hear that, but still held worries about how exactly Ragnadramon was planning to do this. Ultimately TK really didn't care, though, it would end their quest and Kari would be alive, that's all that mattered to him.
"Then it's settled." TK said. He figured this was as even as it got, Ragnadramon didn't have to worry about the sure-fire way of being defeated and TK didn't have to worry about Kari dying. He turned away to return to the monitor that had brought him here, but turned again, looking back at the dragon. "This doesn't mean we're giving up, you know. Even with the quest stopped, we'll find a way to beat you." Ragnadramon expected such a response, nodding as he heard it.
"Of course you will." He said, watching TK walk off. Once he was out of sight, Ragnadramon looked down at his doppelgangers, both still unsure of what just happened.
"Don't tell me you're actually going to help that miserable human." Tsukaimon said, looking up at his creator. It was like his lord was going soft suddenly, helping a human for the sake of love.
"Of course I am, Tsukaimon." Ragnadramon replied. "TK wanted me to stop his quest without killing any of his friends. That is what I shall do." The dragon's eyes suddenly glowed, his grin becoming a bit more sinister. BlackGatomon and Tsukaimon exchanged a glance, eager to see what their creator had in mind for tomorrow.
**********
The next morning TK didn't feel any better about what he had done than he did when he went to bed the night before. For a while he thought he had dreamed the whole thing, but it had happened and it was too late to take back. If Ragnadramon remained true to his word, however, this would all be over soon. They still had to find out how to beat him and the Cataclysm without this quest, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Right now he found himself back with Kari, Davis, and their Digimon, all at Kari's apartment, but not in her bedroom. Instead they were in the living room of the vacant apartment, wanting to just spend time together. Kari was basically forced into taking the very cushy recliner after everyone's insistence that she relax the most, with TK and Davis both taking the couch across from it. With the quest drawing to a close they all new Kari wasn't going to be with them much longer, so they wanted to be there as much as possible while they still had her. Despite that, however, everyone knew the real reason they were there.
"So what do we do after today?" Kari asked, hoping for ideas. "How do we explain what happened after I stop the Cataclysm?" That was the question that had lingered on all of their minds for days now, with the exception of TK's. Kari's family, especially Tai, weren't going to take this very well, nor would any of the other Digidestined.
"Well I think the other Digidestined will know why you had to do this." Gatomon said from Kari's lap. "Except for Tai, that is." As hard as this was going to be to tell Kari's family, Tai would be worse. To this day he felt like Kari's personal guardian, to him Kari was still the sickly little girl he had watched over for most of her life and half of his.
"Yeah, Tai's going to take it really hard..." Davis said, leaning back on the couch. He looked over to TK, who was leaning against the arm of the far side of the sofa. "You better tell him, TK, he does like you the best." Davis spoke the truth, Tai felt like TK was a little brother to him, but in all honesty Davis feared telling Tai himself.
"I guess so..." TK said, trying to act as dreary as he had been in the last few days despite knowing Kari wouldn't die now. "Her parents are another big one, maybe that's Gatomon's job." Another truth, Gatomon had become part of the Kamiya family since they found out about her. Unfortunately Gatomon wasn't so sure about TK's suggestion, a worried look on her face.
"Actually I might not be able to..." Gatomon said regretfully. "We don't know what happens to a Digimon that loses their partner. We depend on them for energy, we did before we even knew we were connected to them. What if..." Gatomon nearly choked on the idea, but fought back the urge to stop. "What if I die along with Kari when she releases that energy?" Patamon shot up, not realizing that himself. He quickly flew over, setting down in front of Gatomon on Kari's lap.
"Gatomon, don't say that!" Patamon said. "You don't know for sure. Besides, how would I survive without you?" Gatomon was touched by his words, but still not sure of her own fate.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine, Gatomon." Kari said. "I thought of that a long time ago, I asked Azulongmon when I went into his temple. He said you would lose your digivolutions but you'll be able to stay the way you are if we connect you to another Digidestined." Kari then looked up at TK, who was watching his Digimon panic over Gatomon. "TK, if it's alright, I want you to take Gatomon when the quest is over. I wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of her." TK felt touched Kari would trust him with something so important to her. He wished he could tell her it wasn't necessary, but if she knew what he had done, her trust wouldn't be the same.
"Uh... Yeah, of course." TK said. "I'd be glad to take care of her." Gatomon smiled a bit, relieved she wouldn't be dying, as well. Still, it didn't feel any better knowing she would have to live without Kari.
"Well that's a conciliation, I guess." Gatomon said. "I'll get to spend every day with Patamon." Somehow Patamon seemed to enjoy the idea, smiling widely at the thought. "I really have to lose my Digivolutions, though?" Kari nodded regretfully, upset that her partner had to lose such an important aspect.
"Unless TK receives a power core from a guardian, he won't have enough energy for both of you." Kari explained. "Still I'd feel better than just leaving you on your own." She looked back up to Davis and TK, both now at attention. "That still leaves the others, though." Davis looked over to TK, knowing he had enough to think about with losing Kari and getting the duty of telling Tai.
"I guess that's up to me and Veemon, then." Davis said, volunteering. "Don't worry, we'll be sure and let them down easily." That seemed to wrap up the duties of telling everyone what was to happen, a relief on Kari's conscious.
"Thanks, Davis." Kari said. She turned to TK, something else coming to her mind. "Hey, TK, can you come to my room with me? There's something I want to give you." TK wasn't sure what she meant, as it was he felt bad that she wanted to give him Gatomon. Kari picked up Gatomon as she stood up, turning to set her back on the recliner, then walked passed TK to her room. He stood to follow, wondering what she was talking about. He followed her insider her room, closing the door behind him.
"So what did you want to give me?" TK asked. "If it's that science project we did that started crawling last year..." Kari turned, walking up to TK. He tried to back up a bit but found himself against the door. Before he could act Kari moved within inches, putting her hands on his chest before leaning up to put her lips to is. It caught TK off guard, but it didn't take long to recover, putting his hands at her waist. The kiss deepened as both got into it, but TK felt something else as Kari got closer, something wet against his cheek... tears? TK broke the kiss after another few seconds, looking at Kari and noticing the tears streaming from her eyes. This was one of the few sights TK hated seeing, it felt like something in his soul was ripping apart watching this. He brought one of his hands up to Kari's face, wiping off the tears as gently as he could.
"Kari, please don't cry..." TK beckoned. "You know it hurts seeing it." Kari nodded a bit, trying to dry the tears from her cheeks herself.
"TK, this might be our last time alone together..." Kari said, her voice with as much sorrow as he had ever heard. If she had been feeling as bad as he had, she was letting it out all at once.
"I know it might be." TK said, still keeping his deal with Ragnadramon secret. Seeing her crying, he wished he could tell her it wouldn't be their last time together, but as much as he wanted to, he couldn't. "I thought you were okay with this, though." Kari stared into TK's eyes for a second, again a painful sight from how much sadness they reflected.
"TK, you aren't the only one that doesn't like this, you know." She said, turning away from TK and stepping a few feet away. She crossed her arms over her chest, shuddering a bit, trying to keep herself together. "I hate this! This was the last thing I ever wanted to do..." TK didn't realize as badly as this situation was hurting him, Kari was hurting just as much for the same reasons. He walked up behind her, putting his arms around her, trying to comfort her through her shuddering.
"I know..." She said through her tears. "I just didn't expect this to feel so bad... I mean, I know I had to say goodbye like this eventually, I spent days thinking about it, trying not to break down like this..." TK tightened his embrace, now feeling her shuddering body through his arms.
"Kari, don't say that." He said gently. "We don't have to let this be good-bye, even if you die at the end of this, that won't be enough to keep us apart." That much was true, at least, TK didn't view death as separation of them, just a delay.
"TK, that day I told you I was going to die..." Kari continued. "...when you proposed to me... you don't know how badly I wanted to say yes, I was a second away from forgetting about the quest, the Digital World, everything... That's all I ever wanted in life, to know you would be with me forever. I dreamed about it, I could see it like I was there. Just you and me... and even our children... TK, I wanted it all to come true, I would have given anything..." Kari stopped, trying to hold back more tears from remembering it all. TK remembered telling Patamon something really similar just two nights ago, he didn't realize their dreams had been so close.
"Kari, I wanted all that, too..." TK said. "...but I think I understand that some things are more important." In all honesty this was said out of hopes of beating Ragnadramon, without Kari dying in the process, of course.
"I'm glad..." Kari said. "That's the only thing that kept me from saying yes... There's a billion other couples on this planet with the same hopes and dreams we have, some even stronger than us. If I had said yes and forgotten the quest, none of their dreams would come true. They'd be destroyed by the Cataclysm along with the Digital World if I don't do this. I just imagine so many people feeling the same pain I felt about it and I couldn't let them go through with it..." Suddenly TK felt like a heel... He hadn't thought about all of that, he was too concerned over just his own feelings of sorrow and depression from knowing his dream of life with Kari wouldn't come true, he didn't realize so many others had the same dreams, the same hopes for their lives, and TK had sold all of them out aligning himself with Ragnadramon just to save Kari... Kari had stopped shuddering and broke from TK's arms, turning around to look at him.
"Let's just make the most of the time we still have, okay?" She said, a small smile crossing her face. "Let's get back to the others, they're probably wondering what happened to us." With that Kari walked passed him, opening her door and walking back out to the front room. TK turned to watch her leave, still taking in the ramifications of what he had done just last night. He didn't realize how many people he risked, not just their lives, but their hopes, dreams, ambitions, their very future that was supposed to be so happy with the ones they loved, and now he may have very well robbed all of them of that.
"...What have I done..." TK whispered to himself, suddenly ashamed of himself and what he had done. Yes, it could still work out, they might still stop Ragnadramon, but it didn't change the fact that he had stolen the only sure-fire way of saving those hopes.
**********
A couple of hours later the entire group was in Kari's room, waiting for her computer to load up and activate the gate. It was an older system, a backup they kept for when Tai moved out, knowing he would take the new one, and they had yet to buy a new computer. At times it was annoying, but TK didn't mind right now, wanting this encounter with whatever Ragnadramon was planning to be delayed as long as possible.
"It shouldn't be long now." Kari said, leaning over the desk as she worked the mouse of the computer. "Sometimes I think it would be faster to go to Tai's apartment and use the other computer." TK looked over at Gatomon, who looked a little impatient. Maybe she was eager to try out her Mega form gain, she didn't get to use it very much before.
"We could always wait for a rainbow to pick ups up, that's how this all started." Patamon joked. Davis didn't seem to get the joke, though, with him and Veemon the only ones that hadn't gone to the Digital World via rainbow before.
"You know, it might have been a bit early to plan out all our explanations and final moments." TK said, hoping to somehow subconsciously prepare them for whatever his actions had caused. "It could be days before we even get to the last temple, let alone how long it will take to find the Cataclysm." TK did have a point, maybe it would have been better to save all of the planning until after they had the fourth temple cleared. Kari shook her head, though, having a different idea.
"It could take us days to get the fourth temple and find Cataclysm, then again it could be hours, too." She said, countering TK's idea. "This was the only for-sure chance we had, right?" Kari had him there, they didn't have to stop after getting the fourth piece of energy, they could be done before the day was over. In all honesty, TK had seen the map and it wasn't nearly long enough to take days to get to the temple.
"Come on, TK, try not to think like that." Davis said. "We'll just get this over with and be done with it." Davis wasn't helping, though, the last thing TK wanted was for anything to go fast right now. It seemed like even Kari's computer picked up it's pace, now loading the gate to the Digital World. It wasn't long before it was ready and as soon as it was, Davis and Veemon jumped in, eager to get to the last area. The others just stood there for a while, a bit taken by Davis's attitude at this temple.
"Well, at least he's motivated..." Gatomon said, jumping up to the computer's chair to get in range of the gate and Kari. She took hold of her Digimon, holding her Digivice out and letting the gate absorb her into the other world. That left Patamon and TK to enter next, TK still not wanting to continue.
"Something wrong, TK?" Patamon asked, flapping up to his human partner. TK took hold of Patamon, somehow with a feeling he would need all the help from him that he could get.
"Just some last minute regrets, that's all." TK said, trying to put it mildly. He withdrew his Digivice, looking down at it. A notion came to mind to just wipe the map off of it, forcing them to stop at least until they retrieved another, but he thought against it, not wanting Kari and Davis to think TK did anything to intentionally stop them. Unfortunately as he held out his D-3, letting the computer absorb him, he had a feeling it would come to that, anyway.
End Chapter 14
Next: Chapter 15 - Obstacles
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