Good's Failure! Hope and Light Is Lost

Chapter Four

THURSDAY AFTERNOON: 1600

TK and Kari watched the Poyomon crawl all over R.J. from his right shoulder to his left. R.J. had appeared before them when they were hanging out at the café on Monday after school. They asked him where he had been but he only shrugged his shoulders and changed the subject to school. He had been excused from school for the days that he had been gone so he wasn't counted as absent. He apologized to Davis for losing his temper. Davis only gave a few 'ums' and just said that it was okay and that he had forgiven him. But everybody knew that Davis didn't remember what he was forgiving R.J. for.  

"R.J., can I ask you something?" TK asked, leaning across the table towards R.J.

"Sure," he answered casually.

"Can you read peoples' minds?" He wouldn't be surprised if R.J. really could but denied it. There was just something different about him. He wasn't like other people. Of course, R.J. would probably run away like before if he said that to him. How else could he have known that Davis was headed their way? How could he have known if he couldn't read peoples' minds and heard Davis? That was the only explanation he could think of.

"What are you talking about, TK? What would give you that crazy idea?" He said easily with a smile of curiosity.

"When Davis made you mad that day, your eyes became intense and everything around you started to shake. I felt my chair shaking. Then all of a sudden Davis starts floating in the air and wherever your eyes were directed at Davis would be floating at that spot. The only way you could have done that is if you have physic abilities. And I have a feeling that you can make people forget that because Kari doesn't remember a thing and neither does anybody that was there." TK kept his voice low so nobody else would hear.


R.J. smiled as he lowered his head. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Had he really failed? How could he have failed? He had never failed to do so before. He had done it to everyone else, but it appeared that he had failed with TK. He had to try again. His secret must remain a secret forever. He would take his secret to his grave along with him.

"Don't lie to me, R.J.," TK begged. "I just want to be your friend. I want you to learn to be open with me. Why won't you let me be you friend?" TK's eyes were sincere. He was serious about what he said. He did want to be R.J.'s friend, half because R.J. didn't have any friends and the other half because he wanted to know more about R.J.'s supposed powers. He didn't know why he was so fascinated by it. "R.J. please," TK pleaded softly.

He failed again. It didn't work. "Sure you weren't dreaming, TK?" R.J. asked, slightly laughing. He had to act cool, as though he had really no idea what TK was talking about. He didn't know what was wrong but he wasn't going to let anything ruin his life just because he lost his temper over somebody calling him a baby.

"Positive." He said sternly.

"You're different from others, you know that?" R.J. stood up. He couldn't stay around TK. He had failed to make him forget about that day. He had done so with everyone else but he couldn't seem to do it with TK.  It worked with the Child of Light, but why didn't it work on him? Was he different from the others? How could that be? All he's ever known was that the Child of Light was the most valuable. She was the one most evil was after and not anybody else. What was going on?

"R.J., wait!" TK called out, as he stood, but it was too late, R.J. was already out the door and on his way towards the school. He already knew what R.J. was hiding from him. It's just that he wanted R.J. to admit it himself. Why couldn't he just do that? He had been a friend to R.J. for a while now. Why couldn't the boy just open up to him? Was he doing something wrong? Why couldn't R.J. just trust him?

"What happened between you two?" Kari asked, as she took a seat next to TK.

"I think I was trying too hard." TK said, as he collapsed back down onto his seat.

"Why are you trying so hard?"

"I don't know. I seem to be getting more..." TK trailed off. If he finished his sentence Kari would worry about him and he didn't want that. He was perfectly okay. Maybe not a hundred percent, but close enough not for him to tell her what he thought was wrong with him. What was he talking about? There was nothing wrong with him. He just didn't feel like himself today, that's all. After a good nights' rest he'll be back to being his old self again... he hoped.

"What?" Kari asked softly.

TK shook his head and smiled at her. "It's nothing. Can we just drop the subject?" He knew that she wouldn't push him for more answers. That was one of the many things he liked about her. She never pressured him about anything. She knew he didn't like it when people did that so she didn't do it herself, no matter how worried she was about him. He didn't want to make her worry but this was one thing he had to face on his own. He wasn't the little kid he was when he first went to the Digital World. He had grown up and was capable of doing things on his own.  

"Sure." She was worried and wanted to know more, but she didn't press on. "Want to go see a movie later?" He was usually the one who asked that question but just this once she'd be the one who asks him. TK had been acting strange ever since that incident at the park. He refused to let her worry about it or even remember it. But how could she forget? Her brother told her not to worry since TK said he was okay. But he wasn't acting like himself these past few days. She wished he would just tell her the truth.

"I thought that was my line," TK mumbled to her with a smile. She smiled back at him. "I'd love to catch a movie, but I have a few things I want to take care of before this day is over." He regretted rejected her when her smile was replaced with a frown. He hated to see her unhappy but he had to get away to clear his head and figure out what in the world was wrong with him. "Don't be unhappy. I'll make it up to you. I promise."

"What could you possibly be doing that I can't tag along?" She couldn't, she wouldn't let him go this time. He was worrying her too much for her to let him off this time. He always told her where he was going and usually asked her whether she wanted to tag along. He seemed to be getting further and further away from her each day that passed since what happened at the park. She wasn't going to let anything change between them. Not now. Not when she... that didn't matter. She couldn't let him get so far that she could never get him back.

"Kari, I can't always be with you, okay!" TK snapped, standing up and slamming his hands onto the table. Some times she could be do darn frustrating. He couldn't always be with her. She should know that. He had his own life apart from hers. What in the world was wrong with her? He couldn't always be with her just because that was what she wanted. He couldn't just walk away from what he was doing just because that was what she wanted. He had a life of his own. Why couldn't she just back off!

Fear and sadness entered Kari's eyes. He had never yelled at her before. Maybe he had yelled at her before, but never like this. Did he really want to be on his own? She didn't want to go with him so he would be around her. She wanted to go because she was worried about him. She knew he couldn't always be with her. She had known that for a very long time. If he wanted to go alone all he had to do was just tell her that. He didn't have to yell at her.

TK frowned when he saw the fear and sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kari. I didn't mean to--."

"I'll see you at home." She interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. "You best do your stuff before night falls." She grabbed her bag that she had placed under the table and was out of the café before TK could say anything more. If he didn't want her around all he had to do was say so. He didn't have to yell at her. The TK she knew seemed to have disappeared. He wasn't the TK she once knew. He was somebody totally different. She was beginning to wonder whether the TK she used to know would ever come back. She wasn't going to take this. She had to clear her head before she headed back home.

~*~*~*~*~*~

THURSDAY NIGHT: 2000

Kari ate dinner by herself that night. TK didn't come home for dinner. She knew that he wouldn't, so she didn't prepare his share. But if he did come home he would have to cook for himself. If he didn't want to be with her that was his business and not hers. She never wanted him always with her. She just wanted to tag along to make sure he was okay. That was all. But he yelled at her and that was enough for her not to bother with him. She wasn't sure whether she continued to be angry with him or happy. If he was going to be like this Tai would never let their arrangement go any further. She would be free to date whoever she pleased.

After doing some homework, thinking, resting, and more homework she decided that she needed to take a bath. It kind of felt weird. She usually finished more than half her homework before dinner that way she didn't take up much time doing it after dinner. But since she had been too busy being angry with TK she wasted her time walking around town trying to cool off. She had also taken up time cooking dinner. She finished her dinner rather late because she was watching TV while eating. She usually took her bath early but she had a change of plans for today.

She closed the bathroom door behind her, locked it, and then switched on the heater. She stripped of her clothes and stepped into the shower. She turned on the water and let the water beat down on her. She wasn't the kind that would show her emotions with actions. She would just let the water wash away all her unsure feelings she had inside of her. Why was TK being so distant from her these past few days? Was it because of what happened at the park two weeks ago on Tuesday? If she asked Izzy to find out more about happened and if TK found out about he might think that she didn't trust him and would get all mad about it. She didn't know what to do.

Since she was under the running water she didn't hear the soft click that came from the door.

"I'm sorry," she heard a soft voice say.

She turned her head to see TK. She was shock to see him. Not because he had entered the bathroom while she was taking a bath but because she didn't expect him to come home so early. She thought he would probably come home late from being with some girl. It would explain why he didn't want her to tag along. He had always had a thing for Katharine and since she was one of them she wouldn't say no if he asked her out. They weren't really dating so it would be okay. But the others didn't know that. She had almost hated Katharine for no reason. But then why didn't TK want her to tag along?

"I wasn't sure whether you wanted me to come home for dinner or not so I just walked around town. I just wanted you to know that I'm really sorry about what I did. I'm really sorry for yelling at you." His eyes were sincere. For some strange reason, he felt like he was being stabbed in the heart and the blade was twisting inside of him, making his wound bigger. He had been like this for a while now. Every time he did something nice or was being sincere or good about something the pain was there.

"TK, you shouldn't be in here." Kari said, keeping her back to him so he wouldn't see anything that he wasn't suppose to. She chose that sentence so she could change the subject and get him to leave. If he asked her whether she forgave him or not, she wouldn't be able to answer him. She wasn't sure whether she did or not. She was still angry and upset at him for yelling at her but she didn't hate him. If she forgave him, he would think that he could get away with anything with her. If she didn't, their friendship might not last long. She liked their friendship. She could tell him anything and everything. Sometimes he threatened her with that, but he was just kidding around... well, at least most of the time.

"It's nothing I haven't seen before," TK said softly, remembering the time his mother died. Nobody really knew how she had died. She was found lying in an alley with blood spilling out of her. The people who found her quickly took her to the hospital where she died. The doctor found a wound on her side, but he couldn't identify it. Nobody could seem to identify the wound on her side. Everybody thought he was going to have a complete breakdown. His father couldn't come back from the States because he said that he had to finish his work there. Matt refused to come back because he was in the middle of school. He had gone to the States to do 12th grade and then college. 

He refused to eat anything. He kept himself locked up in his room and wouldn't even let Kari in even though half the room was hers. That was when Tai moved out so she could take his room. He reduced his intake of water and his lips became dry. His face was always pale. He spent most of his time crying in his room. He could remember Kari's soft voice, begging him to eat something. He had paid no attention. He just wanted to be left alone. A month and a half after his mother died, Kari's parents had to go to a funeral overseas. He then realized that he didn't want to be alone at this time. He realized that he had a friend who would stick by him and comfort him.

But the only problem was that she was taking a bath when he realized this. He didn't know why he did it till this day, but he had pushed open the door and went in. He later found out that Kari had found no point in locking the door since nobody was in the house but her and TK and she thought that TK wouldn't leave his room. He had entered the shower and wrapped his arms around her. He cried against her neck. She knew why he was there and she did comfort him. She pulled him down to the floor and hugged him. He mostly cried against her chest. She didn't seem to mind. That was when he realized how much she cared about him and he snapped out of it. The days passed and he came out of his room and started eating again and soon he was back to normal.

"Your tears blurred your vision and you know it." Kari said back to him.  "Please leave."          

~*~*~*~*~*~

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: 1600

"You did what!" TK exclaimed when Kari told him the unbelievable. It was believable now that she told him and had actually done it, but before she had done it, it would be unbelievable. She had actually asked Dark to meet her at the café today. She had slipped a note into his locker. But that didn't necessarily mean that he would show. He didn't look like the kind that would show up just because he got a note in his locker. He didn't even look the kind to come when asked personally. He didn't look the kind to even step out of his house unless going to school. He fully doubted that Dark would show up. He was willing to bet anything that Dark wouldn't show.

"Relax, TK." Kari said. "I'm sure he isn't that bad."

"Not that bad?" TK said in disbelief and a bit of disgust. "That guy hasn't made any friends ever since he arrived at our school." TK said as a few of their friends entered the café. "Hey," he greeted his friends. They greeted back but sat somewhere else. "I'm telling you, Kari," TK said, leaning closer to her. "He's dangerous I tell you, stay away from him." TK leaned back against the backrest of his chair.

"Why won't you admit that you're jealous?" Kari asked, her eyes smiling.

"Because..." TK trailed off. He glared at his friend's smiling face. She was good but luckily he had figured out what she was trying to do. He would never admit that he was jealous. Not that he was jealous or anything. "I am not jealous. I don't get jealous because I don't have to be. You have a crush on Dark, no big deal. You'll probably be over him after a while. Like with Rick." TK said, as he stirred his straw about in his milkshake and then sipped.

"Ah-uh," Kari said, waving her index finger. "Rick doesn't count."

"Why not? You had a crush on him and you yourself admitted it." TK reminded her of their little talk time on their way home from school. They had started off with the simple, 'so, how was your day', and it continued on till the point where they started talking more about personal matters. That was when she said that she had a crush on Rick Matthews. He immediately knew who he was because he was also a basketball member. He was the best player in the group, but TK didn't think so.

"Shut up, TK." Kari said, looking away from. She settled her eyes on her group of friends sitting at the table in the corner of the café. Her eyes were on her friends but her mind was on Dark. She was starting to have doubts about him showing up. She was almost certain that he would show when she asked him. Well, actually when she wrote the note asking him to come. But maybe TK was right. Dark didn't seem the type. Her doubts were leading her to the decision of leaving and go meet up with some of her other friends.

"Look what the cat dragged in," TK muttered.

Kari's hope began to rise, but when she looked at the entrance they fell. It was only Davis and a few of his soccer friends along with Takato and Takuya. Takato and Davis were the best of friends, but Takuya had a "mature-sprout" and he didn't get along with Davis. They just played soccer together and that was it. Takuya had become quite of a loner. He didn't talk as much as before and he rarely answers when asked a question, sort of like Kouji in a way. Nobody knew what had really happened to Takuya that made him change.

"Great," TK said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Now we have dead boy in here." He knew it wasn't like him to say those kinds of things but something inside him wouldn't allow him to say anything else. Kari had forgiven him last night before they went to bed and he promised her that he would be the same old TK as he was before the incident at the park. But he couldn't. He wasn't the same old TK. He was the new TK that couldn't control what he did or what he said. He needed help but his pride that was as strong as ever wouldn't allow him to get help or ask for help.

"Dark," Kari greeted, standing from her seat. "I was afraid you wouldn't show." Kari said with a nervous smile.

"What do you want?" He sounded dead and rude, but in an away it was dead and polite.

"Have a seat," she said, as she pulled a chair from the table.

He sat down, his eyes that were behind his sunglasses switched from Kari to TK and then back.

"How was your day?" She didn't want to be very forward with him, just incase.

His brow peered over the edge of his sunglasses. "Can you get straight to the point?"

"I want to know what you were doing on top of that building that night." He wanted straight to the point, she gave him straight to the point. She didn't know whether it was a bit too straight to the point. Maybe she should have asked a few questions leading up to the question. "I want to know whether you're a Digidestined. Do you have a Digimon, Dark?"

Dark pulled off his cap, showing his brown hair mixed with some blonde in it. It made people why he colored his hair. He looked fine with the shade of brown he had now. He didn't need to color it or highlight it. It was find the way it was. He still looked as good looking as ever.

"Just answer her for crying out loud!" TK snapped after a few moments of silence. This guy was driving him out of his skull. Either he had a Digimon or not. It was just a simple yes or no question but he couldn't seem to answer it, and that made him angry for some reason. He didn't care whether he was acting like himself or his new self. This guy was just impossible. Ever since he had come to the school he had never once spoken back to anyone who had spoken to him. Probably the day Kari talked to him was the first time he had ever spoken to anyone.  

"What's going on?" Davis asked as he and the others walked over to TK and Kari. They had heard TK yelled and had come over to investigate. Today was probably the second, third, or fourth time TK had snapped. They were concerned about him and wanted to know what was up with him. But he had been quite distant these past few weeks, but they didn't want to pressure him about it so they left him alone.

"Guys," Kari said, standing up. "I think Dark might be a Digidestined."

They all looked at him.

He put his cap back on and looked back at them.

To Be Continued