Chapter 4- Trust

T.K. knew he probably hadn't been sleeping more than five minutes when he heard a strange noise coming from outside. Sitting up, he walked out to investigate. Standing there, near the water's edge, was Chloe. She was playing a soft soothing melody on her ocarina. T.K. stood there and listened to her play for a while. When she finished, she stood, staring at the deep blue ocean. "So," she whispered without turning her head. "You couldn't sleep?"

T.K. jumped in surprise. "How did you…?"

"Know you were here?" Chloe finished for him. "You weren't really quiet when coming down here T.K."

T.K. stared at her curiously for a minute and then he spoke. "What was that song you were playing? It was pretty."

"It was a song that a girl named Melody taught me," Chloe replied. "It's called 'Lugia's Song.' (A: Sound familiar?) There's a prophecy that goes with this song but it has already been fulfilled. Try to remember this song. It could prove some worth to you later."

T.K. wondered if she would say anymore but she didn't. Slowly, he turned around and headed back towards the lab. When he glanced back, she was gone.

The next day, Professor Oak woke the Digidestined to tell them that the portal they had come through had returned and they had better hurry if they wanted to get home. Everyone got up and gathered their belongings together. Soon, they were standing on the banks of the ocean outside Pallet Town, where they had landed. After some urging, the Pokemon trainers were allowed to go along with them, promising to come back soon. "I'll be waiting right here for you Ash! Make sure to change your you-know-what every day," called Mrs. Ketchum. "See you soon!"

Together, they all stood in front of the portal and vanished into the light.

* * *

"Ouch!"

"Patamon! Let go of my hat!"

"Hey Pikachu! Where are you?"

"Stop! That's my Togepi!"

"This is so messed up."

After some minor landing problems, the kids managed to get to their feet and look around. "We're home all right," muttered Tai with a sigh.

Soon came the difficult process of where the Pokemon trainers should stay. After a lot of arguments, Ash decided to stay with T.K., Misty decided to go with Sora, Brock and Tracey decided to check out in the hotel, and Chloe decided to stay with Kari and Tai. After they had moved in, the Digidestined took the trainers on a tour of the city.

Tai had not been thinking straight lately. He was very surprised when Chloe had chosen to stay with him and Kari although she would be sleeping in Kari's room. Chloe hadn't said anything to him ever since yesterday except "Hi." He did notice that she was talking to T.K. a lot though. They always seemed to get along really well and smiled at each other whenever there was a chance. For some reason, this bothered him.

Oh well, he had to shake the feeling off. He wasn't so sure about the Pokemon team anyway. They were all secretive, but Chloe looked like she was hiding something. He didn't know why but only T.K. seemed to really understand them. Probably because he knew them better.

Kari and T.K. sat alone in the park. Everyone else was off somewhere, doing something. Tai was teaching Ken and Davis some new soccer moves, Sora and Matt were introducing Misty and Brock to other people, Yolei and Cody were helping out at Yolei's parents' store, and Tracey was helping Izzy and Joe learn more about Pokemon. Ash and Chloe were exploring but they didn't tell anyone where.

Kari looked up at T.K. He seemed a lot more cheerful now that the mystery of the portal had been solved. Kari thought this was a good time to ask him a question.

"Um…T.K.?"

"Yeah?" T.K.'s blue eyes met her mahogany ones.

"Well…I was wondering how you feel about the Pokemon trainers."

"I think they're really great friends, don't you?"

Kari nodded absently. T.K. noticed she looked uncomfortable. "What's wrong Kari?"

"I don't know about them T.K. There's just something about them that I can't put a finger on. Something not right. They all act really quiet and secretive around us and yet when they are together, they laugh, chat, and have such a great time. Especially Ash and Chloe. I just don't know."

T.K.'s eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"

Kari averted his eyes. She didn't like the look he was giving her at all. "I'm saying that I don't think they're really trustworthy."

Silence.

Kari turned to look at T.K. She noticed he was stiff and he wasn't smiling anymore. "T.K.? What is it?"

T.K. shook his head and stood up. "It's nothing." He turned to look at her. "I don't care what you think Kari. You may not trust them, but I bet it's because you don't know them yet. You don't understand them. Is that the reason?"

Kari stood up as well. "It's not that T.K. It's just that you don't know what they're capable of. You don't know what they might do. We have one Digimon for each of us but them can have up to hundreds of Pokemon—as many as they want. And those Pokemon obey and respect them. With that kind of power, those kids could do almost anything. Don't you understand?"

T.K. shook his head again. "I don't think we became friends just so they could do something sinister. I know they wouldn't do anything like that to us. They don't want to hurt us."

"Lately, Chloe and Ash haven't been all that friendly. They've been wandering around on their own, talking about 'something strange that's going to happen'. I don't think that's trustworthy," Kari answered him.

"I still don't think they're not trustworthy."

"You don't know that T.K. I just don't want you to—"

"You may not trust them, the others may not trust them, but I do. And I wish you would stop trying to convince me that they are evil and shouldn't be my friends. You don't rule my life Kari! Just leave me alone and let me control my own decisions. Got it?"

Kari backed away with a hurt look on her face. "I just thought…"

"Be quiet Kari. Just…leave me alone okay!" T.K. ran away.

Kari stood there staring at the spot where T.K. had stood. She had never felt so hurt before. What was wrong with T.K.? He wasn't acting like himself. She wanted to run after him and explain everything, apologize, and even tell him how she really felt about him but she had a feeling he wouldn't listen. At least not in the state he was in right now. Covering her face in her hands, she ran back to her apartment, ignoring the tears that filled her eyes and spilled over.

T.K. kept running until he reached the school. School had been out for a while now but the gate was kept open in case anyone wanted to use the soccer field. T.K. ran on until he reached a small tree in the corner of the field. Dropping down beside it, he waited until his breathing returned to normal. Then he stared at the ground, depressed. He could not believe what he had just said to Kari. He couldn't get that hurt look she had on her face out of his mind. Did he really mean to say those things to Kari? Why did he feel so miserable and full of anger at her? Could it be because he was afraid that what she said might be true? Were Ash and the others really sinister or were they friends?

So many questions ran through T.K.'s head and he didn't know how to answer them. All he could do was sit and remember.

* * *

Tai came and found Kari on her bed crying. His eyes widened. "Kari! What's wrong?"

Kari shook her head. "It's nothing Tai. Just forget it." She sat up and brushed her tears away. "I just had a bad argument with T.K. That's all."

Tai's eyes widened even further. "T.K.? How could you have an argument with him. You guys are the best of friends."

"I thought so too," Kari murmured sadly.

"What did you two argue about anyway?" Tai asked.

"The Pokemon trainers, that's what. I don't really trust them. They just seem too strange. What do you think Tai?"

Tai shook his head and gazed out the window. "I don't know sis. I just don't know."

Chloe and Ash soon popped their heads in. "Hi you guys! What's up?"

Kari smiled shakily. "Oh nothing. How was the city?"

"Not too bad, except Pikachu panicked when he saw a cat and almost used his Thunderbolt on it," Ash replied brightly.

"That's great," said Tai half-heartedly although he was thinking, "Were you tempted to let Pikachu use his Thunderbolt? Would you have cared?"

Ash looked at Tai curiously. "Hey, are you feeling okay?"

Tai nodded. Chloe smiled. "That's a relief."

That night, Tai woke up to a noise he could hear outside his window. He stumbled to it and looked out. He could see Chloe and Ash standing outside, finishing up a Pokemon battle. They tied, three on three. As Tai watched them, he could hear what they were saying. "I'm getting stronger and stronger aren't I Chloe?" Ash asked.

"Of course you are Ash," Chloe answered back. "I'm glad you are. You'll be able to prove yourself after all."

Prove himself for what? Tai wondered. "I miss it back home," Ash muttered to himself. "It's too different here. People keep staring at me as if I'm weird and they don't like Pikachu. He's almost shocked people at least 5 times."

"Ash just deal with it. After all, we have a purpose her remember? We have to find out what we're up against."

"What about the Digidestined? They don't seem to like us much Chloe. Except for T.K., they all seem suspicious of us like they think we're going to sprout fangs or something."

"I don't want to them to figure out anything about what's happening. They might not understand, especially T.K. You and I will tell him what's wrong when the time is right."

Tai's face lit up in shock. They didn't sound very trustworthy to him. What were they doing that was so secret? Why was Ash training himself? And what were they planning to do to T.K.? Whatever it was, it didn't sound good.

The next day, Chloe and Ash found T.K. he was just standing near the road kicking a small pebble. "Hi T.K. Can we talk to you?"

"Sure," T.K. replied in a dull, flat voice.

Chloe eyed him with concern. "T.K.? Are you okay? You don't look so good."

T.K. decided that the argument with Kari was too personal to discuss so he shook his head to show that he was fine. Chloe sensed he wasn't very chatty today so she turned around and walked off in the opposite direction. "Actually, we'll talk to you later okay?" She and Ash hurried off.

T.K. heaved a sigh and looked up, only to discover Tai standing there. "oh hi Tai."

"T.K., I need to talk to you about Kari. I know you two sort of had a fight yesterday. I just what to see if I can help in any way."

"What do you want anyway Tai. Are you here to lecture to me because I didn't exchange some kind words with your sister?"

Tai stared at T.K. he suddenly the boy was that small, sweet, and good-natured eight-year-old that he used to be. It was always easy to talk to him since he never tried to argue or make anyone angry. T.K. just wasn't like that anymore. He was taller (almost as tall as his brother), still good-natured, but when he was angry, he either held it in and it somehow exploded eventually or he acted sarcastic. The way he was acting now was not a good sign. "Kari as really hurt when you said that to her you know. She was in tears when I found her at home yesterday. What came over you T.K.?"

T.K.'s icy blue eyes turned icier. "Look Kamiya I know you probably don't trust the Pokemon trainers either. Maybe nobody but me does. What's wrong with them huh? What do you have against them? And I have to admit, it's pretty dumb to be suspicious of someone you have a crush on."

Tai blinked rapidly. "Huh?"

"O-oh, surprised? Come on Tai, you don't think you can hide the fact that you really like Chloe and I won't notice. I can tell by the way you looked at her when you people first met that you did. I also noticed you looking pained whenever I talk to her or smile at her. I bet you're jealous."

"Me, jealous? I am not jealous. And I don't like her okay?"

"Yeah sure."

"I mean it. I just don't trust her, especially since she has psychic powers and no one, not even Ash, has a clue about her past. You still think she's trustworthy?"

T.K. frowned. "I don't know about you Tai but I'm their friend and I trust them even if you and Kari don't. You can tell Kari I'm sorry for what I said and for the argument but you two are not going to change my mind about them. The only ones who can are the trainers themselves." With that, T.K. walked away.

"T.K., wait!" called Tai.

T.K. turned around and for a minute it seemed as if he softened a bit. Then the memory of yesterday came back and he gave Tai a cold look before walking away again.

Tai let out a huge sigh. What was wrong with T.K.? Ever since he had met the Pokemon trainers, he hadn't seemed like himself. He was growing more distant and he got angry often. Did those Pokemon trainers put a spell on him or something? Did Ash; or Chloe?

Tai felt a twang of guilt go through him when he thought that Chloe might have done something wrong. Hey, why was he thinking this way? He knew T.K. could already sense his feelings about Chloe but he wasn't even sure how he felt about her. What was it about her that made people like her? Why was she so special?

Just then, Misty came around the corner with Sora. They both smiled at him. "Sorry to bother you Tai, but I'm looking for Ash. Have you seen him?" asked Misty.

Tai nodded. "Uh huh. He just left a little while ago. I think he went that way."

"Thanks." Misty hurried off.

Sora noticed Tai's depressed look. "What's wrong Tai?"

"Everything."

Sora placed her hand on his shoulder. "Let's talk about it. Maybe I can help."

Tai gave her a grateful look and agreed. Even though he and Sora were no longer boyfriend and girlfriend, they remained close. In face, they now viewed each other as family and were willing to help each other out with their problems. Tai told Sora what was on his mind: The Pokemon team, Kari and the argument, Ash training, Chloe's secret, and T.K. For obvious reasons, Tai didn't mention about T.K. suspecting he had feelings for Chloe. It seemed too personal to discuss and he wasn't sure how Sora would take it. Sora listened and didn't interrupt. Finally, Tai finished. "How is Misty?" he asked. "Is she behaving strangely or anything?"

Sora gave him a strange look. "Funny you should ask. She never tells me about her day. She always wanders out of the house and makes herself scarce. And Mimi told me that Brock and Tracey sometimes never come back tot the hotel until just before midnight."

"Weird," Tai muttered.

Sora blinked. "You told me they said they had a purpose. What is their purpose and what does it have to do with us?"

Tai shook his head. "I don't know. A lot of things don't make sense right now and those trainers are some of the biggest. We'll have to find out though, sooner or later."

Sora looked at the sky. "It's getting late. I'd better head home."

Tai watched her go before calling out, "Hey Sora!"

She looked back. "What?"

He smiled at her. "Thanks."

Sora smiled back. "What are friends for?"

* * *

Chloe and Misty stood on the beach, staring at the water. Chloe looked at Misty. "I think it's time I told you all about my past. I know I've been very shady to all of you, but it's just that the past is too painful to remember."

Misty placed a hand on Chloe's shoulder reassuringly. "You don't have to if you don't want to you know."

Chloe bit her lip. "It's better to let it out. I don't want to lie to any of you. You are my friends and friends should be truthful with one another. You can go and tell Ash and the others. I'll tell Kari and Tai."

Misty nodded. "Don't worry. I'm sure it has nothing to do with what we're doing here now." With that, she ran off to tell the others.

Chloe stared at the ocean again. "Yes it does. I'm sure I'm supposed to tell them at this exact time. I can sense I'm telling for a reason. I'm just not sure what reason."

*Yeah, finally! Okay, the next chapter shouldn't be very long and it shouldn't take very long to post. I'll try to squeeze in as much of my time as I can. Oh yeah, T.K. is once again, not mean. He's just confused. Next chapter should tell about how Chloe came to be what she is. In the meantime, I'm off.*